M1 Carbine: Unlocking The Legacy Of The War Baby

June 9, 2023

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.

M1-carbine-feature — A 1944 Winchester M1 Carbine. Photo: rockislandauction.com.

M1 Carbine Design

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.

M2-diagram — 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.

M1-receiver-Rock-Ola — 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.

Marine-M1-carbine — 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.

30-carbine-comparison — 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.

Hornady-FTX-30-Carbine — Hornady Critical Defense in .30 Carbine.

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.

M2 And M2A1 Carbines

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.

M2-Carbine — A Winchester M2 Carbine with its 30-round magazine. Photo: rockislandauction.com.

M3 Carbine

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.

M1-Carbine-barrel-band-comparison — 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.

M1-Carbine-w-bayonet — 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.

Chiappa-9mm-carbine — The Chiappa M1-9 Carbine in 9mm.

What Sort Of M1 Carbine Should I Buy?

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.

Inland-MFG-commercial-M1-Carbine — 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.

More Classic Military Guns:

Why The Mauser C96 “Broomhandle” Still Looms Large
Nagant Revolver: Unique Relic From Behind The Iron Curtain
M1917 Enfield: The Unofficial U.S. Service Rifle
Browning Automatic Rifle: The Gun That Changed the Infantry

Best Pump-Action Shotgun Buyer’s Guide

Elwood Shelton

June 9, 2023

Undeniably reliable and versatile, the pump-action shotgun is a must-have for any shooter. Here are 11 affordable options worth adding to your gun safe.

What Are The Economical Pump-Action Options:

Hunting

Remington 870 Fieldmaster
Mossberg 500 All Purpose
Winchester SXP Field
CZ 620/628 Field Select

Home Defense/Tactical

Mossberg 590 Tactical (9-Shot)
Remington 870 Tactical
FN P-12
Benelli SuperNova Tactical

Youth

Mossberg 500 Bantam/505/501 Mini
Stevens 320 Field Grade Compact
TriStar Cobra III Youth

Common as stars in the night sky, powerful as a runaway freight train, with usefulness only surpassed by duct tape, the pump-action shotgun is truly a mythical beast. The mere click-clack of its slide racking has been known to scare home-intruding dunderheads so severely as to pipeline them straight from crime into missionary work. Truly, this gun can turn water into wine.

Not quite.

As far as firearms go, few surpass the versatility of the iconic pump-action shotgun. From birds on the wing to deer in the field, perhaps no other gun boasts such wide-reaching hunting applications. As a defensive arm, well, racking it won’t guarantee squat when it comes to neutralizing a threat, but competently handling it is a whole other matter. Suffice to say, in practiced hands, few firearms are as devastating as a pump-action in close quarters.

Even if you’re a dedicated handgunner or an absolutely religious rifleman, it’s sound practice to have a scattergun at hand. And with its utility, reliability and relatively simple manual of arms, it’s natural to gravitate to the pump-action shotgun. If you’ve yet to arm yourself as such, we’re here to help.

We’ve put together 12 of the most affordable pump-action shotgun options out there for various applications. Luckily, given their general affordability, many of these are also considered among the best in class.

But before we get to that …

Why You Want A Pump-Action Shotgun

There is a host of reasons why this style of scattergun has remained among the most popular firearms of all time. When you home in on the pump-action shotgun’s virtues, there are four that really standout.

Reliability: The pump-action is renowned for its ruggedness. Even when dirty the gun will cycle as long as you can work the slide. The same cannot be said of many semi-auto shotguns.

Firepower: Depending on shell size, most base models hold 4+1 rounds and extended capacity options 8+1. Very generally speaking, this ballpark is big enough to cover most hunting to home defense applications.

Simplicity: As far as repeating arms go, the pump-action is fairly intuitive to operate and, outside of malfunctions, simple to troubleshoot. Yes, you need a little mechanical know-how to maintain it, but perhaps less so than a gas-operated semi-auto shotgun.

Versatility: As mentioned before, few guns boast both bird and deer-bagging capabilities. From a defensive standpoint, when it comes to load selection, you also have a wide spectrum of options at hand to match your circumstances.

That said, you should also consider …

Draw A Bead On Shotguns:

9 Affordable Double-Barrel Shotgun Options
Understanding The Semi-Auto Shotgun
Lever-Action Shotgun: Past, Present And Future
Best Budget Over Under Shotgun: Affordable Doubles (2024)
5 Best Bullpup Shotgun Options For Compact Defense

Why You Don’t Want A Pump-Action Shotgun

It’s a proven and reliable system, but not always a bed of roses. You should consider some of challenges that come with the pump-action shotgun.

Reloading: Defensively speaking, this is one of the main challenges of the gun and takes a good deal of time to master under stress. In most cases, there’s no box magazine to drop and keeping count of shots is a must. There’s no more stomach-hollowing sound than click after you work the slide.

Malfunctions: From failure to extract to double feed, you bet the pump-action shotgun can jam. To become fully proficient, expect to spend time learning how to address these stoppages.

12-Gauge: The fact that most pump-actions are 12-gauge should be a boon. Yet, the recoil sensitive find it troublesome. This is less of an issue now, given the 20-gauge options available. Still, some might find this alternative isn’t available in the particular model they set their heart on.

With that settled, let’s look at some of the best pump-action shotgun options for the money.

Our Choice For Hunting

Remington 870 Fieldmaster

If all you had was an 870 Fieldmaster, you could consider yourself well-armed for nearly any hunt. For the price, it’s nearly a sin if one isn’t part of your arsenal. Thankfully the iconic field pump survived Remington Arms' bankruptcy and is available for future generations.

Steady as a Swiss timepiece, the 870 Fieldmaster chews through any 3-inch ammo it’s fed. Much of this reliability comes from the twin-action bar design of the pump-action shotgun, a bit of engineering that has set the standard. Additionally, the Fieldmaster—in its present guise dubbed the “New Model”—continues to sport a milled receiver, endowing it with not only ruggedness but longevity.

The pump-action comes with the choice of a 21- 26- or 28-inch barrel in 12- and 20-gauge. At 6 to 7.5 pounds, it's very manageable in the field. And sticked in satin-finished walnut, it has the timeless look most want in their field gun. If you settle on the 870 Fieldmaster for your next hunt, it’s difficult to say you make a bad choice.

MSRP: $499 // remarms.com

Other Choices For Hunting:

Mossberg 500 All Purpose: Proven in the field and a solid investment, the much-beloved 500 All-Purpose will definitely put meat on the table. Pretty plain Jane on the outside, but it has it where it counts. MSRP: $504 // mossberg.com

Winchester SXP Field: Among the most affordable options out there, the SXP Field proves modern Winchester knows more than just semi-auto shotguns. MSRP: $409 // winchesterguns.com

CZ 620/628 Field Select: Looking for a lighter field gun or something for quail and the like? CZ has you covered with these nifty 20- (620) and 28-gauge (628) options. MSRP: $599 // cz-usa.com

Our Choice For Home Defense/Tactical

Mossberg 590 Tactical (9-Shot)

While its cousin the Mossberg 500 is considered one of the princes of pump-action shotguns, from a defensive standpoint the 590 Tactical has a decisive edge. First and foremost, the pump-action shotgun is available with 8+1 capacity, which for most should prove more than enough firepower no matter how dire the situation.

Additionally, the 12-gauge comes decked out with a number of other excellent features: heavy-walled barrel, 3-inch chamber, steel trigger guard, heat shield, ghost-ring rear sight, corn-cob fore-end and sling swivels. If that’s not enough, the aftermarket is sky-high for Mossberg shotguns. Essentially, you can tailor the 590 to your particular needs.

The 590 Tactical 9-shot runs a bit larger than some other defensive models. It boasts a 20-inch barrel, keeping it and the full-length tubular magazine flush. In turn, it is a heftier pump-action shotgun—not necessarily a bad thing. The weight soaks up recoil, potentially making it faster shot to shot.

MSRP: $598 // mossberg.com

Other Top Tactical Options:

Remington 870 Tactical: Plenty of enhancements make the 870 Tactical a deadly-serious self-defense option: ghost ring sight rail, 3-inch chamber, etc. The only area the stock model pales to the 590 tactical is the 7-round magazine. MSRP: $449 // remarms.com

FN P-12: A military-grade, pump-action shotgun, the 5+1 capacity smoothbore means business. With an 18-inch barrel, it also tends to be nimble option. MSRP: $669 // fnamerica.com

Benelli SuperNova Tactical: Despite its odd space-aged stylings, the SuperNova Tactical is a competent fighter. The pistol grip is a nice touch in this area, making it easy to handle. The one drawback is the pump-action’s 4+1 capacity. MSRP: Starts at $569 // benelliusa.com

Our Choice For Youth Model

Mossberg 500 Bantam/505/510 Mini

Mossberg dedicated itself to the next generation of shooters with its youth shotgun line. Essentially the same shotgun (the 500), the 500 Bantam, 505 and 510 Mini offer three different fit. This is extremely important for the burgeoning shooter.

Not only does fit improve the overall performance, keeping the gun manageable and its controls within reach of smaller hands, the size also ensures the gun is properly mounted. This one factor goes a long way in cutting down on felt recoil—the dread of any new shooter.

As far as this goes, the 500 Bantam and 510 Mini are both available with adjustable lengths of pull; 12 to 13 inches in the former and 10.5 to 11.5 in the latter. The 505 is a fixed 12 inches. Also, the shotguns are chambered appropriately for those just cutting their teeth—by and large .410 and 20-gauge. Though, for a young hunter that’s ready, there is a 500 Bantam in 12-gauge. MSRP: Starting at $504 // mossberg.com

Other Top Youth Options:

Stevens 320 Field Grade Compact: Its Mama-bear 12.8 length-of-pull fits most youths, while a 22-inch barrel helps hone an effective swing. The 20-gauge even comes in “Muddy Girl” camo for daughters hitting the field for the first time. MSRP: Starting at $280 // savagearms.com

TriStar Cobra III Youth: Admittedly, the 24-inch barrel is a bit long for some, but outside that the 20-gauge is sized right for learning the ropes. The Cobra III, like most TriStar guns, also boasts nice lines, which definitely goes down as a plus. MSRP: Starting at $365 // tristararms.com

Learn More About Shotgun and Their Performance

AR-12 Buyers Guide – Everything You Need to Know
Best 410 Shotgun – A Buyer's Guide
Best Over Under Shotguns – Affordable Doubles
Best Semi Auto Shotguns for Self-Defense
Buyer's Guide: Best Affordable Double Shotguns
The History and Legacy of 8 Gauge Shotguns
Tactical Shotgun Reviews – Pump & Semi-Auto
Lever Action Shotgun Designs – Past, Present And Future
Bullpup Shotgun Reviews – Best Options for Self-Defense

First Look: N8 Tactical Magna-Clip

Adam Borisenko

June 8, 2023

N8 Tactical has just announced the Magna-Clip, a magnet-based magazine carrier that will accommodate most common pistol mags.

N8 Tactical mostly makes holsters, but the company sells spare magazine carriers as well. Until now, those have been traditional designs, but the company has just announced a model that’s a bit more high-tech in the form of the Magna-Clip.

The N8 Tactical Magna-Clip uses three very powerful neodymium-grade magnets to retain pistol magazines. The company claims that it is compatible with virtually any handgun magazine that is either all-metal or metal-lined, including Glock mags. The body of the carrier itself features a spring-steel pocket clip, which not only holds the magazine in place to make it more accessible but also helps to conceal it by looking like an ordinary pocket knife clip. N8 Tactical describes the Magna-Clip as requiring a “firm pull” to remove the magazine, so hopefully the clip was designed to ensure that the whole carrier doesn’t come along with it too.

N8 Tactical lists tactical reloads as another potential advantage of the Magna-Clip. This is because the strength of the magnets should naturally draw a pocketed magazine right back into the carrier. This allows one to absentmindedly toss a retained magazine back into their pocket and still know exactly where to find it if needed later. N8 Tactical also says that the magnets are strong enough that one doesn’t need to worry about their magazine falling out of it, even during rigorous movement.

The Magna-Clip is available now and has an MSRP of $29.95.

For more information, please visit n8tactical.com.

For more information on concealed carry holsters check out:

Essential Gear: Best Concealed Carry Holsters
Buckling Up The Basics Of Gun Belts
Pocket Holster Options For Easy Everyday Carry
The Shoulder Holster And Its Carry Angle
Pros And Cons Of The Appendix Carry Holster

New Guns And Gear June 2023

Gun Digest Editors

June 7, 2023

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.

