Home Blog Page 65

A Guide To The Home Defense Shotgun

By
Patrick Roberts
-
1

It might be time to get a new shotgun for home defense, because your grandpa’s bird gun is not the ideal home defense shotgun setup.

If you grew up in a home with firearms, chances are good there was a trusty pump-action shotgun somewhere in the house, likely leaning up behind a door. Versatile, powerful and easier to shoot than a pistol, the scattergun was a natural choice during a time when AR-15s weren’t nearly as common.

Remington-Dove-Gun
Grandpa’s old Remington 1100 dove gun isn’t great for clearing your home, but it can be devastating if you’re defending a barricaded position. Don’t forget to put the plug back in before next season!

As a direct result of the shotgun prevalence, there’s no shortage of misunderstandings and gun shop lore when “The Gauge” comes up. Many misconceptions about shotguns stem from how shot performs when hunting birds. Don’t buy into lore like, “you don’t even need to aim it, just point it down the hall,” that so often echoes off gun store walls.

Shotguns seem reasonably straightforward compared to a handgun, but the reality is they need to be practiced with just as often as any other firearm. Learning to keep the gun’s limited ammo capacity topped off—or managing the hefty recoil—takes range time. 

Scattergun Misconceptions

You Don’t Need To Aim

The misunderstanding that pointing the barrel in the general direction of a threat almost certainly has roots in bird hunting, where hundreds of pellets are launched at a target 25 yards away. At that distance with general sporting loads, the pattern has a sizable spread. Take that range down to typical home distances of feet rather than yards—with a limited pellet count of 00 buckshot—and your shot pattern is going to be significantly tighter. You absolutely need to aim with a shotgun; they aren’t magic.

As Soon As They Hear It Rack, They Run Away

Quit watching so much TV. Plus, a legally armed civilian should never use a firearm to intimidate through sight or sound; the act of displaying the fact you’re armed is often a legal issue. Could the sound of a shotgun being racked send someone running? Maybe. Retired law enforcement officer Darryl Bolke of Hardwired Tactical has shared, on multiple occasions, that in his first on-the-job shooting, both of the carjackers clearly heard him rack his 870 when he got out of the car. Did that stop the carjackers? They clearly didn’t scare easily.  

Anyone Can Use A Shotgun

Yes … but also, no. Between the substantial recoil and ergonomic issues, handing a shotgun to someone who hasn’t put in some range time can be a recipe for disaster. Most shotguns on the wall at your local gun store are fitted with a stock that’s better suited for hunting than in a defensive role. They seem to work fine on a square range, but the second you shoot from an odd position, that reach to rack the gun might be too long and result in a short stroke.

Choose A Platform

Do you need the latest tactical shotgun to effectively defend your home? Nope, but the ability to add things that make using the gun easier sure is nice. Plenty of folks have successfully used a hunting shotgun of the pump, semi-auto or even break-action type to defend those they love.

Even a competition shotgun, like the new Mossberg 940 JM Pro, is a step up from granddad’s 28-inch dove gun in a defensive role. The 22- to 24-inch barrel that you find on most competitive shotguns makes moving inside a structure harder, should you be forced to leave the safety of your barricaded position.

Mossberg-JM-940-Pro-home defense shotgun
Competitive shotguns like the Mossberg 940 JM Pro might not be ideal for defensive use but can be very effective.

Most home defense shotguns on the market come with an 18- to 20-inch barrel, which is ideal for a non-NFA gun. Another option to strongly consider is a Mossberg 590 Shockwave or something similar, which is designed specifically for a defensive role.

Gauging Your Options

The first step in figuring out what shotgun you want to use for defensive reasons is to choose what it’ll be chambered in. I’d narrow it down to a 12- or 20-gauge to make finding a good defensive load easy on yourself. Forget the off-gauges the bird hunters love.

12-gauge-ammo

A 12 gauge is generally the right call here because ammunition, parts and even the guns themselves are more widely available. That isn’t to say that a 20 gauge can’t serve you well, but don’t expect the recoil to be substantially lighter; a lighter gun that’s easier to hold is also going to soak up less recoil.

Semi-Auto Or Pump Action?

Although obvious action choices are semi-auto and pump-action, there are also lever-action shotguns as well as the very simple break-actions to consider. Break-action shotguns are less than ideal when you realize that most home invasions involve two or three people, and lever-action shotguns are finicky at best. That leaves us with the good ol’ pump and the semi-auto, but each have their own unique pros and cons.

A pump-action is the most common choice due to overall cost and availability. Accessories are easy to find, and getting a nice used police trade-in can net you a bargain. If you choose a pump, make sure you practice with it often, learn to manage the recoil and get in the habit of racking that action every time you pull the trigger.

Beretta-1301
Beretta’s 1301 Tactical is the most developed defensive semi-auto on the market today.

A semi-auto is going to shoot softer and be easier for those who don’t practice with a shotgun often, but it’s also a lot easier to outrun your headlights with one or have it go dry on you unexpectedly. Often, the largest objections to a semi-auto are that they can be finicky with ammo, and they’re significantly more expensive than the manually operated pump action.

Home Defense Shotgun Enhancements

Adding some doodads to the shotgun is going to make it easier to use under high stress levels, but make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. A defensive gun should be purposeful; you can leave the fancy parts to your range toys.

Replace The Stock

Shorter-than-average humans like myself are well-served by replacing the stock on a shotgun intended for defensive. Being able to run the action with room to spare, in any odd position I might find myself, hinges on the stock’s length of pull. A nice byproduct of the need for a shorter stock is that the Magpul SGA stock, which I put on nearly every shotgun, adds a sling attachment point as well as the ability to fit different cheek risers.  

Home defense Shotgun Magpul-Stock

On more than one occasion, I’ve short-stroked the gun when running it quickly because the stock was too long—the last thing I want is for that to happen when defending against an aggressor. Switching to a stock with a reduced length isn’t going to remove the possibility of a short-stroked action, but it happens far less often.

Shed Some Light On Things

Seeing things clearly is mandatory, because statistics prove that most home-invasions happen at night. There are a ton of options for adding some illumination to your gun, ranging from a cheap flashlight mount, on up to purpose-built forends with a built-in light.

Home defense Shotgun-Streamlight
Mossberg’s 590A1 holds the distinction of being the only shotgun to pass military testing and is lefty-friendly.

I generally prefer a forend with an integrated light like the Streamlight TL-Racker or SureFire’s DSF weapon light. The Streamlight offering is significantly brighter with 1,000 lumens to the SureFire’s 600 while remaining cheaper, but there’s a slight build quality trade-off.

There are even forend replacements, like the Magpul M-Lok forend, that allow you to mount a more traditional light without clamping something to your barrel or mag tube. If you have an oddball shotgun, your only option for a light may be a barrel clamp and a high-quality 1-inch flashlight.

Pump-shotgun-light

Bead, Ghost Ring, Rifle Or Red-Dot?

It might not be a bad idea to upgrade that bead sight on your gun to something a bit easier to see in low light. The best bang for your buck is going to be adding a tritium XS Sights DXT Big Dot sight to your gun. Want to go further than that? Adding a ghost ring rear, or even stepping up to a red-dot sight, is possible.

Aimpoin-H2-Lead
Aimpoint Micro H-2 red dot sight.

Many of the shotguns on the shelf today have the ability to slap a rail section to the top of the receiver, which will work in a pinch but is far from ideal. Purpose-built products, like the Aridus Industries CROM mount or the Scalarworks Sync, are great options if you want a rugged optic mount for your shotty.  

Slings, Safeties And Small Enhancements

Do you need a sling for a home-defense shotgun? Maybe. It really depends on your needs. No sling is preferable; the fewer things to get snagged the better. I might suggest a single-point sling if there’s a possibility I might need to pick a child up or use both hands.

To round out the mods, small parts like enlarged safeties and enhanced followers are a good place to finish. Since I prefer a cruiser-ready configuration, an enlarged safety isn’t as important for me as it may be for those who keep a shell chambered.

Feeding The Gun

One of the largest downsides to using a home defense shotgun is the greatly reduced capacity over modern semi-auto pistols or mag-fed rifles. Adding some form of onboard ammunition carrier, such as a side-saddle ammo carrier, is a must.

Defensive-Shotgun-side-saddle
A fancy side saddle with interchangeable cards makes changing ammo types a snap, but in a pinch, a cheap buttstock ammo carrier is better than a pocket full of shells.

Cumbersome ammunition bandoleers and slings with shell loops aren’t as fast to load from, and they oftentimes don’t retain the shells well, making them less than ideal. Besides that, they tangle easily and catch on things … especially in the dark. If you feel you need more ammo than a side-saddle holds, Velcro cards or an Aridus Industries quick-detach carrier are good options to replenish your onboard ammunition.

Shotgun-stock-shell-carrier-1, home defense shotgun, shotgun for home defense

Home Defense Shotgun Storage

Should you keep a shell chambered or is it better to keep the shotgun with a full mag tube, empty chamber and the hammer down? That’s personal preference. You might be influenced by the fact that most shotguns don’t have a firing pin block and instead rely on a spring to keep the firing pin retracted—I know I was.

While I’m generally a round-in-the-chamber kinda dude with rifles and pistols, I’ve heard enough horror stories from folks who teach shotgun classes—as well as buddies in law enforcement—to sway me toward keeping an empty chamber when the gun is stowed.

Lock It Up!

It should go without saying that putting the gun on a top shelf with an empty chamber isn’t enough. Find a way to lock up your home defense shotgun that’s easy to access. Tons of options out there will make gaining access to the gun much harder for a kid or a thief.

A bracket-type wall lock will run you a couple hundred dollars, but this design presents some challenges if you have optics or a side saddle. Hornady’s Rapid RFID wall lock is worth a look, as is the cheaper from ShotLock that doesn’t rely on newfangled RFID tags to unlock it. 

Don’t discount an under-bed safe like the one from SnapSafe … or even a very small gun locker in your bedroom closet.

If I Could Have Only One

The shotgun is a wonderful defensive tool that can also put meat on the table in a pinch. If I was forced to get rid of all my guns with the exception of only one, a 12 gauge of some type is likely the one that makes the cut. It might suck as a concealed firearm, but in regard to everything else you could want from a defensive firearm—a 12 gauge will do well … and then some.

A shotgun is going to treat you right … as long as you don’t buy into the myths. Set your gun up right, choose the right ammo and verify it patterns well.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Mastering Shotguns: Guides and Tutorials

Hornady Expands Ammunition Lines For 2023

By
Adam Borisenko
-
2

Hornady has just announced several new and expanded ammunition lines for 2023, ranging from 7.62x39mm subsonics to the company’s new 7mm PRC cartridge.

Whether your goal is long-range precision or maximum effect on target, Hornady makes some of the best ammo out there. Now the company has announced expansions to several of its existing ammunition lines, including three loads for the new 7mm PRC cartridge.

