We’re not trying to rub it in that you missed out on the 2022 VIP bags at CANCON in Georgia, but you might feel pretty disappointed that you missed out once you read what was in them.
The good news is that we’re holding TWO CANCON events in 2023! The first one is April 29-30 (VIP access on the 28th also!) in Phoenix, Arizona.
And we’re coming back to Richmond Hill in Georgia, November 10-11 (VIPs get in a day early as well!), so there is really no excuse for you to miss out on some VIP bag goodness this year.
WHAT'S IN THE BAG
You’ll have to come down to Arizona to find out what is in that VIP bag, but we can take a tour through the 2022 CANCON VIP bag to give you an idea of the kind of high-end swag we put together.
Viktos XL Slingbag
Blue Force Gear Sling
Otis Ripcord Cleaning Cord
Caldwell DeadShot Shooting Bags
SilencerCo Silencer (Ya, a FREE silencer)
Subscription to Recoil and Offgrid magazines
Mission First Tactical Extreme Duty Magazines 556
Mission First Tactical Coozie
Maxim Defense Hate Brake
Maxim Defense Arm Brace Stock
Primary Weapon Systems Gift Certificate
JK Armamant Stickers and Hats
And that’s not all! We also snuck in a box of Global Ordnance Ammo and a Key Bar Carabiner.
Total VIP Bag Value? Over $1,600.
Will 2023’s VIP bags be better than last year's? I think they are, but you’ll have to stop by CANCON to find out!
Coming to CANCON but not a VIP? Take a chance at winning a VIP bag! All CANCON attendees can enter to win a VIP Bag, all you have to do is:
The much-desired Glock 28 in .380 ACP is finally available in the U.S. thanks to domestic manufacturing.
It goes without saying that Glocks are the most popular handgun in the world, and Americans have been enjoying the pistol in almost all of its different flavors since the first were imported in 1986. Almost, because there were at least a couple of models that were off-limits here thanks to the 1968 Gun Control Act. That law established certain “sporting purposes” criteria that all future imported handguns would be required to meet, and the .380 ACP Glock 28 just couldn’t make the cut. The scarcity of this otherwise relatively common pistol only increased its desirability in the U.S. While Austrian-made models will continue to be extremely rare here, thanks to newly established domestic production in Smyrna, GA, the Glock 28 is finally available on the American market.
Facilitated by TALO Distributors, Inc., the new Glock 28 is now available through dealers affiliated with its network such as Lipsey’s. Regarding the physical details of the handgun itself, it is reportedly identical to the original Austrian-made version besides the markings on its frame and slide. In short, that means it’s a .380 ACP pistol with a 3.43-inch barrel, a weight of 20.64 ounces (unloaded) and a standard capacity of 10+1 rounds with flush-fitting mags.
Compared to the Glock 42, the other small .380 ACP Glock that’s been available in the U.S. since its release, the Glock 28 is a bit thicker and heavier due to its double-stack magazine. Despite this, the G28 is also appreciably smaller, making it an even better candidate for deep concealment or as a backup gun. The larger capacity helps in this department as well.
Production and availability of the new Glock 28 are currently described as limited, but they are shipping to dealers now. The MSRP has not been published, but online listings currently have it priced at around $500.
There are plenty of good reasons to want one, so here are the best 7.62×39 upper receiver options for your AR-15.
It may seem like sacrilege, but when it comes to alternative chamberings for the AR-15, a 7.62×39 upper actually makes a lot of sense in many cases. In fact, it arguably makes even more sense than .300 Blackout when not running a suppressor.
So, let's go over why you might want one, what to look for, and then the best 7.62×39 upper options on the market.
A PSA/Lead Star Arms complete 7.62×39 AR-15.
Why A 7.62×39 Upper?
In years past, the primary draw of getting a 7.62×39 upper to go with your existing AR-15 lower was the price of ammunition. It wasn’t long ago when the cheapest 5.56 NATO ammo was still appreciably more expensive than 7.62×39, so an upper that allowed you to plink with the cheaper stuff made a lot of sense. These days, that is often no longer the case, as the two cartridges now typically have similar costs with 7.62×39 often being the more expensive of the two.
Without an economic incentive, why would anyone today still choose to buy a 7.62×39 upper? The answer mostly lies in the cartridge’s ballistic properties.
The most apparent of those qualities is that the cartridge is less sensitive to shorter barrel lengths and suppression than 5.56 NATO. If shooting with a short barrel or a can, you will see much better performance with 7.62×39. These days, .300 Blackout is very popular for many of the same reasons, even being better than 7.62×39 when it comes to shooting subsonic loads suppressed. However, .300 BLK is still substantially more expensive than 7.62×39, making it a better choice only for those who are committed to shooting with a suppressor.
A suppressed 7.62×39 AR.
In and of itself, 7.62x39mm is not terribly remarkable in any particular aspect of terminal ballistics. However, what's notable about it is that it has broadly comparable velocity, energy and trajectory to .30-30 Winchester…which, of course, is one of the most popular and most successful short-to-mid-range hunting cartridges of all time.
An AR-based hunting rifle for whitetail or hogs, a 7.62×39 upper would be a good choice and certainly cheaper to shoot than .300 Blackout or 6.8 SPC.
Also, since a different magazine is required for the Russian cartridge, there's no way you're going to mix anything up. Due to the interchangeable mags, some folks have tried loading .300 BLK into a 5.56 chamber with catastrophic results.
The Basics Of A Good 7.62×39 Upper
There are a few basic must-haves for any 7.62×39 upper that you're planning to use with an AR-15. Beyond anything else, the most important of these is the bolt carrier group.
This is because one of the most common issues people experience with 7.62×39 upper ARs is with feeding, typically caused by either an incorrect extractor or bolt assembly.
The solution? Get the complete upper; you need a 7.62mm BCG. Don't buy just the bolt head, don't trust Bubba The GunSmif, just purchase an upper that comes with an entire 7.62x39mm bolt carrier group.
A PSA 7.62×39 BCG.
Another must-have is an improved firing pin. This is because 7.62x39mm ammunition is known for having hard primers, sometimes resulting in light strikes. To prevent this, make sure to add an extended or enhanced firing pin to your setup to ensure reliable strikes. A lot of manufacturers include them now, but not all, so check before purchasing.
Also of note, while essentially all standard AR lowers are compatible with 7.62×39 uppers, the same can’t be said about magazines. Due to the shape of the 7.62x39mm cartridge, standard AR-15 magazines aren't compatible the way they are with .300 Blackout. You'll need to purchase dedicated 7.62×39 AR magazines that are compatible with standard AR-15 magazine wells.
Best Barrel Lengths For 7.62×39 Uppers
Once you have the basics of what you need to get an upper that will actually run, it’s time to think about the other details of your prospective build.
As mentioned, 7.62x39mm runs great out of shorter barrels. Compared to smaller, lighter calibers, it suffers less when it comes to velocity loss per fewer inches of barrel. Obviously, chronograph readings differ, but some people have found as little as 300 fps of difference between an 8-inch 7.62x39mm barrel and a 16-inch.
Several people have put forward arguments about the best-abbreviated barrel length is for this caliber. While 8 inches is a little extreme, somewhere between 10 and 12.5 inches is a happy medium.
However, also be aware that the shorter the gas system, the more violent the cycling. Therefore, be ready to tune the gun. The same is also true if you intend on using the gun as a suppressor host.
The 5 Best 7.62×39 Uppers
Best Entry Level: Palmetto State Armory PSA PA47 16″ Mid-Length Upper
The PSA PA47 16-inch Mid-Length is a great entry-level 7.62×39 upper. It won't break the bank and it has a lot of good features for the price.
It has a 16-inch CMV government profile barrel (1:10 twist) with an A2 flash hider and a mid-length gas system. It has a classic M16A2-style handguard and FSB, but it's a flat-top receiver so you can add whatever optic you'd like. The BCG includes an extended firing pin and a 7.62mm bolt head with a mil-spec carrier.
They're compatible with any AR-15 lower (not all PSA 7.62x39mm uppers are!) so you just need to supply some 7.62×39 AR magazines and a sighting system.
Best Modern Upper: Rock River Arms Coyote Carbine Upper Half
Rock River Arms' Coyote Carbine upper in 7.62×39 is a modern AR upper receiver, with a flat/Picatinny rail top, an M-LOK handguard and some little touches throughout that justify its higher price.
The barrel is a 16-inch chrome-lined barrel (1:10 twist) with an HBAR profile, carbine-length gas system and Smith Vortex flash hider. The bolt carrier group is also chromed, which will make the rifle more resilient. The upper also ships with a C-Products 28-round magazine.
It's compatible with standard AR-15 lowers, so drop it in, plug and play. Add magazines, an optic and any other accessories as desired. MSRP is a bit stiff, but this upper comes with more premium features than most.
Best Upper For Suppressed SBR: Brownells BRN-180S Gen2 10.5”
Technically, this isn't an AR-15 upper, as the BRN-180 is more like an AR-18 upper. However, it’s included on this list because it was designed to drop into any standard AR-15 lower receiver.
The BRN-180S is a side-charging, piston-driven rifle system with the AR-18's dual guide rod and recoil spring assembly, which is captive with a built-in buffer. It has a 10.5-inch 4150 steel barrel with a nitride finish and a 3-prong flash suppressor on 5/8×24-inch threads, so adding a can would be easy. The receiver has Picatinny rail on top and M-LOK slots at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock on the handguard.
Yes, it's a piston upper, but that also means it's easily tuned to cycle suppressed without the headache of an adjustable gas block or having to buy extra springs or buffers.
Maxim Defense MDX: U.R.G uppers are designed for CQB use, so these would be a great choice for a home defense AR with a short barrel. Maxim manufactures its firearms for hard use, so if you intended to put a lot of training in with your upper, this would be a top model to get.
One standout feature is Maxim's HATEBRAKE, a flash suppressor/muzzle brake/muzzle booster that acts as a regulator for the gas system, ensuring reliable cycling. The HATEBRAKE fits inside the handguard, so it doesn't add to the overall length. The upper also includes a Radian charging handle, M-LOK handguards (with QD socket) and a handstop/barrier stop pre-installed.
The MDX:508 U.R.G. has an 8.5-inch barrel and the MDX:510 U.R.G. has a 10.3-inch barrel. Both models come with an adjustable gas block and can be ordered with either a black, grey or FDE finish.
Palmetto State Armory's PSA Gen 2 AR-47 16″ 7.62×39 upper is one of the better choices for a hunting rifle in this caliber. It's a modern AR-style upper with a lightweight M-LOK handguard, with a midweight (lighter than HBAR/A2) barrel profile, which matters if you're going to be carrying it in the field.
The barrel is 4150 with a nitride finish, with a 1:10 twist rate, an A2 flash hider and a carbine-length gas system. The upper receiver is a flat-top with a 13.5-inch handguard. The BCG includes an extended firing pin and a Toolcraft-enhanced extractor.
