Henry has recently announced the .357 Magnum Big Boy Revolver, the company’s first-ever wheelgun.
Henry Repeating Arms of lever-action fame has recently announced its first-ever bonafide handgun in the form of the Big Boy Revolver. Advertised by the company as the perfect match for a Big Boy rifle, the Henry Big Boy Revolver is a traditional double-action/single-action .357 Magnum that’s available with two styles of grips.
Henry says that the Big Boy Revolver is aesthetically modeled after the Big Boy rifle series. That translates to a revolver with a deeply blued and polished steel frame, American walnut grips and a polished brass trigger guard. The medium-sized frame sports a 6-round cylinder, a 4-inch barrel and traditional revolver sights with a fixed rear notch and an interchangeable front blade. As mentioned, it features a DA/SA trigger and is chambered for .38 Special/.357 Magnum.
The grip is the only difference between the two available Henry Big Boy Revolver models. Both are made of American walnut, but one is a small and rounded birdshead-style grip while the larger and more traditionally shaped variant is called the Gunfighter. Both are available now and share an MSRP of $928.
A closer look at the development, adoption and ballistics of .277 Fury, the U.S. Army’s newest cartridge.
The .277 Fury is a beast of a cartridge designed to shoot flatter and transfer more energy to its target at farther distances. The U.S. Army calls the round “next generation,” and based on .277 Fury’s capabilities, that is not an exaggeration.
Compared to the current-issue service cartridges it’s slated to replace like 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm, the .277 Fury offers greater energy, improved terminal ballistics and higher ballistic coefficient bullets that slip through the air with ease. It appears that America has settled on a new battle rifle cartridge to arm its troops, but just how much better is it?
Why was the .277 Fury Developed?
The U.S. Military is always looking for an edge. In 2017, the Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program was launched by the U.S. Army with the goal of replacing the M4 carbine and M249 SAW light machine gun, both chambered in 5.56 NATO, as well as the M240 machine gun in 7.62 NATO.
These have served the military well—the 5.56 since 1963 and the 7.62 from way back in 1954. But warfare changes. The cartridges that our military currently uses are effective, but the 5.56, for example, has had known penetration issues in combat. Body armor has evolved to be lighter and tougher, and that means rifle cartridges need to evolve in tandem.
NGSW Program
For the new cartridge of the NGSW program, the Army specified that it wanted a 6.8mm or .277-caliber bullet. This has been a long-time desire and has resulted in aborted attempts at the caliber, such as the 6.8mm Remington SPC. For its latest effort, the Army had its own .277-caliber bullets designed by Picatinny Arsenal weighing 130 and 140 grains with velocity potentials of more than 3,100 feet per second.
Furthermore, firearms manufacturers were invited by the Army to submit cartridge and rifle designs for review, essentially integrated systems. For the rifle, the specifications dictated it could not be longer than 35 inches and could only weigh up to 12 pounds with accessories and optics. The weapon-cartridge system also needed to penetrate body armor out to 500 meters, hit targets out to 610 meters, and suppress targets out to 1,200 meters.
SIG's entry to the program was the 6.8×51mm Common Cartridge chambered in its XM5 rifle and XM250 LMG. SIG’s new cartridge has a maximum overall length of 2.83 inches, which means it will load and feed from any 7.62 NATO (.308 Winchester) detachable box magazine. Other submissions to the program included manufacturers such as General Dynamics and Textron Systems.
In 2020, SAAMI, the organization that creates standards for ammunition, approved the round as the .277 SIG Fury, which sounds a helluva lot sexier than 6.8×51mm. In 2022, the Army adopted the round alongside SIG’s rifle and LMG. Uncle Sam now not only has a new cartridge, but a couple of new guns to shoot it with.
Speed + Energy = Fury
So, why would the Army want a new 6.8mm cartridge? It already had 7.62, which is battle-proven, as well as 6.5 Creedmoor which is loved by long-range competitive shooters. The answer? The .277 has superior velocity and energy.
However, there was a tradeoff in this arms race, particularly relating to chamber pressure.
To achieve the Army’s desired ballistic properties, the chamber pressure of .277 Fury is a mind-blowing 80,000 PSI. By comparison, 5.56 NATO produces about 60,000 PSI and 7.62 NATO about 62,000 PSI. Other calibers used by the military don’t even come close to the pressure generated by the .277 Fury. The massive .50 BMG only produces about 53,000 PSI, and the .338 Lapua Magnum about 61,000 PSI. The 80,000 PSI generated by .277 Fury is a lot of pressure to contain in a cartridge case, and it’s why not just any rifle can handle it.
Case Study: .277 Fury
The extremely high chamber pressure of .277 Fury forced SIG to rethink traditional cartridge case design. Because brass alone is not enough to contain it, the company took the hybrid approach and designed a casing made of multiple types of metal.
To reinforce the .277 Fury, it uses a stainless steel base attached to a brass body via an aluminum locking washer. The base is much more robust and is strong enough to withstand the high pressure that would literally blow apart a traditional brass cartridge case.
Though, the Fury thankfully isn’t pigeonholed to this radical case design. The cartridge can be downloaded to 65,000 PSI which allows it to safely use conventional brass cases. But this raises the question, what is the benefit of a chamber pressure at 80,000 PSI with a 135-grain bullet traveling at 3,000 fps?
Quite simply, a flatter trajectory and more energy down range.
.277 Fury Ballistics
Compare the ballistics of .277 Fury to other military calibers like the 5.56 and 7.62 NATO and you soon see that the Fury has a distinct edge. When you pit the trajectory of .277 Fury against that of 5.56, 7.62, and 6.5 Creedmoor, you see that some bullets fall like stones.
According to SIG, the .277 Fury loaded with a 150-grain bullet has a muzzle velocity of 3,120 fps out of a 24-inch barrel. Compared to other currently used military cartridges, this is impressive. The common 149-grain M80 load of 7.62 from Lake City has an advertised muzzle velocity of 2,790 fps when fired from a 22-inch barrel. The 62-grain M855 load of 5.56 can achieve a muzzle velocity of 3,110 fps when fired from a 20-inch barrel, and 143-grain Hornady ELD-X 6.5 Creedmoor has an advertised muzzle velocity of 2,700 fps out of a 24-inch barrel. While that may not seem like that big of a difference for some of these, the trajectory table should speak for itself.
Made with ShootersCalculator using a drag function of G1, a zero of 200 yards, a 1.5-inch sight height, a 90-degree 10 mph crosswind and zero corrections for atmosphere.
At 1,000 yards, the .277 Fury drops only 253.6 inches. On the other hand, the 6.5 Creedmoor drops about 306 inches, 5.56 NATO drops 421 inches and the 7.62 NATO drops 354 inches. Data doesn’t lie, and the Fury shoots much flatter than these other service cartridges. Comparably, it also delivers a beastly amount of energy.
There is a 33-percent difference in muzzle energy between the .277 Fury and the 6.5 Creedmoor, a 23-percent difference between it and the 7.62 NATO and a whopping 83.5-percent difference between the cartridge and the 5.56 NATO. Why is this important? Kinetic energy helps to better understand the cartridge’s terminal ballistics, particularly its potential to penetrate a target.
Fast and Fury-ous Ammo Options
Since the .277 Fury is so new, only SIG is currently producing commercially available ammo. SIG’s offerings include a long-ran
ge target load and two hunting loads. While two of these cartridges produce pressures low enough to be used with traditional brass casings, one of the hunting loads is juiced up enough to require the new hybrid case design. Note that while all these loads are expensive, they can typically be found for less than the listed MSRPs.
ELITE BALL FMJ 277 SIG FURY
This is the target load, and it uses a 135-grain FMJ bullet with a 0.475 BC. Factory data states that muzzle velocity from a 16-inch barrel is 2,750 fps and 3,000 fps from a 24-inch barrel. This round is specifically designed for long-range shooting. Expect to pay about $1.70 per round for this option, as 20-round boxes have an MSRP of about $34.
277 SIG FURY, 130gr, VENARI SOFT POINT HUNTING
If you want to put meat on the table, SIG’s traditional 130-grain soft-point option offers an advertised muzzle velocity of 2,710 fps and muzzle energy of 2,120 foot-pounds. This round is designed for whitetail deer up to elk. With an MSRP of about $42 per 20-round box, each trigger pull will cost about $2.10.
ELITE BONDED POLYMER TIPPED 277 SIG FURY HYBRID
The hybrid cartridge load uses a 150-grain polymer-tipped, boat-tail Nosler Accubond bullet that offers military-grade horsepower for the hunt. Utilizing the stainless-steel base hybrid case, the round cranks out 3,120 fps muzzle velocity from a 24-inch barrel and produces around 3,243 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. This performance isn’t cheap since 20-round boxes have an MSRP of about $80, resulting in a cost of about $4 per shot.
.277 Fury Rifles
When the .277 Fury was introduced to the shooting public in 2019, the only rifle chambered in the caliber was the SIG Cross, a lightweight minimalist bolt-action hunting rifle that weighs 6.5 pounds naked without a scope.
The SIG Sauer CROSS PRS.
SIG has since offered the MCX-Spear chambered in the cartridge as well, the company’s civilian version of the U.S. Army’s XM7 rifle. The semi-automatic rifle has similar features as an AR-15/AR-10 platform, but it uses a short-stroke piston in lieu of the direct gas impingement system found in typical ARs. Either of these rifles would do good work as a long-distance target rifle, but if I had my choice, I’d choose the lightweight bolt action, especially for hunting in rough terrain.
The commercial variant of the SIG MCX-SPEAR.
At present, no other rifle manufacturers are producing guns chambered in .277 Fury. Part of the reason could be gunmakers are waiting to see if the caliber catches on with the public. Another reason could be the nature of the cartridge itself.
Making a .277 Fury rifle is not just a simple matter of swapping barrels in an action. The pressure generated by the round means a trip back to the drawing board to beef up receiver designs or completely rework a gun. That’s a significant expense for a cartridge that is yet to prove its mainstream appeal. For companies that aren’t SIG, wait-and-see just might be the best strategy.
Niche Cartridge?
