Mauser has just announced the M18 Savanna, a new line of affordable bolt-action rifles that will be available in several calibers and feature threaded barrels.
The Mauser name will forever be inseparable from the bolt-action rifle, and the Mauser M98 action still serves as a gold standard for the platform today. While the company still offers some M98 models for those who are devoted to the classics, Mauser has also made great advancements with their other bolt-action designs. The M18 is one such rifle series, and hunters have been appreciating them since they were first released. The newest addition to the lineup is the Mauser M18 Savanna rifle, and like other M18s, it offers exceptional accuracy in multiple calibers at an affordable price.
Featuring a rugged “Savanna tan” synthetic stock to match its namesake, the M18 Savanna is available in .223 Rem., .243 Win., .270 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 7mm Rem. Mag., .30-06, .300 Win. Mag. and .308 Winchester. The barrels are cold-hammer-forged and made of German steel, and all are threaded to accept a suppressor or muzzle device. All models will have a 1/2×28 thread pitch except for the .30-06, .300 Win. Mag. and .308 Winchester models which are threaded 9/16×24 instead. All M18 Savanna rifles are also ready to accept Remington 700 LA-style scope mounts.
The rifles include a 60-degree oversized bolt, which when coupled with the three-locking-lug action should ensure very smooth cycling. The trigger is adjustable from 2.25 to 4.25 pounds and the action features a three-position safety as well.
Jason Evans, CEO of Blaser Group, said this about the new Mauser:
The new Mauser M18 Savanna presents the opportunity for even more American hunters to experience the benefits of German engineering and manufacturing…This ultra-rugged rifle is a true value delivering superior reliability, durability, and accuracy in its class.
All Mauser M18 Savanna rifles are backed by a sub-MOA accuracy guarantee and a 10-year factory warranty. A standard 5-round capacity magazine is included with each rifle, but 10-rounders are available as well. MSRP is $899.99 and they are available now.
ZeroTech Optics has just launched the Vengeance 1-6×24 LPVO, a new low power variable optic designed to match the versatility of the AR-15.
Low Power Variable Optics, or LPVOs, are quickly becoming one of the most popular sighting solutions for rifles, especially on AR-15s. The versatility of these scopes is where they really shine, offering true 1X magnification for close-range engagements and greater levels of zoom for shooting at distance. Recognizing the impressive versatility of the AR platform, ZeroTech Optics aimed to match that versatility as they were designing the new Vengeance 1-6×24 LPVO.
The Vengeance 1-6×24 LPVO uses ZeroTech’s illuminated RAR reticle system, an SFP (second focal plane) reticle that is calibrated in MOA. The reticle features six levels of brightness adjustment as well to accommodate shooting in most light conditions. The scope includes a locking diopter system to help ensure that your 1X magnification stays at 1X, and it also comes with a removable throw lever for speedy power adjustments.
As the name suggests, the Vengeance 1-6×24 LPVO features a 24mm objective lens and six levels of magnification adjustment. The optic’s 30mm tube is also O-ring sealed and purged with Argon to ensure it is resistant to water and fog, making the scope well suited for field conditions. Finally, every air-to-glass surface has been treated with ZeroTech’s Fully Multi-Coated compound for improved light transmission and lower levels of reflection.
Each Vengeance 1-6×24 LPVO includes a removable throw lever, a scope cover, a reticle range chart and a microfiber cloth. MSRP is $499 and they’re available now.
Things change, and precision rifle shooting is no different. Here’s a look at the latest long-range trends gaining popularity across the United States.
In my precision rifle classes, I talk about my own precision rifle journey. That journey started a very long time ago when I joined the Marines. Today, my journey continues as precision rifle shooting grows in several different directions. You can find trends, follow trends or work to create a new trend, and that’s precisely what’s happening today.
Barricade Benchrest Battles
If you live on the East Coast, the trend continues to follow the Barricade Benchrest format. They use very heavy custom rifles, usually a 6mm of some variation, shot off heavy bags or tripods. The use of bags and tripods has stabilized; we know what works…and why. The heavier the bag the better, but you must balance how much weight to pack. The goal post has moved back toward a single bag solution, with a secondary pillow to support the firing elbow. So, the question becomes one of weight. Weight equals stability, and balancing the two is the trick.
The author’s Really Right Stuff Tripod is his go-to alternate position tool. Given the choice, he’ll choose a tripod over a bipod.
Tripods have become an indispensable tool. There’s no precision rifle problem that can’t be solved with a tripod. In fact, if you ask me, tripod or bipod—pick one—the answer would be a tripod every day and twice on Sunday. Once we replaced the lighter camera tripods with the dedicated Really Right Stuff models, our world changed. To me, nothing replaces my Really Right Stuff SOAR Tripods.
Many companies are now offering models to compete directly with Really Right Stuff, but although the leg systems tend to work well, the ball heads being used cannot compare to a Really Right Stuff Anvil 30 when it comes to shooting. If you want to save a little money, order the legs but skip the ball heads. The leveling bases and RRS Anvil are the best way to buy once with the least amount of crying. You save nothing getting a knock-off ball head, but the bigger legs can be a suitable compromise.
If I had to predict a change for the East Coast matches, I’d say be on the lookout for .22-caliber variants to start winning more events. I saw a .22 Grendel that was just amazing. The .22 Creedmoor is looking to catch fire, and while limited, the .25 Creedmoor is begging for more bullets.
That seems to be the limiting factor—bullet choices in these lighter calibers. Guys are looking for the highest BC possible with a bit more weight so the range officers can spot the impacts at distance. Spotting a .22-caliber bullet at 800 yards or beyond is tough.
Out West is where the precision rifle world is changing dramatically.
NRL Hunter Matches
Hunter Matches are the new hotness. They’re set up much different from the East Coast matches, and people can’t get enough of them. The weight limits are more in line with hunting-style rifles, and the limits placed on gear are much more realistic.
Scott Satterlee, the brains behind the Hunter Series, is doing a great job of setting up the matches to be as realistic as possible. Animal-style targets, blind stages and, with most of these out West, great venues.
The ATX and Game Changer bag being used at the Sniper’s Hide Cup (SHC). The SHC is a field event, which means building a position is done on the fly. The ATX is a short-action system that can go from 13 to 26 pounds, depending on the weight system
Advancing ELR Matches
Since we’re talking Western-style shooting, another area of growth is ELR shooting. Many people look at the King of 2 Mile-style of event, but Satterlee also hosts the Nightforce ELR Challenge. Set up more like the current tactical precision rifle matches, his format is catching fire. Recently, he hosted over 200 shooters in a single match. The average range is roughly 1,150 yards with the furthest shot being over 2,200 yards. How about a 1,000-yard moving target? He’s doing it.
The caliber choices might surprise you: Most are using heavy .30-caliber or smaller versus the larger. 33- or .37-caliber cartridges. In fact, I think the best caliber you can use to get into these types of matches is the 6.5 PRC. Heck, you can do either the 6.5 PRC or .300 PRC; both cartridges work great. Winners of past events have used the .300 Norma Magnum, including this more recent competition.
Here’s the ATX in 6.5 PRC. In the ELR configuration, Scott Siegmund from Accuracy International has attached the weight system. Weight equals stability; you can add or remove these weights depending on the use of the rifle.
Here’s the ATX in 6.5 PRC. In the ELR configuration, Scott Siegmund from Accuracy International has attached the weight system. Weight equals stability; you can add or remove these weights depending on the use of the rifle.
A shooter who lives out West and wants to experience either can do so with a well-developed 6.5 PRC. I spent my spring working with Accuracy International, who just released their AT-X rifle, at both the Gunsite XLR Course and the Nightforce ELR event with their ATX in 6.5 PRC. At Gunsite, we shot to beyond 2,400 meters.
I recently assembled a .300 PRC and, even though I was out of town, my rifle made it to the ELR Match. The Applied Ballistics Team was there with their mobile laboratory, and they provided a printout of my rifle and ammo combination. With factory Hornady 225-grain .300 PRC ammunition, I was pushing those bullets at 2,912 fps with a BC variation of 1 and a standard deviation of 14. Sure, you want a single-digit SD to be competitive, but with factory ammunition…this was excellent.
The best part about these matches is the attendance. It’s growing all the time. At one of the most recent NRL Hunter Matches, a gentleman showed up with a Mauser using iron sights and hit targets at distance. Run what you have and don’t look back. These events are the best training you can get for pennies on the dollar. Want to up your precision rifle game, look at these types of events—you won’t be disappointed.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Dead Air Silencers has just unveiled the Sierra-5, the company’s first dedicated 5.56 NATO sound suppressor available in two configurations.
