Home Blog Page 42

Lethal Force: When Less Is More

By
Marty Hayes
-
1

Debunking the flawed “shoot ‘em to the ground” concept when it comes to using lethal force for self-defense.

About 15 or so years ago, the concept of “shooting the person to the ground” came into vogue, and while many instructors gave the idea up when the ammo crunch hit, I still know a few who hang onto that ill-conceived idea. Let me tell you why that advice is, in my opinion, ill conceived.

self-defense-less-is-more

Tactical Considerations

First, it’s not really tactically sound for a couple of reasons. Assuming your life is in grave, immediate danger (meaning you need to stop the individual as quickly as possible), would a single or perhaps two well-aimed shots into the upper thoracic cavity (heart, spine or arteries to the brain) be more likely to put the individual out of commission quicker than a half a dozen randomly placed shots? An argument can be made for either proposition, though the one or two well-placed shots will do it quicker.

Drawing and firing one well-placed shot will take less than 2 seconds for most well-trained armed citizens. For two shots, add a half-second for a total of 2.5 seconds. If you were able to anticipate the need to shoot and had the gun in your hand, then cut a second off the time. Can’t do it in 1.5 to 2.5 seconds? Then it’s time to go to a reputable school and learn that skill.

On the other hand, if you shoot six (or more) shots rapid fire, you can still accomplish that in the same time. But what are your chances of making a stopping hit? Probably less than one or two well-aimed shots. Don’t believe me? Go to the range with a buddy and a timer and give it a try. You might be surprised. What we’re looking for are shots within a 5- or 6-inch circle on target. Start at 5 yards and then give it a try at 7.

The next tactical issue pertains to potential additional attackers. Depending on the number of rounds in the gun, you might just run out of ammo before you can deal with the second and/or third subjects.

Legal Considerations Of Lethal Force

There are two other considerations, both legal ones, that make the rapid-fire volley of shots until they’re on the ground really bad advice. You see, you’re responsible for all the bullets you fire, not just the ones that hit the intended target. If you miss with one or two shots, where are those slugs going to land? Hopefully not in an innocent bystander.

Then, there’s the consideration of the shots that do hit the target. Are they all going to be in the front of the subject and at an angle that shows he or she was attacking you? Or, will one or two find their way into the back or side, at which time there’s a difficult argument to make your life was in danger when those shots fired. This can be diffused, but it’ll take expert testimony and a judge who understands the issue. I’ve worked on several cases where this was an issue … with mixed results.

Lastly, the “shoot ’em to the ground” advice will very likely result in a murder or manslaughter prosecution because every shot fired will be accompanied with a use-of-force analysis. Perhaps the first two to three shots were deemed necessary, but a prosecutor, especially one on the more progressive side of the prosecutorial scale, might decide to prosecute because he or she believed the last couple weren’t necessary.

I recently worked on a case where the defendant fired 10 shots, nine of those striking the deceased. It was determined that the second-to-the-last shot fired was an instantly fatal shot, although others may have been fatal within a short period of time. But a shot into the brain was the one that sealed the defendant’s fate and was completely unnecessary, as the instant perceived threat to the defendant had stopped.

Train With Purpose

Additionally, there’s the axiom that you’ll perform as you train. If your training primarily consists of multiple shot volleys, then it’s likely you’ll do just that when you respond under stress. We see it all the time in competition shooting, where the shooter is used to firing two shots at each target, and when the time comes when only one shot is required, many times he or she fires two anyway.

Vary your training so the only programed response to live threatening events is the draw stroke. How many shots you fire must then be determined by the particular event and while that might just take a moment longer, it’s a moment that’ll very likely prevent you from a long prison term.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Know Your Rights:

Best Glock Upgrades: Customizing For Performance

By
Patrick Roberts
-
0

When it comes to Glock upgrades, the aim should be a high-performance pistol over a flashy gat.

What Glock Upgrades Are Worth Considering:

Modifying your Glock to look good on social media isn’t hard—but carefully choosing what modifications you make that enhance your Glock’s performance while retaining factory reliability is a lot harder. With a sea of choices, separating the high-quality parts that enhance your pistol from those that are nothing more than tinsel can be a challenge.

A Glock 19 C makes a great concealed carry gun with a few enhancements that help it perform like a much larger one with a compensator.
A Glock 19 C makes a great concealed carry gun with a few enhancements that help it perform like a much larger one with a compensator.

Just because you can find high-quality parts that can tailor your pistol to fit whatever role you use your Glock doesn’t mean that Glock Perfection needs perfection. In stock form, the Glock is probably the single best duty pistol ever produced and is more than capable of nearly every handgun owner worldwide.

Even though your pistol is fine, there are some good reasons to modify it. The question is, what are the most beneficial modifications to make? After shooting more than a quarter-million rounds through Glocks—ranging from entirely stock to the highly modified ATEi space blasters—most have taught me that some Glock upgrades are worth their weight
in gold … but others can make the pistol worse.

Function Over Form

Sure, that awesome slide you found on eBay might net you bazillions of followers on The Gram, but will it transform you into a paper-shredding shoot-bot with an odd penchant for skinny jeans? No, it probably won’t.

Just because a Glock isn’t focused on function doesn’t mean that it’s wrong; aesthetically focused builds have a place in the world. That said, generic Glock upgrades purchased on Wish.com isn’t OK if you intend to use that gun in a defensive role.

Being put in the position to use a firearm defensively sucks enough; think of how much more it would suck if that AliExpress trigger kit failed and the gun didn’t go bang.

Buying Skill

Despite what the internet tells you, a new trigger or barrel on your Glock isn’t going to make you a better shooter. The truth is, most modifications actually mask your shortcomings as a shooter, and you can’t buy skill.

Most shooters see improvement as a result of two factors: mechanical advantage and psychological impact. Mechanical advantage is a pretty simple concept; sometimes, the part makes the system work more efficiently. Making the pistol better was the intention, but be careful not to ignore the things you need to work on as a shooter.

The psychological impact is harder to spot and can fool you into thinking that a part held you back. Yes, the trigger feels crisper and shorter—you might even shoot marginally better with the new trigger installed. Truth is, you shoot the same as you did before: Skill-building takes work, not parts.

Quality Glock Parts

If there’s one lesson I’ve learned as a shooter that I could pass on to every new gun owner, it would be to buy quality the first time. Purchasing a copy of an established product or a bargain product that’s supposed to do the same job as the brand-name one often comes with hidden costs attached.

Cheap red-dot sights will fail, cheap iron sights can damage your slide’s sight dovetails, and inexpensive triggers can cause a gun to fire unintentionally. Even something as trivial as aftermarket metal frame pins can wallow out the holes in the frame and ruin your gun entirely.

If you’ve had parts that the internet has labeled “jUsT aS gUd” fail and are forced to buy a replacement, the more expensive brand might have cost you less money in the long run.

Glock Upgrades That Affect Reliability

  • Aftermarket recoil springs
  • Aftermarket striker springs
  • Non-Glock strikers
  • Non-Glock spring cups
  • Gen 1-4 barrels in Gen 5 guns
  • Aftermarket frame pins
  • Aftermarket minus connectors

Best Glock Upgrades

Sights

It should go without saying that replacing the plastic dovetail protectors with some proper sights will improve the overall shooting experience. You can shoot a Glock effectively with stock sights, but do you want to if there are better options?

Upgrading your OEM plastic sights to fibers is a worthy investment. Choose adjustable if your budget can handle it.
Upgrading your OEM plastic sights to fibers is a worthy investment. Choose adjustable if your budget can handle it.

For iron sights, adjustable sights are the way to go so you can tailor your sights to ammunition changes. Dawson Precision makes some of the best ones out there. My recommendation is the all-black rear with a fiber-optic front sight, a reasonably fast setup with just about the most precision you can get out of irons.

Of course, the ideal solution is to add a red dot to your pistol. Regardless of the way you want to look at it, a red-dot is going to offer you a more precise aiming system without sacrificing speed or durability. If you don’t own a MOS slide, calling a shop like ATEi to get your slide milled for an optic is a great solution.

Grip

One of the weak points of Gen 3 and older Glocks is the lack of effective texture on the pistol sides. Glock did listen to the end-user and brought the RTF2 and RTF3 textures to market, but the aftermarket was already melting more aggressive patterns into grips with wood burners.

Pro Stipplers, like Great Lakes Custom Works (bottom) or TXT Custom Gun Works (top), can enhance the pistol’s grip to be better—without the risk of ruining a frame.
Pro Stipplers, like Great Lakes Custom Works (bottom) or TXT Custom Gun Works (top), can enhance the pistol’s grip to be better—without the risk of ruining a frame.

Since this practice started, stipple work has evolved with shops like Great Lake Custom Works offering grip packages that change the way the gun feels by offering finger grove removal, deeper trigger guard undercuts and index points that act as a makeshift gas pedal.

Being able to tailor your pistol to the level of texture that fits your needs best isn’t a parlor trick to be ignored; it has a considerable effect on the shooting experience. Having a top-tier shop like Great Lakes or TXT Custom gun works can set you back a couple of hundred dollars, but removing the chance of a ruined frame is well worth it.

That isn’t to say that you can’t do a reasonable functional job at home with an OT Defense DIY Stipple Kit; take care not to warp the magwell or remove too much material with a Dremel tool. If you’re intent on doing it yourself, take your time and go slow.

Trigger

Choosing a trigger isn’t as simple as buying the one with the coolest colors, the best marketing or even the lighter trigger pull weight. My goal with trigger changes isn’t to reduce pull weight or shorten reset distance—it’s to reduce the trigger reach.

The distance from the backstrap to the trigger face, or trigger reach, will do a lot to improve the shooting experience if you select the right one. Yes, the OEM trigger works fine, but switching to a flat-face trigger can help those with shorter fingers get a proper grip on the gun without doing weird things with their grip. Remember, the Glock is a double-action pistol, and the trigger finger should be deeper in the trigger guard … just like you shoot a double-action revolver.

If you have shorter fingers, you might look at the Overwatch Precision DAT V2 or TAC triggers, TangoDown’s Vickers trigger or Agency Arms' trigger, which is the best of the bunch, in my opinion. Those with longer fingers might look at the Apex Tactical trigger or even stick with the OEM trigger and install a minus connector to get the pull into the 5-pound range.

Controls

Upgraded controls are generally the next thing that I recommend addressing if you find the stock ones aren’t cutting the mustard. Gen 4 and Gen 5 pistols are pretty good right out of the box; you might want to think about an enhanced slide release, though. Gen 3 pistols are another matter and probably would benefit from a magazine release that makes it easier for those with shorter fingers to hit the button.

A TangoDown Vickers Tactical mag release is perfect for speeding up your reloads.
A TangoDown Vickers Tactical mag release is perfect for speeding up your reloads.

For slide releases, the raised and rearward swept Kagwerks slide release is the one that I choose for my guns because it allows me to adopt an extremely high grip on the pistol and still have the slide release function as intended. TangoDown’s Vickers release is also a great one, but it can suffer failure to lock back with a high enough grip.

When looking for a new slide release, avoid metal ones when using OEM Glock magazines. The metal release will deform the mag catch cutout and eventually cause a malfunction by allowing the mag to slip out of place during recoil. The OEM extended release are good options, as is the Vickers magazine release.

Plug

A plug that fills the void in the back of the grip, affectionately called a “buttplug,” does more than prevent dust and debris from making its way into the gun. If you select the right one, it will fill out the rear of the magwell and prevent the rim of a case from snagging during a reload.

Either a Glock plug or a magazine well removes that empty cavity in the rear that can catch during your reload.
Either a Glock plug or a magazine well removes that empty cavity in the rear that can catch during your reload.

Think of it like a magwell, just without the bulk. There are some low-profile magwells out there that are worth a look if you can conceal them, but sometimes a magwell like the Raven Concealment Freya is a bit too hard to conceal in some clothing. At less than $10 online, this is a low-cost Glock upgrade that has tangible benefits. Why not, right?

