Taurus has just announced the 856 Executive Grade revolver, the first of the company’s new line of factory-modified and improved handguns.
Taurus has just launched a new series of “executive-grade” handguns, starting with the release of the 856 Executive Grade revolver. What distinguishes this series from Taurus’ standard handguns is that each one pays a visit to the “production room” at the company’s Georgia facility, where a team upgrades the guns’ performance and aesthetics. For the 856 Executive Grade revolver, the upgrades to its appearance include a hand-polished satin finish on the stainless steel and a checkered Altamont walnut grip.
The 856 Executive Grade revolver’s performance has been substantially upgraded as well. As a six-shot .38 Special +P revolver with a 3-inch barrel, this gun was designed with everyday carry in mind. To help aid it in this role, each Executive 856’s trigger is hand-tuned to provide a crisper, smoother, more predictable trigger pull. It’s also DAO or double-action-only, as the hammer is spurred to enable a smoother draw. Finally, the Taurus engineers also chamfer each of the 856 Executive Grades revolvers’ chambers to ensure easier reloading.
Each 856 Executive Grade also includes a Pelican Vault hard handgun case that is lock-compatible and ready for air travel.
Previously, the only Taurus 856 revolvers available with 3-inch barrels were in the Defender series, and the most affordable model has an MSRP of about $430. This makes the upgrades given to the 856 Executive Grade revolvers worth about $260, as the new model has an MSRP of $689. It is available now.
How to select the proper ammo for a defensive pocket gun.
Things tend to get a bit spooky when we start talking about tiny carry guns and their performance, but small carry guns are all the rage today. Unlike full-size pistols, micro-compact guns haven’t only had to overcome the ballistic deficiencies of short barrels, but they also had to compensate for poor handling and subpar cartridges for their assigned role.
Carry guns take many shapes and sizes. Here’s a Dan Wesson TCP in .45 ACP and a S&W J-Frame .357 Mag. The 4-inch .45 ACP is hardly a pocket gun, but its learning curve is far shorter and less painful than the 2-inch .357 Mag.
The old days saw guns having to resort to shortcomings to appeal to their buyers. Most were small versions of existing designs, while others were original creations often centered around an established cartridge. The former here usually resulted in funny-looking sawn-off pistols, and the latter in guns questionably suited for their ammunition. At the base of this problem was reliability—something that small guns usually lacked.
The original means to ensure reliable performance was to go simple, such as in the case of the small-frame revolver. For most of the 20th century, the little five-shot was the standard for performance and reliability, most notably the Smith & Wesson J-Frame. This revolver and its variants were the basis of most concealable guns, and the .38 Special and .357 Magnum were the most common cartridges for them.
(Left to right) The .380 ACP 90-grain JHP+P solves most feeding and reliability issues in mini pocket guns. The 158-grain Hardcast .38 SPL +P is a tried-and-true classic that’s quite ideal in a small gun … at the cost of some recoil. The 124-grain 357 Magnum JHP isn’t really fun to fire and doesn’t do enough over the .38 at bad-breath distance to warrant the extra recoil and blast.
It wasn’t until advances in engineering came along, mostly in the form of polymer components, that small semi-autos began to become truly reliable off the shelf. Newer materials also meant lighter weight and lower cost across the board. There was a significant period in the early 2000s where there was great overlap in the use of revolvers and semi-autos for carry. This was the time when new ammunition was coming out that greatly benefited small calibers like .380 ACP, a cartridge that greatly enjoyed its newfound fame.
Bear in mind that the micro semi-auto has been with us as a mainstream product category for only a decade, whereas the modern micro revolver has been around for more than a century. The rush to make sales with these micro semis saw widespread confusion and complaints of poor performance. I remember clearly how many .380s hit the shelves when they first became popular, and I couldn’t understand who would want a S&W Bodyguard over the company’s own 642 in .38 SPL +P.
Right as this new ammunition was hitting the market, companies like Sig Sauer introduced the P238 in .380 ACP (2009) and the P938 in 9x19mm (2011). These were successful designs, and I own two of them. My basic P238 is a workhorse, but the upgraded version struggles with reliability. I don’t carry it; I just keep it for sentimental value as a project gun. I’ve heard a great deal of similar stories with the P238 and P938; some people swear by them, and others swear at them.
I’ve found these mini 1911 types can be extremely picky with ammunition. I carry only Buffalo Bore .380 +P in mine to ensure I get full cycling of the slide. I like the P238, but I realize that there are better options out there, as even I’ve resorted to hand-picking ammo I’ve had the least number of issues with. I firmly believe that your self-defense pistol should be as close to 100 percent reliable as possible, or at least not prone to failure with something as benign as ammo choice.
This is really where the micro pistol world revolves—the balance of ammunition to the size of the gun. Let’s take a look at this in greater detail with the most popular carry calibers…and just what they do in a small gun.
The .357 Magnum
The .357 Mag. is something of a holy grail carry cartridge in a 4-inch revolver. It can do just about anything you want, but the same cartridge in a 2-inch snubby isn’t fun in the slightest, and it doesn’t come close to what a 4-inch gun can do. It’s true, in general, that you’re getting more power and speed out of a 2-inch .357 compared to the other calibers and guns on this list. The old advice of “carry .357s but practice with .38s” is bad advice because there’s a world of hurt between the two cartridges, and I think that it’s best to forgo the full-house .357 in a 2-inch gun.
In all my testing, nothing I can find as a benefit of the full-house .357 outweighs the cons. Most .38 +P ammo is completely sufficient and very powerful itself. I personally carry .38s in my .357; Buffalo Bore 158-grain hardcast .38 +P is plenty in a 13-ounce revolver. This is probably the most deceptive carry caliber out there: People buy it and then realize they’ve been tricked when they fire it for the first time. Ouch!
The .38 Special
Up until 9mm became popular in small guns, the .38 Special was truly America’s carry cartridge. It has a long and storied history and has earned its reputation. For a carry revolver today, this is the best carry cartridge, especially with some of the more powerful +P loads from companies like Buffalo Bore. The old “FBI Load” is still perfect for carry and is ample in power.
This cartridge has never really lost relevance; I carry it regularly, and it’s very convenient and easy to handle. The .38 snub-nose is classic, common and hard to go wrong with, even in inexperienced hands. This is my recommendation due in large part to the ammunition being well-developed and widely available. It’s hard to find a .38 Special load that doesn’t perform as advertised.
The 9x19mm
The problem I have with 9mm is that it’s so common. Many people take it for granted, and they don’t really spend the time looking for ammunition suitable for the low velocities produced by sub-3-inch barrels. I’ve found that it’s easy to get into a 9mm, but it’s also easy to load it with ammo that isn’t really suitable for how small the guns are.
Blurry lines exist all over when it comes to handguns and their features. A P365 could be called a pocket gun; however, it’s closer in size to a G19 with the 12-round grip module installed and a threaded barrel in place of the original. Seeking greater capacity and velocity usually results in a bigger gun, and at that point why not just carry the G19 and get full benefit of 15+1 rounds?
Take the Sig P365 as an example. With a factory-length barrel, it needs ammo designed for speeds at or around 1,000 fps. Put in a longer barrel, like the colorful Faxon with suppressor threads, and you end up picking up an easy 150 fps with most ammo. I find that most 9mm ammo marketed to small guns does well in them but is subpar in larger pistols—and vice versa. A 147-grain JHP+P is largely wasted in a P365 or G43, and also that a 115-grain low-recoil carry round is wasted in a 4- to 5-inch pistol.
The .380 ACP
The .380 ACP bothers me fundamentally. It’s true that this round has done so much for carry guns; the technology used to improve it has widely benefited all handgun ammo and, to a lesser degree subsonic, rifle ammo. What gets me is that it’s almost universally loaded far below where it needs to be pressure wise, and performance lacks as a result.
Modular micro guns, like the P365, display greater utility as opposed to something like the P938, pictured here in orange LOK grips. Guns today can be dressed up in more than just grips, and it’s easy to see how quickly the line between categories can be crossed.
I carry a .380 ACP, but with the most powerful ammo available for it off the shelf. I really believe that the .380 90-grain JHP needs 200 fps over what most are loaded at to ensure reliable function in micro pistols. Virtually all the issues I have in .380 ACP pistols is ammo related, and not design problems in the guns. Like magic, the feeding issues go away when I introduce higher pressure cartridges.
A function of this low-power .380 ammo is that many of the guns chambered for it don’t cycle it well; and this usually boils down to the recoil spring and weight of the slide. When you’re playing with so little mass, the inertia needed to strip a fresh cartridge off the magazine may or may not be there, causing a failure.
