If you carry a gun every day, carrying a trauma kit alongside it isn’t paranoia, it’s just being prepared.
Sometimes, life ends up with someone bleeding. It doesn’t have to be from a gunshot, but if you’re carrying every day, that might be some date in your future. Then, there are all the times you’re using power equipment, or just big, sharp cutting tools. It’d suck to have to explain to the Big Guy at the pearly gates, “I was only 50 yards from my house, but I couldn’t make it in time. Guess I should’ve had some trauma gear.”
Adventure Medical Kits offers compact trauma kits that you can keep in a pocket, a bag or close at hand. The one I have close by is one of theirs with QuikClot as part of the package. In addition to the four different gauze dressing sizes, gloves tape and trauma pad, it has a packet of QuikClot—a hemostatic dressing that accelerates clotting. When you’re bleeding, the idea is to stop the bleeding as soon as possible.
This Adventure Medical Kits trauma pack is small enough to fit easily in a winter coat and not be noticed. For the warmer months, a smaller kit would be a good choice.
Yes, QuikClot risks making the wound an ugly mess, but the moment you need it you don’t have an ER doc on hand. Whatever bulky mess the QuikClot may (or may not) make, combined with the dressings you have packed into place is a problem the ER doc you’ll be seeing is equipped to deal with.
The kit I keep at hand is just a bit too big to keep in a pocket in warm weather, so I have the big (relatively, it’s not much bigger than a paperback book) kit close at hand and an even more compact one on my person.
Prepared, Not Paranoid
Yes, all this gear can add up. You’ve got your pistol and a reload, cell phone, tactical folder, flashlight, whatever backups you might be packing and all the other accouterments of daily life in the 21st century. Adding a trauma kit might seem like too much. But if you’re going to be serious about being prepared, just having the location of the nearest Level 1 Trauma Center on your cell phone isn’t enough.
You also have to keep in mind that the trauma kit isn’t like your pistol. You’ll be using your pistol only for defense of yourself, your family or those under your protection. (It seems the world at large doesn’t like ad-hoc heroes.)
It is amazing how much stuff they can pack into a vacuum-sealed package, but this is enough for many types of emergencies.
But your trauma kit works for anyone who you wish to share it with—somebody at work, somebody at a public event who is at risk and the EMT truck is minutes out. A family gathering, even if most (or all) of the family doesn’t know you carry would be a time and place, should an accident occur, where a trauma kit could be handy.
Insurance comes in many forms. You have selected one of them—a daily carry pistol, as being appropriate and desirable. As the old saying goes, “In for a penny, in for a pound.” Find a pocket. Find a kit that fits it. Pack it. Learn how to use it. Be prepared.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2022 CCW special issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
An in-depth look at the Lee-Enfield, one of the most successful military bolt-action rifles ever produced.
The Lee–Enfield rifle was a cutting-edge design when it was adopted by the British military in 1895. It was issued throughout the British Empire and became one of the most recognized bolt-action rifles ever deployed. While overshadowed by the Mauser and the Mosin-Nagant, the Lee-Enfield is still the third most-produced bolt-action in history with an estimated 17 million units made.
Not many rifles can claim to have spanned centuries of active use like the Lee-Enfield can. It transformed into new variants as warfare changed in the late 19th and 20th centuries, but the Lee-Enfield was first fielded in 1899 during the Second Boer War and it has seen much action since then, including contemporary conflicts in the Middle East.
The story of the Lee-Enfield starts with the Lee-Metford rifle, which was adopted by the British Army in 1888. The Lee-Metford rifle takes its name from Jame Paris Lee, who designed the action, and William Ellis Metford who designed the rifling. Developed in the time of black powder cartridges, the Lee-Metford was a high-tech rifle design that offered rapid-fire compared to the slow-to-reload single-shot Martini-Enfield rifles it replaced. The military liked the Lee-Metford, but the conversion to smokeless powder cartridges forced the Lee-Metford to evolve into the Lee-Enfield we know today.
As you may already know, the Mauser 98 locks into its action using two primary lugs at the front of the bolt. A result of this is that the Mauser requires a 90-degree bolt lift to cycle and that action blocks the user’s sight picture. Despite this, the Mauser 98 was still an excellent gun that had the most lasting impact on bolt-action rifle design in the years that followed. While the Lee-Enfield action may have never become as ubiquitous as the Mauser’s, its different design resulted in some distinct advantages as well.
This is mainly because the locking lugs on the Lee-Enfield are found closer to the rear of the bolt, and they lock into the receiver bridge instead of the receiver ring like on Mauser rifles. This difference not only makes it potentially faster to cycle the bolt than on a Mauser-style action, but it also doesn’t block the shooter’s vision since it only requires a 60-degree bolt lift. The Lee-Enfield has a shorter bolt travel distance because of this as well. These details came together to make the Lee-Enfield the fastest cycling bolt-action rifle of its day.
A Lee-Enfield bolt. Notice one of the two rear locking lugs visible on its top. Photo: Apex Gun Parts.
If there is a negative aspect to the rear lug action, it is accuracy. Since the front of the bolt does not lock into the receiver, it has more play than a Mauser-style action does. While this gave Mausers the edge in accuracy, the speed advantage of Enfields was arguably more useful for a military rifle.
The Lee-Enfield also used a detachable 10-round box magazine. This was a unique feature at the time, but old-school army leadership assumed that soldiers would lose the magazine. Today, our soldiers are equipped with multiple magazines and don’t think twice about dropping them during a reload. This philosophy wasn’t feasible back then, however, so despite having detachable magazines the soldiers were expected to recharge them with stripper clips while they were still loaded into the rifle.
Mad Minute
The potential speed and firepower of the Lee-Enfield were demonstrated in a shooting exercise developed before WWI called the “Mad Minute”. A rifleman, in the prone position, shoots at a 48-inch target at 300 yards and tries to hit the target as many times as they can in one minute. A trained rifleman could easily get 20 to 30 hits in 60 seconds. Compared to the Mauser 98’s accepted rate of fire of 15 rounds per minute, you see that the Enfield could potentially make aimed shots twice as fast.
British troops training with an SMLE Mk III. Photo: Wikipedia.
While the rear lug action of the Lee-Enfield was novel, the barrel length of 25.2 inches was controversial. The established shooting community thought a rifle needed a long barrel for better accuracy, which turned out to be untrue. The Lee-Enfield used a barrel length between a rifle and carbine, and it provided a good balance between maneuverability and ballistic efficacy.
There are several Lee-Enfield variants, which we’ll get into later, but suffice to say the Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee–Enfield Mk III, or SMLE Mk III, was the model that started the rifle’s excellent reputation when it was adopted in 1907 in time for WWI. By WWII, the Lee-Enfield had morphed into the No. 4 which canonized the rifle’s reputation as one of the best military rifles the world has ever known.
Arming The British Empire
In the late 1890s, England was the predominant military power in the world and ruled over the British Empire which was made up of dominions, colonies and territories around the globe. The expression used at the time was “the empire on which the sun never sets”, referring to how the sun was always shining on at least one of its overseas possessions.
The British Commonwealth Nations are former territories of the British Empire such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia, India, South Africa, Jamaica and many others. Not only was the British military armed with Lee-Enfields, but so too were the nations of the Commonwealth. All the territories were outfitted with Lee-Enfields, and they have seen action from deserts to jungles and everything in between. The rifles were about as prolific as Kalashnikovs are today.
.303 British Ballistics
.303 British loaded in stripper clips. Photo: Wikipedia.
The .303 British was designed in 1887 for the Lee-Metford rifle and adopted by the British military in 1888, making it one of the most successful and lasting military cartridges ever developed. In fact, it was still used by the British until 1957 when it was replaced by the 7.62x51mm NATO. The original load of .303 British used a 215-grain round nose bullet with a copper-nickel jacket over about 70 grains of compressed black powder, although the black powder was quickly replaced with cordite once it was available in 1891. This cordite load used the same 215-grain projectile and produced velocities of about 1,970 fps.
The round-nose bullet design proved unimpressive in combat, so the British experimented with several expanding projectile designs until they were banned by the Hague Convention of 1899.
The next notable iteration of .303 British came in the form of the MK VII cartridge due to its use of the then-new spitzer bullet design. Spitzer bullets are pointed rather than rounded, and it results in a significantly higher velocity. Most modern rifle cartridges today are still loaded using spitzer bullets.
Loaded with a 174-grain full metal jacket bullet, the MK VII cartridge was capable of producing a muzzle velocity of 2,440 fps and about 2,300 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. What is unique about the MK VII round is that although it has a solid jacket, the front portion of the bullet core was made of aluminum, wood pulp or other materials. This brought the bullet’s center of gravity rearward, meaning that it would tumble upon contact and cause more severe wounds.
Most current commercial .303 British ammo is loaded with 180-grain soft point bullets for hunting and 174-grain FMJ bullets for target shooting.
Lee-Enfield Variants: From “Smelly” To Sniper
There were many variants of the Lee-Enfield made over its lifetime (more than we have the space to discuss here), each enhancing the model that preceded it. In many instances, the older variants were updated to the latest design specifications and given a new model name. To the uninitiated, Lee-Enfield model names can get confusing and read like footnotes with symbols like “*” in their designations, but we’ll get that sorted out.
The first Lee-Enfield variant was the Magazine, Lee-Enfield or MLE for short. It is sometimes referred to as “Emily” instead of pronouncing each letter “M-L-E”. These rifles were adopted in 1895 and were chambered for a .303-caliber cartridge and featured a long, 30.2-inch barrel.
A shorter version of this was called the Lee–Enfield cavalry carbine Mk I, and it was outfitted with a 21.2-inch barrel instead. The Lee-Enfield continued to evolve over the years with some being converted to load from stripper clips. These were called Charger Loading Lee–Enfields or CLLEs and first saw use in the Second Boer War (1899-1902). This war pitted Mausers against the MLE, and where the MLE fell short in comparison was its reloading speed. The Mauser could be reloaded relatively quickly by using a stripper clip to reload the internal magazine, whereas rounds needed to be inserted individually with the MLE.
This discovery resulted in the addition of stripper clip capabilities to the MLE, and this new design was designated as the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield or SMLE Mk I and adopted by the British military in 1904. “Short” was added to the name because its 25.1-inch barrel isn’t as long as the original MLE, but it wasn’t as short as the cavalry carbine variant either. The new SMLE designation also caused many to lovingly refer to the rifle as “Smelly.”
The next major variant is perhaps the best known—the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk III introduced in 1907. This model featured an improved stripper guide, a simplified rear ladder sight and a front sight protected by massive wings on both sides. The chamber was also altered so it could handle the Mk VII .303 British cartridge that was introduced alongside it. It was produced during WWI and found to be costly to manufacture, so a revised version—read cheaper and faster to make—was introduced in 1915 called the Mk III*. Notable changes included removing the magazine cut-off feature and changing the cocking piece from a knob to a serrated flat piece.
A sniper variant called the SMLE No. 1 Mk III* (HT) was also developed, and it featured a heavy barrel and an optic.
The Mk III and Mk III* were used by British forces in World War I and found them to be tough, reliable and effective. When the war was being fought over long distances, it was common for British troops to hit German soldiers out to 600 yards. The First Battle of Ypres was fought between Allied troops, including the British, against German forces.
The Brits were so lethal with fire from the Lee-Enfields that the German Army called the battle the “Massacre of the Innocents” because of the 25,000 student volunteers who fell to British marksmanship. Plus, the speed at which the rifles could be fired caused the Germans to think the Brits were armed with machine guns at times. In the trench warfare that followed, guns were subjected to mud that could jam up the action. Another benefit of the rear lug Lee-Enfield bolt was that the front of the bolt and breech were easier to clean than Mauser actions.
The MLE, CLLE and SMLE Mk I through the Mk III* were produced by manufacturers in England, including the Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited, London Small Arms Co. Ltd. and the Royal Small Arms Factory of Enfield. Commonwealth manufacturers included Lithgow Small Arms Factory in Australia and Rifle Factory Ishapore in India.
The next major variant was the No. 4 Mk I. This model was first produced in 1931, but it didn’t enter mass production or become officially adopted until after WWII was already underway in 1941. The primary advantage of the changes made to the No. 4 was that it was easier to manufacture. Different from the SMLE rifles used in WWI, the barrel of the No. 4 protruded from the nose cap. The sights were also changed to a rear aperture style rear sight with an aperture for 300 yards and 600 yards. The No. 4 also had a heavier barrel and a new spike-style bayonet instead of a blade bayonet. To meet wartime production and simplify machining and assembly in 1942, modifications were made including going from five- or six-groove rifling to two-groove rifling, and the revised rifle was named the No. 4 Mk I*.