Does the introduction of the .277 Fury mean that 5.56 and 7.62 are going to be shelved? Hardly. The military will continue to use both for a long time as they work on integrating the new weapons and ammunition, and civilian shooters are too invested at this point to give either cartridge up. The future of .277 Fury with the civilian population will likely continue to increase as well, particularly if more ammunition manufacturers load the round and more rifles are chambered for it.
The Fury has both long-range competition shooting and hunting applications, but both areas have numerous rivals when it comes to performance and availability. However, the edge the .277 Fury has is huge—U.S. Military approval and backing. Nearly every caliber used by the military eventually becomes popular with civilians, and with time, this may prove true for the .277 Fury, too.
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to more precisely express the percentage difference of muzzle energy between cartridges.
Riton Optics has recently announced the 3 PRIMAL 3-18×50, a first focal plane riflescope for long-range shooting.
Riton Optics has just announced its newest glass for long-range hunters and shooters in the form of the 3 PRIMAL 3-18×50 riflescope. Riton describes the scope as a “crossover” optic due to the versatility of its large magnification range that provides the best of both worlds.
Featuring a minimum magnification of 3X, a maximum of 18X and a 50mm objective lens, the 3 PRIMAL can be employed in nearly any hunting or shooting scenario. The glass has been coated for protection as well as enhanced light transmission to aid in low-light situations. It has exposed turrets with a resettable zero/zero-stop and 1/10 MRAD windage and elevation adjustments (25 MRAD adjustment range). For magnification control, the scope also has “integrated removable two location throw levers,” and each scope will come with one 14mm and one flush-mount lever. Riton also has 11mm and 8mm throw lever heights available. As far as durability goes, the 3 PRIMAL is shockproof, waterproof and fog proof.
The scope also features a first focal plane illuminated LRH (Long Range/Hunter) reticle. A control on the parallax knob can adjust the illumination between six brightness settings, and off positions between each brightness level should help reduce the amount of dialing required. Other features of the scope include its 30mm aluminum main tube, its 13.7-inch length and its weight of 2.85 pounds.
Each Riton 3 PRIMAL 3-18×50 includes flip-up lens covers, a lens cloth, an Allen key and Riton’s limited lifetime warranty. The scope has an MSRP of $659.99 and is available now.
A closer look at how seating depth affects rifle cartridge performance and what to know when reloading your own.
Each step in the process of reloading a metallic cartridge is important, from the proper sizing of the case, to seating your primer, to precisely weighing your powder charge.
Seating the bullet into the case is the culmination of the reloading process; a crimp may be applied afterward, but that’s optional in some instances and often a rarity among the cartridges designed for long-range shooting. And, make no bones about it: Our bullets are getting longer, the ogives are growing sleeker and the older round-nose bullets are becoming increasingly difficult to find.
My first handloads were designed to feed my then-new Ruger Model 77 MK II in .308 Winchester. Because my dad—dear Ol’ Grumpy Pants—had been shooting his .308 Winchester since he came out of boot camp in 1968, there was a pile of once-fired brass, and we sat down to pick a bullet for our new creations.
The Badlands Precision Bulldozer 2 140-grain .277-inch bullet responded very well to a slight change in seating depth, resulting in ½-MOA groups. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
After some deliberating about cost, we settled on the 165-grain Hornady InterLock spitzer; that bullet came with a cannelure, and seating depth wasn't much of an issue. Fast-forward a couple of years to my initial attempts to get the original Barnes X bullet to shoot, and seating depth became a major bone of contention. Looking back, none of my rifles printed any groups worth a damn with those bullets, but the effects of seating depth were shown, as the groups opened and tightened from minute-of-lemon to minute-of-cantaloupe.
Shortening Cases
The bullets of 30 years ago were certainly not the same as those available today; the dimensions of many of our classic cartridges will quickly show that they were designed to use bullets with shorter ogives, and therefore a lower ballistic coefficient. Oftentimes, it can be frustrating to try and mate an older cartridge design with a modern bullet and maintain a cartridge overall length that will still function in the magazine.
For example, the .350 Remington Magnum was designed to function in a short-action magazine, but using the shorter bullets of the 1960s. Try and fit a Nosler AccuBond in that case (whether the 200- or 225-grain) at a C.O.L. (cartridge overall length), which still fits in a short-action magazine, and the case mouth will be sitting on the bullet’s ogive and not on the shank.
The .300 Winchester Magnums had its shoulder pushed forward and neck shortened to provide powder capacity; as a result, longer bullets like this Swift Scirocco II get shoved way down in the case. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
The same situation can show up with a .300 Winchester Magnum and some of the longest bullets available, as the case was lengthened and the shoulder moved forward in comparison to Winchester’s other belted magnums, presumably in order to make room for more powder. While that goal was certainly achieved, it does compromise the amount of room left for the bullet outside of the case.
The Battle of C.O.L.
Many of the newest cartridge designs see a case shortened in order to leave enough room to utilize those really long projectiles, which possess the best ballistic coefficient values. The 6.5 Creedmoor, the 6.8 Western and the new 7mm PRC come quickly to mind. The 6.5 Creedmoor has climbed all over the .260 Remington in spite of the latter’s larger case capacity, because the Creedmoor can fit a better long-range bullet in the same magazine. The 6.8 Western is essentially a shortened version of the .270 WSM, but with a faster twist rate to utilize bullets usually too heavy for the .270 Winchester and .270 WSM to stabilize.
In order to load those long, heavy bullets in a short-action magazine, the case must be shortened. In both these instances, powder capacity is traded for the ability to use the highest B.C. bullets, as they will perform better than the cartridges with a larger capacity and a lower B.C. bullet.
Four cartridges, which were designed specifically to handle long, sleek, high ballistic coefficient bullets—left to right: 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC and .300 PRC. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Turning to Hornady’s new 7mm PRC, you’ve got a case designed to drive 175- and 180-grain bullets to velocities on par with the 7mm Remington Magnum, but the case geometry allows those long bullets to be seated so that the base of the shank of the bullet—where it transitions into the boat-tail—sits at the base of the case neck. This minimizes the amount of space eaten up by seating a long bullet deep into the case.
Now, I’ve had heated discussions with colleagues about the problems caused by seating a long bullet deep into the case—think about a .308 Winchester with a monometal 180-grain bullet—with some folks insisting that a bullet, which has a good portion of its length inside the case, can be bent upon ignition of the powder charge. That seems silly to me, and I’ve never seen any evidence of this phenomenon. Provided there’s enough neck tension, and there’s good chamber concentricity, I have absolutely no issue with a bullet extending into the case.
Generally speaking, when it comes to seating depth, there’s usually at least some room to play. The rule of thumb is that the farther out of the case you seat your bullet—resulting in a longer C.O.L.—the lower the pressure and the velocity will be; however, I have seen instances where the reverse proved to be true. Seating a bullet farther out of the case (keeping the same powder charge) will create a larger combustion chamber inside the case, lowering pressures.
Seat Safely
Sometimes, the reloader can take advantage of the additional space created by increasing the powder charge. What you definitely do not want to do is seat the bullet so far out as to have it resting against the lands of the rifling; this can cause dangerous pressure spikes.
SAAMI regulates the C.O.L. dimension for our cartridges, and those figures are usually what you see in your reloading manual. Some shooters skip the magazine restraint and choose to single-feed a cartridge with an overall length, which will not fit in a magazine yet is safe to load in the chamber. In fact, some bullet companies market single-feed projectiles: the Cutting Edge Bullets Lazer, for example.
Experimenting with seating depth can be a sound means of turning a good load into a great load. I’ve been developing a load for my 6.8 Western using the Badlands Precision 140-grain monometal Bulldozer 2 bullet. The 6.8 Western has a C.O.L. of 2.950 inches, but the magazine for my Browning rifle will handle cartridges measuring 3.010 inches, and those Bulldozer 2 bullets have an ogive sleek enough not to touch the lands. My initial load was seated at 3.000 inches, with groups printing 0.75 inch at 100 yards.
Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Seating the bullets slightly deeper—to the specified 2.95 inches—saw the groups tighten up to a consistent ½ inch. Coming full circle around the modern iterations of the Barnes X—the TSX, TTSX and LRX—I’ve found that these bullets tend to like a bit more jump, giving their best accuracy when seated at SAAMI spec … or even a bit deeper. This is just a general observation, as some rifles have shown a preference for the TSX to be seated long.
Reloading has been described as a loosely scientific means of juggling variables, and seating depth—like powder charge weight—is one of the easiest places to make an adjustment. Keep your caliper handy, record your seating depth for each bullet/cartridge combination, and do some experimenting to see if you can improve your group size.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the February 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
CANCON comes to the West! Join RECOIL at the Ben Avery Shooting Center in Phoenix, Arizona April 29th and 30th, with VIP access starting on the 28th!
CANCON presented by Silencer Central, is a fully suppressed range day event with dozens of vendors, hundreds of guns and suppressors, and tons of fun.
Check out the CANCON 2022 Recap to see what you missed last year, and don't miss out this year!
CANCON West will feature an even BIGGER range day with MORE suppressors, more guns, more vendors, and an even bigger night shoot. Over 100 firearms from over 25 manufacturers!
$50 single-day tickets get you in for ALL DAY plus ammo is provided!
Want the VIP experience? VIP tickets are $700 and allow access for Saturday and Sunday, plus early access on Friday, plus a catered dinner & the Night Vision Network’s Night Shoot on Friday night.
PLUS, VIPs get a VIP bag worth A Lot! Filled with awesome gear that you'll actually use. We can't spoil the surprise of what is in 2023's VIP bag, but here is a look at what was in CANCON's 2022 VIP bag!
CANCON 2022 VIP Bag Valued At Over $1475
Viktos XL Slingbag
Blue Force Gear Sling
Otis Ripcord Cleaning Cord
Caldwell DeadShot Shooting Bags
SilencerCo Silencer
Subscription to Recoil/Offgrid
Mission First Tactical Extreme Duty Magazines 556
Mission First Tactical Coozie
Maxim Defense Hate Brake
Maxim Defense Arm Brace Stock
Primary Weapon Systems Gift Certificate
JK Armamant Stickers and Hats
Coming to CANCON but not a VIP? Take a chance at winning a VIP bag! All CANCON attendees can enter to win a VIP Bag, all you have to do is:
Post a video or photo from the event tagging @CanconEvent and using the #CanconGiveaway.