It’s no coincidence that, when I load Buffalo Bore .380 +P into a problem pocket gun, it suddenly wakes up and runs like a sewing machine. My recommendation is to get as much horsepower as you can out of the little round. There isn’t much of a difference in recoil moving to a full-power .380, but you’ll absolutely notice the improvement in performance.
Five rounds of .357 Mag. or six of .380 ACP? There are arguments for both. When you get this small, it’s best to start working the advantages each has, not to try to make one into the other.
Silver Bullets
Most people who carry a gun do so not out of mortal dread, but out of a desire for peace of mind. Unfortunately, many first-time gun owners never go to the range and practice, instead buying a few boxes of carry ammo, loading the gun and forgetting about it. A lucky charm, if you will.
If you plan to become proficient with your pocket gun, make sure it’s fed a diet of properly suited ammunition. Today, we’re in new territory in that the .38 SPL is still fine with a soft-cast 158-grain hollow point. It works just as well now as it did 100 years ago…but can you say the same for a brand-new .380 with today’s ammo?
A family of Hornady ammunition in .357 Mag., .38 Special, 9mm and .380 ACP. Hornady was at the forefront of developing what are now mainstays in the micro-carry gun ammunition class.
We’re living in a time where we’re actively learning and making advances, and some of these happen on the fly. There’s no silver bullet—no magic cartridge—that’ll make your pocket gun into a showstopper. Match your gun and ammo and don’t try to push it.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
While not as modular as the AR-15, there are still plenty of Mini-14 accessory options available to trick out your ranch rifle.
Just like with aftermarket stocks, the amount of available Mini-14 accessory options are lacking. This is largely due to the fact that the rifle was only ever made by Ruger, unlike a design like the AR-15 that has been produced by a multitude of manufacturers.
The Mini-14 has struggled in this regard because it is a proprietary system that is not open source in any way. Ruger is the sole producer of the gun. As a result, many of the available Mini-14 accessories exist primarily to address the perceived shortcomings of the guns coming out of the Ruger factory.
Since the introduction of the Ranch Rifle model in 1982, Ruger has integrated scope bases into the receivers of their Mini-14 rifles, designed for use with the company’s proprietary scope rings.
There are several heights available from the factory, but you will want to try to get something that mounts low to the receiver.
The factory Mini-14 stock is set up for iron sights, and as such, it has a relatively low drop. Most shooters struggle to get a good cheek weld without the use of a riser of some kind to put their eye in line with the scope.
A common solution to this is a mil-spec rail adapter, installed in lieu of the special Ruger rings. Again, you will want to be aware of the height of your optic.
Another excellent solution is a scout-style rail that allows for the low mounting of extended eye relief scopes and red dots sights.
Considering that the Mini-14 is not an exceptionally accurate gun compared to many other rifles, a 2-MOA red dot, such as the Aimpoint T2 or an Eotech reflex sight, is just about ideal and allows for a rapid engagement at medium distance.
UltiMAK Mini-14 Scout Mount for '08 and later produced rifles. Photo: UltiMAK.
The UltiMAK Scout Mount (MSRP $142) is one of the original and best options for this task.
This rugged mount is great for holding zero and is made of one solid piece, thus giving it superior resistance to heat buildup and flex.
This is an integrated type of mount and requires more disassembly than usual to install. The mount itself clamps around the barrel and also integrates itself into the gas block.
The benefit of this mount is that it does not interfere with the stock itself, so you will still be able to use most aftermarket stocks of your choice except for a chassis type that completely encapsulates the gun.
GG&G Mini-14 Red Dot Mount, available in both black and stainless. Photo: GG&G.
GG&G makes several optic mounting solutions for the Mini-14 as well.
In addition to a micro red dot mount that interfaces over the receiver in the Ruger ring slots, they also make a side-scope mount that allows for larger objectives to be used. If you are hunting with your Mini-14 and want to mount a thermal optic, this is a great option.
Notably, the red dot mount from GG&G is available with a Burris Fastfire optic already installed, meaning all you have to do is attach it and zero it up.
This is a quick and relatively affordable Mini-14 optic solution with a price of $287.95, but the mount can also be purchased independently for $51.45.
Accu-strut
One of the primary causes of poor accuracy in the Mini-14 stems from the vibration created by its gas system and heat buildup causing barrel flex.
Many old Mini-14 rifles are sometimes embarrassingly inaccurate, producing groups as large as 5 or 6 inches at 100 yards.
Though attempts have been made over the last 50 years to make the rifle shoot better, the most consistent product to accomplish this has been the Accu-strut (MSRP $120).
The Accu-strut LT model, available in both black and stainless. Photo: Accu-strut.
This product interfaces with the barrel and gas system, and while it looks a bit military it is really a dampener that helps to harmonically stabilize the barrel during firing.
Newer Mini-14 rifles are much more accurate than the old ones, but there are still individuals who opt to install the Accu-strut regardless of the rifle’s production year.
The company advertises a 75-percent reduction in group size in older guns, and this has been proven to be true across the board. The Accu-strut is probably the most common and widely known Mini-14 accessory.
Mini-14 Magazines
The Mini-14 uses proprietary magazines that rock in like those of full-size M14/M1A or AK rifles.
Factory magazines are constructed of heavy-gauge steel rather than aluminum and are known for being very durable and reliable.
Another thing they are known for unfortunately is their cost. The average price for a Ruger-made magazine is around $40.
Compare this to the average AR-15 magazine which can be had for as little as $10.
There are indeed companies that make polymer magazines for the Mini-14, though they are not well known for being as reliable as Ruger-brand mags. Polymer magazines from companies like ProMag run about $20 today, with their steel version being closer to $30.
This is still relatively expensive and considering the factory Ruger versions are known to be exceedingly reliable, one has to consider if it wouldn’t be better to just stick with OEM mags.
30- and 20-round polymer Mini-14 magazines from ProMag.
Thermold also makes 30-round polymer Mini-14 magazines that are quite affordable at around $15 each.
Though, first-hand experience has not proven them to be as rugged as one would like.
The main struggle with most polymer magazines is how they interface with the magazine release, which is a paddle type. The exterior geometry of some of these causes binding and makes the magazines difficult to remove.
A very unique Mini-14 accessory is the Accuracy Systems Adjustable Gas Block (MSRP $129).
This item allows for the fine-tuning of the Mini-14 and the fifth-generation model can be used in tandem with other Accuracy Systems products such as the Accu-strut.
This combination of an adjustable gas block with accuracy-enhancing features makes it so that the Mini-14 will be at its best and offer increased reliability with a wider variety of ammunition types.
What’s more, the Accuracy Systems gas block also works with other systems integrated into the gas block such as the UltiMAK scout rail.
This gas block assembly, when combined with a Scout Rail and Accu-strut, makes for the most flexible aftermarket setup of available Mini-14 accessories.
Sig Sauer has just announced the P320-XTEN, a 10mm P320 pistol with an optics-ready slide and 15-round capacity.
The Sig Sauer P320 has been a very popular handgun ever since it was selected as the U.S. Army’s new service pistol in 2017. While Americans have always loved owning their own version of the military’s sidearm, not everyone feels adequately equipped with a 9mm pistol. For those who need their handgun cartridge to provide “performance to the power of 10,” Sig has just announced the 10mm P320-XTEN.
Frankly, the new caliber option is the biggest change between the P320-XTEN and previously existing P320 models. Many other P320s were already offered with optics-ready slides, flat-faced triggers, night sights and other features that are present on the P320-XTEN, but until now they were only available in 9mm with the exception of one .45 ACP model. Built using the new XSERIES 10mm/.45 ACP grip module, the P320-XTEN will likely only be the first 10mm P320 model to be introduced. This one is full-sized with a 5-inch bull barrel and 15-round capacity, but the eventual release of a compact carry model would not be surprising.
Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of Commercial Sales at Sig Sauer, said this on the new 10mm P320:
The P320-XTEN is the most powerful P320 SIG has ever built combining the features of our XSERIES models with the punch of the 10mm round. The superiority of this pistol begins with the all new XSERIES grip module, designed specifically for 10mm and 45 AUTO calibers, featuring the XSERIES deep trigger undercut, extended beavertail, and aggressive stippling for a high grip making recoil easier to manage,
The P320-XTEN is optimized for use with the Sig Sauer ROMEO2 red dot sight and each pistol will ship with two 15-round magazines. MSRP is not yet available.
Walther has just announced the Walther Magnum Pistol or WMP, a .22 Magnum optics-ready handgun with a 15-round capacity.