7mm PRC

Described by Hornady as something designed to fill the gap between 6.5 PRC and 300 PRC, the new 7mm PRC cartridge can launch 160- to 180-grain bullets at 3,000 fps. PRC stands for “Precision Rifle Cartridge,” and Hornady calls 7mm PRC the “first truly modern 7mm magnum cartridge.” Its qualities make it poised to become very popular with long-range shooters and hunters alike, and as a bonus, the new cartridge can be fired out of a 7mm Rem. Mag. or 300 Win. Mag. rifle with nothing more than a barrel swap.

Hornady will be initially offerring 7mm PRC as a 160-grain CX Outfitter load, a 175-grain ELD-X Precision Hunter load and a 180-grain ELD Match load.

Hornady-7mm-PRC-Cartridge

Outfitter

Outfitter is Hornady’s line of rugged, watertight ammunition that’s designed to survive rough conditions on backcountry hunts. The line already featured a wide variety of calibers and bullet weights, but three more have just been added. Skipping over the aforementioned 7mm PRC, the Outfitter line now also includes a 150-grain load for both .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield. These two cartridges were only previously available with 165- and 180-grain loads, respectively. All ammunition in the Outfitter line is loaded with Hornady’s monolithic copper, expanding CX bullets.

Hornady-Outfitter-7mm-PRC-Cartridge

Superformance

Like the Outfitter line, Hornady also expanded the number of Superformance offerings by adding 150-grain CX loads of both .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield. Unlike the Outfitter line, the Superformance line is instead designed to provide your ammo with a boost in muzzle velocity without increased chamber pressure or recoil. The line also now features a 50-grain CX load of .223 Remington.

Hornady-Superformance-ammo

Critical Defense

Hornady’s famous Critical Defense line of self-defense ammo received some love too, now featuring the new 30 Super Carry cartridge. It’s loaded with a 100-grain FTX handgun bullet and has an advertised muzzle velocity of 1,250 fps. Marketed as the newest cartridge for concealed carry, it’s a good sign for 30 SC’s longevity that it’s now available in Hornady’s top defensive ammo line.

Hornady-Critical-Defense-30-SC

Handgun Hunter

This ammunition line, obviously designed for handgun hunting, is only receiving a single new addition. It is, however, a very big one—500 S&W Magnum. Loaded with a 300-grain Monoflex bullet, this is now the heaviest option in the lineup. For those with an affinity for hand cannons, this will provide them with a very powerful new choice.

Hornady-Handgun-Hunter

Hornady BLACK

The Hornady BLACK line is designed for optimal performance from America’s favorite firearms, which is why the line’s newest caliber is a bit surprising—4.6x30mm. While there may not be an abundance of guns chambered for the cartridge, there are some out there, and shooters will now have a very reliable Hornady BLACK load to choose from as well. It’s loaded with a 38-grain V-Max bullet.

Hornady-BLACK

Subsonic

The final addition to Hornady’s 2023 ammunition expansion is to the Subsonic line, now featuring a 255-grain Sub-X 7.62x39mm load. This is excellent news for anyone who enjoyed shooting this caliber suppressed, as the Russian ammo ban has ensured that subsonic Brown Bear ammo will soon disappear from American store shelves forever. Predicting a sizable void in the market in need of filling, Hornady wasted no time in producing an alternative. The only thing that could make this new option any better would be if it can cycle suppressed Kalashnikovs more reliably than previously available loads.

Hornady-762×39-Subsonic, 7mm prc cartridge

For more information, please visit hornady.com.

Raise Your Ammo IQ:

Rifle Trigger Upgrades: Flipping The Switch

By
Josh Wayner
-
3

Rifle trigger upgrades are one of the easiest ways to improve performance, so here we cover some of the best bolt-action and semi-auto triggers on the market.

There are more options out there than ever before when it comes to trigger upgrades. There’s so much variety, in fact, that it’s easy to get lost in the minutia of just what you’re getting for the money. To make things easier and less triggering, let’s take a look at just what you get for your hard-earned dollars these days.

Trigger Basics

The gun, as we know it, is a tube that launches a projectile. The rest is essentially human interface with said pipe. The earliest notions of a gun were just that: a metal pipe or tube attached to a stock ignited by a lit piece of fuse. That fuse was originally carried separately, but eventually more advanced means of ignition were used; arguably, the earliest was the matchlock.

This simple device was state-of-the-art at its inception, and with the pull of a trigger—which, in those days, resembled the long lever trigger of a medieval crossbow—the lit match was lowered into a pan of powder. This mechanical action later evolved into the flintlock, then the percussion lock and then the metallic cartridge.

Remington-700-Triggers-T9
Heavier bolt guns are usually best with single-stage triggers that offer a clean break without the anticipation of a second stage. As a rule, the author treats a gun he walks and hunts with a two-stage, and a stationary or positional shooting rifle with a single-stage.

Triggers have come a long way from a smoldering piece of string; however, the creation of newer and better triggers didn’t stop with the advent of modern guns. Luckily for us, in our modern era, we can look back at our history of invention, take what we’ve learned and apply it to new things.

The thing is, trigger design today is limited to what’s selling … as far as guns go. There are very few, if any, guns designed around the trigger; instead, triggers and their advancements center around upgrading popular designs and are often drop-in. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find gunsmith-only triggers, wherein just a generation prior it was the norm to have your trigger worked over by a professional.

Modularity has its advantage, though. I’d say that virtually all the advancements in triggers are happening in three platforms: the AR-15 family, the Remington 700 and clones, and rimfire rifles like the 10/22. The reason here is that these are arguably the most popular base guns in the country, and they all have easily-installed trigger upgrades. These guns are truly plug-and-play when it comes to making upgrades, and there’s little, if any, gunsmithing involved.

Factory triggers today are usually heavier than they need to be, and this plagued them for decades as a liability concern. Savage Arms remedied this in the early 2000s with the AccuTrigger, a user-adjustable precision trigger that featured a blade safety. This trigger was, for many people, the thing that put Savage on the map in their eyes. Plus, in a Remington world, it was refreshing to go with something user-serviceable.

In those days, many guns with light triggers were dangerous in that they could fire when dropped or mishandled in the field. To solve this, the AccuTrigger was able to be adjusted to just a few ounces and, unless the shooter’s finger was on the trigger, it wouldn’t fire. This trigger design was similar to that of the Glock pistol in many ways, and I still love it—even when compared to “better” options.

The AccuTrigger is still available today, and I’ve been shooting one in a Savage since I was 16. It hasn’t changed at all since I originally adjusted it, and it remains one of the best triggers a kid could’ve grown up on.

The Best Factory Triggers Of 2021:

Production Bolt-Action Trigger

The best factory bolt gun trigger on the market, as far as production bolt-action rifles go, is one featured in detail here in this issue of Gun Digest. The Q Fix has a completely unique trigger and bolt arrangement that has never been done before.

Q-Fix-Trigger upgrades
The Fix by Q has probably the best bolt-action trigger made today on a production rifle. It’s a two-stage, making it very appropriate for hunting.

It shares more with a striker-fired pistol than a traditional Mauser-style sear assembly and it is, in my extensive experience with triggers, the best out there in terms of how it breaks, feels on the finger and for precision shot placement. The Q Fix is an expensive rifle, however, but it’s not one that you’ll need to upgrade in the sense of a base model factory gun. It has it all already and, in the world of factory designed and assembled triggers, it puts many others to shame.

Production Semi-Auto Trigger

The Savage MSR10 6.5 Creedmoor. This is a full-featured AR-10-size rifle that holds up at 1,000 yards while being light and reliable. It has a great trigger and is a clear stand-out in the factory rifle lineup. I tried out this two-stage trigger at a range and was blown away that it was a factory Savage. It was like a custom-built rifle in terms of quality. The trigger was just amazing for a factory job.

Production Rimfire Trigger

The CZ 457 rimfire rifles take the cake for me when it comes to triggers in the factory rimfire category. They’re light, crisp and have the feel of a full-size rifle trigger when handling. I really appreciate the detail that went into this little action and just how functional it is. Many rimfire triggers feel like an afterthought and are too heavy for such light guns, but CZ executed this one quite well. It’s a single-stage trigger but breaks like the proverbial glass rod: a small glass rod, that is.

Rimfire-Triggers-T3
The CZ 457 Scout .22 LR is a compact, lightweight rimfire that boasts an incredibly crisp single-stage trigger and is just about perfect for snapping game on the ground.

Drop-In Trigger Roundup:

Talking about rifle triggers ensures healthy debates. I own and use both single- and two-stage models, and I select these for a given rifle based on my expected usage. In general, I prefer a single-stage trigger on a heavy precision rifle and a two-stage on a semi-auto or lightweight bolt gun. To make things more streamlined here, I’ll be looking at what’s out there for the AR family and the REM 700 and clones, as well as some rimfire with a caveat that there’s substantial crossover now between rimfire and 700-based actions.

Two-Stage Remington 700 Triggers

There are two triggers that immediately come to mind for the 700 and actions. Two-stage triggers find their homes on my lightweight bolt-actions, in this case both 700 factory short actions.

Trigger-tweaking-feature-T5, trigger upgrades

The Geissele Remington 700 trigger is two-stage and easily user adjustable. This trigger has appeared in some of my previous articles here in Gun Digest, and it’s very reliable and easy to configure. I currently have it in a garage-build precision rifle, consisting of an X-Caliber 6.5mm carbon-fiber barrel, carbon-fiber stock and Leupold LRP scope. I did some hack-job gunsmithing to it: I installed a Brownells bolt knob using an angle grinder and hand-cut the threads, a Marine Tex bedding attempt and then gave it a rattle-can finish. For being a build made out of leftover parts, it shoots 1-inch groups at 200 meters.

Remington-700-Triggers-T4
Remington 700 triggers make up the bulk of the bolt-gun market. Other types are available, but if you’re planning a custom build, the Remington action and clones are the most widely supported.

Another hard-use Remington 2-stage is the Timney Calvin Elite. This has been at home on my .450 Bushmaster for years and is a perfect field-use trigger. The rifle has an AG Composites carbon-fiber stock and a Triad Tactical forend wrap to prevent slippage in wet conditions. I’ve got it decked out in Hill People Gear and Short Action Precision gear as well. The Calvin Elite is a wonderful, simple and reliable trigger for the worst conditions.

Single-Stage Remington 700 Trigger

This one has to go to TriggerTech. These guys don’t have a huge catalog, but what they do offer is superb. I have two of their triggers, one on a KRG-chassis build with a Mesa Precision Arms titanium action and Proof Research carbon-fiber barrel. I use the Sig Sauer 5-30x Tango6 on this bad boy and the TriggerTech product allows me to just point and click past 1,000 yards. TriggerTech triggers are the choice for some of the best rifle builders out there, and I completely understand why. I’ve done lots of long-range shooting with this brand: They’re awesome if you want that single-stage pull.

TriggerTech-Trigger-T7
TriggerTech makes some great bolt-gun triggers. They’re easily adjusted for pull and offer several variants depending on end use.