Dead Air Silencers is one of the leading names in the suppressor game, but as diverse as their catalog has been, it’s always been conspicuously lacking a dedicated 5.56 option. Recently unveiled at NRAAM 2022, the company is now offering the 5.56 Sierra-5 suppressor in two configurations.
Sierra-5 Xeno (left) and Sierra-5 KeyMo (right).
As a dedicated 5.56 suppressor, the Sierra-5 is reported to be supremely quiet, even during sustained fire. The 1.55-inch diameter tubes are made from stainless steel and the baffles are Stellite, allowing the Sierra-5 to be full-auto rated with no restrictions on barrel length. The front caps are compatible with Dead Air’s R-Series and the mounts use Dead Air’s HUB system, allowing the Sierra-5 to be attached using fixed, KeyMo and Xeno style mounts.
Speaking of mounting systems, that’s what differentiates the two available Sierra-5 configurations. The suppressor can be purchased as either the Sierra-5 Xeno or the Sierra-5 KeyMo, and as the name implies, each will ship with the respective flash hider mount and adaptor. The larger size of the KeyMo adaptor is what makes that version about a half-inch longer than the Xeno model (5.72 inches versus 6.27 inches), but both feature the same minimalist profile and tube diameter. With adaptors attached, the KeyMo Sierra-5 weights slightly more as well (15.4 ounces versus 13.3 ounces).
The tubes are given a high temp Cerakote finish as well as knurling borrowed from the Dead Air Wolverine, making the Sierra-5 as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional.
Dead Air co-founder Mike Pappas said this on the new 5.56 cans:
We’ve been working on this for a while. We’ve designed the Sierra-5 from the ground up to be a dedicated 5.56 suppressor. It sounds amazing. It’s lightweight and has uncompromising durability for the professional…We really feel this combination alone will appeal to hunters and tactical shooters alike.
The Sierra-5 Xeno has an MSRP of $859 and the Sierra-5 KeyMo has an MSRP of $929. Each suppressor will ship with the appropriate adaptor, mount and tools for installation, and both models should be available through dealers soon.
Taurus handguns have come a long way in terms of quality while retaining their affordable prices, one of the most recent examples of that is the Taurus GX4.
Taurus of Brazil began operations in 1939 as a tool and die forging plant. In 1941, they began producing firearms, and later, in 1968, commenced exportation of guns to the USA. The first Taurus handgun that I ever saw and handled was nearly 50 years ago. It was a nickel-plated revolver in .38 Special and had a close resemblance to a Smith & Wesson Model 10. I noted that the cylinder flutes were serrated, something I found odd. The checkered wood grips appeared somewhat amateurish, and the curved trigger just seemed to dangle from the frame inside the trigger guard. An “ugly duckling” to be sure.
Besides revolvers, Taurus purchased the machinery from Beretta to manufacture semi-automatic pistols, after Beretta had completed a contract with the Brazilian military. Unfortunately, the Taurus reputation suffered in these early attempts at gun-making, and their firearms have been the butt of jokes and more than a little contempt that’s lasted until this very day.
From Taurus is the GX4, a micro-compact pistol in 9mm Luger with a striker-fired trigger mechanism and 11+1 cartridge capacity.
Things Have Changed
Like most American gun enthusiasts, I wasn’t a big fan of Taurus. I’d tested a few over the years, and by and large the revolvers ran just fine, but the autoloaders were another story. I had troubles with function and reliability, and on the Commander-size 1911 I was shooting, the extractor just fell out of the gun.
But several years ago, things began to change. I evaluated a Taurus Model 692 revolver and then took it to Gunsite for the 250 Revolver Course. No issues whatsoever. Next, I tested one of the G3c sub-compact 9mm pistols. I was impressed enough with this Taurus product that it has become my semi-auto EDC. Then, when I thought Taurus had already “raised the bar” to new heights, along comes the GX4.
Here’s the GX4 with the new optional Tungsten Cerakote slide finish.
The New Taurus
Taurus has redefined the micro-sized pistol with the introduction of the GX4. In essence, the buyer gets many of the features found in a service-size 9mm pistol that has been downsized to what was once the province of a single-stack .380 ACP. Having a 3.06-inch barrel, the overall length has been kept to 6.05 inches, with a height of 4.4 inches and a width of 1.08 inches, giving it an empty weight of just 18.5 ounces. Now, add an 11-round magazine and with one in the chamber, you have a dozen shots of 9mm performance on tap in a pistol about the size of your palm.
From top to bottom, you have fixed steel sights; the front blade has a recessed white dot and the backside of the rear sight is finely serrated. The stainless steel slide itself has bevels and contours that align with the polymer frame, giving the gun a smooth overall profile to make concealment easier and drawing the weapon from concealment as trouble-free as possible.
Steel sights adorn the GX4; the rear sight is drift-adjustable for windage, and the rear portion is serrated. The front sight has a recessed white dot.
High-void serrations are on the front and rear of the slide, and the muzzle end is beveled on the sides to ease re-holstering. The breech end of the barrel seen in the ejection port has a witness hole in the top that acts as a loaded chamber indicator. Standard slide finish is a black gas nitride treatment for durability, and the stainless steel barrel has a DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating. Two new slide finish options are Tungsten and Troy/Coyote Cerakote, which add a little extra to the price. Control surfaces are Teflon coated; the slide stop is polymer over-molded. Internal metal parts are nickel plated, so everything works smoothly and resistant to corrosion.
The black polymer frame, undergirded by a stainless steel framework, encompasses the grip, which has rough, stippled panels that adorn the sides, front and backstraps. They provide a firm gripping surface to allow maximum control during rapid-fire shooting. They also help if you don’t have an ideal grasp on the pistol during a fast draw, plus they can also prevent the pistol being snatched from your hand in a gun grab. There’s also a stippled area just above the trigger on both sides of the frame that’s an indexing point for your trigger finger to rest.
The front of the trigger guard is squared for those who like to hook their support-hand index finger around it. On the sides, near the butt, where the grip frame and magazine meet, is a scalloped area that’ll help if the magazine must be ripped from the magwell during a malfunction clearance. The magazine release is recessed and reversible for southpaws.
Here you can see the standard, flush-base 11-round magazine in the GX4. Beside it is the extended base magazine that has a 13-round capacity.
Speaking of magazines, the GX4 comes standard with two, 11-round, flush-base magazines. There’s also a 10-round mag for those who live in restricted areas. Further, you can get an 11-round magazine with a finger rest, plus there are magazines with a two-round extension that give you 13 rounds and someplace to put your pinkie. These are quality Italian-made Mec-Gar magazines, blue steel, with yellow plastic followers.
Unlike the Taurus G2 and G3 that preceded it, the GX4 has a striker-fired, single-action trigger. What you don’t get is second-strike capability; what you do get is a consistent pull with a precise sear break, plus a short and tactile reset. This makes for a trigger that ensures optimal control and is ideal for quick follow-up shots. My Lyman trigger pull gauge gave the average pull weight as 7.3 pounds. Not too light and not too heavy. Take-up was minimal; the same with over-travel. It has a serrated safety blade in the center of the flat-faced target-style trigger shoe that aids in controllability.
The GX4 comes in a black plastic carrying case with a safety padlock and owner’s manual. Also tucked inside is a replacement backstrap with a more pronounced palm swell that affords a higher wrist position, which provides a more natural point of aim for some shooters. Disassembly for cleaning takes a novel approach and uses a take-down pin that’s turned with a flathead screwdriver.
The GX4 has a flat-faced target-style trigger, with an inner safety blade that’s serrated, offering optimal control and a consistent, precise sear break.
Getting Ready To Rock ’n’ Roll
From the Barnaul Cartridge Plant in Russia comes a load that features a 151-grain FMJ bullet, contained in a zinc-coated steel case. It’s something like a .38 Special, standard-pressure service load coming out of a diminutive 9mm pistol. Hornady provided their Custom load that comes with a 147-grain XTP jacketed hollow-point (JHP) bullet. Another interesting box of ammo came from National Police Ammunition; their offering was a 115-grain HELO Defense round. The bullet is a monolithic copper HP, and it has a black-colored coating.