While .22 Magnum isn’t the most popular of calibers, it does enjoy a wide variety of applications. This may be why Walther is marketing the new .22 Magnum WMP as being “ready for adventure,” without being too specific about what that adventure may be. Whether the cartridge interests you for pest control, hunting, plinking or even self-defense, the WMP appears to be a capable and feature-rich pistol to do it with.
The .22 Magnum WMP is a full-size, polymer-framed handgun with a 4.5-inch barrel and a 15-round magazine capacity (10-rounders available for ban states). The pistol also features an optics-ready slide and comes with two adaptor plates. Walther doesn’t specify which optic footprints the adaptors are for, but the product page features a WMP sporting what looks like a Vortex Viper which uses Docter-pattern mounts. For those who prefer to use iron sights, the front post is fiber-optic as well.
The .22 Magnum WMP is also completely ambidextrous, featuring not only a slide release lever on each side but a magazine release as well. Actually, the WMP has four activation points for the mag release, and Walther is calling the system the Quad release mechanism. This means that the pistol not only has a traditional button release on each side, but a classic Walther-style paddle release on both sides too.
A few other features of the WMP worth mentioning are its accessory rail, front slide serrations and trigger safety. Each pistol will include two magazines and the MSRP is $549.
For more on the Walther Magnum Pistol, please visit waltherarms.com.
With the right revolver skills, one can be a formidable adversary even when armed with antiquated technology.
If you’re to believe the local gun shop expert, revolvers are 19th century technology and utterly useless for anything other than making noise. When you run into someone who says this, what you do is simple: ignore him. (If he also says “IPSC will get you killed,” move to the other side of the gun shop. Staying too close to such a concentration of mall ninja-ism can be dangerous to your brain cells.)
Yes, double-action revolvers are old, but as I’ve pointed out before, the gladius used by the Roman legions is also old. If you meet someone who knows how to use it, he’ll be a dangerous adversary—even with “obsolete” technology. Skill is what matters.
So, how do you improve your DA revolver skills?
Get Good Grips
First, get the right grips. The customary, classic and good-looking ones are almost always not suited to good shooting. The classic “cokes” on a high-gloss blued S&W .44 Magnum are a beauty to look at, but they’re generally a misery to shoot.
Yes, it’s classic, looks good and sometimes feels good. But it’s a miserable grip to try and shoot well, especially if you’re using magnum ammo. Get better grips.
A few good choices are the Miculek grip, Pachmayrs and VZ Grips. I used a set of Miculek smooth wood grips on my .45 ACP revolvers when I competed in IPSC. They were just what I needed to bring me home each time, with a pair of Team Gold medals to show for the trips. You can order yours checkered, but the smooth lets your hand slide on the grip to get properly located on the draw, and they’re shaped to stay in your grip when you shoot.
Here, personal preference rules. The Pachmayrs are made of rubber and that softens the recoil. They have a variety of styles to choose from. When I’m shooting pin loads or magnum ammo, I change to the Pachs, because, well, recoil hurts.
For compact carry, especially EDC concealed carry, a set of VZ Grips (they make an almost overwhelming set of choices) are just the thing—especially if you’re using a snubbie for backup or deep concealment, a VZ boot grip is just the ticket. And if you’re in a hot climate, the VZ grips are made of nearly indestructible materials.
Get the grip that fits you and lets you shoot comfortably. That varies depending on your hand size, the size of the revolver and how much power you’re dispensing. There’s no such thing as “one size fits all.”
Get a Good Grip
Second, grip it right. Take your unloaded revolver and wrap your shooting hand on it in a firing grip. Look at the web of your hand. Where is it compared to the top of the backstrap of the frame? If there’s any space between your hand and the top corner, you’re doing it wrong. Get your hand up as high as you can and still reach the trigger.
Now, if you have small hands, this might limit which revolvers you can use—but you don’t gain anything by keeping your hand down on the frame. In fact, you make recoil worse, as you give the revolver better leverage to create muzzle rise. I grip a revolver so high that some of them have the hammer touching the web of my hand as it comes back in the DA cycle.
The wrong advice is to grip lower to get your trigger finger in line with the trigger. Supposedly, pressing the trigger from an angle is bad. I haven’t seen it being bad while winning piles of loot and two Gold medals. Grip high and stay away from the guy I started this article describing.
Get your hand up as high onto the frame as you can. The higher the better, until the hammer doesn’t have enough room to pivot.
Utilize The Clicks
When it comes to dry-firing, pistols get one click. On pistols, one striker falls and then you have to hand-cycle the slide to do it again. Despite the Foley artist (the guy who does sound effects) in movies making a pistol click repeatedly, we all know they don’t. Well, with rare exceptions, anyway. Revolvers? You can click all you want. My boss at The Gun Room, Mike Karbon, spent the slow times at the shop dry-firing his Colt Python. Click, click, click went the wheelgun…
He did this to the point that it became background noise…something we didn’t notice unless it stopped. He even broke the firing pin on one—which was unheard of—and happened so rarely that no one we called had a spare. “Those things don’t break” was the response from one pistolsmith.
You’re highly unlikely to break your firing pin either (rimfires excepted, don’t dry-fire those). You’ll get a whole lot better in the practice, and you’ll be burnishing the parts against each other that’ll slick up the action even before you pay someone to do more to it.
Learn On The Cheap
Speaking of rimfires, that’s fourth on our list. Yes, all ammo is pricey these days, but rimfire is still less expensive than centerfire. Even reloaded centerfire. So, get a rimfire, and use that as a sub-caliber trainer at the range. Yes, yes, yes, that can cost. When Jerry Miculek suggested this to me, I went out and invested in an S&W M-617 (a big help it was, too).
If you want to get really good with the M-19 (above), then you’d be wise to invest in the M-617 (below). Shooting a metric carload of .22 LR will really improve your revolver skills and is cheaper in the long run than buying .38 or .357 ammo.
Yes, the MSRP on that one is just over $800. OK, let’s say that .22 LR ammo costs you $140 per thousand rounds. (With ammo prices right now, these will vary, but the relative costs won’t much.) If we only compare it to the .38 Special, currently running $650 per thousand, we can see what’s up. Bigger bores will cost even more. The cost of a .38 Special means a difference of $510 per thousand rounds fired compared to a .22 LR. As a result, you start getting your investment back after 1,500 rounds.
Yes, reloading would make the .38 less expensive, but you’re trading cash for time at that point. As prices come down, the difference shrinks, but even at the old prices, you’d get your M-617 cost back in 2,500 rounds.
So, 1,500 rounds to get your investment back. The gain after that means a lot of double-action practice at the range, at speed or for accuracy, resulting in you becoming a much better shooter.
Reload For Your Revolver
It isn’t just that loading your own ammo is less expensive than buying factory ammo (provided you stocked up on components, so you can laugh your way through ammo panics.) You can also tune your ammo to your gun and to your practice or match needs. If you need power, you can have it. If you need mild recoil, that’s simply a matter of correct loading data.
And you save money either way.
I did a quick search for components recently, and while some can be tough to find, for a .38 Special, I found powder, primers and bullets that would let me load factory-equivalent ammo for about $150 per thousand. (Hint: Buy in bulk…5,000 primers, 8-pound kegs of powder, bullets in multiple-thousand shipments.) A good press will let you load 400 to 500 rounds an hour.
These .44 Remington Magnums are loaded with Barnes XPB lead-free hollow-points, and the crimp is set perfectly.
At the cost savings over factory (about $500 per thousand), you’ll get your reloading press investment back in a couple of thousand rounds. I know…this and the rimfire represent an investment. But if you want to get good, you aren’t going to do it with just positive thinking.
Other Considerations
There are other things you can do, and while they do make a difference, they don’t give you the immediate return on investment that the previous tips do. Save them for later.
You can have a pistolsmith slick up your revolver—and in due time you should. But that comes after the dry-fire practice and the range trips with the rimfire. A slicked-up action improves your shooting, but only by a small amount. If you’re 2 percentage points behind the match winner, and you’re using a box-stock action, getting yours slicked up will make the difference. If you’re still working your way out of “C” class, a slicked-up action won’t make enough of a difference to get you up into “B” class.
And porting? I love the guys at Mag-na-port, but like a slicked-up action, it won’t make a difference until you’re near the top or shooting magnum loads. In some instances, it’s essential. I’m not going to shoot pins with a revolver that hasn’t been Mag-na-ported…no way. But, in my case, I’m looking to win, and I’ll have to elbow some pretty enthusiastic shooters out of the way if I’m to do so. And they’ll have all gotten the advantages they could with practice and gear as well.
