Benelli recently announced the Lupo KAOS line, a limited-edition version of the Lupo rifle series.
The Lupo was Benelli’s first bolt-action rifle, but the gun has already earned itself a solid reputation since it was released three years ago. The Lupo KAOS series is the latest addition to the line, and while they don’t have any new features, they do bring some nice aesthetic changes and the chance to win some long-range goodies along the way.
The primary draw of the new Lupo KAOS line is that each individual rifle is unique. The Cerakote finish comes in several unique color combinations, and the finish is hand-distressed at the factory to ensure that each rifle is truly one of a kind. When it comes to the actual features of the Lupo KAOS line, they’re identical to standard Lupo rifles. Unlike the standard version, however, the Lupo KAOS will only be chambered for 6.5 Creedmoor. Some of the standard but noteworthy features include a 24-inch Crio-treated and free-floated barrel with a 5/8×24 threaded muzzle, an adjustable trigger and an adjustable stock featuring the Benelli Progressive Comfort System for reducing recoil. MSRP for the Lupo KAOS is $1,999.
This limited-edition rifle series (it only lasts until August 1st) has another angle to it in the form of two contests. One is a photo contest, and of the individuals who submit a photo of themselves alongside a Lupo KAOS, one will be selected to attend the Outdoor Solutions Long-Range Shooting School. The other contest is for purchasers of Lupo KAOS rifles, as serial numbers can be entered on the company’s website to check whether a gun is a winner. The owners of 10 lucky rifles will each win a Steiner Predator 8 scope, and one of those winners will also be selected to attend the Outdoor Solutions Long-Range Shooting School.
For more information on the rifle or more details about the contests, please visit benelliusa.com.
The prestige of premium projectiles from lesser-known companies like Lehigh Defense and Badlands Precision.
It was raining that early December afternoon—not enough to warrant staying indoors, but enough to make things uncomfortable. Deer sign was minimal in the Hudson Valley, to say the least, as the EHD breakout of the previous few years had taken a toll. In fact, in my little secret spots where I would have guaranteed the sighting of at least a doe or two, there was nothing. Still, I had a tag in pocket … and I wasn’t giving up.
At 4:15 pm he broke cover, stepping into the old orchard, apparently smelling the evidence of a doe I hadn’t seen. My thumb disengaged the safety, and as soon as the crosshair was tucked in behind the buck’s shoulder, I broke the trigger. The 6.8 Western barked, and a 140-grain Badlands Precision bullet had me notching my tag—with an irremovable smile on my face.
If you’re looking for a unique shooting experience, a product from some lesser-known companies like Hawk Bullets, Badlands Precision or Lehigh Defense might tickle your fancy. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
I have an undeniable infatuation with projectiles, to the point of obsession. Long ago, I came to the realization that the bullet (and only the bullet) touches the game animal, target or steel plate. The choice of bullet—and the ability to modify the performance of that bullet—is what drew me to reloading, and experimentation with different projectiles has garnered me with a ton of experience over the years.
While I use, enjoy and love classic projectiles, such as Federal’s Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Nosler Partition, Sierra GameKing, Hornady Interlock and Remington Core-Lokt, I absolutely love experimenting with products from smaller companies.
Peregrine Bullets
Hailing from South Africa, Peregrine Bullets makes a series of lead-free copper monometal projectiles that work perfectly on all game animals. The VRG-2 PlainsMaster and VRG-3 BushMaster softpoints are a unique concept, putting a brass expander plunger over a hollow cavity, relying on the air pocket underneath the meplat.
South Africa’s Peregrine bullets are a monometal design with a brass cap over an air cavity. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Air is difficult to compress, so upon impact, the brass tip is driven rearward, compressing the air and driving the sidewalls out in a radial fashion. The PlainsMaster is a spitzer boat-tail design, while the BushMaster has a flat meplat, yet retains the boat-tail. I’ve used a good number of these on game animals ranging from whitetail deer to Cape buffalo and have found them to be one of the finest designs available. They offer the correlative solid brass and solid copper non-expanding bullets for the thick-skinned dangerous game, as well as a line of match target bullets: the RangeMaster.
An expanded 400-grain .411-inch-diameter Peregrine Bushmaster recovered from a Mozambican Cape buffalo, note the radial expansion and the separated brass plunger. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Peregrine bullets are made on CNC Swiss lathes, to diameter tolerances of 0.0002 inch and will hold weight tolerances on 0.2 grain. Retained weight is usually in the mid 90 percent range—as you’ll lose the brass insert—and expansion is most often twice the caliber. These bullets are the brainchild of Adriaan Rall and the late Louis Nel, and are available in calibers from .223 inch to the big .500s. I’ve used the PlainsMaster in the 6.5-284 Norma with great results, and the BushMaster in .416 Rigby, .450-400 3-inch NE and .470 NE, having perfect field performance. (PeregrineMonolithics.com)
A trio of recovered 500-grain Peregrine Bushmasters from the author’s Heym .470 NE. Expansion was good, and the slugs were found against the offside skin. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Badlands Precision
George Fournier’s Badlands Precision bullets company calls South Dakota home, and he has some great monometal designs. A sleek ogive, an aluminum tip with near-seamless transition to the copper body, and a pronounced boat-tail all add up to a bullet that has the highest ballistic coefficient (BC) values among the lead-free projectiles.
My Browning X-Bolt in 6.8 Western mated up perfectly with their 140-grain Super Bulldozer-2, with a G1 BC of .650 and measuring 1.56 inches long, and the 1:7½ twist rate stabilized the long bullet without issue. Three of those Super Bulldozer-2s will cluster into a ½-MOA group, moving at 3,150 fps, and they’re perfect for deer and similar-sized game animals.
Badlands Precision Bulldozer-2 bullets are a very accurate monometal; shown here are the 7mm 140-grain and the .30-caliber 195-grain. The author had good results in the 7mm PRC and .300 H&H Magnum, respectively. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
I loaded up some of George’s Bulldozer-2 (not the “Super” variant) in the 7mm PRC and .300 H&H Magnum at 140 grains and 195 grains, respectively, and was more than pleased with the results on paper, with the 7mm PRC printing 5/8-inch groups at 100 yards, and the .300 Holland running right around ¾-inch at the same range. The 7mm bullet has a G1 BC of .560, and the .30-caliber a G1 BC of .675, so either will make a sound choice for hunting at sane ranges.
I got Fournier on the phone to ask him a couple questions about his hunting bullets, and he had this to offer:
PM:George, in a market that has seen all sorts of great advances in bullet designs, and in which the major manufacturers are devoting serious time to development, what sets Badlands Precision apart?
GF:What sets Badlands bullets apart from major manufacturers is their lower drag/weight, which makes them hit harder farther, the consistency of expansion and their ability to penetrate very deeply, allowing for extreme quartering angles of impact. In several instances, we’ve seen complete pass-through shots through in animals as big as elk and moose, causing “dead right there” kills. They don’t fall apart after impact like many lead core bullets do and, for their weight, have significantly lower drag than other copper or lead bullets.
PM: Do you have a recommended velocity impact range for your bullets? How slow can they go and still reliably expand?
GF: Our tests show 1,680 fps for the BD2 line. The SBD2s have a longer and somewhat thinner ogive, and will expand in the 1,650-fps range. To keep it simple, we just say 1,700 fps. That, along with the high BC for weight, allows most of these bullets to be effective at about 900 to 1,200 yards when shot at a muzzle velocity of 3,000 fps, depending on altitude. That effective range is well beyond other copper bullets.
I’d take these bullets on any hunt within my hunting range. The weight tolerances were within 0.1 grains for the lot, and they didn’t seem particularly sensitive to seating depth. All three of my rifles were very happy to send these into tight groups.
The Bulldozer-2 and Super Bulldozer-2 line include bullets in .224-inch caliber, up to and including .375-inch caliber. In addition to the Bulldozer-2 and Super Bulldozer-2, Badlands offers the ICBM-2 target bullet, in heavy-for-caliber configuration with very high BC values for the long-range target crowd. (BadlandsPrecision.com)
The author used the 140-grain Badlands Precision Super Bulldozer-2 in .277-inch-diameter in his 6.8 Western. This bullet was recovered from a whitetail buck, with almost 3 feet of penetration. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Lehigh Defense
This Arkansas company is part of Bill Wilson’s excellent lineup of shooting-related manufacturers, and much like his firearms, their bullets do not disappoint. There are a number of choices, all-lead-free, including match/target solids and wide, flat-nose solids for penetrating thick hide and tough bone—but there are a pair of very interesting choices that might appeal to the curious.
The Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos rifle bullets are a hollow-point boat-tail monometal design, with a deep hollow point and numerous grooves cut into the shank, with one especially deep groove just before the transition from shank to ogive. The design of the Controlled Chaos is such that if the bullet strikes a fluid-rich medium (flesh), the hollow point will fracture into multiple petals that’ll radiate outward from the point of impact, while the base will continue on for straight-line penetration. Lehigh Defense states that the Controlled Chaos bullet won’t expand or fragment if it hits a hard barrier, such as drywall, but only in a fluid environment.
Some rifle projectiles from Lehigh Defense. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
I loaded the 152-grain .308-inch bullet in my Ruger M77 .308 Winchester, and the 130-grain .264-inch bullet in my 6.5 Creedmoor, and I had little difficulty getting either to give MOA accuracy.
Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense bullets feature a unique meplat, reminiscent of a blunt Phillips head bit. Again, we’re looking at a lead-free copper monolithic bullet, but it’s the performance at the nose that separates this design from the common hollow-point. Lehigh Defense refers to this design as a “Fluid Transfer Monolithic,” as the fluted nose delivers a unique type of performance in the terminal phase. Perhaps the folks at Lehigh Defense can best describe the performance:
The nose design is the key. The Fluid Transfer’s radial flutes force the hydraulic energy inward, and then as the energy is restricted, it accelerates outward—creating high-pressure spikes severely damaging surrounding tissue. This very rapid increase in fluid flow creates cavitation and massive tissue damage away from the projectile, equivalent to those of the best hollow-points on the market. The result of the Xtreme Defense is a permanent wound cavity that is two to four times greater than what a flat or round-nose bullet generates, and often larger than traditional or solid copper expanding bullets. What you get is a self-defense bullet that will shoot through barriers without deformation or trajectory change, and creates a larger permanent wound cavity, coupled with the desired 18 inches of penetration. This very rapid increase in fluid flow oftentimes creates cavitation and massive tissue damage at distances away from the projectile equivalent to the largest of hollow-points on the market.
Lehigh Defense's Xtreme Defense pistol bullets are of lighter weight, being of all copper construction, and feature a hollow base and unique meplat reminiscent of a Phillip’s head screwdriver. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
I loaded the 135-grain .451-inch-diameter Xtreme Defense bullets for my Sig Sauer STX 1911, seating them over a charge of 8.2 grains of Unique powder, and observed 1,085 fps with great groups and no feeding issues. The Xtreme Defense bullets are available in varying bullet weights (generally light-for-caliber) in .311-, .312-, .355-, .357-, .400-, .410-, .429-, .451-, .452-, .458- and .500-inch diameters, offering projectiles for the vast majority of common autoloading and revolver cartridges. (LehighDefense.com)
McGuire Ballistics
Hailing from California—where the lead-free movement has the strongest roots—McGuire Ballistics has strived to take the copper projectile to a new level. Their Copper Rose projectiles are highly uniform in both weight and length, and they have the potential to be an all-around choice for the hunter, regardless of which state or province you live or hunt in.
There are two variants of the McGuire projectiles: Magazine Feed and Single Feed. The former has a tougher meplat and can handle the repeated recoil impact that cartridges in a magazine are often subject to, and the latter has a much softer tip, so it’ll need to be fed singly. The exterior dimensions of the two models—if of the same caliber and weight—are identical, and I found that they print to the same point-of-impact. McGuire gives an approximate BC—which is wise, as it can and will change with velocity—for each of their projectiles, which are all of the spitzer boat-tail design.
McGuire Ballistics offers their monometal Copper Rose projectiles in two (visually identical) configurations: magazine feed and single feed, with the magazine feed having a tougher meplat. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
McGuire offers their bullets in the most common, all-around calibers: 125-grain 6.5mm, 128-grain .277 inch, 143- and 160-grain 7mm, and 168- and 178-grain in .308-inch diameter. This should cover the majority of your hunting needs, and the construction and conformation of the Copper Rose projectiles will handle the high-impact velocities of magnum cartridges at short distances, yet will expand reliably at hunting ranges this side of the next zip code.
I loaded the 143-grain, 7mm bullet in the 7mm-08 Remington, and my little Tikka T3X Lite seemed particularly pleased with them, delivering three-shot groups averaging ¾-MOA. The 178-grain .30-caliber was destined for my well-worn .300 Winchester Magnum, and once I seated that bullet over a suitable charge of Reloder 19, sparked by a Federal Gold Medal Match GM215M large rifle magnum primer, three of the McGuire projectiles would land in a group just over ½-MOA. (McGuireBallistics.com)
Hawk Bullets
Though the market is decidedly making a hard shift to lead-free projectiles, lead-core bullets work even better every day due to continuous improvements in bullet construction. New Jersey’s Hawk Bullets embraces the lead-core/copper jacket concept, using a proprietary process designed to deliver the same results as bonding to keep their two components together during the terminal phase.
While the majority of Hawk bullets are of a round-nose, flat-base configuration, the beauty of the company is that you can choose from a good number of bullet designs, with varying jacket thicknesses or bullet weights … though not boat-tails.
For example, you may opt for a bullet with a jacket of 0.030-inch thickness for deer and similar-sized game, or beef it up to 0.035 inch for tougher game or to use in a magnum cartridge. Hawk will make a jacket as thin as 0.025 inch, or as thick as 0.065 inch, for the thickest-skinned game.