Barrel

Nearly last on the list is a barrel, and for a good reason. The only time a barrel upgrade makes sense is if you need a threaded barrel to add a compensator or suppressor, you’re putting a slide together from parts bought separately or you’ve damaged your original barrel.

Stock barrels are surprisingly accurate, and you don’t need a flashy barrel to shoot well.
Stock barrels are surprisingly accurate, and you don’t need a flashy barrel to shoot well.

You probably aren’t anywhere near shooting better than your OEM barrel can perform; why not spend the money on something that will improve your shooting like any of the other mods mentioned so far? Now, if you’re one of the few shooters capable of shooting under 3-inch groups offhand at 25 yards, replace the barrel with a high-quality one from KKM Precision or another company that produces barrels of similar quality—and try to tighten things up a bit more.

As for most shooters, the 5-yard target isn’t going to look much better by swapping the barrel out.

Glock Talk: Discover More Tips & Reviews

Training Equipment

Remember how I said you couldn’t buy skill? The Mantis X10 Elite is almost like buying skill, the only difference is you need to put in the work with high-quality dry-fire practice. I know, a Mantis isn’t exactly a bolt-on Glock upgrade.

For those unfamiliar with the Mantis, it’s a small box that contains a bunch of sensors you can slide onto your light rail. Once you pair the sensor to your phone through Bluetooth, any movement the pistol makes will be relayed to the app on your phone, which you can then use to identify why you’re shooting low left with your Glock. At roughly the cost of a pre-Covid case of 9mm or less, a Mantis offers more benefit to the dollar than anything else.

The top-of-the-line Mantis X10 Elite even allows you to gather data on live-fire practice, what the pistol is doing in recoil and fine-tuning your draw. If you’re serious about getting more out of your Glock (or any pistol, for that matter), one of the Mantis models should be on your shopping or Christmas list.

Training Aids

  • Mantis (X3 or X10 Elite)
  • Snap caps
  • Bull’s-eye targets (example: NRA B8 & B8 Repair Centers)
  • Shot timer
  • Book a training class
  • Ammo … and shoot a lot of it
  • 1-, 2- and 3-inch adhesive bull’s-eyes
  • Laser Pistol (SFTD or SIRT)
  • Laser training software (LASR App, LASR X)
  • Glock plastic Dummy Round, 50-count box

Do What Makes Sense For You

It shouldn’t have to be said that you don’t need any of these things (except the Mantis) to shoot better; they make the pistol work better for your physiology. Use your head and think critically about what mods you perform on your pistol, and you can’t go wrong.

As long as you modify your pistol with high-quality parts that you can explain why you chose, the pistol will be better suited to your needs.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More Glock Reviews:

Springfield Armory Announces The Model 2020 Rimfire

By
Adam Borisenko
-
0

Springfield Armory has just announced the Model 2020 Rimfire, adding .22 LR to the available chambering options of the bolt-action rifle series.

Springfield Armory is continuing to expand its Model 2020 bolt-action rifle series, this time with the announcement of the Model 2020 Rimfire line. Chambered for .22 LR, the new rifles are currently being offered in six different configurations including two synthetic-stocked Target models and four wood-stocked Classic models.

Springfield-Armory-Model-2020-Rimfire-feature

The Model 2020 Rimfire features a chromed bolt, dual cocking cams and a 60-degree bolt throw to ensure the action is smooth and easy to use. The rifles feature 20-inch, free-floated barrels, and the models that sport synthetic furniture are given threaded muzzles as well. Other noteworthy details include the rifles’ 10-round Ruger 10/22-pattern magazines, dual sling swivels and rubber recoil pads, although the 13.45-inch length of pull is nonadjustable. The 2020 Rimfire also comes standard with an adjustable trigger, but it can be replaced with any Remington 700-pattern trigger.

SA-Model-2020-Rimfire-Target

Steve Kramer, Vice President of Marketing for Springfield Armory, said this about the new rifles:

The appeal of a well-made rimfire rifle speaks to practically every shooting enthusiast … The new bolt-action Model 2020 Rimfire line chambered in .22 LR provides just that, with a wide selection of models offering something for every shooter — from suppressor-ready Target Models to Classic Models with beautiful walnut stocks.

SA-Model-2020-Rimfire-Classic

The synthetic-stocked models can be had in either black or sage, with MSRPs of $434 and $499, respectively. The wood-stocked models are offered in four different grades of Turkish walnut with a satin finish, and MSRPs range from $529 to $1,099.

For more information, please visit springfield-armory.com.

More On-Target Rimfire Info:

Power Trumps Capacity: A Case For The Self-Defense Revolver

By
Josh Wayner
-
5

In my heart, I’m a revolver guy. In a recent conversation with some industry friends, we began talking about my affinity and their opinions regarding wheelguns. They made an effort to gently let me know that they were dissatisfied with my previous inclusion of revolvers in my content, to the point where people may in fact be influenced to make a poor choice in self-defense gun.

Oddly enough, revolvers are, in their mind, not something I should be promoting due to the nature of violence in today’s world. The only tip or trick was to simply ditch revolvers in general, my advice on the topic being only to pander to rustics set in the past.

One stated if it weren’t for nostalgia, there’d be simply no reason to make them at all in the modern day, comparing them to vintage dial phones and horse-drawn carriages. Replicas and the like are just toys with no real-world use; any opinion to the contrary is just wishful thinking.

“Josh, you’re never going to be an Elmer Keith, and you should realize that by the time he wrote his works he was also behind the times.” One stated, “You’re telling people it’s alright to start at a severe disadvantage and make the best of it. It’s not right.”

Ethical concerns are something that we often face as writers; people listen to us, and you very well may spend hard-earned money after reading an article. Honesty is something that we in this job must have because, at the end of that line of thinking is a life potentially being taken, be it a bad guy or a game animal. The standard on which many writers opt to work with is often “just don’t make the advertisers mad,” and simply review a gun or ammo in the context of data only.

Objectively speaking, this is fine and allows the reader to draw their own conclusions on whatever product that may be. However, when the reality sets in, especially in self-defense topics, there needs to be the realistic nod to the fact that we’re talking about doing whatever it takes to defend ourselves.

38-Special-44-Russian
Revolvers come in many shapes and sizes, but all generally peaked technologically in the late 1800s. The Taylor’s Russian (a S&W No. 3 Schofield variant) in .44 Russian is very accurate and fire 240-grain Keith bullets at 850 fps, which is plenty of power inside 75 yards on game. The modern Smith .38 SPL is like a baby brother, but still packs plenty of punch with 158-grain hardcast bullets at 1,000 fps.

Dissecting The Dilution

There you have some excellent advice on shotguns for home defense from someone who is considered a master in the art. However, the last bit of advice Hartman provided may be the most important: “Once you figure out your defensive shotgun, the defensive mindset is next. The gun is useless to you if you don’t perceive the threat. Don’t get caught in condition white!

I lament this not because I want to see gore in magazines, but because I think people need to have respect for what bullets really do when they hit flesh and bone. Likewise, I think they need to find respect for what they consider toys or fun playthings. A revolver may lack capacity, but I find it incredulous that one would dismiss an entire category of gun as a liability when, in reality, a revolver is a tremendously lethal weapon.

Sanitized media and unrealistic training are the sole culprits in the idea that a revolver is an antique. Some classes I’ve attended that are supposed to be self-defense instruction have even gone so far as to ban revolvers and won’t teach them. Yet, the same classes want you to have a dolled-up nine, OWB holster, three extra mags and often more stuff on your person. You absolutely don’t need a modern 22+1 9mm with a red-dot, suppressor and light to survive a fight.

Glock-and-self-defense-revolver
Semi-autos, like the Glock 19 here, are very common and represent excellent capacity and accuracy. Is it always a better choice over other guns such as the Scandium frame hammerless Smith? Certainly, it’s more versatile in general use, but each of these guns has valid strong points and weaknesses to consider.

What you do need is a deep appreciation for what type of damage can be done by someone intent to harm—and what sort of harm you can do in return. If the instructor is making you train with stuff you aren’t going to carry at all times, you’re wasting your money. If an instructor won’t teach revolvers, they’re ignoring reality entirely. Pretending a category of weapon isn’t relevant because we have guns that hold more bullets is a sure way to get people killed.

What strikes me hardest about this entire situation is that it has led people to imagine that a .357 Magnum, with six rounds of 158-grain hardcast is a relic, yet I doubt a single person on earth would want to be within 1,000 yards of someone armed with one intent to do harm. Capacity isn’t the be-all and end-all for winning a fight, and I wish instructors would realize that by focusing on the realism of fleeing a fight or hiding. I’d love it if there was a class that took place in public places with fake guns, dealing solely with finding cover and escaping.

Beyond Capacity

There’s a preponderance of evidence that the modern revolver is a lethal instrument, offering serious advantages in close combat. The modern revolver came about with the Colt Single Action Army in the 1870s; everything else in the revolver world is basically there to address its perceived shortcomings. While slow to load and unload by today’s standards, the single-action revolver is as deadly as they come, very fast and very accurate.

Capacity notwithstanding, the .45 Colt, to this day, is a fearsomely powerful round and has sent scores of people and animals into the afterlife. I developed a 255-grain SWC Keith load that, from a 4¾-inch Colt, passed completely through three 16-inch FBI blocks end-to-end at 10 yards. At 25 yards, it also passed completely through.

ammo-spread
Modern revolvers can fire a wide variety of popular ammo, including such rounds as 9mm, 10mm and .45 ACP in addition to mainstays like .45 Colt, .357 Mag, .38 Special and the .44 family comprising .44 Russian, Special and Magnum.

Modern cowboy loads are weaker as a rule, usually humming along at about 700 fps, and even these, such as the BHA 250-grain RNFP, will go clean through two blocks with ease. Keith wrote in his books about hunting with the .45 Colt and its ability to penetrate game at distance, himself shooting a large mountain goat with a 5½-inch Colt at long distance and having his bullets pass completely through for each shot on that tough beast.

Hardcast bullets are a major advantage in revolvers, allowing profiles semi-autos simply can’t feed. Among these are the cylindrical “man stopper” bullets and Keith semi-wadcutters. These bullet profiles are extraordinary in their ability to not just penetrate organic material, but they do substantially more damage than virtually any other bullet type.

A deer I shot with a .45-caliber Keith bullet looked like it had been crushed internally, whereas one I shot only days earlier with a 6.5 Creedmoor looked as if it had just been poked with a rapier. There’s much to be said of this bullet type; even in .38 Special, it offers penetration of material and flesh that can’t be readily matched by any jacketed loads of which I’m aware.

The Utilitarian Approach

Revolvers aren’t more reliable than modern semi-autos in a broad context. They have their own issues; however, they offer substantial advantages in close-range encounters and greater overall precision and power at distance.

There’s something of a bell curve when it comes to revolvers. For instance, if I knew I was going to grapple with someone and the gun would be pressed into clothing, I’d hands-down take a Smith J-frame, Ruger LCR or Colt Cobra. Force-on-force training is an eye-opener in this respect and, while they’re not useless, a semi-auto can be somewhat easily disabled if a bad guy grabs it. It can quickly turn to a single shot if the mag release is bumped. Malfunctions are an inevitability if wrestling with a semi-auto, whereas with a revolver, they’re far less frequent due to the lack of moving parts.

moon-clip
Moon clips like this aid in fast reloading for some revolver types. Using these isn’t as easy as a magazine in a semiautomatic, but it’s very fast and nearly foolproof.

For ranges from 15 to 25 yards, I’d take a high-capacity 9mm every time. At 25 to 50 yards, I like the 1911, but at ranges overlapping 25 to 150 yards, I’d certainly want a heavy-loaded .357 Mag or 255-grain .45 Colt. Hit likelihood drops rapidly with semi-autos at distance, and even red-dots don’t extend useful range by much compared to irons. If it’s at extreme close range or at long range, I’d prefer a revolver virtually every day. That median stretch is where the semi-auto excels—though capacity advantage comes at a reduction in power as ranges increase.