Palmetto recommends purchasing a PA-10 buffer spring and heavy buffer for the best function. What makes this a good choice for a hunting rifle is the slimmer profile and lighter weight, as almost all 7.62×39 uppers have a heavier barrel profile. Also take note that while this PSA AR-47 upper was designed to interface with mil-spec AR lowers, the company’s similar KS-47 line of uppers are only compatible with PSA’s KS-47 lowers. Be sure you’re buying the correct one if you intend to use it with a standard AR lower.
When it comes to North American game, is there any cartridge with more flexibility than the .308 Winchester? OK, it’s kissing-cousin the .30-06 Springfield is right up there, but we’re splitting hairs. From predators to bull moose and everything in between, the tried-and-true .30-caliber gets the job done accurately and reliably. Which is why there is no shortage of .308 rifles tailored for taking game on the market.
From top-shelf to bargain basement, nearly every manufacturer has an option chambered for the cartridge. Which, if you happen to have a yen for a .308 hunting iron, is a blessing and a curse. A blessing, because if you aren’t choosey you can simply saunter down to your local gun retailer and buy one that fits your budget. Even the ultra-cheap blue-light specials aren’t bad, by and large. However, it’s a curse, because if you’re a bit more selective—especially if you have tight purse strings—it takes research to find the exact .308 rifle to fill your heart’s desires.
We’re catering to the second type of rifleman in this .308 rifle buyer’s guide. The bloke who doesn’t have a king’s ransom to drop on a gun, but wants a hunting rifle that will last a lifetime (maybe more), shoots lights out and has—dare we say it—a touch of class. Tough, yes. Impossible, no.
Searching out these some what rare rifles, we set out the following parameters:
Well made—as we said, it should last a lifetime.
Accurate—it’s got to be an MOA shooter or dang close.
Production—it’s currently made.
Less than $1,250—unfortunately, as prices rise across the board, what is considered “affordable” does as well. That said, plenty of these rifles can still be bought for less than $1,000, even if their MSRPs are listed as higher.
Not the easiest categories to fill out, but we believe we’ve rounded up some prime candidates.
Best .308 Rifle Options For Hunting
Ruger Hawkeye Compact
The first of two rifles with Mauser-style extractors—rare in this tier of firearms. Yes, push-feeds have more than proven themselves hunters, but in rugged terrain, with a trophy on the line, we don’t blame those who desire the insurance of controlled feed. Amazingly, given its walnut stock, the Hawkeye Compact is among the lightest .308 rifles in the guide, tipping the scales at mountain rifle 5.7 pounds. Certainly, its 16.50-inch barrel is to thank for this. And while the abbreviated bore trims down the .30-caliber’s ballistic potential somewhat, the rifle still delivers at ethical hunting ranges. Other notables, cold hammer-forged barrel, 4-round internal box magazine and excellent Ruger L6 trigger, which breaks around 3.5 pounds.
Long ago, Savage Arms proved a tack-driving rifle is within reach of every shooter. It still does today with the superbly executed Model 10 Trophy Hunter. The .308 rifle (among other short-action cartridges) boasts a rock-solid action and barrel, both machined from forged bar stock. The material not only allows extremely tight tolerances, but also outfits hunters with a gun as rugged as the terrain they hunt. The Model 10 boasts a few extras most find attractive, chief among them Savage’s fully-adjustable AccuTrigger and detachable box magazine. Also, a nice stick of walnut with very positive checkering adds to the gun's functionality and aesthetics. For the price, the Model 10 over-delivers.
So, we did say we were shooting for a touch of class. Admittedly, the SPS misses this mark wider than any other 700. However, it’s still a beauty where it counts. The Model 700 action set the standard for strong and reliable push-feed actions, becoming foundation of a majority of precision shooting rigs today. The shortcoming of this .308 rifle is mainly its looks, wearing a none-to-attractive synthetic stock with rubberized grips. And while it might not provide a platform for hair-splitting accuracy, the stock is solid enough to keep you on target in the field. In .308, the rifle is outfitted with a 24-inch barrel and weighs in at a very manageable 7.5 pounds.
Browning offers a more affordable line, the A-Bolt. But with X-Bolt options such as the Hunter more than economically priced, it’s difficult to see why you’d compromise. Browning takes no chances with the rifle’s accuracy potential, with all X-Bolt barrels button-rifled, air gauged, hand chambered and lapped in the company’s proprietary process. Add in the barreled action is expertly epoxy bedded into a Grade I walnut stock, well, you have a top-shelf .308 rifle. It’s a fast shooter too, with a terse 60-degree bolt throw that doesn’t interfere with the scope. A few of the 22-inch barreled rifle’s other assets include a 4-round center-fed rotary magazine and Browning’s three-lever Feather Trigger.
Tikka remains an underappreciated commodity in the U.S. market, but its stock has risen in the past decades. Mainly thanks to precision shooters who want to save a buck. But hunters would do well to get the Finnish gunmaker on their radar. Out of the box, few rifles match the T3x Hunter’s performance—from well thought out ergonomics to perhaps one of the best production triggers on the market. Accuracy, however, is what steals the show. The T3x action is to thank, with plenty of material to stiffen it up and a two-lug bolt to ensure a strong lockup. Did we mention a Sako-style extractor—not quite as robust as a Mauser, nonetheless reliable. Space precludes detailing too much more on this .308 rifle, but safe to say few are disappointed taking a Tikka on the hunt.
MSRP: Not published, but average street price is $949, tikka.fi/en-us
Learn More About The .30-Caliber:
.30-06 Rifle: Going Long In .30-Caliber Semi-Autos
Don’t Believe The Hype: The .308 Winchester Is Still Going Strong
Disclosure, I’m biased for Zastava. I hunt a vintage Interarms import made by the Serbian company (the Mark X) and still marvel at what it offers. The M70 is pretty much the same rifle, which is essentially a Mauser ‘98. Perhaps the most affordable controlled-feed rifle on the market, hunters aren’t compromising with Zastava. Certainly, it’s a little rougher around the edges than one from Mauser proper. But it still proves a class act. One of the more interesting aspects of this .308 rifle is its trigger options. There’s three: single-stage, single double-set, and two trigger double-set. The latter two offer nearly a hair-trigger break, helping improve the rifle’s accuracy potential.
Howa’s one of those companies that’s been around for a spell that everyone just discovered. The Japanese barreled-action maker’s stock has risen, in particular, thanks to the precision shooting world. Though, the irons are dang good hunters too. The Hogue model is among the most affordable .308 rifles from the company. In addition to the precision Howa 1500 action and cold hammer-forged barrel, the iron comes outfitted in Hogue’s comfortable and rugged Overmolded stock. A real enhancement for an hunting gun, thanks to its grippy rubber coating. It’s an accuracy enhancer too, pillar bedded and free-floating the barrel. Tack on Howa’s two-stage HACT trigger and you certainly have a rifle that can put meat on the table.
Despite flirting with the buyer’s guide’s ceiling, it’s difficult not to consider the Bergara B-14 a value in every sense of the word. Even a bargain, considering what the Spanish-American company brings to the table. And that is perhaps one of the best barrels on the market. Extremely uniform and held to minuscule tolerances, the 20-inch button-rifled fire tube is engineered to print cloverleaves. Matched with the B-14 action, pillar bedded and epoxied in the inlet, the .308 rifle might be a hunter, but it has a precision rig’s heart. It’s a looker too, with a nice piece of walnut for the stock—Monte Carlo, by the way. Interestingly, the standard Timber comes with an internal 4-round box magazine, but this can be upgraded to a removable box magazine if you so desire.
In 2021, CZ-USA announced that the famed CZ 527 and 557 series of bolt-action rifles would be discontinued and replaced by the company's new CZ 600 series. The most traditional and affordable model of which is the CZ 600 Lux.
To give it a classic hunting rifle look, the 600 Lux features an oil-finished and checkered Bavarian-style walnut stock, but several modern innovations have been implemented to provide more modern functionality as well. This includes a 60-degree bolt throw for fast and smooth cycling, an oversized wooden bolt knob and a 2-position safety that is incredibly quiet. It also features a fiber optic front sight, is ready to accept Remington 700-pattern scope bases and in .308 Winchester, it feeds from a 5-round detachable box mag. If that isn't enough to impress you, then also consider that each rifle also comes with a sub-MOA accuracy guarantee and a threaded muzzle that's ready to accept suppressors. The CZ 600 Lux is the complete package.
OK, we’re bending a few rules on this last rifle. It costs a bit more than our limit and doesn’t reek of the traditional definition of class. So what? The MP10 Sport is about as affordable, well made and reliable AR-10 hunter as you can find. Boasting a 16-inch barrel (with 5R rifling), the Sport excels as a nimble brush gun, but it’s no slouch at reaching out with the medium contour offering excellent harmonics. Ambidextrous controls makes it lefty-friendly, not always the case with hunters or all ARs. And a mid-length gas system does its part in taming down some of the 8-pound .308 rifle’s recoil. Fairly barebones from there—A2 flash hider, 6-position stock, polymer handguard, Picatinny optics rail—the AR is nonetheless a performer.
Wait! A Mauser on an affordable .308 rifle list? Sounds crazy, given even the vintage war-weathered irons run a pretty penny nowadays. But with the introduction of the M18 a few years back, the iconic German manufacturer put out among one of the best budget hunters on the market today. Don’t walk into the M18 expecting a stripped-down version of the company’s M98; despite being a Mauser creation the rifle is sans the definitive oversized claw extractor. Instead, it’s the popular and cost-effective detachable-magazine feed, three-lug fat bolt. It’s smooth and reliable, and mates up airtight with the M18’s semi-open action. Married to the hammer-forged 20-inch barrel, the system is arguably one of the most accurate hunting irons out there—much more than is needed to put meat on the table. The stock is what you’d expect, synthetic, but not the type of plastic that looks like it was fished from the recycling bin. And overall it's stiff, making for a solid platform for repeatable accuracy. Though little things, such as the plastic trigger guard, leave something to desire, overall you get more than your money’s worth with the M18.
MSRP: Not published, but average street price is $949, mauser.com
Sometimes even good guns get lost in the shuffle, and this is the unfortunate saga of how it happened to the Steyr GB.
Every now and then, a pistol design comes around that should take the shooting world by storm. Sometimes these designs suffer from poor marketing, poor timing or are simply a little too “ahead of their time.” Many times, it’s all of the above. Such was the case with the Steyr GB, an Austrian-designed pistol that could’ve and should’ve made a lasting impression … but, unfortunately, it was consigned to the “also ran” gun rack of history.
This was a very accurate fixed barrel system that used a unique gas system involving a port slightly ahead of the chamber—and supported an 18-round magazine. It truly was the first of its kind with regard to the latter when it was unveiled in the 1980s, even if you ignore the engineering marvels that made this a work of art in the realm of pistolcraft.
How could such an interesting design have gotten lost in the shuffle? Its unique story is a tragedy, as some experts feel this could’ve been an influential and award-winning design if it hadn’t run into a slew of unfortunate events.
The crinkle finish of the frame, coupled with the high-polished blue slide, is a design that screams “it came from the ’80s!”