Rimfire Bolt-Action Trigger

This was a tough one, and I mentioned earlier the caveat about the 700-clone crossover. I’ve been using the Timney HIT flat trigger on my Tuebor Precision 6.5 Creedmoor, but it was my experience with a .22 LR rifle using a Bergara action in 700 footprint that made it catch my attention. This trigger features a flat face and is excellent in the growing and popular rimfire precision sports. While it’s technically a centerfire trigger in that it was designed for the 700, it’s at one on any of the new generation of rimfire bolt-action and can be adjusted down to just 8 ounces.

Teubor-Trigger-T8, trigger upgrades
A thousand-yard rifle, like this custom build on a Tuebor Precision action, strongly benefits from a flat trigger such as the Timney. The pull is amazing and allows for extreme control at long range.

Drop-In Two-Stage Semi-Auto Trigger

Geissele has a strong command of the trigger game, and I use their products quite a bit across my rifles. While it’s fair to say that they’re arguably the best out there as far as ruggedness and precision, they’re not the only makers of fine triggers for the AR platform. My choice for their lineup is still just about impossible to beat: the Hi-Speed National Match. This is really the trigger to measure the rest against and is emblematic of the disciplined, difficult skills necessary to succeed at Camp Perry.

AR-Trigger-T6

Single-Stage Semi-Auto Trigger

I shoot carbines at many distances, and I like to have something rugged and simple. Fitting the bill here is the Velocity Classic AR Trigger. This is a more affordable unit at an MSRP of $159.95, but it performs like a much more costly unit. It’s a drop-in cassette type, meaning that the trigger is self-contained and installs without having to mess with springs or trying to fuss with pins. I ended up popping one in my BRN-180 carbine, and it really improved the overall handling characteristics, especially when snap-shooting with irons and the Trijicon Reflex sight in place.

Velocity-AR-Trigger-T12, trigger upgrades
This cassette-style trigger from Velocity Triggers is a single-stage unit.

Rimfire Semi-Auto Trigger

The most popular semi-auto .22 LR out there is the Ruger 10/22. Timney again makes it on this list with the 10/22 Drop In Trigger Assembly. This is a great trigger and really brings the 10/22 up a notch. Plus, it includes an extended magazine release.

It should be noted that Ruger also makes a replacement trigger for their own guns and it, too, is excellent.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More On Trigger Upgrades:

Why You Should Carry A Concealed Weapon

By
Tom Givens
-
0

Whether you already carry a concealed weapon or are thinking about starting, here are some bulletproof reasons supporting why it’s a good idea.

For many of us, the question of “why you should carry a gun” seems silly, given the current state of affairs in the United States early in the 21st century. Carrying a concealed weapon allows one, regardless of gender, age or physical ability, to control his or her own immediate environment and thereby have options in various emergencies that unarmed people simply do not enjoy.

Carry-a-concealed-weapon-feature

Carrying a gun is simply part of recognizing and accepting responsibility for one’s own actions, one’s own safety and the security of one’s own family. Indeed, with the level of lawlessness evident in today’s society, it might be the social duty of decent, intelligent people to arm themselves.

CCW-Class-GD-Book
This is an excerpt from Concealed Carry Class: The ABCs of Self-Defense Tools and Tactics, available now at GunDigestStore.com.

A cursory review of recent statistics is all the justification we need:

1.  The No. 1 cause of on-the-job deaths in the United States is homicide.

2. One of every six on-the-job deaths is a homicide.

3. Each year in the U.S., there are about 15,000 reported murders. This figure does not include homicides not reported, including persons who just vanished without a trace. The true figure is thought to be closer to 30,000 to 40,000 persons.

4. Advances in trauma care mean fewer than one in 10 people who are shot with a firearm actually dies from that injury. In 2017, there were almost 1 million people shot, stabbed or bludgeoned seriously in the U.S. Although these did not become homicide statistics, thousands of them were left blind, paralyzed or otherwise crippled for life.

5. In Memphis, Tennessee, for instance, in 2013, there were 154 homicides. There were, however, 9,165 incidences in which someone tried to kill someone else; they just were not successful. The main trauma center there, for instance, which is only one hospital out of 20 in the metropolitan area, treated 3,100 people for gunshot wounds that year alone.

6.  According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), almost 6 million people a year in the U.S. are victims of some violent crime each year. Therefore, this is not some arcane, esoteric threat that occasionally happens. Violence and violent crime are an everyday fact of life in modern U.S. cities.

07. The annual BJS report for 2017 showed the following numbers, for just that one year: total violent crimes, 5,612,670; rapes, female victim, 393,980; robbery, 613,840; aggravated assault, 993,170; serious violent crime involving injury to the victim, 643,760; stranger violence (victim and offender unknown to each other), 2,034,100.

Daily Threats

According to the BJS, you have a 1-in-49 chance of being the victim of a violent crime in a single year, not your lifetime. So, the odds are not “one in a million,” they are “one in a few dozen.”

CCW-Mugger
As of 2014, all 50 states in the U.S. have at least a theoretical system for private citizens to acquire a permit or license to carry a handgun on their person for self-defense.

If we only consider aggravated assault and no other violent crimes, there were an average of 2,721 aggravated assaults per day in 2017. The FBI’s definition of aggravated assault is “an unlawful attack involving serious bodily injury to the victim, or the use of a deadly weapon or other means likely to cause death or serious injury.” In other words, that’s almost 3,000 times each day someone tries to injure someone else in the United States. Taking sensible precautions against something that common is not being paranoid, it’s being smart.

Each year, fewer than a dozen people die from snake bites in the United States, and around 50 are killed by lightning. Almost everyone takes precautions against snake bites and lightning strikes, although statistically the threat is insignificant. Criminal violence, on the other hand, takes place every day, in every sort of place, all over the nation, and effects one in every 50 people every year.

Why then doesn’t everyone carry a gun? Everyone likes to think, “Violent crime only happens to someone else.” Well, to everyone else on the planet, you are someone else!

Consider this data from the FBI uniform crime report for 2017, a sadly typical year. In that one year, there were 1,247,321 violent, interpersonal crimes reported by police agencies to the FBI. These are murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault and assault. Please note that this is a voluntary reporting system, and many police agencies do not report totals to the FBI, so this number is actually much lower than the true total. According to the FBI, aggravated assault accounted for 65 percent of these violent crimes, while robbery accounted for 25.6 percent.

These are the crimes that require us to go armed.

Many people are what I call “willfully ignorant.” Not only do they not know the actual level of crime indicated by these statistics, they don’t want to know. If they knew, they might actually have to do something about it.

Carry-a-concealed-weapon-church
The author sees nothing wrong with wearing his concealed pistol to church. Anywhere there are people gathered, there’s a potential for lethal violence.

Throughout most of this past century, as the population became more urbanized and government began playing a larger role in everyone’s daily life, more and more cities/states adopted laws against the carrying of weapons in a misguided attempt to prevent violence. It hasn’t worked very well, has it?

In addition, the populace has been taught for several generations now to depend on the government for everything, including education, social mores and personal security. The problem is, the government cannot and will not guarantee your personal safety. The police, except in extremely rare cases, will only come along after the fact to make a report. Your personal safety is, as it always has been, your responsibility.

You’re Not Helpless

Over the past decade or so, a number of states have recognized that a disarmed citizenry is at the nonexistent mercy of sociopathic criminals who often engage in mindless violence even after the victims have submitted. The proliferation of drugs, youth gangs and highly disturbed persons has created a call from citizens that they be allowed the means to protect themselves and their families; and this call has been answered in every state.

Carry-a-concealed-weapon-city
Throughout most of this past century, as the population became more urbanized and government began playing a larger role in everyone’s daily life, more and more cities/states adopted laws against the carrying of weapons in a misguided attempt to prevent violence. It hasn’t worked very well, has it? In Chicago (pictured) alone, more than 530 people were murdered in 2018.

As of 2014, all 50 states in the U.S. have at least a theoretical system for private citizens to acquire a permit or license to carry a handgun on their person for self-defense. Illinois, the last holdout, was forced to come online in 2014. In fact, states that have enacted reasonable carry permit laws have since seen a decline in the rate of homicide and other violent crimes. It should be obvious that citizens who go to considerable time, paperwork, and expense to legally carry a firearm will not be a problem. The problem is the population of thugs who ignore laws against murder, rape, robbery, drug peddling, etc., and who should not then be expected to obey laws against carrying guns.

One thing I would like you to consider: In our culture, there is always a lot of media-generated noise about civil rights and human rights. What do you suppose the most basic human right or civil right is? It is the right to self-defense. Without the right to self-preservation all of the other rights are meaningless.

Carry-a-concealed-weapon-office
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports 1,000 workplace homicides per year, but that does not include a huge number committed at businesses too small to come under OSHA reporting guidelines. More Americans are murdered at work than die from any other on-the-job cause.

You have a right to be alive, and to live without being killed, crippled or raped in an unlawful, immoral attack by a sociopath. Telling you that you have the right to self-defense, but that you may not possess a weapon is ludicrous. It is just like telling you that you have the right to a free press, but that you may not possess ink or paper.

If you have the right to self-defense, you have the right to be armed.

Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt of Concealed Carry Class: The ABCs of Self-Defense Tools and Tactics.

Expand Your Knowledge on Concealed Carry

A VISITOR’S GUIDE TO CANCON 2022

By
David Lane
-
0

THE GUNS WILL BE QUIET, BUT WE WON’T BE!

RECOIL magazine and Silencer Shop are excited to put on the first CANCON this Veteran's Day weekend, November 11-13th, 2022, at the 17 South Rod and Gun Club near Savannah, in the great state of Georgia! 

This is a big event with a lot to talk about, so we thought a guide to visiting might help some of you out.

WHAT, WHERE, AND WHEN IS CANCON?!

What:

CANCON is a gun show and fully suppressed range day brought to you by RECOIL and Gun Digest Magazines.  

With over two dozen sponsors we’ll have hundreds of guns, suppressors, and optics for you to try out hands-on and on the range!

Ammo will be provided, all you need to bring is your shooting finger.

It’s not very often people get access to this many suppressors, guns, and accessories all in one place to actually try themselves. Don’t settle for just looking at them through glass, get yourself to CANCON and shoot them!

Where:

17 South Rod & Gun Club at 5899 N Coastal Hwy, Fleming, GA, 31309!

With over 50 lanes and acres of space, 17 South Rod & Gun Club is a wonderful venue for this event. If you’re not from the area, Fleming is about 30 miles south of Savannah, GA. 

When:

November Friday the 11th, Saturday the 12th, and Sunday the 13th! Tickets are day specific, but you’re welcome to get multiple tickets for multiple days! 

Veterans get in FREE on Friday! 

THINGS TO DO!

The highlight of the range day will be guns. Lots of guns.

There will be a ton of sponsors with truckloads of guns and suppressors to try out! 

From new releases like the Springfield Armory HELLION to classics like a Heckler & Koch MP5, there is going to be a lot of cool stuff to get your hands on. 

CANCON 2022 Sponsors!

THINGS TO BRING!