The No. 4 rifles were built in England as well as at the Small Arms Limited company in Canada, Savage Arms in the U.S. and Pakistan Ordnance Factories in Pakistan.
The No. 4 was also developed into a sniper rifle. These rifles were hand-selected at the factory for their accuracy. The rifle needed to place seven shots in a five-inch circle at 200 yards and six shots in a 10-inch circle at 400 yards. These rifles were then outfitted with a wooden cheekpiece and scope and designated as the No. 4 Mk I (T) or No. 4 Mk I* (T).
Late in WWII, a carbine version of No. 4 was created with a shorter barrel that lightened the rifle by two pounds. The barrel was fitted with a cone-shaped flash hider and a rubber butt pad was used in place of a metal butt plate. This rifle was named Rifle No. 5 Mk I. Unofficially it is called the “Jungle Carbine,” a name coined by British and Commonwealth troops in the Pacific Theater.
WWII saw massive changes in warfare and weapons. While a rifle with good accuracy was suited to much of the long-range fighting of WWI, the No. 4 began to show its age in WWII. Bolt-action rifles were slow and heavy compared to many of the newer self-loading weapons being used by Germany. While the No. 4 did perform well, like the other bolt-actions of WWII, its days of frontline service were numbered. Despite this, the No. 4 is still used in limited capacities by some Commonwealth countries today and has the distinction of being the second oldest bolt-action still in official use, with the oldest being the Mosin-Nagant.
When Britain adopted the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge, the No. 4 Mk I (T) and No. 4 Mk I* (T) sniper rifles were rechambered for it and designated as the L42A1. These remained in service until the 1990s.
From Battlefields to Hunting Camps
Surplus Lee-Enfield rifles, like many military rifles, have found their way into many hunting camps over the years. While not as popular in the U.S., hunters in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa still commonly use the rifle. Sporterized Enfield rifles typically have cut-down stocks and are equipped with a scope.
Collecting Lee-Enfield Rifles
Due to the sheer number of rifles built, there are plenty of Lee-Enfields on the commercial market. The most common variants are the SMLE No. 1 Mk III and the No. 4 Mk I, and they can be found in a wide range of conditions. They can be easily found for sale by various online retailers and auction sites, but if you care about the rifle’s history, the key thing is to stay away from sporterized guns that were bubba-fied by amateur gunsmiths into hunting rifles. Also, many of the cooler variants such as Jungle Carbines are often fakes or reproductions, so keep an eye out for details if you want an authentic one.
Nicer condition rifles and more rare variants such as sniper models will obviously command a much higher price, but you can still find a decent shooter-grade Lee-Enfield for less than $600 if you shop around.
The Lee-Enfield’s Legacy
A Lee-Enfield along with some more modern weapons captured by U.S. Marines in Iraq. Photo: Wikipedia.
Considering just how many times the Lee-Enfield was redesigned, updated and modified over the years, it’s no surprise that it remained in service for as long as it did. Early in its life, it was a close competitor to arguably more successful rifles like the Mauser 98. Later on, when WWII came, the rifle may have been a bit outdated by contemporary standards, but it still served the British well. Perhaps a completely new, auto-loading design would have been preferable, but with time and money in short supply, the No. 4 proved good enough to see Britain to victory.
The Lee-Enfield has been used in most of the world’s significant conflicts since it was invented, and it’s still used today the world over by everyone from sportsmen to police to guerilla forces. Odds are, that will never change.
Kimber is now shipping the K6xs, described as the only .38 Special revolver in its class with a 6-shot capacity.
The .357 Magnum Kimber K6s revolver quickly became a popular concealed carry option after its introduction in 2016. Since then, the company has released several variants featuring different barrel lengths, grips and other options, but they’ve all been 6-shot .357 Magnums. They’ve also all been quite expensive. For those who wanted a Kimber revolver but didn’t need the power, heft or price tag of a .357, the new .38 Special Kimber K6xs is now shipping.
The K6xs is still a 6-shot revolver with a 2-inch barrel, just like the original K6s, but it’s now chambered for .38 Special +P and features a lightweight aluminum alloy frame instead of stainless steel. The result is an impressively light little revolver, weighing only 15.9 ounces empty (that’s just over 7 ounces lighter than the K6s). The K6xs also features an orange dot front sight and larger rubber grips. The rear sight is integral, and the edges of the gun are melted to minimize snagging when drawn.
Ron Dudzic, Senior Director of Kimber product development, said this about the K6xs:
The new K6xs is born from the highly successful K6s .357 Magnum revolver. It was designed to be a superior .38 Special +P concealed carry option with its smooth double action trigger pull and slim six-round profile. This is certain to be a winner among the less feature-rich, common five-round revolvers in this class.
Of course, another advantage of the less powerful chambering is the price of the gun. The Kimber K6xs has an MSRP of only $679. Still pricey, but much more affordable than the K6s’ price tag of $985.
A closer look at the Texas taqueria shooting reveals that when it comes to self-defense, sometimes the devil is in the details.
“Customer Shoots Robber in Houston” is what the headlines say. In fact, if you Google that phrase, you will find the video showing the incident. Many of the search results show news stories that include the video edited to not show the actual shooting, but if you dig deep enough, you can find the unedited footage.
It’s worth finding that video. But, was it justified?
At first blush, it’d appear so—but the customer (who, at the time of this writing, has yet to be identified), does a remarkable job of attempting to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
A screenshot from security camera footage showing the moment before the Texas taqueria shooting occurred. Credit: KHOU 11.
A Legal Look
First off, the robber was using a fake gun. This fact could be used to suggest that deadly force by the shooter was not warranted, but even a first-year law school student could successfully argue this point. The elements of the crime of robbery include the taking of property by the threatening of illegal force, and here the robber was clearly using illegal force to take property. (He actually committed several robberies, as he took money from several individuals while threatening them with deadly force.)
Even though the gun was fake, if the victim believed it was real, that’s enough to fulfill the elements of the crime of robbery. And, if the shooter felt his life or the life of someone else was in imminent danger, then the shooting would be justified.
At first, the shooter complied with the robbery request, throwing an object on the floor (presumably his wallet). The robber then went on to take possessions from the other patrons of the taqueria. As the robber was leaving and at the moment of the shooting, one can see that the robber is still threatening one patron as he moved toward the door, so shooting the robber (even in the back) was clearly justified because he was threatening the life of another patron.
If the gun had not been fake, however, I wonder if the robber would have shot the patron upon being struck in the back by the gunfire. Most instructors I know would advise not shooting when a gun is being held either on you or someone else due to the very real possibility of a spasm of the hand causing the gun to fire. Nevertheless, I think most would agree that the first shot was justified. After that, it gets problematic from a legal standpoint.
Complicating Factors
The video shows the shooter drawing and firing four rapid fire shots into the back of the robber as the robber makes his way to the door. A closer look at the first four shots shows that, after the second shot, the robber wasn’t threatening anyone, including the shooter. The robber is falling flat on his face and clearly not a threat, but he receives two more shots as he’s falling.
Were these shots necessary? A case could be made for either argument.
Then, the shooter gets up and follows the robber, shooting him an additional four times as he laid on the ground. Next, the shooter picks up the fake gun and, moments after doing so, the shooter fires one more shot toward the downed robber’s head.
A total of nine shots were fired by the shooter. A couple of seconds after the first four shot in rapid fire, another four shots were fired in a more deliberate manner—about one per second. Were these shots justified?
If these shots weren’t justified, how does that work against the necessity that any use of force, including deadly force, must be reasonable under the circumstances? This will be the question for the prosecutor or the grand jury to answer.
Now, if that isn’t problematic enough, the shooter then fires one more shot “toward the head” of the downed robber. I wonder if that last shot was the fatal one fired? If so, I can see an indictment and prosecution.
Questionable Actions
But wait, there’s more! The actions by the shooter—after all the shooting was done—don’t favor the shooter, either. The shooter leaned over the robber, retrieved the fake gun from where it had fallen and, upon seeing it was a fake plastic gun, threw it against a wall and broke it—not exactly a calm display of mindset. He then took the money back from the robber, put it on one of the tables and told the patrons to take their money back. The shooter then leaves, and as he walked by the robber, threw his coffee cup down upon the now likely deceased robber.
Remember the adage “flight equals guilt?” It looks bad; a reasonable person wouldn’t likely have driven away from the scene.
According to news reports, the shooter will be facing a grand jury, to determine if criminal charges will be brought against him. The outcome of that grand jury proceeding will heavily rest upon the local district attorney. The old law school saying is that a prosecutor could indict a ham sandwich if he so chooses. Here, I believe there is sufficient evidence to push charges against the shooter, but also evidence that weighs toward a justifiable homicide.
It will be interesting to watch how the Texas taqueria shooting unfolds.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2023 CCW special issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Introduced in 2002, .17 HMR has the same case dimensions as .22 Magnum but is necked down to accommodate the smaller diameter projectile. This hot little rimfire became renowned for its accuracy and effectiveness at taking certain kinds of smaller game, but both attributes were resultant from the round’s high velocity.
As velocity is dependent on barrel length, .17 HMR is most effective when fired from a rifle, but that doesn’t mean that pistols chambered for it don't perform well. The issue is actually finding a pistol chambered for the hot little number.
Why So Few .17 HMR Pistols?
There are a decent number of handguns chambered for .17 HMR but only two of them are actually pistols, and even one of those is by legal technicality. The issue with .17 HMR is that while it's a ballistically impressive cartridge, it's never been known for reliably feeding in autoloaders. When Savage came out with the first reliable .17 HMR rifle, it was a big deal, and a feat that's never been perfectly replicated in a semiauto handgun.
Scantly produced, the Excel Arms Accelerator MP-17 is the only real autoloading pistol on this list, and the only true semi-auto .17 HMR pistol I’m aware of. This pistol was discontinued shortly after its release in 2007, making it somewhat rare and collectible regardless of the pistol’s actual quality or functionality. Reviews of this gun from when it was released show that reliability was not its strong suit, but it still has some features that are as unique as the gun itself. Namely, as a target pistol, the MP-17 has a Picatinny rail on top for mounting optics. If you want a .17 HMR pistol purely for target shooting due to the cartridge’s high potential for accuracy, one of these rare pistols may be worth tracking down, but otherwise, there are better options out there.
Alexander Arms Highlander
By legal classification, this is a pistol, so it's going on the list, but mechanically-speaking it is of course based on the AR-15. As far as .17 HMR guns go, however, the Alexander Arms has a lot of admirable qualities. It's likely the most reliable .17 HMR pistol option available, the highest capacity and can also mount optics with ease. It's as ergonomic and familiar as any other AR variant out there.
This gun is probably a bit larger than desired for most people interested in a .17 HMR pistol, but it will be superbly accurate, reliable and effective. It just won't scratch the itch for those looking for a true handgun.
.17 HMR Revolvers
The true definition of pistol is limiting in this case, as most people searching for a .17 HMR handgun are probably open to considering revolvers as well. Including revolvers in your .17 HMR handgun search greatly expands your options and virtually eliminates the reliability issues experienced with autoloaders. Revolvers' fixed barrels also lend themselves to having good accuracy, something the .17 HMR cartridge can take full advantage of.
Because of .22 Magnum’s shared case dimensions with .17 HMR, converting a firearm chambered for the former to the latter is a relatively easy process. This fact combined with the cartridge’s spike in popularity in the mid-2000s resulted in many companies who made .22 Magnums like North American Arms to begin producing .17 HMR models as well. Unfortunately, the necked cartridge of .17 HMR can often result in issues, issues that take time to work out. Likely because .17 HMR doesn’t offer much benefit over .22 Magnum out of such a short barrel, NAA instead opted to discontinue the line shortly after its introduction. These revolvers hold five shots and can still be occasionally found on the used market, but for those who want to exploit .17 HMR’s advantages from a pistol platform, this isn’t a model worth seeking out. There are better and more available options for pocket revolvers out there than this, and .17 HMR benefits the most from guns with very different attributes.
Smith & Wesson 647
12-inch Smith & Wesson 647 with optic installed.
From the most reputable revolver manufacturer on this list, S&W 647s are probably the best quality .17 HMR handguns ever made. Unfortunately for those searching for one, however, these were also discontinued after only one year of production. Their rarity combined with the brand name they carry can make finding an S&W 647 difficult, and they’re very expensive once you do.
These guns are DA/SA revolvers with adjustable target sights and six-shot cylinders. They were available with two different barrel lengths as well—long and extra-long (8.375-inch and 12-inch), lending themselves to the velocity-dependent .17 HMR very well. These guns have both superb mechanical and practical accuracy qualities, so for someone looking to do target shooting or handgun hunting with .17 HMR, the S&W 647 would still be an excellent choice. Just be prepared to pay an arm and a leg for one. The 12-inch model is the only .17 HMR revolver on this list that can mount optics as well.