Steyr GB History
At the end of World War II, the Austrian military issued three basic handguns to its troops: the Browning Hi-Power, the Colt M1911 and the Walther P38. These handguns were in good supply and condition. And, despite popular opinion, an issued handgun isn’t exactly a high-priority piece of gear for combat troops.
Nonetheless, if there’s one thing any military seeks, it’s uniformity and conformity. By the 1960s, the search was on for a new pistol for the Austrian armed forces. Steyr-Daimler-Puch was the most famous small arms manufacturer in Austria, and they set their engineers to the task of developing a full-sized duty pistol in 9mm for the Austrian military.
The Steyr GB is a classic design for many reasons. It’s hard to believe that it lost out to the Beretta M9.
Although a rather conventional-looking pistol, the GB was loaded with innovative features not found in any other handgun up to that point in time. It was a delayed-blowback operated, double-action pistol with a fixed barrel that utilized a Barnitzke system, which uses gas pressure from the fired cartridge and feeds it through a small port in the barrel in front of the chamber to slow down the rearward motion of the slide while firing. Additionally, it offered an 18-round double-stack magazine, polygonal rifling, reduced number of moving parts and no external safety … aside from a decocking lever.
The Steyr GB’s action is based on the Barnitzke System, where gas pressure from the fired cartridge moves through this small port in the barrel just ahead of the chamber to slow down the rearward motion of the slide.
The GB was first fielded by the Austrian military in 1972, and it seemed to be very popular with troops who shot it. Unfortunately, Steyr and the Austrian military couldn’t come to terms in regard to a sale, so the pistol wasn’t adopted. Rather than release the pistol for commercial sales, Steyr decided to put it on ice for almost a decade.
Interestingly, the GB was referred to as the Pistole 18 Schuss—or Pi 18—during development, referring to its 18-round magazine capacity. Upon its commercial release in the 1980s, this was changed to GB from the term gas bremse, meaning “gas brake.”
Before we get to the 1980s and the Steyr GB, we need to look at what happened with regard to the Pi 18 in the mid to late 1970s.
Enter the Rogak
In 1974, one of Steyr’s U.S. distributors, Les Rogak, received a design document on Steyr’s Pi 18. The exact story differs depending upon who you talk to about it. Some claim a disgruntled engineer at Steyr sent a design based on a very early pistol. Some claim that Steyr sent them as a press release sort of arrangement in case the pistol were to go into production and then made commercially available.
Regardless of how he got the schematics, Rogak apparently took it upon himself to set up a factory to produce the Pi 18 under the slightly simpler name of the L.E.S. P18. As an added (yet dubious) bonus, these pistols would be constructed of stainless steel.
The Steyr GB is one of the most idiot-proof firearms to take down and put back together. A minimum number of moving parts is the reason here.
Unfortunately, the project was doomed from the start. For one thing, use of the Barnitake System requires especially close fittings and tolerances. Apparently, this was applied very hit-and-miss to the Rogak … so much so that many of these pistols have reliability issues, and the extractor has been known to rip the heads off the cases because of this.
One popular firearms magazine at the time referred to the Rogak as the “Original Jammamatic.” Other aesthetic shortcuts, such as the use of Philips head screws to secure the pistol’s grips, were pointed out.
When Steyr caught wind of this, they issued a cease-and-desist order followed by a lawsuit. The association was damaging to the Steyr brand, and a U.S. Military trial was approaching the horizon for a new pistol for the U.S. Armed Forces.
By the time the case made it to court in 1981, L.E.S. had shuttered its factory, and the Rogak P18 was a thing of the past—but not before between 1,000 and 1,500 pistols were made between 1975 and 1980.
Now The Steyr GB
Reeling from the Rogak debacle, Steyr made a few minor changes to the Pi 18, including adding a crinkle-type finish, similar to that used on Sterling sub-machineguns, to the frame and a high-luster blue to the flats of the slide.
In spite of a few smudges in the bluing, the lettering on the slide still bears a white inlay, and the Steyr logo is set in red.
The pistol didn’t win the contract for the U.S. service pistol, that instead going to Beretta. It also failed to win any other European military handgun contracts. Most of those went to the even more radical “other Austrian handgun” from a then unknown Austrian shower curtain ring and bayonet manufacturer, Gaston Glock, who utilized a high-impact polymer frame that really did change the world of handguns.
A handful of international special forces and intelligence agencies bought small quantities of the Steyr GB, but nothing of any substantial quantity. Steyr discontinued the pistol in 1988 after manufacturing between 15,000 and 20,000 in total.
Shooting the Steyr GB
As a longtime fan and collector of everything Steyr, I happened upon a GB model in my local Cabela’s. It came with no box or manual, but it did include two 18-round magazines, and it was priced so low that even if I had no interest in Steyr’s firearms at all, it would’ve still been a steal.
An 18-round factory 9mm magazine was unheard of when the Steyr GB was developed in 1968; even upon its release 20 years later, it was still ahead of that curve by at least one round.
The reason for the low price of this pistol had a lot to do with it being confused with the L.E.S. P18. Old gun shop lore confused the two pistols after all the bad press the American knockoff had received. After all, who wants to buy an inaccurate and unreliable pistol?
We hit the range with a few boxes of Aguila 124-grain FMJ ammunition. Loading the 18-round magazines is mostly easy, but those last two rounds offer a bit of resistance. The trigger in single-action mode is about 2¾ pounds with a bit of take-up. Double-action is about 6 pounds.
Typical five-shot group size at 50 feet averages about 1.34 inches, with the smallest of these being 0.74 inch. Not counting custom 1911s, this was one of the more accurate semi-autos I’ve ever fired, ranking up there with the SIG P210 or the Heckler & Koch P7M8.
The Steyr GB may be an old design, but it’s not completely out of place with a Heretic Knives Sleight push dagger.
There were no failures to feed, fire, eject or extract of any kind. Between the fixed barrel, weight of an all-steel pistol and all black almost target-style sights, this is a pistol that can easily be shot all day long.
As with any pistol that has been out of production for more than 30 years—and wasn’t ever imported in great quantities—spare parts are extremely hard to come by. Even spare magazines will set you back close to $200 each, if not more.
There are very few holsters for this pistol unless you go the custom route. The Bianchi M12 military holster works well, but this is obviously not a good choice for concealed carry.
One of the problems with out-of-production firearms can be the lack of accessories 30 years later. However, the GB fits nicely in a Bianchi M12 field holster. Things that could’ve been …
Final Thoughts
The Steyr GB represents a well-executed pistol design on many fronts, particularly considering the time period during which it was designed. It’s probably too heavy by today’s standards, but its accuracy and reliability can’t be denied. Pistols like this are a true gem if you can find one at a good price.
It might be nice to see Steyr resurrect the design, but that’s probably a tall order for a company that takes very little input from their end users or the American market in general. They still manufacture magazines with a profile suitable for holding 13 or 14 rounds of ammo, although blocked at 10 rounds, in spite of that draconian law expiring almost two decades ago.
Still, a slightly upgraded version with true target sights, or at least an optic-mounting plate, could be something to dream about.
This pistol went from an oddity that filled a void in a collection of Steyrs to quickly becoming a favorite range companion. If you happen upon one at a fair price and it has a few magazines, it’s not one to pass up as a collector … or a shooter.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
More Classic Military Guns:
Why The Mauser C96 “Broomhandle” Still Looms Large
Looking for a little gun with a big bite? The new Bond Arms Cyclops chambered for .45-70 Gov’t might be just for you.
Bond Arms is well-known for its derringer-style handguns, but the newest model released by the company may be worth a look even if they’re not usually your cup of tea. That’s because this little single-shot pistol is chambered for .45-70 Gov’t.
First announced at SHOT Show 2023, there was plenty of buzz about the Bond Arms Cyclops amongst those in attendance simply because of how novel the concept is. The company already pushed the limits of firepower-to-gun ratio with its 2-shot .357 Magnum designs, but a .45-70 Gov’t derringer almost sounds like a joke. To accommodate all that power, the concession of the Cyclops is that it’s a single-shot firearm. Despite still being very small, it also may be a bit bigger than you’d normally expect of Bond Arms' guns. It has a barrel length of 4.25 inches, an overall length of 6.75 inches and a weight of 28 ounces.
Other features of the Bond Arms Cyclops include its extended B6 resin grips to provide a more pleasant shooting experience, its unique cyclops-themed markings and its single-action trigger with a 7-pound pull. While the Cyclops isn’t compatible with any existing Bond Arms pistol components like some of the company’s other designs are, it will be compatible with future big-bore barrel offerings. Bond Arms plans on releasing barrels for .44 Magnum, .454 Casull and .50 AE that should be compatible with the Cyclops .45-70 Gov’t frame.
The Bond Arms Cyclops is available now and has an MSRP of $699.
EAA has just announced the Girsan MC 14T, a new .380 ACP pistol import with a tip-up barrel design.
The European American Armory Corporation, or EAA, has just announced an exciting new Turkish pistol import. Called the Girsan MC 14T, it’s chambered for .380 ACP and looks to be inspired primarily by the Beretta Model 86. The defining feature that makes it reminiscent of the Model 86 specifically, and what differentiates it from other Beretta Cheetah Series clones, is the inclusion of a tip-up barrel.
While clearly influenced by the Beretta Model 86, the Girsan MC 14T is not a direct clone and has plenty of features that set it apart and arguably improve upon the original design. Firstly, while the Model 86 featured a single-stack 8-round magazine, the MC 14T instead has a double-stack 13-round mag similar to other .380 ACP Beretta Cheetah models. Other features such as its accessory rail, checkered composite grips and ambidextrous manual thumb safety help bring Girsan’s new pistol into the 21st century. The rest of the MC 14T should be pretty familiar to anyone who’s handled a Beretta Cheetah variant before, including its DA/SA trigger and fixed iron sights.
The tip-up barrel feature is primarily being marketed toward those who have difficulties operating the slide on traditional semi-auto handguns. Other companies have attempted to address this issue in the past with slides that were easier to manipulate, but for those who don’t want to mess with a slide at all, the MC 14T could be a very attractive option. To load a round into the chamber, all one has to do is press the lever on the right side of the frame down to release the barrel, pop a cartridge in, and snap the barrel closed.
The Girsan MC 14T will begin shipping in April, will have six color finish options and will have an MSRP of $498.
Looking to roll your own ammo on the cheap? Here are the best reloading kits you can buy to get started.
Don’t want to jinx anything, but it seems that components are slowly becoming available again. Ammunition is appearing on shelves—though I doubt shelves will ever be full again in my lifetime. And I’m seeing bullets and powder available for sale and for order and—believe it or not—I’ve seen some primers for sale. Yes, everything is priced at a premium, and yes, people are going to gobble up those components, but sooner or later supply will meet demand.
And, due to the fact that we’re in the midst of the greatest ammunition drought in living memory, I feel pretty confident there’ll be an influx of new reloaders in the near future. Whether that new reloader is you or whether you’re considering a purchase for the prospective reloader in your life, buying all the tools necessary to go from zero to reloader can be daunting.