Hawk Bullets’ round-nose 200-grain .330-inch-diameter bullet for the author’s .318 Westley Richards works very well on whitetail deer and black bear. Offering varying jacket thicknesses and bullet weights, Hawk is a company the aficionado of classic cartridges needs to keep on speed dial. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
And Hawk is a fantastic source of projectiles for the obscure cartridges, offering bullets in .333-inch diameter for the .333 Jeffery, in .286-inch diameter for the .280 Ross, and .318-inch diameter for the 8x57mm with the “J” bore. I rely on Hawk for the 200-grain round-nose .330-inch diameter bullets for my .318 Westley Richards; these bullets are perfectly suited to black bear and whitetail deer here at home in New York. Should I need a source for the heavy 250-grain bullets with which the .318 WR earned its reputation, Hawk makes those as a custom order.
The folks at Hawk are certainly familiar with the gamut of older cartridges, from those classics associated with the golden age of safari, to the blackpowder cartridges that helped settle the West, to those smokeless designs of the early 20th century that have just faded into history. Hawk is a reliable source for those who—like me—enjoy hunting with a cartridge that’s just a bit different, as well as being a great source of a common-sense bullet for the .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield, or revolver. (HawkBullets.com)
Parting Shot
If you enjoy loading your own ammunition and prefer to use something a little left of center, there are many great choices out there, whether you prefer the latest monometal tech or a traditional cup-and-core round-nose. While the major manufacturers are making the best stuff they ever have, I fully support these smaller companies who are putting their efforts forth to bring out the best products they can.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Blaser has just announced the B2 Riflescope line, a series of three new scopes that are compatible with thermal devices and optimized for hunting at night.
The Blaser B2 Riflescope line has just been announced, and the three new scopes it includes aren’t just everyday hunting optics. Designed from the ground up to be ideal for nighttime hunters, the Blaser B2 scopes are compact, robust and compatible with clip-on thermal devices.
The new lineup currently includes three Blaser B2 models, including the 1-6×24 iC, the 2-12×50 iC and the 2.5-15×56 iC. Regardless of the variant selected, all feature 6X magnification, a 30mm tube and are made in Germany, so typical high-quality manufacturing can be expected. The scopes also aren’t merely compatible with clip-on thermal devices, but have been optimized for their use. The major design features that facilitate this include a shorter overall length and more robust construction. By being more compact, it makes it easier for a user to operate the thermal device from a shooting position and brings the setup’s center of gravity further back. The stronger construction is for better managing the increased stress and weight that are present when shooting with a thermal device installed.
Jason Evans, CEO of Blaser Group USA, said this about the Blaser B2 scopes:
The Blaser B2 riflescopes feature excellent German-built optics optimized for big game hunting and for use with the Liemke clip-on thermal devices…The premium optics and design make this line of scopes ideal for all hunters who want the option of hunting in daylight or darkness, which thermal clip-ons make possible.
Additional features of the Blaser B2 line include SFP 4C illuminated reticles, hydrophobic lens coatings and an optional inner rail to accommodate a wide variety of rifles. Blaser Ocular Flip Covers are sold separately, but all of the B2 scopes can also be ordered with the QDC+ (Quick Distance Control+) feature. MSRPs for the optics start at $1,700.
Once upon a time, nothing moved faster than .220 Swift, but is there any reason to still use it today?
At one point, .220 Swift was the fastest factory-loaded cartridge on the market. Today, this once-proud speed demon languishes, forgotten and unloved by the contemporary shooting public.
Are modern shooters overlooking an absolute gem? A powerhouse of prairie dog and paper punching?
Or is this relic better off sunsetting, having had its day and now rightfully taking its place on the ash heap of history?
From left to right: .220 Swift, .222 Remington, .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO. Photo: Wikipedia.
History Of .220 Swift
The .220 Swift was developed largely by Grosvenor Wotkyns, who in the early- to mid-1930s was experimenting with necking cartridges down to .224 caliber to achieve higher velocities. The load he worked up, along with J.E. Gebby and J.B. Smith, necked a .250-3000 Savage case down to .224 caliber.
These gentlemen developed various wildcat loads based on this concept, but Wotkyns’ was called .22 Wotkyns Original Swift and it gained a bit of attention as a varmint and possible light-skinned game round. Ammunition and gun companies noticed, and Remington and Winchester both thought they'd put their own spin on it.
Remington decided to keep .250-3000 Savage as the parent case and dubbed its new cartridge .22-250 Remington.
Winchester decided to change the case from .250-3000 Savage to 6mm Lee Navy since the company was the principal supplier to the U.S. government and had plenty of brass on hand. Winchester dubbed this new cartridge .220 Swift.
The original factory load, first offered in 1935 in the Model 54 rifle, was a 48-grain bullet at an astonishing 4,100 feet per second out of a 26-inch barrel.
The .220 Swift In Its Heyday
The first couple of decades were the peak years of .220 Swift. It swiftly (ha!) gained a reputation for excellent accuracy, wicked efficacy on varmints at long range and some potential as a smaller game round.
Jack O'Connor had high praise for the .220 Swift, as one of his personally owned Model 70 rifles was chambered for it. He considered it the “best of all varmint cartridges,” with excellent accuracy, a very flat trajectory and impressive range compared to other varmint calibers.
Jack O'Connor with one of his Model 70 rifles.
P.O. Ackley was an unabashed fan of .220 Swift, creating a 50-grain projectile for game hunting as well as his own variant called .220 Ackley Improved. It was his favorite cartridge for deer hunting.
Lester Womack, a park ranger and gunsmith, culled wild burros using Ackely's 50-grain bullets and found the .220 Swift a better tool for the job than .30-06 and other full-power cartridges that were popular at the time.
W.D.M. “Karamojo” Bell, the famous ivory hunter, adored the .220 Swift and used it extensively to hunt red stags on his estate in Scotland.
However, not everyone was necessarily a fan.
The .220 Swift quickly wore out barrels in most rifles, though advances in materials would later mitigate throat erosion to a good degree.
While advanced shooters who used it for game hunting loved it, reality is a harsh mistress and most people aren't in Karamojo's class of marksmanship.
O'Connor also noted, “Much big game was killed with it, and killed very dead, but much big game was lost.” Robert Ruark, at one point one of the world's foremost authorities on hunting and hunting rifles, had little love for .220 Swift which influenced his advocacy of “using enough gun” and larger cartridges.
In short, the rifle cognoscenti of the day realized its virtues, but also that it had real limitations.
.220 Swift Ballistics: What Is It Good For?
Based on its ballistic properties, what exactly is .220 Swift good for? On paper, it makes a fantastic light game cartridge for moderate ranges, but where this cartridge truly excels is for varmints. It would also make a coyote culler par excellence.
Here's a trajectory table from ShootersCalculator, presuming a 100-yard zero, 1.5-inch bore offset, a 10 mph 90-degree crosswind and zero corrections for atmosphere. This was calculated using the Federal Varmint 40-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip load:
While a G1 ballistic coefficient of 0.221 is not impressive, the trajectory sure is. With a starting velocity of 4,250 feet per second, it doesn’t dip below the sound barrier until past 825 yards. At 500 yards, it still has more energy than some 9mm loads have at the muzzle.
However, as you can also see, it will get pushed around by wind early and often. This is why the .220 Swift has always excelled the most when the rifle is paired with a scope with enough reticle to place shots accurately.
Unfortunately, there are no factory loadings that improve on the above table more than incrementally. While some other calibers can easily remedy their performance in high-wind conditions by using heavy-for-caliber, high-BC ammunition, there are no factory options like this for .220 Swift. Currently, the heaviest factory ammo available features 55-grain projectiles. The only way to up the weight would be with handloads, and that would also require a custom rifle with a fast enough twist rate to stabilize them. Doable, and the results can be impressive on paper, but it’s probably not worth the effort today given other options.
For instance, the .22-250 Remington can do about 95 percent of what .220 Swift does, all while being more affordable, more available and putting less wear on barrels. For comparison, here’s a trajectory chart pitting the previous .40-grain .220 Swift load against .22-250 Remington loaded with the same Nosler projectile. The initial velocity provided by Nosler is 3,950 fps using a 24-inch barrel, so performance would be even more similar if using the 26-inch barrel used to calculate .220 Swift’s muzzle velocity.
How Available Is .220 Swift Ammo?
When it comes to ammo, MidwayUSA lists five loads, none of which are available at the time of writing. A few are available on AmmoSeek, but slim pickings are your lot unless you handload.
When you can find it for sale, it's not terrifically expensive, but it's certainly not cheap. Expect to pay $30 to $50 per box of 20, which isn't awful in the rifle realm but isn't outstanding either.
Good Reasons To Get A .220 Swift Rifle?
Besides long-range varmint shooting and coyote control, the .220 Swift would also make an excellent youth hunting rifle at moderate ranges. Beyond that, it is an expert's rifle given the marksmanship requirements for game shooting.
Then again, so are .243 Winchester, 7mm-08 and 6.5mm Creedmoor, which are vastly more forgiving, and other varmint cartridges like .22-250 will send prairie dogs to the great burrow in the sky just as effectively.
A Remington 700 SF in .220 Swift.
While .220 Swift rifles can be found on the secondhand market, new-production guns are basically nonexistent today. Remington may still offer a 700 variant chambered for it, as some are still available online at the time of writing, but it's not listed on the company's website.
The .220 Swift Has Had Its Day
.220 Swift is dead or dying. There is literally no use-case for which there aren't alternatives that are—in the real world—just as good, if not better, and more practical. Prairie dogs can't tell the difference between a bullet traveling at 4,000 fps and 3,600 fps, and neither can a coyote.
There is and was never anything wrong with .220 Swift, there’s simply nothing that it excels well enough at to justify using it instead of a similar and more available cartridge today. Just like you could still write a letter using a typewriter, you can still drop varmints with a .220 Swift, there’s just no real good reason to use either in a world with .22-250 and personal computers.
Liberty Ammunition has just added a new 70-grain 10mm Auto load to its OverWatch line of defensive ammo.
At the request of an unnamed government agency, Liberty Ammunition developed a new defensive 10mm Auto load and added it to its OverWatch line. While initially its availability was limited, it is now thankfully accessible to the general public as well. It features 70-grain projectiles and an advertised muzzle velocity of 2,150 fps, and the company promises that the new ammo will be more effective than its existing Civil Defense 10mm load.
While Liberty Ammunition’s Civil Defense 10mm load ruptures immediately, the company says that the new OverWatch load will penetrate barriers and only begin to rupture at 3 to 4 inches of penetration in soft tissue. The 70-grain projectiles feature what the company calls an Open Cavity Design (OCD) with a Maximum Organ Displacement (MOD) feature. The company also claims that compared to other manufacturer’s loads, 10mm OverWatch ammo will hit comparatively harder, be lighter to carry and rupture at the bottom of the cavity to maximize terminal performance.
Gary Ramey, CEO of Liberty Ammunition, said this about the new load:
Liberty OverWatch displaces organs and stops the threat immediately with terminal performance. There is no such thing as a flesh wound with Liberty Ammunition … Liberty OverWatch is available in key calibers for civilians, law enforcement and government agencies. Our products are available through our distributor network, and we remain committed to being the best self-defense ammunition on the market.
Liberty OverWatch 10mm ammo is available now and has an MSRP of $48.68 per box of 20.
Nothing beats a heater on your hip when it comes to personal protection, but here are the best self-defense tools that aren’t guns.
Carrying a pistol is something many of us do daily; however, the larger majority of people don’t always give a second thought to the other items that go hand-in-hand. Life is rarely simple and, no matter how we envision a scenario playing out, things hit the fan with certainty.
The issue we face isn’t a simple one, mostly because the presence of a gun and the prospect of using it results in an increased degree of lethality to both you and the bad guy. As much as we love and adore guns for what they mean to us, in a cultural, personal and political sense they are, at the end of the day, meant to keep you alive through means of lethal force.
We tend to look at things through the lens of escalating violence, such as bringing a knife to a gunfight, where we’re constantly vying to have a leg up on those seeking to do us harm by means of overwhelming force. So far, in the past two years, we’ve seen a mass proliferation of high-capacity micro guns in powerful rounds like 9mm, such as the Sig P365, Springfield Hellcat and a plethora of guns from Glock, Ruger, S&W and more that conform to this new paradigm.
To top it off, most of these little guns are available with optics cuts, mounts for lights and lasers, and backup mags boasting 15 rounds or more. Further means of increasing the abilities of these guns has come in the form of ammunition, such as Federal’s 30 Super Carry, which adds capacity to these already small guns.
At a point likely in the near future, we’ll probably reach a peak of ability given these reduced dimensions, a sort of apex carry gun where weight, accuracy, power and capacity are all balanced beyond improvement.
But the gun is just one part of this. How about the rest of what you have on your person?
Concealing A Knife
Having taken many gun-based classes over the years, the gun classes of substance I’ve been to had very little shooting, rather focusing on tactics and scenarios using dummy guns. Beyond basic handling and shooting, there’s almost no reason to pay good money to listen to how much of an operator someone is.
Knives are the opposite of this: Take as many force-on-force classes as you can. Without training, you’re far more likely to be hurt seriously by your own knife than you are to stop an attacker with it. Getting proper training with any edged weapon is paramount, and the understanding of how and when to use them is critical.
What you want to consider is that a knife is a stand-off weapon, not something offensive. You should always carry any knife under the presumption that it’s a tool first, not your main weapon. As a result of this purely defensive theory—that comes from the need to protect yourself while your attacker is literally trying to grab you—you need to have something that, at a bare minimum, is easy to draw and open.
A fixed blade knife is desirable in this context; however, folders are equally as good if you can become proficient at deploying them. For general carry, you want a well-textured handle and a sharp blade that has both the ability to stab and slash. You’ll also want a handle that allows you to instantly index the direction of the edge—avoid knives that have oval or rounded grip shapes that can rotate in the hand.