Ammo is provided and refreshments are available for purchase. We recommend bringing some water and other supplies for a warm day in the sun. Hat, sunscreen, etc. Your own eye and ear protection are recommended but will be available on-site.

Personally, I like to bring a pair of shooting gloves to events like this just in case. Guns can get hot!

Don’t forget your tickets!

TICKETS & TICKET TYPES

Shooter Tickets

Entry tickets for a specific day include a certain amount of Lane Tickets together in a package.

Entry-Only Tickets

Provide entry into the event only. Visitors with Entry-Only tickets will need to purchase Lane Tickets at the event if they wish to shoot at one of the lanes.

Lane Tickets

One Lane Ticket can be exchanged at a shooting lane for one test shooting experience at a shooting lane. The amount of ammunition per experience is determined by the lane operator. Visitors must queue at each lane to get a turn for their experience and surrender a Lane Ticket to the lane operator. Lane tickets or turns cannot be combined to increase the amount of ammunition per experience.

Daniel Defense will have their new SoundGuard line of suppressors at CANCON!

BRING THE FAMILY!

In addition to entry-only tickets for visiters who might not want to shoot, kids under age 12 get in FREE! Children are permitted to shoot with parental supervision, but tickets must be purchased for any children who would like to shoot. There will be kid activities available at the event!

COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN?

17 Rod & Gun Club is located in Flemming, GA but Richmond Hill is less than 10 miles away and a larger town with lots of accommodations. There are over 80 hotels with 20 miles of CANCON, so you have tons of options!

If you’re coming from further away, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is just 25 miles from the range.

LOOSE ROUNDS

For loads of more info, take a look at the CANCON Event Website!

Tickets can be purchased HERE!

Don’t forget to follow RECOIL on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest information!

Time Is Running Out To Get Your CANCON Tickets!

By
Gun Digest Editors
-
1

SUPPRESSORS, NIGHT SHOOT, FOOD, AND FAMILY FUN!

Welcome to CANCON A Fully Suppressed RECOIL Range Day!

Save the date and make your plans to come down on Veterans Day weekend, Nov. 11-13 to the 17 South Rod and Gun Club in Savannah, Georgia.

CANCON-Square

Hundreds of the newest and best suppressors, firearms, and optics will be on the firing line for you to get hands-on trigger time.

All ammo will be provided, just bring your trigger finger!

Veterans get in FREE Friday, so come spend your Veterans Day weekend with us at CANCON!

SATURDAY NIGHT VIPs will have the opportunity to shoot suppressed with night vision goggles, clip-on night vision optics, IR lasers, tracers, and more. 

CANCON will even have activities for kids, making this a completely family-friendly event.

Expect to see hundreds of firearms and suppressors, every one of them available to shoot. Don’t forget your eyes and ears for safety!

Not every day you get to shoot cool stuff like this!

Great food will be available on-site for when you need to recharge between shooting bays.

More information and ticket pre-sales coming soon!

Subscribe to the CANCON Event Newsletter

Give us your email below and click the button to be the first to learn about updates and developments!

182-CANCON-social_2_1200x628

CANCON 2022 SPONSORS

SILENCER SHOP LOGO BLACK 600×104
DB Firearms 501×64
Springfield Armory 500×174
Maxim Defense 500×127
Magpul 300×49
Aero Precision 300×75
Primary Weapons 300×93
Silencer_Central 300×300
M_P_Logo 300×120
Gemtech Stacked Logo 300×300
TriggerTech 300×51
Capitol Armory 300×55
SIONYX Logo_Black_tagline 175×52
Liberty Suppresor 175×176
SilencerCo175x139
Dead Air logo 175×249
Microtech_ Landscape_Red 175×41
HATSAN USA 175×23
C&H_mark_black 175×80
NF_Precision_Logo_CMYK_4c 175×39
vertx-STACKED-RED 175×177
TrueShot logo 175×48

Holosun Launches P.ID Weaponlight Series

By
Adam Borisenko
-
0

Holosun, a leading manufacturer of electronic optics, has just launched the P.ID weaponlight series.

Until now, Holosun was entirely focused on aiming solutions. The company’s catalog was mostly comprised of electronic optics, but it also included various mounts, magnifiers and lasers. With the launch of the P.ID weaponlight series, however, visible-light illuminators are now officially part of the lineup as well.

Holosun-Weaponlight-feature

The weaponlight series’ name stands for “Positive Identification,” and Holosun described four different models in the original announcement. However, at the time of writing, only the standard P.ID model is visible on the company’s website. The P.ID HC, PI.D Plus and PI.D Dual models will presumably be listed in the near future. Regardless of the model in question, all PI.D weaponlights are built tough, featuring housings made of waterproof and shock resistant 7075 aluminum. All models will also include interchangeable Picatinny rail interface keys for optimization with different styles of firearm, and they’ve been designed to be compatible with most common light-bearing duty holsters as well.

Holosun-PID-mounted

The standard Holosun PI.D light is advertised as being powerful and compact, capable of at least two levels of intensity. On high mode, it can produce a 1,000-lumen and 23,000-candela output, and while on low mode it has an advertised 60-minute battery life. The battery life on the highest setting is not currently known. All PI.D light models are powered by a single 18350 flat-top battery, and while the battery can be replaced, it’s also rechargeable with the provided magnetic USB charging cable.

Holosun-PID-side

The standard Holosun PI.D has an MSRP of $135.28 and is shipping now. The remaining three models are slated to release between the end of this year and early 2023. All models will also include Holosun’s limited lifetime warranty.

For more information, please visit holosun.com.

More On Weapon Lights:

Covert Rifle Carry

By
Patrick Roberts
-
4

Concealed carry is about praying for the best while prepping for the worst, so why not improve your preparedness by considering covert rifle carry?

All it takes to be reminded of the rapid cultural changes in America is to flip on a TV. Not long ago, the only place that you’d hear about protests and riots was in a history book; now they’ve become commonplace with politically driven tensions at an all-time high. Maybe it was time to rethink my approach to defending my family.

It seems the days of a five-shot .38 Special tucked in a pocket holster might be coming to an end; after all, those are at best case a two-bad-guy gun with great shot placement. Many concealed carriers move to a 15-round polymer pistol like the FN 509 Midsize MRD or Glock 19; now we’ve a five- or six-bad-guy gun, if your shot placement is damn near perfect.

But what if you find yourself in the middle of a “peaceful” protest? Even that six-bad-guy gun isn’t going to stop dozens, potentially even more than that.

It seems that the concept of a modern “truck gun” has more relevancy than ever before. In years past that might’ve referred to a beater ranch rifle used to dispatch the odd coyote or other rural pest; but the last decade has seen a shift from those old bolt actions to modern semi-auto rifles.

Covert-Rifle-Carry-bags-closed

Out of Sight, Out Of Mind

Not long ago, it wasn’t uncommon to see a rifle rack in the back window of a pickup. Concerns of theft have made that a thing of the past, but that doesn’t mean that folks don’t have a rifle tucked away in their vehicle. Keeping a rifle hidden from view has a downside, though: You probably can’t access it quickly and, if you can, it probably isn’t hidden all that well.

That’s where a discrete rifle bag comes into play. Clever designs like the Tuff Products Sentinel Concepts Elite Revelation II backpack, Elite Survival Systems Stealth backpack and Vertx’s Gamut series of backpacks bring new options to the table when trying to keep a rifle from prying eyes. While they look like a standard backpack, they’ve been designed to look like a run-of-the-mill bag and not raise any eyebrows.

Covert-Rifle-Carry-Revelation-II-open
Checking into a hotel with Tuff’s Revelation II has never once raised an eyebrow. Open the Sentinel Concepts Elite Revelation II and pull the concealment panel away for easy access to an AR with up to a 10.5-inch barrel and a LAW folder.

If you aren’t interested in a backpack design, there are plenty of other bags on the market that no one would suspect carried a long-gun. Your bag choice will ultimately be driven by your rifle and how you wish to conceal that bag in your car. 

Your Car Isn’t a Gun Safe

Do you need a high-speed bag to hide a rifle in your vehicle? No, but it isn’t until you get out of the car that the covert bag really shines. While many “truck guns” only leave the truck when the rifle is being used or cleaned, the reality is that’s a terrible idea—your door locks don’t make your vehicle a gun safe.

The ability to discretely take my rifle inside at night without the thought of “gun” entering an onlooker’s mind has been the single biggest benefit to the covert bags I own. It wasn’t until I went on a nine-day road trip with my 14.5-inch do-all AR-15 that I truly appreciated the ability to take my overnight bag and the Tuff Products Sentinel Concepts CARB bag into a hotel without anyone even raising an eyebrow. In fact, on more than one occasion I was asked if I played keyboard due to the CARB bag’s resemblance to a nylon keyboard case.

Covert-Rifle-Carry-feature
Open the CARB Bag and you find a 14.5-inch AR-15 fitted with a LAW Tactical Folder, electronic muffs and eye protection.

It Isn’t Just For ‘Truck Guns’

A discrete rifle bag isn’t just limited for transport to and from your vehicle: It also makes a ton of sense if you’re at a training class or live in an area that isn’t overly fond of guns. The last thing you want to happen while armed with something that a news reporter would undoubtedly label as “fully semi-automatic assault clipazine-fed soul snatcher” is an uncomfortable conversation with someone who realizes you have a rifle.

It’s far better to play it cool as though you tickle the ivories in the church band, are headed off for a hike or any number of other things that don’t include the .308 Winchester bolt-action that’s actually in your bag.

Not All Covert Bags Are Equal

Be prepared to spend a few dollars on a high-quality bag; you don’t want to deal with a torn bag when you’re checking out of that swanky hotel. When it comes to backpacks and bags, quality costs a few bucks.

Sure, you could maybe get away with any number of bags and cases designed for other things but those might not protect your firearm like you hope. Depending on your rifle, you might want to take care when putting a magnified optic-equipped rifle into a bag. It wouldn’t be the first time that a quality optic met its demise in a bag that someone thought would protect their several-thousand-dollar scope. 

Covert-Rifle-Carry-TUFF-open
The new Sentinel Concepts Elite Board Bag from Tuff Products is large enough to hide just about any long-gun … in plain sight. The Alamo Precision Rifles .308 Win precision rifle tucks neatly into the bag while the other pocket holds needed to take a long- range training course.

Your bag choice needs to be centered around the rifle or AR pistol you intend on carrying. You aren’t going to be able to shoehorn that 16-inch Smith & Wesson M&P15 that you’ve had for years into a backpack that looks like a regular backpack.

My personal go-to bags are all from Tuff Products because they’re well thought out, built well and blend in extraordinarily well. The fact that the brains behind all three of my Tuff Products bags happens to be a great friend, who spends more time behind a windshield than anyone else I know, is a side benefit. 

Setting a Rifle Up For Covert Bags

Once you’ve identified your base rifle and made the decision as to what bag you want to use, get your rifle setup for stowing in the bag. That means figuring out how to hold mags, mag pouches and slings in the bag—without making the rifle impossible to get out of the bag quickly. Figuring out a place to stow some eye and ear protection is also a great idea.