Taurus Tracker 17
A new Taurus Tracker 17.
If all the features of the S&W 647 appeal to you besides its price tag, the Taurus Tracker 17 is worth checking out with an MSRP of $659.99. Also a DA/SA revolver with a relatively long barrel and adjustable sights, the only thing the Tracker 17 is missing is S&W’s build quality. Taurus revolvers have been known to have issues in the past, and they certainly don’t have the reputation for reliability as other revolver manufacturers do, but considering that .17 HMR pistols of any kind are far more useful for target shooting and hunting than they are for self-defense, the reliability may not be that big of a deal to you. At least the basic models of the Tracker 17 are still in production and can be found for much cheaper than a Smith & Wesson, making it a good alternative for those seeking a .17 HMR pistol with these features. As a bonus, the Taurus can hold one more round in its cylinder than the Smith.
Ruger New Model Single-Six
A new production Ruger New Single-Six in .17 HMR.
There are a few .17 HMR SAA clones on the market, but the best is probably the Ruger New Model Single-Six. Unfortunately, this is now also marked as “Currently Unavailable” on Ruger's website, but used models can still be found. It has a 6.5-inch barrel and adjustable sights, but for all intents and purposes, it’s still just an SAA clone. What sets the Ruger apart from other SAA clones is the company’s reputation for good build quality and the fact that they are still in production, unlike many of the other guns on this list.
With an MSRP of $799, it’s pretty expensive for a rimfire, but if you’re looking for a good quality, new-production .17 HMR pistol that would perform well for both target shooting and hunting, it's hard to beat.
As supplies of M2 Ball ammo dwindle, knowing what M1 Garand ammo you can safely fire in your military surplus rifle is critical.
Best Ammo for M1 Garand
Serious milsurp rifle shooters shopping for M1 Garand ammo rely on M2 Ball, .30-06 150-grain. Contemporary high-pressure hunting ammo can damage the operating rod in your M1.
But with dwindling supplies of M2 Ball on the surplus market, what’s a Garand shooter to do? Here are four M1 Garand ammo solutions to keep your warhorse purring.
Factory M1 Garand Ammo
A few years back several ammo companies began producing lower-pressure M1 Garand ammo. One was Federal, which produced a 150-grain Garand load in its American Eagle line.
Another was Hornady. It produces a 168-grain Garand ammo load that plays nice with the M1’s gas system.
“Permanent damage can occur while shooting standard factory loaded 30-06 ammunition in the M1 Garand,” said Dave Emary, Hornady Chief Ballistic Scientist. “Typical factory loads contain propellants that when fired, result in port pressures and gas volumes that are too high, causing violent stress to the rifle's operating rod, bolt, and receiver.”
This offering from Hornady is purpose-built to provide safe and reliable functioning in the M1 Garand.
Sellier & Bellot makes a 150-grain .30-06 loading “For M1 Garand” as part of its match tactical line of ammo.
As of 2023, Winchester is an option for Garand ammo as well following the company's introduction of its own M2 Ball load. That means that it's also a 150-grain FMJ bullet loaded to a pressure low enough to ensure proper function in M1 Garands without damaging the op rod.
Reload Your Own Garand Ammo
If you can’t find commercial ammo for your M1 Garand you can always handload your own. Some Garand shooters have obtained stunning accuracy from CMP guns equipped with original barrels.
A few tips for best-performing .30-06 Garand loads: Keep pressures light and watch brass length — keep your brass trimmed! Don’t load bullets to the lands, there should be plenty of room for rounds to feed from the clip. Use bullets lighter than 180 grains; 150 grains is still the safe bet.
Popular powders include IMR3031, IMR4064 and Varget. The Hornady reloading manual has a special section devoted to “Service Rifles.”
Note that some claim that the Federal 210M primers may cause a slamfire. Other reloaders have reported no problems.
GarandGear.com Ported Gas Screw
The GarandGear.com Gas Plug allows you to shoot all sorts of .30-06 ammo in your surplus rifle.
If you have trouble locating commercial M1 Garand ammo loadings and don’t want to venture into reloading, there’s another option: The Ported Gas Screw from GarandGear.com.
“Unlike a venting gas screw, our product works by changing the initial conditions in the gas cylinder,” the company says. “The ported gas screw increases the starting volume in the gas cylinder, which results in lower peak pressures. No adjustments are required and no gas will vent from the device. The ported gas screw will produce lower peak pressures in all brands of ammunition that meet the SAAMI specifications for the 30-06 cartridge, regardless of bullet weight.”
Pressure tests conducted by garandgear.com. Photos courtesy garandgear.com.
GarandGear tested a variety of commercial .30-06 loadings against M2 Ball as the benchmark to measure pressure curves. The ported gas screw reduced pressure in 26 different loadings. Click here to read the research.
M2 Ball Ammo Sources
Don’t overlook the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), a longtime source for M2 Ball ammo. It even has its own loading, produced under the Creedmoor Ammunition banner. The stuff is loaded using Hornady 150-gr. FMJ-BTs and Hornady brass.
Another good source is to watch online gun auctions such as Gunbroker. As of the date of this writing, we find 66 listings on the mega-site for M2 Ball, including many in originally sealed cartons and ammo cans.
Best Ammo for M1 Garand?
Bottom line: Don’t stuff any old .30-06 into your CMP Garand and blast away or you could find yourself with a bent or broken operating rod.
Instead, treat your military surplus rifle right and choose the correct M1 Garand ammo from the get-go. You’ll keep this iconic battle rifle shooting for years to come.
Griffin Armament has just released the CHECKMATE-HD, a new lightweight rimfire suppressor that’s rated up to 5.7x28mm.
The CHECKMATE-HD is the newest suppressor from Griffin Armament, and although it’s being advertised as a rimfire can, it’s rated for up to 5.7x28mm pistols too. Not only is the suppressor very compact and lightweight, but it also features a quick-detach system and easy, virtually toolless disassembly.
The CHECKMATE-HD only weighs 5.8 ounces and has an overall length of 5.04 inches, and the 1.07-inch tube is billet machined from 7075-T6 aluminum and hardcoat anodized. Inside, the can features an Eco-Flow baffle system and CARBON-GARD technology which seals the baffle core using silicon O-rings. Griffin Armament says that this all comes together to make one very clean-running can, and that after 2,000 rounds, it should still be very easy to disassemble using nothing more than a coin. Each CHECKMATE-HD also comes with a 1/2×28 EZ-LOCK QD barrel adaptor, but it’s compatible with direct-thread mounting and the company’s CAM-LOK system as well.
Austin, head of Griffin Armament product development, said this about the new suppressor:
For its very small size and weight, the CHECKMATE-HD™ is probably the most efficient .22lr suppressor in the world. We are proud to bring back a Checkmate rimfire suppressor that can carry the lineage of our initial, 17 year old suppressor model forward into the future. Built on technology related to a recent note-able baffle technology patent, and with pending patents on the mounting system and user serviceable technology, this suppressor delivers unbeatable performance and value in today’s market. We specifically targeted the previously market leading rimfire suppressor with this model. This is the new market leader in the rimfire class.
The Griffin Armament CHECKMATE-HD is available now and has an MSRP of $459.
Benelli recently announced the Lupo KAOS line, a limited-edition version of the Lupo rifle series.
The Lupo was Benelli’s first bolt-action rifle, but the gun has already earned itself a solid reputation since it was released three years ago. The Lupo KAOS series is the latest addition to the line, and while they don’t have any new features, they do bring some nice aesthetic changes and the chance to win some long-range goodies along the way.
The primary draw of the new Lupo KAOS line is that each individual rifle is unique. The Cerakote finish comes in several unique color combinations, and the finish is hand-distressed at the factory to ensure that each rifle is truly one of a kind. When it comes to the actual features of the Lupo KAOS line, they’re identical to standard Lupo rifles. Unlike the standard version, however, the Lupo KAOS will only be chambered for 6.5 Creedmoor. Some of the standard but noteworthy features include a 24-inch Crio-treated and free-floated barrel with a 5/8×24 threaded muzzle, an adjustable trigger and an adjustable stock featuring the Benelli Progressive Comfort System for reducing recoil. MSRP for the Lupo KAOS is $1,999.
This limited-edition rifle series (it only lasts until August 1st) has another angle to it in the form of two contests. One is a photo contest, and of the individuals who submit a photo of themselves alongside a Lupo KAOS, one will be selected to attend the Outdoor Solutions Long-Range Shooting School. The other contest is for purchasers of Lupo KAOS rifles, as serial numbers can be entered on the company’s website to check whether a gun is a winner. The owners of 10 lucky rifles will each win a Steiner Predator 8 scope, and one of those winners will also be selected to attend the Outdoor Solutions Long-Range Shooting School.
For more information on the rifle or more details about the contests, please visit benelliusa.com.
The prestige of premium projectiles from lesser-known companies like Lehigh Defense and Badlands Precision.
It was raining that early December afternoon—not enough to warrant staying indoors, but enough to make things uncomfortable. Deer sign was minimal in the Hudson Valley, to say the least, as the EHD breakout of the previous few years had taken a toll. In fact, in my little secret spots where I would have guaranteed the sighting of at least a doe or two, there was nothing. Still, I had a tag in pocket … and I wasn’t giving up.
At 4:15 pm he broke cover, stepping into the old orchard, apparently smelling the evidence of a doe I hadn’t seen. My thumb disengaged the safety, and as soon as the crosshair was tucked in behind the buck’s shoulder, I broke the trigger. The 6.8 Western barked, and a 140-grain Badlands Precision bullet had me notching my tag—with an irremovable smile on my face.
If you’re looking for a unique shooting experience, a product from some lesser-known companies like Hawk Bullets, Badlands Precision or Lehigh Defense might tickle your fancy. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
I have an undeniable infatuation with projectiles, to the point of obsession. Long ago, I came to the realization that the bullet (and only the bullet) touches the game animal, target or steel plate. The choice of bullet—and the ability to modify the performance of that bullet—is what drew me to reloading, and experimentation with different projectiles has garnered me with a ton of experience over the years.
While I use, enjoy and love classic projectiles, such as Federal’s Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Nosler Partition, Sierra GameKing, Hornady Interlock and Remington Core-Lokt, I absolutely love experimenting with products from smaller companies.
Peregrine Bullets
Hailing from South Africa, Peregrine Bullets makes a series of lead-free copper monometal projectiles that work perfectly on all game animals. The VRG-2 PlainsMaster and VRG-3 BushMaster softpoints are a unique concept, putting a brass expander plunger over a hollow cavity, relying on the air pocket underneath the meplat.
South Africa’s Peregrine bullets are a monometal design with a brass cap over an air cavity. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Air is difficult to compress, so upon impact, the brass tip is driven rearward, compressing the air and driving the sidewalls out in a radial fashion. The PlainsMaster is a spitzer boat-tail design, while the BushMaster has a flat meplat, yet retains the boat-tail. I’ve used a good number of these on game animals ranging from whitetail deer to Cape buffalo and have found them to be one of the finest designs available. They offer the correlative solid brass and solid copper non-expanding bullets for the thick-skinned dangerous game, as well as a line of match target bullets: the RangeMaster.
An expanded 400-grain .411-inch-diameter Peregrine Bushmaster recovered from a Mozambican Cape buffalo, note the radial expansion and the separated brass plunger. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Peregrine bullets are made on CNC Swiss lathes, to diameter tolerances of 0.0002 inch and will hold weight tolerances on 0.2 grain. Retained weight is usually in the mid 90 percent range—as you’ll lose the brass insert—and expansion is most often twice the caliber. These bullets are the brainchild of Adriaan Rall and the late Louis Nel, and are available in calibers from .223 inch to the big .500s. I’ve used the PlainsMaster in the 6.5-284 Norma with great results, and the BushMaster in .416 Rigby, .450-400 3-inch NE and .470 NE, having perfect field performance. (PeregrineMonolithics.com)
A trio of recovered 500-grain Peregrine Bushmasters from the author’s Heym .470 NE. Expansion was good, and the slugs were found against the offside skin. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Badlands Precision
George Fournier’s Badlands Precision bullets company calls South Dakota home, and he has some great monometal designs. A sleek ogive, an aluminum tip with near-seamless transition to the copper body, and a pronounced boat-tail all add up to a bullet that has the highest ballistic coefficient (BC) values among the lead-free projectiles.
My Browning X-Bolt in 6.8 Western mated up perfectly with their 140-grain Super Bulldozer-2, with a G1 BC of .650 and measuring 1.56 inches long, and the 1:7½ twist rate stabilized the long bullet without issue. Three of those Super Bulldozer-2s will cluster into a ½-MOA group, moving at 3,150 fps, and they’re perfect for deer and similar-sized game animals.
