What's the best muzzleloader bullet to put meat on the table? That depends on the rifle you're shooting and the experience you're after.
Just like when it comes to the muzzleloader you choose to hunt with, be it traditional or modern, your choice of bullet is largely determined by your desired experience. If you find yourself with a traditional muzzleloader, you are limited to a certain class of muzzleloader bullet (ball). Likewise, with a modern in-line you’ll want to use the best possible projectile, which is going to be a special type of muzzleloader bullet utilizing a sabot.
Traditional Muzzleloader Bullets
In general, there are not many options for traditional muzzleloaders. The classic lead ball is one of just two common and reliable options, the second being the Minié ball or its modern iteration, Thompson Center’s Maxi Ball.
Minié ball
For those not in the know, the latter (Minié ball) is a soft, conical lead projectile with a hollow base that improves the ballistics compared to a traditional lead ball. However, the Minié is not compatible with every type of traditional gun, rather it is best in Civil War rifle-muskets like the Springfield 1861. It loads as easily as a smoothbore musket and, when the gun is fired, the Minié ball’s base expands into the rifling imparting spin. These are large bullets of .58 caliber in most cases and are tremendously lethal on game.
Maxi Ball
The more modern Maxi Ball is an option that offers increased killing power compared to a patched round ball. Among muzzleloader bullets, it is a wise choice for hunters who want a fast reload, respectable accuracy and greater mass. The bullet differs from its predecessor (Minié) in that it has deep lubricant grooves on the bearing surface. Additionally, it is made wider than the bore and when ramming it in place you engrave the rifling into it. It takes considerably less effort to seat a Maxi Ball once you start it as opposed to a patched ball or sabot.
Lead Ball
Finally for the traditional muzzleloader marksman, there is the patched round ball, what could be thought of as the original muzzleloader bullet. The lead ball is undersized to the bore and requires a fabric patch around it to hold it in place and engage the rifling. There are variations in doing this, and you’ll need to experiment with various diameters of ball and thickness of patch for you particular rifle. A good example of this would be in a .45 caliber muzzleloader using a .440” round ball with a .02” patch. In this case, the combination should provide a grip on the ball and holds it in place against the powder charge until firing.
Modern Muzzleloader Bullets
When it comes to modern in-lines, there are a variety of options. Muzzleloader bullets in this case aren’t necessarily muzzleloader-specific. A modern .50 caliber in-line can load a .50 caliber patched ball, but won’t be getting your money’s worth out of the gun doing so. A sabot load in the same gun, however, is a different story.
Saboted Bullets
For a .50 cal., such a load would consist of a .452 bullet seated in a plastic cup called a sabot. The sabot could be thought of as a modern equivalent of the old cloth patch. The sabot itself is what grips the rifling, not the bullet. In point of fact, you can use almost any .452 caliber bullet in modern .50-caliber in-line, including those meant for the .45 Colt, .460 S&W, and even.450 Bushmaster. For hunters who desire deep penetration in game, you can also load hard cast .452 Keith bullets so long as you don’t deform the meplat on loading.
Modern sabots often come with the bullet, powder, and sabot all assembled and ready to load. These are a general option and may not be the best for your rifle. As far as muzzleloader bullets go they will get the job done, though perhaps not as accurately as a tuned load. A note on these kit-style loads, they are often expensive and not especially tough. It is common to see these types of bullets sporting a polymer tip and thin jackets around a soft lead core. Consider these a stopgap solution, similar to candy bars at the checkout line. Many hunters with a modern inline mindlessly grab these off the shelf, paying no attention to what may be a better option for their rifle. But in all fairness, in the heat of hunting season, there is something to be said about having reliable off-the-shelf options.
If accuracy at longer ranges is your desire, you’ll want to spend some time tuning your powder charge and bullet style, buying individual components until you find the best combination for you muzzleloader.
Notable Muzzleloader Bullets
Barnes Expander MZ
These muzzleloader bullets by Barnes are extremely tough and very accurate and reliable in modern muzzleloaders. They are made entirely of copper and offer rapid expansion. Being copper they hold their shape better than soft lead when seating, and are effective at both close and long ranges. Barnes makes these in several calibers, and all are a solid choice. They come in a pack of 15 bullets with sabots and carry an MSRP of $28.99.
Hornady Lead Round Balls
If you’re angling for traditional rifles, the Hornady round ball is a top-shelf choice. Available in diameters of .32 caliber though .58 caliber, they are useful on all manner of game and in a wide range of muzzleloading guns. This includes cap-and-ball revolvers. These balls are a good place to start what is likely going to be a long journey in learning about muzzleloader bullets, and luckily are inexpensive enough to play around a bit. They retail around $11-18 per hundred and around $13 per 50 in .58 caliber.
Powerbelt Bullets
There is a wide range of offerings in the Powerbelt lineup. These unique bullets feature an integrated skirt that acts in much the same way as the Minié ball’s hollow base. If you want the most long-range performance with best-in-class ballistics, this brand of bullets will get you there. The company boasts an impressive .45 caliber ELR muzzleloader-specific bullet that advertises just a bit over a foot of drop at 300 yards from a 200 yard zero. Very impressive. Prices vary on this brand, but the MSRP on the .45 caliber ELR bullets is $34 per pack of 15.
Anderson Manufacturing has just launched the A4 series of complete AR-15 rifles and pistols.