Why would it matter to be able to make shots at 150 yards? For personal defense, it’s a moot point … but it does speak to the power of a revolver. However, in a field environment, often while I travel for hunting, I don’t carry three separate handguns on me, usually just one that fits my requirements. I like to know that my pistol can substitute a rifle at close to medium range.

Colt-SAA-holster
Carrying revolvers has never been easier. Concealed-carry holsters exist for virtually all models now, including classics like the Colt SAA. Products like the Mernickle holster here allow a fast draw and proper angle on the belt to utilize it one-handed.

Hitting a 10-inch plate at 150 yards isn’t that hard with a good revolver and some practice. The 255-grain .45 Colt at 1,000 fps only loses about 120 fps from the muzzle to 150 yards. That means it’s still more powerful than a 230-grain .45 ACP point blank. Folks don’t realize that with most 5½- to 7½-inch Colts zeroed for 25 yards, you can just hold high on the shoulder of a deer at 100 yards; it drops less than a foot at that range.

The reliability of revolvers is much more than just going bang every time; their utility, power and extended range accuracy are some things semi-autos have a hard time matching. Even the best 1911s I’ve used are limited in power compared to a revolver, whether in a home-defense situation or in the field.

The 10mm Auto and .45 ACP each have a realistic maximum range of 50 yards on deer—due to the restrictions of their magazine lengths and operating pressures necessary for reliable function. I’ve used them all extensively and 10mm and .45 ACP drop deer just about the same, but both are minuscule in power when compared to the .45 Colt and .357 Mag. in real-world use. And we haven’t even addressed the .44 Special and .44 Magnum, never mind the .44 Russian.

self-defense-revolver-reload
Loading revolvers varies by type. Some are slow, while others about as fast as semi-autos … with practice.

Timeless Protection

So, I stand fast to my beliefs that a revolver isn’t a useless tool, nor is it irrelevant in today’s defensive situations. If you’re a hand-loader, the revolver is your best friend, much like the bolt-action rifle. Not only are you afforded a wide range of pressure options, you’re also not limited to bullet profile.

The utility of a revolver in self-defense is subject to the individual encounter, and I’m a believer in its close-range superiority in a life-and-death struggle. The intent to use it lethally, be it in self-defense or in the field, has nothing to do with how many bullets you carry and how many you can fire. I don’t think it’s unethical and wrong to promote the use of what some consider antiquated technology any more than I find it unethical to voluntarily reduce power in favor of capacity.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the April 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More On The Self-Defense Revolver:

First Look: Smith & Wesson M&P22 Magnum With TEMPO Barrel System

By
Adam Borisenko
-
0

Smith & Wesson has just released the next gun that uses its TEMPO barrel system, the M&P22 Magnum in .22 WMR.

Smith & Wesson debuted its new TEMPO barrel system at SHOT 2023 when it announced the M&P 5.7, but another pistol was just released that will utilize it as well. Called the M&P22 Magnum, it’s chambered for .22 WMR and features a 30-round capacity.

SW-MP22-Magnum

The M&P22 Magnum has a full-size polymer frame, a 4.35-inch stainless steel barrel and an internal hammer-fired design. The TEMPO gas-operated barrel system doesn’t allow the gun to unlock until the bullet has passed the gas port, theoretically improving performance and reliability. Furthermore, it sports an impressive capacity of 30 rounds and ships with two magazines.

SW-MP22-Magnum-left

John Myles, Senior Manager of New Products at Smith & Wesson, said this about the new pistol:

The M&P22 MAGNUM combines the best features of our internal hammer fire control system with the patented TEMPO barrel design, creating a smooth operating experience for the shooter. The 22 WMR is a versatile and field-savvy cartridge that has been a legacy among American shooters, hunters, and trappers for decades. Smith & Wesson is proud to offer a new pistol that further supports the use of this cartridge outdoors or on the range.

Smith-Wesson-MP22-Magnum

Other notable features include its green fiber optic front sight, optics-ready slide and accessory rail. It also has an ambidextrous slide stop and thumb safety as well as a flat-faced trigger. The M&P22 Magnum has an MSRP of $649 and it’s available now.

For more information, please visit smith-wesson.com.

More .22 WMR Info:

Choosing The Right Weapon-Mounted Light

By
Josh Wayner
-
1

The dark isn’t your friend, so here’s how to select the best weapon-mounted light for your needs.

The weapon-mounted light has become quite common in recent years, yet there’s still a great deal of confusion and disagreement between competing schools of thought. So, let’s shed some light on, well … lights.

pistol-light-spread

Practicality Vs. Functionality

The main reason I divide handguns from rifles and shotguns in this discussion is based on the crucial factor of weight and real estate. It’s barely an afterthought to add a light to a shoulder arm, but it’s a deciding crossroads of utility on a handgun. It takes little, if any, imagination to mount a large, intense light onto a rifle these days; most modern handguards are covered in M-LOK mounting surfaces, in years past it was mil-spec Picatinny.

In fact, the minutia has taken over to the point that there are dozens of companies producing various means to manage your cables and pressure switches. Lights on rifles are nearly at a pinnacle; the science, while never truly settled, is in a comfortable rut, and I don’t see that changing for some time.

When it comes to handguns, there’s a much larger issue of practicality: Not every handgun needs a light, and not every light is an advantage, despite what supposed experts say. Yet, while my statement may seem reasonable, I’ve taken classes and participated in events where there’s an adamant stance to one extreme or another. I try to cover both points of view concerning weapon-mounted lights here, but I’m firmly in the camp that, for a light on a handgun to be effective, it must first not be a hindrance in daily use. It isn’t as simple as “lights good” or “lights bad.”

The essence of the handgun is that it must be a tool of action—its predictable function outweighing all other features in the moment of truth, whereas a rifle must be accurate at the foremost, otherwise it’s hardly worth its weight. Reliability in a handgun is the most critical feature: accuracy, capacity and power being secondary in no particular order. I don’t feel this is up for debate. I hardly imagine any reasonable person would advocate something like group size over reliability when life is on the line. If a light interferes with this baseline trait, it’s a no-go.

Weight and size are critical elements of function, just the same as capacity or safety type. I found that, for many gun owners, lights are almost a complete afterthought and added without a great deal of research. Not only can a light change the frontal weight and balance of a gun, but it can also add length and thus impact draw.

As an example, a common gun like the Glock 19 with a SureFire X300 light is as long as a 5-inch 1911. The 5-inch 1911, on the other hand, is unaffected in this capacity because the same X300 light doesn’t extend past the muzzle. Draw doesn’t really change much here.

weapon-mounted-light-feature
Added length on a draw is something that you need to account for. The common Glock 19 with a SureFire X300 is as long as a 5-inch 1911 with the same light installed, yet the 1911 isn’t going to be impacted on draw. If you’re already having to do a long draw, why not go for a Glock 34 instead? At least you’ll have more velocity and a softer-recoiling gun given equal length on your belt.

I was at a media event a while back doing some coverage and ended up on this topic with some associates, a couple of them being professional instructors. Each of these guys claimed they wouldn’t even let students take the class unless they had a weapon-mounted light. “You’re not going to make it if you don’t have a light, plain and simple” was what I got out of that. I think this is false (not even all police departments issue lights on pistols, never mind the sheer number of civilians who defend themselves daily).

However, if you look at some classes available nationwide, you’ll see a trend to this type of thinking. Most classes I have been to advocated having at least two lights on your person, one as a stand-alone light and the other on the handgun. I can see the logic, but I don’t think it’s feasible for a person to do this 100 percent of the time. At some point, a person has to start accepting that there’ll be a cutoff in terms of how much gear they can put on a gun or their person and actually use it effectively.

Carrying a separate light is a better option, if you’re able to have it with you constantly, gun or not. I’ve become a convert to this in recent years and now carry a SureFire with Thyrm ring as a daily item—though I admit I don’t carry it if I expect to be home during daylight hours. If I’m out after dark I always have it, even if I don’t have a gun.

As a side note, for daily use I strongly recommend a rechargeable light, as I’ve probably paid for my flashlight many times over in batteries at this point but am too stubborn to order a new one with that capability. A handheld light is a great tool for life, and it really doesn’t need to be weapons-grade. If you’re prone to losing your stuff, the $10 gas station specials are often plenty bright and easily replaced.

X300-weapon-mounted-light
SureFire lights are well respected and durable. These are on most of the author’s pistols over 4 inches, where they offer the greatest advantage for their size.

On that note, a weapon-mounted light needs to be the opposite of cheap. In fact, I think that it must be as reliable as the gun, meaning that it should be 100 percent reliable in your experience with it. I really like SureFire and Streamlight on my pistols. I’ve never had a problem with any of them in terms of function, but I’ve broken a few in my time. Namely, I had a SureFire X300 that I lost the finger tabs on during a class with lots of drawing and holstering, and a Streamlight TLR-1 HL that had a faulty gasket on the battery compartment. I own a large number of these lights, and, overall, I count these as isolated problems.

I like my lights to be able to withstand impact if necessary, so I prefer a rugged mounting system as well. The SureFire X300U-A has a fast-attach feature, but I’ve also had my share of times in practice where the light went flying off the gun. For this reason, I prefer the X300U-B with the thumb screw-style mount. I use this on 1911s and typically save the A models for Glocks.

A good number of people have taken to Amazon to get their gun lights, and I’ve seen a wide number of mixed results. Many of my friends own Olight products; I’ve nothing against the brand at all and completely understand that some people are on a limited budget for accessories. Olight does make some very good products, and I count them as the best among the lower cost lights. That said, in most cases, it’s a good decision to save your money and buy once, cry once on a SureFire or Streamlight.

Notable Weapon-Mounted Lights to Consider

I’ve narrowed down my own lights to those that are only the most effective in realistic roles. My main rotation of pistols comprises 1911s, Glocks, J-Frame Smiths and a Sig P365.

Streamlight-TLR-lights
Streamlight has a wide range of offerings available. Traditional models, like the TLR1, are wide and somewhat bulky … but they’re known for being reliable.

My main field guns are 1911s; I like .45 ACP for serious use hunting and have had great success with them deer hunting. I carry SureFire X300U-B models on these guns, one being a custom-built hunting pistol and the other a Colt M45A1. The custom gun always has its light mounted, and my holsters for it are meant for the light. In general, I don’t carry the Colt with a light on it despite it having a rail. The gun is heavy already, and I don’t like the extra bulk—though when in the nightstand, I do put the SureFire back on.

I have four SureFire lights I use regularly, and they’ve proven extremely rugged. These are all “full-size” lights and are best when mounted on full-size 4.5- to 5.5-inch pistols. I prefer my lights to not protrude out in front of the muzzle, and on the 1911 this isn’t an issue.

For Glock pistols, I’m a fan of very compact lights, especially the Streamlight TLR-7. I have both the pressure switch version and the regular one. These tuck in neatly on a 4-inch Glock; I have one on both my regular carry G19 Gen 5 and my 19X with threaded barrel. I enjoy that, when using a suppressor, the compact light doesn’t make the Glock so front heavy as with a SureFire.

Streamlight-TLR-7-weapon-mounted-light
Streamlight’s TLR7 line is very impressive and offers great brightness and user-friendly controls. What’s best is that the batteries can be changed without taking the light off the gun (they load in from the front), and the light has a manual off setting to avoid wasting battery power in daylight times.

Of note is that I ended up swapping the pressure switch version from my 19 to the 19X after substantial use. The button lowers the finger noticeably on the 19, making it feel like a G26 grip. The 19X has a bit more real estate and allows for a firmer, full grip without the feeling of “stacking” your fingers up.