I’ve made a comparison with auto racing before: You can argue all you want about what tires are best for making the turns at 220 mph, but if your skill level isn’t at the point where any tire at all will keep you off the corner wall at 110 mph, then you need to be looking someplace other than tires for improvements.
The author’s S&W 625, a prize gun and a prized gun.
Put It All Together
So, get grips that fit and are comfortable. Learn to grip it right. Dry-fire your revolver until you can work it fast, and keep the sights buried in the center of the “A” zone or locked onto the “X” ring. Go to the range with your rimfire and validate those revolver skills in live-fire; then, beat the falling plate rack with your reloads.
Once you do that for a number of practice sessions and have started to throw your weight around in matches at the gun club, then think about having your wheelgun slicked up and ported. (If the match rules allow porting, of course.)
Skills are what win matches and fights, not just equipment—however good. Only when two competitors are evenly matched does equipment begin to enter into it. Build your revolver skills and then when you upgrade your equipment, you’ll turbocharge those skills. Technology from any century is still relevant, but only if you have the skills to use it.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
It’s important to train practical precision in field conditions, something that you can’t get while benchrest shooting at the range.
There’s a movement afoot in the precision rifle world—a return to “the fighting rifleman,” for lack of a better term. The feeling around the water cooler is we’ve taken a turn away from the practical and more toward the engineering side. If this sounds familiar, it should; it’s called “benchrest shooting.”
When I arrived at Rifles Only in South Texas in 2002, it was the top spot for precision rifle training and competition. The focus mimicked the military in many ways and promoted finding your targets, determining the range and then engaging that target with a limited number of shots. Jacob Bynum, considered prone the rare shot, so the idea was to train people to adapt to the situation; the term alternate positions was born.
Rifles Only were full-time training military units during the high points of war years; from 2003 to 2011, I was three weeks on and one week off the entire time. Running and gunning was a way of life. We used what we learned from those classes to design stages for competitions, such as my Sniper’s Hide Cup and, back then, The Shooter’s Brawl. As tactical rifle competition got more popular, the needs changed. Now, we need to test a shooter’s skill but, at the same time, accommodate more shooters into the mix. That meant watering down the stages.
The flat bottom and weight system help balance the Accuracy International AT-X on the sandbag.
Since those early days, we’ve seen the growth of Series and Leagues. They’re very popular and have taken the idea from four or five matches a year—to over 50. Just about every weekend there’s an event somewhere in the country. That’s a great thing; competition is the cheapest form of organized training anyone can participate in.
With popularity, however, comes more watering down of the stages, to the point where competitors no longer “run and gun,” but instead take three steps to a prop and lay a rifle down on a sandbag, which we describe as barricade benchrest, using 20-plus-pound 6mm rifles that use extremely light triggers and flat-bottom stocks.
They’re incredibly accurate, and shooting this method can be a ton of fun for many people. But the goal of these setups is to remove as much of the shooter from the equation as possible.
Weight equals stability, and stability is accuracy. Balancing these truths isn’t always as easy as it sounds. So, instead, we get rifles designed to balance on the bags without influence.
Before someone goes, here it is: Please don’t get me wrong, the innovations around the current level of competition have done a ton of good for the sport. The bag’s design, new tripods, mounting options and accessories are all positives. My question is one of balance. How do we balance the practical with the engineering side of things?
Rifle training should have an element of practical precision to it.
Shifting Tides
Well, that’s happening; there’s a growing movement to return to field-style events. We recognize the community is asking for more, so a core group of new competitors is engaging with whom they consider the old guard. They want to return to the roots: a practical application tied to the competitive nature of man.
I like to keep things simple: Find it, range it, engage it, WTF, wind, target, fundamentals. Stuff like this is easy to remember.
Match booklets identify the ranges; the targets are marked and painted, and—usually—the competition has mapped out their path before even seeing the stage. We removed target detection to move the shooters through the stages more efficiently.
The author shooting an Accuracy International ASR Rifle at Gunsite in 2021.
Today, if you ask me, they’re studying for a specific test rather than the situation. If you change any one question on the test, you’re met with protests. The return to practical has to include a return to the essential elements of our shooting life: hunting.
With this return to the fighting riflemen, Hunter Series are cropping up, limiting the events to hunting-style rifles with reduced weights. Being able to find the targets is pretty crucial in a hunting type of situation. Then, you have to build that position based on the terrain. This is where the adaption elements of competition work to your advantage. Even the experimentation with bag fills helped in this context; rather than carry a 6-pound Game Changer bag, you can use the Go Lite fill and reduce the weight by a significant amount. The sheep guys will carry it.
Where Does It All Land?
We recognize two things can exist simultaneously: series style of events and field events. Nobody is suggesting we change entirely every aspect of the current styles. Many want a balance of the two, a combination of skills to be tested.
You can see the sniper rifle version of the Accuracy International AT-X (left) versus the competition model. The center of gravity is much lower in the new sniper rifle model.
An example of this is Accuracy International rifles. Despite being known for their sniper rifles, used by more than 160 countries, they started a competition team. Those team members used the existing barreled action to design a rifle better suited to the tools employed today by a novel means.
They lowered the rifle’s center of gravity in the stock by close to a ½-inch over a typical competition rifle. It can still take advantage of all the weight systems used and accessories we see today, but in a 12-pound base system. They created a balance between the military world and competition.
Balance Is The Key To All
The mindset moving forward? I see the 3-Gun style of AR competition as the Assaulter in the military. To me, the precision rifle should mimic my sniper experience in the Marines—methodical and deliberate … all those words we recognize around the skillset.
It’s a journey, not a road trip.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
FN America has just updated the company’s line of designated marksmen AR-15s with the release of the FN 15 DMR3.
FN began producing M16s for the U.S. military in the late 1980s, and since then, has grown to be one of the world’s largest producers of AR-style firearms. In 2014 the company launched the FN 15 series, their first commercially available AR-15s for the civilian market, and FN has continued to innovate on the platform ever since. Besides military-style M16 and M4 clones, the FN 15 series now includes more modern, tactical variants like the TAC, SRP and DMR lines. The DMR series was in its second generation until now, as FN America has just released the third-generation model with the FN 15 DMR3.
Most of the new features of the FN 15 DMR3 were selected to help improve accuracy and reduce felt recoil, starting with the barrel and gas system. The 1/8 twist 18-inch barrel is cold hammer-forged, chrome-lined and sports a hybrid profile that provides an ideal balance between accuracy and weight. It’s made from FN’s famous “machine gun barrel steel,” and thanks to the railed handguard, is free-floated as well.
The gun uses a rifle-length gas system, and each will ship with a SureFire ProComp muzzle brake. Combined, all these features should help to dramatically reduce recoil impact and enable faster follow-up shots. The Geissele two-stage precision G2S trigger installed in each FN 15 DMR3 should help facilitate better accuracy as well.
Other features of the FN 15 DMR3 include an FN-made pistol grip and 6-position carbine stock, a Radian Raptor-LT ambidextrous charging handle and a Radian Talon ambidextrous safety selector. It will be available in three different finish color options and each rifle will ship with one 30-round magazine. MSRP is not yet available.
A great option for beefing-up your mil-spec AR bolt.
Ever notice that the AR-15 bolt has a great big, honking hole drilled right through it? And that hole has sharp edges that have to be carefully de-angled or it’s not fun to work with? If that edge gets nicked, the bolt will die and soon. Why do we use it? Because the government cast that design in stone back in 1968. If you stick with mil-spec, you stick with the bolt. But, should you?
HM Defense bolt (center) versus mil-spec (right).
How about we improve that? HM Defense did just that. They took the simple measure of not drilling the hole all the way through. I know, simple, right?
The HM Bolt simply has a blind hole for the cam pin. This does, of necessity, require a new cam pin—one short enough not to stop short in the hole—but that’s easy. How does this make a bolt stronger, and why do we care?
Simple: By drilling the bolt body through, the bolt makers (who have no other choice) drastically weaken the bolt body. With most of it gone, there are only two thin webs to support the gas rings, firing pin guidance and hold the bolt together. I’ve seen bolts cracked and broken at the cam pin hole. It isn’t a subnuclear detonation, but it does stop the rifle from working.
A mil-spec AR-15 bolt broken at the cam pin hole.
By stopping short of going through, HM Defense gives the thin side walls support from the far side of the bolt. Even if the stresses try to crack the bolt at the thin webs, the webs are supported by the far side being solid.