Anderson Manufacturing, mostly known as makers of AR-15 components, has just announced a new line of complete AR rifles and pistols that the company is calling the A4 Series. Comprised of four models, the Anderson A4 Series will feature three rifles and one pistol all chambered for 5.56 NATO.
The A4 Series likely gets its name from the M16A4, the U.S. military rifle which introduced railed flat-top upper receivers to the AR-15 world. Of the four guns in the A4 series, only the 20-inch rifle model is truly similar to the M16A4, but they all feature flat-top uppers, traditional A-frame front sight blocks and classic-styled furniture. These would be closer to M16A4s if they included detachable carry handles, but all four models include a set of Magpul rear sights instead.
As utilitarian, basic AR-15s, the A4 Series aims to provide shooters with plenty of options for entry-level ARs. Anderson promises that the A4 Series will be both rugged and reliable, but another primary draw is their affordability, as all four firearms in the lineup have an MSRP of $599.
Anderson A4 Series:
AM-15 A4 Carbine Rifle Featuring a 16-inch, M4-profile barrel and a collapsible buttstock, this is the most basic model in the A4 Series. It has a carbine-length gas system and handguards, and its 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium barrel (all models) has a 1:8 twist.
AM-15 A4 Carbine Pistol With a 10.5-inch, 1:8 twist barrel, this is the shortest model in the A4 Series and the only one that is legally a pistol. Because of this, it comes with an SBA3 Tactical pistol brace instead of a buttstock.
AM-15 A4 Mid-Length Rifle This model is extremely similar to the A4 Carbine Rifle but features mid-length gas and handguards instead of carbine-length ones. Its 16-inch barrel also differs by virtue of its 1:9 twist rate and government-profile contour.
AM-15 A4 Rifle This is the closest model to a real M16A4, and it wouldn’t make for a half-bad clone with the addition of a detachable carry handle. Naturally, it has a 20-inch, government-profile barrel sporting a 1:9 twist, and it uses a rifle-length gas system. It also features a fixed buttstock as opposed to a telescopic one.
The Dan Wesson TCP, or Tactical Combat Pistol, is a lightweight, alloy-framed 1911 built for everyday carry.
I’m a big fan of the 1911. I not only work on them, but also use them to hunt and compete. I love what the system offers; however, with it being such an old design, attempts are constantly being made to “improve” upon it.
A larger discussion can be had as to whether these proprietary designs are even true 1911s at all, but rather something based on it. One such gun, the Dan Wesson Tactical Compact Pistol (TCP), is a unique design and execution. While not a traditional 1911, it offers some major advantages over the legacy guns.
The TCP is at home with modern carry ammo, such as the Hornady Critical Defense. It’s soft shooting with these 185-grain loads.
Execution And Materials
Although this article is centered on the 32-ounce TCP, a larger discussion must be had on the materials used in its construction. The TCP is an alloy-frame pistol, and a substantial number of purists flat-out reject the notion of an aluminum frame on the 1911. The TCP is the only 1911 with an alloy frame that I had zero issues with. For as common a material as aluminum alloy is on modern guns, it has always struggled in the 1911.
It took me a great while to fully understand where the negative bias against alloy-frame 1911s came from, and the best I can find is that the earliest ones were made of castings or porous material and weren’t very strong. Frame cracking and constant malfunctions were common in the 1990s, and, even into the late 2010s, I was having issues with alloy-frame 1911s.
I had one that simply wasn’t well designed, even coming from a name-brand high-end company. If I ran it dry, the slide would bind up. I swapped out the magazines to Wilson Combat, a default remedy for 1911 feed issues, and the problems persisted. I lubed it up constantly; it’d only get through a couple magazines soaking wet, and even then, the lube leaked out chalky gray. I was getting particles of the frame shaved off as I fired.
The grips on the TCP come tapered to the slide, a nice feature that helps slim the gun down. It’s compatible with standard 1911 grips should you wish to change them at some point.
I went on to a couple more alloy-frame 1911s from two other companies and had relentless problems with those as well. All the while, I never had a single issue with any steel-frame 1911s. To this day, the only 1911s I’ve had issues with have been alloy framed. Color me surprised when the TCP proved to be not only extremely accurate but also supremely reliable.
I’ve noticed that it’s not all pistols that have this issue; I’ve shot the hell out of Sig P226 and P229 variants and have never even had an issue with my P238 .380 ACP. The Beretta pistols I’ve shot for years likewise have never really had an issue. So, what is it about aluminum 1911 frames that makes them a challenge?
This comes down to execution and materials. The 1911 was supposed to be a steel gun, and despite aluminum being a good thing, it isn’t a direct replacement in some roles. You wouldn’t trust aluminum screws when putting a deck together or for any task that requires a good amount of impact. The 1911 is a slick gun, but it’s a rather violent gun in terms of how it feeds and fires.
Making a frame out of aluminum in the exact dimensions as a steel frame isn’t a great idea, as the two materials wear and bear strain in very different ways. A guy at my local range had his alloy frame crack in two places, one in the slide-release pin hole and the other in the notch location where the release catches the slide. His frame basically snapped in half. This is an inherent weak point, and the material makes a difference.