The New Guns And Gear:

Smith & Wesson M&P FPC
Maxim Defense PRS Suppressors
Bear Creek Arsenal BC-10mm
Volquarsten VT2
Magpul Daka Grid Organizer for Pelican Vault
Rock River Arms Operator DMR Series Rifles
Brownells BRN-180SH Upper

Smith & Wesson M&P FPC

Like lemmings to a cliff face, gunmakers are scrambling to pistol-caliber carbines. The latest to make the plunge is Smith & Wesson, and the results aren’t half-shabby. The 9mm M&P FPC is a grip-loaded affair with trappings of the company’s heralded striker-fired pistol line … and some features certain to endear it to shooters who appreciate convenience. Chief among these is the gun’s horizontal folding mechanism, cutting its overall length from about 30 inches down to about 16 inches. Because optics are mounted to a Picatinny rail on top of the M-Lok handguard, optics retain their zero after folding. Additionally, the charging handle doubles as a locking latch for lightning-fast intuitive deployment. Threaded muzzle, interchangeable backstraps and a load of M-Lok slots round out what looks to be a pretty wicked little system.
MSRP: $660

Maxim Defense PRS Suppressors

Hunting, competition or just plain enjoying your shooting time more, few accessories do more to enhance a rifle than a suppressor. Maxim Defense improves all three pursuits with the introduction of its lightweight and effective PRS Suppressor for 6.5 and .308 calibers. A sealed monolithic MonoKore is composed of titanium and aluminum, making the 7.9-inch can a second thought on most firearms. Additionally, Maxim designed the device to minimize the increase in cyclic rate and gas blowback of a suppressed firearm. Furthermore, a hard-coat anodized finish protects your investment, while its direct thread mount makes attachment universal and a breeze.
MSRP: $695

Bear Creek Arsenal BC-10mm

What this world needs are more 10mm PCCs. Lo and behold, Bear Creek Arsenal answers our prayers. The BC-10mm is chambered for the “perfect 10,” and with a number of features that are just plain cool. Topping the blowback carbine’s list is a side charging handle that makes manipulation fast and natural. Additionally, BCA runs an 8-ounce buffer weight in the platform, which makes the snappy 10mm downright polite in the recoil department. Best of all, the BC-10mm is compatible with Glock magazines, which opens the door to standard capacity (in terms of long-guns) magazines. Outfitted with ample M-Lok real estate on the handguard and built around billet receivers, the carbine hits the sweet spot for 10mm fans.
MSRP: $820

Volquartsen VT2

When it comes to precision rimfires, Volquartsen always has something interesting cooking. Dubbed the VT2, the rimfire boasts an ingenious takedown mechanism—a simple button/lever system that requires nary a tool. Even better, the system adds flexibility to the gun, giving users the potential to swap barrels, thus calibers, at least with the .17 HMR and .22 WMR. The AR-pattern rimfire is also chambered in .22 LR, but its svelte receiver size precludes it from the swapping fun. At present, Volquartsen offers two chamberings: .17 HMR and .22 WMR. Other highlights of the rifle include a 16.5-inch carbon-fiber barrel, compensator, TG2000 trigger and plenty of M-Lok mounting space.
MSRP: Starting at $2,261

Magpul Daka Grid Organizer for Pelican Vault V730 and V800

Every gun worth its weight in ammo is worth a quality case, and every case should have a top-notch organization system. Magpul jettisons the frustrating foam accompanying most hard cases with its truly ingenious Daka Grid Organizer. A fully customizable drop-in solution, the system secures your shooting gear and—better yet—reconfigures to the gun and gear you’re toting. The secret is the use of expanded polypropylene panels and blocks that nest together to create retention systems tailored to your particular firearm. They then can be quickly removed and reinstalled for your next loadout. Additionally, the lightweight Grid system doesn’t absorb contaminants, creating the ideal environment for your guns. Presently, the system is available for V730 and V800 Pelican cases.
MSRP: $140 and up

Rock River Arms Operator DMR Series Rifles

Rock River Arms has turned its studied eye to precision shooters with the introduction of the Operator DMR series. Short for Designated Marksman Rifle, the DMR line includes six variants, with two chambered for .223 Remington/5.56 NATO and four for .308 Winchester/7.62 NATO. Of the 7.62 models, Rock River offers two 16-inch barrel options and two 20-inch barrel options—one of which is an enhanced model. Translate that to the rifle coming with a SilencerCo Chimera 300 suppressor, an extra RRA 3-slot rail assembly and an ARCA Swiss rail adapter. For the 5.56 guns, there’s no enhanced option, simply the choice between 16- and 20-inch barrels. Across the board, the company outfits the guns nicely with chrome-lined barrels, low-profile gas blocks, two-stage Ultra Match RRA triggers and Magpul flip-up Pro Series MBUS iron sights.
MSRP: $1,745 and up

Brownells BRN-180SH Upper

It’s about damn time the AR-180 has come back into the fold, and Brownells is the main group to thank for the carbine’s rebirth. The Iowa concern continues to evolve its version of the Eugene Stoner-designed gem with the introduction of a suppressor-optimized, .300 Blackout upper. Dubbed the BRN_180SH, the upper defining feature is a three-setting gas block, with presets for unsuppressed, suppressed and off. The latter essentially turns the gun into a straight pull, making it whisper quiet when you’re running a can. Playing off the Blackout’s short-barreled creds, the component comes with a 10½-inch fire tube with a threaded barrel. Furthermore, it boasts an adjustable charging handle and mounts simply on the Brownells BRN-180 lower receiver.
MSRP: $1,000

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

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Reloading With New Brass Versus Old Brass

Philip Massaro

June 6, 2023

A discussion on the particulars of brass condition when it comes to handload performance.

The big brown truck that brings happy packages lumbered down my driveway, stopping in front of the house. The dogs let me know some danger was present—they bark at anything—and I headed out to greet our friendly driver.

“Something jingly in this one.”

Something jingly, indeed. Today would be a good day. Today was new brass day. If gun owners can proclaim it is “new gun day,” and musicians can have “new guitar day,” then dammit, we reloaders are allowed to have new brass day.

new-brass-feature-nosler — New brass day is always a happy day at Massaro Ballistic Laboratories. *Photo: Massaro Media Group.*

Using new brass might seem counterintuitive to the reloader, as the very name of the action alludes to the fact that the ammo had been previously fired at some point in time. I prefer to use the term “handloading,” as it implies the hand-tuning of the case, powder charge and seating of bullet, rather than just making something functional once again. But, using new brass does pose some issues, which will need to be sorted out.

By no means do I feel we all should be shooting new brass all the time, as I still rework fired cases for my guns to this day. I do prefer to use spent cases from factory ammo that has been fired in my guns.

Looking at a reloading manual, you’ll see the SAAMI specification for case length for each cartridge, and then you’ll see a “trim to” length, a bit shorter than the SAAMI dimension, to allow for the stretching of brass cases. More often than not, I don’t trim my spent cases to that dimension, but to the SAAMI spec, so that if I use new brass, I don’t have to trim it excessively.

Special Treatment

The majority of new brass available for sale will need to be treated almost the same as if it were once fired. I’ve had all sorts of new brass arrive with dented case mouths, burred-up flash holes and other ailments, so I’ve learned to treat it all as if it were once-fired.

The exception to this rule has been brass from Nosler, Norma, Lapua and some of the boutique brass makers, like Kinetics’ match stuff. This doesn’t mean that the Federal, Hornady, Winchester or Remington brass is bad, or inferior … just that the shipping methods sometimes cause some undue harm.

new-brass-norma-nosler — New Norma brass made a very good choice for the .223 Remington and 68-grain Hornady match bullets. *Photo: Massaro Media Group.*

It really isn’t anything that a pass through the resizing die wouldn’t cure, but it’s nice when you unbox some of the Nosler Premium Brass and thoroughly inspect it from stem to stern without finding a flaw. I could just go from box to press to rifle chamber without having any worries; at worst, I might want to put a VLD chamfer on the case mouth if I’m being really picky about precision. I have relied on both Nosler and Norma brass for quite some time for my dangerous game handloads and have never been let down.

Does the new, premium brass make a huge difference in handgun cartridges? One of the best features of handgun cartridges is the simplicity of design: The vast majority of these cases can be reused many times without issue. That said, I do like new brass for my everyday carry ammo, or hunting ammunition for those who pursue big game with a handgun. But for the majority of handgun work—especially for the high-volume shooters—so long as the brass thickness doesn’t vary so much that it’ll affect the crimp, you might not see the same results as you would with a rifle.

New Versus Old Brass

There are instances where new brass just won’t give the same performance as once-fired might; the belted magnum cartridges come quickly to mind.

I once worked diligently with a friend to get his 7mm Rem. Mag. to deliver the accuracy he wanted. He had tried all sorts of factory ammunition, and while it wasn’t terrible—three shot groups printing 1¼-MOA—he decided to try handloads.

My tried-and-true loads weren’t any better than the factory stuff, and I decided to take a closer look at his fired brass. Using a Redding Instant Comparator, we found that the brass was stretching nearly 0.010 inch upon firing, so we grabbed one of the Redding Competition Shellholder sets and used the one with the correlative depth to keep the shoulder as close to the chamber dimensions as possible.

This brought the group size down to just over ½-MOA, which is more than likely the result of better chamber concentricity. In this example, once-fired brass was assuredly better than new stuff of any brand. This is common to many of the belted cases with a steep shoulder.

new-brass-nosler-premium — The author’s Winchester Model 70 in .300 H&H Magnum likes brand-new Nosler brass and a 200-grain AccuBond. *Photo: Massaro Media Group.*

My .300 H&H Magnum, with its slight 8½-degree shoulder, doesn’t mind headspacing off the shoulder at all, but it does show a definite preference for longer bullets. Loading the 200-grain Federal Terminal Ascent or Nosler AccuBond into virgin Nosler brass will give ¾-MOA all day long. The gun likes lots of bearing surface, so 180-grain copper bullets perform well. It does, however, prefer bullets in the 195- to 200-grain range, and I really didn’t find much difference between new brass and fired and resized brass.

Many dangerous game hunters won’t even consider handloaded ammunition, let alone once-fired brass. The theory—as I’ve heard it proclaimed—is that those hunters want no possibility of a failure to feed because the brass wasn’t resized properly and would be willing to sacrifice a bit of accuracy for the guarantee of hearing a bang during a charge. Based on the size of the targets and the short distance at which they’re taken—I’m talking brown bear, lion, Cape buffalo, elephant, hippo—a 2-MOA gun has plenty of accuracy. Virgin brass is no issue at all in this application and can provide a means of using boutique projectiles that aren’t offered in factory loads.

new-brass-scale — Brand-new Hornady brass in .450-400 3-inch Nitro Express, destined for a Cape buffalo hunt. *Photo: Massaro Media Group.*

While I still hoard spent brass—I will pick it up no matter what it is and sort it out later—I do love new brass day, especially for my favorite old rifles, like my Heym Express .404 Jeffery and Winchester 70 .300 H&H Magnum. I’m also happy that component brass, of any brand, is starting to show up again, putting smiles on the faces of reloaders once again.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More On Reloading:

Tips For Reloading the .30-06 Springfield
Loving Your Luger: Reloading the 9mm Luger
Handloading: Tips For Reloading The 7mm Rem Mag
How To: Tips For Reloading the .223 Remington
Reloading Bench: The Inside On Reloading For The .30-30 Winchester

Beretta 80X Cheetah Review: Good Kitty Or Damn Pity?

Adam Borisenko

June 5, 2023

Beretta's new 80X Cheetah proved to be a supremely shootable pistol, but the author's had an issue that may make you reconsider carrying one.

There was a time when Beretta’s 13-round, .380 ACP Cheetah pistols were arguably the best concealed carry guns available, but that was many years ago. Today, the market is dominated by smaller and lighter polymer handguns with similar capacities of 9x19mm. This is worth mentioning early on, because the new Beretta 80X Cheetah isn’t for everyone, and it was never intended to be.

The 80X is a compact pistol, but it’s not tiny by any measurement, and that already says a lot about the philosophy behind it. This wasn’t designed to be the most concealable gun that you can carry, it was designed to be the most shootable gun you can still conceal. For those who have difficulty making good hits with micro-compacts that disappear into your palm, the revamped Cheetah handles much closer to a full-size pistol, and the .380 ACP chambering combined with a metal frame helps to keep its recoil light as well.