If you’re in a restrictive area, there are many knife-like tools that’ll allow for protection, such as the Emerson N-SAR tool. This tool is blunted but has a seriously sharp interior edge. As a stand-off weapon, it excels because it gives you the option of non-lethal strikes but can be turned to cutting quickly. Tools like this are excellent at non-lethal pressure point manipulation, yet they can also slash.
Fixed-blade knives are, of course, much stronger than folders, but they’re harder to carry overall and may not be legal where you live. Automatic knives are becoming more popular; however, you shouldn’t be completely reliant on assist-open or button-release mechanisms. Even a little lint can prevent the mechanism from locking.
The best, at least in my opinion, is the Emerson method with their Wave Feature, basically a forward-facing hook on the blade that catches the inside of the pocket when you pull it out. It opens instantly on draw but isn’t mechanically aided in any way. This, with practice, is the fastest you can get as far as blade deployment.
As always, check your local laws when trying to carry a knife. You’d be surprised at just how few restrictions there on guns when you start trying to legally carry a knife. Luckily, many states are updating their knife laws, and the future looks pretty good.
Emerson knives are respected for their durability and quality. The Market Skinner is a classic knife profile and will yield the results you expect from a knife. The N-SAR is a specialized tool for rescues; it can cut just about any belt made. The N-SAR is not able to stab, but it certainly can cut, and it makes for a good defensive tool in areas that restrict knives as “stabbing” instruments.
Recommended Knives
EMERSON N-SAR
This is an all-inclusive rescue tool that has limited self-defense function. It has a blunted point for safely getting under seatbelts and straps, as well as an integrated belt cutter in the spine of the blade. This tool can be used to get around certain laws that describe knives as “stabbing instruments,” allowing for carry in non-permissive places. MSRP: $299.95
EMERSON MARKET SKINNER
A pocket Bowie knife of sorts, the Market Skinner is a do-all knife that’s great for general EDC, hunting and as a self-defense knife. The deep, swept belly allows for deep cuts, and the shape and texture of the grip makes for an ideal hold either tip up or down. MSRP: $267.95
WINKLER DROP POINT CRUSHER
I carry this knife daily and can readily recommend it for all-around use. This knife is slender and light, despite having a “big knife” look. The blade tip is lowered to the centerline, making it easier to control. The pommel has an angular glass breaker that can be used in defense as well. The knife is exceedingly strong and holds an edge against tough use. MSRP: $375
Calling On Your Phone
Your phone is one of the most important items in your kit these days, probably more important than any other tool on this list for getting out of bad places and finding resources near you. The power of the cell phone isn’t something you should ignore. It’s not just a means to watch TikTok and gun unboxing videos—it affords you the option of extra awareness about your immediate surroundings.
If you’re traveling or are trying to understand your new location after a move, apps like Life360 allow you to not just keep track of your family’s locations, but it also allows you to monitor local crimes and includes a comprehensive list of all sex offenders in the area.
You should be using all available data to steer clear of conflict. Your foreknowledge in these circumstances is paramount to EDC mindset. Show your kids where houses to avoid are, and if they’re engaged by one of those individuals they should run and call the police immediately. It’s also good to use these apps to identify safe areas, local community buildings and stores that are open in off hours to get to safety in where police can be called.
In addition, various phones have a SOS or similar emergency setting that can bring responders right to you. Not all incidents are violent encounters, and you might need your phone to save yourself from your own health emergency. Making your phone difficult to access with a complicated password is folly. You should treat your phone the same as knife or gun: fast to get into action with just one hand. If you’re being threatened or notice suspicious activity, getting it on video is also a very good idea. Collecting evidence with your phone may save you in court.
Recommended Phone Apps/Accessories
LIFE360
If you don’t like to have your location on all the time, well, this isn’t for you. Though, as we all know, “they” can track you anyway. This app is a comprehensive family safety product that gives you the locations of your loved ones, tells you if they’re driving and can even alert you if there’s a crash. It has many features that include crime reports, sex offender locations and more. As far as safety is concerned, this is a great way to keep abreast of bad places and people as much as is reasonable. MSRP: Approx. $60 a month, plans vary
ALPATRONICS INTEGRATED BATTERY PHONE CASE
This phone case features a built-in backup battery that can extend your phone’s operational time by days, especially if you put it in low-power mode. If you have a medical condition that requires you to have a phone on you to monitor blood pressure or heart rate, this can be a lifesaver. Plus, it’s also rated to protect the phone if dropped. The company makes models for most iPhones and many new Androids. MSRP: $42.95
APPLE AIR TAG 4-PACK
If you’re traveling with guns, it makes a good deal of sense to stick a location tag in your gun case, as well as tag your car if you’re in a high-crime area where vehicle theft is a reality. Some people find these creepy, but I’ve known more than one person who had guns stolen in their cases right out of the trunk. At least if the thief ditches the case, you can still have a last location to give to police. MSRP: $99.99
Medical Supplies
I have been guilty of not taking the personal injury aspect of self-defense seriously. Again, much in the same way with knife classes, it’s smart to take a detailed medical class. While it’s not as exciting as doing tactical reloads, all the fancy footwork, plate carriers, extra ammo and other gear mean literally nothing if you get shot through the leg. Is your buddy with you going to be able to stop the bleeding, or is he only good for bringing his tricked-out Noveske out to flex at the range?
The reality of guns is that people do get shot. Carrying medical supplies isn’t the cool thing to do; most people will shake their head if you walk around with an emergency kit on your belt. But you don’t have to look like a dweeb to have medical supplies on hand; in fact, there are some great ones that are both low-profile and effective. You’ll absolutely want to practice with them as well, even though that isn’t “cool,” either.
Think for a moment: What if your neighbor loses control of a chainsaw while doing some tree cleanup work? It’s a horrific injury. Do you have the immediate and necessary skills to stop him from bleeding to death? What you carry—or at least keep close at hand—isn’t just about guns: It’s the benign things that we encounter daily that we need to be equally prepared for.
The C.A.T. Tourniquet is a simple, inexpensive and reliable means to stop critical blood loss. With practice, they can be applied to yourself and others with one hand. It goes without saying, don’t put them around your neck, they aren’t for head injuries.
Recommended Medical Product
C.A.T. RESOURCES TOURNIQUETS
This is a great, low-cost, high-performance tourniquet that can be stashed in a purse, bag or even pocket. While it’s rare to have the need of one, a real tourniquet can stop bleeding in the extremities almost immediately with practice. Bleeding control is paramount in car crashes, shootings and stabbings, and for use on the job site. Stowing a few of these around just makes sense. MSRP: $28 Each
Alternative Self-Defense Tools
There’s a wide range of products that fall into this concealed carry/everyday carry category. If you’re on the job, in the office or in generally non-permissive places, regular items can become weapons if your life depends on it.
The main drawback of this category is that most of these are going to be a compromise. Many standard items—like box cutters, sharp scissors, screwdrivers, chisels, tack hammers and the like—can be carried with no problem. If someone asks a question, well, you just had it in your pocket from fixing a project at home. Don’t attempt to modify these items beyond their original specs. If you have a good force-on-force class or club in your area, take these items and practice with dulled-up versions. Plus, as a bonus, most of these tools can be used in their intended role.
Recommended Alternative Self-Defense Tools
DEWALT SHORT CHISEL SET
DeWalt is a common tool brand, making their chisels that much more unassuming. The 1/8-inch width is a very adequate weapon for stand-off fights. These tools are cheap enough that if you lose one it’s not a big deal, and the rubberized grips are easier to manipulate than plain wood. MSRP: $36
WINKLER KNIVES AF-ERT
This is a basic, single-piece multi-tool that can be used as a weapon if need be. It’s about the same size and weight as a tack hammer and features a pry bar, a couple sizes of wrench, a glass breaker and a hammer face. The little tool can ride in a car or bag without being noticed. MSRP: $85
Flashlights
This is another hot point of contention in terms of guns: weapon mounted light or not? Well, more and more guns have mount options for lights these days. Some instructors don’t like gun-mounted lights, but others do. Some prefer only hand-held. Find someone who can teach both methods and make your decision.
I always have a flashlight on me after dark, and my primary carry gun also has a light. If I go without the gun, I still have the light itself. Having that light and ability to blind/flee the area is critical. You should also be aware of how your light interacts with your gun. For instance, my RMR sight was washed out easily with reflected light at night and flashing lights, car headlights and the muzzle flash.
Lights are one of those things that’ll vary by gun and application. Luckily, we live in the best possible era for handheld lights, and it’s getting hard to go wrong. Really anything by SureFire and Streamlight are great. The main consideration with lights is that you can also be blinded easily, so do make sure you practice using any illumination tools in places you live. You’d be surprised just how different your own house looks with the lights off and lit up by 1000 lumens. Training is more important than the light itself in most cases.
Lights are one of those things that you shouldn’t be without, even in the daylight. After all, the inside of buildings can become unexpectedly dark, or you may be out later than you like. Any gun worth its salt today should have at least the ability to mount a flashlight.
CCW Apparel
Your EDC clothing shouldn’t scream “shoot me first.” There’s a plethora of “tactical” companies that sell clothing and, while many of them make general sense for concealed carry, they make you stick out like a sore thumb. Sort of like the cars that are distinguishable as bugout vehicles complete with all the accessories and extra gas cans, you make for an inviting first target the minute things go badly.
If you’re out there doing your thing, you shouldn’t want to stand out. Wear nice clothes that are clean and stylish for your area and season; spend some money to look attractive as you won’t be determined to be a threat on first glance. Avoid the cop or soldier look, and don’t wear items that overtly state your political or ideological beliefs. You want to be deadly, but you don’t want to give the appearance of what you have.
Your manner of dress should be like keeping your cards close to your chest, camouflage for life if you will.
Winkler Knives makes some of the toughest and most sought-after blades in the business. The Drop Point Crusher is not only a beautiful knife, but also light and very rugged. The AF-ERT is a small, unassuming tool that can be used for many things, including last-ditch defense.
Recommended EDC Apparel
HILL PEOPLE GEAR FANNY PACKS
Hill People Gear makes some awesome equipment that’s barely noticeable in public. I like that their fanny packs are able to be completely discreet while offering a dedicated pistol compartment that can house a full-size 1911. Carrying large guns is much more possible with these, and, with practice, you can draw very quickly. MSRP: $122
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2023 CCWspecial issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
A .357 Magnum revolver for concealed carry … really? Might as well hook up a mule team to your buggy for the daily commute. In certain quarters of the gun world that’s what an on-person gun chambered for granddaddy magnum amounts to—an anachronism of the highest degree. Yet, in a world awash with polymer, striker-fired pistols the tried-and-true .357 revolver soldiers on. What gives?
The .357 Magnum revolver soldiers on, but not every make and model is ideal for concealed carry.
Truth be known, the revolver-cartridge combination is a proven, reliable, popular and powerful system—still considered by many among the most trustworthy for self-defense. For the better part of the 20th Century, perhaps only the .38 Special overshadow it’s use by law enforcement. And in this role, few other sidearms built a better reputation for neutralizing deadly threats.
Truth be told, with ammo and gunsmithing advancement, the .357 Magnum has only gotten better with time. This includes the delicate role of concealed carry gun. Today, there is a slew of .357 Magnum revolvers worth considering if the wheelie and cartridge fit your particular lifestyle. We’ve chosen five we believe excel in this role. But so we don’t put the cart before the horse (or mule), let’s hash out if the gun and cartridge fit your particular circumstances.
Should You Go A .357 Magnum Revolver?
We have a much longer write-up on the pros and cons of .357 Magnum as a personal-defense option, well worth checking out if you’re seriously considering this route. But for our discussion here we can boil down the gun and cartridge’s pluses and minuses to the quick.
Pros
Proven Self-Defense Cartridge—The cartridge is still considered a superior option for neutralizing a threat and has the resume to back it up. Additionally, the cartridge boasts among the widest selection of ammo that passes the FBI’s barrier and penetration tests.
Simple Manual of Arms In Its Guns—To troubleshoot a double-action revolver you simply pull the trigger again. Doesn’t get much easier. True enough, revolvers aren’t immune to malfunctions and when they jam they jam like no other. However, the occurrence is rare enough to be negligible.
Manageable For Most—Unlike almost any other handgun magnum, everyday shooters can master the .357. There is a “but” to this that we’ll go into greater detail on in a moment.
The .357 Magnum still holds its own as a defensive cartridge. An added bonus in picking up a revolver chambered for it, you can shoot forgiving .38 Speical.
Cons
Difficult Double-Action Trigger—It’s long and heavy and requires much more practice than a snappy single-action or striker-fired pistol to achieve consistent accuracy. If there’s any one facet that makes the revolver—.357 Magnum or otherwise—a marginal option for beginners it’s this.
Shorter Barrels Notably Reduce Velocity—Snubbed-nose .357 Magnum revolvers produced excessive muzzle flash for a reason, they burn a lot of powder outside the bore. In turn, this style of revolver won’t top-end most loads' velocity by any stretch. By no means is the popular myth true a short barrel degrades the magnum to +P .38 Special performance. But realize, out of a snubbie ammo won’t live up to the box-side ballistics.
Limited Capacity—Expect 5 or 6 rounds at best. That’s cutting things close. Additionally, reloads are no walk in the park, involving many more steps than a semi-auto pistol, taxing fine motor skills under stress. Go a .357 Magnum revolver, you’d better practice your emergency reloads!
There’s an elephant still in the room, the “but” we mentioned above, and it's particular to many concealed carry .357 Magnum revolvers. Some are out-and-out bears to shoot. There’s a reason why the guns have the dubious moniker “knuckle busters”.
This is not a good situation. Excessive recoil does not breed excellent marksmanship, thus the reason why professional dalliances with the 10mm and .41 Magnum have been short-lived. Folks don’t like to train when their hands are getting the Torquemada treatment, and it has the potential to lead to problematic issues such as flinch.