Shooting The TCP
The TCP was subjected to some serious use. It was impressive in that, while being light, it handled much like a full-size gun. The gun was obviously designed with the frame material in mind. While dimensions were externally identical to a regular 1911 frame, the internals seemed to be stronger and more reinforced, particularly around the feed ramp and the railed dust cover.
The TCP can mount various lights, but you must be aware that there’s a difference in the rail distance to trigger from common guns like the Glock. Some lights won’t fit the TCP rail.
The rail fit to the slide was also exceptional for being as tight as it was when it arrived. Many of my steel guns have rattle now from constant use, and I’m used to that. The TCP was so tight fitting that it concerned me when I first handled it. The back of my mind told me that this would get gritty fast and start choking. I was certain that the TCP would suffer the same fate as the others I’ve used over the years, as it had another Achilles’ heel I’ve come to avoid: a sub-Commander length bushing-less bull barrel.
The accessory rail is both lightened with a recessed cut and heavily reinforced and thick in the right places. Being that it’s an alloy frame, this is necessary, and the result is light and robust, while at the same time being tasteful and subtle should you choose to not mount a light.
I, frankly, have never had a good time with a sub-5-inch 1911. I’ve shot many Commander-size guns over the years, and I’d just rather have that extra 0.75-inch on the barrel than mess around with altering frames and recoil spring assemblies. I’ve always appreciated that I can find parts and springs for my 5-inch guns, and that isn’t always the case with short, proprietary 1911s.
The issue I’ve encountered with these short 1911s is that they seem to have heavy springs and stiff, sharp recoil. This is a symptom of design necessity; a short slide needs to travel and return to lockup with less spring length and an equal power cartridge as a longer slide. This has created hard-cycling, hard-shooting 1911s.
All this changed when I took the TCP to the range for my initial accuracy and reliability tests. The gun ran flawlessly for over 1,000 rounds of FMJ, JHP and solid Black Hills Honey-Badger loads. Never once did I have a failure; the TCP just kicked out brass like it wasn’t interested. Personally, I’ve never experienced this with an alloy-frame 1911, say nothing about it being shorter than a Commander. This gun shot like it had eyes.
The pistol has a tapered, bushingless bull barrel and a proprietary recoil spring. The assembly is different than a standard 1911 but is exceedingly well executed.
Unlike a regular 1911, this one has a thick, heavy barrel and, while this could be seen as a negative on a light and short carry 1911, it’s capable of delivering accuracy on par with some of the most accurate .45 ACP pistols I’ve had the pleasure of testing. It’s as accurate as the most accurate production 1911 I’ve ever used, the Colt M45A1, itself sporting a National Match barrel. This is high praise from a dedicated 5-inch Colt fan; I was deeply impressed with what Dan Wesson did with this gun.
One-and-a-half-inch groups for five shots at 25 yards from the bench were achievable with 135-grain BHA HoneyBadger and 220-grain +P Hornady Critical Duty. These are my choice accuracy loads for .45 ACP, and the TCP delivered exceptional results. Common 230-grain FMJ ball loads grouped an average of 2.5-inches for five shots—also nothing to sneeze at.
As far as handling, it’s a crossover among Glock 19 size, CZ slide contours and 1911 controls. The weight difference between it and a steel frame gun is very noticeable, and it balances to the magazine like a Glock instead of a 1911. With a light mounted (I used a SureFire X300U-A), it’s nearly perfect and barely comes off target while firing.
A Few Minor Tweaks, Please
A minor point of complaint is that it doesn’t come with night sights. Instead, the rear is plain, and the front is a brass bead. Any modern gun meant for carry and self-defense should ship with night sights at a bare minimum. This gun is a prime candidate for night sights, though you’ll need to pay careful attention to which ones you get. Dan Wesson sights aren’t the same as most standard 1911 dovetails. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it is something to be aware of should you put down some greenbacks.
The rear sight is a textured combat style, but again like the front sight, should’ve been a night sight for the price of the gun.
Reloading the gun is easy, thanks to a funneled magwell. I like this on a match gun but for a carry pistol, it adds unnecessary length to the grip. My favorite mags for the 1911 are Wilson Combat versions with a steel base plate. They do seat but are too short to conduct a speed reload. You’d need to keep the plastic base pad on for the Wilson mags to work, and that’s the first part I swap out when I buy new ones from that company. Luckily, the mainspring housing can be swapped out to a flush version should you wish to save some grip length, and I’d like to see future versions of this fantastic gun avoid the magwell.
The pistol arrives with a brass bead front sight. The author finds this to be acceptable for a gentleman’s piece, but, in reality, a night sight is better.
Another plus are the tapered and slim stocks. I don’t have Andre the Giant hands, but I have long fingers and usually shoot with standard thickness grips on my 1911s (and even prefer larger ones). I’m one of those guys with hands a Glock 21 feels made for (if that gives you an indicator). The TCP grips are wider at the base and thinner to the slide, thus driving the hand up into the beavertail; it insists on a high grip.
The last part I must address is disassembly. The gun needs to be taken apart with the aid of a paper clip or similar pin. When the slide is locked back, it needs to be inserted into a hole in the recoil spring assembly to remove pressure from the spring when the slide is removed. This is a bit of a pain, as you won’t be able to field strip the gun with ease. Again, it’s just something to be aware of.
