Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 7 new bits of guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.
Two inches shorter and 2 ounces lighter than Nosler’s SR-30AlTi, the new SR-30K was specifically designed with backcountry hunters in mind. Thanks to its titanium and aluminum construction, the suppressor weighs just over 7 ounces and measures just under 6 inches in length. This makes it ideal when being hauled over long distances or through rough country. It also features a special baffle stack designed to maximize sound suppression performance despite its reduced size. If you’ve wanted to hush up your hunting rifle but are worried about added bulk, the Nosler K-Can is worth your consideration. MSRP: $729
Ruger/Marlin Model 1894 Classic
Ruger has continued its reintroduction of classic Marlin lever-action rifles. The latest to hit the scene is the Model 1894 chambered for .44 Remington Magnum. Implied in this chambering, the rifle will also take .44 Special—if you happen to stalk less substantial game or crave some reduced-recoil range time. The rifle’s tubular magazine fits 10 rounds of .44 Mag. and 11 rounds of .44 Special. The receiver, lever, trigger guard plate and barrel are all made of alloy steel with a satin blue finish. Other features include a soft rubber recoil pad, American black walnut furniture and adjustable semi-buckhorn sights. MSRP: $1,239
Weatherby Model 307 Centerfire Rifle Action
It’s been a spell since Weatherby has tinkered with a new action, but the measured development is worth it, given the new Model 307 appears to have a lot to offer. The company’s goal behind the 307 was compatibility with as many stocks, triggers, rails, mounts and bottom metals as possible … and that’s no easy task. The action features a 2-lug bolt with a 90-degree throw, and it can be disassembled without tools. The standalone builder’s action is available in three lengths (long-action magnum, long-action standard and short-action standard). Weatherby also offers two complete rifles with the action—the 307 Range XP and the 307 Alpine MDT. MSRP: $750 (standalone builder’s action)
Timney Impact 700 Trigger
Remington 700 fans, rejoice! Timney’s newest trigger has you covered. Called the Impact 700, this drop-in option was designed as an inexpensive upgrade that doesn’t sacrifice quality. The result is what Timney describes as an entry-level trigger, but one that is still assembled, tested and calibrated by hand. The Impact 700 isn’t adjustable, but it does feature a crisp and clean break between 3 and 4 pounds. MSRP: $125
TriStar Arms Matrix Inertia-Driven Shotguns
When it comes to imported Turkish shotguns, TriStar Arms guns are considered some of the best. Recently added to the company’s catalog is an inertia-driven scat-ter gun line called the Matrix. The series was designed for hard and dirty use, as well as reliability with a wide variety of ammunition. Offered in 12-gauge and a 20-gauge, the Matrix is available with a matte black finish and synthetic furniture, a matte black finish and walnut furniture, or Realtree Max-7 camo finish and synthetic furniture. Regardless of the model selected, all feature 5+1 capacities and compatibility with Beretta Mobil chokes. MSRP: $595 to $685
Sightmark Wraith Mini 2-16x35mm Thermal Riflescope
Who says hunting requires sunshine and clear weather? Not Sightmark, who has released a right-sized thermal optic called the Wraith Mini. Previously available as a night-vision option, and thanks to the addition of a 384×288 microbolometer sensor, the Wraith Mini features thermal capabilities out to 1,400 yards. Additionally, a 2x optical magnification range with 1-8x digital zoom and an OLED display with a 1024×768 resolution helps draw a clear bead on your target. MSRP: $2,099
Federal Ammunition HammerDown .444 Marlin
In what should grab brush gunners’ attention, Federal has expanded its HammerDown ammo line to include .444 Marlin. Featuring a 270-grain bonded soft-point bullet with a muzzle velocity of 2,225 fps, the classic cartridge is going to prove to be hard hitting. The flat-nosed bullet offers extremely consistent expansion, thanks to the larger cross-section at the nose. To boot, it plays nice with the tubular magazines common to lever-actions. Thanks to the ammo’s nickel-plated and chamfered cases, it should also be a smooth feeder. MSRP: $64.99, box of 20
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
A review of the Taurus Raging Hunter by Larry “Mr. Whitetail” Weishuhn.
“Ever hunted deer with a handgun?” I asked. Brandon Houston nodded his head in the negative. “Well, it’s time you did!” Before he could say anything, I continued, “As part of my lease agreement, my guests or I have to take nine does this season. You’ve been appointed to take at least one with my Taurus Raging Hunter handgun!” Brandon smiled and nodded approvingly.
Moments before, hunting Brandon’s property, I had shot a hundred-pound wild hog with my .44 Mag Taurus Raging Hunter. The Hornady 240-grain XTP dropped it in its tracks. Brandon had filmed my hunt for an upcoming episode of The Journey; I had seen a glint of interest in his eyes earlier, loading the double-action revolver for that afternoon’s hunt. No doubt he was keen on hunting with a handgun. That night, I explained how I shot my double-action revolvers single-action-style to reduce trigger pull. I showed him how to access the cylinder for loading and removing spent cases using Taurus’ cylinder releases. And I explained how I used Trijicon’s SRO red-dot sights for quicker target acquisition than long-eye relief scopes.
Topped with a Trijicon SRO red-dot sight and shooting Hornady’s 240-grain XTP Custom ammo, the .44 Mag Taurus Raging Hunter is highly accurate, as this 50-yard group shows.
I took Brandon to the range at my hunting lease a few days later. He soon put bullets within 3 inches or smaller groups at 25 yards. That was sufficient because I knew we could get within that distance of a doe. Hidden in a ground blind later that afternoon, Brandon shot his first deer with a revolver. He was hooked! Two days later, I sent my .44 Mag. 6.75-inch-barrel Raging Hunter and a couple of boxes of Hornady 240-grain XTP ammo home with him to use on hogs and deer. “You’re welcome to keep my .44 Mag until you get your own Raging Hunter,” I said, knowing he would be ordering one from his local gun shop as soon as he returned home.
Taurus’ Raging Hunter in .44 Mag. is accurate, fun to shoot and works excellent on game.
Several weeks earlier, I had lent my .357 Mag Taurus Raging Hunter to Luke Clayton to use on wild hogs; Luke and I have done a weekly outdoor radio show for the past fifteen years. Earlier in the year, I had procured four Raging Hunters, one each in .357 Mag., .44 Mag., .454 Casull Mag. and .460 S&W Mag. I shot all four at my range shortly after getting them. Thus, in Luke’s case, I knew the .357 Mag — attractive in Taurus’ “two-tone” black and silver format — was highly accurate out to 50 yards. I did not attempt to shoot beyond.
Taurus Raging Hunter revolvers are chambered in .357 Mag., .44 Mag., .45 Colt, .454 Casull and .460 S&W Mag., here compared to a .30-06 round.
From a solid rest, I shot several loads through the .357 Mag. The two my Raging Hunter liked best, based on group size, were Hornady’s Custom 158-grain JHP/XTP and Handgun Hunter 130-grain Mono Flex HP loads. Thankfully, I had six boxes of both in my ammo cabinet. With the Custom load, which it slightly preferred, at 50 yards using a 2.5 MOA SRO sight, I could consistently group all seven rounds within a hair over 2 1/2 inches. I felt the round’s 460 ft-lbs of retained energy at that range was sufficient to kill a hog. If I were using the .357 Mag. to hunt deer, I would limit my shots to 50 yards. Luke planned on using it exclusively on hogs, and his shots would be less than 25 yards. He’s used the combination on several wild hogs.
The .454 Casull is one of Weishuhn’s favorite handgun rounds and has helped him account for big game, from whitetails to monstrous Alaskan Brown Bears.
With my .357 Mag and .44 Mag Taurus revolvers in the hands of friends, I turned to my .454 Casull. I topped it with a Trijicon SRO 2.5-MOA red-dot sight. Mounting this sight was simple, thanks to the integral Picatinny rail. The rail system, too, would make it easy to mount an extended eye relief scope. I truly appreciate when the scope base or sight mount is part of a hunting handgun. With an integral rail in place, I do not have to be concerned about finding bases or the base loosening from recoil.
After carrying his .454 Casull on numerous hunts, the author decided to ensure it was still sighted in. This shot was from 100 yards using Hornady 240-grain XTP.
The Taurus’ rail also adds a bit of weight. The .357 Mag. weighs 53 ounces, the .44 Mag. is 55 ounces, and the .454 Casull with an 8.375-inch barrel is 57 ounces. The big-bore .460 S&W Mag. weighs 63.6 ounces sans SRO sight and ammo. Raging Hunters are available in several barrel lengths, including 5.125, 6.75, and 8.375 inches. Weight and overall length vary.
I have fortunately never been “recoil conscious” when it comes to shooting hunting handguns. But having shot several .454 Casull single and double actions, I know the cartridge’s recoil can be a “handful.” The Raging Hunter’s stainless barrel assembly is ported within a shroud. Thanks to the porting system, the .454 Casull’s recoil is manageable and not unpleasant. Taurus’ signature “recoil absorber grip” dramatically reduces felt recoil.
In the past, I’ve taken numerous whitetails, mule deer and elk, plus a bison and a sizable Alaskan Brown Bear with the .454 Casull. It’s one of my all-time favorite handgun rounds. I also must admit that I love the .44 Mag and the .460 S&W Mag.