I started with minimalistic gear, acquired piecemeal between my father and me, over the course of a year or so. We both shot .308 Winchesters at the time, and once we’d covered the bases, we began to cook up a deer hunting load. We had a Lee press, RCBS scale, Lyman dies, a nondescript plastic dial caliper, R.E. Wilson chamfer/deburring tool, just a hodgepodge of stuff, but it worked well.
And for those of you who are just getting into reloading, I’ll answer the oft-asked question: Yes, you can mix and match brands of gear. RCBS dies will work with a Hornady shellholder in a Redding press, and so on and so forth.
But setting out to outfit yourself from scratch can be confusing, especially when you overlook certain crucial pieces of gear. For this reason, several reloading gear companies offer complete reloading kits, giving the new reloader all he or she would need with the exception of the components themselves, dies and shellholders. I picked five popular reloading kits, ranging in street prices from $180 to $600, to illustrate some differences in content, quality and value.
The 5 Best Reloading Kits:
Lee Challenger Kit
Starting at the most affordable—the Lee Challenger Kit with a street price of $180—you get an aluminum O-frame press, the Lee Safety balance beam scale and the Lee Perfect Powder Measure, in addition to the powder funnel, priming tools, primer pocket cleaner, chamfer/deburring tool and case trimmer. Lee has earned the reputation of providing excellent value, and many of their designs are aimed at budget-minded customers. While some of their tools may lack the bells and whistles of other companies, I do know you can make good ammunition with Lee tools.
Included In Kit:
Lee Breech Lock Challenger Single Stage Press
1 Breech Lock Quick Change Die Bushing
Lee Auto Prime XR
Lee Auto Prime Shellholders (2,4 and 19)
Value Quick Trim Case Trimmer
Lee Cutter and Lock Stud
Lee Perfect Powder Measure
Lee Chamfer Tool
Lee Primer Pocket Cleaner
Lee Safety Powder Scale
Lee Powder funnel
2 Ounces Tube Lee Resizing Case Lube
Redding Big Boss II Pro Pak
Hailing from my home state of New York, Redding Reloading offers their Big Boss II Pro Pak reloading kit. Redding is known for its precision tools, as well as some very innovative designs. With a street price of $400, this reloading kit is a good value, though certain tools will need to be added afterward. You get the Big Boss II O-frame press—this is a beefy design, with a spent primer tube and steel linkage—as well as the Model No. 2 balance beam scale, powder trickler, case lube and pad, chamfer/deburring tool, Model 18 case prep kit (a screwdriver handle-type tool with removable screw-in attachments) and a copy of the Hodgdon Annual Reloading Manual, but there’s no case trimmer or powder thrower, so you’ll have to grab those tools on your own.
Still, for Redding tools, this is a great value. Having had the pleasure of using Redding’s tools for over a decade, they’re among my favorites. As far as value goes, you get what you pay for, and Redding’s tools are worth the price.
Included In Kit:
Big Boss II Reloading Press
Model 2 Powder and Bullet Scale
Powder Trickler
Pad Style Case Lube Kit
Deburring Tool
Model 18 Case Preparation Kit
Powder Funnel
Hodgdon Annual Reloading Manual
Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic Kit
Hornady’s Lock-N-Load Classic reloading kit comes with a price tag of $420 and gives the shooter their rock-solid O-frame press complete with the Lock-N-Load bushing system—allowing for quick die changes—Hornady’s compact digital scale, Lock-N-Load Powder Measure, three Lock-N-Load bushings, hand primer, powder trickler and funnel, chamfer/deburring tool and the Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading, OneShot aerosol case lube and a case block.
This kit doesn’t have a case trimmer either, so you’ll need to grab one of those elsewhere. I might say a balance beam scale is a better choice for the beginner—as gravity never wears out—but the recent digital scale designs have been so good that it might no longer matter.
Included In Kit:
Lock-N-Load Classic
Reloading Handbook
Lock-N-Load Powder Measure
Digital Scale
3 Lock-N-Load Die Bushings
Primer Catcher
Positive Priming System
Handheld Priming Tool
Universal Reloading Block
Chamfer & Deburr Tool
Powder Trickler
Powder Funnel
One Shot Case Lube
RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Kit
The RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Kit comes in at $500 and offers quite a bit to the new reloader. The Rock Chucker IV O-frame press heads the list, and the M500 balance beam scale will measure powder, cases, bullets and more, up to 500 grains. The Uniflow-III powder measure will dispense accurate, reliable and repeatable powder charges, and RCBS includes their sister company Speer’s Reloading Manual in the package. A hex key set is included, to properly adjust a number of different reloading tools, as well as a powder funnel, case block, powder funnel, chamfer/deburring tool, hand priming tool and accessory handle with a couple of case brushes for cleaning case necks.
Again, we’re missing a case trimmer—seems to be a common scheme— but this is certainly a kit that’ll last a lifetime. The Rock Chucker IV has a threaded bushing which can be removed, changing the threaded die hole from 7/8:14 thread (for common dies) to the huge 1¼:12 pitch, and you can buy a replacement bushing to fit the 1:14 thread for the larger die bodies needed for the big safari cartridges like the .500 Jeffery and .505 Gibbs.
Included In Kit:
Rock Chucker Supreme Press
.17-.60 Debur Tool
Two Accessory Handles with two case neck brushes
M500 Mechanical Scale
Uniflow-III Powder Measure
Hand Priming Tool
Universal Case Loading Block
Hex Key Set
Case Lube Kit
Powder Funnel
Speer Reloading Manual
Lyman Ultimate Reloading System
Lastly, with a street price of $600, the Lyman Ultimate Reloading System gives perhaps the most complete system of all, with all sorts of flexibility. Lyman includes their eight-turret Brass Smith turret press, Gen 6 digital powder dispenser and scale, Universal trimmer, the excellent EZEE-Prime hand priming tool, the Pro 1200 Turbo Tumbler for polishing your cases, a case prep multi-tool, inertia bullet puller (everyone needs an eraser for their mistakes), case lube, a plastic loading block and the excellent Lyman Reloading Manual. Hell, Lyman even throws a stainless steel dial caliper in the mix, for accurate measuring of both case and cartridge length.
Included In Kit:
Brass Smith Reloading press
Gen 6 Powder System
Universal Trimmer
Pro 1200 Turbo Tumbler
50th Edition Lyman Reloading Handbook
Universal Loading Block
Case Prep Multi Tool
Bench Wrench
E-ZEE Prime Hand Priming Tool
Quick Slick Case Lube
Magnum Inertia Bullet Puller
Stainless Steel Calipers
A Place To Start
So, there truly is a kit for all customers, and depending on the level of investment you want to make, you can buy a simple kit or a more complex kit. Invariably, you’ll end up changing, upgrading or simply adding different tools along the reloading journey, depending on the cartridges you intend to load for and the applications for which those cartridges will be used.
But, if you’re new to the entire world of reloading, any of these choices will certainly get you on your way. Let’s all hope the components become readily available again really soon so we can get back to the benches—both reloading and shooting benches, that is.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2022 CCW special issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Is .22 Hornet an obsolete cartridge? Or does it still have its sting?
The .22 Hornet is an older, somewhat languishing small game rifle cartridge that's slowly heading towards going out with a whimper. However, it has a certain niche that has allowed it to hang on, and for very good reason.
Originally developed as a varmint cartridge, it excels at that role as well as small-game shooting and some other sporting uses.
Its virtues include inherently impressive accuracy, almost nonexistent recoil and enough potency to take bigger game than you might expect. Despite these qualities, it's still not enough to vault the .22 Hornet to best-seller in today's crowded marketplace.
So, what should you know about .22 Hornet? Let's dive in…
From left to right: .22 Short, .22 Long Rifle, .22 Magnum and .22 Hornet. Photo: Wikipedia.
What Is The .22 Hornet, Anyway?
The roots of .22 Hornet lay in .22 Harwood Hornet, a black powder wildcat cartridge devised by a late 19th-century gun writer named Reuben Harwood. Harwood necked .25-20 down to .22 caliber, and that lineage—a rimmed case with tapered neck—is still very visible.
In the 1920s, Townsend Whelen and G.L. Wotkyns began experimenting with hot-rodding the .22 Winchester Centerfire at the Springfield Armory. Their experimental cartridge had outstanding velocity for a small powder load, barely any recoil to speak of and excellent accuracy potential.
Winchester liked the idea so much it created a new centerfire rifle case and started cataloging the cartridge in 1930 (and named it .22 Hornet to honor Harwood) with the first commercial rifles appearing in 1932.
Right away, it was beloved by varmint and small game hunters and target shooters, though it was noted right away to be nearly useless on larger game.
The US Army and Air Force took note, issuing a number of survival rifles (such as the M4, M6 and AR-5/M1) chambered in .22 Hornet and issued with 35-grain ball or 45-grain soft-points for hunting small game. The issued boxes of the day were thusly labeled to ensure compliance with the Hague Convention.
An old box of Winchester .22 Hornet soft-point rounds. Photo: Wikipedia.
Outside the US, it still sees some use in Australia and in Europe as a small game or target cartridge. In sporting use, it sees some action in metallic silhouette shooting, though not in overwhelming numbers.
.22 Hornet Ballistics: Practical Range And Trajectory
Conventionally, the best range for .22 Hornet is roughly 150 yards and in, but it could be taken out to 300 yards with the right load…and possibly a bit further with handloading.
Any .224-caliber projectile can be loaded, but 35- and 45-grain loads are the most common factory options. The typical factory velocity of a 35-grain .22 Hornet is close to 3,000 feet per second with around 730 foot-pounds of energy from a 24-inch barrel.
Here, for instance, is a trajectory table for Remington's Premier AccuTip 35-grain loading. All tables were made using ShootersCalculator with a 100-yard zero, a 1.5-inch sight height, a 10 mph 90-degree crosswind and zero corrections for atmosphere.
AccuTip's specifications (G1 of .109, velocity of 3,100 fps) are representative of most of the 35-grain loads. As you can see, it loses velocity quickly.
However, if you were to handload a Hornady 55-grain projectile (G1 BC of .243) to around 2,650 fps…the story changes.
That 55-grain handload would have no issues dispatching coyotes out to 300 yards and would even be serviceable for small-bodied whitetails or other smaller game animals at modest ranges, so long as one used a soft-point bullet rather than an FMJ.
So, the sad truth of .22 Hornet is that it suffers from a lack of optimization that frankly wouldn't take much to achieve…but it's also the case that there's almost no point. Why bother when .223 Remington rifles are so much cheaper and more available?
What Is The .22 Hornet Good For?
Based on most factory load data, .22 Hornet is theoretically usable for deer at short ranges (inside 100 yards) where it is legal.
As mentioned, you can handload and get better results (to the point where it's usable on small game at modest ranges), but .223 Remington is still going to be better and cheaper.
Its best use is as a small-game and varmint cartridge for squirrels (arboreal and terrestrial), raccoons, coyotes, prairie dogs, rabbits and other pests (or small, edible critters) almost anywhere except the open spaces of the western states.