In Conclusion
The TCP is probably the best alloy-frame 1911 variant on the market today. I don’t baby my guns, and if I’m going to carry one, I must be damn sure my life stands a reasonable chance of remaining in the mortal coil when I holster one. Up until I tested the TCP, I was very much a skeptic of the alloy-frame 1911 and actively discouraged people from buying them, no matter the brand.
The TCP next to a common J-Frame. It’s a 1911 variant but note that it’s both compact and light—far more suited to everyday carry than a steel version.
This is a unique gun that offers the .45 ACP round in a tried-and-true control setup with the added benefit of light carry weight and superior accuracy. While it’s not cheap, it’s likely one you’ll find room for in your safe should you get the chance to fire it
Hawke Optics has just announced that the Reflex Sight Wide View will soon be available with a circle dot reticle, designed to be ideal for turkey hunters.
Hawke Optics’ Wide View Reflex Sight has been available with a standard red dot reticle for some time now, but the company has just announced the release of a new model designed with turkey hunters in mind. The new Wide View Reflex Sight will feature a circle dot reticle instead, and Hawke Optics claims that this small change will make a big difference when it comes to bagging birds.
The new reflex sight has all the same features that were appreciated in the previous model, including the motion-activated sleep function for preserving battery life. Its aluminum frame is both lightweight and durable as well, managing to weigh only 3-ounces while remaining both shock and waterproof.
The company claims that their new reflex sight model is ideal for mounting on shotguns, but it also comes with a Weaver rail mount for attaching to any compatible firearm. The optic’s 25-layer lens has a fixed focus at 10 yards and a red, 2 MOA circle dot reticle with eight brightness settings. For the best results with turkey hunting, Hawke Optics recommends patterning your shotgun with the dot placed on the target’s center mass. This should enable you to make faster, more solid hits than with a shotgun equipped only with iron sights.
The Wide View Reflex Sight with circle dot reticle has an MSRP of $189 and it will be available for purchase soon. Each optic will also include Hawke Optics’ two-year warranty.
Defensive handgun training doesn’t need to be a slog, so here are a few drills that are both enjoyable and skill-improving.
The variety of defensive handgun drills that can be conducted for training and/or evaluation is endless. When you think you’ve seen them all, just make up another one. Regardless, it’s important you select drills to either help you get better at performing defensive handgun tasks, or drills that can be used to evaluate your ability to perform defensive handgun tasks.
But there’s another thing defensive handgun drills can be used for—and that’s fun. The more fun a defensive handgun drill is to run, the more likely you are to use it.
You’ll see a lot of internet experts criticize defensive handgun drills, because they don’t consider them to be practical. There’s some merit to this analysis, but let’s be realistic: Any drill you conduct that’ll help you become better at using a defensive handgun is a good drill.
If it helps you get better at trigger control, that’s a good thing. If it helps you get better at sight acquisition, that’s a good thing. If it helps you improve transitioning between targets, that’s a good thing.
If we only focused on conducting drills designed to mimic likely, real-world encounters, they would be simple drills where you drew your handgun from concealment and engaged a single target as quickly as possible. Practical doesn’t always precipitate fun.
Attempting to train for a test, when you don’t know exactly what the test will be, requires a more comprehensive approach. Instead of working to only become proficient at what might likely happen, it makes more sense to have a holistic approach to weaponcraft.
Attempt to become at least moderately proficient with a defensive handgun, while using it to do things generally considered integral to its effective application in a situation requiring its use. In other words, learning how to cut down a tree with a chainsaw isn’t enough; you need to know how to trim the limbs and cut up firewood as well.
Enjoying The Process
But let’s get back to the fun part: Learning happens better and is retained easier when it’s paired with fun. The best firearms instructors, teachers and coaches know this. I’ve coached high school soccer for five years, and I can tell you—without exception—that humans absorb lessons best when they’re either painful or enjoyable. You only touch a hot stove one time, and catching a fish is what makes you want to get better at catching fish.
The primary motivation for creating the drill I’m about to detail was fun. The secondary motivation was the need to impart stress into training. And the final reason was to provide a comprehensive means of evaluating the basic application of the defensive handgun.
A shot timer is a must for being able to evaluate your performance on the Shadowland and many other defensive handgun drills.
I call the drill the Shadowland Drill, which is named after the little hacienda we live on in West Virginia. This drill is the amalgamation of five different and very common defensive handgun drills detailed below. All rolled into one, they create a stressful, 14-shot drill, that’ll challenge even very accomplished shooters.
Included Defensive Handgun Drills
1. Single Shot to the Head This is a common drill requiring speed and accuracy. It’s simple: You draw from concealment and engage a single target with a single head shot. If, at a distance of about 5 yards, you can accomplish this drill in less than 2 seconds, that’s pretty good.
2. Double Tap There are several names for firing two fast shots into a single target. Most often it’s referred to as a “double tap,” but two quick shots are often described as a “controlled pair” or a “hammer.” We can argue semantics another time. What’s important with this drill is the ability to deliver two kill-zone hits, at about 5 yards, in about 2 seconds.
The Shadowland Drill combines five very popular defensive handgun drills into one.
3. Failure Drill This is another popular defensive handgun training drill that involves two shots being fired center mass, but it adds an additional and final shot to the head. Generally conducted at about 5 yards, three hits in less than 3 seconds is better than average.