Also, regular bolts have to have the cam pin hole edges staked on the far side or else they could be assembled backward. I saw it—once—and the stream of invectives from the owner (he had fired the one shot he’d get on the rifle stage of a 3-gun match) was impressive.
The bolts are made to be a drop-in fit or replacement to all mil-spec bolt/carrier setups and given the proper heat treatment, testing and finish to provide lots of use. Each one comes with an appropriately shortened cam pin, so you won’t have to try and grind one down on your bench grinder to make it fit.
Does this matter? Sure. We all try to make our equipment as durable and reliable as we can. We test things, we check regularly and some worry (more than others) over what might go wrong.
Anything we can do to reduce the number of things we have to worry about is a good thing.
Plus, the price of the HM Bolt is right in line with regular AR-15 bolts (MSRP is $175). Yes, parts are hard to come by right now, but when they get a bit easier, you might want to upgrade the parts list on your next build.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Sig Sauer has just expanded the CROSS series with the CROSS-PRS, a new bolt-action rifle with match-grade features purpose-built for precision and long-range shooting.
Sig Sauer introduced the original CROSS rifle in 2019, and it was the company’s first foray into bolt-action rifles since the 1990s. It was marketed as a precision hunting rifle, and it was certainly capable of extreme accuracy in all three available calibers, but Sig felt that the design could be accurized even further. Enter the new Sig Sauer CROSS-PRS, a rifle that Sig claims to have match-grade features that make it ideal for the competitive precision long-range shooting world.
The most substantial change implemented into the CROSS-PRS design is the new barrel. While the original CROSS was available with either a 16- or 18-inch barrel, the CROSS-PRS sports a 24-inch, stainless heavy-contour 5R barrel. The barrel is now free-floated as well along with the M-LOK handguard, something that was only true of the handguard on standard CROSS models. Combined with the included match-grade, adjustable 2-stage trigger and bipod-ready Arca rail, the CROSS-PRS should be an extremely capable performer at longer ranges. The overall weight and balance of the gun has been tuned as well.
Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of Commercial Sales at Sig Sauer, said this about the new rifle:
The CROSS-PRS is purpose built and feature rich. The heavy structured steel design delivers weight evenly for a balanced feel while reducing recoil to get you back on target faster. Combined with the extreme accuracy of the heavy contour 5R rifled barrel, and folding adjustable steel stock for easy movement, the CROSS-PRS delivers an extremely capable long-range shooting experience that scores big on the range, right out of the box.
The CROSS-PRS will be available in 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester, and both models will ship with two 10-round polymer AICS-style magazines. MSRP is $2,499.99 and it’s shipping to retailers now.
For more information on the Sig Sauer Cross Rifle, please visit www.sigsauer.com.
Looking to maximize your Mini-14? Check out these top 5 Mini-14 stock options ranging from folders to sporters.
The Ruger Mini-14 rifle has unfortunately struggled to maintain an aftermarket following. Unlike the AR-15 with its nearly infinite accessory options, there isn’t as much that can be done to alter the Mini-14. An exception here is the stock, an easily installed component that can be swapped during normal field disassembly. While there are not too many out there, there certainly are some notable examples. Chief among these are versions that have the ability to fold. There are of course modern versions of this, but the most desirable is arguably the most classic. The first one we’re going to look at jumps right off your color TV, out of the back of a curiously painted van.
Top Mini-14 Stock Options:
Samson A-TM Folding Stock Probably the most famous Mini-14 out there was used on the A-Team TV show. Along with the 1911, the folding stock Mini-14, though fully automatic on the show, was the signature weapon of the A-Team’s leader, Hannibal Smith. Although the one on the show was technically the police AC-556 that came with a folding stock from the factory, you won’t be able to get any closer to an original than this. In fact, the Samson stock is made on much of the same tooling as the original was, and it is available in the same color layout from the TV show.
Despite being a pop culture icon, this stock is actually very functional and makes for an extremely compact overall size. It can be stored easily and deploys quickly while still being very solid in terms of lockup. Of note, the butt plate also folds, making the pistol grip area at the rear of the stock the widest point of the gun. Although we tried, you simply can’t talk about this stock without pitying the fool who doesn’t have one on his Mini-14. MSRP: $299.99(Stainless), $324.99 (Black) // samson-mfg.com.
Hogue Mini-14 Sporter Stock If you find yourself dissatisfied with the factory synthetic stock, or just don’t want to tear up your wood version, Hogue offers a very affordable replacement stock with a soft OverMolded rubber finish. If you find yourself in a wet or hot climate where your hands become slippery with muck or sweat, the stock will help alleviate that slick feeling and allow for a firm grip. Currently, this model is available in black and green. It is a drop-in fit and requires no permanent alteration to the rifle. Luckily, it also has a very affordable street price. MSRP: $89.95 // hogueinc.com.
ProMag Archangel Sparta Stock One of the many reasons why the Mini-14 has been overlooked as a tactical rifle is because it doesn’t look the part. Some people very much prefer the clean, almost benign appearance of a stock Mini-14 while still recognizing that it is a very capable semi-auto. Because of the rifle’s classic aesthetics, there have not been many attempts to force it into the territory of the AR-15; the Mini-14 looks quite out of place covered in rails and flashlights.
That said, ProMag has a relatively unique stock system that integrates a Picatinny top rail for optics as well as an adjustable stock for both comb height and length of pull. For the purist, this is certainly a bit much, and some may argue that it would be easier to simply just get an AR-15 rather than try to turn your Mini-14 into one. Regardless, the execution here is very good and it certainly does provide the features of a tactical rifle. All the parts on it are proprietary, however, so you will not be able to install common AR furniture or grips on it. MSRP: $219.99 // promagindustries.com.
Boyd’s Laminate Stocks If you find yourself in the market for something that enhances the look and feel of your Mini-14, you should probably consider the laminate stock options from Boyd’s. Boyd’s has made a name for itself in the industry as a leader in aftermarket stocks. Indeed, they make just about anything you may need, with further options to customize it at the factory. Boyd’s makes not just stocks for new guns, but also replacement stocks for vintage classics like the Mini-14’s ancestor the M1 Garand.
The Mini-14 stocks offered by Boyd’s are available in an incredible number of colors and styles, both traditional and modern. You have a choice between thumbhole, varmint and factory-profile options. The company offers eight styles for the Mini-14, which is the largest amount of options you will find from any single company for this gun. Many of the stocks offered by Boyd’s will require minor fitting, which is something to be aware of when you buy. Prices vary on these stocks, as they are customizable by the purchaser, and one will have to decide what options and colors they want when ordering. MSRP: Varies // boydsgunstocks.com.
ATI Strikeforce The ATI Strikeforce stock packs in quite a number of features for its relatively low price. The stock is not only able to fold to the side, but can also telescope to adjust length of pull. It is capable of firing with the stock folded as well. Unlike the ProMag stock, the ATI does not offer a complete rail over the top of the receiver. Instead, it relies on the normal optic mounting system that comes standard on the Mini-14. You can add a Picatinny base, or simply use Ruger rings. If tactical features are your goal, this certainly fits the bill without breaking the bank. The stock’s folding capability takes advantage of the Mini-14’s short overall length while still being less than half the price of the Samson model, making it something worth considering for budget-conscious shooters. MSRP: $129.99 // atioutdoors.com.
Stock Up!
Unfortunately, there never has been an abundance of available aftermarket options for the Mini-14. In fact, stocks comprise about one-third of the total Mini-14 accessory options on the market. The limited number of options may be a turn-off to some shooters, but if you are just looking to replace a damaged stock, all of the listed options would be suitable, with the Hogue and Boyd’s models being the closest in appearance to a factory original.
A guide to scope rings, base systems and other scope-mounting solutions.
I’m so accustomed with Mr. Murphy and his Law that I swear we’re somehow related. This concept has been affirmed time and time again throughout my life, especially in those situations where what would normally be an easy fix is rendered unfixable.
I like rifles that are nearly indestructible, sturdy boots of stout construction, rugged riflescopes and mounts and rings that won’t let me down. I’ve had bunches over the years, and all have their good and bad points.
There are all sorts of mounting systems constructed of different materials and in a multitude of conformations. What may be ideal for the target shooter could quite possibly be unacceptable for the mountain hunter, or what works perfectly on a light-recoiling varmint rifle will fall to pieces on a dangerous game rifle.
Ruger’s Rings
The first rifle I ever owned was a gift from my dad—affectionately known as Ol’ Grumpy Pants—when I was a boy of 14 years. It was a Ruger Model 77/22 and remains my favorite rimfire rifle. Chambered in .22 LR, the Ruger rifles came equipped with a set of proprietary steel rings, which represented an intrinsic value to my father: They screw right onto the receiver; there’s no monkey business.