.22 Hornet Wildcats: .22 K-Hornet And .22 Ackley Hornet?
A couple of wildcats using .22 Hornet as a parent case have emerged over the years, including .22 K-Hornet (developed by Lysle Kilbourn) and .22 Ackley Improved Hornet, both of which blow out the shoulder to hold more powder.
.22 K-Hornet and .22 Ackley Improved Hornet add up to (roughly) 200 fps of additional velocity, which isn't trivial, and does modestly extend the effective range of .22 Hornet. The conversion is simple, as all that's required is reaming the chamber, but the issue is ammunition.
Getting .22 Hornet factory ammunition is already difficult; .22 K-Hornet and .22 Ackley Improved Hornet are strictly for handloading, and factory brass is not the most common. Cases can, of course, be fire-formed, and these chamberings are known for having longer-lived brass than other wildcats.
Is The .22 Hornet Obsolete?
Frankly, its days are numbered. The niches it occupies are so small that there are hardly any new production guns chambered for it, and little ammunition made for it. It's primarily a cartridge still shot by those who already own .22 Hornet firearms, not something most people today are seeking out.
To get the absolute best of it, you need to handload…but, again, .223 Remington does everything it does, does it better, and for much less money.
It is the case that .223/5.56 does have more recoil; .22 Hornet produces less than 2 foot-pounds of recoil, but .223 usually produces around 4 foot-pounds in a rifle of the same weight. There aren't too many people who can't handle 4 foot-pounds of recoil, so how much does that really matter?
A now-discontinued Taurus Raging Hornet revolver chambered for .22 Hornet. Photo: Wikipedia.
What is of much greater concern than the recoil is the current availability of .22 Hornet arms and ammunition. New-production firearms chambered for it are practically non-existent, so you’ll most likely have to go to the used market to find the one you want. Retailers that do have some available appear to have a limited selection of models and very little stock. Of the firearms that were made for the cartridge, most are hunting-style or survival rifles, but a few revolvers have been chambered for it as well.
Ammunition availability is a similar story. At the time of writing, AmmoSeek has less than a page of results for .22 Hornet, and of those listings, there are only four load varieties between the various retailers. The cheapest is still over $1.50 per round.
While it’s fair to say that the availability of .22 Hornet ammo is lacking, it is still obtainable. Presuming that you already have a firearm chambered for it, what are the best loads to buy?
The 6 Best .22 Hornet Loads
Winchester Super-X 46-Grain JHP
Winchester Super-X gives you an (relatively) affordable varmint and predator round, but more importantly, it’s currently the most available factory load. Beggars can’t be choosers after all, and if you want to shoot .22 Hornet, this will be the easiest to find in stock.
Bullet Weight: 46 grains
Projectile Ttype: Jacketed hollow point
Muzzle Velocity: 2,690 fps
Muzzle Energy: 739 foot-pounds
G1 BC: Unpublished
MSRP: ~$90 per box of 50
Sellier & Bellot 45-Grain Soft-Point
When in stock, S&B's 45-grain soft-point load is one of the most affordable .22 Hornet loads available. S&B also offers a 45-grain ball load, but it's (oddly enough) more expensive. If you wanted inexpensive range ammo, this is about as good as it gets.
A quality high-velocity load for prairie dogs and other small critters that can hit hard enough to put them down out to 300 yards. It's also one of the most commonly available at the time of writing.
Bullet Weight: 35 grains
Projectile Type: Tipped boattail hollow point
Muzzle Velocity: 3,100 fps
Muzzle Energy: 747 foot-pounds
G1 BC: 0.109
MSRP: $30 to $50 per box of 25
Prvi Partizan 45-Grain Soft-Point
Another inexpensive do-it-all load, Prvi Partizan's 45-grain soft-point load is almost identical to S&B's, but it comes in boxes of 50 instead of 20.
Bullet Weight: 45 grains
Projectile Type: Jacketed soft-point
Muzzle Velocity: 2,427 fps
Muzzle Energy: 589 foot-pounds
G1 BC: Unpublished
MSRP: ~$40 per box of 50
Federal Premium Green Hollow Point 30-Grain Speer TNT
Featuring a projectile with a thin copper jacket around a compressed metal core, this is a high-velocity varmint load for jurisdictions (or if you're just conscientious about these things) where hunting ammo must be lead-free.
Bullet weight: 30 grains
Projectile type: Lead-free copper-jacketed hollow point
Muzzle velocity: 3,150 fps
Muzzle energy: 661 foot-pounds
G1 BC: 0.091
MSRP: ~$75 per box of 50
Nosler Custom 40-Grain Ballistic Tip
If you wanted a .22 Hornet load with longer legs, Nosler Custom's 40-grain BT load is the best candidate. However, it is expensive and hard to find, so it’s not the best choice for everyday shooting.
The Marlin Model 336 Classic lever-action rifle in .30-30 Winchester is available once again, only now made by Ruger.
Ever since Ruger acquired Marlin, the company has been releasing updated versions of old Marlin lever-action rifle models. Until now, the focus has been on the .45-70 Gov’t models, but .30-30 Winchester is now on the table once again thanks to the recent release of the Marlin Model 336 Classic.
The new Marlin Model 336 Classic features a steel alloy receiver, a 20.25-inch cold hammer-forged barrel and a six-round magazine tube. All metal parts are richly blued, and the forend and stock are made of checkered American black walnut. Just like the original Marlin model, the new Ruger-made version features a gold trigger as well.
Other noteworthy features of the Model 336 include its adjustable semi-buckhorn sights, its standard-size lever loop and its soft rubber recoil pad. The rifle also has a push-button, cross-bolt manual safety, a polished bolt for smooth cycling and swing swivel studs on the forend and stock.
Ruger President and CEO Chris Killoy said this about the new lever-action:
The legendary Model 336 helped to build Marlin Firearms into the iconic American brand that it is today…We have worked for many months on every detail to ensure that Ruger’s reintroduction of this iconic rifle lives up to its stellar reputation…Our focus continues to be on quality…We remain committed to making firearms that are rugged, reliable and can proudly be handed down for many generations. The Model 336 is no exception.
Availability is currently limited but the Ruger-made Marlin Model 336 Classic is shipping now. MSRP is $1,239.
When it comes to solving ballistic problems quickly, which is better, using holdover reticles or dialing your scope?
Long-range shooting has certainly grown in popularity over the past decade, and as shots get longer, the gear gets more specialized. Just a quarter-century ago, the 1,000-yard shot seemed all but impossible to the average shooter, with tales of snipers like Carlos Hathcock causing most guys to cock an eyebrow and listen, rather than talk. But as the first quarter of the 21st century draws to a close, 1,000 yards isn’t as faraway as it used to be.
While attending some shooting schools, I’ve seen folks who’ve never fired a rifle past 100 yards make the 1,000-yard shot routinely after two days of proper training. While the gear—rifle, optics and ammunition—is better than it has ever been, the technique needs to be on point. Ballistic calculators can provide precise information regarding trajectory, wind deflection, spin drift, aerodynamic jump and even the Coriolis effect, but you’ll need a means of applying that data.
The modern riflescope is more than just a magnified image with a single point of aim; it has become a highly sophisticated aiming device, capable of taking both trajectory and wind deflection into account.
Modern riflescopes offer a number of different yet effective aiming solutions. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
But not all riflescopes are created the same, and for those shooters who need to make some sort of adjustment for their bullet’s trajectory, there are few options available, including sophisticated holdover reticles, precise elevation and windage turrets and, quite often, a combination of both. All the information in the world won’t help you if you can’t put it into action, so let’s look at the differences between dialing for windage and elevation and using a reticle to make those adjustments.
Learning to Stretch
If your rifle’s barrel were held perfectly level—perpendicular to the effects of gravity—the projectile would immediately begin to drop down upon leaving the barrel, away from the line of sight. In order for our projectile to hit a distant target, the barrel must be elevated at the muzzle. I’ve had people swear until they were blue in the face that bullets rise once fired; this is not the case, unless the barrel is elevated.
The bullet will begin dropping, until at some certain distance it will come down across the line of sight again; that distance is referred to as “zero” and can change depending on your needs. Most popular zero distances are 100, 200 and 250 yards. Hunters will tend to use a longer zero—to minimize the need for holdover—while target shooters will tend to prefer a 100-yard zero, making scope adjustments for every shot past that distance.
The author’s Tikka T3X Lite, in 7mm-08 Remington, wears a Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10x40mm. Though it has a simple duplex reticle, it can easily be dialed for elevation adjustments—though a turret marked in yardage would be even better. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Whichever zero distance you choose, if you hunt or shoot outside of that distance, you’ll need some means of compensating for the drop of your bullet. Once upon a time, a shooter would have a homemade dope chart, based upon real-world experiences—and unless it was a target scenario in which the distance to the target was known, the distance was estimated. In the hunting world, there were reticles that had marks used much like the stadia hairs in a surveying transit, where a game animal would be bracketed between those hairs to help estimate distance.
In those pre-rangefinder days, I remember spending minutes deliberating—and sometimes arguing—with a guide or professional hunter about how far away the animal was to use the proper amount of holdover. Thank goodness for the availability of modern rangefinders.
If—due to those excellent rangefinders—we can accurately observe the distance to the target, a good ballistic chart will provide the information necessary to hit the target at that distance. However, correlating the prescribed amount of holdover to the adjustments on your riflescope can be a daunting task, unless you choose a system that makes the most sense for you. I can hear folks already, “Just get closer and don’t worry about it.” Well, there are times when getting inside of 250 yards on a Coues deer, bull elk or mountain goat simply isn’t feasible. In the hunting world, I surely want to get as close as possible, but switch over to the target world, and farther is fun.
Swarovski’s BRX-1 reticle gives 0.5-mil increments between the dots and lower crosshairs, as well as additional hash marks for making wind adjustments. It’s designed to be used at maximum magnification in a second-focal plane scope. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Long-Range Lingo
Looking at common ballistic charts, you’ll find trajectory adjustments marked in inches, MOA (minutes of angle) or in mils (milliradians). All are simply measuring systems to get that bullet where it needs to be.
Inches might be the easiest to comprehend, but that measurement is just the distance that the arc subtends, while the other two measurements are of the actual angle itself. Minutes of angle is exactly what you studied in geometry class, with a minute being an arc, 1/60th of a degree. There are 360 degrees in a circle, 60 minutes in a degree and 60 seconds in a minute.
Milliradians are 1/1000th of a radian, with a radian being an arc where the radius is equal to the arc length. There are 2xπ radians in a circle; if you divide one of those radians into 1,000 pieces, you’ve got a milliradian. Where 1 MOA subtends just over 1 inch at 100 yards (actually 1.047 inches), 1 milliradian subtends 3.6 inches. Many popular riflescopes will have adjustments in ¼ MOA or 0.1 mil, with the MOA scopes having the finer adjustment value.
Whichever way you measure it, with many of the most popular cartridges, there’ll be a need for holdover outside of 250 yards unless you’re really stretching the zero. Adjusting the elevation turret—or “dialing”—to compensate for trajectory and even windage is becoming increasingly popular, even among older hunters who traditionally don’t want anything to move.