Beretta 80X Cheetah Specs: Specs:
Caliber: .380 ACP
Capacity: 13 + 1
Action: Single/Double
Overall Length: 6.8 Inches
Overall Height: 4.9 Inches
Overall Width: 1.4 Inches
Barrel Length: 3.9 Inches
Weight (Unloaded): 25 Ounces
Weight (Unloaded): 25 Ounces
MSRP: Starts at $649

Many were quick to dismiss the 80X Cheetah as a viable carry gun because it’s not a 9mm, but Beretta clearly believes that there’s a market. I think that mostly includes shooters with small hands, individuals with hand strength issues and concealed carriers who just don’t practice enough to master a smaller gun. Training as often as you can with your carry gun is always a good idea, but some people simply don’t or can’t get out that much. If someone can naturally make better hits more consistently with an 80X Cheetah, that’s far more valuable than carrying a more potent round that they’re going to miss with.

After getting to handle an 80X at this last SHOT Show, it struck me as being a very well-made pistol full of good design choices, so I almost immediately got in contact with Beretta to secure a review sample. Spoiler: I was mostly left very impressed after my time with it, but I also discovered a pretty glaring issue with mine. We’ll get into exactly what that was after discussing everything the pistol got right.

Beretta-80X-Cheetah-in-box — The 80X Cheetah comes in a plastic hardcase with a cable lock and two magazines.

The Good

As I already said, the 80X Cheetah immediately struck me as a very well-designed pistol. Besides the obvious modernizations like the optics-ready slide and accessory rail, there are plenty of more subtle changes to appreciate as well. The white 3-dot sights are excellent, the new Vertec grip angle felt very ergonomic to me and the DA/SA trigger was one of the best I’ve ever shot—I say that as someone who is typically indifferent about triggers.

80X-Cheetah-optics-ready-slide — The 80X is optics-ready, but plates are not yet available. Once they are, the addition of a red dot would only enhance the pistol’s shootability.

The true double-action pull is long but very smooth, and the single-action is incredibly short and crisp. It has a very short reset, so firing fast is easy, and when the hammer is decocked using the lever, it shortens the travel length of the double-action pull. This is undoubtedly the best way to carry the gun, as you still get the safety of a heavier double-action trigger but only about half as much travel.

The blowback action has caused some to describe the pistol as snappy, but I felt it was softer shooting than similar pistols I’m accustomed to. The grip is just large enough to accommodate all of my fingers, and the flat trigger guard enables one to use the index finger of their support hand for extra control. This technique has mostly fallen by the wayside, but I prefer it for certain pistols and would count the 80X among them. I at least felt this method gave me better control than a traditional two-hand grip given the pistol’s smaller size.

80X-Cheetah-in-hand — The author found that due to the pistol’s small size, using his finger on the front of the flat trigger guard provided extra control.

The slide also features nicely textured front slide serrations, which combined with the relatively weak recoil spring makes it very easy to rack and perform press checks. This ease of operation is another reason why the new Cheetah seems like it would be a good choice for someone with weaker hands.

The design lends itself to good mechanical accuracy, and Beretta reengineered the magazine to feed hollow point ammunition more reliably. For a defensive pistol, that last point is a big deal. I didn’t have any hollow point ammo on hand to try myself, but word on the street is that the 80X can eat just about anything you feed it.

Disassembly is just as easy as with any other classic Beretta handgun, the fit and finish are excellent and the pistol was almost perfectly reliable in the 200 rounds of Magtech 95-grain FMJs I ran through it.

Almost…

The Bad

When it comes to the 80X Cheetah’s reliability, it was nearly flawless. I never once experienced a traditional failure to feed, failure to eject, double-feed or anything else like that. What I did discover, however, was a very easy-to-engage method of consistently inducing a malfunction on the pistol I was sent.

To explain, we need to go back to SHOT 2023 when the 80X was first announced.

If you look online, you’ll see that many gun writers (myself included) originally misreported that the new Cheetah was capable of cocked-and-locked carry. Why did we believe this? Because it definitely feels as if it should be able to.

This is due to the fact that when my pistol’s hammer is cocked, the safety lever very positively engages in between safe and fire—what I’ll refer to as the middle position. When the lever is in this position, the red indicator dot is only partially obstructed and the slide cannot be manually cycled. Move the lever above this point and the hammer will decock, the dot will be fully covered and the trigger will be disengaged.

80X-middle-safety-position — The 80X Cheetah with its “middle safety position” engaged. Every 80X Cheetah owner the author has spoken to has agreed that this position engages so positively that it feels like an intentional design choice, even if the manual says otherwise.

Based on what others have said about their 80X Cheetahs, there seems to be some inconsistency in manufacturing going on. While some report that the hammer will not fall while the middle position is engaged, others have reported that theirs will.

Regardless of the behavior of individual Cheetahs that have been sold, the owner’s manual emphasizes that the 80X’s safety lever has only two positions: all the way down is fire, and all the way up is safe/decock. Despite what the official literature says, it seems undeniable at this point that the pistol’s safety does have a very distinct middle position. The only question then is how does the pistol perform when this position is engaged?

On my example, not well.

While it did prevent the slide from being manually cycled, it did not prevent my pistol’s hammer from falling or the gun from firing. I initially discovered this by accident when I engaged the middle position halfway through a magazine while at the range.

When I fired my test gun in this middle position, the case failed to eject and the slide became severely jammed in the rearward position. The cause of the jam was clear—the slide got pinned underneath the safety lever, I could tell this by the finish worn away on this area. I only managed to free the slide by forcefully pressing the safety lever down on the edge of a table.

Beretta-80X-Cheetah-jammed — Here you can see the slide jammed underneath the safety lever after it was fired while set to the middle safety position.

Attempts to intentionally induce this malfunction proved fruitful, as the gun consistently jammed in the same way when fired in this safety condition.

When I voiced my concerns about the ease of repeatability of this malfunction, and how it could accidentally be induced, Beretta’s Pistol Product Manager responded with this:

Could you expand on why you should shoot the gun with the safety partially engage? I don't understand the reasoning behind doing it while expecting the gun to work without jamming.

So, it seems that the company’s official stance on the issue I experienced is that because the manual explicitly states that the gun is not safe in this middle safety position, nobody has a reason to ever intentionally shoot it in this condition. On the surface, I agree. The manual’s wording ensures that no user should have a reasonable expectation of the 80X being safe unless the lever is fully moved up.

But that doesn’t change the fact the 80X Cheetah I tested had a “jam instantly” setting, and all it took to engage it was a small flick upwards of my thumb.

Even if it’s unlikely that someone would do this during a gunfight, it is possible, and knowing that means I could never fully trust my life to the 80X Cheetah. At least not with the specific gun I got to test.

Parting Shot

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with the 80X Cheetah, and I was expecting to be enthusiastically recommending it as a carry gun to anyone interested in a supremely shootable little pistol.

Unfortunately, however, the issue with the safety is too glaring of a potential reliability problem for me to be able to recommend it as a defensive piece. If you just want to blast some .380 at the range, I still say go for it, just be careful to avoid shooting it while in the middle safety position in case yours behaves the same way that mine did.

Beretta-80X-slide-back — Notice the bottom right of the rear slide serrations. You can see the finish that was worn away when the slide became jammed underneath the safety lever.

If you’re deadest on carrying one, keep an eye on user reports from the wild. Another Beretta representative acknowledged that of the 80X Cheetahs currently on the market, behavior pertaining to this issue varies. That leads me to believe that it’s something that will eventually be fixed. If that happens, I think it will make a great carry gun.

Pros:

Very nice trigger
Good ergonomics
Good capacity for its size
Optics-ready plus accessory rail

Cons:

The gun tested fired and jammed if the trigger was pulled while the safety was in between safe and fire
.380 ACP is on the weaker side of acceptable self-defense rounds

Beretta 80X Cheetah FAQ

Is a .380 enough to stop an attacker?

Absolutely. While .380 ACP is one of the weakest handgun rounds that's suitable for self-defense, it is still suitable. At the end of the day, shot placement is more important than ballistics. If you can shoot a .380 pistol well enough to make fast, accurate shots with it, then it will definitely stop an attacker.

What is the best .380 round for self-defense?

The best .380 ACP self-defense rounds are pretty much what you'd expect: hollow-point loads from trusted manufacturers. Some of the most popular include Hornady Critical Defense 90gr FTX, Speer Gold Dot 90gr JHP and Winchester Silver Tip 85gr JHP.

What's better, .380 ACP or 9mm?

Both .380 ACP and 9mm have pros and cons in the context of self-defense. That said, the greater power of 9mm Parabellum has made it the most popular defensive pistol caliber in the world. However, if you can't handle 9mm's recoil or can only carry a very small gun, .380 ACP could be a better choice.

More Handgun Reviews:

The Big Snake Is Back: 2021 Colt Anaconda Review
The Grand Puissance: Springfield SA-35 Review
Completely Customizable: Sig P320 Review
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The Rise And Fall Of The Swiss K31

Josh Wayner

June 2, 2023

A look back at the Swiss K31, probably the best service rifle ever made that never saw wide-scale combat use.

A great many rifles have passed through time never having truly been tested. Some of them were simply too far ahead of their time, and others a day late and a dollar short. Such is the case of the Swiss K31, arguably one of the finest military rifles ever made … and possibly the best bolt-action rifle to come out in the prewar era.

It’s too bad, however, that it was never used in its intended role, an example of notorious Swiss neutrality. The rifle is so well made and accurate that it has instead made a name for itself stateside as one of the go-to rifles for vintage military matches, but even then, it’s slowly becoming extinct on the firing line.

So, without further ado, let’s look at the rise and fall of the prince of service rifles.

History Of The K31

The K31 Schmidt-Rubin Short Rifle (Karabiner Model 1931) is a very unique design that dates back to the blackpowder cartridge days. The original designs for the gun were adopted into service in 1889, just as Switzerland entered the era of smokeless powder. The original rifles were massive and had strange, elongated receivers fitted with 12-round magazines. The designers, Eduard Rubin and Rudolf Schmidt, came up with a complicated, oversized action that allowed a straight-pull method of operation. The rifle was ungainly, but chambered in a then-modern cartridge, the 7.5×53.5mm (which at the time was quite advanced).

There were shortcomings with the gun, namely its receiver. Not long after it was adopted, a newer, more robust design was developed that confusingly shared the same name. The Schmidt-Rubin 1889/96 rifle was a new design entirely and wasn’t parts-compatible with the original. The bolt design was different and much stronger. Nevertheless, this design also proved too ungainly and mounted troops settled for a foreign straight-pull Mannlicher chambered for the 7.5×53.5mm cartridge. The Mannlicher wasn’t loved, and a search began to replace it. Two additional Schmidt-Rubin rifles were made as stopgaps, the 1900 short rifle and later 1905 carbine, but they were not great guns and quickly discarded.

The next major evolution was the K11, a final evolution of the M1911 rifle and M1896/11 rifle. The gun was relatively compact, but still somewhat of a cumbersome piece to carry. The conversion had been made to the then-standard 7.5x55mm, and the ammunition featured spitzer bullets instead of round-nose projectiles. The K11 served for decades until trends again demanded shorter, more compact rifles for infantry. Schmidt and Rubin were long dead at this point, never having lived to see what would be the final model of their straight-pull action: the K31.

K31-vs-Garand — The K31 was comparable in size and weight to most 1930s-era military rifles, but it was the last of its breed as far as innovation was concerned. The semi-auto full-power rifle would be the next big thing, itself a relic when World War II was in full swing. Compact guns, like the German STG44, would pave the way for the rifles we know and love today, like the AK and AR series.

The K31 is a marvel of engineering. While the Schmidt-Rubin actions were never as compact as Mausers, Mosins or Enfields, they were the best finished and most mechanically interesting. The end result of all the years of trial and error led to a rifle that was, at the time, one of the most accurate ever issued to an entire army. The 7.5x55mm was a powerful chambering and, combined with the K31, gave the individual Swiss militiaman or soldier a dominating advantage in mountainous terrain. The K31 went on to replace every other rifle in Swiss service and was also used by the Swiss Guard at the Vatican. It served until the late 1950s and continues to be a popular civilian rifle in both Switzerland and, to a lesser extent, in America.

Why Was It Never Used In Warfare?