Badlands Precision Bulldozer-2 bullets are a very accurate monometal; shown here are the 7mm 140-grain and the .30-caliber 195-grain. The author had good results in the 7mm PRC and .300 H&H Magnum, respectively. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
I loaded up some of George’s Bulldozer-2 (not the “Super” variant) in the 7mm PRC and .300 H&H Magnum at 140 grains and 195 grains, respectively, and was more than pleased with the results on paper, with the 7mm PRC printing 5/8-inch groups at 100 yards, and the .300 Holland running right around ¾-inch at the same range. The 7mm bullet has a G1 BC of .560, and the .30-caliber a G1 BC of .675, so either will make a sound choice for hunting at sane ranges.
I got Fournier on the phone to ask him a couple questions about his hunting bullets, and he had this to offer:
PM:George, in a market that has seen all sorts of great advances in bullet designs, and in which the major manufacturers are devoting serious time to development, what sets Badlands Precision apart?
GF:What sets Badlands bullets apart from major manufacturers is their lower drag/weight, which makes them hit harder farther, the consistency of expansion and their ability to penetrate very deeply, allowing for extreme quartering angles of impact. In several instances, we’ve seen complete pass-through shots through in animals as big as elk and moose, causing “dead right there” kills. They don’t fall apart after impact like many lead core bullets do and, for their weight, have significantly lower drag than other copper or lead bullets.
PM: Do you have a recommended velocity impact range for your bullets? How slow can they go and still reliably expand?
GF: Our tests show 1,680 fps for the BD2 line. The SBD2s have a longer and somewhat thinner ogive, and will expand in the 1,650-fps range. To keep it simple, we just say 1,700 fps. That, along with the high BC for weight, allows most of these bullets to be effective at about 900 to 1,200 yards when shot at a muzzle velocity of 3,000 fps, depending on altitude. That effective range is well beyond other copper bullets.
I’d take these bullets on any hunt within my hunting range. The weight tolerances were within 0.1 grains for the lot, and they didn’t seem particularly sensitive to seating depth. All three of my rifles were very happy to send these into tight groups.
The Bulldozer-2 and Super Bulldozer-2 line include bullets in .224-inch caliber, up to and including .375-inch caliber. In addition to the Bulldozer-2 and Super Bulldozer-2, Badlands offers the ICBM-2 target bullet, in heavy-for-caliber configuration with very high BC values for the long-range target crowd. (BadlandsPrecision.com)
The author used the 140-grain Badlands Precision Super Bulldozer-2 in .277-inch-diameter in his 6.8 Western. This bullet was recovered from a whitetail buck, with almost 3 feet of penetration. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Lehigh Defense
This Arkansas company is part of Bill Wilson’s excellent lineup of shooting-related manufacturers, and much like his firearms, their bullets do not disappoint. There are a number of choices, all-lead-free, including match/target solids and wide, flat-nose solids for penetrating thick hide and tough bone—but there are a pair of very interesting choices that might appeal to the curious.
The Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos rifle bullets are a hollow-point boat-tail monometal design, with a deep hollow point and numerous grooves cut into the shank, with one especially deep groove just before the transition from shank to ogive. The design of the Controlled Chaos is such that if the bullet strikes a fluid-rich medium (flesh), the hollow point will fracture into multiple petals that’ll radiate outward from the point of impact, while the base will continue on for straight-line penetration. Lehigh Defense states that the Controlled Chaos bullet won’t expand or fragment if it hits a hard barrier, such as drywall, but only in a fluid environment.
Some rifle projectiles from Lehigh Defense. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
I loaded the 152-grain .308-inch bullet in my Ruger M77 .308 Winchester, and the 130-grain .264-inch bullet in my 6.5 Creedmoor, and I had little difficulty getting either to give MOA accuracy.
Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense bullets feature a unique meplat, reminiscent of a blunt Phillips head bit. Again, we’re looking at a lead-free copper monolithic bullet, but it’s the performance at the nose that separates this design from the common hollow-point. Lehigh Defense refers to this design as a “Fluid Transfer Monolithic,” as the fluted nose delivers a unique type of performance in the terminal phase. Perhaps the folks at Lehigh Defense can best describe the performance:
The nose design is the key. The Fluid Transfer’s radial flutes force the hydraulic energy inward, and then as the energy is restricted, it accelerates outward—creating high-pressure spikes severely damaging surrounding tissue. This very rapid increase in fluid flow creates cavitation and massive tissue damage away from the projectile, equivalent to those of the best hollow-points on the market. The result of the Xtreme Defense is a permanent wound cavity that is two to four times greater than what a flat or round-nose bullet generates, and often larger than traditional or solid copper expanding bullets. What you get is a self-defense bullet that will shoot through barriers without deformation or trajectory change, and creates a larger permanent wound cavity, coupled with the desired 18 inches of penetration. This very rapid increase in fluid flow oftentimes creates cavitation and massive tissue damage at distances away from the projectile equivalent to the largest of hollow-points on the market.
Lehigh Defense's Xtreme Defense pistol bullets are of lighter weight, being of all copper construction, and feature a hollow base and unique meplat reminiscent of a Phillip’s head screwdriver. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
I loaded the 135-grain .451-inch-diameter Xtreme Defense bullets for my Sig Sauer STX 1911, seating them over a charge of 8.2 grains of Unique powder, and observed 1,085 fps with great groups and no feeding issues. The Xtreme Defense bullets are available in varying bullet weights (generally light-for-caliber) in .311-, .312-, .355-, .357-, .400-, .410-, .429-, .451-, .452-, .458- and .500-inch diameters, offering projectiles for the vast majority of common autoloading and revolver cartridges. (LehighDefense.com)
McGuire Ballistics
Hailing from California—where the lead-free movement has the strongest roots—McGuire Ballistics has strived to take the copper projectile to a new level. Their Copper Rose projectiles are highly uniform in both weight and length, and they have the potential to be an all-around choice for the hunter, regardless of which state or province you live or hunt in.
There are two variants of the McGuire projectiles: Magazine Feed and Single Feed. The former has a tougher meplat and can handle the repeated recoil impact that cartridges in a magazine are often subject to, and the latter has a much softer tip, so it’ll need to be fed singly. The exterior dimensions of the two models—if of the same caliber and weight—are identical, and I found that they print to the same point-of-impact. McGuire gives an approximate BC—which is wise, as it can and will change with velocity—for each of their projectiles, which are all of the spitzer boat-tail design.
McGuire Ballistics offers their monometal Copper Rose projectiles in two (visually identical) configurations: magazine feed and single feed, with the magazine feed having a tougher meplat. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
McGuire offers their bullets in the most common, all-around calibers: 125-grain 6.5mm, 128-grain .277 inch, 143- and 160-grain 7mm, and 168- and 178-grain in .308-inch diameter. This should cover the majority of your hunting needs, and the construction and conformation of the Copper Rose projectiles will handle the high-impact velocities of magnum cartridges at short distances, yet will expand reliably at hunting ranges this side of the next zip code.
I loaded the 143-grain, 7mm bullet in the 7mm-08 Remington, and my little Tikka T3X Lite seemed particularly pleased with them, delivering three-shot groups averaging ¾-MOA. The 178-grain .30-caliber was destined for my well-worn .300 Winchester Magnum, and once I seated that bullet over a suitable charge of Reloder 19, sparked by a Federal Gold Medal Match GM215M large rifle magnum primer, three of the McGuire projectiles would land in a group just over ½-MOA. (McGuireBallistics.com)
Hawk Bullets
Though the market is decidedly making a hard shift to lead-free projectiles, lead-core bullets work even better every day due to continuous improvements in bullet construction. New Jersey’s Hawk Bullets embraces the lead-core/copper jacket concept, using a proprietary process designed to deliver the same results as bonding to keep their two components together during the terminal phase.
While the majority of Hawk bullets are of a round-nose, flat-base configuration, the beauty of the company is that you can choose from a good number of bullet designs, with varying jacket thicknesses or bullet weights … though not boat-tails.
For example, you may opt for a bullet with a jacket of 0.030-inch thickness for deer and similar-sized game, or beef it up to 0.035 inch for tougher game or to use in a magnum cartridge. Hawk will make a jacket as thin as 0.025 inch, or as thick as 0.065 inch, for the thickest-skinned game.
Hawk Bullets’ round-nose 200-grain .330-inch-diameter bullet for the author’s .318 Westley Richards works very well on whitetail deer and black bear. Offering varying jacket thicknesses and bullet weights, Hawk is a company the aficionado of classic cartridges needs to keep on speed dial. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
And Hawk is a fantastic source of projectiles for the obscure cartridges, offering bullets in .333-inch diameter for the .333 Jeffery, in .286-inch diameter for the .280 Ross, and .318-inch diameter for the 8x57mm with the “J” bore. I rely on Hawk for the 200-grain round-nose .330-inch diameter bullets for my .318 Westley Richards; these bullets are perfectly suited to black bear and whitetail deer here at home in New York. Should I need a source for the heavy 250-grain bullets with which the .318 WR earned its reputation, Hawk makes those as a custom order.
The folks at Hawk are certainly familiar with the gamut of older cartridges, from those classics associated with the golden age of safari, to the blackpowder cartridges that helped settle the West, to those smokeless designs of the early 20th century that have just faded into history. Hawk is a reliable source for those who—like me—enjoy hunting with a cartridge that’s just a bit different, as well as being a great source of a common-sense bullet for the .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield, or revolver. (HawkBullets.com)
Parting Shot
If you enjoy loading your own ammunition and prefer to use something a little left of center, there are many great choices out there, whether you prefer the latest monometal tech or a traditional cup-and-core round-nose. While the major manufacturers are making the best stuff they ever have, I fully support these smaller companies who are putting their efforts forth to bring out the best products they can.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Blaser has just announced the B2 Riflescope line, a series of three new scopes that are compatible with thermal devices and optimized for hunting at night.
The Blaser B2 Riflescope line has just been announced, and the three new scopes it includes aren’t just everyday hunting optics. Designed from the ground up to be ideal for nighttime hunters, the Blaser B2 scopes are compact, robust and compatible with clip-on thermal devices.
The new lineup currently includes three Blaser B2 models, including the 1-6×24 iC, the 2-12×50 iC and the 2.5-15×56 iC. Regardless of the variant selected, all feature 6X magnification, a 30mm tube and are made in Germany, so typical high-quality manufacturing can be expected. The scopes also aren’t merely compatible with clip-on thermal devices, but have been optimized for their use. The major design features that facilitate this include a shorter overall length and more robust construction. By being more compact, it makes it easier for a user to operate the thermal device from a shooting position and brings the setup’s center of gravity further back. The stronger construction is for better managing the increased stress and weight that are present when shooting with a thermal device installed.
Jason Evans, CEO of Blaser Group USA, said this about the Blaser B2 scopes:
The Blaser B2 riflescopes feature excellent German-built optics optimized for big game hunting and for use with the Liemke clip-on thermal devices…The premium optics and design make this line of scopes ideal for all hunters who want the option of hunting in daylight or darkness, which thermal clip-ons make possible.
Additional features of the Blaser B2 line include SFP 4C illuminated reticles, hydrophobic lens coatings and an optional inner rail to accommodate a wide variety of rifles. Blaser Ocular Flip Covers are sold separately, but all of the B2 scopes can also be ordered with the QDC+ (Quick Distance Control+) feature. MSRPs for the optics start at $1,700.
Once upon a time, nothing moved faster than .220 Swift, but is there any reason to still use it today?
At one point, .220 Swift was the fastest factory-loaded cartridge on the market. Today, this once-proud speed demon languishes, forgotten and unloved by the contemporary shooting public.
Are modern shooters overlooking an absolute gem? A powerhouse of prairie dog and paper punching?
Or is this relic better off sunsetting, having had its day and now rightfully taking its place on the ash heap of history?
From left to right: .220 Swift, .222 Remington, .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO. Photo: Wikipedia.
History Of .220 Swift
The .220 Swift was developed largely by Grosvenor Wotkyns, who in the early- to mid-1930s was experimenting with necking cartridges down to .224 caliber to achieve higher velocities. The load he worked up, along with J.E. Gebby and J.B. Smith, necked a .250-3000 Savage case down to .224 caliber.
These gentlemen developed various wildcat loads based on this concept, but Wotkyns’ was called .22 Wotkyns Original Swift and it gained a bit of attention as a varmint and possible light-skinned game round. Ammunition and gun companies noticed, and Remington and Winchester both thought they'd put their own spin on it.
Remington decided to keep .250-3000 Savage as the parent case and dubbed its new cartridge .22-250 Remington.
Winchester decided to change the case from .250-3000 Savage to 6mm Lee Navy since the company was the principal supplier to the U.S. government and had plenty of brass on hand. Winchester dubbed this new cartridge .220 Swift.