Larry’s daughter Theresa Tigrett with a wild hog she shot with the Raging Hunter .454 Casull and 300-grain XTP Hornady Custom.
Factory Raging Hunters have fairly heavy trigger pulls, north of 10 pounds shooting double action and about 8 pounds shooting hammer-cocked, single action. After shooting numerous rounds with the factory trigger pull (no creep), I got “used to it,” particularly in my .44 Mag. Knowing I wanted to do considerable hunting with the .454 Casull, I had a pistolsmith friend do a trigger job. It’s now in the neighborhood of 3 pounds, fired hammer-cocked. I plan on having him work on the .44 Mag and .460 S&W Mag during hunting’s off-season for big game.
Larry’s .454 Casull Taurus Raging Hunter shot at 100 yards with the 300-grain Hornady XTP Custom load.
At my range, I shot Hornady .454 Casull 240-grain XTP MAG, 300-grain XTP Mag, and 200-grain Monoflex Handgun Hunter at 50 and 100 yards in five-shot groups (the cylinder holds five rounds). All three loads were accurate, essentially 3-inch (average) groups at 100 yards. The smallest were 1.5-inch groups with 240- and 300-grain XTP MAG loads. Remember, the red dot covers 2.5 inches at 100 yards.
My best groups with the 200-grain Monoflex Handgun Hunter loads were just over 3 inches. Such groups at 100 yards, considering their substantial downrange energy, make all three lethal for elk, deer, bears, hogs, and javelina-sized animals. I used the 200-grain Handgun Hunter loads for javelina while hunting the brush country of South Texas. There, I stalked to within 40 yards and got a solid rest in the crux of an ancient mesquite. The javelina, shot through both shoulders, collapsed on the spot. The bullet exited after doing extreme damage to the vital organs.
Using the new Raging Hunter, the author took this surly javelina.
Several weeks later, I was hunting with Double AA Outfitters, owned by long-time friend Craig Archer and headed by his brother David, when we spotted an old 3×3 whitetail buck across a canyon. Before we could get within a reasonable range, the buck disappeared. We returned to the vehicle and drove to the other side of the canyon to rattle. However, before I could start rattling, the 6-point reappeared. When he stopped at 70 yards, I placed the red dot on his quartering-to left shoulder and, taking a deep breath and exhaling to steady myself, pulled the trigger, sending the 240-grain Hornady XTP. The old buck dropped in his tracks. I could not have been more pleased!
The .454 Casull Taurus Raging Hunter brought down an old six-point whitetail.
Later, I recovered the spent bullet, finding it just under the skin of the opposite hindquarter after traveling through about 40 inches of tissue and bone. It had passed through the scapula, ribs, and femur.
Later, while hunting antlerless whitetails with the .454 Casull, I used 240- and 300-grain XTP MAG Hornady Custom loads. The first doe stood broadside 50 yards distant. The bullet took her squarely through the shoulders. My second doe was almost exactly 100 yards away. She dropped in her tracks; the 300-grain XTP MAG penetrated both shoulders and spine before exiting.
This doe fell to Weishuhn's .454 Casull.
With the deer properly cared for, I headed to the range and replaced .454 Casull ammo with .45 Colt, which can also be shot in the Casull chamber. Shooting at 25 yards, I placed five shots easily within a 3-inch circle. I will use that .45 Colt load on wild hogs in the future.
This brings us to the .460 S&W Magnum Raging Hunter, a fabulous big game hunting round. Should I again hunt Alaskan Brown bears or dangerous game in Africa, the .460 S&W Mag. would be my choice. The largest animal I have taken with that beefy cartridge was a monstrous-bodied bison.
Maybe it’s just me, but shooting the .460 S&W Mag. is a “double handful” in terms of recoil. Even so, with Taurus’ ported barrel and recoil-absorbing grip, I can shoot three cylinders full (fifteen rounds) before I need to set it aside for a break. I’ve been unable to do the same with any other manufacturer’s gun chambered for the same round.
I enjoy hunting with the .460 S&W Mag Taurus Raging Hunter, but it is not a round I would recommend someone new to handgun hunting start with. However, on second thought, the fantastic thing about revolvers chambered for the .460 S&W Mag. is that you can shoot .454 Casull and .45 Colt ammunition in the same chamber. So, starting with a revolver chambered in .460 S&W Mag. may not be such a bad idea after all!
I shot that big Raging Hunter at the bench with .45 Colt, .454 Casull, and .460 S&W Mag. sighted in dead-on at 100 yards (the .454 Casull load was a 240-grain Hornady XTP MAG). At 50 yards, I shot two rounds each of Hornady’s LEVERevolution 225-grain FTX .45 Colt, Hornady 300-grain XTP MAG and Hornady Handgun Hunter .460 S&W Mag 200-grain Monoflex holding on the target’s center diamond.
Using his .460 S&W Mag. Taurus, the author shot two rounds each of .45 Colt, .454 Casull, and .460 S&W Mag. at 50 yards. This shows the results.
The two .45 Colt loads hit 1 1/2 inches above the center diamond, creating one ragged hole. The .454 Casull 300-grain XTP struck the target just to the top-right of the center diamond and the second very slightly left. The 200-grain Monoflex bullets smacked the target nearly 2 inches low, directly under the center diamond. The second shot cut the hole of the first. From this, I would have no qualms about using any of these rounds without any sight adjustment out to 50 yards on whitetails. The 4-inch vertical in-line “grouping” of all six shots would have struck nicely within a deer’s 8-inch vital zone of heart and lungs.
One of the many things I like about the Raging Hunter revolvers, beyond their real-world price (ranging from about $700 to $800) and their accuracy, is their non-glare matte finish. I can appreciate a shiny revolver, but when it comes to hunting, non-glare matte finishes are crucial. As an entire package, why the Taurus Raging Hunter received the American Hunter 2019 Handgun of the Year Golden Bullseye Award is easily understood.
Before this article was due, I got a message from Taurus’ Cody Osborn: “Sending you another Raging Hunter. Let me know what you think.”
A few days later, I got a call from the local FFL dealer. “Get down here! You got something really interesting from Taurus!” I hurried to his store. After completing the appropriate paperwork and being approved, I was handed a large-framed black and silver double-action revolver. The revolver’s 10-inch barrel, of which 4 inches extends beyond the shroud, and is four-fluted, ends with a flash suppressor-style porting system. The barrel shroud held Picatinny rails above and below the barrel. The fiber-optic open sights were easily seen. A quick look confirmed the large-cylinder revolver was chambered in .460 S&W Mag. Overall, the package had a somewhat futuristic appearance, which is popular today. I could hardly wait to shoot it!
A comparison of the latest .460 S&W Mag. (top) to the standard model Taurus Raging Hunter.
That night, I called Osborn. He told me the new Raging Hunter I’d received would be introduced at the upcoming 2023 SHOT Show. When asked my opinion of the gun, I said I would let him know as soon as I shot it. The next morning, long before daylight, I headed to a whitetail and javelina hunt in South Texas brush country. Arriving in camp, I set up a target at 25 yards, then loaded five 200-grain Monoflex Hornady Handgun Hunter rounds. From a reasonable rest, I shot the new revolver single-action style.
My eyes are no longer fond of open sights, but there had been no time to mount a red-dot sight before leaving for the hunt. The fiber-optic sights were greatly appreciated. All five shots were kept easily within a 3-inch group. I was ready to hunt javelina.
It had been a “no deer morning.” On the way back to camp, I spotted a small herd of javelinas and stalked within 20 yards of a toothsome boar. With the big revolver resting on tripod shooting sticks, I cocked the hammer and started my trigger pull — heavy, but no creep, and crisp. The Taurus raged, and the chosen javelina went down, shot through both shoulders. That evening, I sent Cody a message. “Love the new Raging Hunter! Javelina down! Need to do more research. Please send more bullets!”
The Springfield Hellcat Pro carry pistol has just had its capacity increased with a new 17-round magazine option.
The battle of 9mm concealed carry pistols rages on, but the Springfield Hellcat has been a top contender since its introduction. The Pro version of the pistol featured a 15-round standard capacity with flush-fit mags when introduced, but Springfield Armory has just announced a new 17-round Hellcat Pro magazine to pack even more firepower into the popular carry pistol.
While the standard 15-round mag may be easier to conceal, it also leaves shooters with large hands wanting for more grip space. Further, when it comes to spare mags in a pocket or carrier, the difference between a 15- and 17-round mag isn’t that noticeable. Regardless of whether you choose to carry it in your gun or as a spare, the Hellcat Pro 17-round magazine will both increase your capacity by two rounds and provide a larger grip thanks to the basepad.
Steve Kramer, Vice President of Marketing for Springfield Armory, said this about the new Hellcat Pro magazine:
At its launch in early 2022, the Hellcat Pro quickly established itself as a pre-eminent 9mm EDC pistol for discerning users … And with the addition of this new 17-round magazine, it has the benefit of even more capacity in a still extremely concealable package.
The extended Hellcat Pro magazine features the same contours and grip texture as the pistol’s frame, creating a seamless match. On that note, the new mags are offered in both black and FDE to pair with the Hellcat’s frame color options. MSRP for both versions is $42.99 and they are available now.
TriStar Arms has learned to focus on niche markets to become more than just another importer.