4. Speed Reload Some consider training for a reload in a defensive situation a waste of time, because most self-defense situations are solved with less than a magazine/cylinder of ammunition. However, you need to be able to reload your handgun swiftly and effectively, and reloading a handgun is a good way to sort out a stoppage. Reloading drills are timed in several ways, but the easiest is to combine a reload with shots before and after. Good reloading times are in the 2-second time frame.
A speed reload is part of the Shadowland Drill.
5. Adrenaline Dump/Forty-Five Drill Being able to put multiple rounds on target in a hurry is a practical skill with a defensive handgun. Often called the “adrenaline dump,” the number of shots could range from three to double that. The key to this drill is good recoil control and a shot cadence that’ll allow you to keep all shots inside a kill zone as quickly as possible.
Shadowland Drill
To start, you’ll need a shot timer and three IPSC/IPDA cardboard targets. Draw or paint an 8-inch circle in the chest area of each target and then paint a 4-inch circle on the head of each target.
The Shadowland Drill utilizes three targets placed about 2.5 yards apart and at a distance of about 5 yards.
Position one target 5 yards to your front—we’ll call this target 3—and then position the other two targets—targets 1 and 2—2.5 yards to your front and 2.5 yards to either side of the first target.
1. At the start signal, draw from concealment and engage target 1 with a single shot to the head. 2. Then, transition to target 2 and conduct a center mass double tap. 3. Next, switch to target 3 and conduct a failure drill. 4. Returning to target 1, you’ll fire another double tap, conduct a speed-load and then engage target 2 with single shot to the head. 5. To finish, engage target 3 with an adrenaline dump, which is often called the Forty-Five Drill, firing five shots center mass. 6. Remember, all five parts of this drill are conducted consecutively under one time; you don’t stop and restart the timer between each part of the drill.
This is what the three Shadowland Drill targets should look like after one run through the drill.
Once complete, you should have one shot in the head zone of each target, two shots center mass in target 1, two shots center mass in target 2 and seven shots center mass in target 3. Par time for this drill is 15 seconds, and your goal should be to complete it within that time limit with no misses. Anything less than 15 seconds is excellent, 15 to 17.5 seconds is very good, and 17.5 to 20 seconds is better than average.
This is a great drill to conduct at the end of a training session, because it’s always fun to end a training session with something enjoyable. It’s also a great drill to use as an informal competition between you and a training partner. Aside from being fun to run, it throws a lot of defensive handgun skills into one box.
You can start the drill from concealment or an open holster; it demands fast sight acquisition, precision shots, varied shot cadence, a speed reload, transitions between targets, recoil control, diverse target responses, weapon manipulation and that you maintain your fighting stance.
Cut a stencil in an IPSC or IDPA target with an 8-inch circle center mass and a 4-inch circle in the head. Use this stencil to paint the targets for the Shadowland Drill.
Primarily designed for semi-automatic handguns that have a capacity of eight or more, the drill can also be run with pistols of a lesser capacity—or even revolvers. If you’re using a six-shot revolver/pistol, conduct your first reload after you perform the failure drill on target 3. Then, conduct the second reload after the head shot on target 2.
If you’re using a five-shot revolver or pistol, it’s a little more complicated because you’ll have to conduct three reloads. Do the first reload after the first double tap on target 2. Reload again after the failure drill on target 3 and conduct your last reload after the head shot on target 2. You’ll need to adjust the par time; add 2 to 3 seconds for each additional reload.
Is there any chance you’ll have to conduct an engagement like this drill in real life? Well, never say never, but unless you’re auditioning for the next John Wick film, the chances are about the same as President Biden being able to apply basic geometry.
On the other hand, when you consider the possibility of multiple attackers and threat movement, there’s a reasonably—though still small—likelihood you might have to combine two of these shot sequences in a real-world situation.
But, of course, replicating a real-world self-defense engagement isn’t the purpose of the Shadowland Drill. The purpose of the Shadowland Drill is to force you to do a lot of things consecutively, under stress. If you’re competent with a defensive handgun, this drill will prove it. If you need more training and practice, this drill will show that too. But most importantly, the Shadowland Drill is fun!
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the EDC 2021 special issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
GForce Arms has just announced the GFLVR410, a new .410 lever-action shotgun imported out of Turkey.
GForce Arms primarily sell Turkish shotguns, and their catalog is dominated by break actions, pump actions and automatics that are mostly intended for hunting. The company has just announced a new shotgun import, however, and it’s more interesting than most of the other models that they carry. The GFLVR410 is a .410 lever-action shotgun that will soon be available with the choice between two barrel lengths and a number of different finishes.
While .410 is not most people’s choice for a hunting or defensive shotgun, it can be very fun to shoot and is a good tool for training new shooters. That’s exactly how GForce Arms is marketing the GFLVR410 too—as a range toy and a fun way to introduce people to shooting sports. A lever-action is a great choice for a gun of this style as well, as lever-actions are not only fun and historical but are safer to teach new shooters with than any kind of automatic.
The GFLVR410 will be available with either a 20-inch or 24-inch barrel, with each respective model having a capacity of 7+1 or 9+1 shotshells. The stocks are made from Turkish Walnut, the receivers are aluminum and each shotgun comes with a HIVIZ fiber optic front sight. The aluminum receivers are finished with Cerakote and will originally be available with either a blued or nickel-colored finish, but GForce says that more finish options will eventually be for sale as well. The MSRP is $699 and they are shipping to dealers now.