Very light and small .357 Magnum revolvers tend to this sort of experience. Though, there is a way to mitigate some of this, which segues nicely into our selection criteria.
In making our selections of best concealed-carry .357 Magnum revolvers, we stuck to our usual criteria for separating the wheat from the chaff:
Reliability: The guns are well made with a reliable track record. Concealability: We’re looking at concealed carry revolvers, in turn, we’re sticking with smaller .357 Magnums. Accessibility: All the models are currently in production, thus found at most gun retailers.
However, we also added another evaluation point—shootablity. Given this, many of our choices tend toward the heavier end of the spectrum. It makes a difference.
Take a hypothetical a 140-grain .357 Magnum load that leaves a snubbie's muzzle at 1,000 fps. Shoot it from a 22-ounce Smith & Wesson Pro Series Model 640 and it generates roughly 10 ft-lbs. of recoil energy. Put that same load in an 11-ounce Smith & Wesson Model 340PD and the recoil energy nearly doubles to 19 ft-lbs. For context, that’s the neighborhood of many .270 Winchester loads out of a 7-pound rifle.
Considering this, a bit of extra weight on the hip is a worthwhile tradeoff for what will likely lead to more consistent accuracy.
Best .357 Revolvers For Concealed Carry
Smith & Wesson Model 640
Smith & Wesson Model 640 Pro Series
A staple in Smith & Wesson’s J-Frame catalog, the snubbie .357 Magnum revolver is a gem of its class. Constructed of all stainless steel, the rugged double-action only (DAO) likely has the chops to be handed down to a son or daughter one day. And, like most Js, is a fairly easy affair to conceal. How about to shoot? It's about as pleasurable as this sized magnum gets. It certainly doesn’t get the nod for weekend plinker, but at a hefty 22 ounces the 640 sets shooters up for success.
Smith & Wesson offers the plain Jane version of the concealed-hammer 640 and a Performance Center Pro Series option. With about $100 difference between the two models, the PC upgrade is worth the money delivering not only a more attractive gun but some notable enhancements. The three that pop out on the 5-round revolver are rear and front tritium drift-adjustable sights, a cylinder cut to accept moon clips and a PC-tuned trigger. Yeah, it’s still as heavy as a kettlebell, but boy is it smooth. MSRP: Model 640 $809; Pro Series $939 smith-wesson.com
Ruger SP101
Ruger SP101
There’s a lot of gun here, and we’re not talking metaphorically. Even in its 2.25-inch snub-nose rendition, the SP101 is constructed from a load of stainless and it looks it—almost reminiscent of Smith & Wesson’s K-frame Model 66. As we discussed previously, as a primary arm this is an advantage giving shooters a more manageable system. Although, it might be a better option for an outside the waistband (OWB) holster. For the right individual it could qualify for inside the waistband (IWB). Pocket carry is pushing it.
The 5-round .357 Magnum revolver shoots well, and for its bulk cuts a fine figure, especially with its full lug. Its factory grips are a bit small, but easily upgradable with plenty of aftermarket options. The DAO model is the most logical concealed carry candidate, the spurless hammer enhancing an already streamlined design (an advantage of casting).
Yet, be forewarned—the SP101 has a notoriously heavy and somewhat gritty trigger pull. Plus, it’s only available with an integral rear sight in DAO—not the most precise of systems. Then again, you aren’t getting a concealed carry magnum for precision range work. MSRP: Starts at $919, ruger.com
Ruger LCR
If weight is the utmost concern, the .357 Magnum LCR is most likely the best option. At 17 ounces, it walks a fine line and, for the most part, is at the basement in what we’d consider a manageable concealed carry magnum. Buyer beware, this is a much buckier .357 Magnum revolver, but not at the magnitude of ultralight guns. Size-wise, with a 1.87-inch barrel, the LCR not only qualifies as a primary carry arm, but would fill the role as a hard-hitting backup.
Outside of its dimensions, the .357 revolver has several other nice attributes, from very comfortable Hogue Tamer grips to replaceable pinned front sight—in case you want to upgrade to a low-light option. Above anything, it has an excellent trigger. Yes, it’s a heavy pull (what did you expect in double-action?), but it’s like silk compared to most factory switches. The LCR is also intuitively laid out, with a button cylinder release on the left side that picks up the pace of the DOA’s reloads. MSRP: $859, ruger.com
Kimber K6S
Kimber put thought into what makes a solid concealed carry revolver and it shows in its K6S line. Easy to keep under wraps, but not at the expense of controllability, the nifty snub-nose heaters present armed citizens with the whole package. To boot, they're lookers—too bad the guns are meant to avoid the light of day most of their lives.
Kimber bills its 2-inch barreled K6S as the lightest 6-round .357 Magnum revolver on the market, but don’t let that spook you. The gun is still substantial at 23-ounces and eats a majority of recoil. Also, don’t let the extra round in a concealed-carry model fool you either—it’s still very easy to fit inside the waistband or pocket. In part, this is thanks to milled flats on the stainless-steel gun’s cylinder that keeps it nearly as svelte as 5-round options.
The K6S design is sleek, reducing the chances of hanging up on the draw, hastened further by a concealed hammer. The gun also sports a top-notch trigger, with a light-for-DAO 9-pound break. With practice it runs fast. One more thing, actual front and rear sights earn the K6S extra points. As far as model, the Stainless is the most affordable, but the DCR adds a touch of class with rosewood grips. Other variants are available as well. MSRP: Starts at $985 kimberamerica.com
Colt King Cobra Carry
The reboot of the Colt Python has somewhat overshadowed the King Cobra in the public’s eye. Nevertheless, it does little to diminish the snub-nose .357 Magnum revolver’s performance in its main role—on person self-defense piece. Plus, it’s a Colt “Snake Gun”, with is inherently cool.
All stainless steel and nearly a full-sized grip, the King is a fairly polite piece, one that with some practice runs fast and accurate. Part of this is thanks to the 6-round revolver’s weight, which is an ample 26-ounces unloaded. But the trigger also deserves kudos. Again, compared to a pistol it’s substantial—10-pounds—but responsive.
A full lug adds a level of protection to the ejection rod, ensuring it doesn’t get skewed in everyday rough and tumble. And Hogue Overmolded grips with finger grooves adds another level of control to the handgun. Most will appreciate the bobbed hammer on the DOA variation, however, if you can't live without a hammer spur there is a Carry iteration with one. At the risk of drawing the ire of Colt fans, the cylinder lock isn’t intuitive for those who haven’t run the revolver previously—pulling backward. But this facet isn’t generally a hindrance once familiar with the system. MSRP: $999, colt.com
Hollow point bullets are the most popular style of defensive handgun projectile, so here’s everything you need to know about them.
When it comes to carrying a concealed handgun for personal protection, there are many things that need to be considered. The ammunition you’ll carry in that handgun is critical because the bullet it fires is what you ultimately hope will stop the fight … or end whatever attack you’re experiencing.
There’s a lot of information available from manufacturers about the bullets they offer, and there’s a lot of information on the internet where users have tested them. However, for you to fully understand this information, you need a working knowledge of bullets. Understanding how they’re different and what makes them work is part of that, but so, too, is an understanding a bullet’s anatomy.
Barnes mono-metal pistol bullets will perform consistently over a wide range of impact velocities.
The Basics Of Hollow Point Bullets
Simplified, there two types of defensive handgun projectiles—jacketed and monometal—and both are generally hollow point bullets. A jacketed bullet will have a core that’s most commonly made up of lead or a lead alloy. The hardness of this core contributes to how the bullet reacts to impact and deforms. The same is true of the jacket, which is either made of copper or a copper alloy, such as gilding metal or cartridge brass.
This schematic highlights the anatomy of a defensive handgun bullet.
Remington’s Golden Saber gullet uses cartridge brass as a bullet jacket. Just as with the core, the hardness and flexibility of this jacket—in conjunction with the hardness of the core—determines how a bullet will deform upon impact. With a monometal bullet, there’s no jacket or core: The bullet is homogeneous, meaning it’s made of a single material, which is of copper or a copper alloy.
The jackets of defensive handgun bullets start out as a flat piece of material that’s then formed into a cup, with the open end of the cup at the most forward end of the bullet. However, some bullets are made with a reversed jacket, where the open end of the bullet is the bullet’s base.
The original Winchester SilverTip, Black Talon and Ranger SXT bullets were made in the reverse manner. However, in either case, once the cup is formed the core is inserted. With bullets that have the opening of the cup at the front, the jacket is rolled or folded into this opening as a hollow well—or a hollow point—is formed into the core. With a reverse jacket, a punch is inserted into the nose of the bullet to make this cavity.
The famous Black Talon bullet was built with a reversed jacket. This is a good way to make defensive handgun bullets—naming them “Black Talon” wasn’t such a good idea.
The hollow cavity, or hollow point, is what works to make the bullet deform or expand in a predictable manner. As fluids or body tissues enter this cavity under pressure, the forces exceed that of what the jacket and core can withstand, and the bullet begins to peel back. For this to happen, the bullet must strike at a certain velocity, which will vary between bullet designs.
Sometimes, however, if the bullet must pass through some sort of intermediate barrier, such as clothing, wall board, glass or metal, the hollow point can fill with those materials. If those materials are compressed into the hollow opening of the bullet, it can fail to deform as designed because there’s not enough pressure exerted on the core and jacket.
A barrier of two layers of denim had no negative impact on the performance of this Barnes pistol bullet.
Expansion Control Matters
The FBI places great importance on a bullet’s ability to pass through intermediate barriers and still deform as designed when it impacts soft body tissues. Because law enforcement needs tend to drive the development of defensive handgun bullets, manufacturers often build bullets that’ll perform the way the FBI likes them to.
So, to ensure controlled deformation, some other “things” are done to bullets, and one of those things is the skiving or perforation of the bullet’s jacket—and sometimes core—around the hollow point cavity. This skiving weakens the walls of the hollow cavity, but it does so in a very precise manner so that the jacket will begin to peel away from the core consistently.
This is the type of performance most who carry a defensive handgun are looking for: 1.5 to 1.75 bullet upset with between 12 to 18 inches of penetration.
This skiving and perforation, along with the design and shape of the hollow point cavity, is very effective at bringing about controlled deformation. If you remember the Winchester Black Talon bullet, it had the skiving at the mouth of the bullet where the jacket was folded into the hollow point cavity. This caused the Talon bullet to upset with those nasty-looking and very sharp petals. But this skiving might not be enough, and manufacturers look at other methods to increase the likelihood that the bullet will upset.
For example, as with the Hornady Critical Defense and Critical Duty loads, they might insert a polymer tip inside the hollow point cavity. This prevents barrier material from entering and then negating the effectiveness of the hollow point. By inserting the polymer tip, manufacturers are essentially creating the force needed to deform the bullet without having to rely on fluids or soft body tissue to do that for them. They’re recognizing that something could enter the hollow point and negate bullet expansion, so they just circumvent that possibility by inserting something into the hollow point during manufacture that will promote bullet upset.
Hornady inserts a polymer tip inside the hollow point of their Critical Duty ammunition to prevent the hollow point from being filled with a compressible material from an intermediate barrier.
Monometal bullets work the same as jacketed bullets when it comes to bullet upset; fluid or soft body tissues must enter the hollow point cavity and force it to open. However, instead of skiving, with a monometal bullet the punch that creates the hollow point pre-stresses the bullet in a consistent manner. The primary advantage of monometal hollow point bullets is that they can be easily tuned to upset over a wide range of velocities.
It’s not uncommon for some jacketed bullets to arrive at the target traveling too slow and without enough energy to upset. This is most often due to the use of ammunition in short barrels that adversely affect velocity. A good example of this blindness to impact velocity is a Barnes XPB bullet like the 160-grain offering in .45-caliber. This bullet will deliver near ideal upset when impacting as slow as 800 fps and even faster than 1,200 fps.
Defensive handgun bullets are designed to perform well when impacting without a barrier, or even after passing through a barrier like wall board as demonstrated here.
Non-Negotiable
The reason we want a bullet to upset on impact it two-fold. First, as the frontal diameter of the bullet is increased due to deformation, its penetration potential is reduced. Without this expansion or deformation, most defensive handgun bullets would seriously over-penetrate. The second reason for this desired bullet upset is to increase the size of the hole the bullet makes, because the larger the hole, the more tissue that’s damaged. However, if the bullet upsets too much and the frontal diameter becomes too large, penetration will suffer.
If a bullet isn’t constructed correctly, or if it impacts at too slow of a velocity, it might not expand.
With most conventional defensive handgun cartridges—like the 9mm, .40 S&W and the .45 Auto—the ideal amount of bullet upset occurs when the bullet’s frontal diameter in increased from between 1.5 to 1.75 times its original diameter. When this happens with these cartridges, penetration usually ranges between about 12 and 18 inches. According to the FBI, this is looked upon as a best-case scenario.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2023 CCWspecial issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Ready to explore the fascinating world of the M1 Carbine? Whether you're seeking an original piece of history or a top-notch reproduction, we've got you covered.
The year was 1938 when the first request for a light rifle or carbine was made by the Chief of Infantry to the U.S. Army’s Ordnance Department. For support troops, those soldiers who kept the war machine rolling, the M1 Garand was too long and unwieldy, the Thompson submachine gun was too heavy and expensive and the M1911A1 pistol had limited range. An intermediate solution was needed for staff, officers, artillerymen, radiomen, drivers, NCOs, cooks in the chow hall and all the other soldiers that shore up combat troops.
The new rifle needed to be light, easy to maneuver with while slung over your back and chambered in a caliber between the powerful .30-06 Springfield cartridge of the Garand and the .45 ACP of the Thompson and the 1911. The result was the M1 Carbine.