TriStar Arms: Have you heard of them? If that answer is “no,” you don’t need to start questioning your gun knowledge. The brand has only been around for a short time and, oddly enough, TriStar’s success story was almost never written—until Gus Bader bought the pen in 2005. But his love affair with firearms began long before he bought TriStar.
“It was almost purely by accident,” said Bader, president of TriStar. “In my previous life, I worked for Carrier. I was stationed in Greece and had most of Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East as my territory. Growing up in Lebanon, shooting sports were few and far between, but my father introduced me to shotgun shooting, and I was hooked.
Elegant, functional shotguns don’t need to be expensive to be valuable and useful.
“I was in the Basque region of Spain for business,” Bader continued, “and I asked the taxi driver if we could tour a few gun factories. After literally walking up and knocking on the door, I was offered a tour and ended up purchasing five beautiful over-and-under shotguns.
It didn’t take Bader long to figure out the art of the gun deal.
“When I returned home from the trip, it took some research and lots of paperwork, but I was able to get the guns shipped over,” he said. “I showed them off to my friends, who all pulled out their wallets and offered three times what I had paid for them. The next time I went back, I bought a few more and then a few more. It became a hobby that I was sort of obsessed with. By 1983, I decided to pursue firearms importing full-time. I started American Arms, and we ran a very successful company for 13 years or so. But by 1996, with so many municipalities suing gun companies, I didn’t know if we would survive.”
Bader’s success in the firearms business not only survived, but it would soon thrive thanks to fate … or luck.
“By pure happenstance, I was approached by a family that gave me an offer too good to turn down,” he said.
The plot thickened, as Bader explained. “For a few years, I bounced around doing some consulting within the industry. In 2005, I was approached with an offer to take over TriStar, which was founded by two of my former execs at American Arms and another lady from the industry—thus the Tri in TriStar because of the three founders.”
At the time, TriStar was the epitome of what we’d call a “gunsmith special.”
“Unfortunately, TriStar was in real bad shape,” Bader continued. “In my mind, it had a 50/50 chance of survival, and we struggled in the early years. Slowly we got organized. Both my sons came to work for me, and we started turning a profit.”
Double-barreled shotguns are in, and TriStar makes some of the finest on the market today.
Firearms + Family
“It has always been a dream of mine to work alongside my father,” said Ryan Bader, who serves as TriStar’s vice president of sales and marketing.
“I grew up fascinated by what my father did,” Ryan said. “He introduced my brother and me to hunting, and I felt drawn to it, especially after college. I’d planned to work for a larger company within the industry, partly at my dad’s request to gain knowledge and perspective of how things worked. Long story short, Dad needed help as TriStar started to grow, and I decided to come on full time.”
As TriStar began to prosper, the Bader family set, met and created new goals for the company as they leveraged their love for firearms with their passion for family.
“Early on, our goal was just to survive,” Ryan said. “A small, relatively unknown shotgun company trying to compete with the likes of Remington, Winchester, Mossberg and Beretta is a pretty monumental task. We started out competing on price. As an importer, we could go to different countries and locate factories with decent products that were desperate to get into the U.S. market. At the time, Turkey made sense. Guns were rough—not reliable, but inexpensive—and there was a market for budget guns.
“We also made a point not to wake the giant,” Ryan added. We didn’t focus on pump guns (the 870 and 500 were kings). Instead, we focused on semi-autos and over-and-unders. We found that we didn’t need a seat at the table; there were plenty of crumbs on the floor to get fed.”
TriStar quickly learned that, to survive, you had to make a quality product—even if they were just crumbs.
“After a few years and some modest growth, it became evident that you can’t hide from poor craftsmanship,” Ryan admitted. “With blogs and online reviews starting to become a real thing, we quickly saw that we needed to change our tune. We could still be price leaders, but we started focusing on making inexpensive and good-quality guns.”
The Bristol comes standard with select Turkish walnut, auto ejectors, five chokes, brass bead front sight and a selective top tang safety. All are backed by TriStar’s five-year warranty.
Gaining Momentum
And so, TriStar began to market two things Americans loved—value and reliability—focusing on quality control as a critical aspect of how TriStar could separate itself from other import companies.
“We worked with our Turkish factories and educated them on improving quality and reliability,” Ryan said. “We on-boarded a few new factories that shared the same ideology and craftsmanship goals. People soon took notice.”
Armed with improved firearms and media buzz, TriStar began to identify and then methodically attack critical parts of the industry.
“We started focusing on niche markets,” Ryan said. “Sub-gauge semi-autos and O/Us, a value-based trap-shooting line with high-grade craftsmanship, including side-by-sides that looked and felt Italian … without the Italian price tag. That’s where we focused.”
As the business grew, Ryan credited his father’s manufacturing and engineering decisions as paramount to helping TriStar grow quickly.
“Dad has always been good at seeing the forest through the trees,” Ryan said. “The gun that set us apart was the .410 semi-auto Viper G2. It was the first of its kind to function with both 2¾- and 3-inch shells. From there, we made variants: a .410 turkey gun, youth guns, etc. We continue to look at areas that seem to get overlooked.”
Ryan’s father’s wisdom served his family and TriStar well early and often.
“Honesty is a good policy,” Bader said. “Those are words we have always lived by. ‘Lemon to lemonade’ is the other slogan we keep in the house. The bad news is inevitable. Things break down, there are logistical issues and many things can go wrong. In that instant, we have always prided ourselves on finding a solution. Sometimes, those same problems open doors to new opportunities.”
While TriStar marketed itself as a value-based quality firearms company, it has always prided itself on world-class customer service.
“It’s one thing to sell a gun; it’s another to provide good, honest customer service,” Ryan said. “We excel in that department. We had to separate ourselves the best we could; customer service has always been high on our list. Are we perfect? Not by a long shot. But remembering that we serve a customer has always been a good code of business. Without those customers, you are nothing.”
The shotgun is where TriStar started and remains focused in today’s highly competitive firearms market.
Looking Downrange
Gus and Ryan are laser-focused with their vision for TriStar.
“We want our brand to be something people trust,” Ryan said. “When they hear TriStar, they think of good quality guns at a good price. No more, no less. We aren’t worried about a popularity contest or making sure we have name recognition like the big boys. That comes with time and only when you deliver on the small things. If we can continue that, TriStar should have a place for the next generation.
“We’ll continue to push for new ideas and innovative products,” Ryan said. “No doubt, we’ll look at other places around the world, see how we can maximize our offering and make sure we deliver quality guns to folks who want them”.
A look at the new Taurus TS9, a polymer-framed full-size 9mm pistol with interchangeable backstraps.
Yes, another full-size polymer-framed 9mm striker-fired pistol is here, this time from Taurus in the form of the TS9. The TS9 isn’t a new pistol, but it is new to the U.S. market. The pistol has previously only been available to purchase by military and law enforcement groups, both within Brazil and outside of it. Due to what Taurus is referring to as a sales overrun, the TS9 is now available on the American commercial market as well, albeit in limited quantities.
Frankly, in terms of modern features, the TS9 is a bit bland. Given its heritage as a law enforcement pistol, however, its bare-bones nature makes more sense. More importantly for that role, Taurus says that the pistol is rugged, reliable and has passed rigorous NATO tests.
As mentioned, the Taurus TS9 is a full-size polymer-framed striker-fired pistol in 9mm. It has a magazine capacity of 17 rounds, an accessory rail and an ambidextrous magazine release. Both the front and rear black iron sights are adjustable, and each pistol will ship with four interchangeable backstraps.
The Taurus TS9 will be offered with a choice of either a black, gray or OD green frame color, and each pistol will ship with two magazines. MSRP starts at $499.99.
The author takes a look at the .22 LR AR concept and discusses what AR-22s are, what they’re good for and the best models to buy.
“AR-22” is the nickname of AR-15-pattern rifles chambered in .22 LR, and they’ve become wickedly popular in the U.S. thanks to the low cost of both the guns and ammunition. While it proves extremely fun, even practical for certain uses, many shooters don’t fully understand the virtues and limitations of the platform.
If you’re considering an AR-22 yourself, we’re going to go over exactly what it is, what it's useful for and finally a buyer’s guide covering five excellent examples to consider.
There's No Such Thing As An AR-22
If you weren't already aware, Armalite (the original, not successors with rights to the name) numbered its designs based on the order of release. In other words, the company's first gun was the AR-1, the 15th was the AR-15 and the 18th was the AR-18. Given the AR-18's commercial failure, however, it was also Armalite's final design. If the company continued on, its 22nd gun would have likely been called the AR-22, but it also probably wouldn’t have been a .22 LR AR-15. Regardless of whether or not Armalite coined the name, it stuck, and now AR-22 is an accepted colloquialism for .22 LR ARs.
Semantics aside, where did the .22 LR AR platform concept originate?
Generally, the MAC/Atchisson is considered the first marketable conversion kit, first developed in the 1970s by Maxwell Atchisson, then an employee of the Military Armament Corporation. Atchisson's kit featured a drop-in .22 LR bolt carrier and a 16-round .22 LR magazine. The self-contained unit simply replaced the standard .223/5.56 bolt carrier group and converted it to direct blowback operation, with the unit’s chamber adaptor enabling the use of .22 LR ammunition.