RISE Armament has just released the Rave PCC Trigger for 9mm ARs, and the company claims it will offer the perfect balance between reliability, performance and price.
RISE Armament of Oklahoma specializes in aftermarket AR parts, and they’ve already released several triggers that have proven to be popular with shooters of all kinds. The company’s best-selling model was the Rave 140, and RISE claims that the new Rave PCC Trigger will emulate it both in terms of function and price. Because of this, RISE believes that the new Rave PCC will quickly become known as the best value drop-in trigger available for 9mm ARs.
The problem with installing aftermarket triggers in 9mm ARs is the guns’ use of a blowback gas system. This style of action is far more violent than the average AR-15, so the triggers of PCC ARs need to be able to withstand a greater amount of abuse. RISE’s solution to this for the Rave PCC trigger was simply to beef it up. The new trigger includes hardened S7 steel components internally, a machined 6061 aluminum housing and a black nitride finish all over.
The Rave PCC Trigger is available with a choice of either a curved trigger or a straight and flat one, but regardless of trigger shape RISE claims that they will feature a clean and crisp break at 3.5-pounds. Both models also include RISE’s Quik-Klik tactile reset system.
The new triggers are drop-in style and should be extremely easy to install. Each purchase also includes a set of free anti-walk pins and RISE’s lifetime warranty. MSRP for both new models of the Rave PCC Trigger is $149.99 and they are available now.
An otherwise unassuming .22 LR pistol, the Beretta Model 70 saw heavy use with Israeli anti-terror units and spies for several years. Its interesting history makes this little gun a lot more than just your average plinker.
In 1969, airplane hijackings were common occurrences. In the U.S. alone, there were 159 hijackings between May of 1961 and the end of 1972; more than 130 of which were between 1968 and 1972, which has been called the “golden age of hijacking.”
At times, there were more than one on the same day. Hijackers, quickly dubbed “skyjackers,” demanded to be flown to communist Cuba (so common that “take me to Cuba” became a punchline). Some were Cubans wanting to return to the fairly new Cuba under Castro, which they hoped promised to be a socialist paradise. Others wanted millions in cash or gold or to make a political statement.
Airplanes were easy targets, and airline policy was to comply with demands in hopes of getting passengers and planes returned to safety. Though it’s hard to imagine today, there was essentially no airport security in those days.
There were some deaths, mostly from shoot-outs with law enforcement, but there was no deliberate flying of planes into targets like we experienced on 9/11. However, a similarly minded scare in 1972 caught the attention of airlines, federal authorities and the public when three skyjackers threatened to crash a plane into an atomic reactor in Tennessee.
Shortly after that, the Federal Aviation Authority implemented physical screenings, metal detectors and luggage searches, entering a new era for airline travel.
Skyjacking wasn’t limited to the United States, and none of them grabbed headlines as much as the Arab terrorist campaign against El Al, Israel’s national airline. In July 1968, a plane bound from Rome to Tel Aviv was hijacked to Algiers, and Israeli passengers were held prisoner until exchanged for Arabs imprisoned in Israel. In December 1968, an attack on an El Al plane killed one passenger. In reprisal, two days later, Israelis attacked the airport in Beirut, destroying 13 planes.
The July skyjacking prompted the Israeli government to increase security by putting armed veteran Israeli soldiers aboard El Al planes.
The Beretta Model 70 Sees Action
The sky marshals trained with .22-caliber Beretta Model 70 pistols; the only attack scenarios studied at the time were those occurring inside airplanes. The Model 70 was reportedly already the “signature terminator pistol of the Mossad,” Israel’s intelligence and covert operations agency. There are no public records, of course, but Model 70s in the hands of Mossad agents are believed to have brought about the demise of many terrorists, perhaps tabulating the most assassinations of any handgun.
Then came February 18, 1969, the most famous incident involving the Beretta 70. According to reports, four terrorists jumped from a white Volkswagen parked in a lot near the fenced runway of Zurich’s Kloten International Airport and opened fire with AK-47s on an El Al airplane taxiing in position for take-off, riddling the tires and cockpit with bullets.
A Beretta Model 70 sets amid news accounts, headlines and photos of the 1969 terrorist attack on an airliner at Zurich’s Kloten International Airport. Aboard the plane was sky marshal Mordechai Rachamim who drew his Model 70, left the plane and engaged the terrorists, killing one. The other three were captured by Swiss police.
Aboard was sky marshal Mordechai Rachamim, who drew his Model 70 and went into action. With bullets hitting the body of the plane, Rachamim rushed to the cockpit and looked through the cockpit window. Seeing a man lying in the snow, Rachamim shot twice, but his pistol jammed—an unusual occurrence for the Model 70 chosen by the Mossad for its reliability.
Rachamim ran to the back of the plane and asked a flight attendant to open the back door and engage the emergency slide. Rachamim slid to the tarmac and ran behind the plane in a flanking maneuver of the location shots were being fired. He reloaded while on the move. (He reportedly carried two spare magazines.) He climbed the fence, saw a shooter with an AK-47 about 30 to 40 meters away between two snow piles. As he approached, Rachamim ordered the man, in English, to drop the rifle. When he didn’t comply, Rachamim fired three shots from about four meters away, one shot striking the attacker in the neck, the other two near the armpit, the wounds proving immediately fatal.