It was lightweight at just over 5 pounds, only 35.6 inches in length (smaller than a yardstick) and chambered in the new .30 Carbine cartridge. Approval for the carbine came in 1940 when the world was in the throes of World War II and the M1 Carbine played a significant role in that conflict and several others that followed.
Before its adoption, the design of the M1 Carbine still needed to be drawn out, prototyped and tested. That didn’t happen in the offices and test labs of the Ordnance Department. The M1 Carbine design actually started on a Caledonia State Prison Farm in Halifax County, North Carolina.
A convicted murderer by the name of David Williams was an inmate in this minimum-security facility and had an aptitude for anything mechanical. Williams was especially good at designing firearms and he devised a short-stroke gas piston operating system for a rifle while serving his time. The gas system he devised became the basis for the M1 Carbine.
After Williams was paroled, he went to the War Department to show off his designs. In response, Army Ordnance suggested Winchester should hire the ex-convict, which it did. Williams, along with other Winchester engineers, then combined his short-stroke piston design with a rifle design that was started at Winchester by Ed Browning, John Browning’s brother.
By 1941, the final result was a carbine that used a rotating bolt, an operating slide and a short-stroke gas piston. When a shot is fired, gas is siphoned off to push back on the operating slide which then drives the rotating bolt rearward to eject a spent case. The recoil spring brings it all back home while scraping a fresh round out of the detachable box magazine.
An exploded view of the M2 Carbine, which at its core is identical to how an M1 functions. Photo: Wikipedia.
The new carbine was lighter than the 9.5-pound M1 Garand and almost 8 inches shorter in length. It was equipped with a smooth wood stock, a 17.75-inch barrel with a 1:20 twist rate and its sights consisted of a rear aperture and a front wing-protected post. The M1 Carbine featured a semi-automatic action and was fed from 15-round detachable box magazines. With the design established, the only obstacle left to tackle was production. Issue? The U.S. was going to need a lot of carbines to keep up with the war demand.
Production Ramp-Up During WWII
Winchester could not possibly build all the carbines needed. The U.S. government hired contractors to produce the M1 Carbine to bolster production numbers. By far the largest producer was the Inland division of General Motors, but some ten different contractors produced the M1 Carbine. These included IBM, Underwood, Rock-Ola Manufacturing Corporation, Quality Hardware and Machine Corp., Irwin-Pedersen Arms Company, National Postal Meter Company, Commercial Controls Corp., The Standard Products Company and Saginaw Steering Gear Division of General Motors.
An M1 Carbine receiver with Rock-Ola production markings. Rock-Ola otherwise primarily produced juke boxes and similar machines. Photo: rockislandauction.com.
By mid-1941, the first M1 carbines were delivered to front-line troops with over 6 million M1 Carbines produced before the end of World War II. By that time, four official variants and a few more sub-variants had been produced. In 1945, military production of the M1 Carbine family stopped.
The M1 Carbine In Combat
For the most part, the M1 Carbine performed as designed. In combat use, it was small in size, lightweight and maneuverable, plus it had firepower with 15- and later 30-round magazines. However, the edge the M1 Carbine had in handling was hampered by the reputation surrounding the performance of .30 Carbine ammunition.
Action reports from WWII told of soldiers having to shoot enemy combatants multiple times before they went down. Some theorize this had more to do with the soldier's aim and missing shots they believed were hits, rather than the cartridge's supposed anemic ballistics.
Much of the lore surrounding the cartridge's stopping power seems to be a myth in retrospect. On paper, the .30 Carbine has decent ballistics for a cartridge its size. Despite reports from the Korean War, modern testing has conclusively debunked the idea the frozen jackets of Chinese troops were enough to stop .30 Carbine. The cartridge has proven capable of penetrating some level IIIA soft armor, in turn, poor effect on targets was more likely due to subpar shot placement. That said, it obviously can’t hold a candle to .30-06.
A U.S. Marine armed with an M1 Carbine. Photo: Wikipedia.
Despite its reputation, regardless of its validity, the use of the M1 Carbine by U.S. troops spanned not only WWII, but the Korean War and the Vietnam War as well. American troops weren’t the only ones to shoulder the M1 either, as some of our allies used the rifle during these conflicts. Due to the sheer volume of production and wide proliferation, the carbine later saw considerable use in conflicts without direct American involvement too. Some American law enforcement agencies from the 1950s through the 1970s utilized the M1, and here it earned a generally better reputation than it did with military users.
.30 Carbine Ballistics
The .30 Carbine cartridge was designed as an in-between caliber. Because it’s typically compared to higher velocity and more powerful loads, it is often considered underpowered. Winchester chose the .32 Winchester Self-Loading cartridge (.32 WSL) as the parent case for the .30 Carbine, but it was modified to a rimless case design and featured a smaller diameter bullet. While the .32 WSL was in the same class as the .32-20—not a sizzler by any stretch of the imagination—the propellants produced in the 1940s marginally cranked up the performance of .30 Carbine.
From left to right: .30 Carbine, 7.92x33mm, 7.62x39mm, 5.45x39mm, 5.56x45mm, 7.62x51mm NATO. Photo: Wikipedia.
The M1 Carbine pushes a 110-grain bullet with an average muzzle velocity of 1,990 fps and produces an average muzzle energy of 967 foot-pounds. As per Hatcher’s Notebook, the Cal. .30 M2 ball ammo of the Garand was loaded with a 152-grain bullet and had an average muzzle velocity of 2,805 fps and a muzzle energy of 2,656 foot-pounds.
Comparing the two, .30 Carbine has about 29-percent less muzzle velocity and 63-percent less muzzle energy. Compared to .45 ACP fired from a 1911, however, the .30 Carbine has an edge. The standard .45 ACP loading of the day used a 230-grain FMJ with a muzzle velocity of 830 fps and 352 foot-pounds of muzzle energy on average. That means that .30 Carbine has about 140-percent more muzzle velocity and about 175-percent more muzzle energy than .45 ACP when fired from their respective WWII-issue weapons. Considering that the M1 Carbine was intended as a replacement defensive weapon for personnel that would have otherwise been issued a 1911, that’s not bad at all.
Modern .30 Carbine Ammo
Fresh .30 Carbine ammo is still relatively plentiful today. Remington, Federal, Aguila, IMI, PPU, Magtech, Winchester, Hornady, Buffalo Bore, Sellier& Bellot and others all produce it. The bulk of these are target loads featuring a typical 110-grain FMJ bullet. However, companies like Hornady and Underwood offer some defensive loads as well such as the 110-grain FTX and the 85-grain Lehigh Xtreme Cavitator. Hunting ammo choices are mainly composed of soft-point 110-grain bullets.
All I can say about .30 Carbine is it can kill deer at close range, meaning under 100 yards. I have hunted whitetail deer with the .30 Carbine and it can fill your freezer. I’ve used Hornady ammo with good results, but that said, I would not recommend going out of your way to use the .30 Carbine for deer hunting given the abundance of other options today.
M1 Carbine Major Variants
M1 And M1A1 Carbines
The original and most common version of the carbine is the standard M1, featuring smooth wood stocks and non-adjustable, flip-over rear sights with apertures for 100- and 300-yards. The M1A1 Carbine sports a side folding wire stock instead, but is otherwise identical to the M1. The M1A1 is also known as the paratrooper model given it was designed to be used by U.S. Army Airborne units.
With the introduction of the M2 variant in late 1944, the carbine was given select-fire capabilities and a 30-round magazine. This variant was widely used during the Korean War, much more than in WWII where they only witnessed the tail-end of the conflict. The M2 paratrooper variant was designated the M2A1 and was similar to the M1A1.
An M3 Carbine with its scope and battery pack. Photo: Wikipedia.
Perhaps the most unique variant was the M3. This version was just an M2 fitted with a mount for early-generation infrared night vision scopes. The whole setup weighed over 30 pounds, and despite being cutting-edge technology for its time, the scopes only had an effective range of about 70-100 yards.
M1 Variant Nuances
Sights
Early M1s had a non-adjustable rear sight. This sight had two apertures, one for 100 yards and one for 300 yards. By the end of WWII, an adjustable rear sight had replaced the original flip-up rear sight.
Barrel Bands
There were also three types of barrel bands on M1 Carbines.
Type 1: This was the most common variation and featured a narrow band retained by the band spring.
Type 2: This M1 appeared in 1944 with a wide band that better secured the barrel to the stock.
Type 3: By 1945, this variation included a bayonet lug as well. Many M1s had their barrel bands upgraded to the Type III after 1945.
A Type 1 barrel band (top) versus a Type 3 band (bottom). Photo: rockislandauction.com.
M1 Carbine Stocks
Stocks are also classified into three types.
Type 1: These stocks are the earliest and are referred to as “high wood” with the stock nearly covering the operating handle and featuring an I-shaped oiler slot in the rear stock. The oiler also held the canvas sling in place.
Type 2: These stocks are wartime production and feature an oval oiler slot and high wood. The high wood stocks were easily damaged, so the
Type 3: This stock, called low wood, was designed and used from 1944 onward. As the name implies, the stock was cut away from the operating handle.This variation also features an oval oiler slot.
It's worthwhile to note, the forend profiles of early stocks are straight while later-production stocks had a “pot belly” that sloped down. Early handguards also had two rivets while later variants had four.
Safety
The safety is another feature that changed during war production. Early guns had a push-button safety which was similar in size to the magazine release. To avoid confusion among soldiers, the safety was replaced with a rotary-style safety. Many M1s were later retrofitted with a rotary safety as well.
Surplus M1 Carbines
By the mid-1950s, surplus M1 Carbines started to become available on the commercial market. The CMP sold surplus M1 Carbines for $18.50, and at the time would ship them directly to your house (ah, the good old days). Carbines, ammo and extra magazines were all in abundance in those days.
Many veterans bought them due to familiarity and nostalgia, others purchased them for home defense given how handy and easy they are to shoot. Many also enjoyed using the carbine for hunting small- to medium-size game.
Even in the 1980s, M1 Carbines were regularly seen on the used rack in gun stores. Prices back then were about $200 to $300. Some 200,000 M1 Carbines from South Korea were allowed to be sold in the U.S. under the Reagan administration. The days of inexpensive surplus M1 Carbines, however, are now over.
The Clinton administration blocked sales of surplus M1 Carbines from the Philippines, Turkey and Pakistan. The Obama administrated similarly axed surplus sales of M1s from South Korea in 2010. These guns qualify as “curios or relics” and are legal to sell in the U.S., but they were sadly destroyed instead. There are probably still more M1 Carbines sitting in warehouses abroad, but the odds of them ever being imported are disappointingly slim.
A surplus Winchester M1 Carbine with a 30-round magazine and bayonet. Photo: rockislandauction.com.
Collecting The M1 Carbine
When it comes to collecting the surplus M1s that are already circulating on the secondhand market it’s, unfortunately, a tough nut to crack. This is because there are a ton of very minute, nuanced details that can majorly impact a carbine’s value. If you really want to get into it, you will need to do research beyond the information provided in this article.
The general condition, the rarity of the manufacturer or variant, the originality, subtle details like the barrel band or stock pattern and even a gun’s serial number can all play a huge role. There are also forgeries to watch out for on top of learning how to identify original features. These are all things that you can teach yourself, but it will require time and dedication before you’re educated enough to start dropping large sums on expanding your collection without worrying about getting scammed.
Reproduction M1 Carbines
After WWII, several firearms manufacturers produced copies of the M1 Carbine. Iver Johnson, AMPCO, Erma, Universal Firearms and Plainfield Machine Company are just a few that have existed over the years. The quality varied among these manufacturers, with some using a mix of original surplus and new-production parts and others building them with entirely new commercial components. Not all GI parts are compatible with commercial guns.
Currently, there are still a few manufacturers cranking out reproduction M1 Carbines. Inland Mfg. (which is not the original Inland Mfg. but a new company started in 2013), Auto-Ordnance (which is part of Kahr Arms) and Chiappa are three of them. Of these, some are more faithful reproductions than others, with some true clones and others the company’s interpretation of the M1. Chiappa’s, for instance, is chambered for 9mm or .22 LR and uses a blowback action.
When considering an M1 Carbine, you need to ask yourself: Do I want to continue to shoot an original which will diminish its value, or shoot the heck out of a reproduction? My thought with reproduction guns is not to give it a hallowed slot in my gun safe, but to shoot it a lot.
Inland Mfg. offers eight variants of the M1 Carbine, and my favorite is the 1945 M1 with a Type III barrel band. While some of the Inland M1 Carbines take creative license with the look and features. However, when you shoulder an Inland Mfg. M1 1945, it makes you wonder whether it just came off the production line in 1945. It even has period-correct features like a round bolt and low wood stock. The new Inland Mfg. M1 Carbines are so close to original specifications Inland marks the underside of the barrel and inside the stock to prevent these carbines from being sold as WWII-vintage firearms by unscrupulous gun traders.
A new-production commercial M1 1945 Carbine from Inland Mfg.
Another favorite of mine is the Auto-Ordnance M1 Carbine Paratrooper, which is a reproduction of the M1A1 with a folding wire stock. Add shooting the Paratrooper from the hip with the stocked folded to your bucket list. You'll have a silly grin on your face after running through a 30-round mag.
Given the collectability of surplus guns, reproductions allow one to shoot them as much as desired without worrying about eroding the value of an original. Reproductions also cost less than originals and are pretty much guaranteed to run out of the box, while surplus guns often need some tweaking and some cleaning.
Getting Started With An M1 Carbine
There are a lot of complexities and nuances to collecting surplus M1s. There is also the expense.
If you have your heart set on a surplus M1, expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000 for a shooter in good condition. Rebuilds are cheaper but will have mismatched parts, but that's alright for a gun you are going to shoot. Reproductions are, honestly, the best option if all you want is a range toy. These guns are less expensive, but won't appreciate in value like originals.