A well-known load is the Speer Gold Dot; this is the Carry Gun version with a Gen 2, 135-grain GDHP that has the hollow nose plugged with a synthetic material that helps it to pass the FBI protocol testing. Steinel Ammunition supplied their Subcompact Carry load that has a 124-grain solid-copper HP that’s striated almost from the bullet base to tip. Factory specs say 950 fps out of a 3-inch barrel; it did a little better in the GX4. Lastly, I had some of the new Super Vel fodder. The yellow box says it’s rated +P, and they’re not kidding: It carries a 115-grain JHP bullet that has a truncated cone shape and really zips.
There’s always a pause period between the introduction of a new handgun and the availability of a holster to pack it in. In this case, Crossbreed came to the rescue with their SnapSlide OWB belt holster and single magazine pouch. It has 1.75-inch belt slots and can be had with options such as a sweat shield or leather and Kydex color variations. The single magazine pouch is the same construction and worn on the support-side hip. I found that it takes a few days of wear to get the holster “formed” to your belt and hip contour.
With an overall length of 6.05 inches, a height of 4.4 inches and an empty weight of just 18.5 ounces, the GX4 offers full-size handgun firepower in a diminutive package.
Ready On The Right?
My first task was to set up my Oehler Model 35P chronograph to get some velocity measurements from the 3.06-inch barrel of the GX4. That information is included in the ammunition performance table. I did note one “hiccup” with the Barnaul ammunition, but that was the only time, and during the rest of the session it ran fine. I also had a situation with the Super Vel cartridges. It seems there may have been a problem with the bullet shape and overall length of the cartridge. The sharp-edged jacket at the hollow nose cavity was really digging into the feed ramp. I was having to “bump” the slide into battery after each shot. Hoping this would clear up with more rounds fired, I kept using it through the accuracy potential portion of my test.
Given the barrel length of the GX4, its fixed sights and short sighting radius, I decided that 30 feet would be sufficient for my accuracy analysis protocol. I shot four five-shot groups with each of the test cartridges and went in alphabetical order by the manufacturer’s name. My tightest five-shot group was made using the Speer Gold Dot Carry Gun loads. I had a very well-centered group that measured 1.14 inches. The three other groups gave it an average of 2.09 inches. Second place went to the Hornady Custom XTP with a 1.29-inch five-shot cluster and an average of 1.79 inches. The remainder of the data is in the performance table. The trouble with the Super Vel ammo persisted, so I withdrew it from the test.
For a practical evaluation, I wanted to see how gun and gear would work during a combat qualification course. This is a short, but realistic course that requires 30 rounds. I had the two 11-round magazines that came with the GX4, and then Taurus sent me two of the 13-round extended magazines. I loaded one of the extended mags with 12 rounds; the other three magazines received six rounds each.
A full-color bad guy target was affixed to my target stand. Made by Guns & Rosa’s Targets LLC, it has B27-type scoring rings, and the bad guy is holding a Glock pistol in his right hand—muzzle toward me! The first stage in my course starts at 3 yards from the target. On signal, after taking an angular step back, I draw from the holster and, using my strong-hand only, fire six shots from a point-shoulder position. The pistol is immediately transitioned to the support hand only, and six more rounds are fired. A reload is performed, and then a 360-degree threat assessment is made before the pistol is slowly worked back in to the holster.
Moving back to 7 yards, with six rounds loaded in the pistol and six in the spare magazine, the target is again engaged. This time using both hands in an isosceles-style stance. Two shots are fired center-mass, and then the pistol is placed in the low-ready position. On signal, the gun is raised for two more shots, and then this is repeated. The magazine is changed and, after the proper process, the gun is re-holstered.
Next, continuing at 7 yards, is the failure, or body-armor, drill. Here, the pistol is drawn from the holster and two rounds fired center-mass and then one to the head. This is repeated again, and then the reload and re-holstering procedure.
The last stage is from the 15-yard barricade. In my case, the barricade was a small tree trunk at the edge of the stream bed. On signal, the gun is presented on the support-side of the barricade, standing and two rounds fired. The shooter then moves to the strong-side barricade and fires two more shots. After that, a strong-side kneeling position is assumed behind cover and the last two rounds fired.
Stippled patches on the grip frame provide for a secure hold and maximum controllability during rapid fire. There’s also a stippled index point above the trigger.
And The Winner Is?
Using the scoring rings and counting 10 points for a head shot in the “fatal triangle,” I dropped 24 points for a 276/300–2X’s. Except for two shots, the bad guy was perforated in the “boiler room.” There were a couple of occasions where that recessed magazine catch was difficult to manipulate, and I ripped out the magazines. If it gets a good solid press, it works just fine. I had no malfunctions during the combat course, and the sights were fairly easy to pick up quickly. I do think I’d opt for aftermarket night sights in a more eye-catching arrangement.
I’ll conclude by saying that I was very favorably impressed with the Taurus GX4. With good ammunition, it ran without a “bobble.” And even though it’s small and light, I had no trouble controlling it in rapid fire due to the ergonomics of the grip frame and the stippled “patches” that grab the hand. Yes, I’d carry this pistol to protect myself and others.
It is not the Taurus of old, but an almost new brand of handguns—like a Phoenix rising up out of the ashes. Another aspect of Taurus is you won’t get the features from any other handgun maker for the price point that comes with most of their products.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
CMMG has just announced the DISSENT pistol line, a new family of buffer-less AR pistols initially offered in three calibers.
People love AR pistols because they’re small, but a limitation of the original design has always been the buffer tube permanently protruding from the rear. With ultimate compactness as the goal, CMMG has just announced the DISSENT pistol line, now featuring a buffer-less action with folding stock capabilities.
At the core of every DISSENT pistol is CMMG’s new patented Compact Action. Rather than using a buffer tube to contain the recoil spring, the Compact Action uses internal dual guide rods and springs to cycle. The upper can be mated to any standard AR lower, and the Compact Action functions with both standard AR gas systems (as with the 5.56 and .300 BLK DISSENTs) as well as CMMG’s proprietary Radial Delayed Blowback system (as with the 5.7 DISSENT). The charging handle is non-reciprocating and located on the left side of the weapon as standard, but a configuration for left-handers will be available separately as well.
The DISSENT pistol will initially be available in 5.56x45mm, .300 BLK and 5.7x28mm, with all models sporting a 6.5-inch free-floated barrel. The barrels are also threaded 1/2×28 and ship with a CMMG ZEROED Linear Compensator installed. The guns are compatible with standard AR handguards and grips and each pistol will ship with a 5.5-inch M-LOK rail. As for mounting a brace or a stock, every DISSENT receiver will feature a segment of 1913 Picatinny rail on the rear, ready to accept most popular models on the market. Without a stock or a brace installed, each DISSENT has an overall length of 14.7-inches and a weight of 4.6-pounds, making these some very handy little firearms.
Regardless of the caliber chosen, all DISSENT pistols have an MSRP of $1,999.95 and will be available in one of six Cerakote colors. They will all also each include two magazines and a TriggerTech AR-D 2-Stage Trigger. They are available for preorder now.
Armasight has just debuted the Contractor thermal optics line, featuring two new, American-made thermal imaging scopes.
Armasight specializes in night vision and thermal technologies, and they’ve been one of the leading names in that field since the company’s founding over 10 years ago. The most recent addition to their catalog is the Armasight Contractor thermal optics line, featuring two new America-made thermal scopes with different levels of digital magnification.
Armasight Contractor 320 6-24x.
The heart of the Contractor thermal optics is the new detector called the ArmaCORE, a high-performance, 320×240 12-micron pixel thermal core. The captured image is then displayed on a 60 Hz 1024×768 display. This allows the Contractor thermal optics to be useful in a myriad of poor-visibility conditions, including total darkness, smoke and fog. Both new optics are also capable of recording video, featuring four hours of onboard storage and USB and WiFi streaming capabilities to watch what you’ve saved. Many of these features can also be controlled using the Armasight smartphone app. Both scopes are powered by two CR123A batteries and have up to four hours of runtime depending on temperature.
Armasight Contractor 320 3-12X.
Other noteworthy features of the Contractor thermal scopes include their eight reticle options, six color palette choices and durable yet lightweight metal alloy housings. Both optics also feature a digital compass, an inclinometer and stadiametric reticles to assist the user with calculations in the field. Whether being used for hunting or more tactical applications, the Contractor thermal sights can provide a huge advantage, not only when it comes to target identification but for making accurate hits as well.