On my compact guns, such as the P365 and J-Frames, I don’t even try to mount a light on them. Instead, I want to take advantage of just how small and light they are. I know there are options for these guns, but I don’t want to negate the advantage of being able to easily drop them in a pocket.

I believe a light on a 3-inch 9mm or a 2-inch 357 Mag is just unnecessary; the distances these guns are effective is just too short for the added weight and is a liability for a fast draw from a pocket. A handheld is far better combined with a micro pistol.

Sig-P365-and-238-TLR
An example of guns that are, in the author’s opinion, too small for feasible lights.

Lights Out

Ultimately, there are many (too many?) schools of thought on the theory of lights. In terms of self-defense on the street, they can be great. But lights are also a beacon that gives you away, especially if you’re trying to hide or get away. In the home, they’re not always an advantage either, considering you’re just as likely to give your location away to an invader with one as you’d be turning your lights on in the room you’re in.

Moreover, few people practice inside their own home. I strongly encourage you to do so; your cozy domestic space can become a terrifying maze of moving shadows and blind corners in the dead of night. Making sure you know how to use your light in this scenario is important, and I’d even go so far as to say you should practice with a handheld light with your family and friends. The first time you do it you had best be ready for jump scares—even familiar faces are surprising when you don’t expect them to be in the room with you.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the April 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More On Tactical Lights:

Sig Sauer Introduces ROMEO-X Red Dot Sights

By
Adam Borisenko
-
0

Sig Sauer has just announced the ROMEO-X optic series, featuring two sizes of pistol red dots.

Sig Sauer recently showed off the Romeo-M17, the red dot developed for the Army’s new Sig M17 pistols. However, that exact model is not available to civilians. For non-military shooters who were interested in its design, Sig has just announced a new optic series inspired by it called the ROMEO-X. The new line of pistol red dots is commercially available and offered in two different sizes.

Sig ROMEO-X feature

The two versions are called the ROMEO-X Compact and the Romeo-X Pro, the former being for smaller handguns like the Sig P365 while the latter is intended for full-size pistols such as the Sig P320. The Compact model used a Shield RMSc mounting footprint and the Pro model uses a DeltaPoint Pro footprint. Besides their sizes and mounting footprints, the two ROMEO-X red dots mostly share the same features. Those include 7075 aluminum housings, side-mounted CR1632 battery compartments and distortion-free aspheric glass.

Other commonalities are the optics’ advertised continuous runtime of 20,000 hours (at a medium brightness setting), 15 brightness settings (12 for daytime, 3 for night vision) and red 2-MOA dot/32-MOA circle reticles. The red dots also have motion activation technology, magnetic activation technology and are capable of co-witnessing standard-height iron sights.

Sig-ROMEO-X-on-pistols

Andy York, President of SIG SAUER Electro-Optics, said this about the new red dots:

The ROMEO-X family of red dot sights is completely optimized for everyday carry and built using the same technology and testing standards of our mil-spec optics that are designed to withstand the rigors of the battlefield … The ROMEO-X Series is designed for ease of use beginning with the side battery placement leading to an overall low deck height of the sight. This profile gives the optic an extremely low position when mounted to the slide for a full sight picture and co-witness with the existing standard-height iron sights. The ROMEO-X Compact and ROMEO-X Pro are engineered, tested, and built-in Oregon to be the ultimate aiming solution for EDC.

Sig-ROMEO-X-shooting

MSRP for the Sig ROMEO-X Compact is $519.99 and MSRP for the ROMEO-X Pro is $589.99.

For more information, please visit sigsauer.com.

More Pistol Red Dots:

  • The Red Dot Advantage
  • The Best Optics For CCW
  • The Aimpoint ACRO P-2
  • The Trijicon RMR
  • The Swampfox Liberator II

    • PSA AK-74 Review: American-Made Russian Thunder

    By
    Adam Borisenko
    -
    0

    Imported 5.45x39mm rifles have been scarce and expensive lately, so we’re taking a look at the more affordable American-made PSA AK-74.

    If you had told me five years ago that I’d be recommending an American-made AK, I probably would have laughed. But both Palmetto State Armory and the AK market have changed a lot since then. While I used to unwaveringly promote imported AKs over domestically produced ones, the value that Palmetto’s AKs now offer is too good to ignore.

    PSA-AK-74-right

    When the company’s AKs first came on the scene, they had plenty of issues and used materials that are widely considered to be subpar. Other American companies that have attempted to make Kalashnikovs have traditionally balked at criticisms like these, but PSA proved to be different. The company accepted feedback and made incremental improvements with each rifle generation, eventually resulting in a totally solid yet very affordable line of 7.62×39 AKs.

    While I already own plenty of 7.62 AKs, I’d been thinking about adding an AK-74 to the safe for some time. Unfortunately, the availability of imported 5.45 rifles has been low in recent years, resulting in prices inflating to above what I was willing to pay. So, when Palmetto announced the PSA AK-74 in 2020, I was intrigued given it would undoubtedly be more affordable than an import.

    Much like the company’s 7.62 rifles, however, its 5.45 line started life with some hiccups. Now that PSA has had the time to address them, I asked for a review copy to take a closer look at the revised product.

    PSA-AK-74-left

    Generation 1 PSA AK-74 Issues

    When talking about the PSA AK-74, the elephant in the room is Garand Thumb’s initial review from 2021. You can watch his video for the full breakdown, but in a nutshell, his rifle experienced early and excessive wear on the front trunnion and bolt, broken firing pins and popped primers.

    PSA asked him to send the rifle back to them for further testing, and it resulted in internal changes made to the design. Garand Thumb did a follow-up review with the updated rifle and found no more issues after putting thousands of additional rounds through it. Of the AK-74s that PSA has sold since then, the issues seem to have been successfully remedied given the lack of user complaints online.

    Would it have been preferable if the PSA AK-74 was perfect from the get-go? Sure, but new firearms rarely are. What’s more important is PSA has—more than once—proven its ability to competently respond to feedback and implement improvements with each generation of AK it releases.

    PSA-AK-74-folded

    First Impressions And Rounds Downrange

    From the first time I laid eyes on it at my FFL, I was impressed with the PSA AK-74. The metal finish is an attractive glossy black, the action was noticeably smoother than average and the folding stock worked like a dream.

    Over the course of a couple of range sessions, I put a total of about 500 Golden Tiger 59-grain FMJs through it. Not a torture test by any measure, but 5.45×39 is expensive these days. Regardless, I didn’t experience a single malfunction of any kind throughout my testing.

    PSA-AK-74-shooting

    That’s almost surprising because the rifle felt under-gassed compared to other AK-74s I’ve shot. AKs are heavy and 5.45 is a light round, so AK-74s are already known for being soft shooters, but PSA’s had essentially zero recoil. Taking aimed shots with it felt more like directing a laser, and during rapid fire, it stayed so still that it just made me wish the third selector position was actually functional.

    Despite this, the rifle’s flawless reliability with both live ammo and blanks proves that it’s been gassed perfectly. Perhaps the enhanced potential reliability of military-gassed AK-74s has some appeal in muddy trenches, but for the range, the PSA AK-74 couldn’t be better.

    Continuing with the laser beam analogy, the rifle’s irons were also perfectly zeroed from the factory. While I didn’t use it to put any groups on paper, it rang a half-torso steel target at 100 yards all day long with minimal effort. The trigger feels like a standard AK trigger, but that’s just fine with me.

    PSA-AK-74-shooting-2

    Based on what I was able to test, the PSA AK-74 also has good magazine compatibility. It came with a PMAG which worked without issue, but that should be expected since it’s likely the magazine PSA designed the gun around. New-production Bulgarian steel-reinforced polymer mags worked perfectly as well.

    My rifle had no issue accepting or feeding from surplus mags (both Russian and East German), but all were quite tight to remove. This could easily be fixed with a bit of file work, however.

    The only magazines I tried to test that my rifle absolutely would not accept were AK-12 mag clones from AC-Unity.

    In a word, this gun is fun. When you level your sights on a steel plate, squeeze the trigger and hear that first ring, it takes enormous self-control to not keep blasting as fast as you can. Just like when you get behind the wheel of a sports car and can tell it’s begging to go faster, you can tell this rifle wants to shoot more ammo than you can afford to feed it.

    Customizing The PSA AK-74

    While the rifle did look great right out of the box, I couldn’t resist the urge to start swapping parts. The factory nutmeg wood furniture will surely appeal to some, but AKs just look wrong to me unless they’re dressed in original surplus. On that note, the first thing I did was replace the handguards with a set of Soviet blonde laminate and the pistol grip with surplus bakelite. I also added an original AK-74 sling.

    PSAK-74-stock
    The PSAK-74 as it comes from the factory.

    Palmetto sells a wide variety of AK-74 variants ranging from basic to classic to tactical, and although the model I chose would definitely be considered a classic, PSA makes no promises of historical accuracy. For AK pedants like me, there are a couple of small parts that I wish were different.

    Firstly, the rifle comes with a smooth dust cover, the appropriate style for newer models like the AK-103. Since the model I received has a triangle stock like an AKS-74, however, it should really be ribbed. Thankfully that was an easy and cheap part to swap.

    These rifles also come sporting an enhanced selector lever with an extended shelf. This isn’t true for the original either, but it is a nice feature to have. Speaking of the selector, PSA’s is probably the smoothest I’ve ever felt on any stock AK.

    AK74-PSO-scope

    PSA also includes a side optics rail on its AK-74, something that has become pretty standard on AKs sold in the U.S. While I don’t plan on utilizing mine, I tried mounting various optics and all went on without a problem. That includes both original Eastern Bloc optics as well as aftermarket mounts from RS Regulate.

    Finally, I mentioned earlier that I also tested the rifle with blank ammo. That required the installation of a surplus blank fire adaptor and it screwed on flawlessly. This shows that PSA did the threads correctly and that you should be able to install any M24x1.5 RH muzzle device that you desire.

    AK74-blank-fire-adaptor

    In short, this PSA AK-74 is close enough to spec that it had no issue accepting original Soviet furniture, optics, muzzle devices or magazines. Some minor fitting was required along the way, but that’s typical for all Kalashnikovs.

    Should You Buy?

    If you’ve been in the market for a 5.45x39mm rifle, I’d definitely recommend the PSA AK-74. For the money, I don’t believe there’s a better option out there. Are imported models better on paper? In many ways, sure, but they also cost substantially more. Plus, as far as I’m aware, there’s currently just one other domestically produced AK-74 available and it only costs marginally less than PSA’s despite being generally accepted as using worse quality components.

    PSA-AK-74-review-feature

    If you’ve been wanting an AK in general but aren’t particular about the chambering, then this rifle isn’t the one for you. As great as 5.45 is, the cartridge will simply never be as affordable to shoot in the U.S. as 5.56 NATO. PSA makes 5.56 AKs too, but I haven’t had the chance to play with one personally. It, unfortunately, seems that due to things like the Russian ammo ban, all Soviet calibers are on the decline stateside.

    That said, if 5.45 appeals to you specifically, there is some hope still. That’s because Palmetto is in the process of setting up a domestic ammo plant for Soviet ammunition, including 5.45×39. When the factory comes online, it will hopefully be able to churn out enough affordable ammo to let these PSA AK-74s get the range time they truly deserve.

    PSAK-74 Triangle Side Folding Rifle, Nutmeg

    • Caliber: 5.45x39mm
    • Barrel Length: 16.3 Inches
    • Thread Pitch: M24x1.5 RH
    • Muzzle Device: AK-74 Style Brake
    • Stock: Metal Triangle, Side Folding
    • Furniture: Nutmeg wood handguards and pistol grip
    • MSRP: $1,099.99

    More AK Stuff:

    First Look: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Redline Rifles

    By
    Adam Borisenko
    -
    0

    Springfield Armory has just announced the Model 2020 Redline rifle series, lightweight and compact bolt-actions ready to hunt in any environment.