BRING THE FAMILY!
CANCON is a family-friendly event with eye and ear protection for everyone.
All ammo is provided, you just bring the trigger finger!
Food and drink will be available for purchase on-site.
Expect to see DAILY giveaways at CANCON, walk with industry experts, shop for your favorite accessories and gear, and check out some special demonstrations and seminars!
Vortex Optics just announced the Razor HD 4000 GB Ballistic Rangefinder, now featuring an on-board GeoBallistics solver.
Vortex Optics’ newest laser rangefinder, the Razor HD 4000 GB, does a lot more than just read distance. This is thanks to its new on-board GeoBallistics solver, made possible in part by Vortex’s recent acquisition of GeoBallistics. The device’s new capabilities allow it to sync with the GeoBallistics smartphone app to calculate drop and windage corrections based on your specific ballistic profile and the surrounding environment.
As far as the laser rangefinder itself is concerned, it’s essentially identical to the existing Vortex Razor HD 4000 in terms of appearance and capability. That means it can still range reflective targets out to 4,000 yards and less-reflective targets such as deer out to 2,200 yards. It also has the same four target modes (Normal, First, Last and ELR) as well as the Horizontal Component Distance (HCD) range mode that compensates for angles.
The only readily apparent difference is the addition of some buttons that pertain to the device’s new GeoBallistics functions, such as the BAL range mode. In this mode, the on-board GeoBallistics solver uses inputted ballistic data and surrounding environmental data to tell you exactly how to dial windage and drop compensation for a target at a given range. The device uses Bluetooth to pair with the GeoBallistics smartphone app (purchasing the Razor HD 4000 GB unlocks the “Pro” version of the app as well) where custom profiles can be built and uploaded to the device. The rangefinder comes preloaded with three common ballistic profiles and the app features a bullet library, but completely custom profiles can be added too.
The device also features on-board temperature, pressure and humidity sensors as well as the ability to take that data from a local airport. Wind measurements can either be entered into the rangefinder manually, taken from a paired Kestrel device or obtained using the rangefinder’s new Wind Bearing Capture Mode. This mode uses the Razor’s built-in compass and wind speed gauge to determine the wind’s strength and direction. After capturing this, the device provides accurate windage corrections regardless of which way it’s pointed.
There’s plenty more that could be said about Vortex’s new Razor HD 4000 GB, but we’ll save that for the full review we have planned. Until then, just know the rangefinder is available now and has an MSRP of $1,199.99.
For those running America’s rifle chambered for the AK’s cartridge, here are the best 7.62×39 AR magazine options.
While some cartridges like .300 BLK were designed to function in standard 5.56 AR mags, other chamberings require their own, special magazines. ARs chambered for the Soviet 7.62x39mm cartridge are among them.
Since 7.62×39 ARs aren’t nearly as popular as 5.56 variants, there is less factory support for 7.62×39 AR magazines. This means that many of your typical go-to manufacturers like Magpul and Okay Industries are no longer an option.
Here we’ll be going over what makes 7.62×39 AR magazines different, what to look for when buying one and our top picks for the best options on the market.
A 7.62×39 AR-15 from PSA/Lead Star Arms featuring a C-Products 30-round Duramag.
Why Do 7.62×39 ARs Require Proprietary Mags?
Simply put, the issue is that the 7.62x39mm case has more taper than the .223/5.56 case. The Russian 7.62×39 cartridge tapers from 11.35mm in diameter at the rim to 10.07mm at the shoulder, whereas .223/5.56 barely tapers at all (9.58mm at the web to 9.00mm at the shoulder).
Case taper is what determines how curved a magazine needs to be to feed a given cartridge properly, and it’s why AK magazines have that distinctive “banana” curve. Naturally then, problems arise when attempting to design a very curved magazine for a rifle with a straight magwell like the AR.
As you can see, the taper of 7.62×39 (left) results in a much more curved magazine than 5.56×45.
Historically, one of the best ways to design a new rifle from a clean sheet is to start with the cartridge. Once established, a reliable magazine is designed to feed it. Only then is the gun itself designed.
Well, it seems that Kalashnikov and Stoner both did that, as both of their rifle designs have excellent magazines. When the industry decided to combine Mikhail’s peanut butter with Gene’s chocolate with the advent of 7.62×39 ARs, the magazines, unfortunately, could not live up to the reputation of either parent rifle’s mag.
The result is that 7.62×39 AR magazines have historically been a crapshoot in virtually every capacity that they’re offered in. Common failures include the top round sitting too low to be picked up by the bolt as well as nosedives leading to failures to feed.
What Makes A Good 7.62×39 AR Magazine?
What you want to look for is a magazine manufacturer who has invested the time to come up with a follower, floor plate and magazine body that seats and feeds correctly. That means they need to be designed by shooters, for shooters, not mere products to meet demand.
Anti-tilt followers are a must, and in truth should be in any AR-15 magazine you buy regardless of its caliber.
Unfortunately, what you can't see until you physically have the magazine is that the top cartridge should fully contact the feed lips. If it doesn't, it can mean there will be some issues stripping the top round.
If possible, don't buy any 10-round 7.62×39 AR magazines. Since 10-round mags are straight, it means that the cartridges are not being pushed up as efficiently as possible due to the taper. These have given people more problems than quality magazines of larger capacities.
The 28-round Duramag (left) has noticeably less curve than the 30-rounder.
If mag pouches are a concern, look for 28-round magazines as the curve is slightly less pronounced than with true 30-rounders.
Also, you don't need to worry about deciding between polymer or aluminum. All examples that you're going to find are made of steel.
What About AR Lowers That Take AK Magazines?
It's easier to adapt the AR-15's lower receiver to take AK-47 magazines than it is to adapt the AR-15 magazine to feed 7.62x39mm. Some companies have realized this and started making AR lower receivers that can accept standard AK mags. On these, the magwell is removed and replaced with an AK magazine catch.
A PSA KS-47, one of the available 7.62×39 AR-15s that take AK mags.
The reality of the situation is that these lowers are a better solution for getting 7.62×39 to run in an AR than trying to convert AR-pattern mags to feed it. The downside, of course, is that it requires a new upper and lower. A large reason why people are interested in the 7.62×39 AR concept is that they could use their existing, standard AR lower to fire the cartridge, only needing a new upper and mags. ARs chambered for this caliber that feeds from AK mags are the better design, but it also defeats the purpose for most.
If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you have or want a 7.62×39 upper for your standard AR-15 lower, and that means you’ll need magazines for it. While they may not be as good as 7.62×39 AK mags or 5.56 AR mags, the good news is that some are well-proven and shouldn’t give you any real issues.
The Best 7.62×39 AR Magazines:
C-Products Duramag
This is the gold standard. Duramags are one of the no-brainer AR-15 magazine brands, so this should arguably be your first choice unless it turns out they don't work in your specific setup.
They're available in 5-, 10-, 20-, 28-, and 30-round capacities, but all have a stainless steel body, a Teflon coating, revised feed lips for total contact and anti-tilt followers. C-Products does things right, and it designed them from the ground up to function. MSRP ranges from $18.90 to $29.30.
ASC
ASC is another excellent AR magazine manufacturer, and while it specializes in aluminum GI-style mags, the company also offers its stainless steel line in 7.62×39.
The mags are offered in either black or FDE, with chrome silicon springs, anti-tilt followers and a stainless steel floor plate. They're available in 5-, 10-, 20- and 30-round capacities. MSRP is $21.99 for the 30-rounders, though factory seconds (cosmetic issues only) are a bit cheaper.
D&H Tactical
The magazines from D&H feature carbon steel bodies with a QPQ finish and anti-tilt followers specifically designed for the 7.62x39mm cartridge. They're available in 10- and 30-round capacities. MSRP is around $40 for the 30-rounders, but these are buy-once/cry-once magazines. D&H builds them like tanks.
AR-Stoner
AR-Stoner is the house brand of MidwayUSA, and its 7.62×39 AR magazines are said to be capable, but that comes with a caveat. Some individuals report having issues with them out of the box, but after some minor tweaking, they can run like a top.
They're offered in 10- and 30-round capacities, with stainless steel bodies, anti-tilt followers and chrome silicon springs. MSRP is only around $20 for the 30-rounders, making them one of the more affordable options.
E-Lander
E-Lander is an Israeli manufacturer mostly known for producing magazines for its country’s military, and it does not skimp on build quality or reliability. It only exports a 17-round 7.62×39 AR magazine because it was the only one that ran reliably enough for its standards.
The body is stainless steel with a stainless floorplate and features an anti-tilt follower and corrosion-resistant finish that's said to be rated for over 60 hours of continuous salt spray. These magazines are tough, and what they slightly lose in capacity they more than make up for in reliability. Street prices are usually around $30.
You should be aware that the AR-15 is an incredibly popular rifle platform in America, and for good reason. Relatively inexpensive, light recoiling, reliable and easily adaptable to a particular role are all huge factors in why it’s grown to be crowned as “America’s Rifle.”
Have a plan when you start buying AR-15 accessories and parts; a simple rifle doesn’t mean less capable.
And if I may be completely frank, those are the same reasons that we have a sea of subpar AR-15 accessories and parts all over the market. Experience and several hours of exhaustive research on Facebook tell me that the carbine is misunderstood by a huge number of AR owners.
So, before you jump on AliExpress and order all of the Chinesium “upgrades” you can find, this is where I would start to get the most out of my rifle—and get the most from my money when considering upgrades.
The AR-15: Not LEGOs
It’s easy to think that building an AR-15 is just like snapping together some LEGOs … but you couldn’t be more mistaken. It wasn’t until I had the good fortune to attend an armorer’s course from William Larson, the AR-15 Yoda himself, that the number of out-of-spec AR parts on the market sunk in.
One of the sayings that Will was fond of is, “AR-15s aren’t LEGOs because LEGOs have a spec.” Armed with new knowledge, I started to pay closer attention to aftermarket AR15 accessories and parts than I ever had before. And as you might expect from Yoda, Will hit the nail on the head.
The ultra-strong Magpul UBR Gen2 is a perfect companion for the Vltor A5 system.