The Contractor 320 3-12x25mm has an MSRP of $4,299 while the Contractor 320 6-24x50mm has an MSRP of $4,799. Both models are available for purchase now.
Looking to upgrade your Ruger 10/22 stock? Here are five great options for improving your plinker.
The Ruger 10/22 and AR-15 have something in common, and it’s likely one of the biggest reasons for the popularity of both rifles in the U.S. That feature is modularity, and in the land of rugged individualism, the ability to majorly customize one’s gun is greatly appreciated.
There may not be quite as many 10/22 stocks on the market as there are for ARs, but there are still an impressive number of options. Whether you’re looking to make your Ruger 10/22 more ergonomic, less cumbersome or just want to give it a facelift, there’s a 10/22 stock out there for you.
Ruger 10/22 Barreled action and a Luth-AR MCA-22 Chassis. Photo: Luth-AR.
Why Upgrade A 10/22 Stock?
The Ruger 10/22 is a very versatile rifle with many practical applications. They serve as many individuals’ first gun to learn on as a youth while remaining fun plinkers at all ages. From shooting cans at the farm to participating in NRL22 competitions, or hunting small game to conducting pest control, the 10/22 is America’s go-to option.
For many 10/22 owners, a factory Ruger rifle will have all the functionality they need, but there are many potential areas of improvement that can benefit certain types of shooters.
If precision is your goal, there are stocks that add higher cheek combs for use with scopes. Others add adjustability to help ensure a perfect fit between the shooter and the gun. If you plan on lugging your rifle around your ranch or on a hunt, some 10/22 stocks add the ability to fold or reduce the overall weight.
Different materials used in the stocks also affect their durability and ergonomics, all of which shine in certain settings while falling short in others. After deciding to upgrade your 10/22 stock, the next step is identifying exactly what you want it to do for you.
Even if none of your reasons are practical and you only want to give your Ruger a fresh look, that’s still a legitimate pursuit with plenty of different options to choose from.
Archangel Nomad G36-style 10/22 stock conversion.
Replacing A 10/22 Stock
Thankfully, another similarity between ARs and the Ruger 10/22 is just how easy it is to replace most of the components.
No master gunsmithing is required here. Using a screwdriver or Allen wrench, the factory barrel band must first be removed, followed by the takedown screw on the underside of the rifle. After doing this, one should be able to simply lift the barreled action out of the original stock.
Installing a new 10/22 stock is essentially the same process in reverse, but details may vary depending on the exact stock being used. Some require the replacement of the barrel band, while others rely only on the single takedown screw. More detailed instructions exist online if you need them, but be aware there’s no reason to fear the task of replacing a 10/22 stock.
Before browsing and selecting the aftermarket 10/22 stock for you, there’s one more thing that should be kept in mind, and that is compatibility.
There are over 50 models currently listed on Ruger’s website, not even including the .22 Charger pistols or discontinued variants. Differences between these models, especially regarding barrel profiles, may affect your Ruger’s compatibility with aftermarket stocks (though many models include inserts that make them compatible with multiple barrel profiles).
Ruger 10/22 Carbine and 10/22 Takedown.
That said, the vast majority of the variants could still be categorized as “standard” 10/22s and will therefore be compatible with most “standard” 10/22 stocks.
The most common compatibility issue encountered has to do with takedown models, as one will need to specifically seek out an aftermarket 10/22 takedown stock to use with it.
Samson Manufacturing is probably most famous for making the A-TM Mini-14 folding stock, a faithful and quality reproduction of the original Ruger folding stocks that came on the Mini-14 GB and AC-556. The striking design was made iconic through its use on the A-TEAM TV show, but many more Americans today own a 10/22 than a Mini-14.
Whether you want to overhaul your 10/22’s aesthetics or are looking for a solidly built folding stock to make your rifle more handy and compact, the Samson B-TM stock is an easy way to do it.
The only downsides to this model are its price and weight (2.244 pounds). There are cheaper and lighter folding 10/22 stock options on the market like the ProMag Ruger Tactical if functionality is your only goal.
Just keep in mind that none of the plastic models will be as durable as the steel Samson B-TM. MSRP: $279.99 (Stainless) $299.99 (Black) // samson-mfg.com
Best Adjustability: Luth-AR MCA-22 Chassis
There have been plenty of 10/22 stocks over the years with an adjustable length of pull and comb height, but few have achieved it as handily or as sleekly as the MCA-22 Chassis.
New for 2022, this chassis is built using high-strength glass-filled nylon, 6061 aluminum and steel, making it both strong and light. It’s also completely ambidextrous.
As for adjustability, the MCA-22 features a cheek piece that has .750 inches of lateral movement and 2 inches of vertical adjustment. The LOP can be extended by 4.5 inches, and the butt pad itself has one inch of vertical adjustment as well.
Together, these features allow the MCA-22 to conform to just about anyone’s preferred shooting position. Other notable characteristics include its M-LOK foregrip, its ability to accept QD sling cups and its compatibility with both bull and pencil-profile barrels. MSRP: $189.95 // luth-ar.com
Best Takedown: Magpul X-22 Backpacker Stock
For those who own a takedown 10/22 model and wish to continue utilizing that feature, a takedown-specific stock must be acquired.
Undoubtedly one of the best options, both in features and price, is Magpul’s X-22 Backpacker. It’s compatible with all Ruger 10/22 Takedown models and adds additional functionality to the takedown concept.
While standard takedown 10/22 models simply separate into two pieces, the X-22 Backpacker adds a unique provision for storing the barrel directly on the stock.
Made from an advanced polymer, the X-22 is both durable and lightweight, barely weighing over a pound total. It’s compatible with both bull and pencil-profile barrels and QD sling mounts are integrated as well.
Available in multiple colors and capable of storing three spare magazines inside, this is one of the most ideal 10/22 stock options for backpackers, survivalists and hunters who cover a lot of ground. MSRP: $109.95 // magpul.com
Best Budget: BlackHawk Knoxx Axiom R/F Stock
If all you need is an inexpensive, no-frills replacement for a standard 10/22 stock, the BlackHawk Knoxx Axiom R/F is a solid choice.
While it won’t be as durable or as feature-rich as most others on this list, it still offers a lot for one of the lowest-priced options on the market.
The stock free-floats your 10/22 barrel, regardless of profile, and it’s ready to accept a bipod as well. It has a basic, 6-position adjustable carbine-style stock, and the whole package weighs less than a pound.
The Knoxx Axiom may not satisfy all your needs, but it’s an inexpensive way to decrease the weight and increase the potential precision of your 10/22. MSRP: $95.95 // blackhawk.com
Best Cool: West One Products 10/22 USGI Stock M1
To be fair, coolness is subjective, and many may have already deemed the Samson B-TM as the coolest 10/22 stock on the list. Those who prefer modern, tactical guns may have already set their eyes on a P90 or G36-style chassis kit as well.
All three of these are expensive, and the P90 and G36 kits add a lot of bulk for very little functionality. The sleekest, most practical and least expensive 10/22 stock that will raise your rifle’s cool factor is the 10/22 USGI M1 stock from West One Products LLC.
The appeal of this rather basic wood stock is that it mimics the appearance of the iconic American M1 Carbine. The stock alone does a lot to change the rifle’s aesthetics, but for those who want to take things even farther, sights, magazines and a flash hider are available that can make a 10/22 even more clone-correct.
Each stock includes two upper handguards too, allowing for use with either the factory Ruger sights or the aftermarket M1-style irons. It also includes a replacement barrel band with the appropriate sling swivel. MSRP: $169.95
Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 7 new bits of guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.