Only requiring a swap of the BCG and magazine, the conversion process was quick and simple. Unlike .22 LR conversions for other rifles, the .223-caliber chambering of the AR-15 meant a barrel conversion was not required. The different ammo, however, changed the point of impact.
After initial production by MAC (which went bankrupt by 1975) the rights were leased or purchased by several other companies that manufactured them, most notably J.A. Ciener who still does to this day.
Colt followed suit with their own conversion kit in the 1990s as an accessory for the company’s sporter AR-15s.
The first complete “AR-22” (meaning a dedicated lower and upper, an entire rifle) was arguably the Armi Jager AP-15 and AP-74 rifles. Though they look the part at a glance, they aren't true “AR-22” rifles due to a number of differences from actual AR-pattern firearms. There are some contemporary versions of this concept too such as Smith & Wesson’s M&P15-22.
Today's conversion kits are but variations of and developments on the original Atchisson design, with manufacturers such as CMMG having created its own magazines for improved function.
What Is An AR-22 Best Used For?
The utility of any firearm is primarily dictated by its caliber, so it follows that an AR-22 will be most useful for any task that a .22 LR rifle is traditionally used for. Why, then, would someone want an AR-pattern rimfire rifle instead of a more traditional semi-auto like a Ruger 10/22?
For starters, when it comes to hunting, they are serviceable but not necessarily optimal.
Semi-auto .22s have long been plagued by less-than-stellar accuracy for a host of reasons. They can be improved, as it's absolutely possible to make or improve a semi-auto .22 that can shoot close to 1 MOA (or better), but most aren't cut out for it.
Now, a 2- or 3-MOA gun doesn't matter much at 25 yards, but it does start to beyond that. Threading a shot between branches at 50 yards is not necessarily easy, especially if your gun and ammo make it more difficult.
That can be the difference between squirrel stew and the dollar menu at McDonald's.
When it comes to competition shooting, AR-22 rifles are allowed in some of them, but—again—you may be at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to accuracy. Unless your AR-22 is an MOA shooter with Eley or other match ammo, you're going to lag behind at PRS or even Appleseed events.
While most would not recommend one for this purpose, it can be argued that an AR-22 can actually make for a viable home defense carbine. People give .22 LR short shrift, but high-velocity ammo through a rifle barrel has no problem penetrating to a sufficient depth to cause vital wounding. For those who choose to use an AR-22 for home defense, part of the appeal is likely that it has similar modularity as a standard AR-15 and can accept most of the same accessories.
That’s what really sets .22 LR ARs apart from more traditional semi-auto rimfires—their similarity to America’s favorite rifle.
Some may choose an AR-22 over a 10/22 simply because it looks cooler to them, while others may want one because they either have no need for it or cannot afford a centerfire variant. Whatever the reason may be, they can serve about as well as any other .22 rifle and would be a fine choice if used appropriately.
One area where AR-22 rifles are often not used appropriately, however, is training. Specifically, using them as a replacement for training with a centerfire AR. This isn’t to say they can’t ever be used for any type of training, but a lot of people mistakenly believe that they’re just as effective as practicing with the real thing. That simply isn’t true.
You can't learn to manage recoil that just isn't there, and if the goal is to run a real carbine or rifle under stress, it's just not going to work the same way.
That isn't to say they're without virtues in that regard, as you can use one to get in a lot of quality reps for everything not involving recoil, but eventually, you do need to be shooting .223/5.56 if your goal is to run that caliber effectively.
Should I Get A .22 Conversion Kit Or A Dedicated AR-22?
Which is better depends on your purpose.
If all you're concerned about is plinking and having a good time, a conversion kit is the better choice. It's cheaper and you don't need to fill out a 4473. Just drop the parts in, load up and start shooting.
The .22 LR conversion is a self-contained unit, with its own recoil spring. It needs a buffer and spring only to keep it in place.
Conversion kits are generally accepted to be mostly reliable, though they are known for occasionally having issues with full-auto guns and some aftermarket parts such as trigger/hammer packs.
There can be some occasional issues with spent shells getting caught in the receiver, but not necessarily frequently. It's also been said that lead bullets can produce fouling in the gas port, but that hasn't been completely substantiated.
If you have any sort of practical purpose beyond plinking in mind, it's best to just buy a dedicated .22 LR upper or a complete AR-22 and not worry about it.
That’s because with conversion kits there's always a worry about potential reliability issues, imaginary or rumored they may be. It's always better to use a tool that was specifically designed for its task rather than one that was adapted to do it.
Further, mechanical accuracy is likely to suffer when using a conversion kit. While the diameter of both bullets is the same (0.224 inches), it’s the twist rate that matters. The .22 LR is best with a very slow twist like 1:12, whereas most centerfire AR rifles typically have faster twists such as 1:7.
Note how much deeper into the receiver the barrel of the .22 LR protrudes. This makes a dedicated .22 LR upper much shorter than a regular 16-inch carbine, even with a 16-inch .22 LR barrel installed.
With that said, conversion rifles are absolutely capable of acceptable grouping similar to other semi-auto .22 LR rifles, but a purpose-built rifle or upper can be capable of 2-MOA or better.
For any serious purpose such as hunting, competition or defense, you're better off buying a dedicated AR-22 to get the most capable gun possible.
CMMG has long been known for their .22 LR conversion kits, which are still an excellent buy. They are heavily based on the Atchisson kit, but can also be ordered with an improved charging handle and bolt adapter rail to work with the forward assist with their Bravo package.
Proprietary magazines are required, but CMMG .22 LR magazines work with any AR-15 magwell. They can be ordered in 10- or 30-round capacities. MSRP starts at $199.95. Site: cmmg.com.
Nordic Components 22RB 16-Inch Dedicated Upper
If you wanted to convert an AR but demanded the best in accuracy, the Nordic Components 22RB upper is the ticket. It drops onto any AR-15 lower and provides a 16-inch match barrel with 1:12 twist and a flat-top receiver, M-LOK handguard and a Black Dog .22 LR bolt carrier group.
You'll have to get Black Dog magazines (they work with any AR-15 lower), but, this is the conversion to get for competition or when you take mechanical accuracy seriously. MSRP is $610. Site: nordiccomp.com.
Smith & Wesson M&P15-22
The M&P15-22 is the most popular and most widely available AR-22 on the market. The basic Sport variant features a polymer upper and lower, M-LOK handguard, flat-top receiver and a 16-inch barrel with an A2 birdcage. Magpul MBUS sights are included as well.
It takes proprietary magazines, but so what? Price of entry is $489 for the basic model according to S&W, but street prices are usually even less. As long as you don't mistake it for a match rifle, it will be more than worth the money in sheer fun. Site: smith-wesson.com.
Kriss DMK22C
Kriss manufactures two lines of .22 AR, but with a slight twist, as they use proprietary receivers that accept Ruger 10/22 barrels. However, most AR-15 parts (trigger, furniture, etc.) are still compatible save the bolt and barrel.
You can choose the DMK22C with a 16-inch barrel and 12-inch handguard or the DMK22C Arca model with a 16.5-inch barrel and 15-inch handguard. Magpul MBUS sights are also included. MSRP is $849.99 for the standard model and $60 more for the Arca version. Site: kriss-usa.com.
JP Enterprises
JP Enterprises is a custom shop, meaning that you can order its JP-22 rifle series in several different configurations, including as either a complete rifle or an upper assembly. If you can afford it, you’re more than welcome to drag the JP-22 through the company’s catalog to your heart’s content, but we’ll just go over the basic model here.
Officially called the RR-JP15/22LR-UL, the rifle has an MSRP of $1,789. It features a forged upper and lower, a sleeved ultralight 16-inch Supermatch barrel with a 1:16 twist and a number of other upgrades that any competition shooter would appreciate. Yes, it’s expensive, but when it comes to dedicated AR-22 rifles it doesn’t get much better than this. Site: jprifles.com.
A quick look at 9mm Steyr, the standard cartridge for the Austrian Steyr Model 1912 military pistol.
9mm Steyr is the standard Austrian military pistol cartridge for the Steyr Model 1912 auto pistol. Its case is approximately 23 millimeters long, as compared to the 9mm Luger, which is 19 millimeters. Apparently, the only other countries besides Austria to use this as a military round were Romania and Chile, which adopted both the Steyr pistol and cartridge in 1912.
This cartridge is very similar to the 9mm Bergmann-Bayard, and these two are often confused. However, 9mm Steyr ammunition is usually found with a nickel-jacketed bullet. The 9mm Bayard case is slightly longer. Quantities of 9mm Steyr pistols have appeared on the United States surplus military market and, for a while, ammunition was readily available.
The 9mm Steyr is quite similar to the 9mm Bayard. The Astra Model 400 will sometimes handle both, but other pistols will not. The 9mm Steyr is a good field cartridge, similar to the .38 Colt Automatic in performance.
Bullet diameter is the same as the 9mm Luger, and one can use Luger bullets for reloading. Any standard load for the 9mm Luger or .38 Automatic will work in the Steyr pistol. Fiocchi of Italy still loads this round.
A discussion on the importance of knowing what lies behind your target during a self-defense encounter.