As far as the rifle itself is concerned, the first thing I recommend looking at is a LAW Tactical folder … if your chosen rifle is an AR-15. Bolt-actions can use any number of folding stock chassis, and if you have something like an under-folder AK, your work is pretty much already done for you. Double-check that your optic and lights are securely mounted to the rifle or AR pistol, and strap that bad boy into your bag. Tuck the rest of your kit (mags, pouches, etc.) in the bag as you can, but don’t over stuff the thing. The goal is to blend in while carrying enough gun to get you out of nearly every situation, not invade a small country.

LAW-AR-Folding-stock
This 8-inch .300 Blackout SBR with a LAW folder is compact to stow in just about any discrete rifle bag on the market.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Now that you have the bag and it’s all setup, practice with it. Spend some time doing dry runs getting the gun out of the bag to have an idea of how long it’ll take you to go from identifying a threat to getting that long-gun into the fight. While a rifle is a superior defensive tool, you might not have the time to get to it—and your concealed-carry pistol might be a far better option.

Practicing how to efficiently employ the gun will not only give you a realistic expectation of how long it takes, but you’ll also likely find different ways to stage your kit in the bag to make it a touch easier to get the rifle out of the bag and on target.

It’s Not For Everyone

Don’t think that I’m saying everyone should carry a long-gun everywhere they go. The truth is, 99 percent of Americans will never need a setup like this and would be best served with a concealed-carry pistol.

That said, no one should chastise someone for deciding to keep a long-gun close at hand. The Second Amendment gives me the freedom to toss a rifle on my back, should I feel a justification to do so. I just prefer to do it in a way that doesn’t result in a photo of me, holding the world’s cringiest SKS in a Chipotle, going viral.

Chastising gun owners with poor taste, like Chipotle SKS guy Flakoo Decampo, is perfectly acceptable though.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2021 CCW special issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More On Covert Rifle Carry:

First Look: Anderson Kiger-9c Compact Polymer Pistol

By
Adam Borisenko
-
3

Anderson Manufacturing has just announced its first handgun, the Kiger-9c compact polymer 9mm concealed carry pistol.

Anderson Manufacturing has recently expanded its catalog to include the company’s first handgun, the Kiger-9c. Completely made in America, this new pistol is a fairly standard polymer-framed striker-fire 9mm designed for concealed carry.

Anderson-Kiger-9c-1

Anderson describes the Kiger-9c as having an original frame, and while it does bear Anderson’s logo, it appears to be otherwise identical to the SCT 19 frame made by SCT Manufacturing. Considering that builders have been giving these frames generally positive reviews since it was released, however, that’s not an issue. The frame features aggressive texturing throughout, covering everything from the grip to the trigger guard to the thumb and forefinger rests. It also features an extended beavertail, an undercut trigger guard, front and rear slide serrations and of course a standard Picatinny rail for accessories. The magazine well is also beveled to assist with reloads.

Anderson-Kiger-9c-2

Essentially another Gen3 Glock 19 clone, the Kiger-9c is compatible with most Gen3 G19 components and accessories. That certainly includes magazines, and the standard Kiger ships with one 15-rounder standard with a 10-round option also available for states with restrictions. Anderson doesn’t specify whether the new pistol will be compatible with existing Gen3 Glock 19 holsters, but if it isn’t, UM Tactical already offers a Kydex IWB/OWB option specifically molded for the Kiger.

Anderson-Kiger-3

Anderson Manufacturing VP, Charles Anderson, said this about the Kiger-9c:

For almost 70 years, Anderson Manufacturing has been a leader in precision manufacturing and innovation…While known for our lower receivers and rifles, we saw an opportunity to apply our unrivaled engineering and technology to a new design and deliver a high-quality, ultra-reliable and value-priced handgun to the market. The Kiger is the next step in our continued commitment to developing exceptional firearms at an affordable price, and we’re proud to offer gun owners a handgun that is 100% American made and 100% Anderson.

The Kiger-9c has an MSRP of $429, and while less expensive and arguably more feature-rich than a real Gen3 Glock, it appears that it will have some stiff competition from Palmetto State Armory. The PSA Dagger has already been on the market for some time and fills the same niche as the Kiger-9c, the major differences being that the standard Dagger has an MSRP of $299 and that PSA offers Dagger variants with threaded barrels and optics-ready slides. On its face, it appears that PSA’s take on the Glock provides more for less than Anderson’s, but time will tell which proves more popular with concealed carriers.

For more information, please visit andersonmanufacturing.com.

More Concealed Carry Pistols:

Building Military Replicas: The M16A1 Clone And Beyond

By
Josh Wayner
-
1

Whether you’re after an M16A1 clone or another iconic military firearm replica, there are a few different ways to go about it.

The early years of the Vietnam War saw the AR-15 as the Colt M16, a supposedly space-age rifle that rejected notions of wood and blued steel, and instead went for plastics and aluminum. It was the image of the new dawn, where Americans were graduating into a degree of combat lethality the likes of which had never been seen.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case in the field, and the use of the M16 in combat proved to be a faith-shaking experience. Where the American in WWII had a dependable, powerful and accurate rifle, the soldiers in Vietnam were left with rifles that fit none of those criteria.

The M16 eventually became a mature system after much trial and error. It’s the progenitor of the most effective and common rifles in use today, most of which only bear a passing resemblance to the common M16A1. Because of this constant remodeling, there are many variants of the design that appeal to different niches of collectors and shooters. There’s also a flourishing market for modern military replicas.

M16A1-clone-feature

Brownells and the Retro Revival

Brownells surprised the industry when it, a well-known supplier of parts and tools, began to market a brand of retro-style AR parts under their own brand. Coming to the table with replicas of never-before-seen AR models and close to 1:1 copies of long decommissioned military weapons was risky, but it panned out instantly.

The product line did not, however, start out with today’s result in mind.

“We started out in what was essentially an empty market for the retro and replica parts,” says Paul Levy, director of product management at Brownells. “There just wasn’t much out there. We license Nodak Spud’s forgings to our specs, both upper and lowers. We spent lots of time procuring original furniture to make copies, and then we moved to finding authentic barrels with particular sight bases and twist rates. At one point we had all the parts sourced, and we decided, ‘Why not build complete rifles?’”

The guns they began producing made a splash, as many newer shooters had never seen or had access to original-style Vietnam-era AR rifles. Today’s shooters grew up with the AR, but not the AR of the previous generation. Carry handles, iron sights and triangle handguards have all vanished on modern variants. The excitement spread, enthusiasm grew—along with demand for more variants.

M16A1-clone-handguard
The old “triangle” handguards are rare in original form these days. This particular set dates to circa 1968 to 1971 and was unissued.

“The older guns reached a value point, probably $1,500, where there was not a great value to buying one,” Levy added. “The market for original Colt parts was dry and costly, and we were pleased to have great engagement from the AR-15 community when we brought these retro products back to the market.

Most of the products in the Retro line are about $1,000 to $1,400. The fact that you can get a factory-new rifle that’s as close to an exact copy of the originals is incredible. Imagine being able to buy a factory new M1 Garand for that price. Compared to what’s out there, the Retro replicas are an extraordinary deal and an example of living history that’ll help preserve the culture for a new generation.

“You can own C&R eligible AR-15 rifles that are 50-plus-years old,” said Levy. “The AR design is not new, and it’s closer in age the M1 Garand than people know. Only 20 years separates them [the Garand being finalized in 1936 and the AR-15 in 1956]. The original guns were so light and handy, and they were made as a system. Our modern versions are adapted and changed, and many people are surprised at how light and soft-shooting the 20-inch M16 is. It’s probably the most elegant of the AR family and really showed that Stoner knew what he was doing when he came up with the rifle.”

M16A1-clone-stock
The M16 stock here was a used military issue. It bears faint markings, but nothing decipherable. A complete set of M16A1 furniture is expensive—sometimes as much as $500 for a set.

Brownells does sell separate receivers, uppers and many parts and furniture that are comparable with modern AR rifles. You could piece out your own build, or use a retro receiver as the basis of a modern build for added flair. The company has introduced a copy of the original 4X carry handle scope used in Vietnam was well. While not as flashy as an ACOG, it does add some capability and cool factor to your own retro build.

Brownells is producing the BRN-16A1, XBRN-16E1 and XBRN-177 as complete rifles. The other rifles in their Retro lineup are no longer going to be offered as complete guns, but the parts will remain. In addition to the true Retro line, Brownells has also offered modern parts, such as the HK-style BRN-4 should you wish to start a modern USMC build.

Replica Vs. Reproduction

With companies like Brownells producing replicas outright, there has been some discussion as to what constitutes a replica and how many parts are necessary to make something more “original.” What, then, counts as a replica and what counts as a reproduction?

Colt-1911-M45A1
The Colt M45A1 1911 is an example of an as-issued item that’s commercially available. The first versions were different, but the later examples came off the Colt production line. While it didn’t serve officially for long, the M45A1 is highly sought after and is the final variant of a long line of 1911 M45 pistols that never stopped serving after the M9 was adopted in 1985. These variants are often painstakingly copied by 1911 enthusiasts. The SureFire X30U-A is the correct issue light, as are the Wilson Combat metal bottom magazines.

A replica, at least to me, is something that cosmetically, but not necessarily functionally, is as close to identical to the original as possible. The AR-15s out there today that look like the M16A1 are, in my mind a replica—not a reproduction. The military versions made by Colt in the 1960s were fully automatic and had different metal finishes and even variances in parts size and pin diameter over what’s offered commercially today. The Colt SP1 commercial guns are semi-auto variants of the company’s M16, but even those are something of a stand-alone design in that they’re not a direct part-for-part copy of the military rifle.

All the AR rifles today are, despite what I hear from collectors and hobbies circles, in-spirit replicas. I know people who strive for extreme detail in their replicas, but at the end of the day they’re all simply cosmetic look-alikes, not the real deal.

A reproduction gun is something that’s essentially a complete copy of the parts in function and appearance. I’ve seen reproduction Single Action Army revolvers that were so close to an actual Colt that I would’ve put money down that they were. Likewise, I’ve been fooled by a modern M1 Garand copy more than once. This is hard to do with the AR rifle, but not impossible.

Why do people try to build out replicas in the first place? Well, people feel a connection to history. I know a decent number of shooters who won’t touch an Uberti, despite them being great guns and often indistinguishable from a period piece. Other people don’t care about originality, figuring that even a 1970s Colt SAA is technically not the same as one from the 1870s, so they don’t feel the need to pay extra for one.

The M16A1 Clone

The M16A1 clone in this article is a very close in-spirit replica that’s, of course, semi-auto only. The external appearance is extremely accurate to what was issued in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The upper is a Brownells retro line product, complete with a period-correct 1:12 rifling twist. It has a modern bolt carrier group, but this isn’t discernible from the exterior. The lower is also a Brownells Retro model, but it’s stocked with the latest Geissele Automatics parts.