A zero-stop indicator—the Leupold silver button—can quickly tell you whether your scope is set back to zero. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
There are scopes offering up to three revolutions on the elevation turret, depending on the size of the scope tube and the amount of elevation available in the scope. If I’m going to commit to dialing for elevation, I want a turret with big, bold markings. And I’m a big fan of the scopes with zero-stop turrets, so I can make absolutely sure I return to my 100-yard zero after each shot or shot opportunity.
For example, you might be all set up and in position for that 420-yard shot on a big muley buck … only to have him duck into cover. Pulling up stakes, you might bump another deer at 150 yards, only to shoot clear over his back because you’re still dialed to 420. This happens more often than folks would care to admit.
You’ll need a chart to correlate the trajectory of your chosen load to the amount of holdover, and the routine goes like this: range your target (steel plate, game animal, etc.) to establish the distance, raise the elevation turret the proper amount of MOA or mils for that distance, and squeeze the trigger. Practice is paramount when it comes to dialing, as there will be some sort of interruption of sight picture between identifying the target, ranging the distance, dialing the prescribed amount of holdover and then getting on the target.
Swarovski’s Z5 3.5-18x scope has a capped turret but offers an easy-to-use holdover reticle. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
A holdover reticle—one that has some sort of graduations for establishing the proper amount of holdover on the reticle—is another means of accurately correcting for trajectory. You’ll find all sorts of different reticles, from the simplest with 1-MOA or ½-mil graduations on the main hairs, to very complex designs with more precise graduations for both trajectory and for wind drift.
First-focal-plane scopes, which have a reticle that gets bigger or smaller according to changes in magnification, can work at any magnification range. Second-focal-plane scopes, in which the reticle appears to be the same size, will only give the proper values at a prescribed magnification range—and that’s usually at maximum. Using a reticle for holdover can be simple and accurate if you’re a hunter who rarely exceeds 400 or 500 yards, but it can get a bit complex when using it exclusively for true long-range target shooting.
Serious target scopes—like the Leupold Mark 5 shown here—can offer three full rotations on the elevation dial. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Making Up Your Mind
When comparing and contrasting dialing and holdover, it’s important to note that both have their place in today’s shooting environment. I can see why some shooters who rarely need to adjust for trajectory would want the simpler reticle and lack of exposed turrets. I can also see why a shooter would want the flexibility of a scope that can accurately be dialed for a precise amount of holdover, especially with a rifle that might be asked to cover both hunting and target scenarios. Or perhaps you might opt for both, having an exposed target turret with a zero stop and yet a graduated reticle for quick (and often smaller) changes.
At a recent long-range shoot in Barksdale, Texas—at FTW Ranch’s SAAM course—we were using a magnum cartridge with a very good B.C., topped with a Swarovski 3.5-28x scope. This scope had an exposed turret and the BRX-1 reticle in tube. At 1,800 yards, we definitely maxed out the 7 mils of turret elevation, and at full 28x magnification, we needed more than what the holdover reticle could give us. Cutting the magnification down to 14x, we doubled the values of what the reticle would subtend, and that gave us enough to tackle the steel plate at more than a mile.
One of the instructors at the SAAM Shooting School in Barksdale, Texas, helping to make scope adjustments for distant shots. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
On my hunting rifles, I generally prefer a simple reticle on a scope that has a top end of somewhere between 9x and 18x, depending on application. I did find that Swarovski’s top end of 28x was a bit too much for my liking, in spite of the excellent glass, and I’d have opted for something in the 15x-18x range, even for the long-range application.
I can understand if you want that level of magnification on a target rifle, but trying to use the holdover reticle at 28x, on a target (deer, elk or steel plate) can be a challenge. If you opt for a first-focal-plane reticle, which can offer a simple crosshair at lower magnification, yet a detailed holdover reticle at higher magnifications, I shall not argue. The values that reticle will subtend—once memorized by the shooter—will not change. If you’re serious about having the utmost flexibility in a reticle, for both trajectory and wind deflection, a first focal plane reticle might be the best choice for you.
Leupold’s Illuminated TMOA reticle offers 1-MOA hashmarks on the thinner part of the crosshairs, changing to 5-MOA on the thicker sections. It’s a simple but effective means of holdover, especially for hunters who tend to stay inside of 500 yards. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
On a long-range rifle, I’ve gravitated toward a scope that allows me to dial for longer shots—yet have some form of graduated crosshair for wind adjustments; I don’t like dialing for wind at all. In fact, I absolutely adore the Leupold CDS system. You provide those excellent folks in Oregon with the pertinent data for your chosen load—including bullet weight, ballistic coefficient and muzzle velocity—and they’ll prepare a dial turret marked in yardage. This eliminates the mathematical conversion from distance to arc, and allows the shooter to range the target, dial that number and concern his or herself with whatever wind issues are at hand.
For their CDS system, Leupold can make you a custom turret, specifically calibrated and marked for your particular load. The author has found this to work wonderfully. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
I’ve used this turret both at the bench and in the field, and it works wonderfully. Couple that dial with Leupold’s TMOA reticle (that gives me 1-MOA graduations on the horizontal and vertical hairs), and I’ve got a system I feel comfortable taking anywhere. This setup is in a Leupold VX-6HD 3-18x44mm, atop my Browning X-Bolt in 6.8 Western, and is wonderfully convenient for so many hunting situations.
The author’s 6.8 Western rifle has a custom Leupold turret, calibrated (perfectly) for the 175-grain Browning load. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
There are many good scopes on the market. Brand and model are as personal a choice as is the make and model of the rifle, but the concept of so many of them are the same. Try and find the system that makes the most sense for you and devote your energy to practicing with that rig; I’m sure you’ll quickly see the results on the target board.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the November 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
More On Long-Range Shooting:
Mils vs. MOA: Which Is The Best Long-Range Language?
Looking for an easy and legal way to increase your weapon’s fire rate? A binary trigger may be what you want. Here are some of the best.
Compared to a standard trigger, a binary trigger will (literally) give you more bang for your buck. How? Binary triggers have an extra step in the trigger mechanism that drops the hammer not only when the trigger is pulled, but also when it’s released. This means that every time your booger hook actuates a binary bang switch, twice as many bullets are sent down range.
Some consider them gimmicks, some take them seriously. Regardless, many people like them. If you were to become interested…what would be a good one to buy? Should you even bother?
Let's go over what binary triggers are, why they're perfectly legal (for now!), what redeeming features they might have, and finally four binary triggers that are actually worth buying.
A 9mm AK equipped with a Fostech AK binary trigger. Photo: Fostech.
What's A Binary Trigger?
The first binary triggers were developed, released and popularized by Franklin Armory, and the company still dominates the market today.
How a normal trigger mechanism works is that the hammer is caught by the disconnector and the sear lever, holding it in place until the trigger is pulled. You pull the trigger, the hammer drops, and a pew happens. For the next shot, the trigger must be released to reset the sear so the cycle can repeat.
A binary trigger adds a second sear into the equation, catching the hammer again after the first shot and holding it before the trigger is released. As you release the trigger, the second sear lever disengages, the hammer falls, and the cycle repeats.
This is the general principle behind how all binary triggers operate, but of course there are some differences in form between triggers designed for different weapons. Some kinds only allow for firing in binary mode once installed, but others come with a selector and can be toggled between binary and standard modes.
Are Binary Triggers Legal?
According to federal law, binary triggers are completely legal and are not restricted NFA items. That said, do not construe any of the following as legal advice (I am not a lawyer). Do look into your local laws before trying to buy one. As we’ll get to later, binary triggers are prohibited in some states.
The definition of a machine gun, per the NFA and the BATFE, is:
Any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically one shot without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.
Because binary triggers reset the hammer before the trigger is released, but do not drop the hammer until it is released, it distinguishes each function as a separate action. The key part is, because only one bullet is fired per function of the trigger, it does not meet the ATF’s definition of a machine gun.
As a result, the ATF currently considers most binary trigger designs as in compliance with federal regulation. Other triggers with different designs but similar results are not, however. For example, Rare Breed is currently embroiled in a legal battle with the ATF over its Forced Reset Trigger.
It bears mentioning that forced reset triggers are mechanically distinct from binary triggers, so it's not quite apples to apples. However, both devices increase a gun’s practical fire rate, and it goes to show that just like bump stocks, lightning links and similar devices, the ATF will come for them if it feels like it can get away with it.
Further, despite being federally legal, a number of states explicitly or implicitly prohibit binary triggers. Residents of CA, CT, DC, FL, HI, IA, MD, NJ, NY, RI, and WA may be prohibited from possessing or selling one, so take care to research your state’s laws carefully and thoroughly before buying one.
Are Binary Triggers Actually Worth Buying?
So, let's get it out of the way: is a binary trigger a mere range toy or is there any sort of practical advantage to having one?
On paper, a binary trigger lets you shoot fast double taps. If you can press the trigger very quickly, it might be able to give you a faster rate of fire than you would have with a standard trigger. Some may even argue that it gets you as close to full-auto as possible without having to get a tax stamp.
In the real world, it's mostly a gimmick for mag dumping into the berm, but there's nothing wrong with that if it makes you happy and you're honest about it.
Binary triggers aren't allowed in most shooting sports, they aren't allowed by some ranges and they won't help your splits nearly as much as good training, hard work and practice will.
Jerry Miculek emptying the magazine of an AR equipped with a Fostech binary trigger in about three seconds. Watch his full video here.
Jerry Miculek tried running a Fostech binary trigger against a standard one in a mag-dump race, and he was able to empty his magazine about two seconds faster in binary fire mode than with a standard trigger. An improvement, sure, but spread between 30 rounds, two seconds isn't much. Granted, most of us are not Jerry Miculek, but even if binary triggers provided a greater advantage, that is A. achievable by other means and B. rarely the difference between life and death.
It should also be noted these triggers are incredibly expensive. You aren't getting out the door for less than $300 in most instances.
Is there a situation where a binary trigger will be the difference between saving your life and getting killed in the streets? Not really, no. If you want to shoot a rifle more effectively in a defensive situation, optics are a better use of those dollars. Training from a good instructor is better still.
While certainly fun, these “upgrades” don't bring much to the party in terms of real-world benefits. Like bump stocks, binary triggers are range toys and should be treated as such. Again, there’s nothing wrong with that, just don’t mistake them for practical upgrades or as a substitute for training.
Before You Buy A Binary Trigger
If you’re considering buying a binary trigger, it’s important that you know that you will likely have to modify your rifle slightly. For AR-pattern rifles, you will need a full auto bolt carrier group (the good news is that most of them come with one anyway) and an H2 buffer. For AK-pattern rifles, you may need to upgrade your recoil spring.
If you want a binary trigger for cheap fun at the range, this is the one to get. The BFSIII 22-C1 is made for the Ruger 10-22, and it drops into most (though not necessarily all) Ruger 10-22 rifles.