The truth is that most of the ARs on the market—and the majority of aftermarket parts—labeled as mil-spec … well, they aren’t. On the civilian market, that dirty little term “mil-spec” means that the part is sized to fit the wide range of specifications found on commercial AR-15s, not that it meets the standards outlined in the actual technical document that outlines the real mil-spec.
Just because that bargain-priced part says it’ll fit doesn’t mean it will. You might have to rely on time-tested gunsmith techniques—such as holding your tongue just right between your lips, a large hammer or even a Dremel tool.
If you prefer sparing yourself the guessing game, stick to high-quality parts; you might not need to rely on the Dremel after all.
Have A Plan
The saying “Jack of all trades, master of none” is just as applicable to rifles as it is people. The “one rifle to rule them all” simply doesn’t exist. Every rifle has specific weaknesses and strengths based on how the rifle is spec’d out from the factory, plus whatever changes are made to it after purchase.
An 18- to 20-inch barrel rifle might be perfect for some hunting, Cold War engagement distances or use in a DMR role. Will it work in a CQB role while defending your home? Sure—but it isn’t going to be ideal.
An 18-inch DMR rifle would make a less-than-ideal home-defense rifle, but it’s great at distance.
Similarly, I recommend that you don’t choose a 10.5-inch 5.56 NATO SBR or pistol to compete in a Precision Rifle match. That MK18/CQBR-inspired gun is far more at home in the tight confines of a structure, such as your home.
Whatever role you have for your rifle, make sure you follow local and federal laws. Yes, many can be considered unconstitutional, but failing to do so could land you in much more trouble than you’re interested in handling.
It Isn’t ‘Just As Good’
I’m not going to shame anyone for the Zombie Slayer 9000 that was built to kick-start their second career as a “gunfluencer” by propelling an online social account to legendary status. The truth is that rifle is probably as functional—if not more functional—than the GM Hydramatic M16A1 clone hanging on my wall.
Cool-looking guns are cool, and there isn’t anything wrong with that until you start believing that the Zombie Slayer 9000 is “just as good” as a proven rifle from Sons of Liberty Gun Works, Sionics, Geissele, Knights Armament, FN America and a pile of other AR manufacturers with guns that are proven reliable.
M-Lok has become the new standard for attaching AR-15 accessories; a 1913 rail is still serviceable, but avoid KeyMod at all costs.
The same thing applies to knock-off parts that are priced significantly below the cost of the original one. Better materials, more research and development, innovative design and better quality control are going to play a factor in price, making the original version likely more expensive.
Instead of blindly cutting corners with part quality, think hard about the part you intend to save a few bucks on … and then think about how badly you might get hurt if that part blew up during a catastrophic failure. Buy the quality; it’s always worth it.
A sling is essential, maybe the most important AR-15 accessory. Period. It can be used to carry a rifle, provide more stability when lining up a shot, and retain your rifle should someone try to grab it away from you.
Blue Force Gear Vickers Sling
The single-point sling is easier to use in cramped spaces due to the amount of movement they offer, but that’s also the weakness of the single-point design. When the rifle is slung, it swings all over the place, hitting your knees, shins and everything else in its path.
There are a bunch of well-made examples of single-point slings, but if you’re determined to buy one, get a Magpul MS3 or MS4 sling that can be converted to a two-point easily.
Preferably, choose a quick-adjust two-point sling, which offers more stability when carrying the rifle and shooting it than a single point will. The two-point sling also excels when carrying the rifle slung in front, side or back.
Models to consider are the Blue Force Gear Vickers Sling, the SOB B-Sling, and other similarly built models. Pick a high-quality design and you won’t be disappointed.
Step Up Your Optics Game
We live in the future with the entire internet in our pocket, and adding a red-dot or low-powered variable optic (LPVO) to your rifle reliably enhances your ability to aim the rifle.
LPVO technology is to the point that shooters who’ve acclimated to the more versatile optic are about as fast as the folks using a red-dot. Not only is most of the speed you get from a dot available, but there are also 10x scopes—like the Vortex Razor HD Gen III 1-10x—that you can crank up when precision is needed.
If the minimum buy-in for a high-quality LPVO of $1,000 is a bit steep, a good red-dot might be the ticket. Among Holosun, Aimpoint, Sig Electro-Optics and EOTech, there’s a dot that fits your needs. However, beware of the bargain dots: The market is flooded with cheap sights that will die or lose zero at the worst times.
Also, don’t forget a high-quality mount for your new optic to ensure you don’t move the optic should you bump it on something. Not all rings and bases are created equal, either. Not even close.
Floppy Barrel Fix
Did you know that when you apply pressure to your plastic clamshell handguards by leaning into a bipod that it actually changes your point of impact?
A free-float rail nearly removes that deviation and also gives you somewhere to attach lights, lasers, sling mounts and index points, such as a Gripstop. Look for a high-quality Picatinny rail model or preferably, something with M-Lok slots. Avoid KeyMod since it isn’t heavily supported anymore. M-Lok is the clear winner in that popularity contest.
Any high-quality brand should do you well, but there’s a handful of proven performers: Geissele, Sons of Liberty Gun Works, Hodge Defense, Bravo Company and Knight’s Armament. Cover the full length of the barrel, but don’t extend over the muzzle.
Triggered
You don’t really need to upgrade your trigger, the standard mil-spec style trigger that’s found in most rifles will be perfectly adequate for most shooters. However, upgrading a mil-spec trigger almost always offers immediate performance improvements.
Should you decide that you want to upgrade the trigger on your rifle, I suggest that you look for a trigger that isn’t housed in a drop-in cassette. It’s possible that this design can trap debris in the trigger mechanism, leading to a malfunction.
A good old Geissele not only provides a snappy break but also is easy to maintenance.
Geissele made their name with their triggers, and for good reason. Regardless of the role you have identified for your rifle, Geissele has a trigger that’ll work for you. There’s a budget-friendly option—the ALG Defense Advanced Combat Trigger—if the regular Geissele line is more money than you’d like invest.
New Furniture Livens The Place Up
An A2 grip and M4 stock will do just fine in a pinch, but those are often among the first things that get ditched on a new rifle. Sadly, the M4-style stock is missing a QD attachment point for a sling, which is a good enough reason for me to chuck the stock one into the recycler. As for the grip, many aren’t fond of the “bump” between the middle and ring finger placement … and they ditch that as well.
Magpul UBR Gen2 Stock
There are a ton of great grips out there: Which one you choose really depends on the role of the gun. The Magpul series of grips that accept an insert are a solid option because you can stow some extra oil, some Skittles or even a spare bolt and firing pin with one of the available inserts.
What stock you choose is equally dependent on the gun’s purpose. If you have a dedicated precision-focused rifle, you might choose the Magpul PRS stock or B5 Systems Precision Stock. A general carbine might be better off with something a bit less expensive yet still offering a wide range of adjustability.
Folding Stock
While a LAW Tactical folding stock adapter might not strike you as a common-sense upgrade, it really is. A LAW folder isn’t a must on every AR-15, but it’s a useful addition to rifles or pistols that you might want to carry discretely.
The ability to chop the buffer tube and stock off your rifle for storage and transportation opens up a bunch of possibilities in terms of rifle bags, in addition to where you’re able to stow that bag. Pair a LAW folder and a discrete rifle bag from Tuff Products, and those awkward moments in the hotel elevator while attending an out-of-town training class or match are in the past.
While a folding AR-15 might seem unnecessary, the robust LAW Tactical folder is a must-have on many of the author’s rifles.
Be cautious of knock-off folding stock adapters or ones that copy the design of LAW Tactical that are made from inferior metals. You might save a hundred bucks or so at the cost of replacing durable steel construction with substantially weaker 6000 series aluminum. Personally, I don’t like the idea of my face being close to a reciprocating bolt and bolt extension that passes through a joint that needs to be precisely aligned, only to be housed in “good enough” materials.
AR-15 Accessories: It Can Be Like LEGOs
The AR platform is nothing short of amazing. It checks just about every box that you can think of and, if it missed one, just change the rifle so it checks all the boxes for you.
Even though the commercial model AR-15s doesn’t have a spec now, maybe one day manufacturers can settle on some standards.
If that happens, AR-15s might actually be like LEGOs.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2020 December issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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.