M16A1-lower-receiver
The Brownells replica lower is cosmetically correct as far as exterior features, but the markings are obviously different. Note that the magazine, while also close to the original, is dated to 5/19.

To make it feel more authentic, I tracked down and replaced the Brownells furniture with real M16A1 parts. The handguard, stock and grip are all correct and made, as far as I can tell, in about 1970. The sling is also original but was a gift from a Vietnam vet and was one he actually had in-country during his tour. These parts lend a degree of gravity to the rifle and it, while a new build with match-grade parts, has a feel so close to the original that it has turned heads at the range—and even elicited a few tear-filled memories.

M16A1-clone-brownells
What’s a more authentic replica? This M16A1 clone has original parts but is less authentic overall as compared to the USASOC buildout.

I decided to start a different USASOC URGI build and acquired parts that are quite close. The upper is a real-deal Geissele product that’s as close to the uppers in use today in combat as possible. It’s a near-clone and is functionally identical, but not exactly the same in the origin of some of the parts. It uses the same handguard and rare four-prong SureFire flash hider, which is pinned and welded to make it a proper legal length. The military version is not, as far as I have researched, permanently pinned. The upper carries all the appropriate markings and NSN numbers. It even came with a coveted Velcro patch you can only get with that upper. The patch alone sells for $100 to a dedicated collector.

USASOC-Build
This USASOC build has as close to the appropriate upper and suppressor as you can get from the manufacturer.

This rifle has a BRN-4 HK-style lower stocked again with Geissele parts. It has an SSA-X Government Trigger, which was a contract overrun. This cosmetically resembles the USMC M27 IAR, but it’s not functionally the same in really any way. In addition, the upper has similar sights, a similar light (Cloud Defensive instead of SureFire), and a correct model SureFire suppressor. The carbine also has a Geissele optics mount that’s correctly issued, but not the issue optic, though it’s functionally similar.

USASOC-build-2
The rifle here borrows from both the USMC M27 and the USASOC carbine. This is an example of the best of both worlds for function and cosmetics, but it’d be unacceptable for someone trying to be as real as possible.

How Close is Close Enough?

When it comes to replicas, reproductions and direct copies or originals, all that matters is that you get what you want out of it. I’ve owned authentic guns from history and owned copies. I believe that, for some people, having the real thing matters. For others, having something that does the same thing without the guilt of potential damage to a historical example is worth more.

USASOC-build-3
The author uses this rifle for rigorous competition. The Triad Tactical forend wrap is functional, as is the Cloud Defensive light. Are they correct? Not necessarily, but neither takes away from the spirit of the URGI upper.

Still, others just want something that they feel connected to, even if it’s a replica of a gun from the movies or fantasy. Replicas can be great as “close enough,” and for many guns like the AR-15 and its military cousins, close enough is all you really get.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Brownells no longer offers complete retro rifles but individual parts are still available.

More On Retro ARs:

3D Printed Suppressor Tools

By
Patrick Sweeney
-
0

Niche tools for items like silencers can often be out of stock right when you need them, but 3D printed suppressor tools can fill the gap.

Ever need a tool, only to find out there seems not be any for that specific task? Or the manufacturer is temporarily out? Welcome to the club. When it comes to suppressors, and disassembly of the same, you’re pretty much locked in. If you buy the Whiz-Bang suppressor, then the W-B Co. LLC is likely the only company that makes the tools to take them apart.

Well, almost.

Warren Innovative Technologies makes 3D printed suppressor tools to fit any suppressor. No, really. By my count, 33 different spanners, sockets, splined or cap-fitting tools. These are all made from injection-mold grade ABS, but 3D printed. Where there are pins needed, the pins are held in place during the printing process, so they’re firmly held by the finished product.

I know what some of you are thinking: ABS? How is that going to hold up to my leverage with a breaker bar?” My first thought is: If you need a breaker bar to get your suppressor apart, you’ve done something wrong already. My second thought is: Warren will replace busted tools, so you’ll have some thinking to do while the box wends its way to you.

After all, suppressors are supposed to be hand-tight. Yes, the mounts should be torqued on to a certain level, one that ABS might not withstand, but we already have perfectly good steel wrenches for that. If you want more than hand-tight, Warren makes a wrench handle/spanner to do that.

3D-printed-suppressor-tools-feature
Warren Tech 3D printed suppressor tools are light, non-marring, inexpensive … and you can actually get them when you need them.

The ABS Advantage

The two big advantages of the ABS printed tools are that they’re unlikely to mar your suppressor, and they’re readily fabricated. The ABS-M30 won’t leave scars on your aluminum tubes. By being readily fabricated (once all the engineering, R&D, etc. has been done, of course), Warren can make them when you need them. If they were made from forged aluminum, machined to fit, you’d have to wait until the next batch of that suppressor was made. If not a commonly owned one, that wait might be a while. This way, everything is either in-stock or made so quickly it might as well have been.

Oh, and do you have the spring-loaded workroom strips, the ones used to click your other tools into? Well, the Warren tools click into those. For those of you who aren’t one to leave tools behind when tired, there’s also a dedicated hole to put a loop of 550 cord (aka “dummy cord”) on it, so you can keep track of your tools.

3D-printed-suppressor-tools-Warren-TiRant
Here’s a TiRant wrench and the Warren Tech spanner that makes it easier to use.

Also, once the printing software has been generated for each tool, it was easy as pie for Warren to integrate the suppressor type name into the instructions. So, each one is clearly marked as to what it fits.

Now, if you only own one suppressor, or own several, but all from the same maker, this might not be needed. But what do you do when your .22 rimfire, your .223 and your .308 are each from a different maker? Or, you lose your one-and-only tool, and the suppressor maker is in-between production runs of that tool?

Why, you just track down Warren Innovative Technologies (SuppressorTools.com) and order up what you need.

As an example, the first tool I clicked on proves the point. It’s a socket tool to tighten or loosen an AAC three-prong mount. AAC is gone, and they aren’t around to make a tool for you.

But Warren is.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2021 Buyer's Guide special issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More Suppressor Info:

The 80 Percent Lower Jig Buyer’s Guide

By
Sam Hoober
-
0

You can’t finish your 80 percent build without an 80 percent lower jig to show you where to cut.

We’ve already discussed 80 percent lower receivers, the unfinished and unserialized component that’s at the heart of “ghost gun” builds. An integral step in finishing lowers like these is cutting away the remaining material, and to do that you’ll need an 80 percent lower jig.

We’ll cover what jigs are, how they’re used and what other tools you’ll likely need to complete a build. We’ll also take a look at five great jigs for completing common 80 percent builds.

What Is An 80 Percent Lower Jig?

Taylor-Guitar-Jig
A jig being used in the construction of an acoustic guitar. Photo: wikipedia.com.

When speaking about jigs in general, they are tools that control the movement of parts and/or other pieces of tooling. It can hold something in place like a vise, or it can guide a particular tool to complete a particular action.

When it comes to 80 percent lower jigs, however, what we’re more or less talking about is called a drill jig. Its primary function is to hold a part in place so that a hole can be drilled in the correct location.

In other words, it’s a drilling template. While some 80 percent lower jigs are made for use with a router with an end mill bit, most are made for use with a hand drill or drill press. This is partly why the process is so accessible to even casual home builders with rudimentary setups.

Does The ATF Regulate Jigs?

As you might be aware, the ATF’s recently-enacted Final Rule 2021R-05F attempted to increase the difficulty of building a firearm at home by amending its definitions of frames and receivers. With this change, the ATF considers a “readily completed” kit to be no different than a fully manufactured lower, therefore requiring serialization and a background check.

With the clear intention of this rule change being to crack down on “buy, build, shoot” kits, does this mean that 80 percent jigs and lowers must now be bought separately?

Polymer80-Buy-Build-Shoot-Kit
An old Polymer80 “Buy, Build, Shoot” kit that included a jig with an unserialized frame.

The truth is that at the time of this writing, nobody is perfectly sure. It appears that may be the case, but the situation is still currently fluid.

The ATF has stated that they may rule on kits that include tooling and a receiver blank on a case-by-case basis. While they haven’t said that the tooling associated with completing receiver blanks will require a background check or serialization, they did state that they may “consider any associated templates, jigs, molds, equipment, tools” as part of their purview. 

What does that mean?

It means that a kit that includes jigs and tooling with a clearly recognizable receiver is considered a receiver rather than a blank, meaning serialization and a background check is required. 

Jigs and tools themselves aren't considered receiver components and can be purchased separately, but the ATF has left themselves the option to consider jigs and tooling as components for completing a receiver.

In short, following this rule change, your best bet will be to simply buy the receiver blank and 80 percent lower jig separately for the time being.

What Do I Need To Complete An 80 Percent Lower Besides A Jig?

Exactly which tools you will need is dependent on the specific lower receiver blank you intend on completing. This means that you need to check the build list yourself!

If tools aren't included on the list, some must-haves include an electric drill and a set of drill bits. Imperial/English is usually good, but some kits may require metric. It's also a good idea to have a Dremel tool and attachments for polishing, along with a few basic files such as a rat file and possibly a half-mill bastard file. A set of digital calipers is also recommended.

Some jigs are designed to be used with a router with an end mill bit. If you have a router, this may be a good option to consider because it makes the milling a little more precise than when done with a drill or drill press.

Speaking of drills, a drill press will be better than a hand drill in every way. It will be easier, faster and safer, and the results will be cleaner too. If you don’t already have a drill press, it would probably be wise to buy one before embarking on an 80 percent build. Perfectly acceptable models for this task are sold for less than $100.

80-percent-lower-cowboy-mode
Don't worry about getting a drill press if this lower looks OK to you. Photo: AR15.com.

Glock/poly-striker pistol frames typically only require the jig and a few drill bits. Sometimes they're included, sometimes not. These are the easiest to complete and usually the cheapest of all 80 percent builds.

For AR-15 lower receivers, you'll need the jig and drill bits along with either a drill press or possibly a router with an end mill bit.

1911 lowers will require a drilling jig and a cutting jig for cutting the frame rails, along with drill bits. You'll need additional tools for fitting parts as well.

Again, the above-mentioned tools are just a starting point. Exactly what you will need depends on what receiver/blank you select and what jig you buy to complete it.

So, with that said…what are some top jigs to buy?

The 5 Best 80 Percent Lower Jigs

Broken Armory AR-15 Lower Receiver Jig

Broken-Armory-80-Percent-Lower-Jig

The AR-15 Lower Receiver Jig from Broken Armory is a high-quality drilling jig for completing AR-15 lowers. Their drilling jig design allows you to swap out the AR-15 top plates for their 308 top plates if you want to complete a .308/AR-10-style build at another time.

The kit includes top plates and side plates, CNC machined from anodized aluminum with hardened drill bushings. You get drilling depth charts, and all plates are marked with the correct drill bit size. All you need to supply is the drill bits and a drill press.