Regardless of the exact variant you end up with, M1 Carbines are a ton of fun to shoot and will forever hold a prominent space in the pantheon of historically significant military small arms.
More Classic Military Guns:
Why The Mauser C96 “Broomhandle” Still Looms Large
Undeniably reliable and versatile, the pump-action shotgun is a must-have for any shooter. Here are 11 affordable options worth adding to your gun safe.
Common as stars in the night sky, powerful as a runaway freight train, with usefulness only surpassed by duct tape, the pump-action shotgun is truly a mythical beast. The mere click-clack of its slide racking has been known to scare home-intruding dunderheads so severely as to pipeline them straight from crime into missionary work. Truly, this gun can turn water into wine.
Not quite.
As far as firearms go, few surpass the versatility of the iconic pump-action shotgun. From birds on the wing to deer in the field, perhaps no other gun boasts such wide-reaching hunting applications. As a defensive arm, well, racking it won’t guarantee squat when it comes to neutralizing a threat, but competently handling it is a whole other matter. Suffice to say, in practiced hands, few firearms are as devastating as a pump-action in close quarters.
Even if you’re a dedicated handgunner or an absolutely religious rifleman, it’s sound practice to have a scattergun at hand. And with its utility, reliability and relatively simple manual of arms, it’s natural to gravitate to the pump-action shotgun. If you’ve yet to arm yourself as such, we’re here to help.
We’ve put together 12 of the most affordable pump-action shotgun options out there for various applications. Luckily, given their general affordability, many of these are also considered among the best in class.
But before we get to that …
Why You Want A Pump-Action Shotgun
There is a host of reasons why this style of scattergun has remained among the most popular firearms of all time. When you home in on the pump-action shotgun’s virtues, there are four that really standout.
Reliability: The pump-action is renowned for its ruggedness. Even when dirty the gun will cycle as long as you can work the slide. The same cannot be said of many semi-auto shotguns.
Firepower: Depending on shell size, most base models hold 4+1 rounds and extended capacity options 8+1. Very generally speaking, this ballpark is big enough to cover most hunting to home defense applications.
Simplicity: As far as repeating arms go, the pump-action is fairly intuitive to operate and, outside of malfunctions, simple to troubleshoot. Yes, you need a little mechanical know-how to maintain it, but perhaps less so than a gas-operated semi-auto shotgun.
Versatility: As mentioned before, few guns boast both bird and deer-bagging capabilities. From a defensive standpoint, when it comes to load selection, you also have a wide spectrum of options at hand to match your circumstances.
It’s a proven and reliable system, but not always a bed of roses. You should consider some of challenges that come with the pump-action shotgun.
Reloading: Defensively speaking, this is one of the main challenges of the gun and takes a good deal of time to master under stress. In most cases, there’s no box magazine to drop and keeping count of shots is a must. There’s no more stomach-hollowing sound than click after you work the slide.
Malfunctions: From failure to extract to double feed, you bet the pump-action shotgun can jam. To become fully proficient, expect to spend time learning how to address these stoppages.
12-Gauge: The fact that most pump-actions are 12-gauge should be a boon. Yet, the recoil sensitive find it troublesome. This is less of an issue now, given the 20-gauge options available. Still, some might find this alternative isn’t available in the particular model they set their heart on.
With that settled, let’s look at some of the best pump-action shotgun options for the money.
Our Choice For Hunting
Remington 870 Fieldmaster
If all you had was an 870 Fieldmaster, you could consider yourself well-armed for nearly any hunt. For the price, it’s nearly a sin if one isn’t part of your arsenal. Thankfully the iconic field pump survived Remington Arms' bankruptcy and is available for future generations.
Steady as a Swiss timepiece, the 870 Fieldmaster chews through any 3-inch ammo it’s fed. Much of this reliability comes from the twin-action bar design of the pump-action shotgun, a bit of engineering that has set the standard. Additionally, the Fieldmaster—in its present guise dubbed the “New Model”—continues to sport a milled receiver, endowing it with not only ruggedness but longevity.
The pump-action comes with the choice of a 21- 26- or 28-inch barrel in 12- and 20-gauge. At 6 to 7.5 pounds, it's very manageable in the field. And sticked in satin-finished walnut, it has the timeless look most want in their field gun. If you settle on the 870 Fieldmaster for your next hunt, it’s difficult to say you make a bad choice.
Mossberg 500 All Purpose: Proven in the field and a solid investment, the much-beloved 500 All-Purpose will definitely put meat on the table. Pretty plain Jane on the outside, but it has it where it counts. MSRP: $504 // mossberg.com
Winchester SXP Field: Among the most affordable options out there, the SXP Field proves modern Winchester knows more than just semi-auto shotguns. MSRP: $409 // winchesterguns.com
CZ 620/628 Field Select: Looking for a lighter field gun or something for quail and the like? CZ has you covered with these nifty 20- (620) and 28-gauge (628) options. MSRP: $599 // cz-usa.com
Our Choice For Home Defense/Tactical
Mossberg 590 Tactical (9-Shot)
While its cousin the Mossberg 500 is considered one of the princes of pump-action shotguns, from a defensive standpoint the 590 Tactical has a decisive edge. First and foremost, the pump-action shotgun is available with 8+1 capacity, which for most should prove more than enough firepower no matter how dire the situation.
Additionally, the 12-gauge comes decked out with a number of other excellent features: heavy-walled barrel, 3-inch chamber, steel trigger guard, heat shield, ghost-ring rear sight, corn-cob fore-end and sling swivels. If that’s not enough, the aftermarket is sky-high for Mossberg shotguns. Essentially, you can tailor the 590 to your particular needs.
The 590 Tactical 9-shot runs a bit larger than some other defensive models. It boasts a 20-inch barrel, keeping it and the full-length tubular magazine flush. In turn, it is a heftier pump-action shotgun—not necessarily a bad thing. The weight soaks up recoil, potentially making it faster shot to shot.
Remington 870 Tactical: Plenty of enhancements make the 870 Tactical a deadly-serious self-defense option: ghost ring sight rail, 3-inch chamber, etc. The only area the stock model pales to the 590 tactical is the 7-round magazine. MSRP: $449 // remarms.com
FN P-12: A military-grade, pump-action shotgun, the 5+1 capacity smoothbore means business. With an 18-inch barrel, it also tends to be nimble option. MSRP: $669 // fnamerica.com
Benelli SuperNova Tactical: Despite its odd space-aged stylings, the SuperNova Tactical is a competent fighter. The pistol grip is a nice touch in this area, making it easy to handle. The one drawback is the pump-action’s 4+1 capacity. MSRP: Starts at $569 // benelliusa.com
Our Choice For Youth Model
Mossberg 500 Bantam/505/510 Mini
Mossberg dedicated itself to the next generation of shooters with its youth shotgun line. Essentially the same shotgun (the 500), the 500 Bantam, 505 and 510 Mini offer three different fit. This is extremely important for the burgeoning shooter.
Not only does fit improve the overall performance, keeping the gun manageable and its controls within reach of smaller hands, the size also ensures the gun is properly mounted. This one factor goes a long way in cutting down on felt recoil—the dread of any new shooter.
As far as this goes, the 500 Bantam and 510 Mini are both available with adjustable lengths of pull; 12 to 13 inches in the former and 10.5 to 11.5 in the latter. The 505 is a fixed 12 inches. Also, the shotguns are chambered appropriately for those just cutting their teeth—by and large .410 and 20-gauge. Though, for a young hunter that’s ready, there is a 500 Bantam in 12-gauge. MSRP: Starting at $504 // mossberg.com
Other Top Youth Options:
Stevens 320 Field Grade Compact: Its Mama-bear 12.8 length-of-pull fits most youths, while a 22-inch barrel helps hone an effective swing. The 20-gauge even comes in “Muddy Girl” camo for daughters hitting the field for the first time. MSRP: Starting at $280 // savagearms.com
TriStar Cobra III Youth: Admittedly, the 24-inch barrel is a bit long for some, but outside that the 20-gauge is sized right for learning the ropes. The Cobra III, like most TriStar guns, also boasts nice lines, which definitely goes down as a plus. MSRP: Starting at $365 // tristararms.com
N8 Tactical has just announced the Magna-Clip, a magnet-based magazine carrier that will accommodate most common pistol mags.
N8 Tactical mostly makes holsters, but the company sells spare magazine carriers as well. Until now, those have been traditional designs, but the company has just announced a model that’s a bit more high-tech in the form of the Magna-Clip.
The N8 Tactical Magna-Clip uses three very powerful neodymium-grade magnets to retain pistol magazines. The company claims that it is compatible with virtually any handgun magazine that is either all-metal or metal-lined, including Glock mags. The body of the carrier itself features a spring-steel pocket clip, which not only holds the magazine in place to make it more accessible but also helps to conceal it by looking like an ordinary pocket knife clip. N8 Tactical describes the Magna-Clip as requiring a “firm pull” to remove the magazine, so hopefully the clip was designed to ensure that the whole carrier doesn’t come along with it too.
N8 Tactical lists tactical reloads as another potential advantage of the Magna-Clip. This is because the strength of the magnets should naturally draw a pocketed magazine right back into the carrier. This allows one to absentmindedly toss a retained magazine back into their pocket and still know exactly where to find it if needed later. N8 Tactical also says that the magnets are strong enough that one doesn’t need to worry about their magazine falling out of it, even during rigorous movement.
The Magna-Clip is available now and has an MSRP of $29.95.
Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 7 new bits of guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.
Like lemmings to a cliff face, gunmakers are scrambling to pistol-caliber carbines. The latest to make the plunge is Smith & Wesson, and the results aren’t half-shabby. The 9mm M&P FPC is a grip-loaded affair with trappings of the company’s heralded striker-fired pistol line … and some features certain to endear it to shooters who appreciate convenience. Chief among these is the gun’s horizontal folding mechanism, cutting its overall length from about 30 inches down to about 16 inches. Because optics are mounted to a Picatinny rail on top of the M-Lok handguard, optics retain their zero after folding. Additionally, the charging handle doubles as a locking latch for lightning-fast intuitive deployment. Threaded muzzle, interchangeable backstraps and a load of M-Lok slots round out what looks to be a pretty wicked little system. MSRP: $660
Maxim Defense PRS Suppressors
Hunting, competition or just plain enjoying your shooting time more, few accessories do more to enhance a rifle than a suppressor. Maxim Defense improves all three pursuits with the introduction of its lightweight and effective PRS Suppressor for 6.5 and .308 calibers. A sealed monolithic MonoKore is composed of titanium and aluminum, making the 7.9-inch can a second thought on most firearms. Additionally, Maxim designed the device to minimize the increase in cyclic rate and gas blowback of a suppressed firearm. Furthermore, a hard-coat anodized finish protects your investment, while its direct thread mount makes attachment universal and a breeze. MSRP: $695
Bear Creek Arsenal BC-10mm
What this world needs are more 10mm PCCs. Lo and behold, Bear Creek Arsenal answers our prayers. The BC-10mm is chambered for the “perfect 10,” and with a number of features that are just plain cool. Topping the blowback carbine’s list is a side charging handle that makes manipulation fast and natural. Additionally, BCA runs an 8-ounce buffer weight in the platform, which makes the snappy 10mm downright polite in the recoil department. Best of all, the BC-10mm is compatible with Glock magazines, which opens the door to standard capacity (in terms of long-guns) magazines. Outfitted with ample M-Lok real estate on the handguard and built around billet receivers, the carbine hits the sweet spot for 10mm fans. MSRP: $820
Volquartsen VT2
When it comes to precision rimfires, Volquartsen always has something interesting cooking. Dubbed the VT2, the rimfire boasts an ingenious takedown mechanism—a simple button/lever system that requires nary a tool. Even better, the system adds flexibility to the gun, giving users the potential to swap barrels, thus calibers, at least with the .17 HMR and .22 WMR. The AR-pattern rimfire is also chambered in .22 LR, but its svelte receiver size precludes it from the swapping fun. At present, Volquartsen offers two chamberings: .17 HMR and .22 WMR. Other highlights of the rifle include a 16.5-inch carbon-fiber barrel, compensator, TG2000 trigger and plenty of M-Lok mounting space. MSRP: Starting at $2,261
Magpul Daka Grid Organizer for Pelican Vault V730 and V800
Every gun worth its weight in ammo is worth a quality case, and every case should have a top-notch organization system. Magpul jettisons the frustrating foam accompanying most hard cases with its truly ingenious Daka Grid Organizer. A fully customizable drop-in solution, the system secures your shooting gear and—better yet—reconfigures to the gun and gear you’re toting. The secret is the use of expanded polypropylene panels and blocks that nest together to create retention systems tailored to your particular firearm. They then can be quickly removed and reinstalled for your next loadout. Additionally, the lightweight Grid system doesn’t absorb contaminants, creating the ideal environment for your guns. Presently, the system is available for V730 and V800 Pelican cases. MSRP: $140 and up
Rock River Arms Operator DMR Series Rifles
Rock River Arms has turned its studied eye to precision shooters with the introduction of the Operator DMR series. Short for Designated Marksman Rifle, the DMR line includes six variants, with two chambered for .223 Remington/5.56 NATO and four for .308 Winchester/7.62 NATO. Of the 7.62 models, Rock River offers two 16-inch barrel options and two 20-inch barrel options—one of which is an enhanced model. Translate that to the rifle coming with a SilencerCo Chimera 300 suppressor, an extra RRA 3-slot rail assembly and an ARCA Swiss rail adapter. For the 5.56 guns, there’s no enhanced option, simply the choice between 16- and 20-inch barrels. Across the board, the company outfits the guns nicely with chrome-lined barrels, low-profile gas blocks, two-stage Ultra Match RRA triggers and Magpul flip-up Pro Series MBUS iron sights. MSRP: $1,745 and up
Brownells BRN-180SH Upper
It’s about damn time the AR-180 has come back into the fold, and Brownells is the main group to thank for the carbine’s rebirth. The Iowa concern continues to evolve its version of the Eugene Stoner-designed gem with the introduction of a suppressor-optimized, .300 Blackout upper. Dubbed the BRN_180SH, the upper defining feature is a three-setting gas block, with presets for unsuppressed, suppressed and off. The latter essentially turns the gun into a straight pull, making it whisper quiet when you’re running a can. Playing off the Blackout’s short-barreled creds, the component comes with a 10½-inch fire tube with a threaded barrel. Furthermore, it boasts an adjustable charging handle and mounts simply on the Brownells BRN-180 lower receiver. MSRP: $1,000
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
A discussion on the particulars of brass condition when it comes to handload performance.