Overpowering nearly any other commercially popular pistol cartridge, the 10mm gives those who can wield it effectively a definitive edge. Unveiling a 180-grain Golden Saber option in the hard-hitting pistol cartridge, the self-defense “Perfect 10” just got a little more perfect. Loaded with Remington’s famous bonded-core bullet, the ammunition offers a hollow-point option that not only expands like the dickens but also retains a majority of its weight at the target. This means larger and deeper wound cavities that increase the odds of neutralizing a threat. Additionally, the loads are fairly balanced for maximum terminal effect and shooter controllability, with a muzzle velocity of 1,150 fps. MSRP: $48, box of 20
Meopta MeoSight IV
Improving accuracy, target acquisition and follow-up shot speed, the simple aiming solution of a red-dot performs wonders. Meopta offers a solid option with its smallest and lightest micro red-dot—the MeoSight IV. Weighing only 1.2 ounces, the MeoSight IV has a length of 1.89 inches and a width of 1.41 inches, the 3-MOA red dot proves anything but cumbersome on a pistol. Its 30,000 hours of run life on a single battery and automatic illumination setting mean it’s always ready regardless the conditions. MSRP: $299
Holosun DRS
While not on the market yet, Holosun is giving shooters an entirely new way of looking at red-dots. The Digital Reflex Sight (DRS) is a hybrid sighting system, marring the fast acquisition aiming system with thermal and night vision options. It’s a pretty intriguing system, with the company’s popular AEMS closed emitter forming the base and a fairly intuitive system to transition between normal red-dot and thermal/NV. The DRS-TH (thermal model) and DRS-NV (night vision) could prove game changers and definitely have the potential to enhance home defense, among other things. MSRP: Expected to start at $1,000
940 Pro Tactical/Holosun Micro Dot Combo
The 940 has already made a name for itself as a nearly flawless running semi-auto, and the Pro Tactical puts the shotgun’s firepower and ease of use into a perfect package to guard hearth and home. Now, Mossberg has sweetened the deal, offering the scattergun factory outfitted with a Holosun Micro Red Dot. It’s a definite upgrade for the 940 that takes advantage of its milled optic-ready receiver. Tailored for CQC, the Pro Tactical is a terse 37 inches in length, boasts a 7+1 capacity, has an adjustable length-of-pull and chambers up to 3-inch 12-gauge shells. MSRP: $1,333
FN Rush 9Ti
In the close confines of the home, a suppressor can prove an excellent defensive upgrade—mitigating recoil and avoiding shell shock from a pistol’s report. FN America now offers civilian shooters this advantage. The company’s first commercial suppressor (it’s made them for militaries only in the past), the Rush 9Ti is designed to enhance nearly any 9mm pistol with a relatively svelte and light suppressor. Mountable on any 1/2×28 threaded muzzle, the titanium can with an aluminum and stainless-steel baffle stack comes in at just under 11 ounces. Furthermore, its 1.3-inch diameter offers a fairly clear line of sight on most pistols, while its 7.3-inch length keeps it relatively wieldy. MSRP: $850
Oracle Arms 2311
If the 1911 and Sig P320 had a love child, it’d likely look like the Oracle Arms 2311. New to the scene, Oracle Arms’ enhanced-capacity pistol brings together the best of what each of the classics has to offer. Available in five models, perhaps the biggest selling point is its P320 magazine capacity, giving the metal-framed gun plenty of firepower on board—15+1 in its Compact model, 21+1 in its Combat Elite and Competition models. The 9mm line also has a snappy single-action trigger, enhanced 1911 ergonomics, simple linkless barrel and bushing-free design, and a hammer (because everyone loves hammers!). MSRP: Starting at $1,700
Sig Rose
The new Sig Rose serves up an attractive and enhanced option meant to get first-time women shooters up to speed … fast. The pistol is a P365 with a touch of rose-gold accents, an understated rose motif on the grip and available in both 9mm and .380 ACP. However, there’s more to it than just a heater. The Rose is sold as a complete package, which comes with two magazines, a TSA-approved Vaultek Lifepod pistol safe, five polymer dummy rounds for dry-fire practice, a mag loader and access to the QuickStart guide and online training series. Overall, it’s a fairly solid system for those just getting into the shooting game. MSRP: $800
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the April 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The author takes a closer look at the Taurus 856 Defender T.O.R.O., the world's first factory optics-ready revolver.
There’s something about the blending of old and new firearms technology that’s always gotten my motor running. So, when I saw that Taurus had red dot-equipped revolvers at SHOT 2023 I naturally had to take a closer look.
Despite never being much of a revolver guy, and only recently venturing into the world of red dot-equipped handguns, I immediately liked the concept. I mean, why not? Virtually every other style of handgun comes optics-ready these days, so why not revolvers too? It was only a matter of time until someone put the two together, but Taurus happened to be the first with the release of the 605 & Defender 856 T.O.R.O.
The 605 is a 5-shot .357 Magnum and the 856 Defender is a 6-shot .38 Special +P, and I brought in the latter for testing.
Upon its arrival, I was both impressed and somewhat surprised by how simply the company converted its standard 856 Defender into a T.O.R.O. (Taurus Optic Ready Option) variant. Yet, I was left feeling more work could have been done for the concept to truly be perfectly executed.
The Heart Of The Bull
As mentioned, there really isn’t much difference between a Taurus 856 Defender and the new 856 Defender T.O.R.O. model. The standard Defender variant is just a Taurus 856 but with a longer, 3-inch barrel and larger rubber grips.
For the T.O.R.O. version, the company merely taps and dies the top of the frame twice to accept an adaptor plate and throws the relevant hardware in the box. It also comes with the smaller, standard-sized 856 rubber grips. Besides that, the two guns are identical, and without an optic installed the iron sights work just as good on either version.
As far as the rest of the gun goes, there isn’t a ton to say. The matte black finish may not be very pretty, but it does seem to be very durable and functional. The cylinder latch was initially quite stiff and took some effort to swing the cylinder out, but it loosened up after some use and would likely continue doing so. Outside of the ability to add an optic, it’s the same old Taurus 856.
The cylinder was initially pretty stiff to swing out, but it didn’t take long for it to loosen up.
On The Range
While the double-action trigger was on the long and heavy side, I thought that the single-action trigger was actually quite nice. It’s not the lightest I’ve ever felt, but it was very crisp. In double-action, the trigger is easy to stage, but the long pull results in an equally long reset. While it’s somewhat endemic to DA/SA revolvers, I did notice that when trying to shoot very fast it was easier than normal to lock the trigger after pulling on a false reset. Plenty of other revolvers have this quirk, however, so it’s just something to be aware of and factor into your training.
The compact rubber grips that come with the gun work fine, but they’re obviously designed to be more concealable than comfortable. Unless you specifically are looking at an 856 T.O.R.O. for carry, I would definitely put larger grips on this for the range or home defense.
My final small complaint with the 856 itself is regarding the hand ejector. While the revolver ejected spent cartridges with about the same consistency as others that I’ve shot (most of the shells most of the time, but it’s not rare for one or two to get stuck), the ejector rod itself got frozen in the downward position more than once. I don’t believe that I was hitting it too aggressively, but it still needed an encouraging pinch before the spring could return it to its original position. This would likely fix itself after more of a break-in period or with some lube on the rod, but that’s certainly not something you want to happen while reloading in an emergency.
The author found that it was easier to shoot the 856 T.O.R.O. than any red dot-equipped automatic pistol that he’s tried. When pointed naturally, the dot always appears in the window.
While the optic is mounted pretty high in relation to the bore, at least compared to automatic pistols, some of the revolver’s innate qualities compensate for it. Many shooters feel revolvers point more naturally than automatics, and the red dot helped highlight this phenomenon. I’ve shot most major automatic handgun styles equipped with red dots, and for me, it was easier to acquire the dot with the 856 T.O.R.O. than with any of them.
When I put a red dot on my Makarov (Gun Digest Volume 40, Issue 3), it took some practice to quickly find the dot from a draw. With the Taurus, I could instantly and consistently find it every time. Since one of the arguments against putting red dots on handguns is the learning curve associated with using them, this is a big point in favor of the optics-ready Taurus. I feel that just about anyone, regardless of their experience level, could pick one of these up and start making accurate hits with relative ease.
Another benefit of the red dot revolver concept is the fact that there is no slide for the optic to reciprocate on. With red dot-equipped automatics, the optic moves with every shot, only adding to the challenge of reacquiring a sight picture while firing. Because revolvers have no slide, it allows the red dot to remain in place which in turn facilitates faster follow-up shots. As long as you can learn how to properly manage the recoil, it’s possible to keep the dot visible in the window throughout an entire string of shots.
Despite not being a frequent revolver shooter, the first time I took the 856 T.O.R.O. to the range with a red dot I was clearing plate racks faster than usual. It’s a slick combination.
As you can see, the Bushnell RXC-200 has an impressively clean and crisp red dot.
T.O.R.O. Time
When it comes to the T.O.R.O. side of the 856, I see both pros and cons regarding how Taurus accomplished it. Firstly, despite being simple, the system is well-made. Installing the plate and optic was incredibly easy and everything was still tight and secure by the end of the review. All the screws and tools needed to install the plate are included in the box, and once mounted, it’s ready to accept any micro red dot with a Holosun K or compatible footprint. I put on one of Bushnell’s new RXC-200 sights.
A clean-looking setup, but the author still feels that the red dot could have been mounted slightly lower if the optics plate wasn’t as thick.
While the simple design does allow Taurus to only charge $16 more for the T.O.R.O. version, in my view, it also resulted in the company taking some shortcuts. While it undoubtedly would have resulted in a higher price tag as well, with more effort, I’m confident that Taurus could have mounted the red dot a little lower. As it stands, there is zero material removed from the top of the frame and the plate itself is about 4mm thick. It doesn’t sound like much, but if the optic sat just a few millimeters lower, the front sight would only need to be a few millimeters taller for co-witnessing to be possible.
Some don’t think co-witnessing is a big deal, but I appreciate having the option to, so the fact it’s impossible with the 856 T.O.R.O. was disappointing. The benefit of Taurus’ method is that without an optic installed, the factory iron sights still work, but who buys a red dot revolver to shoot with irons? For what’s being touted as the world’s first red dot revolver, I would have preferred it if Taurus fully committed to the concept.
The way that it is, the installation of a red dot already makes the front sight unusable. To co-witness, one would have to replace it with a comically tall front sight (not a great idea for a carry gun), so removing it entirely may be a better idea. It’s pinned in place at least, so this is possible to do if desired.
The front sight is pinned in place, so it could be removed entirely if desired.
Who Exactly Is The Taurus 856 T.O.R.O. For?
Considering that it appears to have been designed as a carry gun, I’m a little confused about who exactly the 856 T.O.R.O. is for. Most people who carry a gun today choose an automatic. Those who still opt for a wheelgun generally do so primarily for one of two reasons in my experience: compact size or familiarity. Those who appreciate just how small a snub-nose .38 can be in a pocket likely won’t want a 3-inch gun with an optic mounted on top. Those who are intimately familiar with shooting revolvers are almost certainly also accustomed to using iron sights, so most won’t be too interested in the addition of a red dot.
While I’m sure there are some excited to carry one, frankly, I feel that the T.O.R.O. concept would have been better applied to some of the other revolvers in Taurus’ lineup. The company offers several larger revolvers in various calibers intended for different applications, ranging from .44 Magnum woods guns to .22 LR target revolvers and other .38 Special/.357 Magnum models with larger grips that are easier to shoot. Whether you wanted a bear-defense/hunting revolver, a range plinker or a nightstand gun, all seem like better potential hosts for a red dot than a concealed carry revolver… at least to me.
The 856 T.O.R.O. pictured with some defensive .38 Special hollow points. If you were serious about carrying a revolver with a red dot, the 605 (5-shot .357 Magnum) T.O.R.O. variant would probably be the smarter choice.
When it comes to carrying an 856 T.O.R.O., holsters are supposedly in development, but at the time of writing no official models are yet available to the public. If Taurus wanted to push this as a carry gun, I feel that the holsters should have been ready to go at launch.