The M&P15 is a legend in its own right, at least when it comes to affordable ARs. But Smith & Wesson has given shooters the shot of upgraded options for the reliable iron with a sizable expansion of the line. Aptly named for the manufacturer’s new home—Tennessee—the Volunteer series offers up six new guns. The selection ranges from a base model carbine up to the XV DMR, a long-range specialist that comes decked out with a 20-inch barrel. In all cases, the Volunteers include some nice upgrades, such as chromed firing pins, flat triggers and B5 Systems furniture. All in all, the guns are solid additions to an already well-regarded line and certainly offer shooters options tailored to their mission. MSRP: Starting at $1,049
Springfield Armory Hellion
The HS Produkt’s VHS-2, or Springfield Hellion, may be a new design for the States, but the rifle already has a well-established reputation abroad. Used by the Croatian and Iraqi militaries, the bullpup has undergone the necessary improvements revealed during the testing of the original VHS. As a bullpup design, the Springfield Hellion features a 16-inch barrel in a package only 28.25 inches long, overall. The barrel is hammer-forged, has a 1:7 twist and comes with a 4-prong flash hider. It feeds from STANAG AR-15 magazines (unlike the original VHS-2 that uses G36 mags) and is a fully ambidextrous design. Compact and handy, the Hellion is also a very capable fighting rifle. MSRP: $1,999
B&T APC45 Pro
If you shoot pistol-caliber carbines or subs, you know the importance of Glock mag compatibility. That’s why the release of the APC45 Pro is music to tactical gun enthusiasts’ ears. A Glock-compatible lower, the .45 ACP subgun opens the doors to cheap and abundant enhanced-capacity magazines. Thus, it’s a wicked little system with the potential for plenty of firepower. The gun is manageable to boot, with the Swiss manufacturer outfitting it with all the assets that made its 9mm subgun so popular. Chief among these is a hydraulic buffer system that tames down the little rattler’s recoil, allowing you to pick up its pace. Other high points include an ambidextrous charging handle, improved lower ergonomics and M-lok compatible forend. MSRP: $2,300
Sig Sauer RomeoZero Elite
If you pack a single-stack pistol for self-defense, Sig has its sights set on you. The new RomeoZero Elite is tailored perfectly to ultra-thin guns, such as the 1911 and svelte polymers that have hit the market in recent years. At a whisper-thin 0.98-inch width, the red-dot maintains this class of pistols’ hair’s breadth, while its 1-inch height does little to bulk up a gun’s profile. Interestingly, Sig offers two reticle choices, a circle dot that has a 2 MOA dot in combination with a 32 MOA circle, or a standard 3 MOA dot only—both with eight brightness settings. The former gives the RMSc footprint sight AR chops. And with Touch Activated Programming (T.A.P.) and 20,000 of run life per CR1632 battery, it’s ready to go when you are. MSRP: Starting at $229
Rise Armament Rave PCC Trigger
Looking to milk the most out of your pistol-caliber carbine? Look no further than Rise Armament. The Oklahoma company recently unveiled its dedicated PCC drop-in trigger—the Rave PCC—and it has the stuff to get shooters drooling. In addition to a rugged design that reliably withstands the abuse of blowback systems, thanks to S7 steel interior components, the switch brings a healthy dose of improved accuracy potential to the table. Crisp as winter snow, the Rave has a 3.5-pound break—which not only ups hitting where you want but makes this baby ready to dance when pitching a bevy downrange. Corrosion resistant and nearly foolproof to install, the trigger is made to excel in any conditions. MSRP: $149.99
Let’s face it: Nobody’s overjoyed about gun maintenance. You should make it as easy on yourself as you can when it comes to this vital task. Breakthrough Clean Technologies gives a hand in this direction with the MSR Carbon Removal Tool. With two retractable tool heads, each with specialized geometry, the gadget can scrape every nook and cranny of an AR-style rifle … from lug to carrier and everything in between. Handiest of all, the device fits right into a hip pocket, leaving you no excuse not to have it on hand. MSRP: $18.95
CZ Scorpion 3+ Pistol
One of the most popular guns in its class, the CZ Scorpion has gotten better. The gunmaker recently pulled back the curtain on the 3+ iteration of the subgun, incorporating many of the features shooters have been demanding for years. First and foremost, this baby is righty and lefty friendly. You heard correctly: CZ made all the controls—from bolt catch to safety selector—ambidextrous, which also gives the piece a tactical edge. Additionally, the gun’s ergonomics are more refined, with a strong and lighter handguard increasing nimbleness and an improved pistol grip making it more comfortable. Even the iron sights have been dolled up, made of more durable aluminum, and the Scorpion redesigned to be even more modular. Overall, they’re really nice improvements to an already solid gun. MSRP: $1,299
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Remington Ammunition has just announced three new varieties of 10mm Golden Saber ammo, including Bonded, Defense and Defense Compact.
Remington Golden Saber is widely considered to be some of the best defensive handgun ammunition on the market. It was at one point only available to law enforcement, but thankfully a variety of Golden Saber calibers and loads can now be purchased by civilians as well. 10mm Golden Saber is the newest caliber to be added to the lineup, and it will feature three different varieties when launched.
All loaded with 180-grain hollow point projectiles, the new 10mm Golden Saber ammo will be available in Bonded, Defense and Compact Defense varieties. Of the three, the Bonded projectiles will naturally produce the most effective results on target due to how the bullets are constructed, but that also comes with the highest price tag of the lot.
Golden Saber Defense and Defense Compact in 10mm are not bonded, resulting in a lower cost per round but also less consistent weight-retention between fired projectiles. Both kinds should still offer excellent expansion, however, making any of the new Golden Saber loads in 10mm a good choice for concealed carry or home defense. The 10mm Defense Compact ammo also has the advantage of being specifically tuned for reliable function in small handguns.
Joel Hodgdon, Remington’s Director of Marketing, said this on the new ammunition:
Adding 10MM to our Golden Saber line is exciting and it allows us to bring another great personal defense product to self-defenders and concealed carriers nationwide…We have a defensive load for everyone, and the three offerings in this caliber give 10MM fans a leading option.
10mm Golden Saber Bonded will have an MSRP of $41.99/20-round box, and both kinds of Golden Saber Defense will have an MSRP of $35.99/20-round box.
For more info on Remington Ammunition, please visit remington.com.
One of the most common manipulations of a firearm is also one of the most often overlooked, so here’s a rundown on the safest handgun holstering practices.
I sold my first gun article a quarter-century ago while I was still working as a patrol officer. The article was about holstering a handgun. I’m not sure it was all that well written; I think it was partly accepted by the magazine because the topic was one that was important and often overlooked. The thrust of the piece was safety related because negligent, self-inflicted gunshot wounds often occur when holstering.
Nothing’s changed. Because shooters often holster too hurriedly with their finger on the trigger, it’s still a problem. I highly doubt anyone who read that article is reading this magazine, and since a lot of folks have been born since the original article was written, I felt the topic worth revisiting. It could save you from a scare capable of causing dirty underwear, an embarrassing moment or, more importantly, a lot of pain.
With striker-fired handguns, it’s a good idea to press your thumb against the back of the slide to prevent the slide from attempting to cycle as the handgun is pressed into the holster. Also, as always, keep your finger off the trigger.
Watch What You’re Doing
The first thing to recognize when it’s time to holster a handgun is that there’s no need to be in a hurry. Without question, there could be a need to draw a handgun quickly, but after lots and lots of contemplation, I’ve yet to discover a need to holster one with the same urgency. I’m not saying there doesn’t or never will be a reason to holster in a hurry, especially a hurry so great you can’t take a couple seconds to make sure it’s done correctly. What I’m saying is I don’t know what that circumstance is.
By the same token, other than having to potentially holster a handgun in the pitch dark, I’m also at a loss for a reason to put your gun away without looking it into the holster. I’ve heard the arguments, like, if you have to look your gun into the holster, it looks like you don’t know what you’re doing. On the contrary, if you look your gun into the holster, might it not be the opposite? Might it be that you know exactly what you’re doing while you’re doing it, because you’re watching what you’re doing? I’ve also heard that you shouldn’t take your eyes off the threat when holstering. Um, dude…if you’re in the presence of a real or potential threat, why in the hell are you holstering your pistol?
Think of it this way: With the exception of the draw, with almost every other element of weaponcraft it’s a good idea to see what we’re doing. If you’re conducting a reload, you bring the handgun back into your workspace, high, where you can see what you’re doing, while also keeping your head erect, alert to potential threats. Similarly, when conducting immediate action to clear a stoppage, you do it where you can see—even if it’s just peripherally—what’s happening. Also, very importantly, when unloading a handgun, you should be visually checking to see that it's clear.
When holstering a handgun, it’s perfectly acceptable to look that gun into the holster. This allows visual confirmation that your finger is off the trigger.
I’m not suggesting that it be mandatory to watch your handgun all the way to the holster every time you holster. What I’m saying is there’s nothing wrong with doing so. If you’re skilled enough to do it safely without looking, good for you. My only question would be what is it that you’re gaining by not looking at what you’re doing?