    There was a time when the only major selling point of a hunting rifle was its accuracy, but those days are long behind us. Now with the growing popularity of backcountry hunting and similar expeditions into rough terrain, things like weight, size, ergonomics and the ability to mount a suppressor are paramount considerations. Springfield Armory’s new Model 2020 Redline bolt-action rifle series was built with that in mind.

    Springfield-Armory-Model-2020-Redline-feature-16in-6-5-CM
    16-inch 6.5 Creedmoor 2020 Redline model.

    Built on Model 2020 actions, the Springfield Armory 2020 Redline series is initially launching with four models to choose from. Caliber options include .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor, and barrel options include 16 and 20 inches. All barrels are also free-floated and feature roll-wrapped carbon fiber sleeves. The 16-inch barrel option was offered primarily with suppressors in mind to provide hunters with a more maneuverable package in the field. To help promote the use of suppressors with Redline rifles, purchasers will also receive a $200 discount if they buy a Banish 30 from Silencer Central. If suppressors aren’t your bag, each rifle comes equipped with a SA Radial Brake.

    SA-2020-Redline-bubble-level

    All 2020 Redline rifles also come with a skeletonized Greyboe Trekker stock. Not only is the stock lightweight at 28 ounces, but it also features an adjustable length of pull, three sling studs and a bubble level/thumb rest at the rear of the action. Other noteworthy features include an adjustable TriggerTech trigger and a .75-MOA accuracy guarantee (for a 100-yard, 3-shot group using match-grade ammo).

    Steve Kramer, Vice President of Marketing for Springfield Amory, said this about the new rifles:

    The Model 2020 Waypoint set the standard for precision manufacturing, performance and accuracy from a premium, American-made rifle … The new Model 2020 Redline continues that tradition by offering backcountry hunters a rifle perfectly suited to their demanding needs.

    SA-2020-Redline-20-in-308
    20-inch .308 Win. 2020 Redline model.

    All four Springfield Armory Model 2020 Redline variants come with a rifle case and share an MSRP of $2,299.

    For more information, please visit springfield-armory.com.

    More Bolt-Action Rifles:

    Passing The Torch With The Winchester Model 61

    By
    Richard A. Mann
    -
    1

    There’s nothing like a first rifle, especially if that rifle is a Winchester Model 61.

    After my father was released from the Army hospital in Fort Pickett, Virginia, he used the G.I. Bill to go to college. He and my mother were married soon after, and Dad worked odd jobs to stay in school. They never had much money, but they loved to hunt, and grandpa gave them a Winchester Model 61. After Dad got his degree and began teaching, they finally saved up enough money to buy matching Winchester Model 12 shotguns. They were then, as they say, “living high on the hog.”

    Winchester-Model-61-feature

    When I finally came along, Mom and Dad still didn’t have a lot of money, but they did have that Model 61. When I wasn’t much more than stirrup high, I used that rifle to kill my first critter; I shot a raccoon out of a tree with about half the family watching. Our family enjoyed hunting raccoons with hounds, and when the dogs treed one, we took turns shooting at it—youngest to oldest. I was the youngest and learned right quick that if I didn’t get the hit, the gun would never make its way back to me. Eventually, I got so good at shooting ’coons, they’d skip me and let the older young’uns shoot first.

    Mann-with-Winchester
    The author with the rifle that taught him how to shoot. It’s still teaching him lessons.

    That rifle and I grew up together, but there was a brief time when a shotgun tried to intervene with our relationship. Mom also had an old single-shot Model 37 Winchester .410 bore she’d hunted with up until she and Dad acquired their Model 12s. (In case you’ve not figured it out, we were a Winchester family.) After that, she had let my older cousins use her Model 37 as their first hunting gun. So, Mom expected me to follow form.

    Model-61-loading
    One can only wonder how many rounds this author’s dropped down the magazine tube of his old Winchester Model 61.

    Dad took me squirrel hunting and, after about an hour under a hickory tree and a complete box of .410 shells, there were no dead squirrels. On the way back to the house, I asked if I could use my .22—the Model 61—for squirrel hunting. Dad seemed a bit dejected, but agreed, and that was the beginning of the rifleman I am today.

    Unlike Any Other

    The Winchester Model 61 was introduced in 1932. It was a lean and trim pump-action .22 that was capable of handling .22 Short, .22 Long and .22 Long Rifle cartridges. Unlike modern .22 rifles with abbreviated barrels, the Model 61 had a full-length, 24-inch tube, and it was available in either an octagonal or round configuration. Surprisingly, it could even be ordered with a Routledge smooth-bore barrel, where after about 12 to 17 inches the bore opened to 0.375-inch diameter to stop the spinning of shotshell payloads. These special 61s were a favorite of exhibition shooters.

    Win-M61-with-ammo
    The amount of joy that can be found with a handful of cartridges and a good .22 rifle by a young boy or an old man is immeasurable.

    There were three versions of the 61: a Pre-War, Standard and WMR. The Pre-War version had a straight grip and a steel butt plate. The Standard version had a larger circumference forend and a pistol grip stock. The WMR version, as you might have guessed, was chambered for the .22 WMR cartridge. All were loaded and fed by a tube magazine, and one of the coolest features of the 61 was the large thumb screw on the left side of the action that made the gun a takedown.

    Winchester-takedown-button
    The Model 61 was a takedown rifle. This screw on the left side of the action is what held it together.

    Many considered the Model 61 a rimfire companion to Winchester’s iconic Model 12 shotgun. It may have been the impetus that inspired my mom and dad to get their Model 12s. Operation of both were identical; the action release and safety were in exactly the same place. Model 61 production ceased in 1963, and there were about 342,000 61s made during its 31 years of manufacture. Used—shooter condition—Model 61s will sell for about a grand, but 61’s with the Routledge barrel can break a wallet or cause a divorce.

    These little rifles were amazingly good shooting guns. Over the course of growing up with my 61, I made some shots that were better than brag worthy. And by the time I was in my teens, that rifle and I were unbeatable; no one in my family shot it as well as I did—that includes my father, who was deadly with open sights.

    Win-M61-sights
    Though equipped with rudimentary sights, with a good eye and a fine bead, this Winchester Model 61 put a lot of squirrels in the pot.

    Of course, nothing lasts forever, and I eventually had to have a .22 Magnum, one that was compatible with a scope. About the same time that I kissed my first girl—and meant it—that old Model 61 was handed down to my sister.

    Time Marches On

    As it is with many early relationships, mine with that old Model 61 began to fade. New adventures with my scope-sighted .22 Magnum and a new Remington Model 700 made my time with the 61 seem juvenile and less important. By the time I was in my 20s, that old rifle had been mostly forgotten.

    But a few years ago, my sister surprisingly gifted my son with my father’s old Winchester 100, my oldest daughter with my mother’s Model 12 and my youngest daughter with our family’s old Model 61. A better Christmas gift would be hard to imagine, but of course my kids have been exposed to much more modern guns all their lives. The gesture was mostly one of nostalgia as opposed to something that generated exciting expectations at the shooting range. However, and again, few things stay the same forever.

    Winchester-Model-61-shooting
    Though back in the day it was the rifle many youngsters learned to shoot with, the 61’s 24-inch barrel made the rifle a bit muzzle heavy for youths. Here, the author’s oldest daughter is plinking away with his family’s old 61.

    Last year, my son used his grandfather’s old 16-gauge Model 12 to take his first spring gobbler. I think this accomplishment, along with the nostalgia it carried with it, sort of inspired him to ask about that Model 61 that’d been hiding in the gun safe. We took it out to the range, and after a bit of plinking, he said, “Let’s have a little shootout.” Remembering my relationship with that rifle and the things we’d been capable, I readily agreed, with the full intention that I was going to show him a thing or two.

    Winchester-61-with-targets
    This Winchester Model 61 might’ve seen its last days afield, but it’s still capable of ringing steel or capping squirrels.

    I’m not sure, but maybe my memory isn’t as good as I thought it was. Or, maybe, my old eyes just can’t see as good as they used to. The old rifle and I performed pretty darn well, but it seemed to find the target better and more often in my son’s hands than it did in mine. Was I not as good as I once was? Or, possibly, was my son just a better shot? It couldn’t be that I couldn’t shoot as good now as when I was younger. I’m a much better shot now and have proved it on numerous occasions. I’ve also been trained by some of the best rifle shooters in the world. I still—routinely—outshoot my son when we have these little competitions. Oh, he’s good, but rarely good enough. So, what was going on?

    Maybe what was going on didn’t have a great deal to do with my shooting skill at all. Maybe what was going on was that a fourth-generation rifle was passing the torch.

    M61-shooting-1
    A good rifle never lies. It will let you know when it’s time to pass the torch.

    I remember sitting by the campfire with my father many, many, years ago. We were using that Model 61 to shoot clothes pins off the clothesline—while Mom and Grandma weren’t watching, mind you. About 10 pins in, I think the score was Dad 3, me 7. That’s when he said he thought ought we ought to stop. That might’ve been the last time dad and I had one of those little shooting competitions. It’s also about the time he began bragging about what a good rifle shot I was.

    Atta Boy, Son

    As I put that old Model 61 back into the safe after its first outing to the range in many years, I realized that maybe it’s time I took something else from my father. I should probably quit trying to outshoot my son and start bragging a bit about the rifleman he has become. In fact, I’m certain that’s what I should do. I’m certain because one of my childhood friends, a friend who I’d not spent any time with in a long, long, time, just told me so. When a rifle you’ve trusted talks, you should listen.

    So, let me tell you about how this boy of mine shoots a rifle …

    Winchester-Model-61
    A true classic, the Winchester Model 61 was like the Ruger 10/22 of its time.

    Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

    More Classic Guns:

    Just Checking: Why You Need A Case Gauge

    By
    Patrick Sweeney
    -
    2

    Some mistakes you make only once.

    If you want to practice more, you reload your ammo. If you want the best-possible ammo for a given competition, you reload your ammo. And, sooner or later, when vacuuming up the range, you’ll pick up a piece of brass that won’t chamber after you’ve gone to the trouble of cleaning, sizing, priming and loading it. Usually that happens in a match. Murphy’s Law and such.

    That night you’ll be searching out case gauges online. Save yourself the match hassle and do it now. Case checkers are simple—a steel or aluminum block with the chamber reamed to absolute minimum chamber dimensions. These are used in rifle reloading to check the “shoulder bump,” the setting back of the shoulder you check so you have a proper headspacing setup in your reloading. You use them a bit differently for handguns.

    Case-Gauge-feature-EGW-Dillon
    Many people make case checkers: Just get the caliber you need … and use it. These are from EGW and Dillon.

    After you’ve sorted and cleaned your brass (and checked for cracked ones as well), load your ammo. Once you have a batch or several loaded, simply spend some boring alone time dropping each loaded round into the case gauge. Then, turn the gauge over to let it fall out. If this is your match ammo, you’d be wise to also look at and touch the primer on each one to make sure it’s properly seated (not sideways, upside down or crushed) … and below flush.

    If a round won’t drop completely of its own weight, it fails. If it won’t drop out of its own weight when you turn the case gauge over, it fails. Set the fails aside.

    What passes is your good ammo, and you can practice or compete with it with complete confidence. What do you do with the fails? Learn. First, inspect them. Do they appear normal? Good. Keep them. The ones where the bullet caught the case mouth and crumpled the case, slipped sideways and did the same, or other case-mangling errors are discards. You might not be belling the empties enough, or you might be ham-handed in setting bullets or pulling the press handle.

    Dillon-Case-Gauge
    Case checkers are caliber-specific. There’s no “one size fits all,” so buy the calibers you’ll be loading.

    Learn what you’re doing wrong and correct it.

    When you practice, take along the box of fails. If you’ve been paying attention, they won’t be many, and they’ll probably be cases that are slightly swelled at the base and won’t pass case-check. Shoot your normal practice session.