The original factory load, first offered in 1935 in the Model 54 rifle, was a 48-grain bullet at an astonishing 4,100 feet per second out of a 26-inch barrel.
The .220 Swift In Its Heyday
The first couple of decades were the peak years of .220 Swift. It swiftly (ha!) gained a reputation for excellent accuracy, wicked efficacy on varmints at long range and some potential as a smaller game round.
Jack O'Connor had high praise for the .220 Swift, as one of his personally owned Model 70 rifles was chambered for it. He considered it the “best of all varmint cartridges,” with excellent accuracy, a very flat trajectory and impressive range compared to other varmint calibers.
Jack O'Connor with one of his Model 70 rifles.
P.O. Ackley was an unabashed fan of .220 Swift, creating a 50-grain projectile for game hunting as well as his own variant called .220 Ackley Improved. It was his favorite cartridge for deer hunting.
Lester Womack, a park ranger and gunsmith, culled wild burros using Ackely's 50-grain bullets and found the .220 Swift a better tool for the job than .30-06 and other full-power cartridges that were popular at the time.
W.D.M. “Karamojo” Bell, the famous ivory hunter, adored the .220 Swift and used it extensively to hunt red stags on his estate in Scotland.
However, not everyone was necessarily a fan.
The .220 Swift quickly wore out barrels in most rifles, though advances in materials would later mitigate throat erosion to a good degree.
While advanced shooters who used it for game hunting loved it, reality is a harsh mistress and most people aren't in Karamojo's class of marksmanship.
O'Connor also noted, “Much big game was killed with it, and killed very dead, but much big game was lost.” Robert Ruark, at one point one of the world's foremost authorities on hunting and hunting rifles, had little love for .220 Swift which influenced his advocacy of “using enough gun” and larger cartridges.
In short, the rifle cognoscenti of the day realized its virtues, but also that it had real limitations.
.220 Swift Ballistics: What Is It Good For?
Based on its ballistic properties, what exactly is .220 Swift good for? On paper, it makes a fantastic light game cartridge for moderate ranges, but where this cartridge truly excels is for varmints. It would also make a coyote culler par excellence.
Here's a trajectory table from ShootersCalculator, presuming a 100-yard zero, 1.5-inch bore offset, a 10 mph 90-degree crosswind and zero corrections for atmosphere. This was calculated using the Federal Varmint 40-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip load:
While a G1 ballistic coefficient of 0.221 is not impressive, the trajectory sure is. With a starting velocity of 4,250 feet per second, it doesn’t dip below the sound barrier until past 825 yards. At 500 yards, it still has more energy than some 9mm loads have at the muzzle.
However, as you can also see, it will get pushed around by wind early and often. This is why the .220 Swift has always excelled the most when the rifle is paired with a scope with enough reticle to place shots accurately.
Unfortunately, there are no factory loadings that improve on the above table more than incrementally. While some other calibers can easily remedy their performance in high-wind conditions by using heavy-for-caliber, high-BC ammunition, there are no factory options like this for .220 Swift. Currently, the heaviest factory ammo available features 55-grain projectiles. The only way to up the weight would be with handloads, and that would also require a custom rifle with a fast enough twist rate to stabilize them. Doable, and the results can be impressive on paper, but it’s probably not worth the effort today given other options.
For instance, the .22-250 Remington can do about 95 percent of what .220 Swift does, all while being more affordable, more available and putting less wear on barrels. For comparison, here’s a trajectory chart pitting the previous .40-grain .220 Swift load against .22-250 Remington loaded with the same Nosler projectile. The initial velocity provided by Nosler is 3,950 fps using a 24-inch barrel, so performance would be even more similar if using the 26-inch barrel used to calculate .220 Swift’s muzzle velocity.
How Available Is .220 Swift Ammo?
When it comes to ammo, MidwayUSA lists five loads, none of which are available at the time of writing. A few are available on AmmoSeek, but slim pickings are your lot unless you handload.
When you can find it for sale, it's not terrifically expensive, but it's certainly not cheap. Expect to pay $30 to $50 per box of 20, which isn't awful in the rifle realm but isn't outstanding either.
Good Reasons To Get A .220 Swift Rifle?
Besides long-range varmint shooting and coyote control, the .220 Swift would also make an excellent youth hunting rifle at moderate ranges. Beyond that, it is an expert's rifle given the marksmanship requirements for game shooting.
Then again, so are .243 Winchester, 7mm-08 and 6.5mm Creedmoor, which are vastly more forgiving, and other varmint cartridges like .22-250 will send prairie dogs to the great burrow in the sky just as effectively.
A Remington 700 SF in .220 Swift.
While .220 Swift rifles can be found on the secondhand market, new-production guns are basically nonexistent today. Remington may still offer a 700 variant chambered for it, as some are still available online at the time of writing, but it's not listed on the company's website.
The .220 Swift Has Had Its Day
.220 Swift is dead or dying. There is literally no use-case for which there aren't alternatives that are—in the real world—just as good, if not better, and more practical. Prairie dogs can't tell the difference between a bullet traveling at 4,000 fps and 3,600 fps, and neither can a coyote.
There is and was never anything wrong with .220 Swift, there’s simply nothing that it excels well enough at to justify using it instead of a similar and more available cartridge today. Just like you could still write a letter using a typewriter, you can still drop varmints with a .220 Swift, there’s just no real good reason to use either in a world with .22-250 and personal computers.
Liberty Ammunition has just added a new 70-grain 10mm Auto load to its OverWatch line of defensive ammo.
At the request of an unnamed government agency, Liberty Ammunition developed a new defensive 10mm Auto load and added it to its OverWatch line. While initially its availability was limited, it is now thankfully accessible to the general public as well. It features 70-grain projectiles and an advertised muzzle velocity of 2,150 fps, and the company promises that the new ammo will be more effective than its existing Civil Defense 10mm load.
While Liberty Ammunition’s Civil Defense 10mm load ruptures immediately, the company says that the new OverWatch load will penetrate barriers and only begin to rupture at 3 to 4 inches of penetration in soft tissue. The 70-grain projectiles feature what the company calls an Open Cavity Design (OCD) with a Maximum Organ Displacement (MOD) feature. The company also claims that compared to other manufacturer’s loads, 10mm OverWatch ammo will hit comparatively harder, be lighter to carry and rupture at the bottom of the cavity to maximize terminal performance.
Gary Ramey, CEO of Liberty Ammunition, said this about the new load:
Liberty OverWatch displaces organs and stops the threat immediately with terminal performance. There is no such thing as a flesh wound with Liberty Ammunition … Liberty OverWatch is available in key calibers for civilians, law enforcement and government agencies. Our products are available through our distributor network, and we remain committed to being the best self-defense ammunition on the market.
Liberty OverWatch 10mm ammo is available now and has an MSRP of $48.68 per box of 20.
Nothing beats a heater on your hip when it comes to personal protection, but here are the best self-defense tools that aren’t guns.
Carrying a pistol is something many of us do daily; however, the larger majority of people don’t always give a second thought to the other items that go hand-in-hand. Life is rarely simple and, no matter how we envision a scenario playing out, things hit the fan with certainty.
The issue we face isn’t a simple one, mostly because the presence of a gun and the prospect of using it results in an increased degree of lethality to both you and the bad guy. As much as we love and adore guns for what they mean to us, in a cultural, personal and political sense they are, at the end of the day, meant to keep you alive through means of lethal force.
We tend to look at things through the lens of escalating violence, such as bringing a knife to a gunfight, where we’re constantly vying to have a leg up on those seeking to do us harm by means of overwhelming force. So far, in the past two years, we’ve seen a mass proliferation of high-capacity micro guns in powerful rounds like 9mm, such as the Sig P365, Springfield Hellcat and a plethora of guns from Glock, Ruger, S&W and more that conform to this new paradigm.
To top it off, most of these little guns are available with optics cuts, mounts for lights and lasers, and backup mags boasting 15 rounds or more. Further means of increasing the abilities of these guns has come in the form of ammunition, such as Federal’s 30 Super Carry, which adds capacity to these already small guns.
At a point likely in the near future, we’ll probably reach a peak of ability given these reduced dimensions, a sort of apex carry gun where weight, accuracy, power and capacity are all balanced beyond improvement.
But the gun is just one part of this. How about the rest of what you have on your person?
Concealing A Knife
Having taken many gun-based classes over the years, the gun classes of substance I’ve been to had very little shooting, rather focusing on tactics and scenarios using dummy guns. Beyond basic handling and shooting, there’s almost no reason to pay good money to listen to how much of an operator someone is.
Knives are the opposite of this: Take as many force-on-force classes as you can. Without training, you’re far more likely to be hurt seriously by your own knife than you are to stop an attacker with it. Getting proper training with any edged weapon is paramount, and the understanding of how and when to use them is critical.
What you want to consider is that a knife is a stand-off weapon, not something offensive. You should always carry any knife under the presumption that it’s a tool first, not your main weapon. As a result of this purely defensive theory—that comes from the need to protect yourself while your attacker is literally trying to grab you—you need to have something that, at a bare minimum, is easy to draw and open.
A fixed blade knife is desirable in this context; however, folders are equally as good if you can become proficient at deploying them. For general carry, you want a well-textured handle and a sharp blade that has both the ability to stab and slash. You’ll also want a handle that allows you to instantly index the direction of the edge—avoid knives that have oval or rounded grip shapes that can rotate in the hand.
If you’re in a restrictive area, there are many knife-like tools that’ll allow for protection, such as the Emerson N-SAR tool. This tool is blunted but has a seriously sharp interior edge. As a stand-off weapon, it excels because it gives you the option of non-lethal strikes but can be turned to cutting quickly. Tools like this are excellent at non-lethal pressure point manipulation, yet they can also slash.
Fixed-blade knives are, of course, much stronger than folders, but they’re harder to carry overall and may not be legal where you live. Automatic knives are becoming more popular; however, you shouldn’t be completely reliant on assist-open or button-release mechanisms. Even a little lint can prevent the mechanism from locking.
The best, at least in my opinion, is the Emerson method with their Wave Feature, basically a forward-facing hook on the blade that catches the inside of the pocket when you pull it out. It opens instantly on draw but isn’t mechanically aided in any way. This, with practice, is the fastest you can get as far as blade deployment.
As always, check your local laws when trying to carry a knife. You’d be surprised at just how few restrictions there on guns when you start trying to legally carry a knife. Luckily, many states are updating their knife laws, and the future looks pretty good.
Emerson knives are respected for their durability and quality. The Market Skinner is a classic knife profile and will yield the results you expect from a knife. The N-SAR is a specialized tool for rescues; it can cut just about any belt made. The N-SAR is not able to stab, but it certainly can cut, and it makes for a good defensive tool in areas that restrict knives as “stabbing” instruments.
Recommended Knives
EMERSON N-SAR
This is an all-inclusive rescue tool that has limited self-defense function. It has a blunted point for safely getting under seatbelts and straps, as well as an integrated belt cutter in the spine of the blade. This tool can be used to get around certain laws that describe knives as “stabbing instruments,” allowing for carry in non-permissive places. MSRP: $299.95
EMERSON MARKET SKINNER
A pocket Bowie knife of sorts, the Market Skinner is a do-all knife that’s great for general EDC, hunting and as a self-defense knife. The deep, swept belly allows for deep cuts, and the shape and texture of the grip makes for an ideal hold either tip up or down. MSRP: $267.95
WINKLER DROP POINT CRUSHER
I carry this knife daily and can readily recommend it for all-around use. This knife is slender and light, despite having a “big knife” look. The blade tip is lowered to the centerline, making it easier to control. The pommel has an angular glass breaker that can be used in defense as well. The knife is exceedingly strong and holds an edge against tough use. MSRP: $375
Calling On Your Phone
Your phone is one of the most important items in your kit these days, probably more important than any other tool on this list for getting out of bad places and finding resources near you. The power of the cell phone isn’t something you should ignore. It’s not just a means to watch TikTok and gun unboxing videos—it affords you the option of extra awareness about your immediate surroundings.
If you’re traveling or are trying to understand your new location after a move, apps like Life360 allow you to not just keep track of your family’s locations, but it also allows you to monitor local crimes and includes a comprehensive list of all sex offenders in the area.
You should be using all available data to steer clear of conflict. Your foreknowledge in these circumstances is paramount to EDC mindset. Show your kids where houses to avoid are, and if they’re engaged by one of those individuals they should run and call the police immediately. It’s also good to use these apps to identify safe areas, local community buildings and stores that are open in off hours to get to safety in where police can be called.
In addition, various phones have a SOS or similar emergency setting that can bring responders right to you. Not all incidents are violent encounters, and you might need your phone to save yourself from your own health emergency. Making your phone difficult to access with a complicated password is folly. You should treat your phone the same as knife or gun: fast to get into action with just one hand. If you’re being threatened or notice suspicious activity, getting it on video is also a very good idea. Collecting evidence with your phone may save you in court.