There’s a simple answer as to why this otherwise fantastic rifle was not used in warfare, despite being quite superior to many others at the time: Switzerland was a neutral country and also didn’t make a habit of exporting their rifles. I’ve searched high and low and can’t find an instance of a K31 being used in combat. I’ve heard from gun show and range lore that the guns were in fact used to protect the Swiss border and some may have made it up to fight the Russians on behalf of Finland, but this is largely unsubstantiated.

The political landscape of Europe at the time would have not strongly benefited Switzerland in terms of picking a side since they had been neutral for so long. The Nazis didn’t particularly care for them, but had loose alliances with other neutral countries at the same time, such as Sweden, notorious for allowing German trade and movement while at the same time staying out of things.

Swiss-K31-sight — The K31 had a “standard” rear sight for the day in Europe. It was adjustable for elevation only.

The idea that Swiss border guards actually fought the Nazis is dubious at best; however, it isn’t a stretch to believe these rifles were used against various destabilizing elements, such as foreign Bolsheviks trying to enter the country like they had done in other ones. We will probably never know, but there isn’t a single documented case of the K31 in combat that I could find, and unless there’s a substantial release of documents from the time period (again doubtful), the K31 will remain the best military rifle that never saw action.

Straight-Pull Action

Straight-pull actions are a bit of a funny thing. They have a number of distinct advantages over a standard bolt action, but they also lack in certain areas. One of the first major reasons that people began designing straight-pull actions was the idea they were faster. It could be argued that this is true, but speed is a very relative concept when you’re talking about manually operated rifles.

The king of speed in bolt actions is without a doubt the British Enfield. The bolt just simply glides back and forth, and you’re right on target with almost no effort. The downside of the Enfield action is that it’s relatively weak by comparison to the Mauser. Mauser rifles have dominated the bolt-action scene since they were first invented. The Mauser is, without a doubt, the strongest type of bolt action and virtually every common rifle we have today—such as the Model 70 and Remington 700—are direct descendants of the Mauser.

K31-straight-pull-bolt-action — The K31 with bolt open. Note the complex, precise machining on the bolt to facilitate rotation and locking.

With training, you can work a Mauser bolt pretty quickly. Unfortunately, Mauser rifles typically came with a 5-round fixed box magazine. It’s lost on me why the Germans decided to go through two World Wars with this as a main feature, considering it wouldn’t have taken much effort to either extend the magazine box or replace the floor plate and trigger guard unit with a detachable magazine box common to other German rifles at the time, such as the FG42.

The K31 action is very fast when it’s working properly. The downside of it is that it requires a great degree of physical strength to operate quickly. There’s no camming action provided when the bolt is open: You must rip it straight backward, and run it home as hard as you can forward. It’s almost like a semi-auto action with no gas system. If you have an over-pressured case, it’s very difficult to get the action to open.

K31-trigger — The K31 has a terrific trigger, among the best of any military rifle ever issued.

If there’s one thing that this rifle is, it’s accurate. The trigger is a two-stage job that’s truly exceptional for not just a military rifle, but for a rifle in general. The trigger breaks clean, and it’s simply a joy to use. The great thing about these guns is that most of them are going to be able to shoot match accurate right from the get-go. If you want to get started in CMP matches or other types of military competition, this is a great option. The average K31 that I’ve fired over the years produces five-shot groups from the bench of around 2 inches. You can expect the gun to hold 4 inches at 200 yards.

The 7.5×55 Cartridge

There have been a number of cartridges designed and used in the K31 family. The principal cartridge of interest is dubbed the GP11. This is a 174-grain bullet that’s fired at roughly 2,550 fps. The cartridge is widely regarded for its accuracy, though unfortunately you’ll have a heck of a time trying to find it today. The surplus market 15 years ago, however, was chock full of the stuff, and you could get very high-quality, Swiss-made ammo for relatively cheap.

75x55mm-swiss — The 7.5x55mm (far left) was on par or better than many other rounds used in similar roles. Left to right: 7.5x55mm Swiss, 7.62 NATO, 6.5x55mm Swedish, 7.62x54R, .303 British, .30-06 Springfield and 8x57mm Mauser.

This cartridge was nearly identical to .308 Winchester/7.62 NATO. The ballistics are essentially the same; each has some minor advantages over the other. The 7.5 Swiss case has slightly more capacity, and the 7.62 NATO has a slightly shorter overall length. For all realistic uses, they’re virtually identical in 174- and 175-grain weights.

There are still a couple places that make factory-loaded 7.5 Swiss. It’s becoming increasingly hard to find the ammunition today; only two retailers had it in stock nationwide at the time of this writing. There is, of course, the oddball places that stock these sorts of things. In the past, I had good luck at Dunham’s Sports in the Midwest. They typically have some oddball calibers sitting on the shelf from time to time. If you can find it, Prvi Partizan 174-grain FMJ (GP11 clone) rounds are about $29 for a box of 20.

Brass is also getting slightly hard to find. Unfortunately, the rim diameter is not the same as .308 Winchester, and you can’t make 7.5 Swiss from other common cartridges. That said, the 7.5 Swiss uses .308 diameter bullets, making your selection process pretty easy. It can also use most of the same powders that you would use for .308 Winchester or .30-06 Springfield.

My own match load recipe (try at your own risk) was a 168-grain Hornady BTHP over 41 grains of Hodgdon Varget. The brass was always full-length resized to account for the tight chamber dimensions. I loaded them to 2.890 inches OAL in PPU brass with CCI standard large rifle primers. I shot thousands of this load alongside my dad for years of CMP competition. I shot my first CMP gold with this load, in fact. Now … if only I could find some Varget.

Swiss-straight-pull-stock — The stocks on many K31 rifles are all beat to hell. This one has some honest dings but is far from the worst the author has seen.

Collecting The K31 Today

The good ol’ days of cheap surplus rifles are long gone. The price of a K31 has doubled in the past 10 years, and in some cases tripled. The rifle in this article would sell for nearly $1,000 today. That puts it in the same cost range as shooter-grade M1 rifles, but with much harder to source ammo and parts. The quality of the rifle featured here is almost as good as it gets. It’s difficult to find any K31 that’s in pristine condition below the trigger; the stocks on these guns are oftentimes very chewed up from being stacked at camp or from exposure to the weather. Say what you will about Swiss militarism, but they certainly did use their guns, even if they weren’t firing them at enemy soldiers.

As a result of this treatment, most K31s have pristine actions in excellent barrels with gnarly stocks. Many people tend to sand down and refinish these blemished areas, and you can often tell because the stocks are significantly narrower toward the buttplate and comb. I haven’t noticed a significant difference in the sale price of these guns with wood restoration. Most people don’t seem to care if the stocks have been tended to.

Swiss-receiver-crest — The receiver is thick compared to a Mauser, but it’s surprisingly light as a complete rifle.

That said, you shouldn’t consider overpaying simply if the stock looks cleaner than the next one. At this point in the game, there isn’t a significant difference in cost between wood types—you may fetch a slightly higher premium for walnut, but we’re not talking more than $100 or so.

The overall supply of these rifles on the market has started to dwindle. The last several gun shows I’ve attended only had a few—and they were criminally overpriced. Just 10 years ago the floor was flush with them. What’s remarkable about this is that there weren't many of these guns made to begin with. Only half a million were produced. A large amount of these still remain in Switzerland, along with a lion’s share of GP11 ammunition.

It’s unknown how many of these rifles exactly are in America today, but what’s incredible is that just 10 or 15 years ago these guns were selling for less than $300. These guns are sought after primarily by people who want to shoot military competition; once they have a good one, they tend to hold onto it.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

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First Look: Weatherby Model 307 Centerfire Rifle Actions

Adam Borisenko

June 2, 2023

The Weatherby Model 307 centerfire rifle action is the company’s first new action line in 50 years.

Weatherby Model 307 centerfire rifle actions have just been announced, and it’s the company’s first new action line in 50 years. The Model 307 will be available as either a standalone action for builders or as a complete rifle in the form of the 307 Range XP or the 307 Alpine MDT.

The Model 307 is a 2-lug, fully cylindrical action that was designed to complement Weatherby’s Mark V and Vanguard lines. It’s compatible with popular aftermarket accessories and features a TriggerTech trigger and a fluted bolt that can be disassembled without tools. It can also use a variety of detachable box magazines and is available in three action lengths.

Weatherby said this about the design of the new action:

The goal of 307 was to design an action that could accommodate the vast offerings of stocks, triggers, rails, mounts, and magazines in today’s marketplace. All rifles with Model 307 actions will be built in Weatherby’s Sheridan, Wy headquarters, so shooters and hunters can expect the same precision craftsmanship that Weatherby has delivered since 1945.

As for the complete rifles, the Model 307 Range XP sports a lightweight stock that features a vertical grip, an adjustable cheek piece and an adjustable length-of-pull. It also comes with an adjustable TriggerTech trigger, an Accubrake on the muzzle of its spiral-fluted barrel and a Magpul magazine. The Model 307 Alpine MDT is the more premium of the two options, mostly due to its MDT lightweight HNT26 Chassis System. Like the range XP, it also has an adjustable TriggerTech trigger, an Accubrake and a spiral-fluted barrel, but the magnesium alloy and carbon fiber chassis system has a few tricks up its sleeve too. To name a few, that includes a folding stock, an adjustable length-of-pull and comb height, v-block bedding and compatibility with AICS-pattern magazines.

The Model 307 Builders Action has an MSRP of $750, the 307 Range XP has an MSRP of $1,199 and the 307 Alpine MDT has an MSRP of $2,999. All three will begin shipping to dealers in the summer of 2023 and will be available in 15 different popular chambering options.

For more information, please visit weatherby.com.

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Why Are We Still Talking About The .308 Vs .30-06?

Elwood Shelton

June 1, 2023

Nearly ballistic twins, the .308 versus .30-06 debate seems moot. However, some nuances can swing hunters and shooters one way or another.

How Does The .308 Vs .30-06 Debate Shake Out:

Given its larger case capacity, the .30-06 can be pushed to moderately higher velocities.
This velocity gives is a slight edge at longer ranges.
Additionally, the larger case allows the .30-06 to load larger bullets.
Since it started life at a NATO cartridge, there is a greater variety of semi-auto rifle chambered .308.
There is some historic match proof the .308 is a more accurate cartridge.
Though, some modern studies debate this and see the .30-06 performing better at longer ranges and the .308 better at medium range.

Despite the recent success of the upstart 6.5 Creedmoor and other metric marvels, one caliber still firmly captures the American shooter’s heart. There’s just no replacing the good ol’ .30-caliber in all its wondrous forms. While you may have graduated to a different chambering or fallen in love with some other diameter, it’s pretty certain if you’re a Yankee your formative years were spent pitching some version of the medium bore. It’s been that way in America at least since the .30-30 Winchester hit the scene and show little sign of abating.

Though, when talking the almighty “thirty” two cartridges generally rise to the top—the venerable .308 Winchester and the iconic .30-06 Springfield. By far the most popular options, they are ubiquitous and perhaps only lag behind the .22 LR and 5.56 NATO/.223 Remington in the most shot cartridges. But there a strange twist to the .30-caliber Winchester and Springfield. They’re veritable twins. Almost.

While the cartridges are similar in many ways, the .308 vs .30-06 debate isn’t entirely moot. When it comes to some niche considerations, some nuances might endear one or the other to different shooters. Then again, the shades might not account for anything to other marksmen. It all just depends on what you’re talking about with these old warhorses.

Brief History

Before jumping into the specifics of the .308 vs .30-06, it might be wise to touch on both cartridges’ background. Like so many things enduring in the world of firearms, the genesis of the .30-calibers begins with military service.

The older of the two, the .30-06 was adopted in 1906 (hence the aught six), replacing the .30-03 (it parent case), 6mm Lee Navy, and .30-40 Krag. Aiding the cartridge’s rise was the first rifle chambered for it, the legendary Springfield M1903. Serving admirably World War I as the U.S. expeditionary force’s main service rifle, the Mauser-style bolt-action continued as a staple for American snipers in World War II. But in this conflict the .30-06 truly made a name for itself, coupled with perhaps the most legendary service rifle of all time—the M1 Garand.

Successful as the .30-06 Springfield and Garand were up through the Korean War, the powers that be believe both had run their course by mid-1950s. Concerns over capacity, manufacturing costs and logistics fueled not only a candidate to replace the M1, but also its long-action cartridge. Though, given their heroic pasts, both exerted immense gravity, evident in what replaced them.