The ring was split horizontally, with the bottom part mating to the recesses in the receiver via a large slotted nut, and the top of the ring using four slotted screws to secure the two pieces together. They work well when properly installed, and I’ve seen them hold zero well even when subjected to magnum recoil from cartridges such as the .300 Winchester Magnum, .338 Winchester Magnum and .458 Lott.
I like the system and, as the mount/rings are included in the cost of the firearm, they do add value to the gun. If I had to find a complaint, I’ve seen a good number of Ruger rings with severely stripped screw heads, and I’ve seen the large nut come loose more than once. But, overall, they work rather well.
Weaver Style
Growing up, the most popular mounting system I encountered was the Weaver base/ring combination. Using machined aluminum or steel bases and steel rings, they were plentiful, attainable and affordable. The cross-slot Weavers were on almost everyone’s rifle, and while they might seem a bit archaic by today’s standards—especially in comparison to some of the modern designs—the deer fell just the same.
Ol’ Grumpy Pants’ favorite rig: a Mossberg Model 800A in .308 Winchester, with a Redfield scope in Weaver Tip-Off mounts. It still holds zero well.
The Weaver system remains viable and has undergone a face-lift over the years, including steel bases, Picatinny rails and Grand Slam steel bases (designed to mitigate severe recoil). Grumpy Pants bought a set of Weaver tip-off mounts and rings for his Mossberg 800A .308 Winchester to hold his Redfield Lo-Pro 3-9x with the TV rear ocular, which has accounted for more deer than I’ll probably ever shoot, and that system still works to this day. You don’t want to be within 250 yards of that man with that rifle he’s spent the last half-century with.
The Weaver system used to suffer from weak mounting screws—I’ve seen several mounting screws sheared off from heavy recoil—but, of late, it seems to be corrected.
This Savage Lightweight Hunter uses skeletonized Weaver rings to keep weight down.
I recently set up my .280 Ackley Improved Savage Long Range Hunter for a Namibian safari with Weaver mounts, and it held zero perfectly, despite traveling halfway around the world. Weaver continues to produce a very wide selection of bases and rings, meeting almost every need in the shooting world. There are steel dovetail rings, skeletonized aluminum rings, detachable models, six screw variants and more in addition to the Sure Grip model, which remains so popular.
Leupold’s Non-Gold Rings
Leupold bases and rings were another popular choice, though in my circles, they were reserved for those with a larger hunting budget. Leupold’s steel bases and dovetail front ring, with the rear ring with adjustable windage, have become a staple in the shooting world. I’ve had them on many different rifles.
Leupold’s steel QR (Quick Release) rings and bases are a sound choice for those who want to access their iron sights quickly.
These rings—when installed properly and torque to the specified values—can be a wonderful choice, giving a lifetime of service without needing much attention. I’ve seen that rear mount come loose on a hard-kicking .458 Magnum, but the same design held up well to .375 H&H and .416 Remington Magnum recoil. Their dual dovetail rings are rock solid—my Winchester Classic .300 Win. Mag. still uses these to hold a VX-6 2-12x scope—and their Quick Detachable mounts and rings hold up very well to any level of recoil.
Leupold’s steel one-piece base for the 03A3 Springfield rifle. Note the dovetail slot in the front and the dual screws to hold the rear ring.
Using Torx-head screws for attaching both bases to the receiver as well as to secure the rings halves, they have proprietary models, as well as models in the Weaver cross-slot/Picatinny design. Leupold’s Backcountry model features an integral base/ring system to increase rigidity while reducing weight, being made from aircraft-grade aluminum. These are an excellent choice for those mountain hunters who count ounces.
As scope tubes continue to grow in order to give more elevation adjustment, rings must grow accordingly. This Leupold Mark 5 is mounted in Leupold’s 35mm rings on a Picatinny rail.
Burris Bases and Rings
Burris makes excellent rings and bases, with some innovative features, which may help achieve the accuracy you’re after. Burris Signature rings use their proprietary Pos-Align inserts to help maintain full contact on the scope tube, properly aligning the riflescope so the scope can “go to sleep” in the mounts. They offer rings in 1-inch, 30mm and 34mm diameter, with bases available for a good number of different rifle models, from hunting to target to tactical models.
The Talley Effect
I’m an unabashed fan of Talley Manufacturing, having used their rings and bases for a number of years. Their vertically split steel rings are machined to extremely high tolerances, their steel bases are equally precise, and the combination of the two have been wonderfully consistent. I review a good number of rifles each year, and early on, I noticed that each time I’d mount a scope in Talley rings and bases it’d take very little adjustment to zero the rifle.
A Browning BLR in .30-06 Springfield, with a Leupold 4x scope in Talley Detachable mounts; the scope returns to zero every time it’s reinstalled.
Talley’s stuff is consistently fantastic, and if the user adheres to the torque requirements specified, no further adjustments should be needed. I’ve taken rifles equipped with Talley rings and bases all over the world with me, and they’ve never failed. They have models available for nearly any rifle—including the CZ and Heym rifles that require an integral ring to match the receiver—and their Quick Detachable Rings with Lever are a great choice for those hunters who wish to detach their riflescope in order to gain access to the iron sights, or for those who wish to circumvent Mr. Murphy and have two different riflescopes, pre-zeroed in rings, for those remote adventures.
Talley Manufacturing makes great tactical rings, well suited to a Picatinny rail, as shown on this Strasser RS 14 Evolution.
Talley’s Lightweight Alloy Scope Mount is an integral base/ring combination, CNC machined from 7000-series aluminum alloy to both help maintain the fine balance of a hunting rifle, as well as reduce rifle weight for those hunts where the ounces truly count.
I’ve never had to lap Talley rings, as they’re machined to such tight tolerances that it was unnecessary, and I’ve never had an issue attaining a proper zero, with the scope staying generally within the center of its adjustment range. Whether it’s a vintage hunting rifle, a tactical target rifle—Talley’s tactical Picatinny rings are a fabulous choice—or your chosen dangerous game gun, there’s a choice in Talley’s lineup that’ll suit your needs perfectly.
The author’s Winchester Model 70 XTR in .300 H&H Magnum uses fixed Talley two-screw rings to securely hold a Leupold VX-5HD 2-10x42mm in place.
Warne Hardware
Warne rings and bases are a solid choice as well. They too offer a vertically split steel ring, but with a square recoil key to mitigate the effects of recoil. Warne offers these rings in both a detachable and a permanent attach model. They’re simple to install and, in my experiences, hold zero very well. Like any ring/base combination, the screws will need to be properly torqued for best performance. Warne rings are designed for use with their proprietary bases, or for use with Weaver bases or Picatinny rails.
There are many other manufacturers, with similar designs to those I’ve outlined above. For the multitude of MSRs on the market—whose Picatinny rails allow the use of a good many different rings—the possibilities are nearly endless, though the major manufacturers will assuredly offer a sound design for these rifles.
The Warne vertically split steel rings. Note the recoil key used to mitigate the effects of recoil.
And, for the long-range target crowd, there are number of bases that’ll give additional elevation to extend the range of your chosen cartridge/bullet combination. Sometimes, an additional 20- or even 40-MOA can make shots out beyond 1,000 yards much easier.
So, Is One Scope Ring Best?
So, what’s the proper choice for your shooting situation? For my hunting rifles, I prefer a system that’ll allow me to mount my chosen scope as low to the bore as possible, so I can quickly attain cheek weld on the stock as quickly as possible, from almost any field position. I also appreciate a mounting system that’s utterly reliable, especially when I’m traveling to the remote corners of the world. I rely heavily on Talley’s rings and bases; they’ve never let me down, no matter if I was using the fixed model or the detachable model.
I don’t use Loctite or anything of the sort, rather relying on a set of Fix-It Sticks to adjust to the proper torque. Again, in spite of the best efforts of the baggage handlers and their mentor Mr. Murphy, my rifles have traveled the globe without issues when using Talley’s products.
For bases, I generally prefer the two-piece variety, in order to allow spent cartridges to be ejected freely, with no chance of getting hung up on a one-piece base. If it’s a lightweight rifle with the mountains in mind or a light-recoiling gun, Talley’s Lightweight Alloy Scope Mount checks all the boxes for me. The precision of their rings removes the need for lapping, and all of my scopes mounted in this ring/base combination hold zero and give no cause for concern.
This Nosler rifle wears a Leupold VX-3i scope in Talley bases and scope rings.