Recommended Phone Apps/Accessories
LIFE360
If you don’t like to have your location on all the time, well, this isn’t for you. Though, as we all know, “they” can track you anyway. This app is a comprehensive family safety product that gives you the locations of your loved ones, tells you if they’re driving and can even alert you if there’s a crash. It has many features that include crime reports, sex offender locations and more. As far as safety is concerned, this is a great way to keep abreast of bad places and people as much as is reasonable. MSRP: Approx. $60 a month, plans vary
ALPATRONICS INTEGRATED BATTERY PHONE CASE
This phone case features a built-in backup battery that can extend your phone’s operational time by days, especially if you put it in low-power mode. If you have a medical condition that requires you to have a phone on you to monitor blood pressure or heart rate, this can be a lifesaver. Plus, it’s also rated to protect the phone if dropped. The company makes models for most iPhones and many new Androids. MSRP: $42.95
APPLE AIR TAG 4-PACK
If you’re traveling with guns, it makes a good deal of sense to stick a location tag in your gun case, as well as tag your car if you’re in a high-crime area where vehicle theft is a reality. Some people find these creepy, but I’ve known more than one person who had guns stolen in their cases right out of the trunk. At least if the thief ditches the case, you can still have a last location to give to police. MSRP: $99.99
Medical Supplies
I have been guilty of not taking the personal injury aspect of self-defense seriously. Again, much in the same way with knife classes, it’s smart to take a detailed medical class. While it’s not as exciting as doing tactical reloads, all the fancy footwork, plate carriers, extra ammo and other gear mean literally nothing if you get shot through the leg. Is your buddy with you going to be able to stop the bleeding, or is he only good for bringing his tricked-out Noveske out to flex at the range?
The reality of guns is that people do get shot. Carrying medical supplies isn’t the cool thing to do; most people will shake their head if you walk around with an emergency kit on your belt. But you don’t have to look like a dweeb to have medical supplies on hand; in fact, there are some great ones that are both low-profile and effective. You’ll absolutely want to practice with them as well, even though that isn’t “cool,” either.
Think for a moment: What if your neighbor loses control of a chainsaw while doing some tree cleanup work? It’s a horrific injury. Do you have the immediate and necessary skills to stop him from bleeding to death? What you carry—or at least keep close at hand—isn’t just about guns: It’s the benign things that we encounter daily that we need to be equally prepared for.
The C.A.T. Tourniquet is a simple, inexpensive and reliable means to stop critical blood loss. With practice, they can be applied to yourself and others with one hand. It goes without saying, don’t put them around your neck, they aren’t for head injuries.
Recommended Medical Product
C.A.T. RESOURCES TOURNIQUETS
This is a great, low-cost, high-performance tourniquet that can be stashed in a purse, bag or even pocket. While it’s rare to have the need of one, a real tourniquet can stop bleeding in the extremities almost immediately with practice. Bleeding control is paramount in car crashes, shootings and stabbings, and for use on the job site. Stowing a few of these around just makes sense. MSRP: $28 Each
Alternative Self-Defense Tools
There’s a wide range of products that fall into this concealed carry/everyday carry category. If you’re on the job, in the office or in generally non-permissive places, regular items can become weapons if your life depends on it.
The main drawback of this category is that most of these are going to be a compromise. Many standard items—like box cutters, sharp scissors, screwdrivers, chisels, tack hammers and the like—can be carried with no problem. If someone asks a question, well, you just had it in your pocket from fixing a project at home. Don’t attempt to modify these items beyond their original specs. If you have a good force-on-force class or club in your area, take these items and practice with dulled-up versions. Plus, as a bonus, most of these tools can be used in their intended role.
Recommended Alternative Self-Defense Tools
DEWALT SHORT CHISEL SET
DeWalt is a common tool brand, making their chisels that much more unassuming. The 1/8-inch width is a very adequate weapon for stand-off fights. These tools are cheap enough that if you lose one it’s not a big deal, and the rubberized grips are easier to manipulate than plain wood. MSRP: $36
WINKLER KNIVES AF-ERT
This is a basic, single-piece multi-tool that can be used as a weapon if need be. It’s about the same size and weight as a tack hammer and features a pry bar, a couple sizes of wrench, a glass breaker and a hammer face. The little tool can ride in a car or bag without being noticed. MSRP: $85
Flashlights
This is another hot point of contention in terms of guns: weapon mounted light or not? Well, more and more guns have mount options for lights these days. Some instructors don’t like gun-mounted lights, but others do. Some prefer only hand-held. Find someone who can teach both methods and make your decision.
I always have a flashlight on me after dark, and my primary carry gun also has a light. If I go without the gun, I still have the light itself. Having that light and ability to blind/flee the area is critical. You should also be aware of how your light interacts with your gun. For instance, my RMR sight was washed out easily with reflected light at night and flashing lights, car headlights and the muzzle flash.
Lights are one of those things that’ll vary by gun and application. Luckily, we live in the best possible era for handheld lights, and it’s getting hard to go wrong. Really anything by SureFire and Streamlight are great. The main consideration with lights is that you can also be blinded easily, so do make sure you practice using any illumination tools in places you live. You’d be surprised just how different your own house looks with the lights off and lit up by 1000 lumens. Training is more important than the light itself in most cases.
Lights are one of those things that you shouldn’t be without, even in the daylight. After all, the inside of buildings can become unexpectedly dark, or you may be out later than you like. Any gun worth its salt today should have at least the ability to mount a flashlight.
CCW Apparel
Your EDC clothing shouldn’t scream “shoot me first.” There’s a plethora of “tactical” companies that sell clothing and, while many of them make general sense for concealed carry, they make you stick out like a sore thumb. Sort of like the cars that are distinguishable as bugout vehicles complete with all the accessories and extra gas cans, you make for an inviting first target the minute things go badly.
If you’re out there doing your thing, you shouldn’t want to stand out. Wear nice clothes that are clean and stylish for your area and season; spend some money to look attractive as you won’t be determined to be a threat on first glance. Avoid the cop or soldier look, and don’t wear items that overtly state your political or ideological beliefs. You want to be deadly, but you don’t want to give the appearance of what you have.
Your manner of dress should be like keeping your cards close to your chest, camouflage for life if you will.
Winkler Knives makes some of the toughest and most sought-after blades in the business. The Drop Point Crusher is not only a beautiful knife, but also light and very rugged. The AF-ERT is a small, unassuming tool that can be used for many things, including last-ditch defense.
Recommended EDC Apparel
HILL PEOPLE GEAR FANNY PACKS
Hill People Gear makes some awesome equipment that’s barely noticeable in public. I like that their fanny packs are able to be completely discreet while offering a dedicated pistol compartment that can house a full-size 1911. Carrying large guns is much more possible with these, and, with practice, you can draw very quickly. MSRP: $122
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2023 CCWspecial issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
A .357 Magnum revolver for concealed carry … really? Might as well hook up a mule team to your buggy for the daily commute. In certain quarters of the gun world that’s what an on-person gun chambered for granddaddy magnum amounts to—an anachronism of the highest degree. Yet, in a world awash with polymer, striker-fired pistols the tried-and-true .357 revolver soldiers on. What gives?
The .357 Magnum revolver soldiers on, but not every make and model is ideal for concealed carry.
Truth be known, the revolver-cartridge combination is a proven, reliable, popular and powerful system—still considered by many among the most trustworthy for self-defense. For the better part of the 20th Century, perhaps only the .38 Special overshadow it’s use by law enforcement. And in this role, few other sidearms built a better reputation for neutralizing deadly threats.
Truth be told, with ammo and gunsmithing advancement, the .357 Magnum has only gotten better with time. This includes the delicate role of concealed carry gun. Today, there is a slew of .357 Magnum revolvers worth considering if the wheelie and cartridge fit your particular lifestyle. We’ve chosen five we believe excel in this role. But so we don’t put the cart before the horse (or mule), let’s hash out if the gun and cartridge fit your particular circumstances.
Should You Go A .357 Magnum Revolver?
We have a much longer write-up on the pros and cons of .357 Magnum as a personal-defense option, well worth checking out if you’re seriously considering this route. But for our discussion here we can boil down the gun and cartridge’s pluses and minuses to the quick.
Pros
Proven Self-Defense Cartridge—The cartridge is still considered a superior option for neutralizing a threat and has the resume to back it up. Additionally, the cartridge boasts among the widest selection of ammo that passes the FBI’s barrier and penetration tests.
Simple Manual of Arms In Its Guns—To troubleshoot a double-action revolver you simply pull the trigger again. Doesn’t get much easier. True enough, revolvers aren’t immune to malfunctions and when they jam they jam like no other. However, the occurrence is rare enough to be negligible.
Manageable For Most—Unlike almost any other handgun magnum, everyday shooters can master the .357. There is a “but” to this that we’ll go into greater detail on in a moment.
The .357 Magnum still holds its own as a defensive cartridge. An added bonus in picking up a revolver chambered for it, you can shoot forgiving .38 Speical.
Cons
Difficult Double-Action Trigger—It’s long and heavy and requires much more practice than a snappy single-action or striker-fired pistol to achieve consistent accuracy. If there’s any one facet that makes the revolver—.357 Magnum or otherwise—a marginal option for beginners it’s this.
Shorter Barrels Notably Reduce Velocity—Snubbed-nose .357 Magnum revolvers produced excessive muzzle flash for a reason, they burn a lot of powder outside the bore. In turn, this style of revolver won’t top-end most loads' velocity by any stretch. By no means is the popular myth true a short barrel degrades the magnum to +P .38 Special performance. But realize, out of a snubbie ammo won’t live up to the box-side ballistics.
Limited Capacity—Expect 5 or 6 rounds at best. That’s cutting things close. Additionally, reloads are no walk in the park, involving many more steps than a semi-auto pistol, taxing fine motor skills under stress. Go a .357 Magnum revolver, you’d better practice your emergency reloads!
There’s an elephant still in the room, the “but” we mentioned above, and it's particular to many concealed carry .357 Magnum revolvers. Some are out-and-out bears to shoot. There’s a reason why the guns have the dubious moniker “knuckle busters”.
This is not a good situation. Excessive recoil does not breed excellent marksmanship, thus the reason why professional dalliances with the 10mm and .41 Magnum have been short-lived. Folks don’t like to train when their hands are getting the Torquemada treatment, and it has the potential to lead to problematic issues such as flinch.
Very light and small .357 Magnum revolvers tend to this sort of experience. Though, there is a way to mitigate some of this, which segues nicely into our selection criteria.
In making our selections of best concealed-carry .357 Magnum revolvers, we stuck to our usual criteria for separating the wheat from the chaff:
Reliability: The guns are well made with a reliable track record. Concealability: We’re looking at concealed carry revolvers, in turn, we’re sticking with smaller .357 Magnums. Accessibility: All the models are currently in production, thus found at most gun retailers.
However, we also added another evaluation point—shootablity. Given this, many of our choices tend toward the heavier end of the spectrum. It makes a difference.
Take a hypothetical a 140-grain .357 Magnum load that leaves a snubbie's muzzle at 1,000 fps. Shoot it from a 22-ounce Smith & Wesson Pro Series Model 640 and it generates roughly 10 ft-lbs. of recoil energy. Put that same load in an 11-ounce Smith & Wesson Model 340PD and the recoil energy nearly doubles to 19 ft-lbs. For context, that’s the neighborhood of many .270 Winchester loads out of a 7-pound rifle.
Considering this, a bit of extra weight on the hip is a worthwhile tradeoff for what will likely lead to more consistent accuracy.
Best .357 Revolvers For Concealed Carry
Smith & Wesson Model 640
Smith & Wesson Model 640 Pro Series
A staple in Smith & Wesson’s J-Frame catalog, the snubbie .357 Magnum revolver is a gem of its class. Constructed of all stainless steel, the rugged double-action only (DAO) likely has the chops to be handed down to a son or daughter one day. And, like most Js, is a fairly easy affair to conceal. How about to shoot? It's about as pleasurable as this sized magnum gets. It certainly doesn’t get the nod for weekend plinker, but at a hefty 22 ounces the 640 sets shooters up for success.