Parting Shot
In total, I put around 200 rounds of PPU 158-gr semi-wadcutters through the 856 T.O.R.O. and didn’t experience any malfunctions. Any issues outlined earlier in this review were minor, would likely be solved by more break-in time or lube and are somewhat expected of a sub-$500 revolver. Overall, I was impressed with the gun. At its heart it’s still a no-frills .38 Special Taurus, but it makes for a better-than-expected red dot host and does so very affordably.
The Taurus 856 does work with HKS 10-A speedloaders as seen here, but Taurus recommends the HKS DS-A for a better fit.
Regardless of how many people may actually be interested in carrying one, the Taurus Defender 856 T.O.R.O. is a sleek little package that worked exactly as intended. For those who enjoy shooting revolvers and are open to the idea of red dots on handguns, it’s definitely worth checking out.
In this review, the author takes a closer look at the Tisas D10, a 10mm Auto 1911 pistol imported out of Turkey.
The 10mm automatic (auto) pistol cartridge has always had a special allure to those looking to deliver as much power on target as possible … from a concealable pistol. It’s also considered one of the best handgun hunting cartridges suitable for a conventionally sized auto-pistol. And the cartridge is indeed powerful: It can generate muzzle velocities exceeding 1,700 fps, with muzzle energies as high as 800 foot-pounds.
Of course, as Newton told us, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When put into language the average hillbilly can understand, it means 10mm handguns have a lot of recoil. In fact, with the hottest loads, they’ll recoil with more than twice the force of a 9mm and as much as 30 percent harder than a .45 auto with +P ammunition.
The cartridge was originally designed for the Bren Ten pistol, and both the cartridge and pistol were influenced by gun writer Jeff Cooper. But the Bren Ten and the birth of the 10mm are old news—40 years old, to be exact.
Since then, the popularity of the 10mm has seen ups and downs. For a time, it was even chambered in an issue service pistol by the FBI. However, with the introduction of the 10mm Lite—.40 S&W—interest in the 10mm auto waned. While it remained popular with hunters, it did not get a lot of attention for concealed carry.
Interestingly, when the FBI decided to ditch their .40s and return to the 9mm, the 10mm started to once again garner interest. All this means that, today, there’s a wider selection of 10mm auto handguns and 10mm auto ammunition than ever before. In defiance of its excessive recoil, it’s safe to say the 10mm auto cartridge is now more popular than ever.
The Tisas D10 is a well-made 1911 that’s reliable and accurate. Given its performance, it’s a lot of gun for the money.
One Special 10mm
Tisas firearms are imported from Turkey into the United States by a company in Knoxville, Tennessee. For the past several years, Tisas has been shipping a lot of 1911s to America, and they’re selling very well and have become popular because they’re accurate, reliable and affordable. I have several Tisas 1911s chambered for the 9mm and the .45 Auto, and for the past couple months, I’ve been testing a new Tisas 1911 called the D10.
Yes, the Tisas D10 is made in Turkey just like all other Tisas 1911s. That’s not a bad thing. Tisas is known for the fine firearms they offer, and it’s one reason the pistol is as affordable as it is.
This Tisas D10 is a 5-inch 1911 built on a forged stainless-steel frame with a matte stainless finish. The frame’s front strap and mainspring housing are checkered at 25 lines per inch, but this isn’t sharp checkering that’ll chew skin; it’s just aggressive enough to help you hold onto the pistol.
Here you can see the checkered mainspring housing and flat bottom G10 grips on the Tisas D10.
At the frame’s junction to the lower part of the trigger guard it has been relieved for the middle finger to help provide a more comfortable grip. However, the attractive gray/black G10 grip panels have a flat bottom like you’d want if you were installing a magazine well. Depending on hand size, the bottom edge of these grips can dig into your palm a bit. I’m not sure why Tisas didn’t use standard beveled-edge 1911 grips.
The magazine well on the Tisas D10 has been beveled to aid with loading.
The slide is also forged, but it has a black Cerakote finish, and its most notable feature is its fully adjustable target sight. I think an adjustable sight makes sense if you’re hunting, but for concealed carry it’s not that important. Additionally, it also has a sharp front edge that could have been radiused to prevent discomfort when manually cycling the slide. The front sight is a serrated black post—but very surprisingly, the dovetail base of this sight has been contoured to match the radius of the slide. This is a treatment usually only seen on high-end 1911s.
Many 1911s that deliver the level of precision seen from the Tisas D10 require a bushing wrench for disassembly. The pistol does not.
The slide, which houses the 5-inch ramped barrel, also has wide grasping grooves—11 on the rear and eight on the front—to aid with manual operation. Though I think front grasping grooves look cool, I have no use for them and prefer a slide with a slick front. Aesthetically, the pistol is attractive, and on its right side there are no markings.
A large X (the roman numeral for the number 10) is etched on the left side of the D10’s slide.
On the left side, however, there’s a large Roman numeral X denoting the model of the pistol. Also, at the rear of the slide, behind the rear grasping groves, there’s an etched Tisas Eagle. It’s also important to note that this is a series 70-style 1911; there’s no firing pin block in the slide.
The D10’s good looks are enhanced by the contrasting black Cerakoted controls. The skeletonized trigger, slide lock, grip safety, hammer, magazine release and manual safety are all black. My only other complaint with the D10 is with two of these controls and the bottom edge of the slide. Tisas took the pains to inset the frame pin for the takedown lever on the right side of the frame—another treatment generally reserved for high-end 1911s—but they didn’t radius the edges on the slide, slide stop or ambidextrous safety. Understandably, the intent was to make this gun affordable, and it is. However, I believe many would happily pay a bit extra for that little extra attention.
The Tisas D10 differs from most 1911s in .45 auto in that it has a ramped barrel.
On the Range
In total, I fired 350 rounds out of this pistol, which consisted of a least one box of every load listed in the accompanying chart. This wasn’t a torture test, which I think is a silly undertaking when you only have one sample to work with. If one part breaks or something doesn’t work on the gun you’re testing, that doesn’t mean that all similar guns are poorly made. To establish the true durability of a firearm design, you’d need to test multiple samples and then compare results. This was a test to evaluate the reliability, shootability and precision potential of the pistol … and those three factors make a good focus for this report.
Reliability:
I experienced zero malfunctions or stoppages with this pistol; there were no failures to feed, failures to fire or failures to eject, with any of the loads tested. That’s quite impressive considering bullet weights with the test ammo ranged from 115 to 220 grains. Similarly, these loads exhibited a wide range in velocity, from a low of 1,121 fps to a high of 1,780 fps. All the loads were tested from both of the 8-round magazines that come with the pistol.
Shootability:
With most loads, the recoil was stout, and I’ve already mentioned there are a few sharp edges on the handgun. But out of the box, the pistol shot to point-of-aim. I liked the thick, 0.126-inch-wide front sight and the large and serrated rear sight blade. However, I would’ve liked a bit wider notch in the rear sight to provide some more light on the sides of the front sight. This would help with sight acquisition during speed engagements or when hunting in low-light conditions.
As with every defensive-style handgun I test, I ran the D10 through the Forty-Five Drill—five shots at 5 yards at a 5-inch target from the holster—using the Federal 200-grain HST load. My average time for five runs was 3.98 seconds, which is about a half-second slower than my times with similar-sized .45 auto running +P ammo.
In terms of feel, the trigger was exceptional. Even though my trigger scale listed it at 5 pounds, when pulling it I would have sworn it was closer to three. The hammer release felt as good or better than that on any of the non-custom 1911s I’ve recently tested.
Precision:
This pistol also impressed me with the level of precision it delivered on target. I tested all 10 loads from a sandbag rest at 10 yards, and not a single group measured larger than 2 inches—most came in under 1.5 inches, and a few broke the 1-inch mark. Just for fun, I also took some 100-yard shots from the offhand standing position at a steel torso target at 100 yards, hitting the target way more than I missed it. In short, this pistol has all the precision you’ll need for self-defense or hunting.
Notes: Reported muzzle velocity (MV), standard velocity deviation (SD), maximum velocity deviation (MD) and muzzle energy (ENG) were obtained by firing 10 shots over a Caldwell G2 chronograph with the screens positioned 10 feet from the muzzle. Temperature: 51 degrees; pressure: 29.74 in-Hg; humidity: 83 percent; and elevation: 2,200 feet.
Final Thoughts
My nitpicking might mean very little to you; admittedly, I’m a bit of a 1911 snob. But my job is to nit-pick. Even with the things I didn’t like about the D10, at its suggested price of $799.99, this is unquestionably a fantastic pistol. A competent gunsmith can radius the sharp edges that offended me … and even slightly open the notch in the rear sight for just a couple hundred bucks. And of course, you could replace the grips with some that have a tapered bottom for a lot less than that. Alternatively, if you add a magwell, that stock grips will fit perfectly.
Going forward, Tisas would be wise to offer this pistol with a set of fixed, high-profile combat sights, along with a slide cut to accept a miniature reflex sight. I’m not convinced a reflex sight is the best option for personal protection, but for a hunting handgun it’s far superior to open sights of any type.
Regardless, it’s clear Tisas has a winner with their D10. Any way you look at it, it’s a lot of gun for the money. And, in today’s world, that means a hell of a lot.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the April 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
FN America has recently announced the FN Reflex and FN Reflex MRD, two new micro-compact 9mm carry pistols.
As the popularity of micro 9mm pistols marches on, FN America is the latest company to throw its hat in the ring with the announcement of the FN Reflex and FN Reflex MRD. Based on the pistols’ size and specs, they look like they will be strong competitors to Sig’s P365 series.
Sporting a 3.3-inch cold hammer-forged barrel, a 1-inch total width and a magazine capacity of up to 15 rounds, the FN Reflex is accurate, concealable and can hold an impressive amount of ammunition. Each pistol will ship with two magazines, either a flush-fit 11-round mag and an extended 15-round mag or two 10-round mags. The 11-rounders also come with an optional pinky extension baseplate. Further, the FN Reflex uses an internal hammer rather than a striker-fire system, enabling it to have a crisp SAO 5-pound trigger pull. FN claims that the internal hammer system doesn’t just make for a great trigger, but also reduces the amount of force required to rack the slide.