For target rifles—where the comb is frequently adjustable to match the scope height—the game will change. This is where the benefits of the 30, 34 and 35mm tubes will be seen, as their adjustment ranges will give the most elevation to achieve the trajectories needed for extreme long-range shooting.
And, as even the most minute shift in point of impact at close ranges will be magnified at extreme long ranges, you want the most rigid and rugged set of bases and rings available for your target gun. I like a wide ring for this purpose, often with six screws per ring, in order to keep the heavier target scopes where I put them.
Not Just Nuts And Bolts
It used to be that scope mounts never even received an afterthought and were considered nothing more than the “nuts and bolts,” which were used to screw the scope onto the rifle. With companies like Conetrol coming onto the scene as early as 1964, shooters slowly became enlightened to the benefits of precision machining and as scope technology improved (it has come leaps and bounds in the last half-century), the importance of quality bases and rings has become ever more evident.
Take a look at the various choices out there and find what works for your particular shooting situation. Having a rock-solid mount for your optic will remove one of the sources of concern in your shooting gear and will make you a better shooter. Grab a torque wrench, some new bases and rings and shoot more confidently.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
SDS Imports have carried some Saiga-based AK shotgun clones for a while now, but the new VP12 features a magwell and feeds from VEPR-pattern magazines.
We’ve looked at imported AK shotguns before, but most on the market have been patterned after the Russian Saiga-12. Back when Russian-made shotguns were legal to import, the Saiga was the more common and less expensive of the two makes, but VEPRs were universally regarded as the nicer option. There were many reasons for this, ranging from general build quality to extra features, but one of the biggest differences between the two guns was the style of magazine they used. While Saigas used more traditional AK-style rock-and-lock mags, the VEPR featured a magwell and straight-inserting magazines like an AR. This feature made the VEPR-12 the go-to option for competitors who opted to use an AK platform shotgun, but these have been banned from importation into the U.S. since 2017, and the only clones available in the meantime have been Saiga-pattern. Answering the call for a budget 12-gauge AK shotgun that uses VEPR magazines, SDS Imports has just released the VP12.
As mentioned, the biggest new feature of the VP12 is its ability to feed from VEPR-12 magazines. OEM mags from Russia have been very expensive since the import ban, but thankfully aftermarket mags from companies like SGM are available and more affordable (including 25-round drums). The biggest advantage of this change from Saiga-pattern is that it will enable faster, smoother reloads. Like the VEPR-12, the VP12 also has a last-round hold-open feature. Other features shared with the VEPR include a railed dust cover for mounting optics, a three-inch chamber and an M22x0.75 RH threaded barrel, but that’s about where the similarities end.
The biggest departure of the VP12 from Russian-made AK shotguns is its left-side charging handle, allowing right-handers to charge the weapon without removing their firing grip. This should help expedite reloads as well, making the VP12 even more appealing to competitive shooters. The VP12 also features a 4-position manually adjustable gas regulator as opposed to the VEPR-12’s “self-regulating” system, so make sure to appropriately dial it in for whatever ammo you happen to be running if you get one. Each VP12 includes one 5-round mag, has an MSRP of $489.95 and they are available now.
For more information on the VP12, please visit sdsimports.com.
The Colt Anaconda was reintroduced in 2021. It’s new, but has it been improved?
New “Snake Guns” have been rolling out of Colt Manufacturing since the Cobra came out in 2017. Since then, the Cobra line has been expanded to include several versions in .38 Special +P and .357 Magnum. More big news came in 2020 when the Python was reintroduced and again became a bestseller. The biggest news, however, is that after an 18-year absence, 2021 has seen the reintroduction of the Anaconda.
This large-frame revolver is the great-grandson of the Colt New Service, a large-frame swing-out cylinder, double-action (DA) revolver first introduced in 1898. This big wheelgun became the platform for the Colt Model 1909 and Model 1917—both used in wartime by the U.S. Military. It was also issued by the U.S. Border Patrol and the NY State Police among other law enforcement agencies.
The New Service was dropped from the Colt catalog in 1944. Other than the Single Action Army revolver, Colt didn’t have a large-bore revolver until 1990, when production began on the Anaconda. Chambered in .44 Magnum and .45 Colt, it looked like an enlarged Python, with its vent-rib, full-underlug barrel. It stayed in the catalog until 1999, was dropped, then reemerged in 2001, only to be dropped again in 2003.
The Anaconda is a descendant of the large-frame Colt New Service revolver (bottom); this version is the Model 1909, made for the U.S. Army in .45 Colt.
Ever-Evolving Snakes
While the original Anaconda resembled the Python externally, it had a completely different action. The new 2021 Anaconda actually has the same action as the 2020 Python (it has just been enlarged). Using a U-shaped, dual-action leaf spring, the Anaconda—like the Python—has a smooth 9.5-pound DA pull and a single-action (SA) pull weight on my example of 5.1 pounds. Barrel lengths of 6 and 8 inches are available, and my 6-inch version has an overall length of 13 inches, with an empty weight of 59 ounces. That makes for one huge six-gun.
It’s forged from stainless steel with a “semi-bright” finish, and, according to Colt, the frame has been “bulked up” to allow continuous use of .44 Magnum cartridges. Of course, you can also use .44 Special and even .44 Russian ammunition for reduced recoil. The muzzle of the vent-rib barrel has a recessed target crown, and the ramp front sight has a red insert.
In this image you can see the sloping front sight base atop the vent rib; the rear sight is fully adjustable for windage and elevation.
The sight is replaceable using Allen key and front sight base tapers down from the muzzle to the juncture of the barrel and frame. The blue steel rear sight is fully adjustable for windage and elevation. Beneath the rear sight, the top-strap is drilled and tapped for a Picatinny rail available from Colt as an option. Interestingly, this rail has a center “gutter,” which, with the optical sight removed, could act as a rudimentary fixed rear sight.
With the rear sight removed, an optional Colt Picatinny rail can be fitted to the Anaconda, allowing the use of optical sights. Removal is easy, but mind that coil spring!
Typical of Colt DA revolvers, the cylinder release latch is on the left side of the frame and is pulled rearward to unlock the cylinder, so it may be swung out on its crane for loading. The ejector rod is pushed rearward to extract spent cartridge cases and is of sufficient length to do this handily. You’ll note that the chambers in the cylinder aren’t rebated, as this is unnecessary with modern ammunition.
Besides the Python action, the Anaconda also uses the same 2020 Python configuration for the grip frame. Standard equipment is recoil-absorbing Hogue over-molded, synthetic Monogrips, which are black in color and Colt branded, with pebble-grain side panels and finger grooves. You can also fit your Anaconda with any grip that’ll fit on the 2021 Python.
The Anaconda comes in a Colt Blue plastic gun case, which is foam-rubber lined on the inside. Contained within is a security padlock, owner’s manual and a sample of Lucas Oil Extreme Duty gun lubricant. Overall fit and finish on the Anaconda was up to standards, and no exterior flaws were observed. The markings on the gun were minimal and tasteful.
Besides the Rampant Colt stamping on the frame below the cylinder latch, the left side of the barrel has the Anaconda lettering and below it “.44 Magnum.” The right side of the barrel has a small Colt’s Manufacturing logo. Above the trigger, on the right side of the frame, is the serial number. An inch or so ahead of that is a QR code—something to baffle us old-timers.
But, Does It Shoot?
For testing, I wanted to use both .44 Magnum “hunting” ammo and some high-performance .44 Special cartridges suitable for self-defense. For putting down four-legged game or predators, I chose American Eagle (by Federal) with conventional 240-grain JHP bullets, Sig Sauer V-Crown 240-grain JHPs and Remington’s hard-charging, 275- grain Core-Lokt JHP.
In .44 Special, I chose some vintage CorBon 165-grain JHP rounds that have an impressive hollow-nose cavity, and some newer DoubleTap Ammunition loads that have what looks like a 200-grain Gold-Dot-style cup-shaped hollow point. I felt these would do the job on two-legged predators, and I was later surprised by the velocity of the CorBon load.
The CTS-1400 red-dot has a unique side-mounted, sliding battery compartment just below the CT logo. The Colt-made rail has a gutter in the upper center that can serve as a rear sight if all else fails.
I was interested in seeing how an MRD sight would work on the Anaconda, so I removed the factory rear sight and installed the Colt Picatinny rail. This turned out to be less trouble than expected. Since the sight would be attached to a .44 Magnum, I went with a CTS-1400 from Crimson Trace that’s intended for heavy-recoiling long-guns. This reflex sight has a 3.25 MOA red-dot and a wide field of view. It’s made of aircraft-grade anodized aluminum and, at 2.9 ounces, doesn’t add much weight to the six-gun. It’s also shock-resistant and has a coated lens for clarity.