Despite its short run as the military's main rifle, the M14 chambered .308 Winchester did find its way to recent battlefields.

The M14 is essentially an updated Garand, its most notable upgrades being select-fire and removable box magazine. And the 7.62x51mm NATO (commercially known as the .308 Winchester) performance-wise was pretty much the .30-06, shrunken down in a squat cartridge. While the rifle and cartridge proved as potent as their forbearers, particularly when used in a similar fashion—in semi-automatic—their days were number soon after adoption. Among the shortest runs of a service rifle, by the mid-1960 the M14 and 7.62 were replaced by the M16 and the now pervasive 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge.

.308 Vs .30-06 Case Size

As mentioned above, the defining feature between the .30-caliber cartridges is case size. The military fretted over the length of the Springfield, mainly for cost and logistical reasons. By their premise, the shorter the cartridge the smaller the action, thus a rifle could be created using less material, saving money and weight. It didn’t quite pan out that way—at least with the M14—but that was the theory. Additionally, there were arguments the military could fit more rounds of .308 in ammo boxes, thus get more ammo to soldiers en mass.

30-06-Springfield — .30-06 cartridge dimensions

Indeed, the .30-06 is a longer case, measuring 2.48 inches to the .308’s 2.015 inches. While this has some effect on the rifles chambered for them (we’ll get to that), it also plays a role in powder capacity. The Springfield has an edge here, holding around 68 grains of water, compared to the .308’s 56. In all honesty, it’s not a huge dividing line, in most cases equating to a modest gain in velocity, but there are outliers.

.308 Winchester Dimensions — .308 Winchester dimensions

Velocity And Trajectory Of The .30-Calibers

When it comes to factory-loaded ammunition, there generally isn’t a clear winner in the .308 vs .30-06 discussion. Certainly, ammo manufacturers take advantage of the .30-06’s more spacious case, but in general—with the same bullet weight—this adds up to perhaps 100 to 150 fps improvement on muzzle velocity. Take for instance Federal Premium Gold Medal 168-grain loads for both cartridges. The .30-06 edges the .308 by a mere 50 fps at the muzzle—2,700 fps versus 2,650 fps—which is to say, it doesn’t edge it at all. Given both are shooting the same 168-grain Sierra MatchKing boattail hollow point, the downrange results should be identical. Fairly commonplace with most off-the-shelf ammo.

At the reloading bench, things turn out a bit differently. At the margins, it’s possible to milk more out of a .30-06 when you’re hot-rodding it yourself. Potentially, an experienced reloader can push around 200 fps (300 fps when really redlining) more out of the Springfield than the .308 taking full advantage of case capacity. Even at moderately long ranges—500 yards and out—the extra velocity makes a difference flattening the .30-06’s trajectory.

150-grain Hornady SST trajectory comparison, .308 vs .30-06.

An example. It’s possible to load .30-06 loaded with a 150-grain Hornady SST bullet (.415 ballistic coefficient) to 3,000 fps at the muzzle, while the .308 with the same projectile tops out at 2,800 fps. At these velocities, the .308 loses 9-inches more at 500 yards than the .30-06, and 61-inches more at 1,000 yards. Fairly substantial.

Take Aim At .30-Calibers:

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Reloading .30-06 Springfield Ammunition

Weighing In On Bullet Selection

The .30-calibers mirror each other for a vast majority of bullet weights, each capable of slinging projectiles from 100- up to 200-grains. Though, the .30-06 offers a bit more flexibility when it comes to loading heavy-for-caliber bullets. The more spacious case allows it to seat up to 220-grain bullets—dynamite medium-range option on heavier game. There are also some match options at this weight appropriate for the .30-06. But for all bullet styles, 200-grains is essentially the ceiling for .308, with the exception of a few specialty projectiles that creep near 210 grains.

.308 Vs .30-06 Accuracy

This facet of the discussion is tricky business. Starting in the 1960s the .308 Winchester began dominating competitive shooting, dethroning the .30-06 in the precision-driven rifle matches. From this era, shooters reported the .308 cutting group size in half, eventually forcing the NRA to shrink the bullseye in high-power rifle matches to avoid ties between .308 shooters. Good proof the squat .30-caliber has more accuracy potential, though why isn't exactly clear. Shooters attribute everything from more efficient case architecture to greater rigidity in from a short action to its aptitude.

So, there you have it, the Winchester is much more accurate. Well, maybe.

Modern-day match shooters have dusted off the .30-06 and come up with some different results. A competitive shooter by the name of German Salazar did a two-year analysis of .308 and .30-06 with a matched pair of Gilkes-Action rifles chambered for each cartridge. In a comparison of his competition results, he came up with interesting conclusions. At mid-range, 500 to 600 yards, the .308 had a slight advantage. At long range the .30-06 proved superior. His take on the superior performance of the “aught-six” mirrors our talk above on case capacity. More powder equals more velocity, which counts more down range.

Diehards for either cartridge will unlikely be swayed by these arguments, given the .308 and .30-06 elicit near-religious devotion from some. The rest can find solace both cartridges are highly accurate, enough so they’re capable of hitting 1,000-yards plus with the right rifle and shooter.

Firearms Selection

Among the most popular cartridges of the 20th and 21st centuries, there is no shortage of rifles chambered for the .30-calibers. Nearly every domestic rifle-maker, as well as most foreign, offer both options in a majority of bolt-action they make. The difference comes for shooters in the market for semi-automatic rifles. Boy howdy, the .308 wins out there with some out-and-out classics to choose from.

Given it started life as the 7.62×51 NATO, and was long use by many of the treat members, a multitude of intriguing military rifles were chambered for the cartridge. We enjoy a number of semi-automatic renditions of these rifles, including AR-10, FN FAL, Heckler & Koch G3, M14 (Springfield Armory M1A) and others. Much more limited, there are .30-06 semi-auto options—M1 Garand, Browing BAR (not the military one) and AR-10. It peters out pretty quickly from there.

Digressing to bolt-actions, don’t expect the .308’s short action and .30-06’s long action to make much difference in the overall size of a rifle. Maybe you’ll shave .5-inch opting for the .308 and save 1.5 ounces. Unless a pea under your mattress keeps you awake at night, you aren’t going to notice this difference.

Ammunition Choices

Given it has a significant presence in the competitive and hunting worlds, there is perhaps a greater variety of factory-loaded ammo for the .308. And outside of ammunition droughts (ahem, 2020), it’s among the most readily available. Then again, so is .30-06. Certainly, Springfield hunting ammo is not difficult to scratch up and is perhaps a bit more impervious to ammo shortages—those tend to hit cartridges with a tactical bent harder. However, if you search around, there is production-line match ammo. Sig Sauer came out with an intriguing load around a year ago topped with a 175-grain MatchKing. So, you do have precision options off the shelf.

Concluding the .308 Vs .30-06 Debate

After all these years, does the .308 vs .30-06 debate makes sense and should it continue? On one hand, no. The average shooter looking for a top-notch hunting cartridge to handle dang near any game in North America or to potentially connect out to 1,000 yards will be served well by either .30-caliber. On the other hand, yes, the discussion does matter. Without ticking down the list of each cartridge’s advantages and disadvantages, shooters might be blind to the fact the .30-06 offers a bit more reloading versatility or the .308 more options in semi-automatic rifles. These points are imperative for some people and worth jawing over. So banter on about the .308 vs .30-06. Besides, what else are you going to do at deer camp, except lie?

Signaling The Mothership: Streamlight ProTac 2.0 Review

Patrick Sweeney

May 31, 2023

The Streamlight ProTac HL was good, but the upgraded Streamlight ProTac 2.0 is even better.

You might be a gun writer if … you have a collection of tactical lights by the back door to choose from when taking the dogs for a walk.

One I pick up routinely is a Streamlight ProTac HL. It was a high lumen (for the time) LED light that runs on a pair of 123 cells, and it now shows its hard use. The ProTac HL is an aluminum body with a rear button and the Streamlight Ten-Tap programmable operating parameters. I just stuck with the basic, so it’s instant-on “high,” a quick second tap gets me “strobe,” and the third gets me “low.” You have two other patterns to choose from if you wish.

I’ve used this one for years. I’ve dropped it on concrete, in snow, mud and water, and more than once held it in my fist as extra support in case I might have to administer a short course of attitude adjustment. It has worked flawlessly through a carton of batteries, but it’s no more an apex illumination tool. This one still works, but Streamlight has a new and improved one for you, the ProTac 2.0.

The new Streamlight ProTac 2.0 is made the same way as my old one—machined from aluminum, so it’ll stand up to use and abuse. It also has the Ten-Tap programmable operation, so you can customize it for your needs or uses. What’s different is the output—now 2,000 lumens—and the battery is rechargeable. My old one is a “mere” 750 lumens, powerful enough to light up the street, but 2,000 lumens is powerful enough to signal the mothership on final approach.

And the 2.0 battery can be recharged. Plus, you can choose to recharge it without removing it from the ProTac or remove it and charge it that way using the provided USB cable. Having run out of juice on night excursions more than once and needing to replace the dead batteries on my return, the idea of once a week plugging the 2.0 in to top it off is very appealing.

Streamlight-ProTac-2-battery — The new ProTac 2.0 is 2,000 “light up the night” lumens and uses a rechargeable battery that you don’t even have to remove from the tube to recharge. Life is suddenly much better.

The 2.0 is, like the HL before it, moisture resistant (no one can really say “waterproof” these days, regulations won’t let them) and will survive a dunking better than you can. It’s IP67 rated, meaning it can take being submerged in 1 meter of water for longer than you can probably hold your breath.

Giving up my trusty old HL is going to be painful, but life and technology moves on. And, in the case of technology, it gets better. After all, it’s dark half the time and dark indoors in some places. The 2.0 is better—a lot better—so look for one when considering your night-time illumination needs. Soon, my trusty HL is going to get relegated to backup duty.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

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Prodigious Pistola: Springfield Prodigy DS Review

Mike Searson

May 30, 2023

Double-stack, 9mm and based on Browning’s classic design, the Springfield Prodigy DS ups the ante in the 1911 game.

John Browning’s 1911 pistol design might be more than a century old, but that doesn’t mean the design is archaic—or obsolete. In the 11 decades since his pistol made its debut, there have been plenty of subtle changes over the years. However, Springfield Armory has moved in a bold new direction with their latest take, in a design called the Prodigy.

If you’re familiar with a standard 1911 pistol, the Prodigy will be very similar, if you don’t mind increased capacity. Ambidextrous in many ways, the Prodigy is a very versatile 9mm pistol.

That might sound like quite a statement for a single-stack, hammer-fired pistol chambered in .45 ACP—except the Prodigy is chambered in 9mm with a double-stack magazine, hence the DS designation in the product name.

The concept isn’t new. We’ve all seen pistols by companies like STI (now Staccato) and Cosaint Arms with this profile and even the older Para Ordnance 1911s. Yet the Springfield Prodigy DS offers a little something more.

This pistol is equipped with a single-slot Picatinny rail on the dust cover, ambidextrous safety, magazine funnel, optic and ingenious mounting plate system if you want to upgrade that optic. So, let’s look under the hood, so to speak.

SA-DS-1911-with-knife — The Springfield 1911 DS Prodigy pairs up nicely with a titanium framelock knife by Jerry Hossom.

Match-Grade Barrel

Rather than go with the traditional barrel and bushing as per Browning, the Springfield Prodigy DS uses a bull match grade barrel and no bushing. Some shooters prefer the bushing, as it makes it easier to fit a replacement barrel, but more probably prefer that system out of tradition.

The heavy barrel adds a bit of weight to the front end of the pistol to help reduce recoil. There might not be much recoil out of a 9mm round, but if that impulse is tiny and you’re an effective competitive shooter, that minor reduction will help when performing at a high level.

Springfield-DS-1911-barrel — The barrel in the Springfield 1911 DS Prodigy is equally as thick from chamber to crown.

Personally, a threaded barrel might have been nice for the addition of a compensator or a silencer. Perhaps it will show up on a future iteration?

This was the shorter “Commander length” version at 4.25 inches, as opposed to the full-length 5-inch version.

The pistol uses Springfield’s patented two-piece full-length guide rod that gets taken down using a 5/32-inch hex wrench … not a paper clip. Just make sure you keep that Allen key handy.