    Now, pick up all your brass (and whatever else you’re in the habit of hoovering up at the gun club). Load a magazine with the fails and shoot them. If they all work, then you know your case gauge is more discriminating than your chamber. So, unless a checked round sticks halfway out of the case-checker, it’s probably still good to go. (Keep them as practice rounds anyway, not as match rounds.)

    EGW-Case-Gauge-Ammo-Checker-1
    You have to learn if your chamber and the checker are in agreement. This round is just barely not-passing, but it’ll probably work fine in most pistols. Learn about yours; test-shoot the rejects.

    If more than just one or two fail in your handgun, then you know the checker and your chamber are in close agreement, and anything that fails the case gauge is “end of practice” ammo only. In that case, you now pick up those empties and deposit them in the trash. You’re performing a public service to fellow club members by getting oversized brass out of circulation.

    Where does this brass come from? Some is just bad brass. A quick search will uncover the names and headstamps of brass to avoid. But some of it comes from one of your own club members, who either has a grossly oversized chamber or is running his pressures too high and over-expanding brass.

    Don’t let his situation become your problem. Check your ammo and make your practice good, not just malfunction-clearing afternoons.

    Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

    More On Reloading:

    First Look: MDT Field Stock

    By
    Adam Borisenko
    -
    0

    If you have a Remington 700 SA-pattern rifle and have been looking for an affordable upgrade, the new MDT Field Stock has a lot to offer.

    Whether you’re a competitive long-range shooter, a serious hunter or just someone who enjoys shooting paper at the range, there’s a good chance you have a rifle that features the ubiquitous Remington 700 Short Action. If so, and you’re in the market for an affordable upgrade, the new MDT Field Stock is worth a look.

    MDT-Field-Stock-feature

    MDT describes its new Field Stock as being entry-level, but it still has quite a few features for the price. Firstly, accuracy is improved by aluminum v-block bedding and a free-floated barrel. The injection-molded polymer body is lightweight at only 3.1 pounds, making it easy to carry, and MDT says that the grip remains warm to the touch in any weather condition. Furthermore, length of pull spacers and an adjustable cheek riser allow for a perfect fit with any shooter.

    MDT-Field-Stock-riser

    Other features of the MDT Field Stock include sling studs on the buttstock and forend for attaching a sling or a bipod, compatibility with AICS-pattern magazines and M-LOK slots on the forend’s bottom and sides for installing other accessories. Each stock also ships with all necessary mounting hardware.

    MDT-Field-stock-rifle

    The MDT Field Stock is currently only offered in black or FDE for Remington 700 SA-pattern rifles, but fits for other actions will be added in the future. MSRP is $299.95 and it’s available now.

    For more information, please visit mdttac.com.

    More On Rifle Stocks:

    High Speed, High Class: The History Of Weatherby

    By
    Jay Pinsky
    -
    0

    A look at the history of Weatherby and its uncompromising commitment to ballistic innovation, top-notch manufacturing and the American dream.

    Roy Weatherby started his company’s namesake in 1945. Now, three generations of Weatherby leadership later, there are no signs of Roy’s vision slowing down—just like the cartridges he designed more than 75 years ago.

    Much has been written about the gregarious Roy E. Weatherby, and how one of the most prolific and innovative firearms manufacturers of all time began. Fans and competitors alike know well the story of how Roy started his sporting goods company right after World War II, building one rifle at a time. Some may even know that Roy’s inspiration for his need for ballistic speed was a less-than-stellar Utah hunting experience he had early (1942) in his career. He wanted a better cartridge for the hunter to be successful—and the game hunted to suffer less.

    So, Roy tinkered. He innovated. He pushed successful cartridges well beyond their comfort zones, and when his wildcat cartridges needed a stronger firearm, he built one with the Mark V action in 1958. As Roy’s customer base increased, so did their want and need for firearms. In 1967, Roy added shotguns to his arsenal. In 1970, he added the Vanguard line of rifles to cater to Weatherby fans who wanted his firearms in non-Weatherby cartridges.

    Weatherby-store
    Weatherby’s outgrew its space, and, in 1951, relocated to Firestone Boulevard just around the corner from the original store. It housed the store, gun shops, offices and even a 100-yard underground rifle range. Sportsmen and women came from far and near to visit Weatherby’s. (Photo credits: Weatherby).

    What About Today?

    Philosophically, not much has changed since 1945, because the Weatherby family has mastered remaining the same while being different.

    “As I look at Weatherby today, there are three main things that set us apart,” said Adam Weatherby. “One: ballistic superiority. Two: quality craftsmanship. And, three: brand prestige. These three things have largely got us to where we are today.”

    And it appears that a thirst for velocity, ballistic innovation and firearm craftsmanship are hereditary. First observed in Roy in 1945, the Weatherby way was evident in his son, Ed, when he took over in 1983, and again in his grandson, Adam, who took the helm of Weatherby in 2017.

    “My grandfather started Weatherby Inc. in 1945 as a result of his passion for ballistic superiority and ultra-high velocity,” Adam said. “His drive to deliver quality craftsmanship and superior service created a multi-generational firearm and ammunition business that I get the pleasure of running today.

    Roy-Weatherby
    Roy Edward Weatherby founded Weatherby, Inc., in 1945.

    “My father taught me the ethics of shooting and hunting from a young age, and I’m very grateful for that,” Adam continued. “I have had the opportunity to share many hunts and experiences with some incredible folks in the industry over the years. Since I was brought up in the family business, I could rely on industry professionals I’ve had the pleasure of meeting along the way. Honestly, Bruce Pettet (CEO, Leupold) has been one of those guys for me. Having been a CEO for the last couple of decades, he provides me with insight and advice from an outside perspective that has been very influential.”

    Still, there’s another layer to Adam that few may know, which has helped evolve Adam and the Sheridan, Wyoming, company into what they are today.

    “Many people may not know this, but I left the family business for several years as I worked in full-time Christian ministry,” Adam said. “I would not go back and trade those years for anything. As I spent that time focusing on peoples’ lives and the things that matter the most, it helped prepare me to lead the business I now find myself in. I truly have a passion for firearms and the outdoors, but that doesn’t compare to the importance of caring for people and seeing them pursue what is most important.”

    6-5-RPM-Hunting
    While Roy Weatherby’s cartridge development was driven by speed first and foremost, in the 6.5 RPM Adam Weatherby sought to maximize speed while staying in the smaller, lighter six-lug Mark V action. The result was the fastest 6.5 that could be made to fit, allowing for a hunting rifle weighing just 4.9 pounds.

    Lofty Goals Of Excellence

    What exactly should today’s Weatherby customer expect under Adam’s leadership?

    “When a customer chooses a Weatherby, they’re getting a firearm from a multi-generational, family owned U.S. business that has provided a premium product for decades,” Adam said. “That heritage and history is combined with a drive for innovation, delivering a unique, premium product line within the shooting and hunting space.”

    Looking forward, Adam focuses on what he wants the Weatherby brand to be to ensure the brand lives on generations from now.

    “I hope that Weatherby will always be a premium brand in the outdoor space,” said Adam. “The risks involved with relocating the business a few years ago were taken on to ensure the brand’s ability to thrive as we look toward the future.”

    Mark-V-Backcountry-2-Ti
    One of Adam Weatherby’s innovations is the Mark V Backcountry 2.0 Ti. Weighing 4.7 pounds, and 4.9 pounds in magnum chamberings, this is the lightest in the Backcountry 2.0 family.

    While well-built firearms and super-fast cartridges are synonymous with all of the Weatherby’s, what may stand out as Adam’s pivotal business triumph wasn’t a ballistic decision—but a geographic one.

    “My grandfather and father were able to lay a foundation for a world-renowned firearm and ammunition brand,” Adam continued. “I now have the incredible privilege of building on that foundation. Our move to Wyoming in 2019 has helped propel us into the future as we pursue not only innovation, but also vertical integration in what I would consider the most gun-friendly and business-friendly state in the country. We have grown and established an incredible team in Sheridan, Wyoming, that not only love what they do but have the unique opportunity of living at the feet of the Bighorn Mountains.”

    Weatherby-Sheridan-WY
    In 2019, Weatherby officially moved from Paso Robles, California, to Sheridan, Wyoming, creating more than 70 jobs.

    Adam’s Weatherby isn’t without its unique challenges, however. The ongoing COVID-19 troubles spared no one—even the firearms industry.

    “Whereas some companies are highly affected by the boom/bust of political spikes, those market fluctuations affect our brand less because our product line differs from many of those companies,” Adam said. “Without a doubt, the largest external influence this past year has been the supply chain challenges we have faced.”

    Pandemics aside, Adam and Weatherby have continued to navigate the firearms manufacturing community differently than many. Adam said an example of a different direction for Weatherby is their decision to continue providing a premium product regarding their rifle offerings.

    “During the past decade, there was a race to the bottom to provide the rifles at an incredibly low price,” Adam said. “Although some of our competitors were able to do this and increase volumes successfully, it was a strategic decision for us to not go below a certain price point. We used that opportunity to ‘feature up’ our products to add more value. In the end, it has worked very well for our brand.”

    Adam-Weatherby
    Adam Weatherby with the first animal ever taken with his new cartridge, the 6.5 RPM.

    What does the future hold for the firearms community and, more specifically, Weatherby?

    “As for the firearms industry, I wish I knew,” Adam said. “These past couple years have been some crazy ones, and the answer to this question takes some excellent crystal ball reading skills. As for Weatherby, we will continue to take advantage of our recent brand momentum and look toward the future with innovation and new product launches, while paying attention to the quality and service that our company was founded upon. I sure would love to think that Weatherby’s best years are still to come.”

    Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the February 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

    More Weatherby Guns:

    Springfield Armory Echelon: The New Best Duty Pistol?

    By
    Iain Harrison
    -
    0

    The new Springfield Echelon duty pistol may seem unassuming on the surface, but it has some interesting tricks up its sleeve.

    You’re probably looking at this and thinking, “Man, what the gun world really needs right now is a 9mm, polymer-framed, striker-fired handgun.” Because no one is making those, right? Normally, we’d tend to agree with you, but because this pistol was developed with help from one of the greatest shooters the world has seen, we’re not that jaded. Yet. 

    Springfield-Echelon-profile

    We first clapped eyes on Springfield’s newest offering about two years ago at a range in Croatia. Back then, it didn’t have a name, but representatives from the company had great hopes for it, as did their local partners at HS Produkt. 

    Springfield’s existing polymer handgun line, built around the venerable XD, was looking a bit long in the tooth, and it was way past time for a refresh. One of the people directing the project was Springfield’s pro staffer, competitor, trainer, and all-round good guy, Rob Leatham. And when you have a multiple-time world champion driving the train, little details tend to get noticed.

    Nuts & Bolts Of The Springfield Echelon

    Think of a generic striker-fired handgun, and now think of any progress in design that’s been made in its development over the past 40 years. Let’s take grip texturing, for example. 

    When the Gen 1 Glock 17 came out, it had a lightly textured grip surface, which when placed in wet or bloody hands, was about as secure as a bar of soap. 

    This led to the next generation of perfection, which confined the same texturing to side panels, while adding deep checkering to the front and backstraps. The third gen added finger grooves, which hindered as many people as they helped. 

    Echelon-stripped

    Gen 4 gave us a uniformly rougher texture all over the grip but kept the finger grooves. And finally, in the fifth iteration, Glock listened to their customers, got rid of the finger grooves, and came out with a Goldilocks texture. 

    Springfield has vaulted right past all of that bullsh*t and endowed the Echelon with a fine, uniform texture applied to all contact surfaces, which provides plenty of traction, but won’t tear up your shirt or skin when carried IWB. 

    And while figuring out where to place your hand might be more difficult as a result, Springfield decided in this case to forgo the grip zone. 

    Now think of every other aspect of pistol design, how it could be improved on any given model, and you’ll probably find it here. 