Clear Your Digits
This is tied to the reason negligent discharges occur when holstering, and that’s leaving your trigger finger on the trigger. If you do, as you holster, your trigger finger can be pressed against the trigger by the mouth of the holster and the gun can go bang. If you’re wearing a hip holster, maybe you’ll be lucky, and the bullet will miss your ass or leg. If you’re carrying appendix style…um, I hope someone is there to administer first aid and call 911. If you’re watching what you’re doing, you’ll have the opportunity to observe your finger on the trigger before it’s too late.
When working with a pistol that has a thumb safety that locks the slide in battery, holster that pistol with your finger off the trigger and with your thumb under and pressing up on the safety.
The simple answer is to keep your damn finger off of—well away from—the trigger when you’re drawing or holstering a handgun. When you’ve decided the world would be a better place if your handgun was in your holster, relax, take a deep breath, conduct a tac-load addressing any ammunition issues if necessary, and then, reluctantly and slowly, holster your handgun while keeping your finger away from the trigger and straight along the frame.
If your handgun is equipped with a manual thumb safety, engage it, and if it’s a thumb safety that locks the slide in battery, keep upward pressure on the safety with your thumb until the gun is fully holstered. Some people wonder what the purpose of a manual thumb safety is, it’s partly to keep you from shooting your fool self.
If you’re using a striker-fired handgun, place your thumb against the rear of the slide with pressure to circumvent the possibility of the holster, pushing the slide to the rear and potentially creating a jam as you press the gun into the holster. If you feel the need to watch what you’re doing, then watch. If anyone tells you that you shouldn’t be watching what you’re doing, find comfort in the fact that you don’t have any extra holes in your body. Short of piercings—at least some piercings—common sense and the data are indisputably clear; extra holes in your body are a bad thing.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Taurus has just announced the G3 Tactical 9mm, a new full-size, polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol that’s both suppressor and optics-ready.
Taurus’ G3 family of pistols has quite a few members at this point, even including optics-ready options. Until now, however, there were no models that included the full suite of tactical features like the new Taurus G3 Tactical.
Featuring a Patriot Brown Cerakoted slide and tan polymer frame, the Taurus G3 Tactical comes ready to accept a slew of tactical accessory options. Like other standard G3 pistols, the G3 Tactical includes an accessory rail for a light or laser, and like existing T.O.R.O (Taurus Optics Ready Option) models it is optics-ready as well. There are four styles of optics plates available for the G3 Tactical that can accept most popular pistol red dot patterns on the market.
The newest feature of the G3 Tactical is its ability to accept a suppressor right out of the box. The pistol’s 4.5-inch stainless steel, DLC-coated barrel is threaded 1/2×28, and each pistol comes standard with a set of tall, suppressor-height iron sights. These sights are not only useful for aiming with a large-diameter suppressor mounted but when using a red dot sight as well by providing co-witness capability.
Other features worth mentioning are its loaded-chamber indicator, omission of a manual safety and its 17-round magazine capacity (10-round mags available for ban states). Each G3 Tactical includes two magazines, a threaded muzzle protector and a matching soft case. MSRP is $582.98.
The 1911 is an iconic, effective and time-tested pistol, but is it a good choice for beginners? Or is the 1911 a weapon better left to professionals?
There’s an old wives’ tale going around. It falls under the illusory truth effect, which is the tendency to believe false information as fact after repeated exposure. This phenomenon was first identified in a 1977 study at Villanova and Temple universities. Later, in 2015, researchers discovered that familiarity could overpower rationality. As our modern-day media has proven, this essentially means if you hear something that’s not factual long enough, you’ll ultimately begin to believe the falsehood.
The myth in question is that the 1911 is a professional’s handgun and unsuited for beginners.
I’ve no idea where this notion originated, but I’ve heard who I thought were smart people repeat it. Possibly, it has something to do with the fact a lot of gun professionals carry 1911s. I’m talking about legendary gunners like Jeff Cooper, Bill Wilson and Ken Hackathorn. No doubt these gentlemen have the requisite skill to run any pistol they like, so maybe their association with the 1911 has something to do with the perpetuation of this fiction.
Some of the reasons for this claim are that the 1911 is too heavy for everyday carry; it has a manual thumb safety that’s too complicated for average shooters to learn; it has a grip safety that must be deactivated before the handgun will fire; affordable versions of the 1911 are unreliable and their parts break; and finally, the single-action trigger is too light or “touchy” for all but an expert.
Given that, for 75 years, young American GIs seemed to manage and effectively use 1911s to win wars and save lives, this “professional” association is hogwash. Since apparently this blatant fact isn’t enough to settle the debate, let’s look at these reasons individually.
Weight
A full-size 1911 weighs about 35 ounces. Fully loaded, it’ll tip the scales at around 2½ pounds. A fully loaded Glock 21 in .45 Auto is only 1/10th a pound lighter. But if you look at what might be the best 1911 for concealed carry—the alloy-framed commander-sized pistol—it weighs about the same as the smaller Glock 30. Yeah, I know: The Glocks hold more ammo, but we’re talking about weight, not capacity. If you can carry a Glock 30 comfortably, then you can carry an alloy-framed 1911 just as happily.
Thumb Safety
Some experts claim that the manual thumb safety on the 1911 complicates its use to the point that average humans cannot figure it out. This is ridiculous; even the dumbest humans can flip switches, otherwise they’d live their lives in the dark. Deactivating the thumb safety as the handgun is being rotated from the holster to the target is so simple, well, a caveman could do it.
One advantage of the thumb safety is that, when used as intended, the chance of a negligent discharge while holstering is nearly non-existent.
Additionally—and this might be the most important aspect of the manual safety—its proper management is one of the best ways to prevent shooting yourself in the ass cheek or leg. Regarding self-inflected gunshot wounds, most occur while holstering with a finger on the trigger. With an activated thumb safety, a finger on the trigger when holstering won’t result in loud noise and a pain in the backside.
Grip Safety
Additionally, 1911s have a grip safety that must be fully depressed before the handgun will fire. This feature was included to prevent the handgun from firing without being securely held. It’s true that some shooters have trouble fully depressing the grip safety, but there are grip safeties with extensions that make this easier.
Also, switching from an arched to a flat mainspring housing can help. But what’s often overlooked is that the grip safety helps you learn to grip the handgun correctly by not allowing it to fire unless the correct grip is obtained.
A grip safety, like the one found on the 1911, requires you to obtain a good shooting grip prior to firing the handgun. That’s a good thing.
An Inexpensive 1911?
It’s true that, since Colts’ patent on the 1911 expired, 1911s have been built by countless manufacturers and garage gun plumbers who have no idea how to make a 1911 work. This has resulted in a market flooded with crappy 1911s that won’t work out of the box, and if they do, they’re prone to breakage.
Mostly, with a 1911, you get what you pay for, but there are exceptions. I’ve recently been working with a Turkish-built 1911 that’s imported into the United States by SDS Imports. They retail for as little as $400, and I’d rate them as good or better than the current pistols being manufactured by Colt costing twice the amount. Buyer beware: Lemons are out there; do your research.
Topnotch Trigger
One of the things that makes the 1911 such a great competition or match gun is its single-action trigger. It moves straight back and, when tuned properly, it only takes about 3 to 4 pounds of pressure to release the sear. Of all the aspects of shooting a handgun, pulling the trigger correctly is the hardest to learn.
It’s even harder to learn when the trigger is hard to pull and has an excessively long and/or inconsistent travel. A trigger on a 1911 might be the easiest trigger to learn to pull. Could it be too easy to pull for the beginner? Not if they exercise Rule 3: Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
One of the greatest assets of the 1911 is its excellent trigger, which is much easier to learn to pull than a trigger on a striker-fired pistol.
Maybe the notion that the 1911 is the professional’s pistol isn’t deceitful. After all, many experts and professionals choose it. Regardless, what’s blatantly false is that the 1911 isn’t for beginners. If your firearms instructor tells you as much, find another one. He’s seriously underestimating your ability, and possibly posturing to show his superiority by insinuating you gotta be good to shoot the gun I use.
Still though, for whatever reason, the 1911 might not be the gun for you. It might not fit your hand, might not have a high enough capacity…or maybe you just don’t like the damn thing. That’s fine and all those reasons are valid, but the notion that the 1911 isn’t for beginners is, well, wrong.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
There may be no true universal powder when it comes to reloading, but here are a few types that can keep you shooting when supplies are tight.
Of the numerous questions I’m asked by new reloaders, the choice of powder ranks among the most often repeated. “Is there one powder I can use for all my cartridges?” Sadly, the answer is no, but there are several powders that can cover an awful lot of ground. Considering that our supply of reloading components is drying up fast, a universal powder—much like a universal cartridge—can be the wise choice.