Smith & Wesson offers the plain Jane version of the concealed-hammer 640 and a Performance Center Pro Series option. With about $100 difference between the two models, the PC upgrade is worth the money delivering not only a more attractive gun but some notable enhancements. The three that pop out on the 5-round revolver are rear and front tritium drift-adjustable sights, a cylinder cut to accept moon clips and a PC-tuned trigger. Yeah, it’s still as heavy as a kettlebell, but boy is it smooth. MSRP: Model 640 $809; Pro Series $939 smith-wesson.com
Ruger SP101
Ruger SP101
There’s a lot of gun here, and we’re not talking metaphorically. Even in its 2.25-inch snub-nose rendition, the SP101 is constructed from a load of stainless and it looks it—almost reminiscent of Smith & Wesson’s K-frame Model 66. As we discussed previously, as a primary arm this is an advantage giving shooters a more manageable system. Although, it might be a better option for an outside the waistband (OWB) holster. For the right individual it could qualify for inside the waistband (IWB). Pocket carry is pushing it.
The 5-round .357 Magnum revolver shoots well, and for its bulk cuts a fine figure, especially with its full lug. Its factory grips are a bit small, but easily upgradable with plenty of aftermarket options. The DAO model is the most logical concealed carry candidate, the spurless hammer enhancing an already streamlined design (an advantage of casting).
Yet, be forewarned—the SP101 has a notoriously heavy and somewhat gritty trigger pull. Plus, it’s only available with an integral rear sight in DAO—not the most precise of systems. Then again, you aren’t getting a concealed carry magnum for precision range work. MSRP: Starts at $919, ruger.com
Ruger LCR
If weight is the utmost concern, the .357 Magnum LCR is most likely the best option. At 17 ounces, it walks a fine line and, for the most part, is at the basement in what we’d consider a manageable concealed carry magnum. Buyer beware, this is a much buckier .357 Magnum revolver, but not at the magnitude of ultralight guns. Size-wise, with a 1.87-inch barrel, the LCR not only qualifies as a primary carry arm, but would fill the role as a hard-hitting backup.
Outside of its dimensions, the .357 revolver has several other nice attributes, from very comfortable Hogue Tamer grips to replaceable pinned front sight—in case you want to upgrade to a low-light option. Above anything, it has an excellent trigger. Yes, it’s a heavy pull (what did you expect in double-action?), but it’s like silk compared to most factory switches. The LCR is also intuitively laid out, with a button cylinder release on the left side that picks up the pace of the DOA’s reloads. MSRP: $859, ruger.com
Kimber K6S
Kimber put thought into what makes a solid concealed carry revolver and it shows in its K6S line. Easy to keep under wraps, but not at the expense of controllability, the nifty snub-nose heaters present armed citizens with the whole package. To boot, they're lookers—too bad the guns are meant to avoid the light of day most of their lives.
Kimber bills its 2-inch barreled K6S as the lightest 6-round .357 Magnum revolver on the market, but don’t let that spook you. The gun is still substantial at 23-ounces and eats a majority of recoil. Also, don’t let the extra round in a concealed-carry model fool you either—it’s still very easy to fit inside the waistband or pocket. In part, this is thanks to milled flats on the stainless-steel gun’s cylinder that keeps it nearly as svelte as 5-round options.
The K6S design is sleek, reducing the chances of hanging up on the draw, hastened further by a concealed hammer. The gun also sports a top-notch trigger, with a light-for-DAO 9-pound break. With practice it runs fast. One more thing, actual front and rear sights earn the K6S extra points. As far as model, the Stainless is the most affordable, but the DCR adds a touch of class with rosewood grips. Other variants are available as well. MSRP: Starts at $985 kimberamerica.com
Colt King Cobra Carry
The reboot of the Colt Python has somewhat overshadowed the King Cobra in the public’s eye. Nevertheless, it does little to diminish the snub-nose .357 Magnum revolver’s performance in its main role—on person self-defense piece. Plus, it’s a Colt “Snake Gun”, with is inherently cool.
All stainless steel and nearly a full-sized grip, the King is a fairly polite piece, one that with some practice runs fast and accurate. Part of this is thanks to the 6-round revolver’s weight, which is an ample 26-ounces unloaded. But the trigger also deserves kudos. Again, compared to a pistol it’s substantial—10-pounds—but responsive.
A full lug adds a level of protection to the ejection rod, ensuring it doesn’t get skewed in everyday rough and tumble. And Hogue Overmolded grips with finger grooves adds another level of control to the handgun. Most will appreciate the bobbed hammer on the DOA variation, however, if you can't live without a hammer spur there is a Carry iteration with one. At the risk of drawing the ire of Colt fans, the cylinder lock isn’t intuitive for those who haven’t run the revolver previously—pulling backward. But this facet isn’t generally a hindrance once familiar with the system. MSRP: $999, colt.com
Hollow point bullets are the most popular style of defensive handgun projectile, so here’s everything you need to know about them.
When it comes to carrying a concealed handgun for personal protection, there are many things that need to be considered. The ammunition you’ll carry in that handgun is critical because the bullet it fires is what you ultimately hope will stop the fight … or end whatever attack you’re experiencing.
There’s a lot of information available from manufacturers about the bullets they offer, and there’s a lot of information on the internet where users have tested them. However, for you to fully understand this information, you need a working knowledge of bullets. Understanding how they’re different and what makes them work is part of that, but so, too, is an understanding a bullet’s anatomy.
Barnes mono-metal pistol bullets will perform consistently over a wide range of impact velocities.
The Basics Of Hollow Point Bullets
Simplified, there two types of defensive handgun projectiles—jacketed and monometal—and both are generally hollow point bullets. A jacketed bullet will have a core that’s most commonly made up of lead or a lead alloy. The hardness of this core contributes to how the bullet reacts to impact and deforms. The same is true of the jacket, which is either made of copper or a copper alloy, such as gilding metal or cartridge brass.
This schematic highlights the anatomy of a defensive handgun bullet.
Remington’s Golden Saber gullet uses cartridge brass as a bullet jacket. Just as with the core, the hardness and flexibility of this jacket—in conjunction with the hardness of the core—determines how a bullet will deform upon impact. With a monometal bullet, there’s no jacket or core: The bullet is homogeneous, meaning it’s made of a single material, which is of copper or a copper alloy.
The jackets of defensive handgun bullets start out as a flat piece of material that’s then formed into a cup, with the open end of the cup at the most forward end of the bullet. However, some bullets are made with a reversed jacket, where the open end of the bullet is the bullet’s base.
The original Winchester SilverTip, Black Talon and Ranger SXT bullets were made in the reverse manner. However, in either case, once the cup is formed the core is inserted. With bullets that have the opening of the cup at the front, the jacket is rolled or folded into this opening as a hollow well—or a hollow point—is formed into the core. With a reverse jacket, a punch is inserted into the nose of the bullet to make this cavity.
The famous Black Talon bullet was built with a reversed jacket. This is a good way to make defensive handgun bullets—naming them “Black Talon” wasn’t such a good idea.
The hollow cavity, or hollow point, is what works to make the bullet deform or expand in a predictable manner. As fluids or body tissues enter this cavity under pressure, the forces exceed that of what the jacket and core can withstand, and the bullet begins to peel back. For this to happen, the bullet must strike at a certain velocity, which will vary between bullet designs.
Sometimes, however, if the bullet must pass through some sort of intermediate barrier, such as clothing, wall board, glass or metal, the hollow point can fill with those materials. If those materials are compressed into the hollow opening of the bullet, it can fail to deform as designed because there’s not enough pressure exerted on the core and jacket.
A barrier of two layers of denim had no negative impact on the performance of this Barnes pistol bullet.
Expansion Control Matters
The FBI places great importance on a bullet’s ability to pass through intermediate barriers and still deform as designed when it impacts soft body tissues. Because law enforcement needs tend to drive the development of defensive handgun bullets, manufacturers often build bullets that’ll perform the way the FBI likes them to.
So, to ensure controlled deformation, some other “things” are done to bullets, and one of those things is the skiving or perforation of the bullet’s jacket—and sometimes core—around the hollow point cavity. This skiving weakens the walls of the hollow cavity, but it does so in a very precise manner so that the jacket will begin to peel away from the core consistently.
This is the type of performance most who carry a defensive handgun are looking for: 1.5 to 1.75 bullet upset with between 12 to 18 inches of penetration.
This skiving and perforation, along with the design and shape of the hollow point cavity, is very effective at bringing about controlled deformation. If you remember the Winchester Black Talon bullet, it had the skiving at the mouth of the bullet where the jacket was folded into the hollow point cavity. This caused the Talon bullet to upset with those nasty-looking and very sharp petals. But this skiving might not be enough, and manufacturers look at other methods to increase the likelihood that the bullet will upset.
For example, as with the Hornady Critical Defense and Critical Duty loads, they might insert a polymer tip inside the hollow point cavity. This prevents barrier material from entering and then negating the effectiveness of the hollow point. By inserting the polymer tip, manufacturers are essentially creating the force needed to deform the bullet without having to rely on fluids or soft body tissue to do that for them. They’re recognizing that something could enter the hollow point and negate bullet expansion, so they just circumvent that possibility by inserting something into the hollow point during manufacture that will promote bullet upset.
Hornady inserts a polymer tip inside the hollow point of their Critical Duty ammunition to prevent the hollow point from being filled with a compressible material from an intermediate barrier.
Monometal bullets work the same as jacketed bullets when it comes to bullet upset; fluid or soft body tissues must enter the hollow point cavity and force it to open. However, instead of skiving, with a monometal bullet the punch that creates the hollow point pre-stresses the bullet in a consistent manner. The primary advantage of monometal hollow point bullets is that they can be easily tuned to upset over a wide range of velocities.
It’s not uncommon for some jacketed bullets to arrive at the target traveling too slow and without enough energy to upset. This is most often due to the use of ammunition in short barrels that adversely affect velocity. A good example of this blindness to impact velocity is a Barnes XPB bullet like the 160-grain offering in .45-caliber. This bullet will deliver near ideal upset when impacting as slow as 800 fps and even faster than 1,200 fps.
Defensive handgun bullets are designed to perform well when impacting without a barrier, or even after passing through a barrier like wall board as demonstrated here.
Non-Negotiable
The reason we want a bullet to upset on impact it two-fold. First, as the frontal diameter of the bullet is increased due to deformation, its penetration potential is reduced. Without this expansion or deformation, most defensive handgun bullets would seriously over-penetrate. The second reason for this desired bullet upset is to increase the size of the hole the bullet makes, because the larger the hole, the more tissue that’s damaged. However, if the bullet upsets too much and the frontal diameter becomes too large, penetration will suffer.
If a bullet isn’t constructed correctly, or if it impacts at too slow of a velocity, it might not expand.
With most conventional defensive handgun cartridges—like the 9mm, .40 S&W and the .45 Auto—the ideal amount of bullet upset occurs when the bullet’s frontal diameter in increased from between 1.5 to 1.75 times its original diameter. When this happens with these cartridges, penetration usually ranges between about 12 and 18 inches. According to the FBI, this is looked upon as a best-case scenario.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2023 CCWspecial issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Ready to explore the fascinating world of the M1 Carbine? Whether you're seeking an original piece of history or a top-notch reproduction, we've got you covered.
The year was 1938 when the first request for a light rifle or carbine was made by the Chief of Infantry to the U.S. Army’s Ordnance Department. For support troops, those soldiers who kept the war machine rolling, the M1 Garand was too long and unwieldy, the Thompson submachine gun was too heavy and expensive and the M1911A1 pistol had limited range. An intermediate solution was needed for staff, officers, artillerymen, radiomen, drivers, NCOs, cooks in the chow hall and all the other soldiers that shore up combat troops.
The new rifle needed to be light, easy to maneuver with while slung over your back and chambered in a caliber between the powerful .30-06 Springfield cartridge of the Garand and the .45 ACP of the Thompson and the 1911. The result was the M1 Carbine.
It was lightweight at just over 5 pounds, only 35.6 inches in length (smaller than a yardstick) and chambered in the new .30 Carbine cartridge. Approval for the carbine came in 1940 when the world was in the throes of World War II and the M1 Carbine played a significant role in that conflict and several others that followed.
Before its adoption, the design of the M1 Carbine still needed to be drawn out, prototyped and tested. That didn’t happen in the offices and test labs of the Ordnance Department. The M1 Carbine design actually started on a Caledonia State Prison Farm in Halifax County, North Carolina.
A convicted murderer by the name of David Williams was an inmate in this minimum-security facility and had an aptitude for anything mechanical. Williams was especially good at designing firearms and he devised a short-stroke gas piston operating system for a rifle while serving his time. The gas system he devised became the basis for the M1 Carbine.
After Williams was paroled, he went to the War Department to show off his designs. In response, Army Ordnance suggested Winchester should hire the ex-convict, which it did. Williams, along with other Winchester engineers, then combined his short-stroke piston design with a rifle design that was started at Winchester by Ed Browning, John Browning’s brother.
By 1941, the final result was a carbine that used a rotating bolt, an operating slide and a short-stroke gas piston. When a shot is fired, gas is siphoned off to push back on the operating slide which then drives the rotating bolt rearward to eject a spent case. The recoil spring brings it all back home while scraping a fresh round out of the detachable box magazine.