On December 23, 2021, Los Angeles police officer William Dorsey Jones Jr. shot and killed 14-year-old Valentina Orellana-Peralta, who was hiding from a criminal assaulting a patron of the Burlington store in North Hollywood. The officer’s video camera was on, and it clearly caught officer Jones not only shooting the man who was beating a female customer with a bicycle lock, but also killing Orellana-Peralta.
The video shows Jones firing three shots from his AR-15 rifle, apparently striking the criminal suspect, but also at least one shot missing and hitting Orellana-Peralta through the dressing room wall.
There was no indication of a dressing room right behind the criminal, and in all appearances, the death of Orellana-Peralta was accidental.
But not so fast.
While the shooting of the criminal suspect has the appearance of a justifiable use of force, was striking Orellana-Peralta truly an accident? For the sake of this discussion, I’m going to take the side of the family who will undoubtedly be suing officer Jones and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
Before you dismiss this discussion as not applicable to the armed citizen because it involved a police officer, I can clearly see an armed citizen potentially doing the same exact thing under the same circumstances, with the same exact legal consequences, but with a concealed carry handgun, not a rifle.
Unforeseen Casualties
So, where’s the problem?
The problem—from my perspective as a firearms instructor and expert witness and taking the side of the plaintiffs for sake of argument—is that the LAPD likely trained officer Jones to perform exactly as he did, resulting in the result we saw. In watching the video, officer Jones fired three shots in under a second, start to finish. And if the suspect had been standing still and facing officer Jones, in all likelihood it would’ve turned out fine, as all shots likely would’ve hit the suspect. But, the suspect was sideways at the instant the shots were fired, and he was moving, bent over and starting to fall down as the shots were fired, resulting in at least one miss.
Was the outcome the fault of officer Jones? Not if he had been trained to shoot a multi-shot burst in those circumstances.
I bring this up because I see this occurring all the time in police training. I own a shooting range that leases time to local police agencies, and while I don’t normally observe their training, I certainly listen to it. It’s not uncommon to hear this exact type of shooting sequence with extremely rapid fire (such as three shots in less than a second). And while the AR-15 rifle doesn’t recoil all that much, it does recoil, with that recoil exacerbated by a poor hold on the gun.
You see, the AR-15 also has what looked like an ACOG optical sight mounted on top of the carrying handle. To sight through that optic mounted that way, a person must raise his head, resulting in a poor if non-existent cheek weld—a good cheek weld being a necessary component to shooting rabidly and accurately.
Additionally, shooting that quickly was not called for in that scenario. A single, well-aimed single shot with appropriate assessment would’ve resulted in the same outcome (suspect down, not assaulting anyone), and Orellana-Peralta would be alive today. And at that distance, could’ve been accomplished in the same if not faster time.
If I were a plaintiff’s expert in this case, I’d be delving into the LAPD training protocols and see if officer Jones had received recent training in shooting at moving targets. It’s likely not. I’ve yet to see a police agency address this very important facet of firearms training.
Way back in the mid-1980s, I was the police firearms instructor for a small (six-person) department, and our training then had consisted of standing on a firing line and shooting a police qualification. Then, I learned of the Federal District Court Case Popow v. Margate (Popow v. City of Margate, 476 F. Supp. 1237 (D.N.J. 1979).
In that case, it was found that the City of Margate was likely culpable for a civil right violation, for failure to train. The Court stated:
“The only continuing training was shooting instruction approximately every six months at a range in Atlantic County. However, there was no instruction on shooting at a moving target, night shooting, or shooting in residential areas. Margate is almost completely residential.”
The Fine Training Line
This case will come down to an issue of training. If the LAPD has been training their officers on moving targets, in rapidly evolving, stressful circumstances, then they likely will avoid being found negligently culpable in this case. And if officer Jones can prove he was simply following his training, he too will not be held culpable.
But if the LAPD wasn’t training their officers to meet contemporary risks found on the street and wasn’t teaching officers that every shooting situation was different and a three-shot burst wasn’t the standard response when shooting the AR-15 rifle, then they have a problem.
The plaintiff attorneys are already circulating, ready to swoop in and file suit.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2022 CCW special issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
For more than a half-century, one .22 rimfire cartridge has ruled them all—the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (.22 Magnum for short). There’s no comparison. Plain and simple, with more case capacity the cartridge shoots flatter and longer and hits harder than any of its small-bore rimfire brethren. Though, it’s not all rainbows and mist-ified prairie dogs when it comes to the big little cartridge.
Talented as the .22 Magnum is, it presents some problems. Sure, the cartridge outdoes the time-tested .22 Long Rifle in most categories but still proves too little for some tasks, too much for others. As luck would have it, there are workable solutions to these performance issues. First, is choosing the appropriate gun for your particular application. The second is choosing the right ammunition.
Luckily, the world is awash in specialized .22 Magnum ammo for target shooting, hunting, pest control and, yes, self-defense. Ferret out the right load, this cartridge is a serious contender in all four arenas.
Best .22 Magnum Ammo
Hunting
Quite simply, .22 Magnum ammo in this category has to walk a fine line. At once, it must have the red-hot velocities and range advantage the cartridge is known for, but without overdoing terminal performance. If you don’t have something for the pot, what’s the use of taking the magnum on the hunt?
Typically, your best bet is ammunition modeled after large-game hunting cartridge, particularly a controlled-expansion bullet. These projectiles have a somewhat thicker jacket and don’t dump all their energy on impact, thus thoroughly perforate a critter, while leaving something for the plate.
CCI Gamepoint
Sporting a dimple-tipped soft-point bullet, Gamepoint performs reliably and makes the .22 Magnum a legitimate squirrel option. Though, it’s not a bad choice for pelt hunters who prefer taking a lighter rifle into the field. CCI offers two loads of the .22 Magnum ammo—40-grain and 35-grain—with the heavier load perhaps a more adept jack-of-all-trades. With a listed velocity of 1,875 fps, it's hot, but much tamer than the 35-grain ammo, which cooks at 2,100 fps. A very reliable feeder, as is most soft-point ammo, Gamepoint tends to play nice with most semi-autos. Good news when you’re chasing fast quarry, like rabbits or foxes. www.cci-ammunition.com
Winchester Dynapoint
Perhaps only second to CCI in .22 Magnum ammo options, Winchester has a load for nearly any endeavor. When it comes to meat hunting, few beat its 45-grain Dynapoint. Admittedly, it’s among the tamest option out there with a very middling velocity for the magnum cartridge—1,550 fps. Yet, for closer shots in thick woods, the option offers up just the right amount of performance, without being overwhelming. The Dynapoint bullet is top-notch, a copper-plated hollow point. In addition to reliable expansion, it holds together well to produce a deep and deadly wound channel. winchester.com
Pest Control
Putting varmints out of their misery is where the .22 Magnum excels and where you’ll find the most selection in ammunition. In general, this class of ammo is topped with thin jacketed bullets, pushed to top velocities—a deadly combination. Not only does this give these options devastating terminal ballistics, with bullets that dump their energy quickly and explosively. But also the ammo that goes to the limits of the cartridge with near pin-point accuracy. Keep the expansion rate in mind when shopping pure varmint ammo, some may not be adequate for larger critters, such as coyotes.
CCI Maxi-Mag TNT
POP! Those with any experience with Speer TNT bullets of any caliber get the allusion. A thin gilding metal jacket and soft lead core make for one of the most explosive projectiles on the market, just the ticket for sending pests to varmint Valhalla. The bullet's design is further enhanced with a wide hollow-point guaranteeing an almost immediate energy dump and devesting results. CCI’s backs up the .22 Magnum ammunition’s performance with a charge that generates a muzzle velocity right around 2,220 fps out of most long guns. At 30-grains, the stuff is grand medicine for woodchucks on down. But given its rapid expansion is marginal on larger vermin. www.cci-ammunition.com
For some, you aren’t shooting varmints if you aren’t shooting with Varmint Express. Like the other loads in the iconic Hornady line, the .22 Magnum ammo features a ballistic-tip V-Max bullet, a technology the company pioneered. The feature pulls double-duty, improving the bullet’s ballistic coefficient (how efficiently it cuts the air) and terminal performance. Both are in play with Hornady’s 30-grain load. Expect a legitimate 150-yard option out of most rifles and near point-blank shooting out to that distance on a standing prairie-dog-sized target. Once it reaches its destination, don’t expect much left. Moving at 2,220 fps at the muzzle, the V-Max bullets positively detonates. www.hornady.com
Aguila Silver Eagle
While Aguila made headway with its centerfire ammunition in recent years, its bread-and-butter is choice rimfire options. Of these, its Silver Eagle 40-grain .22 Magnum ammo is among the most versatile. Honestly, it walks the line between hunter and varmint ammunition—though tends more to the latter category. Additionally, its weight and semi-jacketed bullet design give it the chops to tackle any varmint—rat, raccoon, coyote or marmot. Nickel-coated brass is a nice touch as well, not only making it corrosion resistant, but also smooth feeding. A reliable option if you happen to favor semi-autos. www.aguilaammo.com
Range
There is nothing too technical about this class of .22 Magnum ammo. They’re simply the affordable, accurate and reliable options you’ll take to the range or out for an afternoon of plinking. Much like their centerfire counterparts, range fodder is typically topped with a FMJ bullet. Thanks to the stout construction of their bullets, these loads also work where maximum penetration is at a premium.