“Universal” can be a highly subjective term, and for the reloader, it’ll depend highly on the choice of cartridges you’re loading for. For more than a few years, my centerfire rifles consisted of a .22-250 Remington for varmints, a .308 Winchester and .300 Winchester Magnum for medium game, and a .375 Holland & Holland for the big stuff.
IMR4064
I searched for a powder that’d effectively fuel all four cartridges, and there are a few which will check all the boxes. I settled on IMR4064, for two reasons: One, it worked in all four cases, but two, because I had it on hand at the time. Good ol’ IMR4064 is a medium-burning powder, long popular in the .308 Winchester—where I first used it—and rather flexible. It’s a good choice in the .22-250, though Hodgdon’s H380 is probably the powder best-suited for that case. H380 would probably have been an equally universal powder, as it’ll work just as well as IMR4064 in the .300 Winchester Magnum, though both powders work best in the .300 with lighter bullets.
I did, however, find reliable data for IMR4064 in an older Sierra manual for bullets all the way up to 220 grains for the belted cartridge; though I’ll be the first to admit that slower burning powders like IMR4350, H4831SC, Reloder 19 and Reloder 22 are much better performers in that cartridge. The .375 H&H Magnum runs well on medium to moderately slow powders—my favorite loads use IMR4350—but IMR4064 is a solid candidate even if at the faster end of the spectrum.
.375 H&H Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, .308 Winchester and .22-250 Remington; the author fueled them all with IMR4064.
For that particular quartet, Alliant’s Reloder 15 or Hodgdon’s Varget would’ve worked just as well. The .308 Winchester needs the fastest-burning powders, and if we take that cartridge out of the mix, we could easily bump up to Hodgdon 414. Take the .300 Winchester Magnum out of the mix, and IMR4064, Varget and RL-15 are perfect choices. If the choice of cartridges is widened much further, say to include the .300 RUM or the 7 STW, or the .218 Bee or .22 Hornet, and you may be looking for two entirely different powders on opposite ends of the burn rate spectrum.
Reloder 15
Looking at Alliant’s Reloder 15—with a burn rate ever-so-slightly slower than IMR4064—you’ll find a powder that can solve more than a few problems, to the point where it’s never far from reach. I’ve used it in the .30-30 Winchester, .308 Winchester, 7×57 Mauser (.275 Rigby), .243 Winchester, .223 Remington and .30-06 Springfield. It’s my go-to powder (probably as a result of the excellent data I’ve found in the Woodleigh Reloading Manual) for the .404 Jeffery, .470 Nitro Express and .505 Gibbs, as it produces the velocities I’m after, at a significant reduction in felt recoil. That’s not to say that IMR 4064 or 4166 wouldn’t do the same; I had the Woodleigh data and because of the performance I never looked elsewhere, though I should develop a Plan B.
Alliant’s Reloder 15 is usually associated with medium bore cartridges, like the .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield, but it has proven wonderful in the big cases like the .470 NE (shown), .404 Jeffery and .505 Gibbs.
Universal Powder For Handguns
Handgun cartridges are much more forgiving. Looking at some of the most popular choices for defensive handguns—I’ll throw the 9mm Luger, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .40 S&W and .45 ACP in the mix—and you’ll see several powders that’ll fuel them all very nicely. I like TiteGroup from Hodgdon, as it’s not only a universal choice, but it also generates healthy velocities with very little powder, making a pound of powder go an awful long way. But TiteGroup isn’t the only choice; Hodgdon’s CFE Pistol, the aptly named Universal and HP-38 will also work well in all five of these cartridges.
Hodgdon’s TiteGroup is a very flexible pistol powder; it generates respectable velocities with just a small amount.
For the faster handgun cartridges, like the .44 Remington Magnum, .41 Remington Magnum and .454 Casull, powders like Hodgdon’s H110 and Alliant 2400 certainly shine, helping to wring the most velocity out of the bigger cases. But, in a pinch (which we are definitely in), all three of these can be fed Hodgdon’s TiteGroup—though at the cost of significantly lower velocities. But there are times where ammunition at lower velocities is better than no ammunition at all.
Trail Boss is another powder with a whole bunch of applications. It can, again at the price of low velocities, function in all sorts of cases, from the smaller handgun cases all the way up to the .416 Rigby and .458 Winchester Magnum. In many applications, like the rifle cases I’ve mentioned, Trail Boss is a wonderful tool to create low-velocity ammunition to train shooters who are unaccustomed to the severe recoil.
I’m sure the ammunition/component drought will pass, and we’ll all be able to buy what factory ammunition and reloading components we want. When that happens, let’s stock up on the items we need, but also take the time and make the effort to build a library of suitable loads for each of the guns, so we’re not married to that one combination.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the April 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Anderson Manufacturing has just announced the AM-10 Gen 2 Series, the second generation of the company’s AR-10 rifle line featuring three new models.
While AR components are Anderson Manufacturing’s bread and butter, the company’s complete firearms have become popular choices as well. After releasing the A4 series of complete AR-15s earlier this year, Anderson has just announced the AM-10 Gen 2 Series. It’s the second generation of the company’s .308 AR-10 rifle line, featuring three new models at launch with more promised for the future.
Anderson AM-10 Gen 2 Series 16″ Battle Rifle.
All of Anderson’s AR-10 rifles are DPMS-pattern, and the rifles in the AM-10 Gen 2 Series all share a handful of common features and improvements. All three models have improved contouring and tolerances, a flared magwell and are compatible with standard AR-15 grips.
Anderson AM-10 Gen 2 Series 18″ Ranger.
The three AM-10 Gen 2 models all feature different barrel lengths. The 16-inch version is called the Battle Rifle, the 18-inch version is called the Ranger and the 20-inch model is the Marksman XL. Naturally, each one is advertised as being particularly suited for certain kinds of tasks. The 16-inch Battle Rifle is the most basic, general-use model available, as well as the least expensive with an MSRP of $950. It features an adjustable Magpul MOE stock, a K2 grip and a 15-inch M-LOK handguard. Besides the one obvious difference, the 18-inch Ranger model is almost identical to the Battle Rifle except for its MSRP of $1,000, different flash hider and inclusion of a 2-stage trigger to improve long-range shooting capabilities. Both the Ranger and the Battle Rifle use a mid-length gas system as well.
Anderson AM-10 Gen 2 Series 20″ Marksman XL.
With its 20-inch barrel, the Marksman XL is the most precision-oriented rifle in the AM-10 Gen 2 Series. It features a Magpul PRS Lite buttstock instead of a carbine stock, but otherwise has the same pistol grip and rail system as the other AM-10s. The Marksman XL also uses the same Night Stalker flash hider and two-stage trigger as the Ranger. It has an MSRP of $1,075 and should be softer-shooting than the other two models thanks to its rifle-length gas system.
The .223 Remington cartridge and its AR-compatible offspring.
The M16/AR15 was originally chambered for the .223 Remington (1962), and since then that cartridge has become the patriarch of several very useful cartridges that are also AR-15 compatible.
Metallic rifle cartridges come in families. In the .30-06 family, you have the .270 Winchester and .280 Remington. In the .308 Winchester family, you have the .243 Winchester and 7mm-08 Remington. Though the .223 Remington now has its own family, it was based on the .222 Remington (1950), which was a proprietary cartridge, meaning it wasn’t based on another SAAMI-approved cartridge.
If you want an AR-15 that’s multi-cartridge compatible, it makes sense to choose cartridges from the same family. This will allow a conversion with nothing but a barrel or barreled upper receiver. Since the cartridges all come from the same family, you won’t need to replace the bolt carrier or bolt, because the rim diameter for all the cartridges is the same.
With an AR-15 chambered for the .223 Remington, you can do this and run five other cartridges. Here’s a look at the .223 Remington, and the family of AR-15-compatible cartridges it has fathered.
For those who might like to have multiple uppers for the same AR-15 lower, Wilson Combat now offers a 30-round magazine that’s compatible with the .223 Remington, the .300 Blackout and the .300 HAMR.
.223 Remington (1962)
The development of the .223 Remington is intrinsically linked to the M16, which is the full-auto version of the civilian rifle now known as the AR-15, or in more politically correct circles, as the MSR (modern sporting rifle). The military would ultimately replace the .223 Remington with its twin, the 5.56 NATO, but that didn’t have any impact on the cartridge’s popularity. Since its introduction, it has become very popular for competition, hunting and self-defense.