    Like the SIG P320, the Echelon is a chassis gun. This provides numerous benefits to the user, including the ability to swap out grip modules should it become damaged and, usually, a more consistent trigger pull. 

    Unlike SIG, Springfield chose to equip the Echelon frame with replaceable backstraps in order to tailor the gun to the shooter, but there’s also an option to replace the entire frame. The medium-sized backstrap will probably accommodate 80 percent of users, but it’s good to have alternatives if you fall outside this percentile.

    Springfield-Echelon-profile-left

    Aftermarket frame surgeons will go hungry if they base their business around the Echelon, as it already has a double undercut trigger guard and stippling every place you can think of, including the magazine basepads. Hell, the factory even textured the end of the recoil spring guide rod, but what function that might perform is anybody’s guess. 

    Lefties will rejoice, as the pistol is fully ambi, including the magazine catch. That’s right, there’s no need to swap the button from left side to right, as there’s already one in place, well shielded from accidental operation but still easily accessible. 

    The slide release looks kind of small, but we had no problem either finding it during an emergency reload or using it to lock the slide open for administrative handling. It, too, is shielded with a small fence molded into the grip. The other vital control, the one which makes loud noises, has a conventional blade safety in its face, which when depressed sits perfectly flush with the trigger’s surface. 

    SA-Echelon-angle-2

    Pull weight on our sample came in at 5.5 pounds, and there’s about a ¼ inch of take-up before reaching the wall, followed by a 16th of an inch rolling break and almost zero overtravel. Is it as good as a Walther or Canik? No, but it probably wouldn’t be too hard to bring it up to speed, and for a handgun aimed squarely at the LE market, it’s a good, duty-style bang switch.

    Due to advances in manufacturing, particularly stamping, HS Produkt is able to hold much tighter clearances than before, which translates into a very solid-feeling pistol with almost no play between slide and guide rails. 

    Anyone who’s dry-fired a 320 with an MRDS is familiar with “dot jump” as the sear slips off the striker — don’t worry, it’s harmless and disappears with a loaded mag, but it’s due to slop caused by guide rails that aren’t bent at a 90-degree angle. In the Echelon, this phenomenon is almost completely absent. 

    Like a lot of modern striker-fired handguns, the Echelon makes extensive use of metal injection molding (MIM) in its small parts. Curmudgeon traditionalists will no doubt shudder and reminisce longingly over the days when billet-machined components were the norm, but a) forget it, those days aren’t coming back, and b) MIM is an excellent way to make stuff, so long as the part is designed with the process in mind.

    When we visited their factory, HS Produkt’s engineers proudly showed off their new Hot Isostatic Pressing machine, which decreases the porosity of MIM parts and greatly increases their strength. It does so by placing the components inside a large pressure vessel filled with argon gas, which is then heated, and the internal pressure increased to up to 30,000 psi. 

    SA-Echelon-angle

    If that sounds like a good way to level a small town in the event of something going wrong, you’d be correct (and one of the engineers joked to us that it was the reason he had a 20-minute commute). 

    One component definitely not MIM’d is the barrel, which is hammer forged in-house. While some might bag on the Springfield XD series for their grip safety (and let’s get in another dig at the grip zone, while we’re at it), no one complains about accuracy. We have a 5.25-inch barreled XDm in the collection, which is one of the most accurate handguns we’ve ever shot, and used it to place in Production class at the Bianchi Cup. 

    The Echelon’s barrels come from the same place, and given Leatham’s fanaticism, we expect run-of-the-mill guns coming off the line to have the same kind of potential. Certainly, our preproduction sample left nothing to be desired, turning in 1.2-inch groups at 25 yards with its preferred ammo. That was Norma’s 108-grain MHP, in case you were wondering.

    These days, it’d be notable if a handgun’s slide wasn’t cut for optics (looking at you, Dan Wesson), and the Echelon doesn’t disappoint. If you look at the underside, there’s an aha! moment when you realize the striker safety plunger has been moved from the usual position so that there’s no chance it can interfere with optics mounting screw locations, and the optics cut can be made as low as possible. 

    Springfield-Armory-cowitness

    With an RMR bolted up, the red dot’s body sits low enough that standard-height iron sights will cowitness easily, but the slightly thicker SRO means only the top of the front sight is visible through the glass but is still usable in an emergency. For anyone who doesn’t want to avail themselves of the wonders of technology, a cover plate takes care of the unsightly hole, the front sight is bright, green, and tritium-illuminated, while the rear sight is a wide, white-lined U-notch. 

    Aggressive front and rear cocking serrations adorn the slide’s surface and also serve to reduce reciprocating mass. At the rear is a tapered notch that provides an additional nonslip contact point for anyone slingshotting the slide into battery. 

    If you’re an XD owner looking to upgrade with another Springfield, then we have a bit of bad news for you: The mags you collected along the way don’t work in the new gun. While they look almost identical, the mag catch slot sits a little higher in Echelon magazines, which makes us believe someone will proudly show off their Dremel skills on Reddit the day after getting their paws on the new gun.

    Springfield-Echelon-on-range

    Rounds Downrange

    What can we say? It works. When you combine every proven design feature that’s surfaced in duty guns over the past four decades, it’s safe to assume the resulting mix will be pretty damn good. And so it is with the Echelon. 

    We wish we could find something about it that really grinds our gears, but other than the trigger being about a pound heavier than we’d like in a duty gun, there really isn’t anything negative to say about it. Recoil management is excellent, thanks to its grip shape and texture, and it shoots like a laser beam due to the tight lockup between barrel and slide, aided by minimal slide to frame fit.

    Optics users will rejoice at the slide interface, which makes suppressor-height sights utterly redundant and fits the widest range of MRDS options. After a long wait, Springfield has a serious contender in the crowded duty gun market and will no doubt sell a metric asston of them. Or at least they would, if only there were some way to figure out where to place your hand… 

    Springfield Armory / HS Produkt Echelon

    • Caliber: 9mm Luger
    • Capacity: 17 rounds
    • Barrel Length: 4.5 inches
    • Overall length: 7.5 inches
    • Weight: 23 ounces
    • MSRP: $670
    • URL: springfield-armory.com

    More Handgun Reviews:

    AR Handguards: KeyMod Vs. M-LOK

    By
    Sam Hoober
    -
    0

    If you’ve been looking to build or upgrade an AR, between KeyMod vs. M-LOK handguards, which is right for you?

    If you don't want to use quad rails or a traditional handguard on that next AR build (or if you're looking to put more modern furniture on your current rifle), your two options are either KeyMod or M-LOK. 

    Is one generally better than the other? Do either offer any niche advantages? What are the best handguard models for each style?

    keymod-vs-m-lok-feature
    M-LOK (left) vs. KeyMod (right).

    What Are KeyMod And M-LOK? 

    KeyMod and M-LOK were both invented to mount various accessories to an AR-style rifle without the bulk and weight of a quad rail “cheese grater” handguard. 

    Besides offering more attachment points for accessories, both styles of handguards often provide another key advantage: free-floating. Because most M-LOK and KeyMod handguard models attach to the barrel nut rather than the barrel itself, they improve a rifle’s potential for mechanical accuracy. This is opposed to traditional handguards that also attach to the barrel, meaning that force imparted on the handguard can transfer to the barrel and affect the point of impact. Because of this, some people opt to run a KeyMod or M-LOK handguard not because they want to attach any specific accessories but because they just want their barrel to be free-floated.

    A free-float M-LOK handguard and the barrel nut to which it attaches.

    While free-floating has undoubtedly become the more popular and available style, be aware that not all M-LOK or KeyMod handguards are free-floated. Some of the less expensive and simpler handguards that feature these attachment systems are still installed the traditional way.

    Who Created KeyMod And M-LOK? 

    Both rail systems started life in the private sector before eventually becoming noticed and subsequently adopted by various armed organizations around the globe.

    While M-LOK technically came first, the design we know today is predated by KeyMod. Designed by VLTOR Weapon Systems, KeyMod was released by Noveske Rifleworks in 2012 and then published as an open-source design so it could be utilized freely by the rest of the industry. The name comes from the design’s distinct keyhole-shaped slots.

    M-LOK (Modular Lock) was invented by Magpul Industries, with the proto-M-LOK design emerging as the MOE handguard in 2007. 

    Magpul-MOE-handguard
    An original Magpul MOE handguard. Photo: Wikipedia.

    The original MOE system used a series of slots (much like M-LOK) but had the drawback of requiring the user to install a T-nut behind the handguard. Doing so required either taking the handguard off every time you wanted to mount something or trying to find a way to drop it in place. 

    The limitations were obvious, so Magpul released a revised scheme in 2014 which is what we know as M-LOK today. M-LOK is still owned by Magpul Industries, but it allows other companies to use it as a sort of “conditional free license” rather than a true open-source design. 

    How Do They Work?

    In the cases of both rail systems, the magic has less to do with the handguards themselves and more with the mounting systems integrated into them. Both KeyMod and M-LOK use negative space (i.e., holes) for attaching accessories, and because you’re putting the mounting hardware into rather than onto the handguard (as with Picatinny), it allows for a sleeker and more streamlined design.

    keymod-vs-m-lok-function-CRANE
    KeyMod (top) vs. M-LOK (bottom). Photos: Crane.

    As for KeyMod, the attachment is a flared bolt that goes into the big hole and slides forward into the little hole. The user then tightens the bolt to secure it and attach whatever accessory they were trying to install. Typically, KeyMod accessories will occupy at least two holes for the most secure attachment. 

    M-LOK uses a series of rectangular slots. Attachments have T-nuts that are rotated parallel to the slot, inserted, then tightened to turn the T-nuts perpendicular to the rail slot, locking it in place. 

    In the broad strokes, KeyMod is a little more user-friendly and intuitive to use, but not so much that it makes a huge difference. 

    Does The Military Use M-LOK Or KeyMod? What Are The Pros & Cons? 

    When the U.S. military is using something besides Picatinny rails, it uses M-LOK. Testing by the Crane Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center revealed it was the superior system in some respects, so it was selected for use by USSOCOM. 

    Rails selected for use by various groups in the U.S. military include the Geissele Super HK rail and Geissele Super Modular Rail. The new Sig Sauer M5 rifle, of course, uses an M-LOK handguard as well. 

    Testing by Crane compared three different handguards offered with both M-LOK and KeyMod slots from Aero Precision, Midwest Industries and Seekins Precision. While no handguards suffered any failures withstanding recoil, stress testing found that KeyMod was the most fragile of the bunch.

    KeyMod handguards suffered more failures in drop testing and load testing, with the common failure being a stress fracture between slots. Usually, the mounting bolt would crack the handguard. Several handguards also came free of the barrel nut in drop tests. 

    keymod-vs-m-lok-test-results-CRANE
    Some of the failed KeyMod handguards from Crane's KeyMod Vs. M-LOK study. Photos: Crane.

    Part of the testing included zeroing an IR laser, taking the unit off the handguard, then reinstalling and checking for POA (Point of Aim) shift, with the idea being to establish which mounting system will hold zero better. Again, M-LOK emerged as the clear winner.

    So…what does this mean for the pros and cons? 

    For the typical user, they won’t notice any appreciable difference.

    Most people aren't repeatedly dropping their rifles on concrete or using an IR laser aiming device. KeyMod only failed in Crane's testing when subjected to abuse far beyond what the typical civilian owner will ever subject their rifle to. 

    The much more noticeable drawback in the current year is the availability of compatible accessories. M-LOK has established itself as the more popular option of the two, meaning that most accessories today are offered primarily with M-LOK or Picatinny mounting hardware. There’s plenty of KeyMod-compatible stuff too, just not quite as much. The continued availability of KeyMod accessories is probably helped by the system’s higher popularity in Europe.

    KeyMod Vs. M-LOK: Which Is Best For You?