Both FN Reflex models ship with three-dot iron sights with a tritium front sight, but the FN Reflex MRD is also optics-ready. Its slide is milled to allow the direct mounting of Holosun K- and RMSc-pattern red dot sights, meaning that no adaptor plate is required.
The new guns get their name primarily from their grip angle, as FN says that it was developed specifically to provide a natural point of aim to aid with rapid sight acquisition. Other features of the Reflex pistols include aggressive grip texturing, front and rear slide serrations and an accessory rail for compact weapon lights. Both models will be available with either a black or FDE finish, and the MSRP for the standard FN Reflex is $599 while the MRD variant has an MSRP of $659.
Tiger McKee, the director and founder of Shootrite Firearms Academy and regular author for Gun Digest has sadly passed away.
Today, April 17, 2023, news broke that the shooting world has just lost a valuable member. His name was Tiger McKee, and he was the founder and director of the Shootrite Firearms Academy. Those who had the pleasure of receiving instruction from him remember McKee as an excellent and knowledgeable teacher.
In-person classes were not the only way that McKee shared his skills with the world, however, as he was also an author who wrote articles and books for several publications. For Gun Digest specifically, he was a longstanding contributor to the magazine with his AR Essentials column as well as the author of AR-15 Skills & Drills: Learn To Run Your AR Like A Pro.
Other notable accomplishments of his include being awarded an expert rating with handgun and rifle by Colonel Jeff Cooper, serving as an adjunct instructor at Thunder Ranch and for the FBI as well as generally being considered one of the nation’s best firearms instructors.
Whether McKee was covering AR-15s, defensive handguns or the general skills associated with gunfighting, he was always appreciated for being a wealth of knowledge. His input in the shooting industry will be sorely missed.
The New SIG P365 Rose is more than a pistol angled to arm women. It's a complete firearms system.
SIG Sauer released one of the first truly revolutionary handguns we’ve seen in a long time with the SIG P365. A new genre of handgun, the micro-compact, was born, and since then the rest of the handgun industry has been scrambling to release a micro-compact of their own as SIG churns out more and more variants of the hit P365.
Today, we’re going to take a look at one of the newest additions to the P365 lineup, the P365 Rose (the P365-380 Rose to be exact), a special edition of the gun that includes some accessories and extra features tailored for women looking to get started with concealed carry.
Is SIG just pandering to the growing market of female gun owners, or has a major industry player finally released something that actually addresses the needs of women without a lot of firearms experience who are looking to defend themselves?
Let’s find out.
Not Another Pink Gun
When I heard that SIG Sauer was releasing a version of the SIG P365 designed specifically for women, I was immediately intrigued.
Being a woman, particularly one who has made a career out of educating gun owners, and also being a big fan of the P365, it was like a delayed Christmas gift when the January SHOT Show announcement was made debuting the new P365 Rose, and the overall Rose program.
The Rose program is, in essence, a female-focused starter kit for women looking to carry a gun for the first time. What we saw at SHOT was a sharp-looking gun, with sensible accessories for a first-time gun owner, and it came paired with some training videos by the greatest female shooter of our time, Lena Miculek.
A lot of what I do is helping new shooters learn to protect and defend themselves, particularly women (who historically get overlooked a bit by the wider firearms industry), so I was absolutely giddy with excitement.
I was also nervous and a bit cautious. Bordering on suspicious even.
So much of what gets marketed to women who want to get into firearms is just…a pink gun. Just a pink version of whatever small concealed-carry gun is already selling well, with no consideration for any of the challenges that are inherent with a woman trying to get into firearms for the first time.
Would the Rose P365 and the Rose program be more of the same? I was very keen to find out.
A Rose By Any Other Name
With the Rose Program, I’m happy to say that SIG has not just slapped some pink Cerakote on the P365 and called it a day. There are two models in the Rose line at the time of writing, including the P365-380 Rose and the P365-XL Comp Rose.
Functionally, the guns are identical to the base P365 models which is fine as far as I’m concerned.
Both guns have stellar reputations and are as well-designed as anything on the market right now. Both are flawlessly reliable, accurate, easy-to-shoot and come with the increased micro-compact capacity that made the original P365 such a success.
The Rose edition upgrades consist of some very elegant-looking rose gold accents on the trigger, slide release, takedown lever, backplate and safety, which add a bit of class to an already good-looking gun.
There’s also a nicely color-matched Rose edition logo on the slide, and a rose in the stippling on the grip too. All in all, the Rose upgrades bring a touch of additional interest to an otherwise fairly plain polymer-framed pistol, which is great, but that’s not the whole story.
The bigger draw is actually the Rose program itself and the accessories that come with it.
What’s In The P365 Rose Box?
On the accessories front, you get two standard 10-round magazines, one flush-fit and one extended, as well as a magazine loader, all of which are also included with the standard versions.
With the Rose kit, you get some additional goodies in the form of 5 inert training rounds and a Vault-Tek Lifepod quick-access safe. The safe is perfectly sized, as it’s large enough to accommodate the gun, accessories and ammo, but small enough to remain portable and easily fit on a nightstand.
The last thing you get is, I think, the most important. In your box, you’ll find a little note from Lena Miculek which is very sweet, but it also gives you access to a series of videos that go over the basic use of a firearm. This includes everything from safety, loading, racking the slide and all of the other little things that a beginner needs to know.
There are shooting drills, advice on drawing and holstering, as well as important info on choosing a holster, all taught by 8-time world champion Lena Miculek, a woman the NRA calls “The world’s greatest all-around female shooter.”
She’s also the daughter of Jerry Miculek and Kay Clark-Miculek, legendary world champion shooters themselves, and she’s been winning major competitions since she was a child.
You’ll also get access to the Rose Community on Facebook, which is currently sitting at a little over 5,000 Rose-edition owners and climbing every day. This group is full of women learning from each other and sharing information, and Team Sig, including Lena, is very active in the group.
All of this gives anyone who buys a Rose edition P365 a solid foundation with their new handgun, a foundation that many women can feel a bit lost without. None of this will entirely replace an in-person concealed carry class, but that’s not the goal.
The goal is to give women who buy into the Rose program the information and training they need to feel confident taking that class. To give Rose owners the foundation they need to feel comfortable with their new gun so that they can learn and grow as gun owners on their own.
A few videos (more are in the works) and a Facebook group may not sound like a lot to someone who grew up with firearms or who already has some training. To the woman that’s looking for protection but doesn’t have someone in their life to get them started with firearms, it’s a huge step up.
The real power of the Rose program is not the prettied-up gun, or in the dummy rounds, or the nice Rose-branded case…it’s in the community, and the training led by the most accomplished woman in the world of shooting sports.
The Rose program provides an often-missing bridge between buying a handgun, and knowing enough about carrying one to be safe, as well as where to go to find additional training and advice on things like choosing a holster, legal concerns, and other info that armed citizens need to be aware of.
The gun is great, but it's really the included access to the Rose program that makes the package so incredibly valuable to women looking to concealed carry for the first time.
But of course, we can’t just talk about the Rose program without looking at the gun itself.
Overview of the SIG P365-380 Rose
Specs & Features:
Caliber: .380 AUTO
Capacity: 10+1
Overall length: 5.8 inches
Overall height: 4.2 inches
Overall width: 1.1 inches
Barrel length: 3.1 inches
Sight Radius: 4.9 inches
Weight (w/magazine): 15.7 ounces
If you’re familiar with the standard P365 or P365-380, there’s not a lot new here mechanically or functionally. It’s the same size as the standard P356-380, and the 9mm version too for that matter.
You have an overall length of just under 6 inches, and a height of just over 4 inches, making this a very compact gun. I have size small hands and I can get most of my pinkie on the grip with the flush-fit magazine, which is great.
All in all, the micro-compact form factor makes for a very shootable gun, and the longer-than-average sight radius (for the overall size) is a big part of that. The P365 line also has a phenomenally low bore axis, which makes the gun less “snappy” than other pocket-sized pistols.
And of course, the 10+1 capacity is an enormous improvement over the tiny 9mms and .380s of just a few years ago where you typically got a 6+1 capacity and were grateful for it. Well, the days of having the same capacity as a revolver are over.
In a situation where you might have to deal with multiple attackers, that extra ammo can be a lifesaver and, it has to be said, a gun for inexperienced shooters should have as much ammo on board as possible.
No one has ever died because they had too much ammo in their gun, at least not that I’m aware of.
Up top, you get XRAY3 Day/Night sights to help with shooting in low-light scenarios, as well as a Nitron-coated slide that is cut for a SIG RomeoZero optic. Conveniently, SIG has a matching Rose edition of that optic for you as an upgrade if you want it.
You can also get various mounting plates to mount any appropriately sized optic that you might want, and there’s a rail for a light underneath that you can take advantage of as well.
Taking The P365 Rose To The Range
When we took the gun to the range, it was business as usual for the P365 line. It shot well, better than it has any right to for a pistol this size to be perfectly honest. The trigger pull is a little long, but very crisp and with a quick and tactile reset.
The sights are wonderful, and I had no problem using them in low-light situations (even with my bad night vision). Groupings amongst the folks I took to the range varied, with the best coming in just under 1.5 inches at 15 yards.
Everyone, myself included, found the recoil to be super manageable, even by .380 standards. The aggressive stippling helps you get a very positive grip, which is always nice on such a small gun. And hey, the stippling is a laser-engraved Rose which, while not a practical benefit, is very sharp looking.
The one issue we did have is that the magazine springs were a little stiff at first, but leaving them loaded overnight fixed the issue completely.
I have seen some people in the Rose groups have issues with “limp wristing” (not really an accurate term) causing ejection issues, but this is more an issue with a new shooter and the .380 cartridge itself than any issue with the gun.
If you find your Rose not ejecting with authority, make sure it’s lubed correctly, and then check your grip to make sure the gun is held securely. If you aren’t gripping it tightly, the gun can fail to eject or fail to go back into battery.
Other than that, this is a truly excellent gun that has been elevated by the care and attention SIG and Mrs. Miculek have put into the accessories and training that come with it.
And it looks like something a sexy femme fatale would carry in a Bond film, which doesn’t hurt either.
Parting Shot
For a long time, there hasn’t been a great way for many women to get into carrying a gun for self-defense without them having to do a lot of research (while filtering out the garbage info out there) and figure things out on their own.