Five-Star Frame

The frame is definitely worth talking about—in case you have been out of the loop for the past 30 years, it’s pretty amazing. The grip is polymer, like one of the polymer-framed pistols that have been out there since the 1980s, but the dustcover and upper part of the frame are made of steel. This eliminates frame flex, allows a wider magazine to fit more comfortably for shooters with normal-sized hands, and it allows for an extremely low cut beneath the trigger guard. The texturing is just right and not overly aggressive, so it feels comfortable with and without gloves.

Springfield-Prodigy-stripped — As long as you’re armed with a 5/32-inch Allen Wrench, the Prodigy can be field-stripped in about 5 minutes.

Most significant is the full-length dust cover. It gives a very professional and finished look to the pistol reminiscent of their old Operator model from the early 2000s, and it sports a single-slot Picatinny rail.

Some might question the Pic rail addition to what, for many shooters, will be a race gun. In most competitive shooting sports, a visible white light doesn’t need to be mounted to the gun. However, something like the Mantis X or other training aids can use this same mounting setup. Either way, it’s a smart option. And, if you don’t care to add a light, laser or a Mantis X, there’s no law saying you have to use it.

SA-DS-1911-chamber — The ramp on the match-grade heavy barrel aids in feeding 9mm Parabellum.

Many Magazine Options

This is usually something to give you pause these days, as a new system means you might be stocking up on quite a few, and a prohibitive price can make you reevaluate that decision.

Having a few STI 2011 .38 Super/9mm magazines on hand made it a no-brainer to see if they would fit in this pistol. They do, and they work well.

Springfield Armory offers these magazines with 17-, 20- and 26-round capacities for $60 each: The pistol ships with a 17- and 20-rounder for plenty of versatility. A 10-round version isn’t available from Springfield Armory for the few U.S. states that still don’t respect the U.S. Constitution or the U.S. Supreme Court. However, a 10-round 2011-style magazine will work if you find yourself in that unfortunate situation.

Trigger And Controls

The trigger on this one breaks cleanly at 3.5 pounds with no mush or creep. This is about the pinnacle for a factory 1911. Sure, it can be improved, but straight out of the box, it’s a far cry from a typical factory piece from even 20 years ago.

An ambidextrous safety makes it comfortable for both left- and right-handed shooters, and it ensures the pistol can be manipulated with either hand if needed. However, if you opt to use a pistol like this as a personal defense weapon to be carried all day, you might want to replace it with an aftermarket non-ambidextrous safety. There’s nothing like glancing down at your carry gun and seeing the side of the pistol facing outboard with that safety disengaged from bumping against something … with a cocked hammer hovering over a chamber with a live round inside.

Springfield utilizes a “Series 70” type of safety system, so there’s no firing pin safety, which generally allows for a superior trigger pull. The upswept beaver tail grip safety is perfectly fitted, and in conjunction with the undercut trigger guard, it really fits the sweet spot in the grip department.

Springfield Prodigy Sights

This particular pistol came equipped with a red-dot optic from Springfield: a Hex Dragonfly. The factory iron sights are represented by a green fiber optic front with a blacked-out U-notch rear sight. You can co-witness these sights in the lower quarter of the Hex Dragonfly’s window.

Springfield-DS-1911-front-sight — Just one glance at the muzzle tells you this pistol is all business.

Battery life on the Hex Dragonfly is said to last 100,000 hours, and the sight will power off at 15 hours. It’ll come back on at the intensity you set the dot for and will remember this setting.

The Dragonfly features an aluminum housing with a slightly extended hood in the front to protect the lens and a serrated rear to reduce glare. MSRP on this sight alone is about $250.

Springfield Armory went with the Agency Optic System (AOS) that allows the shooter to purchase different mounting plates to fit different sights. These plates retail for about $60 each from Springfield Armory.

A Modern Finish

So, it’s not blued, parkerized, hard chromed or stainless. No … this pistol is done up in a nice treatment of black Cerakote. As much as I love traditional hot bluing, case-hardening or electroless nickel and hard chrome, Cerakote really is the firearm finish of the modern age.

Performance

A trip to the range with 500 rounds of Belom 9mm, courtesy of Global Ordnance, was definitely in order. It’s 124-grain FMJ rounds made in Serbia—it’s good, clean ammunition somewhat reminiscent of offerings by Fiocchi or Sellier & Bellot. It was accurate, soft shooting and had zero failures.

As mentioned previously, this pistol shipped with a 17- and 20-round set of magazines. These magazines loaded up easily by hand without the aid of a loader. The 20-round 2011 STI magazine was used as well, and all delivered flawless performance.

The Hex Dragonfly ensured the group stayed small and ragged at 50 feet.

This one is destined to win the Bianchi cup or some similar trophy in the future. Once you pick one up, not only does it demand to be shot, but it demands that you shoot it fast and accurate.

Minor Downsides

While firearms seem to be constantly improving, you can still find a few flaws here and there.

If there’s a drawback, it’s one of aesthetics as opposed to anything else. One of the virtues of a classic 1911 pistol—whether you have a higher-end pistol made of stainless or Damascus steel, or a lower-end model with a black parkerized finish—you can dress them up with comfortable hand-fitting grips of quality hardwood, pre-ban ivory, pewter or G10 to transform their appearance. So far, with the Springfield Prodigy DS, this isn’t an option. It might be a very small thing, but it’s worth noting.

Springfield-Prodigy-on-table — Competition, self-defense, home defense or just fun at the range, the Prodigy can handle it all.

As a relatively new pistol, it’ll likely be hard to find the perfect holster … but this issue certainly isn’t unique to the Springfield Prodigy. As an owner of more than a dozen 1911s, and maybe five times that many holsters, only one would fit, and it wasn’t anything to write home about to begin with. This will more than likely be a timing issue as manufacturers gear up to support this new model. My best advice is to go the custom route, with a quality Kydex or leather craftsman, particularly if you opt to run a light.

The Upsides

With its phenomenal out-of-the-box accuracy and the fact that it’s loaded with upgrades, the biggest standout has to be the price—coming in much cheaper than its competitors. In some cases, about $1,000 cheaper.

Those other pistols may be close to custom shop offerings, and this is the greatest potential behind the Springfield Armory Prodigy DS. It makes for an outstanding base gun for a race pistol build.

Springfield Armory’s Prodigy DS is aptly named if you go by the definition that prodigy refers to a particular example expressing an outstanding or an impressive quality. This isn’t your grandpa’s rattle trap 1911. This is a fine-tuned handgun capable of great precision from the factory, and it’s one with great potential for a custom build down the line.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2023 CCW special issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

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First Look: Bond Arms Honey B

Adam Borisenko

May 30, 2023

Bond Arms has just added the Honey B to its Stinger Rough series, now featuring improved grips.

When it comes to new-production Derringer-style handguns, there’s no argument that Bond Arms is the go-to manufacturer. So, when the company chooses to expand its catalog, it only means more options for those interested in little 2-shot pocket pistols. The newest addition belongs to the Stinger Rough series and is called the Honey B, available in four different chambering options and featuring improved grips.

The standout feature of the Honey B is its inclusion of Bond Arms’ B6 grips. These extended-size grips are molded from B6 resin, checkered and feature a generous palm swell. The result is that they should provide increased control and comfort while firing. This is especially important for the Honey B models chambered for more substantial defensive calibers. The full list of chambering options includes 9mm, .380 ACP, .38 Special and .22 LR.

Most remaining details of the Honey B are identical to similar models from Bond Arms. This includes its 2-shot capacity, its 7-pound single-action trigger and its fixed iron sights zeroed for 10 yards. It also features 3-inch barrels, a 5.5-inch overall length, a weight of 17.5 ounces and a trigger guard. MSRP is $320.

For more information, please visit bondarms.com.

More On Pocket Pistols:

The Doggone History Of Bicycle Guns
Classic Pocket Pistol: Colt 1903
The Ruger LCP MAX New Pocket Pistol
The Bond Arms PT2A Derringer
Eleven Options For Pocket Holsters
Pocket Shotguns And Hand Cannons

Black Talon: Short Life, Long Legacy

Richard A. Mann

May 26, 2023

The short life and long legacy of Winchester’s Black Talon hollow-point ammunition.

Gian Luigi Ferri, a real estate speculator from Los Angeles, California, was 55 years old when he walked into the law firm of Pettit & Martin. It was July 1, 1993, and the 48-story high-rise was located on 101 California Street in San Francisco. Armed with three handguns and a lot of ammunition, Ferri wasn’t there to seek legal advice.

Moments later, he’d killed eight people, and more than a hundred police officers had surrounded the building. Ferri, however, would not be taken into custody; he committed suicide. His heinous attack would have serious impact on the firearms industry.

Prior to that, on April 2, 1991, the Olin Corporation (Winchester) applied for a patent—U.S. patent #US5101732 was awarded on April 7, 1992—and the resulting Black Talon bullet and ammunition made a big splash.¹ Originally marketed as the Supreme Expansion Talon (SXT), the Black Talon bullet was unique. It marked the first defensive handgun bullet where the jacket was intentionally designed to increase wounding. Up until then, when a JHP handgun bullet deformed, the bullet’s soft lead core tended to mushroom back over the jacket as it peeled away. The Talon was different, as it deformed the razor-sharp petals of the jacket peeled back but also extended out past the mushrooming center core.

Black-Talon-feature — Black Talon ammo, with its nickel case and black Lubalox coated bullet, was ominous looking. The recovered bullets were wicked looking as well; notice the pointed ends of the jacket petals.

Winchester’s David Schluckebier was the inventor of the Talon bullet, and part of the key to its performance was its reverse tapered jacket made of a special alloy that was selectively annealed. The jacket material was of a higher percentage of copper than traditional bullet jackets, which made it softer and more ductile. This, in conjunction with expertly placed serrations, allowed the jacket to peel away—fold back—reliably and repeatedly, and with very sharp edges and multiple talon-like points.

Also, up until then, most JHP handgun bullets had a solid base, and the bullet’s jacket thinned toward the bullet’s nose. This is what allowed them to expand/deform reliably. For the Talon, Winchester needed jacket thickness at the nose of the bullet to keep the petals connected and to keep them from peeling back too far. The reverse taper jacket helped with this; the Talon bullet was formed upside down with the exposed lead alloy core visible at the bottom of the bullet.

Then, the final operation in the formation of the bullet came from the insertion of a special punch that created the hollow-point cavity and pre-stressed or serrated the nose of the jacket so it would peel away. Finally, the bullet was given a black Lubalox coating to reduce fouling, but this blackness also enhanced the Talon’s unfired, foreboding appearance.

The thought—and very likely the truth—with the Talon bullet was that these pointy extensions of the jacket slightly increased wounding through the cutting action they performed. Winchester’s advertisements for Black Talon ammunition were convincing, and the menacing look of the upset Talon bullets were intimidating. Though there’s no definitive evidence that Talon bullets were any better at stopping bad guys, looking at the bullet left you with an intense aversion to being shot with one.

It was all a good thing for Winchester; the Black Talon line of ammunition was popularly reported on in the gun press and it sold very well. Unfortunately, Ferri—remember him—bought some Black Talon ammo and loaded it in the magazines of his 9mm pistols on the morning of July 1, 1993.

Black-Talon-V-Golden-Saber — A major difference in the Black Talon (left) and Golden Saber (right) is that the Talon had a reverse jacket, and the Golden Saber bullet has a solid base. Both, however, relied on the jacket to enhance wounding.

Stop The Presses!

In the aftermath of Ferri’s shooting, the media found the smoking gun they needed to sensationalize the story. The Talon bullet was vilified. Its modern design, combined with its ominous unfired appearance and wicked-looking deformed shape, made the media’s job easy. Reports that it would cut through a human body like a buzzsaw were common. The day before a Dateline special, in which Congressman Daniel Moynihan claimed the bullet was designed to “rip your guts out,” Winchester ceased the sale of Black Talon ammunition to the public. Their actions quite possibly prevented a new federal tax on hollow-point-style ammunition.

Though some now claim Black Talon ammo was banned or was made illegal, that was not the case. Winchester Black Talon ammo simply—under the new name of Ranger SXT—became a law enforcement-only option. But that’s not the end of the story. Schluckebier left Winchester and went to work for Remington, where in 1994 U.S. patent #US5357866 was issued for what would become Remington’s flagship defensive handgun bullet.

Golden-Saber-patent — Patent #US5357866 for what would become the Golden Saber bullet clearly shows how the bullet’s jacket would extend past the deformed core to enhance the upset diameter of the bullet and increase wounding.