The BFSIII 22-C1 is a three-position trigger, with the first position being safe, the second being semi-auto and the third position being for binary operation. If you're going to use it as a range toy, you might as well put it in what is probably the ultimate fun gun. The BFSIII is also available for the Ruger PC.
MSRP is $299.99, but street prices can be as low as $250 in some cases.
The Fostech Echo is a competing design against Franklin Armory’s AK binary trigger, achieving the same effect but with a slightly more complicated design. However, the company has also established itself as a manufacturer of high-quality parts, so you'll get what you pay for.
The Echo AK trigger drops into most Kalashnikov rifles from most manufacturers, and although it was designed for use with stamped receivers it can work with milled receiver AKs with some fitting and patient installation.
MSRP is $547.99, but street prices are often just below $500.
The Franklin Armory BFSIII AR-S1 is a modern, flat-face AR binary trigger for those who prefer a flat blade instead of the traditional curved trigger blade. Believe it or not, you can get Glock knuckle from shooting ARs too (dragging on the trigger guard) and flat triggers help prevent this.
The BFSIII AR-S1 comes with a three-position selector and drops into nearly any AR variant of any caliber without issue. The third position is binary mode, with the first two positions being the expected safe and semi.
MSRP is $429.99, but it can be found for less than $400.
The Fostech Echo Sport is an AR binary trigger that's a little more economical given its slightly more affordable MSRP. It's still more expensive than some Geissele triggers, but then again, most binary triggers are.
The Fostech Echo Sport has a simplified mechanism compared to the standard Echo, with a dual disconnector/sear assembly and included three-position safety selector assembly as well.
MSRP is $329.99, but street prices are usually under $300.
German Precision Optics has just announced the Spectra 6X 4.5-27x50i SFP, and the company is calling it the ultimate long-range hunting riflescope.
German Precision Optics, or GPO, has just announced the Spectra 6X 4.5-27x50i SFP. The company is calling it the ultimate long-range hunting riflescope and claims that it is at least on par with, if not better than, similar scopes that have a much higher price tag.
The Spectra 6X 4.5-27x50i SFP features a 50mm objective lens with a GPObright coating to ensure maximum light transmission. Built on an aluminum, nitrogen-filled 30mm tube, the scope features a 4.5-27X variable magnification range and an illuminated MOA reticle on the second focal plane. These features allow the scope to be used to accurately engage everything from the smallest North American game up to elk. The illuminated reticle also shuts itself off after three hours of inactivity and alerts users when battery life drops below 15 percent.
Michael Jensen, owner and CEO of GPO USA, said this about the new scope:
It has every bell and whistle the most discerning shooter and hunter desires in a second focal plane design. And while the quality and features meet or exceed that of more expensive brands, it’s offered at a very affordable price.
Other noteworthy features of the Spectra 6X 4.5-27x50i SFP include its reliable, zero-stop locking adjustment turrets that provide +/-30 MOA at 100 yards (.25-MOA click adjustments at 100-yards), its hydrophobic lens coatings and its removable magnification throw lever. Each Spectra 6X 4.5-27x50i SFP comes with a battery, a lens cloth and a see-through scope cover. MSRP is $1,249.99 and it will be available in the spring of this year.
For more on German Precision Optics, please visit gpo-usa.com.
Lighter bullets result in higher velocities, and here’s how speed can improve your long-range shooting game.
Growing up, they always told me things would get smaller and lighter as we—as in society and technology—moved forward. Today, “we” see it in a variety of industries, but the shooting community has been slow to respond. There lacks a balance, and the shooting world is subject to wild swings of the pendulum in an effort to find and incorporate those modern advancements in technology.
One of the first areas we ventured into was barrels. We started wrapping steel in carbon fiber to save weight. Then, we questioned the technology to the point where people invented reasons not to use carbon-fiber barrels.
The modern carbon-fiber barrel is outstanding in every way. Yes, if you overheat it, the mirage directly in front of your magnified optic will shift the point-of-impact, but we knew this. Mirage shields aren’t new; we used mirage bands on stainless steel barrels, so when target shooting with a carbon-fiber one, it only makes sense to include it.
Packs are another area where we’re slow to follow. We like big, heavy, military-style packs; the most popular include a gun bearer feature to haul the rifle together with your gear. The problem is, they’re copying military gear from the ’80s. Modern packs weigh in the ounces versus the most popular shooting packs, which come in around 8 pounds empty. It’s that heavy Cordura we covet that adds pounds to our equipment. If you shaved 4 pounds from the pack and added 2 pounds to the rifle, the improvements made are highly noticeable. You gain performance across the board.
See what I mean? As a shooting community, we evolve … but we’re also very set in our ways.
Unbalanced Bullets
All this brings to me to bullets and rifles: I believe we’re missing a balance in our choices. I see a lot of people who run immediately to too big and heavy. They want to shoot a .338 Lapua Magnum with 300-grain bullets, when the 250-grainers work so much better … and 6.5 Creedmoor will do the same job.
Now, we know rifle weight is stability, and bullet weight helps carry the round farther. That said, I still feel speed wins, and when you look at the balance between the two, regaining speed is the smarter side of the equation.
Recently, I had a real eye-opener when two cartridges for the AR platform were introduced. See, I’m a bolt-action, precision rifle guy. I do shoot a lot of large-frame ARs, which drive very differently from the smaller-frame AR-15s. Each one must be addressed from a slightly different place if you want to be successful downrange. This fact created an accuracy problem; people were doing great with an AR-15 and shooting poorly in an AR-10. It happens. I see it all the time. It’s a training issue, but training takes time to correct.
So, we want to address 600- to 800-yard targets without carrying a bigger gun or having to build a better marksman. How about a cartridge to bridge the gap?
Don’t’ be afraid to try the smaller offerings out there. You might find the ballistics to be very close with a lot less recoil.
Enter the Valkyrie … or now, the 6mm ARC. I could focus on the 6.5 Creedmoor, but I want to focus on these two offerings, because we see 6mm in precision rifle competition and the Valkyrie because of the “misfire” in the release.
The 6mm Craze
The 6mm Creed is a great round; it’s fast, light, accurate and has it all but barrel life. It’s Grandpa’s .243 Winchester, only with a long-range twist-rate and huge bullet library. Guys went from the .308 Win. in precision rifle competition to the 6.5 Creedmoor, and once they fell into the 6mm world, they never looked back.
What’s its greatest advantage? Speed. Because precision rifle competitions have a speed limit of 3,200 fps, the 6mm Creedmoor—at 3,175 fps—was perfect. Except it killed barrels, had recoil and didn’t really do anything over the 6.5 Creedmoor. Enter the 6mm Dasher with less recoil; it dropped the speed from 3,175 fps to 2,850 fps. It has all the performance, less recoil and a bit more barrel life. The Dasher led to host of other 6mm cartridges, finally settling with the 6 GT.
Today, many 6mm rounds hover between 2,850 and 2,950 fps in muzzle velocity. It’s a nice balance of weight and speed. The competition crowd usually stays over 100 grains in bullet weight, topping out around 115 grains. When you combine these values, the drop and drift are outstanding. My personal load, with a 108-grain factory ammo, is 6.8 mils to 1,000 yards, which is great.
A precision rifle student using the lightweight Valkyrie bolt-action rifle to engage targets to 1,200 yards with much success.
Lighter bullets offer up less recoil, and less recoil translates into better accuracy for the shooter. The marksmanship advantages come into play through recoil management. Recoil management tells the bullet where the barrel is upon release. All 6mm bullets, being light and fast, will exit the barrel quickly and with less disruption to the shooter. By adding this bullet to a small-frame AR-15, the weight and speed equations balance very nicely.
What am I really working toward by going lighter and what system is being affected by the increase in speed from reducing the bullet’s weight?
Time
The time it takes for the bullet to leave the barrel is less, so shooter actions behind the bolt are minimized. The time it takes for the bullet to reach the target is reduced, which means less drop. It also means less wind interruption. Time of flight is a major factor.
Sure, I can take a big, heavy bullet and float it like a softball in the air and absolutely hit the target repeatedly. But I’m increasing my chances of a miss from an errant wind gust—not to mention the higher the bullet goes, the more the wind increases and becomes less predictable.
The .22-Caliber Option
I have a confession to make: I love the .224 Valkyrie, but I strongly believe it “misfired” upon release. I feel like my grandchildren might never know the Valkyrie, because it might not survive. If it does, it’ll be due to sheer willpower. The bright side? The .224 Valk has reintroduced .22-caliber centerfires as a viable, long-range cartridge.
The JP SR chambered in . 224 Valk is a proven winner. This was the initial thinking with these smaller long-range cartridges to use the semi-auto platform.
When the Valkyrie first hit the market, I got a JP SR15. Exactly one week after Hornady released 88-grain ammo for it, I shot a Guardian match and landed in the Top 15. I loved it; in my mind, it performed as advertised. Sure, spotting impacts beyond 800 yards was tough, but overall, I thought it was perfect for an entry-level precision-rifle cartridge.
These small-frame ARs with long-range cartridges had revolutionized the game. I want to own 600 to 800 yards, and if I can do it in a smaller caliber, I’m all for it. But, at those distances, consistency can be a struggle with the light factory loads. The 90-grain stuff is hit or miss in most semi-auto rifles and, while the 88-grain Hornady Ammo is working, that can be hard to find. At 400 yards, the .224 Valkyrie is a laser beam. Consistent performance to 600 yards is expected but, at 800, things can start to fall apart. The balance of weight and speed was just slightly off.
How do I balance this equation and figure out the sweet spot? A .224 Valkyrie bolt gun.
I went with a Zermatt Bighorn Origin action, one of the least expensive custom actions on the market. The Bighorn Origin has a replaceable bolt head, so it’s easy to pair it with the 6.8 bolt face.
Next is my secret weapon: a left-hand gain-twist Bartlein Barrel. Gain-twist barrels don’t care about bullet weight, the recoil pulse is better, and the speeds and pressures are exactly where they need to be. And to clarify a myth—the bullets aren’t running over the lands and grooves multiple times. It’s not putting any extra scoring the bullet.
The Bartlein gain-twist barrel let me shoot the 90-grain load from Federal at speed and to distance more accurately and effectively than through a gas gun. A box of 90-grain Federal was running 2,750 fps with single-digit SD numbers.
Here’s the end of a Bartlein gain twist barrel. This 6mm barrel goes from 7.75 to 7.0.
This isn’t the case of the gas gun being less effective due to movement; it seemed that the Valkyrie liked the extra speed. We know it wasn’t the 1:7 twist rate of the semi-autos that caused many of the issues: It’s the speed needed to get the performance. This same principle applies the 6mm ARC. The 6mm is a bit easier to load, but it still wants speed. If a setup is running 200- to 400-fps slower than performance would like, you can’t expect the same results.
The bolt-action rifles in. 224 Valkyrie were performing. In fact, the instructors at CR2 Shooting Solutions followed my lead and used a bolt-action version as a student rifle. With this setup, I’ve seen second-round hits in 12-mph winds at 1,200 yards, and impacts out to 1 mile.