An exploded view of the M2 Carbine, which at its core is identical to how an M1 functions. Photo: Wikipedia.
The new carbine was lighter than the 9.5-pound M1 Garand and almost 8 inches shorter in length. It was equipped with a smooth wood stock, a 17.75-inch barrel with a 1:20 twist rate and its sights consisted of a rear aperture and a front wing-protected post. The M1 Carbine featured a semi-automatic action and was fed from 15-round detachable box magazines. With the design established, the only obstacle left to tackle was production. Issue? The U.S. was going to need a lot of carbines to keep up with the war demand.
Production Ramp-Up During WWII
Winchester could not possibly build all the carbines needed. The U.S. government hired contractors to produce the M1 Carbine to bolster production numbers. By far the largest producer was the Inland division of General Motors, but some ten different contractors produced the M1 Carbine. These included IBM, Underwood, Rock-Ola Manufacturing Corporation, Quality Hardware and Machine Corp., Irwin-Pedersen Arms Company, National Postal Meter Company, Commercial Controls Corp., The Standard Products Company and Saginaw Steering Gear Division of General Motors.
An M1 Carbine receiver with Rock-Ola production markings. Rock-Ola otherwise primarily produced juke boxes and similar machines. Photo: rockislandauction.com.
By mid-1941, the first M1 carbines were delivered to front-line troops with over 6 million M1 Carbines produced before the end of World War II. By that time, four official variants and a few more sub-variants had been produced. In 1945, military production of the M1 Carbine family stopped.
The M1 Carbine In Combat
For the most part, the M1 Carbine performed as designed. In combat use, it was small in size, lightweight and maneuverable, plus it had firepower with 15- and later 30-round magazines. However, the edge the M1 Carbine had in handling was hampered by the reputation surrounding the performance of .30 Carbine ammunition.
Action reports from WWII told of soldiers having to shoot enemy combatants multiple times before they went down. Some theorize this had more to do with the soldier's aim and missing shots they believed were hits, rather than the cartridge's supposed anemic ballistics.
Much of the lore surrounding the cartridge's stopping power seems to be a myth in retrospect. On paper, the .30 Carbine has decent ballistics for a cartridge its size. Despite reports from the Korean War, modern testing has conclusively debunked the idea the frozen jackets of Chinese troops were enough to stop .30 Carbine. The cartridge has proven capable of penetrating some level IIIA soft armor, in turn, poor effect on targets was more likely due to subpar shot placement. That said, it obviously can’t hold a candle to .30-06.
A U.S. Marine armed with an M1 Carbine. Photo: Wikipedia.
Despite its reputation, regardless of its validity, the use of the M1 Carbine by U.S. troops spanned not only WWII, but the Korean War and the Vietnam War as well. American troops weren’t the only ones to shoulder the M1 either, as some of our allies used the rifle during these conflicts. Due to the sheer volume of production and wide proliferation, the carbine later saw considerable use in conflicts without direct American involvement too. Some American law enforcement agencies from the 1950s through the 1970s utilized the M1, and here it earned a generally better reputation than it did with military users.
.30 Carbine Ballistics
The .30 Carbine cartridge was designed as an in-between caliber. Because it’s typically compared to higher velocity and more powerful loads, it is often considered underpowered. Winchester chose the .32 Winchester Self-Loading cartridge (.32 WSL) as the parent case for the .30 Carbine, but it was modified to a rimless case design and featured a smaller diameter bullet. While the .32 WSL was in the same class as the .32-20—not a sizzler by any stretch of the imagination—the propellants produced in the 1940s marginally cranked up the performance of .30 Carbine.
From left to right: .30 Carbine, 7.92x33mm, 7.62x39mm, 5.45x39mm, 5.56x45mm, 7.62x51mm NATO. Photo: Wikipedia.
The M1 Carbine pushes a 110-grain bullet with an average muzzle velocity of 1,990 fps and produces an average muzzle energy of 967 foot-pounds. As per Hatcher’s Notebook, the Cal. .30 M2 ball ammo of the Garand was loaded with a 152-grain bullet and had an average muzzle velocity of 2,805 fps and a muzzle energy of 2,656 foot-pounds.
Comparing the two, .30 Carbine has about 29-percent less muzzle velocity and 63-percent less muzzle energy. Compared to .45 ACP fired from a 1911, however, the .30 Carbine has an edge. The standard .45 ACP loading of the day used a 230-grain FMJ with a muzzle velocity of 830 fps and 352 foot-pounds of muzzle energy on average. That means that .30 Carbine has about 140-percent more muzzle velocity and about 175-percent more muzzle energy than .45 ACP when fired from their respective WWII-issue weapons. Considering that the M1 Carbine was intended as a replacement defensive weapon for personnel that would have otherwise been issued a 1911, that’s not bad at all.
Modern .30 Carbine Ammo
Fresh .30 Carbine ammo is still relatively plentiful today. Remington, Federal, Aguila, IMI, PPU, Magtech, Winchester, Hornady, Buffalo Bore, Sellier& Bellot and others all produce it. The bulk of these are target loads featuring a typical 110-grain FMJ bullet. However, companies like Hornady and Underwood offer some defensive loads as well such as the 110-grain FTX and the 85-grain Lehigh Xtreme Cavitator. Hunting ammo choices are mainly composed of soft-point 110-grain bullets.
All I can say about .30 Carbine is it can kill deer at close range, meaning under 100 yards. I have hunted whitetail deer with the .30 Carbine and it can fill your freezer. I’ve used Hornady ammo with good results, but that said, I would not recommend going out of your way to use the .30 Carbine for deer hunting given the abundance of other options today.
M1 Carbine Major Variants
M1 And M1A1 Carbines
The original and most common version of the carbine is the standard M1, featuring smooth wood stocks and non-adjustable, flip-over rear sights with apertures for 100- and 300-yards. The M1A1 Carbine sports a side folding wire stock instead, but is otherwise identical to the M1. The M1A1 is also known as the paratrooper model given it was designed to be used by U.S. Army Airborne units.
With the introduction of the M2 variant in late 1944, the carbine was given select-fire capabilities and a 30-round magazine. This variant was widely used during the Korean War, much more than in WWII where they only witnessed the tail-end of the conflict. The M2 paratrooper variant was designated the M2A1 and was similar to the M1A1.
An M3 Carbine with its scope and battery pack. Photo: Wikipedia.
Perhaps the most unique variant was the M3. This version was just an M2 fitted with a mount for early-generation infrared night vision scopes. The whole setup weighed over 30 pounds, and despite being cutting-edge technology for its time, the scopes only had an effective range of about 70-100 yards.
M1 Variant Nuances
Sights
Early M1s had a non-adjustable rear sight. This sight had two apertures, one for 100 yards and one for 300 yards. By the end of WWII, an adjustable rear sight had replaced the original flip-up rear sight.
Barrel Bands
There were also three types of barrel bands on M1 Carbines.
Type 1: This was the most common variation and featured a narrow band retained by the band spring.
Type 2: This M1 appeared in 1944 with a wide band that better secured the barrel to the stock.
Type 3: By 1945, this variation included a bayonet lug as well. Many M1s had their barrel bands upgraded to the Type III after 1945.
A Type 1 barrel band (top) versus a Type 3 band (bottom). Photo: rockislandauction.com.
M1 Carbine Stocks
Stocks are also classified into three types.
Type 1: These stocks are the earliest and are referred to as “high wood” with the stock nearly covering the operating handle and featuring an I-shaped oiler slot in the rear stock. The oiler also held the canvas sling in place.
Type 2: These stocks are wartime production and feature an oval oiler slot and high wood. The high wood stocks were easily damaged, so the
Type 3: This stock, called low wood, was designed and used from 1944 onward. As the name implies, the stock was cut away from the operating handle.This variation also features an oval oiler slot.
It's worthwhile to note, the forend profiles of early stocks are straight while later-production stocks had a “pot belly” that sloped down. Early handguards also had two rivets while later variants had four.
Safety
The safety is another feature that changed during war production. Early guns had a push-button safety which was similar in size to the magazine release. To avoid confusion among soldiers, the safety was replaced with a rotary-style safety. Many M1s were later retrofitted with a rotary safety as well.
Surplus M1 Carbines
By the mid-1950s, surplus M1 Carbines started to become available on the commercial market. The CMP sold surplus M1 Carbines for $18.50, and at the time would ship them directly to your house (ah, the good old days). Carbines, ammo and extra magazines were all in abundance in those days.
Many veterans bought them due to familiarity and nostalgia, others purchased them for home defense given how handy and easy they are to shoot. Many also enjoyed using the carbine for hunting small- to medium-size game.
Even in the 1980s, M1 Carbines were regularly seen on the used rack in gun stores. Prices back then were about $200 to $300. Some 200,000 M1 Carbines from South Korea were allowed to be sold in the U.S. under the Reagan administration. The days of inexpensive surplus M1 Carbines, however, are now over.
The Clinton administration blocked sales of surplus M1 Carbines from the Philippines, Turkey and Pakistan. The Obama administrated similarly axed surplus sales of M1s from South Korea in 2010. These guns qualify as “curios or relics” and are legal to sell in the U.S., but they were sadly destroyed instead. There are probably still more M1 Carbines sitting in warehouses abroad, but the odds of them ever being imported are disappointingly slim.
A surplus Winchester M1 Carbine with a 30-round magazine and bayonet. Photo: rockislandauction.com.
Collecting The M1 Carbine
When it comes to collecting the surplus M1s that are already circulating on the secondhand market it’s, unfortunately, a tough nut to crack. This is because there are a ton of very minute, nuanced details that can majorly impact a carbine’s value. If you really want to get into it, you will need to do research beyond the information provided in this article.
The general condition, the rarity of the manufacturer or variant, the originality, subtle details like the barrel band or stock pattern and even a gun’s serial number can all play a huge role. There are also forgeries to watch out for on top of learning how to identify original features. These are all things that you can teach yourself, but it will require time and dedication before you’re educated enough to start dropping large sums on expanding your collection without worrying about getting scammed.
Reproduction M1 Carbines
After WWII, several firearms manufacturers produced copies of the M1 Carbine. Iver Johnson, AMPCO, Erma, Universal Firearms and Plainfield Machine Company are just a few that have existed over the years. The quality varied among these manufacturers, with some using a mix of original surplus and new-production parts and others building them with entirely new commercial components. Not all GI parts are compatible with commercial guns.
Currently, there are still a few manufacturers cranking out reproduction M1 Carbines. Inland Mfg. (which is not the original Inland Mfg. but a new company started in 2013), Auto-Ordnance (which is part of Kahr Arms) and Chiappa are three of them. Of these, some are more faithful reproductions than others, with some true clones and others the company’s interpretation of the M1. Chiappa’s, for instance, is chambered for 9mm or .22 LR and uses a blowback action.
When considering an M1 Carbine, you need to ask yourself: Do I want to continue to shoot an original which will diminish its value, or shoot the heck out of a reproduction? My thought with reproduction guns is not to give it a hallowed slot in my gun safe, but to shoot it a lot.
Inland Mfg. offers eight variants of the M1 Carbine, and my favorite is the 1945 M1 with a Type III barrel band. While some of the Inland M1 Carbines take creative license with the look and features. However, when you shoulder an Inland Mfg. M1 1945, it makes you wonder whether it just came off the production line in 1945. It even has period-correct features like a round bolt and low wood stock. The new Inland Mfg. M1 Carbines are so close to original specifications Inland marks the underside of the barrel and inside the stock to prevent these carbines from being sold as WWII-vintage firearms by unscrupulous gun traders.
A new-production commercial M1 1945 Carbine from Inland Mfg.
Another favorite of mine is the Auto-Ordnance M1 Carbine Paratrooper, which is a reproduction of the M1A1 with a folding wire stock. Add shooting the Paratrooper from the hip with the stocked folded to your bucket list. You'll have a silly grin on your face after running through a 30-round mag.
Given the collectability of surplus guns, reproductions allow one to shoot them as much as desired without worrying about eroding the value of an original. Reproductions also cost less than originals and are pretty much guaranteed to run out of the box, while surplus guns often need some tweaking and some cleaning.
Getting Started With An M1 Carbine
There are a lot of complexities and nuances to collecting surplus M1s. There is also the expense.
If you have your heart set on a surplus M1, expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000 for a shooter in good condition. Rebuilds are cheaper but will have mismatched parts, but that's alright for a gun you are going to shoot. Reproductions are, honestly, the best option if all you want is a range toy. These guns are less expensive, but won't appreciate in value like originals.
Regardless of the exact variant you end up with, M1 Carbines are a ton of fun to shoot and will forever hold a prominent space in the pantheon of historically significant military small arms.
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