The big brown truck that brings happy packages lumbered down my driveway, stopping in front of the house. The dogs let me know some danger was present—they bark at anything—and I headed out to greet our friendly driver.
“Something jingly in this one.”
Something jingly, indeed. Today would be a good day. Today was new brass day. If gun owners can proclaim it is “new gun day,” and musicians can have “new guitar day,” then dammit, we reloaders are allowed to have new brass day.
New brass day is always a happy day at Massaro Ballistic Laboratories. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Using new brass might seem counterintuitive to the reloader, as the very name of the action alludes to the fact that the ammo had been previously fired at some point in time. I prefer to use the term “handloading,” as it implies the hand-tuning of the case, powder charge and seating of bullet, rather than just making something functional once again. But, using new brass does pose some issues, which will need to be sorted out.
By no means do I feel we all should be shooting new brass all the time, as I still rework fired cases for my guns to this day. I do prefer to use spent cases from factory ammo that has been fired in my guns.
Looking at a reloading manual, you’ll see the SAAMI specification for case length for each cartridge, and then you’ll see a “trim to” length, a bit shorter than the SAAMI dimension, to allow for the stretching of brass cases. More often than not, I don’t trim my spent cases to that dimension, but to the SAAMI spec, so that if I use new brass, I don’t have to trim it excessively.
Special Treatment
The majority of new brass available for sale will need to be treated almost the same as if it were once fired. I’ve had all sorts of new brass arrive with dented case mouths, burred-up flash holes and other ailments, so I’ve learned to treat it all as if it were once-fired.
The exception to this rule has been brass from Nosler, Norma, Lapua and some of the boutique brass makers, like Kinetics’ match stuff. This doesn’t mean that the Federal, Hornady, Winchester or Remington brass is bad, or inferior … just that the shipping methods sometimes cause some undue harm.
New Norma brass made a very good choice for the .223 Remington and 68-grain Hornady match bullets. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
It really isn’t anything that a pass through the resizing die wouldn’t cure, but it’s nice when you unbox some of the Nosler Premium Brass and thoroughly inspect it from stem to stern without finding a flaw. I could just go from box to press to rifle chamber without having any worries; at worst, I might want to put a VLD chamfer on the case mouth if I’m being really picky about precision. I have relied on both Nosler and Norma brass for quite some time for my dangerous game handloads and have never been let down.
Does the new, premium brass make a huge difference in handgun cartridges? One of the best features of handgun cartridges is the simplicity of design: The vast majority of these cases can be reused many times without issue. That said, I do like new brass for my everyday carry ammo, or hunting ammunition for those who pursue big game with a handgun. But for the majority of handgun work—especially for the high-volume shooters—so long as the brass thickness doesn’t vary so much that it’ll affect the crimp, you might not see the same results as you would with a rifle.
New Versus Old Brass
There are instances where new brass just won’t give the same performance as once-fired might; the belted magnum cartridges come quickly to mind.
I once worked diligently with a friend to get his 7mm Rem. Mag. to deliver the accuracy he wanted. He had tried all sorts of factory ammunition, and while it wasn’t terrible—three shot groups printing 1¼-MOA—he decided to try handloads.
My tried-and-true loads weren’t any better than the factory stuff, and I decided to take a closer look at his fired brass. Using a Redding Instant Comparator, we found that the brass was stretching nearly 0.010 inch upon firing, so we grabbed one of the Redding Competition Shellholder sets and used the one with the correlative depth to keep the shoulder as close to the chamber dimensions as possible.
This brought the group size down to just over ½-MOA, which is more than likely the result of better chamber concentricity. In this example, once-fired brass was assuredly better than new stuff of any brand. This is common to many of the belted cases with a steep shoulder.
The author’s Winchester Model 70 in .300 H&H Magnum likes brand-new Nosler brass and a 200-grain AccuBond. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
My .300 H&H Magnum, with its slight 8½-degree shoulder, doesn’t mind headspacing off the shoulder at all, but it does show a definite preference for longer bullets. Loading the 200-grain Federal Terminal Ascent or Nosler AccuBond into virgin Nosler brass will give ¾-MOA all day long. The gun likes lots of bearing surface, so 180-grain copper bullets perform well. It does, however, prefer bullets in the 195- to 200-grain range, and I really didn’t find much difference between new brass and fired and resized brass.
Many dangerous game hunters won’t even consider handloaded ammunition, let alone once-fired brass. The theory—as I’ve heard it proclaimed—is that those hunters want no possibility of a failure to feed because the brass wasn’t resized properly and would be willing to sacrifice a bit of accuracy for the guarantee of hearing a bang during a charge. Based on the size of the targets and the short distance at which they’re taken—I’m talking brown bear, lion, Cape buffalo, elephant, hippo—a 2-MOA gun has plenty of accuracy. Virgin brass is no issue at all in this application and can provide a means of using boutique projectiles that aren’t offered in factory loads.
Brand-new Hornady brass in .450-400 3-inch Nitro Express, destined for a Cape buffalo hunt. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
While I still hoard spent brass—I will pick it up no matter what it is and sort it out later—I do love new brass day, especially for my favorite old rifles, like my Heym Express .404 Jeffery and Winchester 70 .300 H&H Magnum. I’m also happy that component brass, of any brand, is starting to show up again, putting smiles on the faces of reloaders once again.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Beretta's new 80X Cheetah proved to be a supremely shootable pistol, but the author's had an issue that may make you reconsider carrying one.
There was a time when Beretta’s 13-round, .380 ACP Cheetah pistols were arguably the best concealed carry guns available, but that was many years ago. Today, the market is dominated by smaller and lighter polymer handguns with similar capacities of 9x19mm. This is worth mentioning early on, because the new Beretta 80X Cheetah isn’t for everyone, and it was never intended to be.
The 80X is a compact pistol, but it’s not tiny by any measurement, and that already says a lot about the philosophy behind it. This wasn’t designed to be the most concealable gun that you can carry, it was designed to be the most shootable gun you can still conceal. For those who have difficulty making good hits with micro-compacts that disappear into your palm, the revamped Cheetah handles much closer to a full-size pistol, and the .380 ACP chambering combined with a metal frame helps to keep its recoil light as well.
Many were quick to dismiss the 80X Cheetah as a viable carry gun because it’s not a 9mm, but Beretta clearly believes that there’s a market. I think that mostly includes shooters with small hands, individuals with hand strength issues and concealed carriers who just don’t practice enough to master a smaller gun. Training as often as you can with your carry gun is always a good idea, but some people simply don’t or can’t get out that much. If someone can naturally make better hits more consistently with an 80X Cheetah, that’s far more valuable than carrying a more potent round that they’re going to miss with.
After getting to handle an 80X at this last SHOT Show, it struck me as being a very well-made pistol full of good design choices, so I almost immediately got in contact with Beretta to secure a review sample. Spoiler: I was mostly left very impressed after my time with it, but I also discovered a pretty glaring issue with mine. We’ll get into exactly what that was after discussing everything the pistol got right.
The 80X Cheetah comes in a plastic hardcase with a cable lock and two magazines.
The Good
As I already said, the 80X Cheetah immediately struck me as a very well-designed pistol. Besides the obvious modernizations like the optics-ready slide and accessory rail, there are plenty of more subtle changes to appreciate as well. The white 3-dot sights are excellent, the new Vertec grip angle felt very ergonomic to me and the DA/SA trigger was one of the best I’ve ever shot—I say that as someone who is typically indifferent about triggers.
The 80X is optics-ready, but plates are not yet available. Once they are, the addition of a red dot would only enhance the pistol’s shootability.
The true double-action pull is long but very smooth, and the single-action is incredibly short and crisp. It has a very short reset, so firing fast is easy, and when the hammer is decocked using the lever, it shortens the travel length of the double-action pull. This is undoubtedly the best way to carry the gun, as you still get the safety of a heavier double-action trigger but only about half as much travel.
The blowback action has caused some to describe the pistol as snappy, but I felt it was softer shooting than similar pistols I’m accustomed to. The grip is just large enough to accommodate all of my fingers, and the flat trigger guard enables one to use the index finger of their support hand for extra control. This technique has mostly fallen by the wayside, but I prefer it for certain pistols and would count the 80X among them. I at least felt this method gave me better control than a traditional two-hand grip given the pistol’s smaller size.
The author found that due to the pistol’s small size, using his finger on the front of the flat trigger guard provided extra control.
The slide also features nicely textured front slide serrations, which combined with the relatively weak recoil spring makes it very easy to rack and perform press checks. This ease of operation is another reason why the new Cheetah seems like it would be a good choice for someone with weaker hands.
The design lends itself to good mechanical accuracy, and Beretta reengineered the magazine to feed hollow point ammunition more reliably. For a defensive pistol, that last point is a big deal. I didn’t have any hollow point ammo on hand to try myself, but word on the street is that the 80X can eat just about anything you feed it.
Disassembly is just as easy as with any other classic Beretta handgun, the fit and finish are excellent and the pistol was almost perfectly reliable in the 200 rounds of Magtech 95-grain FMJs I ran through it.
Almost…
The Bad
When it comes to the 80X Cheetah’s reliability, it was nearly flawless. I never once experienced a traditional failure to feed, failure to eject, double-feed or anything else like that. What I did discover, however, was a very easy-to-engage method of consistently inducing a malfunction on the pistol I was sent.
To explain, we need to go back to SHOT 2023 when the 80X was first announced.
If you look online, you’ll see that many gun writers (myself included) originally misreported that the new Cheetah was capable of cocked-and-locked carry. Why did we believe this? Because it definitely feels as if it should be able to.
This is due to the fact that when my pistol’s hammer is cocked, the safety lever very positively engages in between safe and fire—what I’ll refer to as the middle position. When the lever is in this position, the red indicator dot is only partially obstructed and the slide cannot be manually cycled. Move the lever above this point and the hammer will decock, the dot will be fully covered and the trigger will be disengaged.
The 80X Cheetah with its “middle safety position” engaged. Every 80X Cheetah owner the author has spoken to has agreed that this position engages so positively that it feels like an intentional design choice, even if the manual says otherwise.
Based on what others have said about their 80X Cheetahs, there seems to be some inconsistency in manufacturing going on. While some report that the hammer will not fall while the middle position is engaged, others have reported that theirs will.
Regardless of the behavior of individual Cheetahs that have been sold, the owner’s manual emphasizes that the 80X’s safety lever has only two positions: all the way down is fire, and all the way up is safe/decock. Despite what the official literature says, it seems undeniable at this point that the pistol’s safety does have a very distinct middle position. The only question then is how does the pistol perform when this position is engaged?
On my example, not well.
While it did prevent the slide from being manually cycled, it did not prevent my pistol’s hammer from falling or the gun from firing. I initially discovered this by accident when I engaged the middle position halfway through a magazine while at the range.
When I fired my test gun in this middle position, the case failed to eject and the slide became severely jammed in the rearward position. The cause of the jam was clear—the slide got pinned underneath the safety lever, I could tell this by the finish worn away on this area. I only managed to free the slide by forcefully pressing the safety lever down on the edge of a table.
Here you can see the slide jammed underneath the safety lever after it was fired while set to the middle safety position.
Attempts to intentionally induce this malfunction proved fruitful, as the gun consistently jammed in the same way when fired in this safety condition.
When I voiced my concerns about the ease of repeatability of this malfunction, and how it could accidentally be induced, Beretta’s Pistol Product Manager responded with this:
Could you expand on why you should shoot the gun with the safety partially engage? I don't understand the reasoning behind doing it while expecting the gun to work without jamming.
So, it seems that the company’s official stance on the issue I experienced is that because the manual explicitly states that the gun is not safe in this middle safety position, nobody has a reason to ever intentionally shoot it in this condition. On the surface, I agree. The manual’s wording ensures that no user should have a reasonable expectation of the 80X being safe unless the lever is fully moved up.
But that doesn’t change the fact the 80X Cheetah I tested had a “jam instantly” setting, and all it took to engage it was a small flick upwards of my thumb.
Even if it’s unlikely that someone would do this during a gunfight, it is possible, and knowing that means I could never fully trust my life to the 80X Cheetah. At least not with the specific gun I got to test.
Parting Shot
Overall, I really enjoyed my time with the 80X Cheetah, and I was expecting to be enthusiastically recommending it as a carry gun to anyone interested in a supremely shootable little pistol.
Unfortunately, however, the issue with the safety is too glaring of a potential reliability problem for me to be able to recommend it as a defensive piece. If you just want to blast some .380 at the range, I still say go for it, just be careful to avoid shooting it while in the middle safety position in case yours behaves the same way that mine did.
Notice the bottom right of the rear slide serrations. You can see the finish that was worn away when the slide became jammed underneath the safety lever.
If you’re deadest on carrying one, keep an eye on user reports from the wild. Another Beretta representative acknowledged that of the 80X Cheetahs currently on the market, behavior pertaining to this issue varies. That leads me to believe that it’s something that will eventually be fixed. If that happens, I think it will make a great carry gun.