All this points to how effective the right .22-caliber can be at long distances: There’s now a .22 Creedmoor and a .22 GT, which is very similar to a 6.5×47 necked-down .22 caliber, but with a slightly different case. And remember, the smaller bullets like speed.
Shooting the Valkyrie at Cameo in Colorado, this rifle is light and effective. Weighs less than 12 pounds and, up at elevation, is capable of hits beyond 1,000 yards.
Weigh Your Options
Don’t overlook the smaller calibers and smaller bullets when trying to shoot long distance. And, when paired with ballistic software, shooters can read results quickly and move to a more effective load to increase performance.
Balancing bullet weight and speed might mean going lighter. Don’t be afraid to try it.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
More On Long-Range Shooting
Mils vs. MOA: Which Is The Best Long-Range Language?
Aftermarket handgun grips can help improve your shooting, and LOK Grips are some of the best available.
Within the past decade, there’s been a significant trend toward both modularity and ergonomics—not just in relation to rifles, but all the way down to pocket pistols. The ability of the individual to quickly fit a gun to their hand—in the comfort of their home—is a relatively new field; until recently, it was the territory of custom houses and gunsmiths.
The science of grip making is on the upswing, and every day there are new materials being tested and new means of manufacture.
A Grip On History
Historically, there were only a few common types of grip materials. The most common of these was wood, the second being hard rubber. Of course, throughout the years, there were always grips made out of materials like ivory, bone and various early plastics, but for the most part, walnut was the go-to material. Wood grips are still, of course, very valid today, and it could be argued that they’re still the most attractive type of grip. They are, however, not exceptionally durable and are usually the first thing to break given enough time and wear.
The interesting thing about pistols is that, for much of history, there wasn’t a particular emphasis placed on how people interfaced with them. In previous issues of Gun Digest, I’ve talked about the fact that, despite the insistence of some individuals and supposed common knowledge, most pistols weren’t designed with the human hand in mind. Many guns, even ones such as the famous single-action army revolver, weren’t inherently designed to have the properties that were later assigned to them.
I’ll bet you’ve never seen a set of machined copper grips. LOK can make these from a solid piece of copper stock. Yes, it’s heavy, and yes, it’ll make your gun stand out.
You’ve likely heard the whole “it rolls under recoil,” but this isn’t something that it was designed for as much as something it did spontaneously with powerful cartridges. Historically speaking, that grip shape is an evolution of Colt’s designs across decades—in a sense, it’s a highly refined appendix. It wasn’t until much later when the Bisley-style grip came out that significant emphasis was placed on how the gun fit in the hand.
Most of the designs that existed up until quite recently focused on the firing mechanism of the gun itself. This is why you see such a random disparity in grip shapes and the placement of those grips across the past 150 years. There have, of course, been very successful designs, such as the C96 “Broomhandle,” but you can’t really call that design a complete ergonomic masterpiece.
Really, what you see with these designs is an intentionally created feeding and firing mechanism that then has to be adapted to work in practicality … meaning that a person has to hold onto it and fire it. Sometimes, it appears that the designers simply added whatever grip they could onto their mechanism as opposed to designing a gun from the ground up around the hand.
LOK keeps a library of guns on-hand so they can ensure fit is as precise as possible.
Popular designs, such as the 1911, have always lent themselves to a bit more customization. However, because the frame is a relatively static set of dimensions, some people have a hard time with the size front-to-back, as opposed to just its width. These fixed dimensions essentially preclude a large amount of the population from being able to comfortably use this everyday firearm. I’ve heard it many times: “I shoot a 1911 well because I have large hands.”
Likewise, many service members I’ve known over the years have expressed disdain for the Beretta M9 due to its relatively large grip area. As women have become a major share of the gun market, we’ve seen a wide-reaching set of characteristic changes corresponding to the uptick in them carrying concealed, and their increased presence at the range and in competitions.
Brass parts on polymer guns? You bet. These Canik and Walther pistols benefit from added lower weight and certainly look as cool as can be.
I’ve been paying close attention to this subset for more than 15 years, and I’ve noticed that not only are modular options increasing, but they’re also becoming much more common in far smaller guns. As a male-dominated industry for almost its entire existence, it cannot be coincidence that this change has come at the time when women are carrying guns in greater numbers than ever. In short, there are more hands than ever on more guns than ever, and those hands aren’t fond of one-size-fits-all solutions.
The advent of the “chassis pistol” has had a significant impact on handgun ergonomics. Sig Sauer has led the way on this type of gun; it could be described as a serialized internal module that can accept un-serialized grip frames. Without this, we wouldn’t be seeing what we have today. Not only can you change the grip size, but you can also change the entire shape of the lower half of the gun. You can also do it inexpensively and immediately. Guns like the P320 and P365 can be instantly modified with a few tools and no gunsmithing experience. It’s a drop-in proposition to change out the entire group module.
Materials might seem similar, but they’re apples and oranges. The black G10 panels on the Mischief Machine P365 grip module are a totally different material than the black canvas laminate on the Winkler Combat Axe. Despite some of these materials being referred to by the same names quite often, they’re far apart in terms of internal structure and other properties.
I recall when Sig released the metal AXG module. This design didn’t just have a metal construction, it had interchangeable parts on the module itself. This meant that not only could you swap it out instantly, but you could also swap out the parts on it to change the texture and thickness. This wasn’t just an attempt to make a crossover between the old P226 and P229 lines; it changed the game. The P320 is the most user-friendly pistol ever made, and lots of companies capitalize on that, surprisingly with Sig’s up-front support.
Kicking It Old School
Companies like Hogue and Pachmayr are the category mainstays of production gun grips. As polymers and rubbers became more feasible, the late 1970s and into the 1980s saw a widespread adoption of these materials. The first gun to benefit from rubber grips were models that had a large degree of recoil … especially the popular double-action revolvers of the day chambered in .44 Magnum, .454 Casull and .41 Magnum. These groups featured a hard plastic core that rubber was molded over. Because the rubber had a degree of cushion, it could absorb some of the sharpness of recoil.
While various types of early plastics have been used for grips for decades, the 1980s saw this material reach a level of maturity and take over wood on virtually all military handguns. While not the first American military weapon to feature synthetic furniture, the Beretta M9 was the first pistol in widespread military use stateside without wood grips.
The 1980s would also see the explosion in popularity of guns that had one-piece frames, such as Glock and HK. Guns like the G17 and USP set the stage for virtually all pistols released from then on, and it’s only today that we’re seeing a return to metal frames.
Companies like Hogue have introduced many modern materials into their lineup, but they’re still one of the prominent makers of rubber-coated aftermarket grips. I’ve never cared for the cosmetics of rubber grips, though I do admit that whenever I’ve fired a big-bore revolver, I’m reminded that looks aren’t everything. There’s something to be said about the end-use of a gun, and while I probably wouldn’t make a point to show it off the same way I would fancy hardwood, I’d very much prefer a set of Hogue rubber grips on a field revolver.
LOK Grips And The New Frontier of Grip-Making
Started as a small, part-time shop making 1911 grips, LOK Grips has since grown into one of the industry’s premier grip makers and now boasts a sprawling production floor running two shifts to feed more than 100 dealers worldwide. They work closely with companies such as Sig Sauer, Kimber, Walther and more, as well as supporting grip production for smaller companies like Live Free Armory and Mischief Machine. They make grips for a massive number of guns and individual models including various IWI, Beretta, CZ, Laugo Arms and Taurus pistols, as well as mainstays like the 1911.
Anodized aluminum grips start life as bar stock, and after removing some chips, they become a comfortable and functional addition to your comp gun.
What separates LOK Grips from many others is that they employ a full design team, as well as a full inventory of the actual firearms they make grips for. Because of this, they’re able to quickly address the market and shooter demand, nearly in real time. The marketing and design team at LOK is constantly in touch with hundreds of competition shooters, industry professionals and influencers. It’s an ingenious strategy, and one that has played out well for them given that their products are in use by some of the best shooters in the world.
A pre-packaging area at LOK’s factory gives a little taste as to how much variety they can produce.
Because of how modular different types of guns are nowadays, the engineers at LOK are able to design various sizes of not just grip panels, but specific individual parts on the modular setups, meaning that you can custom order different shapes and swells that will allow your pistol of choice to conform closely to your hand. If you’re shooting competition, having a grip matched to your hand is of utmost importance, as you need to know exactly where it’s pointing without having to fight its rotation or torque under recoil.
G10 is the primary material used by LOK. Contrary to popular belief, this material isn’t plastic; rather, it’s an extremely strong form of layered fiberglass. It’s much stronger than simple polymer or Micarta, which itself is a tightly packed set of layers comprised of epoxy and cloth fabric. In regard to durability, G10 is far superior to wood or any of the other listed materials. It doesn’t swell or take on moisture, nor does it become tacky or easily rip or crack like rubber. Guns equipped with G10 grips will maintain their texture and feel, even in rain and mud. Because they’re not painted, the G10 colors last much longer and will not wear like wood or scuff like plastic.
G10 comes into the factory in large sheets.
In addition to making grips from the excellent G10 material, LOK also makes some very interesting and advanced metal grips. Of particular interest are their grips made of machined brass. A rather unique product, LOK introduced these in 2020. As a testament to their ability to quickly react to changes in the market when the USPSA guidelines changed the upper weight limit to 59 ounces for competition, LOK ordered brass that day and had prototypes ready almost immediately.
The extra weight of these metal grips has been a game changer for competitors, and the company has begun making brass grip parts for a large number of guns. In theory, if you were trying to stay within the weight limit, you could combine the brass elements with LOK’s aluminum parts to perfectly balance the gun and fit the grip to your hand. The possibilities are endless.
LOK Grips makes some unique stuff, including brass grips with G10 inlays.
Adding to their portfolio is their hybridized grips that feature metal construction with G10 inlay, as well as a custom shop that allows you to design your own grips that can include anything from logos, pop-culture icons and text. The sky and your imagination are the limit on what you can do.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
In the face of HB 1240, Washington’s proposed assault weapons ban, some retailers like Stag Arms have stepped up to prioritize shipping orders to the state.
The state of Washington unfortunately appears to be on the brink of a new assault weapons ban being passed into law. Called HB 1240, it’s slated to ban over 60 firearms by name as well as “scary assault weapon” features such as telescoping stocks, threaded barrels, muzzle breaks and pistol grips.
While this is an unfortunate development for the rights of Washington residents, they still thankfully have a chance to stock up before the law takes effect, and the effort is being supported by several pro-2A companies. These companies, such as Stag Arms, are providing a great service by expediting the processing and shipping of orders to the state of Washington. If you live there and are worried about the availability of these soon-to-be banned items, now is the time to order from one of these retailers to ensure that you have what you need or want. The following companies are doing everything they can to ensure that you receive them before the legal cutoff date.
Pro-2A Retailers Expediting Orders Heading To Washington:
Wojtek Weaponry (plus get 10% off with code “ftgfyg” on orders over $65)
Washington residents who want to help preserve their Second Amendment rights by voicing their opposition to this proposed law can do so by contacting The Washington State Legislature Office at 1.800.562.6000 or [email protected].
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.