MSRP: $179 // BrokenArmory.com

Polymer80 Build Kits

Polymer80-Jig

Polymer80 is the company that started it all when it comes to 80 percent pistol kits, and they've found a way to stay alive despite the ATF's ruling. While not available yet, the company plans to offer what is in essence the same build kit as before only now with serialized frames. This will require the whole kit to be transferred through an FFL like a completed firearm, but it will include all the necessary parts and jigs.

You can read their statement on 2021R-05F here. The kit will include the frame, the Polymer80 jig, drill bits, the frame rails and instructions on how to complete the build. You'll have to supply lower parts and a drill. A vise would be wise to have as well.

Ideal? Maybe not, but the company’s frames are still excellent.

MSRP: TBD // Polymer80.com

80% Arms Universal Drill Press 80 Percent AR-15 Jig

80-Lower-80-Percent-Lower-Jig

Simple and budget-friendly, the Universal Drill Press jig from 80-Lower only requires a drill press and some drill bits to complete an 80 percent AR-15 lower. It's made of anodized aluminum and has movable side and top plates that serve as your drilling guides.

However, it comes with some caveats. It's only compatible with mil-spec AR-15 lowers, so ambi builds, AR-9 and .308 builds are not feasible with it. It's not recommended for the total novice, so you will need to do your homework on the cuts and drill bits needed. The universal model is very affordable, but the company also offers the Easy Jig for beginners at a much higher price.

MSRP: $99.99 // 80PercentArms.com

Stealth Arms 1911 Phantom Jig

StealthArms-1911-Jig

The Stealth Arms 1911 Phantom Jig is a drilling and cutting jig, which gives you the template for drilling the hammer and sear pin holes, cutting the frame rails and cutting the barrel seat. The kit includes two carbide cutters, one for cutting the frame rails and one for the barrel seat.

You only need to have a vise and a drill press—you could use a handheld, but a press is strongly recommended—and an 80 percent 1911 frame. The jig is designed for cutting an aluminum frame, as steel usually requires multiple cutters for each operation. The best practice is to use an aluminum frame cut for a ramped barrel and to use a ramped barrel on the build.

MSRP: $174 // StealthArms.net

Modulus Arms Universal 80 Percent Lower Router Jig Extreme

Modulus-Arms-80-Percent-Lower-Jig

This universal kit works with any AR-related lower, including AR-15, AR-9/45, DPMS-308 and AR-10 style 80 percent lowers. It's designed to be used with a router to perform the milling, with a proprietary one-piece guide pin design to keep the end mill from touching the jig.

Side plates are included as are depth gauges. Besides the jig (and a lower) and drill, you'll also need a router, a Router Jig Extreme Speed mill for your make and model of router and the appropriate drill bits. You may also, depending on the router you have, need a full-size router plate.

This model is on the pricier side, but the versatility it offers makes it worth it for those who plan on building a wide variety of ARs.

MSRP: $349.99 // ModulusArms.com

More DIY Stuff:

First Look: Savage Arms Impulse Mountain Hunter

By
Adam Borisenko
-
1

Savage Arms has just expanded its straight-pull Impulse lineup with the addition of the backcountry-ready Impulse Mountain Hunter.

Straight-pull bolt-action rifles have never exactly been popular in the U.S., so Savage was taking a bit of a risk when the company launched the original Impulse in 2021. Lucky for them, the gamble paid off, as the Impulse has become quite popular since its introduction. However, the biggest complaint that early adopters had was the rifles’ weight. Hunters wanted a lighter option that was more suitable for long treks, rough backcountry and mountain hunting. Savage’s answer is the freshly announced Impulse Mountain Hunter.

Savage-Impulse-Mountain-Hunter-feature

The new Impulse Mountain Hunter is available in nine different chamberings. That includes .308 Winchester, 28 Nosler, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Win. Mag., .300 WSM, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC. All models have either a 22- or 24-inch barrel depending on the caliber. Other features shared across the Mountain Hunter line include an adjustable AccuTrigger, an ambidextrous and multi-positional bolt handle and a gray AccuStock with adjustable length-of-pull and comb height. All nine versions also feature Proof Research carbon fiber-wrapped barrels with threaded muzzles and muzzle brakes.

Savage-Impulse-MH-bolt

The biggest improvement found on the Impulse Mountain Hunter series is the weight, with changes like the carbon fiber-wrapped barrel helping to dramatically decrease it without compromising accuracy. Of the existing Impulse models, the lightest was the Impulse Hog Hunter at about 8.4 pounds, and many others weighed close to 9 pounds or more. The new lightweight Mountain Hunter models weigh 7.3 pounds on average, making them much more viable for hunts that entail a lot of trekking.

Savage-MH-carbon-fiber-barrel

Beth Shimanski, Director of Marketing at Savage Arms, said this about the new rifles:

At Savage, we not only value the input of our customers, but we also listen to it. Since 2021 when Savage launched the first Impulse variant, the number one request we’ve received is for a lightweight version ideal for hunting in the mountains … With extreme accuracy and breakthrough technology, the Mountain Hunter is light, sharp, and encompasses all that the Impulse family represents, thus giving our customers what they wanted.

Regardless of the model chosen, all Savage Impulse Mountain Hunters have an MSRP of $2,437. At the time of writing, all calibers are available on Savage’s website except for the 7mm Remington and .270 Winchester versions which will presumably come later.

For more information, please visit savagearms.com.

Take Aim At Rifles:

The Stun Gun Buyer’s Guide: Watt Are They Good For?

By
Sam Hoober
-
0

Frankly, the stun gun isn’t an ideal self-defense weapon, but some people may still benefit from carrying one.

Stun guns can, on their face, be effective…but they are one of the least-preferred self-defense tools for good reason.

We’ll go over what those reasons are, and cover some justifications for why one still may choose to carry one and five top stun gun models to consider for those who do.

Stun Guns Vs. Tasers

While the terms are often used to refer to each other, stun guns and tasers are not one and the same. Firstly, while the word taser is now an accepted colloquialism for any similar device, the name is derived from the original manufacturer TASER International and is still a trademarked term by the current manufacturer Axon.

Stun-gun-feature

The more important distinction between stun guns and Tasers is how they function. While stun guns impart their electric current to their target via direct contact, Taser devices instead deliver their current at range through two small, wired darts. The darts may be fired at distances up to 15 or 34 feet depending on the model, and if both electrodes make good contact with their target, the circuit will be completed and the subject will be shocked.

Regardless of the style of device that provided it, electric shocks hurt. The only trick is reliably delivering the charge.

Stun guns, and for that matter Tasers, are legal in most states, but there are some restrictions. For example, Wisconsin requires a permit to carry one, Hawaii prohibits carrying them at all and several individual counties and cities have enacted stun gun bans…though legal challenges to them usually prove successful.

Types Of Stun Guns

Generally speaking, stun guns can be broken down into two categories: batons and compacts.

Batons are too large to conceal and deliver electric shock either by electrodes at the end of the device (like a cattle prod) or by wired contact strips, pads or rings along the outside of the shaft.

Stun-Gun-cane2
A baton-type stun gun disguised as a cane. Photo: Wikipedia.

Compact stun guns are handheld, with two electrodes at one end of the device. When you activate the device, the current jumps between them, completing the circuit. They can be made to resemble many different objects such as phones, vapes or flashlights, but some are the classic stun gun design that you probably picture in your head.

stun-gun-phone
A stun gun disguised as a cell phone. Photo: Wikipedia.

Regardless, all stun guns fundamentally work the same way. They create a current which can be applied directly to an attacker.

Why You're Better Off With Pepper Spray

In terms of less-lethal self-defense tools, the default is and should be pepper spray. It has the best track record (good pepper spray works very well when correctly deployed), and it's also cheap and easy to conceal and carry.

Taser devices have a high failure rate in the field (upwards of 50 percent according to some studies) and good ones are usually not cheap.

One major drawback is that stun guns are less than ideal for self-defense because they require the user to maintain direct physical contact with the threat long enough for them to be successfully incapacitated or dissuaded.

That may not be possible, depending on the exact fight you get into. If they're on top of you (almost all fights eventually go to the ground) it's most likely only going to delay harm rather than end the engagement. Heavy clothing can interfere with getting the necessary contact to deliver an electric shock as well.

Taser-electrode-darts
The wired electrode from a Taser attempting to penetrate a layer of clothing, results may vary. Photo: Wikipedia.

Secondly, unless you're zapping someone in the eyeballs…you're only affecting a muscle group for a second or two. That may not be enough to stop a fight when it comes to some attackers, and OC spray is known to do so much more reliably.

Finally, stun guns rarely put out enough amperage to produce serious-enough muscle spasms to be unfailingly effective. If they did, they'd likely be treated the same as firearms under the law.

To help better understand that, consider the classic analogy that compares voltage to water pressure but amperage to water volume or flow rate. An ounce of water at incredible pressure is still only an ounce of water, but four gallons per minute is a lot of water to move regardless of the pressure. 

This is why humans can withstand thousands and thousands of volts with nearly no effect. It's the amperage that does the damage.

Humans generally need to be subjected to 5 to 10 milliamps to even register pain. Inducing mild muscular reactions can require 10mA to 30mA. Defibrillators, by contrast, typically have an output of around 45mA or more.

The batteries aren't the problem. AA batteries have around 2,800mAH (milliamp hours; 1 milliamp per hour for 2,800 hours) of charge, and a 3.7-volt 18650 battery has about 3,400mAH.

To be a reliable fight stopper, you'd need to deliver enough amperage to guarantee muscle seizure, which can require anywhere from 50mA to 150mA…but the problem there is that even 100mA (0.1 amp) can be fatal.

So, an inherent flaw in stun guns is that they can't be made powerful enough to be reliably effective while remaining a non-lethal tool. An Axon-brand X26 TASER (a common model issued to police) has an output of 2.1mA. 

With so many downsides, you may be starting to gather that stun guns are a limited tool. But is there a possible niche?

When Would A Stun Gun Be Practical?

On paper, the stun gun is not an entirely useless defensive tool. Providing that yours has sufficient enough amperage (with fresh batteries) to actually induce not only pain but mild muscular contraction, a stun gun could (in theory) be an effective contact weapon.

Knives are not less-lethal tools. Bludgeons of any kind such as batons or saps are not either…and any “pressure point” pokey thing is unlikely to do much in a real fight.

In other words, where a stun gun could be tenable is in a fight or attack where you are in contact with your assailant. Pepper spray requires distance—at arms' length, it's possible to spray yourself as much as your opponent.

Stun-gun-pain
This soldier's face demonstrates that when energy weapons work, they work. Photo: Wikipedia.

Since an obvious concern for women, the elderly and the physically disabled is winding up on the ground under an assailant, a stun gun gives you a weapon that isn't potentially lethal (response to force must be proportional, after all) but can potentially distract or dissuade someone enough to flee.

It shouldn't be your Plan A, but it could still be a potentially useful tool to have as a backup, especially for those who want a less-lethal option but lack the physical constitution to fight off an attacker.

At that, here are some of the best stun gun models on the market that may actually be worth considering.