One of its most notable features is an external side-mount battery compartment for a single CR2032 battery. Many MRD sights have to be removed from the gun to replace the batteries; this one doesn’t. Dot intensity is adjustable using push buttons on the left side of the sight. They also work as on/off switches, and the sight will deactivate itself if it detects no movement after a short period of time.
With the rail installed, the author mounted a Crimson Trace CTS-1400 MRD optical sight on the Anaconda. This sight is made for hard-recoiling rifles and shotguns.
Its windage and elevation is adjustable, with one click equaling 1 MOA. With it mounted, it didn’t take but a few rounds of American Eagle 240-grain JHP loads to get it hitting a big V-shaped steel plate at 50 yards in both SA and DA modes, sitting and standing. It was undisturbed by the .44 Magnum recoil, and most impressive was the fact that the battery compartment didn’t slide open while shooting. I was satisfied with its performance and features, but I removed it and replaced the adjustable sight for the remainder of test.
For my accuracy potential evaluation, I shot the Anaconda from the bench, over a sandbag rest, at standard slow-fire bull’s-eye targets placed at 25 yards, with all shooting in the SA mode. Three five-shot groups were fired with each test load, and I measured velocity using my Oehler Model 35P chronograph while punching paper.
You can see the velocity data in the accompanying performance table, but the best five-shot group measured 1.92 inches using the hot Sig Sauer V-crown .44 Magnum. Second place went to the Remington heavyweight, with a 1.96-inch group. In .44 Special, the aged CorBon load shot to 2.05 inches, and the best DoubleTap group measured 2.08 inches.
I shot at the same steel plate at 50 yards, triggering the shots SA using the factory sights and a mix of the .44 Magnum loads, as they shot to point-of-aim better than the lighter .44 Special cartridges at that distance. When I did my part, the steel rang. I felt that if I could get good hits on that target at 150 feet, then I could also score on one of the local whitetail bucks at a similar distance. The gun’s weight, combined with the grips, really helped soak up the recoil, and it ran all day at the outdoor range with zero malfunctions.
New…But Improved?
I tested one of the original Colt Anaconda revolvers back in 1993. My test gun then was a .45 Colt; I sure wish I still had it. From what I can recall, I’d have to say the action on this new-version Anaconda is far superior. Colt really did their homework on the 2020 Python action and the resulting increased-size Anaconda version.
The trigger is just wide enough and has three grooves on the face that don’t abrade the index finger. There was a small bit of take-up and no over-travel. Fine serrations on the target hammer spur allows good thumb purchase for cocking. Empty cartridge cases ejected with aplomb, with a good rap on the ejector rod, and the revolver held muzzle up. The red ramp front sight permitted fast sight picture acquisition, while allowing for precision—something I can’t say for a fiber-optic front sight.
In short: I was impressed with the Anaconda’s workmanship and its performance. Like the original Anaconda, I’d like to see it offered in .45 Colt; other than that, I have no complaints. Grab one if you can!
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Beretta has just announced the APX A1 FS pistol, a new full-size installment in the APX family.
Beretta’s APX family of handguns are polymer-framed, striker-fired pistols that are primarily chambered for 9mm. The original models were offered in three different sizes, but by modern handgun standards, they’ve begun to lag behind the pack in terms of features. This is why in 2021 Beretta released an upgraded version of the APX Carry that they called the APX A1 Carry, adding features like an optics-ready slide and improved ergonomics. Now, Beretta has announced that they’ve given the same treatment to the full-size APX model with the release of the APX A1 FS.
The most substantial addition to the APX A1 FS is obviously the optics-ready slide, a feature that’s almost become a necessity for modern handguns. The slide is milled to accept one of four Beretta optic plates that allow the mounting of Shield, Burris, C-More, Holosun K Series and other compatible micro red dot sights. If putting optics on pistols isn’t your thing, the APX A1 FS also comes with a tritium front sight with a white outline for improved irons shooting both day and night.
The next big improvement has to do with ergonomics. Details of the pistol’s frame, grip, slide and trigger guard have all been modified to provide a more natural-pointing, lighter-recoiling shooting experience. The grip’s profile has been straightened, the beavertail has been extended, the slide serrations were made to be more aggressive and texturing was added to the front of the trigger guard. Like the original APX, the APX A1 FS comes with three interchangeable backstraps as well.
Each Beretta APX A1 FS will include two 17-round mags (reduced capacity available for ban states), a case, three backstraps, a cleaning rod and a cable-lock. MSRP is $529 and it’s available now.
Benefitting from a training course requires the right mindset if you want to improve your defensive shooting skills.
Mindset—the mental attitude or inclination of someone as it relates to self-defense—is discussed a lot, and rightly so. As Col. Jeff Cooper so astutely observed, “Man fights with his mind.” One aspect of this that doesn’t receive enough attention is mindset as it relates to attending firearms training schools.
Weapon craft can be improved through instruction, but only if you open your mind.
Having spent a good part of my life in firearms training classes provided by the military, law enforcement and private schools, I’ve found that some students who attend these courses are more interested in showing off than learning. They treat courses as an opportunity to exhibit their skills. In some cases, maybe these arrogant students actually do know more and even have more experience than the instructor. But that doesn’t matter; the goal of participating in a training course is to learn.
You might learn a new way of doing things that works better than your way of doing things. Or you might learn that your current method of doing things works better than the new way you’re being taught. However, for this to happen, you must attempt to learn what’s being presented. As the American philosopher John Dewey observed, “The most important attitude that can be formed is that of desire to go on learning.”
If you take a firearms training course, the probability is high that someone in attendance will want to argue with the instructor…or at least present an opposing view to many of the lessons presented. Just as likely is the student who refuses to try the techniques that are offered, justifying their unwillingness to learn with comments like, “This is the way I’ve always done it,” or “This works better for me.” I’ve always thought this a somewhat perplexing approach to paying for a learning opportunity.
An open mind and a willingness to try something different is how you discover new techniques.
The school Jeff Cooper founded in Arizona, now known as Gunsite Academy, has been teaching soldiers, citizens and cops how to fight with a handgun since 1976. Tuition isn’t cheap, nor should it be; the doctrine that drives the instruction there has been proven. According to Gunsite Academy CEO Ken Campbell, they occasionally get students who show up to show off instead of to learn. Why would someone spend the money to go to a school and refuse to try what’s being presented?
It reminds me of my youth. After I got my driver’s license, I proceeded to prove to my father and everyone in our community that I could wreck an automobile in a variety of unimaginable ways. Among other forms of disciplined learning, my father enrolled me in a defensive driving course so I might rectify my ways. The class was full of others who, for a variety of reasons, had proven that, like me, they were unsafe automobile operators. Some of these non-driving fools argued with the instructor or tried to impress them with their knowledge. I’d managed to convince myself that I wasn’t a very good driver, and I paid attention. I learned some valuable lessons that have stuck with me for 40 years.
Showing off isn’t part of the firearms educational experience. In fact, the process of learning is more important than your grade or score.
Defensive Driving
Now, don’t get me wrong: I’m not suggesting that no matter what a firearms instructor tells you to do, you do it. I’ve heard horror stories of unsafe training practices and have seen some examples of the same on the internet. Never participate in any firearms activity that you feel is unsafe or that you feel you’re not capable of conducting safely. Of course, you can avoid situations like that by attending reputable training schools. What I’m suggesting is that you attend a firearms training course with the attitude that you might gain knowledge that’ll develop your skills so that they have a better chance of saving your life.
Having a proper learning mindset starts with curiosity and the willingness to look at things in a different way. It involves the intellectual and social maturity that accepts the premise that learning is more important than the grade you might be given. It requires that you place value on the mistakes and failures you experience. It also requires that you look for relevance in the content of the lesson and that you move beyond preconceived notions and ideas. And finally, to learn, you must be willing to be challenged to go beyond, and to develop a depth as opposed to a breadth of knowledge.
Weapon craft can be improved through instruction, but only if you open your mind.
Seek out as much and as varied firearms and self-defense training as you can afford to devote time and money to. But do so with the goal of learning and developing your weapon craft…otherwise, you’re just wasting time and money. If you think you know more than experienced instructors, or that your way is better than that presented by proven training institutions, start your own firearms training school. You might even get a few students to show up. Maybe, some of them will even know more than you.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2021 Buyer's Guide special issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