Schluckebier engineered the Golden Saber bullet similarly to the Talon. The difference was that the Golden Saber had a jacket made of cartridge brass—70 percent copper and 30 percent zinc—and was not of a reverse design. It had a caliber-diameter driving band at the rear because, with the tougher jacket material, only a small portion of the bullet needed to be of bore diameter. But it also worked like the Talon by using the deformed jacket to increase wounding; it just lacked the sharp talon-like points, the black color and the nefarious name.

Remington-Golden-Saber-9mm — The 124-grain +P 9mm Golden Saber load is one of the best for the cartridge, and here you can clearly see how the Talon inspired jacket petals extend beyond the deformed diameter of the bullet’s core. This increases the size of the hole the bullet makes.

The Golden Saber bullet and its later bonded version have become highly trusted JHP bullets for self-defense and law enforcement use. They perform very well, even after passing through intermediate barriers, and their unique design that allows the bullet jacket to enhance wounding helps the bullets mushroom with a wide frontal diameter, while still retaining weight for deep penetration. Many, including me, consider the 124-grain +P 9mm Luger Remington Golden Saber load one of the best defensive loads available for that cartridge.

Winchester’s Black Talon ammunition had a short—initially happy but ultimately unfortunate—life. It was only available for public purchase for less than two years. However, it forever changed the game as it relates to defensive handgun ammunition. Thirty years later, its legacy—or as you might say, its descendant—lives on.

¹There’s some confusion as to when Black Talon ammunition was introduced by Winchester. It was either at the 1991 or 1992 SHOT Show. It was not covered in the Gun Digest Annual until 1993.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More On Defensive Handgun Ammo:

The AR Foregrip And Handstop Buyer’s Guide

Sam Hoober

May 25, 2023

Will an AR foregrip or handstop improve your shooting performance? Do they offer any additional benefits? If so, which are the best models to get?

After optics, weapon lights and slings, accessories that increase support-hand control are some of the most common upgrades installed on America’s favorite rifle.

Some use them because they believe they improve their shooting, while others of course install them purely for customization’s sake, but what advantages do they truly offer?

Let’s go over what potential benefits an AR foregrip has to provide, how they’re used and finally the best foregrip and handstop models available right now.

Why Did Anyone Use Foregrips?

Historically, foregrips have been used to control full-auto fire in compact automatic weapons.

The bulk of that lineage comes from submachine guns, and the original Thompson is a classic example.

Thompson with grip firing — “Jerry” Campbell of the OKCPD firing a Thompson with a foregrip.

Later submachine guns would either have foregrips as a standard feature or were designed to be gripped by the magazine well, effectively functioning as a foregrip. That was a common design feature of SMGs starting around World War II, with examples including the German MP40, the M3 Grease Gun and the Soviet PPS-43 to name a few.

Foregrips were also somewhat common on light machine guns such as the Chauchat, Bren and Hotckiss M1922, and there's some evidence that vertical foregrips were occasionally attached to some BARs in the field.

Forward pistol grips wouldn't start to be featured on service rifles until much later, after intermediate-caliber select-fire rifles became the norm.

When Did AR Foregrips Come Into The Picture?

AR-15 foregrips in particular have been in use almost as long as the rifle itself. The earliest examples were jerry-rigged in the Vietnam War, usually an A1-pattern pistol grip bolted to the handguard of a CAR-15.

Bobby-Pruett-MAC-V-SOG-CAR15 — Bobby G. Pruett of MACV-SOG, holding his CAR-15 with a field-modified foregrip and OEG sight.

The CAR-15, of course, was developed to serve as an ersatz submachine gun as well as a short carbine, so the idea fits right into the classic use case for foregrips.

More official AR foregrip designs were later developed commercially to bolt directly to the holes of an A2-pattern handguard (again, being more common for the CAR-15) and–during the GWOT (Global War on Terrorism)—to quad-rail handguards of the modern M4 carbine and M16A4 rifle.

The first model to start hitting commercial production in any quantity was the VFG developed by Knight's Armament, often called the “broomstick” grip, and later the Grip Pod, a vertical grip with a spring-loaded bipod inside of it.

M4-carbine-Iraq — An M4 carbine being carried in Iraq, presumably equipped with a Knight's Armament broomstick grip. Photo: Wikipedia.

What's The Difference Between A Foregrip And A Handstop?

While both ostensibly provide extra stability and control, foregrips and handstops are different.

In the simplest terms, a foregrip is a handguard accessory that was designed to be fully grasped by a hand. The shooter can then use the grip as an extra point of contact for pulling the rifle back into the shoulder for the sake of stability.

Handstops, on the other hand, are a bit more varied in their form and how they are used. Depending on who you ask or the exact model in question, handstops are designed to assist in either pulling the rifle back into your shoulder or pushing it forward. The latter style is sometimes called a finger stop as well.

Arisaka-finger-stop — An Arisaka Defense Finger Stop.

When pulling back on a handstop, it works much in the same way as a foregrip. When pushing forward on it, the stop can also prevent the user’s fingers from getting too close to the muzzle. In either configuration, these accessories can be used as a barrier stop as well.

Something of a middle ground between the traditional broomstick and the angled grips/handstops is the stubby grip, which gives you a little of both. Shooters who use these tend to cup the grip and the handguard. This is preferred by some shooters who use the C-clamp grip or who use top-mounted tape switches.

Foregrips can be vertical—such as the classic broomstick—or can be angled, like that of the Thompson SMG or the Magpul AFG of today. Handstops are much lower profile in comparison.

Angled-AR-Foregrip — An AR-15 being fired with an angled foregrip. Photo: Wikipedia.

The principle difference is that a foregrip changes how your support hand grips the gun, either in a vertical or an angled position, whereas a handstop tends to enhance a more traditional grasp of the rifle and provides a physical index of where to grip the handguard.

Do AR Foregrips Have Any Real Benefits?

On paper, foregrips and handstops should give a person additional leverage that allows for greater control of the rifle.

Some research indicates that grip strength decreases with wrist flexion, or in other words, you have less grip strength the more you bend your wrist.

In reality, it's not that simple.

For one, shotgunners have been using body mechanics to manage recoil without using foregrips for a very long time. Grip angle has long been a debate amongst pistol shooters as well, but it's hardly kept Shane Coley, Bob Vogel and others from winning national and world pistol titles shooting Glocks.

Probably the most conclusive findings regarding the efficacy of AR foregrips are from an article published by the Army Research Laboratory in 2015. The study had military and police personnel participate in different drills where their performance was measured, each course ran both with and without a foregrip attached to their M4.

Army-Research-Lab-M4-carbines — The two carbine configurations from the Army Research Laboratory study.

Despite many participants claiming that they preferred the feel of using the foregrip, no discernable difference in performance was measured. Whether they were firing the CQB course or the long-range course, the use of a foregrip had no impact on accuracy, shot speed or recoil control.

These results are reinforced by the fact that top-level 3-gun and 2-gun shooters rarely employ vertical foregrips, often eschewing them for handstops or just grasping the handguard.

In other words, AR foregrips are a matter of the shooter's preference. Installing one probably won’t increase your shooting abilities, but it probably won’t hinder them either.

That said, just because a foregrip won’t make you a more accurate or faster shooter, it doesn’t mean they don’t have some additional benefits you can take advantage of. As previously mentioned, some foregrips and handstops can also be used as barrier stops, and a vertical foregrip can be used as a monopod in some instances as well.

Barrier-Stop — The shooter in this image is using his vertical foregrip as a barrier stop. Photo: Wikipedia.

Another aspect to consider is that a vertical grip gets the hand away from the handguard, which can get hot enough to cause minor burns with a heavy enough firing schedule or in the right environment.

So, should you put a foregrip on your AR? It’s completely up to you. There are essentially no downsides besides the added bulk, and they do have some benefits even if they won’t necessarily improve your shooting performance. If you prefer the feel of one over a bare handguard, then by gosh, use one. Just keep in mind that if you choose to, you will still be able to run your rifle just as well without it.

The 7 Best AR Foregrips

Magpul AFG

The Magpul Angled Forward Grip or AFG is one of the most common angled foregrips on the market. Made of durable molded polymer, it features fore and rear ridges to give your hand a little forward boundary, which some prefer in an angled grip.

There are three models available of varying sizes, two for 1913 Picatinny rails and one for M-LOK. Each is available in four different colors as well. MSRP: $26.95-$34.95 // magpul.com

Arisaka Defense Finger Stop

Arisaka Defense’s Finger Stop is offered in Picatinny, M-LOK and KeyMod variants, and the company has a few other styles available as well such as the Indexer. It's machined from aluminum and it can be used as either a finger stop (between the fingers of the support hand), a rear handstop or as a barricade stop. MSRP: $28 // arisakadefense.com

Bravo Company KAG

The Kinetic Angled Grip or KAG has long been a staple model of angled handstops. Between their durability and cost, it’s easy to see why.

The KAG has a vertical side and a curved side, and both are textured for additional grip. They are available for Pic rail, KeyMod and M-LOK handguards and are offered in several colors. It’s a good middle-ground size and its shape allows it to be used in a number of different ways, making it a versatile option. MSRP: $21 // bravocompanyusa.com

Knight's Armament Forward Pistol Grip

If you’re trying to clone a military AR, why not get the original M4 foregrip? It’s made of durable, injection-molded high-impact polymer and features a storage compartment that will fit an AA battery or two for your optic. The only potential downside is that these are only compatible with Picatinny rails, but at least quad-rail handguards look cool as hell.

They're available in black, OD green, and two shades (light and dark) of tan. However, it is Knight's Armament, so they don't come cheap. MSRP: Starts at $80 // knightarmco.com

NC Star Vertical Grip

For those who are more budget-minded, NC Star makes a decent clone of the Knight’s Armament Forward Pistol Grip that’s about eight times cheaper. Enough said. MSRP: Less than $10 // ncstar.com

Strike Industries AR-15 Bikini Handstop

Strike Industries' Bikini Handstop is a two-pack of minimalist handstops, retailing for around $10. You can install one for a single low-profile polymer handstop, or both to keep the support hand in position. Low-cost, easy to install on any MLOK rail, and it works whether you use a pull or push technique with the rifle. MSRP: $12.95 // strikeindustries.com

Bravo Company BCM Vertical Grip Mod 3

The BCM Gunfighter VCG has a slight curve on one side, allowing the user to have the front surface straight or curved, depending on preference.

BCM offers models that are compatible with either Picatinny, M-LOK or KeyMod and they are available in either black or FDE. A more expensive version with a storage compartment is sold as well. The stubby nature of this model makes it a solid, versatile choice since it can be utilized in more than one way. MSRP: $21 // bravocompanyusa.com

More AR Upgrades:

Top AR-15 Accessories And Upgrades
Four Quick And Dirty AR Upgrades
Choosing The Best AR Accessories
Prioritizing Spending On Your AR-15 Build

She’s Still Garand: Life And Times Of The Mighty M1

Josh Wayner

May 23, 2023

A look back at the venerable M1 Garand, America's storied and stalwart service rifle.

When it comes to guns, there’s certainly fashion that comes and goes. This year, it might be 10mm making a big comeback, or perhaps the 1911 having a slew of new designs hitting the market, making it “relevant” again.

But with that said, the M1 Garand hasn’t been victim to fashion. In fact, it’s one of those rifles that’s always in good taste, no matter where or when it appears. However, things have changed in the M1 world … and not necessarily for the better.

Dried-Up Surplus Stockpiles

Unfortunately for us, we’re in something of the twilight years of the surplus market. When I was a teenager, you could buy most surplus guns for less than $500, sometimes as low as just $50. Granted, that was a lot of money for a kid working fast food, but everything was so plentiful then that it seemed like it would never end.

It’s a fair assessment to say that the vast majority of the surplus market is completely dead these days. Various post-World War II Mauser rifles that sold for $150 are going for upward of $800 today, well outside the range of hobbyists—and frankly outside the interest range for competition shooters and collectors. Guns that once were plentiful are now so heavily picked over that finding a good, pristine example can cost you upward of $1,500 or more … for a Mosin Nagant! The Finnish examples today are commanding a heavy premium, to the point they’re almost impossible to justify for the regular collector. The M1 has limped along for the entirety of this chaos, but it, too, is slowly drying up.

Remarkably, M1 prices have held out considerably well against the fluctuations in the market. Today, they’re still around $1,000, a price they’ve maintained for nearly 15 years. I never believed I’d see a day where something as common as a Mauser or Enfield would sell for more than an M1, but I’ve apparently reached that point in life.