Top 5 Stun Gun Options:

The Runt Stun Gun

runt-stun-gun

The Runt has been on the market for some time, and it has some features that indicate it may be one of the few stun guns that will actually work. It's a compact unit, with an output of 4.5mA on a full battery. The onboard battery pack is rechargeable. You unlock the charge prongs and plug them directly into a wall socket.

The Runt has a rubber housing, and is 4.25 inches long, 1.63 inches wide and 1-inch thick, and at less than 1.5 ounces can be easily carried in a pocket or worn in the included belt holster. They cost less than $20.

TASER Professional

Taser-7-CQ

If you're seriously contemplating an electrical weapon…why mess around? Axon's TASER brand is now selling to the public, and their Professional Series, including the X2 and TASER 7 CQ which are the same units sold to police.

The output is just under 4mA, and the X2 and 7 CQ models have a warning arc that could be used at contact distance…or you can fire the cartridges.

However, a professional grade comes with professional pricing. The X1 is the cheapest…at $999. The X2 is $1,499, and the TASER 7 CQ is $1,599.

SABRE Red Self-Defense Kit

Sabre-Red-Kit

The SABRE Red Self-Defense Kit includes pepper spray and the SABRE S-1009 stun gun, which emits 1.250 micro coulombs per burst, enough to likely induce pain compliance. 

Why this kit? Because you can get the stun gun and SABRE Red spray for about $25. That way, you get some good OC spray out of the deal too.

Guard Dog Katana Stun Gun Flashlight

Guard-Dog-Katana-Stun-Gun

The Guard Dog Katana is a flashlight stun gun. It has a strike bezel on the bulb housing with concealed electrodes; when you activate it, they create an arc.

It has a rechargeable battery, an output of 420 lumens and an aluminum housing with a glass breaker tail cap.

Why this flashlight stun gun? It's about the same size as most other tactical flashlights, so it's slim enough to carry every day. If the electric shock doesn't work, it's also a good impact weapon. If nothing else, you’ll at least have a flashlight.

Vipertek VTS 989

Vipertek-Stun-Gun

The Vipertek VTS 989 has been on the market for quite some time and has a very similar design to the Runt. Its output is over 1 microcoulomb, and it includes an LED light that activates with the eclectic current.

The onboard battery is rechargeable, and it comes with a wrist strap and belt holster. It's rather large for pocket carry at 6.5 inches long, 2 inches wide and 1-inch thick, but should still fit most pockets. These also typically sell for less than $25.

More Self-Defense Info:

Daniel Defense Announces Daniel SoundGuard Suppressor Line

By
Adam Borisenko
-
0

Daniel Defense has just announced the Daniel SoundGuard suppressor line, featuring three models of rugged, hard-use rifle cans.

Daniel Defense has just partnered with KGM Technologies to release the Daniel SoundGuard suppressor line. The new series is being launched originally with three models, the SG-556, SG-30 and the SG-30Ti. The new rifle cans were designed with mitigating backpressure in mind and are being marketed as rugged, reliable and capable of withstanding abuse.

Daniel-Soundguard-feature
SG-556, SG-30 and SG-30Ti (left to right).

As the suppressors’ names suggest, the SG-556 is a dedicated 5.56/.223 can, the SG-30 is a .30-caliber can and is rated for everything between .223 and .300 PRC, and the SG-30Ti is rated for the same but is constructed out of titanium instead. All three models feature a 1.75-inch tube diameter, but the titanium model is .75-inches longer than the two 7-inch steel models. While longer, the titanium Daniel SoundGuard is much lighter as well, weighing about 7 ounces less than its steel counterparts.  Daniel Defense claims that the KGM technology found inside each suppressor does an impressive job of directing gasses forward and reducing the flash signature to near zero, all while having a minimal effect on accuracy or impact shift.

Daniel-Defense-AR-15

Marty Daniel, President and CEO of Daniel Defense, said this about the new Daniel SoundGuard suppressors:

Through years of working with multiple military/law enforcement agencies – as well as consumers – our team pinpointed specific criteria for this family of suppressors…In addition to the obvious, sound reduction, limiting the amount of toxic gasses, reducing muzzle flash and accuracy were all critical.

Daniel-SoundGuard-mount

All three models will ship with direct thread mounts for the most common thread pitches for their respective caliber (1/2×28 for the SG-556 and 5/8×24 for the .30-caliber models), but they will be compatible with quick-detach systems like Keymo and ASR as well. The SG-556 and SG-30 share an MSRP of $750 while the SG-30Ti has an MSRP of $1,000.

For more information, please visit danieldefense.com.

More On Suppressors:

Reloading On A Component Crunch Diet

By
Philip Massaro
-
0

How do you survive when reloading components are running low? The answer is a diet of consuming leftovers.

Well, here we are again. As if the lack of factory-loaded ammunition wasn’t enough of a challenge to shooters, reloading components are becoming increasingly scarce, and costs are increasing daily. Even the reloading gear is a scarcity in some cases, with folks having issues getting presses, dies and more.

To put some rumors to rest, the drought is a result of a few factors, though none are intentional on the behalf of the producers. First, we have nearly 8 million new shooters, all of which who need some amount of ammunition to feed those new firearms. Second, this COVID-19 pandemic has forced manufacturers to adopt different work environments; social distancing requirements have certainly led to a reduction in output in several businesses. Third, the majority of the components produced are allocated to loaded ammunition, which makes sense, as that’s where the demand is greatest.

Component-Crunch-feature
The saddest sight: empty component containers, with no replacements in sight. Photo: Massaro Media Group.

With the fate of Remington only recently decided, one of the four producers of primers has ceased production. While Vista Outdoor has acquired Remington Ammunition and their component production as well, that means that we are temporarily down one primer producer. So, as if things weren’t tight enough, we reloaders are left with the “leftovers,” if you will.

There’s also the fact that some folks are undoubtedly hoarding both ammo and components. I’m not here to pass judgment on anyone, nor am I about to suggest that there should be any sort of limit on the amount of ammo, components or firearms anyone should be able to own, but the truth is the truth. If you’re sitting on 10,000 primers, the problems outlined here might not pertain to you—but if you’re new to reloading or your supplies are low, they’re a reality.

Looking at the situation, we reloaders are now forced to make do with what we have. This could easily translate into changing brand of primer, or using a magnum primer where a standard primer was once employed. While the transition is possible in some situations and not a wise move in others, there are issues involved with switching primers. The same can be said for switching brands or type of cases, as the volumes of varying cases can be different enough to affect the pressures generated.

Switching Cases

When I was a relatively new reloader, a friend gifted me about 50 once-fired nickel-plated Remington cases for my new-to-me .300 Winchester Magnum. I’d developed a handload using a 180-grain Sierra GameKing boat-tail over IMR 4350, in Frontier (Hornady) cases. Eager to use those nickel cases, which wouldn’t tarnish in the damp of the Catskills and Adirondacks, I full-length resized them, installed the same CCI250 primers and charge weight of IMR 4350, then seated those Sierra 180s on top.

Reloading-Components-cases
Pistol cartridges aren’t as finicky as rifles to changes in pressure and bullet shape, and mixing case brand doesn’t pose an issue. Photo: Massaro Media Group.

Initially, I thought something happened to my riflescope—it was an old steel-tube Weaver—because the bullets were striking 2½ inches higher and 1½ inches to the right, in a group about twice as large as it had been. Puzzled, I grabbed three rounds of the Frontier ammo and printed the same ¾-inch group the rifle had been printing, centered on the bull’s-eye. The difference was the cases. Though there was no issue with excessive pressures, I ended up using those cases for a different bullet, and it worked out just fine.

This phenomenon seems to be amplified in the higher-pressure cartridges; lower-pressure rounds like the .30-30 Winchester or the .45-70 Government won’t show these effects nearly as much as the .22-250 Remington or the 7mm Weatherby Magnum, both of which operate at or near SAAMI’s 65,000-psi maximum. Should you be forced to switch brands of rifle case, I recommend using a lighter powder charge and working back up; as an example, those Remington cases held 88.2 grains of water, while the Frontier cases held 93.1 grains of water, and that volume difference equated to a significant pressure difference.

Switching Primers

Switching primer brands can also have a considerable effect on the performance of your ammunition. If your loads are on the edge of giving high pressure, a primer switch has the potential to push things over the edge. I had this happen to me with a Ruger .308 Winchester that gave the best accuracy with charge weights near maximum. In the crunch of 2013—which may be surpassed by this one—I ran out of the CCI 200 primers and could only get Remington No. 9½ large-rifle primers.

Reloading-Components-primers
Primers play an important role in the pressure game, and switching rifle primer brands requires reworking your loads. Photo: Massaro Media Group.

The difference in primer heat generated a higher pressure in my rifle, flattening and cratering primers, and making bolt extraction very difficult. Until I could get the CCI 200s, I had to back off the heat (and, subsequently, I actually switched from IMR4064 to H380 powder when using those Remington primers) and gave up a bit in the accuracy department, though not enough for deer to notice.

Switching Bullets

Switching bullets has also been a challenge in certain rifles. I’ve had guns like projectiles with more bearing surface, and I’ve had some show a preference for lighter bullets. When one or the other is unavailable and a switch is made, problems can arise.

Switching from a cup-and-core bullet to a monometal bullet will create a different pressure curve. While many of us take this for granted, I know many novice or inexperienced reloaders believe that a 180-grain bullet is a 180-grain bullet, irrespective of construction or conformation, and feel that no adjustment need be made when switching between them. The monometal boat-tail spitzer with polymer tip is a different animal from a flat base, round nose cup-and-core bullet, and though a black bear on bait 65 yards from the shooter might not care, the barrel will.

Massaro-Rifle-Cases
Switching brands or types of rifle cases can result in changes in velocity and pressure as a result of the differences in volume. Photo: Massaro Media Group.

Likewise, a 6.5mm 140-grain Sierra MatchKing has a different design than a 140-grain Berger VLD Target. Both are good bullets, but will probably not be interchangeable if you’re serious about long-range shooting.

Pistol cartridges, with the exception of the big guys like the .454 Casull, .44 Magnum and .460 and .500 S&W, aren’t nearly as sensitive to changes in case brand or primer brand. Winchester’s large pistol primers (WLP) are labeled for use with both standard and magnum loads. But, in my experience, the .45 ACP won’t deliver radically different ballistics with any one of the large pistol primers, and switching between them isn’t a big deal.

The Final Round

It’s times like these that cause many people to stock up on those components they use most, sometimes to excess, and it’s definitely times like these that spark an interest in reloading. Though I shoot much more reloaded ammunition than factory ammo, even in times of plenty, I hope this drought serves to inspire all shooters to learn how to reload their ammo, whether it’s for a handgun, shotgun or rifle.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More On Reloading:

1...646566...434Page 65 of 434

MUST READ ARTICLES

Get The

Magazine

Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing.

Subscribe Now

Get The

Newsletter

Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com.

Sign Up

Get The

Book

Get the 79th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book.

Buy Now

Information

Subscriptions

Resources

Business