Fiocchi Range Dynamics
In more abundant years—not 2020 or 2021—Range Dynamics is a very affordable and enjoyable choice for range work. The Italian manufacturer sticks with a winning and familiar formula with this .22 Magnum ammo, topping it with a 40-grain bullet and kicking it out the muzzle of most long guns at 1,900 fps. This produces the results shooters look for out of the cartridge, giving it a range of 150-yards, maybe a smidgin further in some cases. Handgun shooters should equally find the flat-nose FMJ round responsive and just the stuff to stay in the running in a bullseye competition. fiocchiusa.com
Federal Champion Training
Again—current price trends aside—Federal’s .22 Magnum target ammunition doesn’t dent your pocketbook. At the same tick, you won’t compromise with the Champion line. Little surprise, the ammunition boasts a flat-nose FMJ bullet that comes out at 1,900 fps. Why change what works? www.federalpremium.com
Self Defense
It should be pointed out the .22 Magnum isn’t a ideal self-defense cartridge. No doubt about it, the cartridge is deadly. But it’s questionable if it has the chops to reliably stop a threat. Particularly if you compared the .22 to proven self-defense options, such as 9mm, .40 S&W and the like. That said, the cartridge might be some people's only option. In turn, it worth discussing appropriate .22 Magnum self-defense ammunition.
Hornady Critical Defense
A long-running .22 Magnum ammunition option angled at self-defense, Hornady milks the most potential out of the caliber for the application. It’s an interesting concoction. Penetration is always a concern with a rimfire load, ensuring it has enough gumption to get to vitals. Averaging around 12-inches of penetration in bare ballistic gel, Critical Defense hits the mark. And Hornady takes it a step further by improving ammo’s wounding capacity with FTX Bullet. The same as the centerfire Critical Defense ammo, the rimfire round boast a hollow-point bullet with FlexTip polymer insert. The insert keeps the bullet from clogging and initiates reliable expansion for a larger wound channel. Best of all, the 45-grain load is optimized for performance out of the small carry guns typical for the caliber—leaving a 1.875-inch snubbie at 1,000 fps. www.hornady.com
Just released, the CZ Shadow 2 Compact squeezes the performance of a competition pistol into a carriable package.
Who doesn’t love the supreme shootability of a race gun? They are purpose-built to shoot well, after all, but they’re also too big to carry concealed. If you’ve been looking for a competition-style pistol that you can stick in your belt, CZ has just launched the Shadow 2 Compact, a shrunken version of the company’s flagship sport pistol now more suitable for concealed carry.
For the most part, the CZ Shadow 2 Compact is just a smaller and lighter variant of the CZ Shadow 2 OR (optics-ready) model. While still a DA/SA 9mm, this means that it now sports a 4-inch barrel rather than a 4.89-inch barrel, a shorter grip that holds flush-fit 15-round magazines rather than 17-round mags and a 7075 aluminum frame rather than a steel one. That last point reduces the pistol’s weight by over 16 ounces, bringing its total unloaded weight to 30 ounces as opposed to 46.5 ounces for the standard version. Still mighty hefty, but manageable.
As mentioned, the CZ Shadow 2 Compact features an optics-ready slide, and it uses the same mounting plates as the full-size model. For those who prefer irons, the pistol ships with a fiber-optic front sight too. Left-handed shooters will also appreciate the ambidextrous manual safety and swappable magazine release, both of which are low-profile.
CZ has not yet published an MSRP, but the Shadow 2 Compact is available now and street prices are between $1,300 and $1,500.
This year, FN America released the FN 15 Guardian, billed as an affordable yet high-quality AR-15.
There’s no shortage of good AR-15s for sale, but every company out there is still fighting for its share of the market. One of the latest contenders to join the fray is a rifle from FN America that was introduced earlier this year. Called the FN 15 Guardian, the 16-inch 5.56 NATO carbine is billed as a high-quality and feature-rich AR, yet one offered at an affordable price point.
Starting at the muzzle and working back, the FN 15 Guardian sports a standard A2 birdcage flash hider mounted to a hybrid-profile, nitride-coated barrel. The 16-inch barrel is also button-broached, machined from 4150 chrome-moly vanadium steel and features a 1:7 twist.
As for the furniture, the FN 15 Guardian comes with FN’s free-floated 15-inch aluminum M-LOK handguard with a continuous top rail. It has a total of 24 slots spread between the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions. The adjustable stock, pistol grip and magazine are all in-house FN products too. Other noteworthy features include the rifle’s mid-length gas system for reduced recoil, a rugged 9310 steel bolt and phosphate-finished mil-spec bolt carrier, and a slick-side upper receiver with no forward assist for fewer snag points. The upper does, however, still have a brass deflector. The trigger, charging handle and selector switch are all mil-spec.
Scott Vilardi, Senior Product Manager for Law Enforcement and Commercial Carbines at FN, said this about the FN 15 Guardian:
“When we created the specification for the FN 15 Guardian, our focus was on perfecting the foundation of the rifle to ensure the high standards for FN quality remained, cutting corners to reduce the purchase price was not an option, our customers expect more from our brand and we have to deliver on that trust.” said Scott Vilardi, Senior Product Manager for Law Enforcement and Commercial Carbines. “When you handle our newest carbine at the gun counter and shoot it on the range, you’ll notice the premium fit and finish stands out at this price tier. We’ve paid special attention to the core components to overdeliver on accuracy potential, ergonomics and fast-handling capability. With the new Guardian, FN customers have a dependable and high-quality carbine that’s ready to perform right out of the box and can be easily customized with most AR-pattern components.”
Each FN 15 Guardian will ship with one FN 30-round magazine, a box and an owner’s manual. MSRP is $999 and it’s available now.
An evaluation of common shooting stances that can help you shoot a handgun easier and more consistently.
I began working in law enforcement in the early ’90s. At that time, competition pistol shooting and tricked-out pistols were the rage, and the things that worked in competition were the marketplace and training. Though you don’t hear so much about it now, at that time there was a running debate about which shooting stance—isosceles or Weaver—was the best.
The goal of a shooting stance is to provide you with a balanced and versatile foundation to shoot and move from, maximize awareness of your surroundings, and the ability to direct fast and accurate fire in the most directions.
The Weaver stance was developed by Jack Weaver of Lancaster, California, in 1959 for the purpose of ensuring quick and accurate shot placement with a handgun. It was later codified by Jeff Cooper and very much resembles a fighting stance that might be used by a boxer or mixed martial arts fighter. This shooting stance allows you to deliver force quickly, while maintaining balance and the ability to move.
The isosceles began to get a lot of attention when Rob Leatham used his version of it to win several major competitions. According to Max Michel, who has won more world speed shooting championships than anyone, “The isosceles stance allows the competitive shooter to square up to the target, which gives stability and a full range of motion in a 180-degree arc, allowing them to easily transition to multiple targets.”
Most do not understand either of these shooting stances, or they complicate both with the insistence that any deviation from their rigid understanding nullifies both techniques. I’ve been trained in both by what would be considered masters. I learned the Weaver stance at Gunsite Academy, and I learned the isosceles—or at least his version of it—from Michel. Both work very well, and if you’re just learning to shoot a handgun, both will provide you with an equally solid foundation to learn from.
The Weaver
Though some believe the Weaver stance is a bladed stance, it’s not. You stand with your body squared to the target. Feet should be about shoulder width apart, and some suggest your strong side foot be slightly behind your weak-side foot by about a half step. Your knees should be over your toes, and your shoulders should be over your knees. Essentially, you have a very slight forward lean. Your head is held erect and when you draw your handgun, you bring it up to eye level. You do not drop your head.
The main distinction of the Weaver stance is that your weak or support arm elbow is bent at about a 45-degree angle, and your shooting arm’s is either straight or the elbow is very slightly bent. What’s critical about the Weaver stance is that you push the pistol forward with your shooting arm and apply pressure to the rear with your support arm.
Regardless of the stance you shoot from, keep your head erect. Do not tuck it between your arms or lean it to one side.
The Isosceles
Just as with the Weaver stance, your body should be squared to the target. Your feet can either be side by side, shoulder width apart or one can be slightly forward. Also, just as with the Weaver, your knees should be over your toes and your shoulders should be over your knees, and your head is held erect; when you draw your handgun, you bring it up to eye level.
The main distinction of the isosceles stance is that both of your arms are extended, with the elbows locked or only very slightly bent. And, just like the Weaver stance, you push the pistol forward with your shooting arm and apply pressure to the rear with your support arm.
For the key takeaways and what’s most important, let’s look at the similarities between the two as opposed to the differences.
Feet about shoulder width apart
Knees over toes, shoulders over knees
Head erect
Bring handgun to eye level
Push forward with the shooting hand, pull with the support hand
The Good
The good thing about learning a shooting stance is that if you do either the Weaver or the isosceles correctly, it will make learning to shoot a handgun easier. This is why a stance of some sort is generally the second thing you learn … after grip. If you develop a good shooting foundation, you can then direct more of your attention to the other aspects of shooting—like grip, sight alignment and trigger control—because you’re not trying to do/learn everything at the same time while trying to maintain balance. And balance is what really matters when it comes to a shooting stance.