    As mentioned, military testing revealed that the two shortcomings of KeyMod in comparison to M-LOK are durability and its ability to retain zero with laser aiming devices.

    This means that for most people in most situations, KeyMod will work just fine. If, however, you’re someone who wants to run your rifle with night vision and/or make it as bomb-proof as possible, an M-LOK handguard will be the better choice. If you plan on using an IR laser, just ensure that the handguard model you choose has a good track record for maintaining zero.

    The 6 Best M-LOK And KeyMod Handguards

    M-LOK

    Geissele Super Modular Rail MK4 

    Geissele-Mk4

    Geissele was one of the first companies to design an M-LOK rail with the use of a night vision sighting system (and therefore the need to minimize rail flex to preserve zero) as a priority. The Super Modular Rails are free-floated and made to mount a PEQ-15, MAWL or similar device at the forward end of the handguard. 

    Geissele Super Modular Rails are a buy-once, cry-once item, with MSRP ranging between $275 and $350 depending on the length and finish selected. 

    Aero Industries Quantum M-LOK Handguards 

    Aero-Quantum

    Aero Industries’ Quantum M-LOK handguards are a fantastic middle-ground free-floated M-LOK handguard option. They’re durable enough to survive what most users will put them through and can securely mount accessories.

    These handguards feature some Picatinny rail on top with M-LOK slots at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock and QD slots at the rear of the handguard. There are multiple lengths and finishes available and MSRP starts at $110, but they can be found for under $90 with some hunting. 

    Magpul MOE M-LOK Handgaurd 

    Magpul-MOE-1

    Want to add a bit of M-LOK to your budget-friendly M4 clone? The go-to handguard is (and has been for some time) Magpul MOE handguards. These two-piece handguards drop in on any rifle with a front sight block (circular or triangular handguard caps both work) and a D-ring. They are durable, functional, and cheap. The tradeoff to the simplicity and low price is that these are not free-floated.

    These are available for carbine, mid-length and rifle-length gas systems and feature M-LOK slots at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock. You can choose between black, FDE, grey and OD green colors and they can easily be found for less than $40. 

    KeyMod

    Bravo Company KMR Alpha 

    BCM-KMR

    The KMR Alpha is a free-floating, fully-railed aluminum handguard with KeyMod slots at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock. They’re available in either black or FDE and come in lengths ranging from 7 to 17 inches. Bravo Company is one of the better manufacturers of AR-pattern rifles and accessories, so this is about as good as it gets for a KeyMod handguard. 

    MSRP varies by length, starting at $180 for the 7- and 8-inch rails and topping out at $235 for the 17-inch, but you can usually find them for much cheaper through third-party retailers. 

    Leapers UTG Super Slim KeyMod Handguard

    UTG-Keymod

    Only offered in 15- and 17-inch lengths (15-inch for AR-15 and Ruger Precision Rifles, 17-inch for select AR-10 variants) the Leapers UTG SuperSlim is a good mid-tier offering to get someone a decent free-floated KeyMod handguard without busting the bank. 

    A fully railed top with KeyMod slots at 3, 6, 9, 10, 2, 8 and 5 o'clock, it features a slim profile for low-profile gas blocks and built-in anti-rotation tabs for secure mounting. MSRP is $140, but they can usually be found for around $100 through third-party retailers. 

    Bravo Company PKMR 

    BCM-PKMR, keymod vs. m-lok

    The PKMR (Polymer KeyMod Rail) is the KeyMod equivalent of Magpul's MOE handguard. They’re available in FDE or black and are offered for carbine (round end cap only) or mid-length (triangle end cap only) gas system rifles. MSRP is $40 but they can usually be found for around half that price, making these a great option for someone who just wants a cheap way to add some accessories to their rifle’s handguard.

    More AR Accessories:

    Amazon Prime Day Gun Gear Deals (2023)

    By
    Gun Digest Editors
    -
    0

    Catch the gun gear deals going off during Amazon Prime Days, stock up and save some cash.

    Amazon isn’t the top destination for most shooters’ gun-buying needs. True enough, you can pick up air guns there, including the dead-serious pre-charged pneumatics. But that’s about the extent of the mega-retailer’s arsenal. No shotguns, no rifles, no handguns, no ammo.

    That said, Amazon does tend to offer a pretty decent array of firearms accessories and gunsmithing tools, not to mention other odds and ends shooters find handy. Riflescopes, torque drivers, ear pro, among other offerings are fair game and generally come in at a passably fair price. This is particularly true if you are a Prime member and get to take advantage of that sweet, sweet free shipping. And there’s no better time to put that membership to use and load up on firearms gear at Amazon than Prime Days.

    We came up with some of our top picks of Amazon gun gear for the sale, which if you’re impatient, you can just jump forward to. But if you’re unfamiliar with the retailer’s annual summer sale, we’ll give you a quick primer below.

    What The Hell Are Prime Days?

    Basically, the stretch—running July 11-12 this year—serves up some of the best deals Amazon puts forth in the calendar year. Of course, there is a catch—you must be a Prime member. Like it or not, that’s many of us if not most of us anymore. But if you aren’t, don’t let this dissuade you from checking out the gear below or the sale itself—there is a work arounds if you find something you can’t live without. Namely, Amazon offers a free 30-day Prime trial—which you can cancel anytime. No fuss, no muss.

    Amazon Prime Day Gun Gear Picks

    ATN Thor LT Thermal Rifle Scope 160 3-6x

    Prime Days ATN

    Thermal rifle scopes have been pretty hot lately, but not everyone can afford to buy one at their typical prices. If you feel that you’ve been missing out and want to dip your toe into the thermal optic world too, this heavily discounted ATN Thor LT may be the most affordable way for you to accomplish that. Will it be the best thermal scope you can get? Probably not, but if all you want to do try some night hunting, the 3-6x magnification and 475-yard maximum detection range should get the job done. The scope mounts via traditional 30mm scope rings, has a rechargeable battery with an advertised 10-hour runtime and it features both black hot and white hot color palettes.

    Check Out The Deal On The ATN Thermal Rifle Scope

    ucho 34dB Slim Noise Shooting Ear Protection

    Prime Days ucho

    Are these Chinese knockoffs of Howard Leight Impact Sport earmuffs? Undoubtedly. Are they worse? Almost certainly. But when the originals have an MSRP of $95, it’s understandable why not every shooter has a pair. If you’ve been looking for the most affordable set of electronic shooting hearing protection that you can buy, this is it. They have an advertised Noise Reduction Rating of 34dB, which is great assuming it’s an accurate measurement, but above all it’s hard to argue with the price if you’ve just been wanting to give electronic hearing protection a try.

    Check Out The Deal On ucho ear pro

    Vikeri Mini Trail Camera

    Prime Days Vikeri

    There are lots of great uses for trail cameras, and it can be a good idea to have one lying around even if you’re not an avid hunter. This Vikeri Mini is on a pretty decent discount and seems to have all the features one would want in a trail camera. The camera is motion activated and only has a 0.2 second delay once triggered. It monitors in a 120-degree wide angle and can detect motion from up to 65 feet away. It’s also capable of capturing either 20MP HD pictures or 1080P videos. Whether you’re trying to find game or you just want to keep an extra set of eyes on your property, this is a good tool to have.

    Check Out The Deal On The Vikeri Mini Trail Camera

    Pohaku 13 in 1 Pocket Multitool

    Prime Days Pohaku copy

    A multitool is always useful to have around, but the best ones are quite expensive. If you’ve wanted one that you could beat up, throw around and lose without worrying about it, this deal is worth a look. Besides having a typical pocket knife blade, the Pohaku also features needle nose pliers, standard pliers, wire cutters, a can opener, two files, three screwdrivers, a rope cutter, a saw and a serrated knife. Not bad for $14, and it even comes with a storage pouch and can be operated by just one hand.

    Check Out The Deal On The Pohaku Multitool

    Barska 18-36x50mm Spotting Scope

    Prime Days Barska

    If you do any kind of target shooting at ranges beyond what the naked eye can see, you’re going to be walking downrange to check your hits more often than necessary. The remedy is a spotting scope, and if you don’t already have one, this deal is a good time to change that. For a reasonable price, this Barska offers just about everything you’d want in a basic spotting scope. It has a generous objective lens of 50mm, a magnification range of 18-36x and is completely waterproof and fog proof. It also comes with an extendable sunshade, a tabletop tripod, a lens cover and a carrying case.

    Check Out The Deal On The Barska Spotting Scope

    Walker's Shooting Training Protection 29 Db Omni-Directional Microphone Rope Hearing Enhancer Earbuds

    Prime Days Walker

    Combine the best of both worlds and grab some in-ear hearing protection that is also electronic! Never miss range commands or your range buddy’s excuses for missing. Walker’s in-ear electronic ear pro features a 29Db rating, 3 pairs of foam tips for the perfect fit, and omni-directional mics to pick up all the sounds around you. Micro USB charging with a 10-hour battery life. Big sale right now on the Walker’s makes them a great buy.

    Check Out The Deal On Walker Ear Pro

    Blackhawk Omnivore Holster

    Prime Days Blackhawk

    Maybe not the perfect holster for everyone, but the Blackhawk Omnivore makes having multiple pistols a lot easier. Designed to fit almost any pistol, the Omnivore comes in three styles – built for pistols with 1913 Picatinny rails, pistols with SureFire X300 lights, and pistols with Stream Light TLR 1 & 2 lights. Built to use the railing or lights for the locking retention, the Omnivore can eat almost anything and keep it secure. Dedicated holsters are generally a little better, but this is a great “do all” that wildly reduces the number of holsters you need to have on hand to shoot your armory.

    Check Out The Deal On The Blackhawk Omnivore Holster

    Mantis X3 Shooting Performance System

    Prime Days Mantis

    Training is not optional, but it can be expensive and hard to find time for. Dry fire is a great way of improving and maintaining skills without having to go to the range or spend ammo on money. But there is a way to make dry fire even more useful, that is the Mantis X3. Combined with the Mantis app, this system senses and tracks everything your firearm does during dry fire and live fire. This gives you a complete record of your grip, handling, aim, recoil, follow-through, and a ton more. Works with iOS and Andriod, the Mantis X3 is a huge step forward for anyone looking to improve their skills.

    Check Out The Deal On The Mantis X3 Shooting Performance System

    Wheeler Manual Firearms Accurizing Torque Wrench

    Prime Days Wheeler Driver

    Just about every screw on every firearm has a torque rating. You might not always know what that rating is, but at some point, someone gave it one. This is especially true for mounting optics on rifles and pistols. Those little screws are sensitive, and the difference between goodly tight and stripped is smaller than you might think! One of the first fundamental tools a gun owner should have after a cleaning kit is a decent torque wrench measured in inch-pounds. Wheeler’s F.A.T. Wrench is a great buy. You get the wrench, some common bits, and a nice little plastic case that will keep your new tool safe at the range or in the shop.

    Check Out The Deal On The Wheeler Torque Wrench

    Wheeler Engineering Gunsmithing Screwdriver Set

    Prime Days Wheeler Screwdriver

    Most of us already have at least some tools, but those aren’t always the same as gunsmithing tools. First off, tools built for guns are hollow-ground for a better fit in the parts. Not as big of a deal with most modern guns, but a huge deal for anything made 30ish or more years ago. Secondly, there are a lot of common firearms that take special tools. Not all of them, but a good number. Ever try working on a revolver without the right tools? It’s not fun! Wheeler’s set of 89 bits is a great place to start that should cover most bases, even some of the less common but still widely made firearms like S&W and Ruger revolvers.

    Check Out The Deal On The Wheeler Set

    1...414243...427Page 42 of 427

    MUST READ ARTICLES

    Get The

    Magazine

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

    Subscribe Now

    Get The

    Newsletter

    Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com.

    Sign Up

    Get The

    Book

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

    Buy Now

    Information

    Subscriptions

    Resources

    Business