Now, with the SIG Rose line, women looking to protect themselves have a well-designed and welcoming path to becoming safe, responsible gun owners with the ability to defend themselves effectively.
For years, I’ve gotten questions from women new to carrying a gun about what gun to buy, what holster to get, where to find training, and how to be safe with their new purchase. And for years, I’ve responded with a handful of guns and holsters, lists of blogs and trainers to look into and articles about safety and how to drill.
The next time I get asked, I might just say “Check out SIG’s Rose program.” and leave it at that.
Biofire has just announced what may be the world’s first practical, biometrically secured smart gun.
As long as the concept has been floating around, it’s no surprise that a company is finally bringing one to market. The company is Biofire, and the product appears to be the world’s first truly practical and commercially available smart gun. While smart guns from science fiction typically do things like auto-lock onto targets, here in reality, the new Biofire Smart Gun is simply protected by biometrics.
A biometrically secured firearm that can only be fired by certain approved individuals is impressive technology in itself, but it does open a can of worms considering that anti-gun groups have endorsed the concept in the past and states like New Jersey have introduced legislation attempting to restrict future sales of firearms not equipped with this tech. Gun Digest will be keeping an eye on the Biofire Smart Gun to see where this all goes. The company has, however, already released a statement declaring its opposition to mandates such as the New Jersey law and its support for private ownership and freedom of choice.
That all said, how does the Biofire Smart Gun actually work? It uses “capacitive fingerprint identification and 3D infrared facial recognition” to determine if the individual holding the firearm is approved to fire it. Biometric data is captured by the gun during user enrollment and stored only on the gun; biometric data is never directly exposed by or stored on the dock. Once the system detects either an approved user’s fingerprint or face (whichever comes first), it quickly unlocks and can be fired like a normal handgun.
The system is also protected by “solid state, encrypted electronic fire control technology” to prevent tampering and is the first handgun to utilize “fire-by-wire” technology typically only used on fighter jets and missiles. Further, Biofire claims that the system can work even if the user is wearing a face covering or gloves. The pistol itself is 9mm, striker-fired and feeds from 10- or 15-round magazines.
The standard variant of the Biofire Smart Gun is slated to begin shipping in Q2 of 2024 and will have an MSRP of $1,499. Preorders are currently open and the guns can be ordered in either left- or right-handed configurations and in several color combinations.
When it comes to feeding your AR-15, is green tip 5.56 ammo top-shelf, bottom of the barrel or somewhere in between?
Whether you know it as M855, SS109, or just green tip 5.56, this variety of 5.56x45mm NATO ammo is somewhat controversial. On the one hand, it’s been standard military issue for decades. On the other hand, “military issue” doesn’t mean that something is inherently the best at anything!
So, let's delve into the myths about 5.56 green tip, its origins, what it's actually good for and what to keep in mind while buying it.
The First 5.56mm NATO Cartridge
What we now call “green tip” 5.56mm NATO ammunition was originally developed by FN Herstal in the late 1970s. The idea was to create a standardized (STANAG) NATO cartridge that would work with service rifles like the M16 family, FAMAS, CETME-L and Steyr AUG, as well as FN's (then) upcoming Minimi light machine gun, which would soon be adopted by the U.S. as the M249.
The cartridge had to exhibit certain performance characteristics, including penetration potential at long range as well as stable flight. To accomplish this, FN added a 7-grain steel tip insert which moved the center of gravity a little further back and raised the total bullet weight from 55 grains to 62 grains.
The added steel tip was able to penetrate a mild steel plate (roughly similar to the thickness/metallurgy of a .135-inch thick USGI steel helmet from WWII) at 800 meters. It satisfied this and all other requirements and was adopted as the standard load for 5.56x45mm NATO.
FN's internal designation for the bullet core and design is/was SS109. The American military gave it its own designation, M855, and painted the tip green to distinguish it from other issued loads.
An improved version, M855A1, was eventually introduced with a revised jacket over a copper bullet with a steel penetrator made from a harder steel alloy. That, however, is a discussion for another day.
Lake City M855.
Is Green Tip5.56 Armor Piercing?
Green tip 5.56mm can pierce some armor, but it isn't made for that purpose. Yes, part of the original development cycle was piercing very light armor, but that alone does not armor-piercing ammunition make.
Bear in mind that one of the original tests of M193 (55-grain FMJ) was penetrating a USGI steel helmet at 500 yards, which it passed. Further, M193/XM193 has been repeatedly proven to penetrate AR500 steel plates while M855 has a track record of less reliably doing so.
M995 “black tip,” which is a 52-grain bullet with a tungsten core, is absolutely an armor-piercing round as it was designed to fill this role. When it comes to M855, it’s closer to the truth to say it can pierce certain kinds of armor, but A.) it isn't made to, and B.) there's some evidence it's not very good at it anyway.
M855 Vs. Other 5.56 Loads
Using ShootersCalculator, we cooked up some tables representative of each load in question. Here’s a 1,000-yard trajectory table for green tip M855, made using the average G1 BC of .304, a muzzle velocity of 3,062 fps and a 2.6-inch sight height to account for standard AR-15 irons. All tables were made presuming a 100-yard zero, a 10 mph 90-degree crosswind and zero corrections for atmosphere.
And here's the same table for M193, presuming muzzle velocity of 3,100 fps and a G1 ballistic coefficient of .243, which is standard for M193 ball.
As you can see, M855 stays supersonic for an additional 150 yards, has drifted 10 fewer inches and dropped about 7 fewer inches at 500 yards, all while retaining more energy than M193.
However, bear in mind that the fragmentation threshold for M855 and M193 is roughly 2,600 fps (below this velocity, both projectiles become unlikely to reliably fragment). M855 drops to that velocity in 150 yards, and M193 at 125 yards.
While M855 clearly has slightly longer legs than M193, there are more loads available than those two. Here’s a trajectory table for something a bit less common.
This is a trajectory table for Mk262, the Black Hills 77-grain Sierra Match King load issued by the military that has an advertised G1 BC of .373 and muzzle velocity of 2,863. Compared to M855, it stays supersonic for an additional 100 yards, but because the SMK bullet has a lower fragmentation threshold of around 1,900 fps, it actually extends the nominal effective range to just over 400 yards. Compared to M855’s nominal effective range of 150 yards, that’s quite impressive.
Point being, while M855 is marginally better than M193 on paper, it’s also not the best 5.56 load available. Whether you’re after maximum range or maximum effect on target, there are many better options than either of these surplus loads.
Green Tip5.56 For Defense
Frankly, green tip 5.56 is a lousy choice for self-defense.
Fragmentation and yawing (tumbling) on impact are ostensibly the big benefits of 5.56x45mm NATO’s terminal performance, but the steel penetrator changes the center of gravity of the bullet.
That leads to what's called “fleet yaw,” a phenomenon (discovered by Dr. Martin Fackler) wherein some projectiles from the same lot of ammunition will yaw and fragment, but not all will. The same lot of ammunition has been observed to perform flawlessly in one rifle, but terribly out of an identical rifle.
When green tip doesn't yaw or fragment, it's basically just ice-picking the target with a .224-caliber bullet.
Wound ballistics of M855 when it successfully fragments. Source: Dr. Martin Fackler.
Veterans of the Battle of Mogadishu reported similar findings. Some who served there were completely satisfied with 5.56 green tip while others reported having to hit a target several times before they were incapacitated.
Ballistic testing shows that 62-grain green tip 5.56 does not yaw as reliably or as soon in tissue when compared to M193, typically only doing so until it’s 7 or 8 inches deep. It also does so less reliably at shorter ranges and when traveling at the slower velocities produced by rifles with short barrels.
Other 5.56x45mm loads, such as bonded soft points and 77-grain OTM, have more reliable expansion or yawing at shorter ranges and at slower velocities. They're also superior when used for hitting targets through intermediate barriers.
So, green tip is lousy self-defense ammunition. It's also lousy for hunting, and guess what the recommended 5.56mm hunting loads are? 55- and 62-grain bonded soft points.
When it comes to range ammo, M855 has pros and cons. While it is generally pretty cheap and available, its use is also banned at many ranges. This is because the steel insert is hard on steel targets and poses a bigger risk of starting a fire.
If you want to use it to shoot your own steel targets on your own land, that's up to you, but if you primarily use public ranges then green tip isn't the best choice.
Not All Green Tip 5.56 Is Created Equal
Green tip 5.56 ammo can suffer from the same problem as AR-15 rifles and 1911 pistols. Anyone can make them…which means some people are going to cut corners to fill a demand rather than turn out a good product.
In other words, not all green tip 5.56 is created equal. Dozens of ammunition factories, ranging from Lake City to Winchester to IMI to PMC to cowboy outfits that you've never heard of all make their own M855 clone, and not all of them are necessarily good.
They also aren't all identical, even when they share the same name. Military ammunition is made to strict specifications that lay out every single technical detail, from the primer to the propellant to the projectile and all points in between. When buying a commercial copy of M855 rather than true military surplus, you have no guarantee that whoever made it did so correctly.
For instance, the powder for actual M855 is supposed to be WC 844/Hogdon H335. While H335 is hardly the rarest propellant in the world, it's certainly the case that you can approximate the velocity with a different and cheaper powder, but that's going to change the pressure curve (which matters in a gun that runs on gas!) and so on.
Does any ammunition manufacturer you know of specify what powder they use? What primer? Some advertise which bullet, but not much else.
Green tip 5.56 is also a popular load for remanufactured ammunition, and while plenty is of good quality, a lot of it isn't. That's why a lot of top shooting schools and instructors don't allow remanufactured ammo in their courses.
The “LC” stamp indicates that this M855 was manufactured at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.
Point being, M855 is one of the most reproduced/cloned loadings in the world, and the further you get from the original the more problems may arise. You probably won't have too many issues with, say, Winchester white box M855 or PMC Bronze, but you might from someone else's. Manufacturers that primarily serve the military such as Lake City are the safest bet.
Due to its low price and high availability, green tip 5.56 remains a fine choice for training ammunition. Just be aware that the load possesses no mystical qualities and isn’t particularly better than any other variety of 5.56. If you’re looking for something to use for defense or hunting, there are many better options out there.
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.