The Bad
Regardless of the stance you’re shooting from, one of the most frequent mistakes is not keeping your head erect. You can better monitor and react to your situation with your head erect. If you don’t believe me, just watch a professional NFL quarterback. When they drop back in the pocket to pass, where they’re under duress and must maintain awareness of pass rushers/attackers, they keep their head erect. As a pistol shooter, you should do the same; keep your head erect and bring the pistol’s sights up to your eyes.
This is an over exaggeration of the isosceles stance. Notice how the shooter’s head is sucked—turtled—down between his arms.
The Ugly
Often, you’ll see those shooting the Weaver stance cock their head to the side and rest it on their shooting arm. Similarly, you’ll see those shooting the isosceles stance duck their head like a turtle between their shooting arms. Neither approach is correct. Just the same, shooters will excessively blade their body with the Weaver stance, and they’ll spread their legs too far apart or lean too far forward with the isosceles stance. When learning to shoot, these bad stance examples might not seem like a serious problem. It’s when you advance to more complicated shooting problems or are learning to deal with tactical situations that these ugly habits can cause problems with your performance.
The shooter’s head is erect, but so is his body. He’ll probably be able to make a good first shot, but after that, he’ll struggle to control recoil and make fast and accurate follow-up shots.
The Balanced Stance
I strongly suggest that new shooters pick either the Weaver or the isosceles stance and use it correctly as you develop your shooting proficiency. Learn either—it does not matter which one—well enough so that it’s a reflexive response to the decision to shoot. This leaves more of your brain available to help you shoot better.
Regardless of the stance or arm positioning, assuming a balanced stance is the goal.
However, you’ll eventually find that you will use some combination of both shooting stances to address more complex shooting problems, such as you might have to do during competition or tactical training, or heaven forbid, a situation where you must shoot to save your life. Once you become proficient at shooting a handgun, the only thing that really matters about your stance is that it’s balanced enough to control the handgun … and balanced enough to keep you on your feet during a fight.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
I believe most gun writers take for granted how fortunate we are. We’re for damn sure not special, but many of us do have access to special people, experts the average shooter would love to be able to talk to for just a few moments. Some of these experts are just doing their job to help gun writers educate the shooting public, and some of these experts are friends.
Wilson believes the 15+1 round SFX9 with its 4-inch barrel is the best defensive handgun currently offered by Wilson Combat.
For example, if I need some specifics on ammunition, I have contacts at all the major manufacturers who will take my call. And if I want to discuss defensive handgun application, I can reach out several Gunsite Academy instructors. My job then becomes to pass that information on to you.
Bill Wilson, founder of Wilson Combat, is a friend. He’s someone I can reach out to when I need an expert opinion or gun guidance. We’ve shot together, hunted together, drank beer together and even talked about some of the people in the gun industry who aren’t the experts they claim to be. Wilson, especially when it comes to handguns, is an expert. I thought it’d be cool to ask him some questions about defensive handguns that you might consider asking him if you had the chance.
Understand that Wilson isn’t what I would call a bloviator. He has an opinion that’s founded on experience, and he’ll give it to you simple and straight. Wilson doesn’t endlessly wax on like a gun writer to prove his opinion is the right one. You may not agree with him on everything, but when considering his answers, realize they’re not coming from some geek behind a gun counter or some tactard at your local range—they’re coming from one of the best handgunners in the world.
Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat.
Favorite Number: 9, 40 or 45?
Many interested in carrying a defensive handgun struggle with what cartridge it should be chambered for. It might be the ultimate defensive handgun question, so it’s the first question I asked Wilson.
Wilson: With the high-performance 9mm ammunition available today, I’m pretty much a 9mm guy for range use and self-defense. I’ve never had any use for the .40 S&W or 10mm.
Jacketed Hollow-Points Or Mono-Metal Bullets?
For years, the gold standard regarding defensive handgun bullets has been jacketed hollow-points like the Speer Gold Dot or the Federal HST. But mono-metal bullets XP are becoming more popular. I asked Wilson which he preferred.
Wilson: Obviously, now that I own Lehigh Defense, I’m a big fan of the highly effective Xtreme Defense and Xtreme Penetrator bullets. The more I use them, the more impressed I become with them. They don’t have any of the negatives of a JHP, such as varying performance when fired through heavy clothing and/or barriers due to the HP getting clogged, occasional failure to expand for various reasons, or lack of penetration. They will perform the same under all conditions.
Wilson has a lot of experience with JHP and mono-metal bullets, but he’s become a fan of the bullets offered by Lehigh Defense—which is why he bought the company.
Defensive Handgun Sights?
It wasn’t that long ago that you were stuck with the sights that came on your defensive handgun when you bought it. Today, there seems to be endless aftermarket options, and most manufacturers even offer various styles. So, I asked Wilson which defensive handgun sight he liked best. You might find it interesting that he didn’t even mention the ubiquitous three-dot sight.
Wilson: Most of my pistols have a black rear and a red fiber-optic front. But for a dedicated carry gun, I also like a tritium front sight.
Do You Appendix Carry?
The current in-thing is appendix carry. It does offer a very fast draw but, at the same time, it can be very difficult to draw from the appendix position if you’re extremely crouched. It’s also somewhat conditional on the configuration of your body at the belt position. IDPA has just recently allowed appendix carry for competition, so I thought I’d ask Wilson for his thoughts on it.
Wilson: I’m not a fan of appendix carry for various reasons, and I’m also way too fat for it. (Bill Wilson is in no way fat, but like me, there’s a little extra bit on him at the belt line.) I’ve settled on point of hip carry with a straight drop and use one of our Rapid Response model holsters, the basic design originated by Bruce Nelson.
What About Gun Cleaning?
If you were in the Army like I was, you were taught to clean your gun every time you used it. However, the Army did that not so much to teach you to clean your gun every time you used it, but to teach you how to properly field strip and clean your gun. So, I asked Wilson, who I’m sure probably shoots more than anyone reading this magazine, how often a defensive handgun needs cleaned.
Wilson: More often than I do! At least once a month and probably every two weeks if you are out in a dusty environment. The most important thing for a steel frame gun is to keep some lube on it, and all oils will migrate away and/or dry up pretty quickly. Unless it’s really cold weather, I use a very light viscosity grease, which will stay put and not dry up.
Custom Or Custom-Built 1911?
Wilson Combat is famous for custom 1911s. In my opinion, they’re the premier source for custom 1911s. You can buy a full custom 1911 from Wilson Combat or you can send them your 1911 for customization. I asked Wilson which option he thought was best and which, of all the 1911s on the market, would be the best to send in for customization.
Wilson: These days, with all the high-quality semi-custom and full custom complete pistols available, that’s the best way to go. But if you want to go the custom-build route, both Colt and Springfield Armory guns will make a good base gun.
What’s Wilson Combat’s Best Carry Gun?
If you go to the Wilson Combat website looking for a defensive handgun, there are a lot to choose from, and prices can exceed $4,000. I wanted to know what Wilson thought the best defensive handgun his company offered was. It wasn’t the most expensive.
Wilson: I personally carry a SFX9 subcompact (It has a 10-round capacity with a 3.25-inch barrel), but I think our SFX9 compact, with its 15-round capacity and 4-inch barrel, is our best all-around carry/range model. I shoot this model better than any pistol I’ve ever fired, and it’s my primary training pistol.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
MDT has just released the ORYX bipod, a functional and affordable design available with two attachment head options.
When it comes to bipod shopping, the options always seem to be dominated by expensive, high-tier models and cheap Chinesium. The number of decent yet affordable bipod options is lacking in comparison. Thankfully, the new MDT ORYX is poised to help fill that gap and offer another functional and efficient bipod at a reasonable price point.
The MDT ORYX is both durable and lightweight thanks to its high-strength polymer construction, and the M-LOK model weighs in at only 11 ounces. On that note, the ORYX is available with either an M-LOK or a sling swivel stud attachment head. It has a height of 7.2 inches to 10 inches (measured by the pivot point), a footprint width of 9 inches to 11.5 inches and the head adjustment has 50 degrees of cant.
Further, the MDT ORYX can be adjusted with a single hand, including stowing, deploying, adjusting cant tension and adjusting leg length. The bottoms of the legs also feature a tire tread-like texture, allowing them to get a good grip in most environments.
The MDT ORYX bipod is available now and has an MSRP of $99.95 regardless of the attachment head style selected.
Flat trajectory, excellent long-range accuracy and mitigated felt recoil define the .270 Weatherby Magnum.
Most shooting enthusiasts think that the .270 Weatherby was developed to satisfy a demand for this caliber after the popularity of the .300 Weatherby Magnum had been established. As a matter of fact, the .270 was the first of the line developed by Roy Weatherby on the necked-down .300 H&H case.
This was in 1943, after experiments with an improved .220 Swift that Weatherby called the .220 Rocket. It was largely actual hunting experience with the .270 WM that started Weatherby on the high-velocity trail. This culminated in his starting a commercial gun business in September of 1945.
The popularity of the .270 Winchester made it almost mandatory for Roy Weatherby to include this cartridge in his line of commercial magnum rifles. The .270 Weatherby Magnum has been used extensively, and successfully, on all species of North American big game. It has also achieved notable success on African plains game.