The .223 Remington was the original cartridge of the AR-15. Even though it has spawned several excellent offspring, it remains the most popular chambering for the platform.
Though many will argue it doesn’t suffice for deer or any type of big-game hunting, it is, in fact, legal for that pursuit in more states than not. And as far as factory ammunition goes, you’ll only find more options for the .308 Winchester. Most importantly, the .223 Remington has served as the basis for five other cartridges that have all become viable options in the AR-15.
Next to overall length, rim size is critical when it comes to AR-15 compatibility. With the same 0.378-inch rim diameter, an AR-15 can be easily converted to any of these cartridges.
5.56 NATO (1980)
Maybe the best way to describe the 5.56 NATO, which was created to deliver better reliability and performance for military use in the M16, is to say it’s the better-performing identical twin. It’s the twin that ultimately became the career soldier of the family. From an external dimension standpoint, the .223 Remington and the 5.56 are identical. The real differences involve maximum average pressure (MAP) and how the chamber is cut into the barrel.
The 5.56 NATO is a dimensional twin to the .223 Remington, but the cartridges aren’t 100-percent interchangeable.
Regarding pressure, 5.56 NATO ammunition is loaded to a MAP of about 58,000 psi. The .223 Remington is loaded to a MAP of 55,000 psi. The throat of the chamber for the 5.56 NATO is also cut 0.125-inch longer. Because of these differences, if you fire a 5.56 NATO cartridge in a rifle chambered for the .223 Remington, pressures can spike to as high as 65,000 psi. This isn’t safe and can cause primers to back out—or even a catastrophic firearm failure. On the other hand, it’s safe to fire .223 Remington ammunition in a rifle chambered for the 5.56 NATO. Reliability and accuracy might not be optimal, but it’s safe.
Interestingly, the 5.56 NATO isn’t a SAAMI-approved cartridge. However, most of today’s AR-15 rifles are chambered for it as opposed to the .223 Remington to allow for maximum ammunition compatibility.
By staying in the family, you can swap upper receivers and shoot different cartridges without having to change out the bolt in your rifle.
.204 Ruger (2004)
Most families have that one member who never seemed to grow up. They’re cute, smart and good at their job, but they just never were all that popular. That’s the case with the .204 Ruger. Though the .222 Remington Magnum is credited as the parent case for the .204 Ruger, the .222 Remington Magnum is like the older and bigger brother to the .223 Remington. However, like the .222 Remington, the .222 Remington Magnum has, for the most part, fell into obscurity. Though not originally thought of as a cartridge for the AR-15, given it’s .223 Remington-sized 0.378 rim diameter and less than 2.26-inch overall length, it’ll work well in MSRs.
The .204 Ruger is the fastest AR-15 compatible offspring of the .223 Remington and is ideal for vermin and predator hunting.
With its ability to push a 32-grain bullet faster than 4,000 fps, the .204 Ruger is the fastest-shooting cartridge within the .223 Remington family. With that speed and explosive results on small vermin, it’s a favorite for shooting prairie dogs, fox, bobcats and coyotes. Ammunition is available from most of the major manufacturers, but with only about 20 factory loads, bullet choices are limited.
.300 Blackout (2011)
If there’s a cool kid in the .223 Remington family, it’s the .300 Blackout. The cartridge was developed by Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC) to provide intermediate ballistics like the 7.62×39 Russian cartridge, while also performing very well as a subsonic cartridge. Though AAC, in conjunction with Remington, get credit for the cartridge’s development, it actually began life as a wildcat developed by J.D. Jones and was known as the .300 Whisper.
The .300 Blackout is really two cartridges in one. On one hand, it’s the best subsonic cartridge for the AR-15, and on the other, it’ll suffice for smallish, big-game hunting and limited tactical application.
Jones shortened the .223 Remington case and necked it to fit a .30-caliber bullet. AAC and Remington took Jones’ creation, refined the concept and submitted it to SAAMI for approval. The rest is history; next to the .223 Remington/5.56 NATO, the .300 Blackout is the most popular chambering in the AR-15 platform.
If subsonic shooting is what you desire, the .300 Blackout is the best cartridge for the AR-15.
Smart marketing and a cool name get some of the credit for the Blackout’s success. The rest of its success is attributed to the availability of factory subsonic and supersonic ammunition. Shooters could go quiet with subsonic ammo and a suppressor, or tackle deer and feral hogs with supersonic loads. Though early subsonic blackout loads delivered dismal terminal performance, today there are several expanding subsonic offerings. However, it’s rare an AR-15 will shoot both subsonic and supersonic loads with great precision. There have also been instances where a .300 Blackout cartridge was chambered in a .223 Remington. This generally results in the permanent disassembly of the rifle and sometimes an injured shooter.
For AR-15 compatibility, cartridge overall length is critical and must be around 2.26 inches or less to work in magazines.
.300 HAMR (2020)
Some families have that kid who just happens to be good at everything he tries. He’s good at basketball, soccer and track. He’s smart, good looking and seems to get all the girls. In the .223 Remington family, that distinction goes to the .300 HAMR.
Designed by Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat, the .300 HAMR is a shortened .223 Remington case that’s been necked up to .30 caliber. The cartridge was SAAMI approved in 2020 and will work with bullets weighing between 95 and 150 grains. Essentially, it duplicates or betters the external and terminal ballistics of the .30-30 Winchester and for big-game hunting, outclasses all its siblings.
Mostly thought of as a hunting cartridge, the .300 HAMR has broad application and maybe the best general-purpose cartridge for the AR-15.
Like that athletic kid who does well in all sports but is mostly remembered just for one, the .300 HAMR has the same problem. Initially promoted by Wilson Combat as the ideal big-game cartridge for the AR-15, that’s the task the cartridge is most often associated with. However, with the wide range of projectiles available—Wilson Combat currently offers 14 loads—including everything from bonded to mono-metal bullets, the .300 HAMR also performs admirably in a tactical setting. Wilson Combat now also has a multi-caliber 30-round magazine that’ll work with the .300 HAMR, .300 Blackout and the .223 Remington.
.350 Legend (2019)
The .350 Legend is kind of like that fat uncle who still drives a Chevy Nova, smokes cigars, tells good jokes and drinks all the beer in the fridge every time he comes to visit. It’s a bit of an oddity when it comes to cartridges. Most cartridges are created to deliver a level of external or terminal ballistics unobtainable with the parent cartridge or any other cartridge in the family. While the .350 Legend sort of does that, the prime motivation behind its development was to comply with straight-wall deer hunting cartridge legality in some Midwestern states.
The .350 Legend is unique in that while a descendant of the .223 Remington, it was created to meet hunting regulations in just a few states.
Using the .223 Remington cartridge case, Winchester got rid of the shoulder and made the .350 Legend case with only minimal taper down to a bullet diameter of 0.357. This lack of a shoulder and the .35-caliber bullets allowed it to meet straight-wall deer hunting cartridge requirements, and feed and function in an AR-15.
Designed for states with straight-wall cartridge restrictions for deer hunting, the .350 Legend has surprisingly found nationwide acceptance.
What might be most surprising about this cartridge is that it has found favor from coast to coast. It offers good big-game hunting performance out past 200 yards with minimal recoil. This makes it a great deer hunting round in an AR-15 or a compact bolt-action rifle for new, young and recoil-sensitive shooters.
.22 Nosler (2017)
The .22 Nosler (2017) is sort of a crossbreed cartridge. Like in many human families, sometimes there’s a bit of cheating going that can result in a bastard. The .22 Nosler isn’t based on the .223 Remington case. Instead, it’s based on the 6.8 SPC (2002) cartridge case, which is actually a descendant of the .30 Remington (1906).
The .22 Nosler isn’t based on the .223 Remington case, but it does share the same rim diameter, making it an easy conversion for an AR-15 chambered for the .223 Rem.
But Nosler wanted to make it easy to convert an AR-15 chambered for any cartridge in the .223 Remington family to the .22 Nosler. So, they reduced the rim diameter of the parent 6.8 SPC case from 0.422 inch to 0.378 inch. You could say that the .22 Nosler cartridge case is slightly deformed, because its rim is rebated … or smaller than the base diameter of the cartridge. From a velocity standpoint, the .22 Nosler approaches the .204 Ruger and outclasses the .223 Remington. The downside is limited availability of factory ammunition.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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