The magazine will hold nine rounds but won’t engage with the action closed—the top round lining up with the barrel when the action is opened. The Mossad reportedly carried them with a full magazine but the barrel empty. The magazine’s curved pinky extension adds a measure of stability to the grip of the pistol.
Swiss police had then arrived and disarmed Rachamim and placed him under arrest. As he was led away, he saw the other terrorists being apprehended at gunpoint. The El Al pilot later died of injuries suffered in the attack; seven passengers were wounded.
Rachamim reportedly later told the court, “I started running in a wide circle toward the barrier behind which the Arabs had been shooting at the plane. I ran in a very wide circle to draw their fire toward me and prevent them from hitting the plane because I feared that any moment bullets might reach the fuel tanks and cause an explosion.” In court, he said the terrorist, armed with Kalashnikov automatic rifle made what appeared to be a threatening gesture. “It was then that I fired three shots at him,” Rachamim said.
Rachamim was released on bail and returned to Israel to a hero’s welcome. He was later acquitted of manslaughter charges; the terrorists, two men and a woman, received 12-year sentences. They were released a year later to meet hijackers’ demands.
Rachamim went back to work and would be back in the thick of things in 1972 when he and other commandos disguised as airline mechanics stormed a hijacked Sabena Airline flight in Tel Aviv. Rachamim killed one of the Palestinian terrorists with his Model 70; a second terrorist also bit the dust, apparently killed by other commandos.
Why The Beretta Model 70?
Always working to be at the top of security matters, the Israelis reportedly picked the Beretta 70 because it was compact, accurate and, despite Rachamim’s jam, a reliable performer. With little recoil, the Model 70 could easily be fired with less anticipatory flinching in rapid succession with fast recovery, delivering the eight-round magazine’s worth quickly and accurately. And, since they trained for engagements inside airliners, it was thought the .22-caliber rounds wouldn’t cause significant damage to the cabin or collateral damage to passengers.
A .22 caliber pistol was selected in part due to its intended role of being used inside pressurized airplane cabins.
The Model 70 was introduced in 1958 to replace and was based on Beretta’s 1935 pistol (replacing as well as the 1934, 948 and 949) which had been popular for about 25 years. Available in .22, .32 and .380 calibers, it was known as a smooth-operating, reliable and pleasurable handgun to shoot.
The Model 70 is nearly identical to the Model 71 that followed, though the 70 has low-profile fixed front sights while the 71 has adjustable sights, seen by some as an improvement that came about after the Gun Control Act of 1968.
Beretta Model 70 with a sight adjustment tool.
Gun Digest’s Book of Guns & Prices notes that in the late 1960s some Model 70s were designated Model 100 for the U.S. market, where it was also known as Puma. (Model 71s were known as Jaguars.) In the late ’70s, a magazine safety was added, and the model designation switched to 70S.
Made of steel alloy, these have a solid, well-built feel with enough heft to hold the already negligible recoil to a minimum. The exposed hammer has a comforting throwback look, feel and function. And the slant of the pistol grip seems to naturally align sights with your eyes for a comfortable focal picture. The magazine features a curved forward extension that hugs the pinky finger, providing a snug, secure grip.
The simple fixed sights provide simple, effective accuracy. Both the front and rear sights are low profile, which helps when drawing from a holster.
The trigger, a sear-release mechanism, is crisp, neither light nor excessively heavy. At the time, Beretta touted the Model 70’s increased accuracy at short and long ranges, achieved by lengthening the barrel guide fitting the barrel into the receiver. The original design featured a cross-bolt safety (which was replaced with a levered sear-block safety), hold-open catch and push-button magazine release and was available with a 3.5- or 5.9-inch barrel.
Production of the Beretta Model 70 stopped in 1985 but interest remains and some, including the .32 and .380 models, can still be found for sale on websites and at gun stores.
Model 70s can be carried cocked and locked, but the Israeli technique was reportedly to carry it with a fully loaded magazine but an empty chamber, racking in a round as they drew it from the holster. And it’s hard to argue with Israeli technique.
Beretta Model 70s were also produced with threaded barrels, allowing for the use of suppressors, which can be assumed were used by the Mossad in clandestine operations.
Though it wasn’t designed for personal defense or law enforcement/military applications, the Model 70 has certainly proven itself capable of holding its own, though undoubtedly the vast majority of instances when it was brought into play against terrorists will never see the light of day.
They don’t publicly announce such things, but the Israelis reportedly took the Model 70 out of service in the mid to late 1970s, replacing it with a 9mm Beretta, model unknown.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the November 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Is mounting a scope to a traditional lever-action rifle a sin? Or is the combination too useful to be constrained by orthodoxy?
Ashley Emerson, one of the founding partners of a company that would become known as XS Sights, once told me (and apparently a lot of other folks), “There’s a special place in hell for anyone who puts a scope on a lever gun.” I’m not sure condemnation to Hades is the right decree for anyone scoping a lever gun, but I do think Emerson’s opinion has some standing. A traditional lever-action rifle was never intended to have an optical sight.
One of the true virtues of lever-action rifles is handiness. With its butt-heavy design, lever-action rifles can be hurriedly and efficiently snapped to the shoulder. Rifles of a more precision nature aren’t as handy and will be muzzle heavy, seemingly allowing them to hang on target. When you add any sort of traditional or scout-style riflescope to a lever-action rifle, its balance is shifted, and its handling qualities are sacrificed.