Pros:
Very nice trigger
Good ergonomics
Good capacity for its size
Optics-ready plus accessory rail
Cons:
The gun tested fired and jammed if the trigger was pulled while the safety was in between safe and fire
.380 ACP is on the weaker side of acceptable self-defense rounds
Beretta 80X Cheetah FAQ
Is a .380 enough to stop an attacker?
Absolutely. While .380 ACP is one of the weakest handgun rounds that's suitable for self-defense, it is still suitable. At the end of the day, shot placement is more important than ballistics. If you can shoot a .380 pistol well enough to make fast, accurate shots with it, then it will definitely stop an attacker.
What is the best .380 round for self-defense?
The best .380 ACP self-defense rounds are pretty much what you'd expect: hollow-point loads from trusted manufacturers. Some of the most popular include Hornady Critical Defense 90gr FTX, Speer Gold Dot 90gr JHP and Winchester Silver Tip 85gr JHP.
What's better, .380 ACP or 9mm?
Both .380 ACP and 9mm have pros and cons in the context of self-defense. That said, the greater power of 9mm Parabellum has made it the most popular defensive pistol caliber in the world. However, if you can't handle 9mm's recoil or can only carry a very small gun, .380 ACP could be a better choice.
A look back at the Swiss K31, probably the best service rifle ever made that never saw wide-scale combat use.
A great many rifles have passed through time never having truly been tested. Some of them were simply too far ahead of their time, and others a day late and a dollar short. Such is the case of the Swiss K31, arguably one of the finest military rifles ever made … and possibly the best bolt-action rifle to come out in the prewar era.
It’s too bad, however, that it was never used in its intended role, an example of notorious Swiss neutrality. The rifle is so well made and accurate that it has instead made a name for itself stateside as one of the go-to rifles for vintage military matches, but even then, it’s slowly becoming extinct on the firing line.
So, without further ado, let’s look at the rise and fall of the prince of service rifles.
History Of The K31
The K31 Schmidt-Rubin Short Rifle (Karabiner Model 1931) is a very unique design that dates back to the blackpowder cartridge days. The original designs for the gun were adopted into service in 1889, just as Switzerland entered the era of smokeless powder. The original rifles were massive and had strange, elongated receivers fitted with 12-round magazines. The designers, Eduard Rubin and Rudolf Schmidt, came up with a complicated, oversized action that allowed a straight-pull method of operation. The rifle was ungainly, but chambered in a then-modern cartridge, the 7.5×53.5mm (which at the time was quite advanced).
There were shortcomings with the gun, namely its receiver. Not long after it was adopted, a newer, more robust design was developed that confusingly shared the same name. The Schmidt-Rubin 1889/96 rifle was a new design entirely and wasn’t parts-compatible with the original. The bolt design was different and much stronger. Nevertheless, this design also proved too ungainly and mounted troops settled for a foreign straight-pull Mannlicher chambered for the 7.5×53.5mm cartridge. The Mannlicher wasn’t loved, and a search began to replace it. Two additional Schmidt-Rubin rifles were made as stopgaps, the 1900 short rifle and later 1905 carbine, but they were not great guns and quickly discarded.
The next major evolution was the K11, a final evolution of the M1911 rifle and M1896/11 rifle. The gun was relatively compact, but still somewhat of a cumbersome piece to carry. The conversion had been made to the then-standard 7.5x55mm, and the ammunition featured spitzer bullets instead of round-nose projectiles. The K11 served for decades until trends again demanded shorter, more compact rifles for infantry. Schmidt and Rubin were long dead at this point, never having lived to see what would be the final model of their straight-pull action: the K31.
The K31 was comparable in size and weight to most 1930s-era military rifles, but it was the last of its breed as far as innovation was concerned. The semi-auto full-power rifle would be the next big thing, itself a relic when World War II was in full swing. Compact guns, like the German STG44, would pave the way for the rifles we know and love today, like the AK and AR series.
The K31 is a marvel of engineering. While the Schmidt-Rubin actions were never as compact as Mausers, Mosins or Enfields, they were the best finished and most mechanically interesting. The end result of all the years of trial and error led to a rifle that was, at the time, one of the most accurate ever issued to an entire army. The 7.5x55mm was a powerful chambering and, combined with the K31, gave the individual Swiss militiaman or soldier a dominating advantage in mountainous terrain. The K31 went on to replace every other rifle in Swiss service and was also used by the Swiss Guard at the Vatican. It served until the late 1950s and continues to be a popular civilian rifle in both Switzerland and, to a lesser extent, in America.
Why Was It Never Used In Warfare?
There’s a simple answer as to why this otherwise fantastic rifle was not used in warfare, despite being quite superior to many others at the time: Switzerland was a neutral country and also didn’t make a habit of exporting their rifles. I’ve searched high and low and can’t find an instance of a K31 being used in combat. I’ve heard from gun show and range lore that the guns were in fact used to protect the Swiss border and some may have made it up to fight the Russians on behalf of Finland, but this is largely unsubstantiated.
The political landscape of Europe at the time would have not strongly benefited Switzerland in terms of picking a side since they had been neutral for so long. The Nazis didn’t particularly care for them, but had loose alliances with other neutral countries at the same time, such as Sweden, notorious for allowing German trade and movement while at the same time staying out of things.
The K31 had a “standard” rear sight for the day in Europe. It was adjustable for elevation only.
The idea that Swiss border guards actually fought the Nazis is dubious at best; however, it isn’t a stretch to believe these rifles were used against various destabilizing elements, such as foreign Bolsheviks trying to enter the country like they had done in other ones. We will probably never know, but there isn’t a single documented case of the K31 in combat that I could find, and unless there’s a substantial release of documents from the time period (again doubtful), the K31 will remain the best military rifle that never saw action.
Straight-Pull Action
Straight-pull actions are a bit of a funny thing. They have a number of distinct advantages over a standard bolt action, but they also lack in certain areas. One of the first major reasons that people began designing straight-pull actions was the idea they were faster. It could be argued that this is true, but speed is a very relative concept when you’re talking about manually operated rifles.
The king of speed in bolt actions is without a doubt the British Enfield. The bolt just simply glides back and forth, and you’re right on target with almost no effort. The downside of the Enfield action is that it’s relatively weak by comparison to the Mauser. Mauser rifles have dominated the bolt-action scene since they were first invented. The Mauser is, without a doubt, the strongest type of bolt action and virtually every common rifle we have today—such as the Model 70 and Remington 700—are direct descendants of the Mauser.
The K31 with bolt open. Note the complex, precise machining on the bolt to facilitate rotation and locking.
With training, you can work a Mauser bolt pretty quickly. Unfortunately, Mauser rifles typically came with a 5-round fixed box magazine. It’s lost on me why the Germans decided to go through two World Wars with this as a main feature, considering it wouldn’t have taken much effort to either extend the magazine box or replace the floor plate and trigger guard unit with a detachable magazine box common to other German rifles at the time, such as the FG42.
The K31 action is very fast when it’s working properly. The downside of it is that it requires a great degree of physical strength to operate quickly. There’s no camming action provided when the bolt is open: You must rip it straight backward, and run it home as hard as you can forward. It’s almost like a semi-auto action with no gas system. If you have an over-pressured case, it’s very difficult to get the action to open.
The K31 has a terrific trigger, among the best of any military rifle ever issued.
If there’s one thing that this rifle is, it’s accurate. The trigger is a two-stage job that’s truly exceptional for not just a military rifle, but for a rifle in general. The trigger breaks clean, and it’s simply a joy to use. The great thing about these guns is that most of them are going to be able to shoot match accurate right from the get-go. If you want to get started in CMP matches or other types of military competition, this is a great option. The average K31 that I’ve fired over the years produces five-shot groups from the bench of around 2 inches. You can expect the gun to hold 4 inches at 200 yards.
The 7.5×55 Cartridge
There have been a number of cartridges designed and used in the K31 family. The principal cartridge of interest is dubbed the GP11. This is a 174-grain bullet that’s fired at roughly 2,550 fps. The cartridge is widely regarded for its accuracy, though unfortunately you’ll have a heck of a time trying to find it today. The surplus market 15 years ago, however, was chock full of the stuff, and you could get very high-quality, Swiss-made ammo for relatively cheap.
The 7.5x55mm (far left) was on par or better than many other rounds used in similar roles. Left to right: 7.5x55mm Swiss, 7.62 NATO, 6.5x55mm Swedish, 7.62x54R, .303 British, .30-06 Springfield and 8x57mm Mauser.
This cartridge was nearly identical to .308 Winchester/7.62 NATO. The ballistics are essentially the same; each has some minor advantages over the other. The 7.5 Swiss case has slightly more capacity, and the 7.62 NATO has a slightly shorter overall length. For all realistic uses, they’re virtually identical in 174- and 175-grain weights.
There are still a couple places that make factory-loaded 7.5 Swiss. It’s becoming increasingly hard to find the ammunition today; only two retailers had it in stock nationwide at the time of this writing. There is, of course, the oddball places that stock these sorts of things. In the past, I had good luck at Dunham’s Sports in the Midwest. They typically have some oddball calibers sitting on the shelf from time to time. If you can find it, Prvi Partizan 174-grain FMJ (GP11 clone) rounds are about $29 for a box of 20.
Brass is also getting slightly hard to find. Unfortunately, the rim diameter is not the same as .308 Winchester, and you can’t make 7.5 Swiss from other common cartridges. That said, the 7.5 Swiss uses .308 diameter bullets, making your selection process pretty easy. It can also use most of the same powders that you would use for .308 Winchester or .30-06 Springfield.
My own match load recipe (try at your own risk) was a 168-grain Hornady BTHP over 41 grains of Hodgdon Varget. The brass was always full-length resized to account for the tight chamber dimensions. I loaded them to 2.890 inches OAL in PPU brass with CCI standard large rifle primers. I shot thousands of this load alongside my dad for years of CMP competition. I shot my first CMP gold with this load, in fact. Now … if only I could find some Varget.
The stocks on many K31 rifles are all beat to hell. This one has some honest dings but is far from the worst the author has seen.
Collecting The K31 Today
The good ol’ days of cheap surplus rifles are long gone. The price of a K31 has doubled in the past 10 years, and in some cases tripled. The rifle in this article would sell for nearly $1,000 today. That puts it in the same cost range as shooter-grade M1 rifles, but with much harder to source ammo and parts. The quality of the rifle featured here is almost as good as it gets. It’s difficult to find any K31 that’s in pristine condition below the trigger; the stocks on these guns are oftentimes very chewed up from being stacked at camp or from exposure to the weather. Say what you will about Swiss militarism, but they certainly did use their guns, even if they weren’t firing them at enemy soldiers.
As a result of this treatment, most K31s have pristine actions in excellent barrels with gnarly stocks. Many people tend to sand down and refinish these blemished areas, and you can often tell because the stocks are significantly narrower toward the buttplate and comb. I haven’t noticed a significant difference in the sale price of these guns with wood restoration. Most people don’t seem to care if the stocks have been tended to.
The receiver is thick compared to a Mauser, but it’s surprisingly light as a complete rifle.
That said, you shouldn’t consider overpaying simply if the stock looks cleaner than the next one. At this point in the game, there isn’t a significant difference in cost between wood types—you may fetch a slightly higher premium for walnut, but we’re not talking more than $100 or so.
The overall supply of these rifles on the market has started to dwindle. The last several gun shows I’ve attended only had a few—and they were criminally overpriced. Just 10 years ago the floor was flush with them. What’s remarkable about this is that there weren't many of these guns made to begin with. Only half a million were produced. A large amount of these still remain in Switzerland, along with a lion’s share of GP11 ammunition.
It’s unknown how many of these rifles exactly are in America today, but what’s incredible is that just 10 or 15 years ago these guns were selling for less than $300. These guns are sought after primarily by people who want to shoot military competition; once they have a good one, they tend to hold onto it.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
More Classic Military Guns:
Why The Mauser C96 “Broomhandle” Still Looms Large
The Weatherby Model 307 centerfire rifle action is the company’s first new action line in 50 years.
Weatherby Model 307 centerfire rifle actions have just been announced, and it’s the company’s first new action line in 50 years. The Model 307 will be available as either a standalone action for builders or as a complete rifle in the form of the 307 Range XP or the 307 Alpine MDT.
The Model 307 is a 2-lug, fully cylindrical action that was designed to complement Weatherby’s Mark V and Vanguard lines. It’s compatible with popular aftermarket accessories and features a TriggerTech trigger and a fluted bolt that can be disassembled without tools. It can also use a variety of detachable box magazines and is available in three action lengths.
Weatherby said this about the design of the new action:
The goal of 307 was to design an action that could accommodate the vast offerings of stocks, triggers, rails, mounts, and magazines in today’s marketplace. All rifles with Model 307 actions will be built in Weatherby’s Sheridan, Wy headquarters, so shooters and hunters can expect the same precision craftsmanship that Weatherby has delivered since 1945.
As for the complete rifles, the Model 307 Range XP sports a lightweight stock that features a vertical grip, an adjustable cheek piece and an adjustable length-of-pull. It also comes with an adjustable TriggerTech trigger, an Accubrake on the muzzle of its spiral-fluted barrel and a Magpul magazine. The Model 307 Alpine MDT is the more premium of the two options, mostly due to its MDT lightweight HNT26 Chassis System. Like the range XP, it also has an adjustable TriggerTech trigger, an Accubrake and a spiral-fluted barrel, but the magnesium alloy and carbon fiber chassis system has a few tricks up its sleeve too. To name a few, that includes a folding stock, an adjustable length-of-pull and comb height, v-block bedding and compatibility with AICS-pattern magazines.
The Model 307 Builders Action has an MSRP of $750, the 307 Range XP has an MSRP of $1,199 and the 307 Alpine MDT has an MSRP of $2,999. All three will begin shipping to dealers in the summer of 2023 and will be available in 15 different popular chambering options.
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.