Those who’ve used it claim the .270 Weatherby provides flat trajectory, excellent long-range stopping power on all thin-skinned game and noticeably less recoil than the famous .300 Weatherby Magnum. As an added attraction, the .270 Weatherby Magnum isn’t impractical for varmint shooting. The 100-grain bullet is excellent for this purpose, thus making the .270 Weatherby Magnum a versatile all-around cartridge. However, it’s important to allow plenty of barrel-cooling time with this and all other high-intensity cartridges.
The .270 Weatherby Magnum is easy and economical to reload, and empty cases are available for it. Like the other large-capacity magnum cases, it doesn’t lend itself to reduced loads and is at its best with full or nearly full charges. It’s a fine choice for the hunter who wants to include varmint hunting potential in a big game rifle. It has been one of the most popular cartridges that Weatherby offers.
When replacing it isn’t an option, here’s how to refinish a simple rifle stock.
Restoring firearms has been a hobby of mine since I became interested in guns nearly four decades ago. The Gun Digest Books of Exploded Firearms Drawings were invaluable as I started this journey. Having a few gunsmith courses under my belt and the knowledge contained in these books allowed me to pick up many firearms on the cheap—even if they were missing parts, incomplete or straight-up broken.
While it worked fine in its initial state, the refinishing job made this Stevens Model 66 presentable at a local shooting match.
The Stevens Model 66 was a relatively inexpensive bolt-action .22 rifle, and like most firearms made by Stevens, this was viewed like a hammer or a screwdriver: a simple and relatively inexpensive tool. It was produced from 1929 to as late as 1945. It’s tube fed and can chamber .22 Short, .22 Long and .22 Long Rifle ammunition, and the stock is built of walnut and equipped with a large takedown screw. This particular model was improved with an aftermarket, receiver-mounted peep sight, and it was purchased in 2019 for $50 at my local Cabela’s in Reno, Nevada.
That’s right: $50.
It was so cheap because it was missing the factory rear sight, and the stock looked like it was left out in the rain for 75 years. It had no warmth or luster that’s so often seen on walnut stocks from days gone by, and the finish was flaking badly on the wood, particularly on the lower half of the stock.
Still, the metal was relatively clean with no pitting or rust, and the rifle proved reasonably accurate with the peep sight. This wasn’t a personal family heirloom, and thoughts of a nice Boyds laminate stock came to mind as a replacement.
Unfortunately, Boyds doesn’t make a stock for this model. Neither do any other stock manufacturers, for that matter, because rifles such as these were low priced to begin with and, again, viewed as simple tools. You could almost read into this as “disposable,” but the truth is that most firearms are built to outlast many lifetimes.
At this point, I was left with two options: Keep shooting it as-is with the hope of finding a replacement stock in nice condition, or roll up the shirt sleeves and refinish the walnut myself.
I chose the latter.
The end result was certainly better than the way this rifle was found.
Refinishing Candidates
Before refinishing a stock, make a clear examination of conscience. It’s true: Refinishing many stocks will decrease the value of the firearm. This holds true for antique Winchester lever-action rifles, handmade double guns … and just about anything with a two-piece stock, and anything with deluxe checkering or carving in the wood.
For most of those firearms, you might need the services of a professional. Unless you’re a master woodworker, please steer clear of such projects.
But, the Stevens was perfect for this job. It was low in price, had a simple one-piece stock with no checkering and its profile could best be described as “smooth and rounded.” Mild sanding wouldn’t be very noticeable, and the stock grain was very simple to begin with. Again, if you’re going to start a refinishing project, keep all these factors in mind before you destroy something potentially valuable.
CitriStrip was the brand used in taking the original ruined finish off this rifle. Biodegradable products make sense when working with natural materials, as they’re not as likely to stain or contaminate the wood.
For a stock such as this, you’ll need some sandpaper of various grits (120 to 400), a coat hanger, wood stripper, lemon oil, degreaser, steel wool and the Birchwood Casey trifecta of Tru-Oil, Walnut Stain and Stock Sheen & Conditioner.
Step 1: Disassembly
As always, ensure the firearm is unloaded before you start working on it. There, I said it. I had to say it.
Have a well-lit, well-ventilated area for your project, and if you’re not familiar with the firearm in question, find a resource such as one of the Gun Digest mentioned earlier, or at the very least, search up a quality YouTube video to help you out.
A forensic scientist could probably figure out how and why the wood was trashed in this manner. There were no cracks nor signs of trauma, but something took that finish.
The Stevens was extremely simple to take apart due to the takedown screw. Separate the barreled action from the stock by removing the screw, and set the action and this screw aside. The rest of the stock’s furniture (butt plate and trigger guard) are removed via four slotted screws. Take these off and set them aside as well. If you’re attempting a project similar to this and find the screws to be of different sizes; make sure you remember which screw goes to which hole by putting them in plastic bags and marking them with a magic marker.
Step 2: Strip The Old Finish
Depending upon the original finish, you’ll most likely have to resort to a chemical stripper to remove it all so you can start with a blank slate. If a lot of varnish or wax was used, you might need to go with mineral spirits. In this case, however, I went with CitriStrip. This is a biodegradable wood stripper that’s safe for indoor use.
The removal of the finish revealed a decent-looking piece of wood hidden beneath. The grain pattern was a bit wild on the right-hand side of the stock
You want to pour it on the stock and work it into the wood. This one makes a nice lather, and once the entire stock was covered, a metal coat hanger was used to hang it on a tree in the backyard for 24 hours.
When refinishing a stock, you’ll need a place to hang it during different segments of the process. A tree outdoors worked well for the author.
The next day, it was immediately evident that most of the old finish was gone. The stock was then placed in the utility room sink and rinsed in hot water with Dawn dish soap. Over 70 years of dirt, crud and the original finish were removed in less than one day. Steel wool got the last bits of finish out of small spots, but there was still some grease and scale left, so it had to be degreased.
Step 3: Degrease The Stock
Boil water, and use your utility sink—or maybe a bathtub or cattle trough—whatever will keep you out of trouble with your significant other. Place the stock in the sink or tub for a soak, then lather it in degreaser. Let it sit for 15 minutes and rinse with boiling water. Allow it to float for 5 minutes, and then flip it over for 5 minutes on the other side. Do this about five or six more times until the water is just warm.
This process will swell up the wood fibers in the stock and fill out small dings in the wood that the stock may have picked up over the years. It might also show hairline cracks in the wood, so examine it carefully before you continue and repair as needed.
At this point, take the stock out of the water and hang it up to dry again. Once it’s completely dry, I hit the stock with a light coat of lemon oil to put some natural oil back into the wood.
This is when you’ll want to sand the stock. I recommend doing it by hand; electric sanders might leave marks in the woodgrain that become visible when you stain it. Start with 120-grit and work your way up to about 400-grit, always working with the natural grain of the wood.
Finally, go over it with fine steel wool.
Step 4: Staining The Stock
The stock is fully prepped at this point, and you can stain it the color of your choice. There are some true artisans in woodworking out there who can do unbelievable patterns in the finish … and maybe you have that kind of talent. As for me, I like to keep things simple and efficient. I went with Birchwood Casey Walnut Stain. This is a water-based stain that can be found at your local gun shop or sporting goods store, and it provides a rich walnut color on your stock.
Initial stain looked like black walnut, a configuration not originally found on this Stevens .22 LR.
It’s a concentrate solution, so you might want to place a drop on the stock to see how it looks, and the stain can be diluted with water for a lighter color if it appears too dark for your taste. Apply it with a clean, lint-free cloth or brush, and once again, allow the stock to dry at least 12 hours.
Going back to Birchwood Casey, you’ll want to use Try-Oil Stock Finish at this point. This stuff seems to dissolve or clump up and become useless when exposed to air, so poke a small hole in the foil seal under the bottle cap so it comes out in drops.
I do this step by pouring it on the stock and allowing the wood to absorb it into the grain. When it looks finished, wipe it down and hang to dry yet again for another 24 hours. If you’re seeing open pores in the wood, repeat this step again, including drying for another day.
If you see any imperfections in the wood, sand them down with the 400-grit sandpaper and the steel wool once more. Wipe the stock down with tack cloth and you’re almost ready for the final finish.
The Waiting Is The Hardest Part
Wait about seven days and polish the stock with Birchwood Casey Stock Sheen and Conditioner. A double coat will give you more of a classic matte finish. If you want to take it further and go with some added protection against time and the elements, you can coat the stock with Birchwood Casey Gun Stock Wax. I didn’t go to this point, as I wanted a simple working finish, but I brought this rifle back to a respectable working gun finish, and it’s ready to be passed on to the next generation of shooters in the not too distant future.
The initial stain looked a little too dark, but working through the process imparted a matte-type finish more at home on these older rifles.
If you wish to bed the action, this would be a good opportunity, but that’s another DIY project completely … although it’s much less difficult than you might think, and it can dramatically improve a rifle’s accuracy. The rifle went back together easily and shot as well as I expected.
In our 21st-century view of the world, the answer all too often is to dispose of something that’s cheap or perceived as replaceable. If you find yourself with a working, wood-stocked rifle that has seen better days, know that you can bring it back to life and restore that sentimental value. It’s a rewarding payoff for a few days of stripping, sanding and staining. Outside of the time factor, the investment is less than $50 in materials.
This Stevens Model 66 may not have had any sentimental value for me, but I sure hope that, someday, it will for one of my grandkids.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