M1-receiver-markings — Rear sights on the M1 are very intuitive and easy to use. They’re rugged, but you’ll need to check function before buying.

The nature of the M1 sets it apart from the rest. The gun was manufactured in America by Americans, and it’s largely supported by the aftermarket. It’s likely there are more of them around than the rest combined, but there’s really no way to know for sure. What is known is that a point is coming in the near future where prices for base-level, rebuilt M1 rifles will jump. In other words, get your M1 while you can: The gettin’ is good right now.

It could be argued that the M1 is still the most popular vintage rifle available today. The largest reason for this is that there’s a substantial amount of cultural knowledge surrounding it, and it’s still relevant from a defense and hunting standpoint. Young men and women are training as armorers on these guns—the same cannot be said for most other surplus rifles. It’s entirely possible to build a “new” M1 today; many companies make their own parts, stocks, barrels and more. The prevalence of the M1 in this country has made it so that the design will continue to be used well into the future, though that doesn’t mean it’s going to be that way forever.

Collecting The M1 Today

It’s a reality of the surplus market that things just aren’t what they used to be. The rifle featured in this article was bought from a local gun store that had it on consignment. The previous owner was aged out of competing and no longer cared about owning those guns. He mentioned in passing that he didn’t have family who went shooting, and it was best to sell. This rifle is a standard of what you’ll see for gun show rifles and those that you may be able to purchase from another shooter at a CMP event.

While it may seem like a backward approach, plenty of collectors shoot in these competitions, and, depending on where you’re at, a match is usually held every month. If you want a direct line to many opportunities for surplus rifles, simply attend one of these matches and pass out your information to the competitors. The thing about doing this is that it places you in a network of like-minded people. Don’t be surprised when one of your CMP buddies calls you and says there’s a gun you’re looking for at an area store.

Garand-action-open — The Garand action open: The internals look complicated, but they’re honesty not hard to understand. There are moving parts in here, but luckily all are easily replaced if you bought a rifle with worn-out internals. Don’t be alarmed, some movement is normal.

The nature of finding a good M1 these days isn’t a scavenger hunt, but it’s also not as simple as just walking into a store and ordering it. These rifles are quite old and are individuals at this point. Most of them have experienced various degrees of wear and tear over time, and you’ll need to have a careful eye about what you’re looking at. There are very few people out there in the world who have a full, complete matching M1 rifle. If a person is advertising a fully matched gun for less than $2,000, you’re being taken for a ride. What’s more, there’s probably less than a handful of guns in the country that are in original, un-issued condition.

At the very least, what you’re looking for is the receiver of the rifle: The rest of the gun can be stripped down and rebuilt quite easily. A desirable receiver is 90 percent of the sale price on a finished gun, and WWII receivers are universally more valuable than postwar examples—though prewar rifles are the most valuable.

The lion’s share of M1s, numbering in the millions, were all completely stripped down and refurbished over the years. It has become a game among collectors to swap parts not just by manufacturer, but also by month of manufacture. However, there’s no real way to know if the barrel and receiver were made at the same time of day, or simply at the beginning and end of the month. That’s about as fine as it gets as far as detail. A date-matched rifle usually picks up $500 to $1,000 in value.

Stocks and small parts aren’t necessarily a good way to look at the value of a rifle, or even into a rifle’s general condition: Great actions are sometimes dressed in mediocre wood and vice versa. Most stocks at this point are going to need to be replaced if you want to shoot in competition. New, clean wood is preferable. But, beware of any M1 at a gun show that looks too good; Birchwood Casey stock finish is cheap … and so is sandpaper.

Also, look at the condition of the action itself. One of my good friends, who worked as an armorer for decades, suggested that the average M1 will go through at least two stocks in its lifetime. Many of the wooden parts on the gun are actually quite thin and easily crack, so few are original to the receiver. Replacing the stock on an M1 is an easy venture, and it can be done largely without tools. Cartouches and stamps on stocks should not be considered a reliable method of dating the rifle, either. Not only are they easily mismatched, but they’re also easily faked.

Currently, many companies make modern parts. For instance, Boyds makes a replacement stock you can sand and finish at your whim, and laminate stocks are also a more durable option. Barrels are available from companies like Criterion, as well as custom manufacturers that appeal to the match shooting crowd. Specialty gun builders, such as Fulton Armory, can build an entire match-quality M1 off of your receiver. What’s better is that they offer multiple packages for your receiver, including options to turn it into a slightly more modern rifle, as well as tuning it specially for the CMP games.

M1-Garand-loading-1 — The M1 is a large gun, but not ungainly. Despite the fact that it’s bulkier than a 1903 or Mauser, it’s quite slender in most places. As you can see here, it’s only just wider than the ammo clip.

The CMP itself also sells M1s. If you were interested in a road trip, you can simply drive to Camp Perry and leave with an M1. The CMP has sold these rifles for quite some time, although today they’re somewhat picked over. Around 10 years ago, you could find some absolutely pristine examples. Today, most of them look a little bit sorry but can be had for under $1,000. Most of these guns are in mix-and-match but fireable condition, and it will be of service in match shooting, but not necessarily collecting.

Shooting The M1

So, what should you be looking for as far as performance goes with the M1? The rifle, as it’s issued with iron sights, should be able to produce 10 shot groups of 3 inches slung up. If you’re shooting off the bench, cut that number in half. Yes: They’re that accurate. I have an 1896 Swedish Mauser that prints 1.5 inches at 100 yards dating to 1900, and another from 1914 that does 2 inches with the same loads. Most M1903, M1917 and M1 Garand rifles I’ve fired and owned are 3 MOA rifles … or better.

M1-barrel — Front sights are mounted to the gas block assembly. The sights are easily removed with a simple wrench and can be replaced with different versions. Here’s a National Match (NM) marked front sight that has been used to replace the GI version.

In addition, you’ll need to pay close attention to barrel wear. M1s with original barrels can be rough; if you plan to buy them to shoot, you need to invest in erosion gauges. These gauges measure the physical wear at the throat and muzzle, and you can simply pop them in at a gun show—it takes just a second. You want a gun that runs out at “0,” meaning no real wear. Sometimes, you’ll see a person say, “it’s a 1 at the muzzle and a 2 in the throat.” This means that the throat has a minor amount of wear, but the muzzle is still tight. If you go up past a “3” in wear on either end of the barrel, you’ll probably want to offer a lower dollar amount due to needing a barrel replacement. I’d consider any gun that needs a replacement to be a minimum $200 expense: Take that into consideration as you look to buy.

You’ll also want to check the mechanical properties of the rear sight. You can do this by simply resting your thumb on the peep sight and applying slight pressure against it. Each movement of the windage and elevation drums should be crisp; there should be no slippage under slight pressure. These parts can be replaced, so if they’re damaged and are on a valuable receiver, it might be worth it anyway just to go ahead and buy.

M1-gas-piston — The moving metal rod under the barrel is actually the gas piston. It extends from the charging handle to the muzzle.

If you’re trying to shoot CMP or other service rifles, you’ll need to check the rules on bedding the stock. Bedding an M1 can really help accuracy; however, as-issued matches won’t allow it, but open division usually does. You can sneak past these rules a bit in as-issued matches by buying an oversized stock. You will have to finish the inlet and exterior yourself, but you can essentially fit it exactly to your gun and achieve similar results to glass bedding.

Ammo And Loads For The Garand

As of this writing, several companies make M1 Garand-specific loads. You need to keep the pressure down when shooting these guns—modern .30-06 is too powerful for it in as-issued form. You can get an adjustable gas block to account for modern ammo, but there’s no need to put so much wear and tear on an old warhorse.

Hornady makes an excellent M1 match load (product number 81171), featuring the 168-grain ELD match bullet. This is an excellent target load and has produced some of the best scores at Camp Perry. I truly enjoy what Hornady did with this; it really is the best M1 ammo available for shooting scores.

M1-Garand-loading-2 — The M1 loads from 8-round en-bloc clips that eject along with the last fired round. They make the famous ping! noise every time.

Federal makes an excellent 150-grain FMJ load for the M1 under the American Eagle brand. I have shot this ammo often in the past but haven’t been able to find it for some time. As of this writing, it was listed simply as “unavailable” on the Federal site, but I’m hoping to get some more in the near future if the ammo market ever cools down enough for companies to make anything other than 9mm and 5.56 NATO.

Sellier & Bellot has a great M2 ball load that’s safe in the M1 rifle. The load isn’t as popular, but it’s at least in stock and readily available … and it has proven to be very accurate in some rifles. I’ve noticed it’s a bit pickier and has a bit more thump to it as opposed to the Hornady or Federal, both of which are mild in the M1.

Also, Winchester announced a new M2 ball load at SHOT Show 2023. I’m excited there are companies making strides to come out with ammo support of the M1, even when things are so volatile in the industry.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More On The M1 Garand:

M1 Garand Ammo: What Should You Shoot in Your M1?
M1 Garand Bayonet for the Ultimate Survival Gun
M1 Garand Clip Loading Basics and Troubleshooting Tips
The Ever Popular And Collectable M1 Garand
The M1: America's Original Battle Rifle

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GUN DIGESTWE KNOW GUNS SO YOU KNOW GUNS

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.

M1 Carbine Design

Production Ramp-Up During WWII

The M1 Carbine In Combat

.30 Carbine Ballistics

Modern .30 Carbine Ammo

M1 Carbine Major Variants

M1 And M1A1 Carbines

M2 And M2A1 Carbines

M3 Carbine

M1 Variant Nuances

Sights

Barrel Bands

M1 Carbine Stocks

Safety

Surplus M1 Carbines

Collecting The M1 Carbine

Reproduction M1 Carbines

What Sort Of M1 Carbine Should I Buy?

Getting Started With An M1 Carbine

Undeniably reliable and versatile, the pump-action shotgun is a must-have for any shooter. Here are 11 affordable options worth adding to your gun safe.

What Are The Economical Pump-Action Options:

Why You Want A Pump-Action Shotgun

Draw A Bead On Shotguns:

Why You Don’t Want A Pump-Action Shotgun

Our Choice For Hunting

Remington 870 Fieldmaster

Other Choices For Hunting:

Our Choice For Home Defense/Tactical

Mossberg 590 Tactical (9-Shot)

Other Top Tactical Options:

Our Choice For Youth Model

Mossberg 500 Bantam/505/510 Mini

Other Top Youth Options:

Learn More About Shotgun and Their Performance

N8 Tactical has just announced the Magna-Clip, a magnet-based magazine carrier that will accommodate most common pistol mags.

For more information on concealed carry holsters check out:

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.

The New Guns And Gear:

Smith & Wesson M&P FPC

Maxim Defense PRS Suppressors

Bear Creek Arsenal BC-10mm

Volquartsen VT2

Magpul Daka Grid Organizer for Pelican Vault V730 and V800

Rock River Arms Operator DMR Series Rifles

Brownells BRN-180SH Upper

Get More Guns And Gear:

A discussion on the particulars of brass condition when it comes to handload performance.

Special Treatment

New Versus Old Brass

Beretta's new 80X Cheetah proved to be a supremely shootable pistol, but the author's had an issue that may make you reconsider carrying one.

The Good

The Bad

Parting Shot

Pros:

Cons:

Beretta 80X Cheetah FAQ

A look back at the Swiss K31, probably the best service rifle ever made that never saw wide-scale combat use.

History Of The K31

Why Was It Never Used In Warfare?

Straight-Pull Action

The 7.5×55 Cartridge

Collecting The K31 Today

The Weatherby Model 307 centerfire rifle action is the company’s first new action line in 50 years.

Nearly ballistic twins, the .308 versus .30-06 debate seems moot. However, some nuances can swing hunters and shooters one way or another.

How Does The .308 Vs .30-06 Debate Shake Out:

Brief History

.308 Vs .30-06 Case Size

Velocity And Trajectory Of The .30-Calibers

Take Aim At .30-Calibers:

Weighing In On Bullet Selection

.308 Vs .30-06 Accuracy

Firearms Selection

Ammunition Choices

Concluding the .308 Vs .30-06 Debate

The Streamlight ProTac HL was good, but the upgraded Streamlight ProTac 2.0 is even better.

Double-stack, 9mm and based on Browning’s classic design, the Springfield Prodigy DS ups the ante in the 1911 game.

Match-Grade Barrel

Five-Star Frame