Lately, reflex and red dot sights are becoming popular on lever-action rifles. These sights provide no magnification, but like with more traditional scopes, they do eliminate the need to navigate three focal planes—the target, the front sight and the rear sight—and can improve a shooter’s ability to get hits faster. They’re also incredibly light so they don’t negatively impact the weight or balance of the lever gun.
Though it offers no magnification, the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro is a very compact and lightweight optical sight option for a traditional lever-action rifle.
Though I don’t completely agree with Emerson, I do believe that if it’s not done correctly, you stand the chance of only gaining a false sense of sighting enhancement. This is because the drop built into the stock of traditional lever-action rifles is extreme; it’ll only facilitate a perfect cheek weld when iron/open sights are used. The mounting of any optic raises the line of sight to the point a good cheek weld can be nearly impossible to obtain.
This is problematic in two ways. First, it inhibits the shooter’s ability to snap the rifle to their shoulder and immediately establish that good cheek weld that allows for precise eye alignment behind the sights. Additionally, by virtue of not being able to maintain a good cheek weld, the ability to accurately place shots suffers as does the capability to quickly recover from recoil for a second shot. It’s a matter of fact that in many cases the installation of an optical sight on a traditionally styled lever-action rifle can make it less efficient.
With a Burris 2.75x Scout Scope mounted extremely low to this traditional lever gun, it’s still possible to maintain a workable cheek weld.
The key to scoping a traditional lever-action rifle without seriously inhibiting its wonderful handiness is to mount the optic as low as possible. Given the optical sights suited to traditional lever-action rifles—traditional riflescopes, scout scopes and reflex/red dot sights—there are a couple ways to work this mounting so that it has the least negative impact on the weapon system. Let’s look at each sighting system and some of the things you can do to effectively mount them to traditional lever-action rifles.
Traditional Riflescopes
Sometimes, creativity is required when scoping traditional lever guns. Notice how this Leupold riflescope has been rotated 90 degrees so that the windage turret doesn’t interfere with ejection.
The most popular modern riflescopes offer variable magnification and come with a large objective bell. The large objective bell permits the use of a large objective lens, which in turn increases exit pupil and twilight factor. This makes the riflescope perform better in low light. Unlike with bolt-action rifles, barrels on traditional lever actions don’t sharply taper just forward of the action. This means scopes with large objective bells must be mounted extremely high so that the objective bell doesn’t contact the rifle’s barrel.
The easiest solution is to select a low-power variable scope that has no objective bell at all. Leupold has a VX-Freedom 1-4X20mm riflescope that can work but the large saddle where the adjustment turrets are mounted can interfere with ejection on Angle Eject (AE) style Winchester rifles if the scope is mounted extremely low. Leupold’s VX-3HD 1.5-5X20mm might be a better option, but with extremely low mounts the magnification adjustment dial and eye piece can interfere with the operation of the hammer.
Leupold has several good optical sight options for traditional lever-action rifles.
This was the exact problem I experienced when attempting to mount a riflescope very low on a Winchester 94 Big Boy AE rifle in .307 Winchester. The ballistics of the .307 seemed to demand an optical sight to extract the most performance possible from the cartridge. But every scope I tried ended up in mounts so high I couldn’t obtain a workable cheek weld. The solution was an older Leupold VX-II 1-4X20mm riflescope with a small magnification adjustment dial that was supported in extra low Leupold traditional mounts. This allowed the hammer to clear the VX-II’s smaller magnification dial.
But I still had a problem; ejected cases were bouncing back into the action because they struck the windage adjustment turret/cap on exit. This seemed like an impossible hurdle to clear until I decided to rotate the scope 90 degrees to the left and use the windage adjustment for elevation, and the elevation adjustment for windage. The scope didn’t know the difference, and I was able to get it mounted incredibly low, with no ejection interference, while at the same time minimizing the negative impact to a good cheek weld.
Scout Scopes
This Burris 2.75X Scout Scope is mounted to a Marlin 336 with a custom-made scout scope base from Dove Guns. Notice how low the scope is mounted.
Scout scopes—scopes with an eye relief of around 10 inches—have become popular for lever-action rifles because they don’t interfere with top eject models and because they’re out of the way of the hammer. Typically, they’re mounted on scout-rails like the lever rail from XS Sights. They provide Picatinny slots for scope mounting forward of the action. In the case of the Marlin mount, the rail begins at the rear of the action. With Winchester 94 mounts, the rail begins at the front of the action. With scout scopes, the size of the objective bell is generally not an issue. The diameter of the eyepiece, however, is an issue.
This VX-II 1.5-4x28mm IER Scout Scope from Leupold is an earlier version of the VX-Freedom 1.5-4x28mm IER Scout Duplex scope. It’s mounted to a Marlin 336 Dark by virtue of a Lever-Rail from XS Sights.
Leupold’s FX-II Scout 2.5X28mm fixed power scope has an eyepiece diameter of only 1.4 inches. This means it can be installed on a scout scope rail with rings that only separate the rail and the scope by 1/4 inch. The Burris 2.75X20mm fixed power scout scope’s eyepiece diameter measures minutely smaller at 1.384 inches. By comparison, the Vortex Crossfire II 2.7X32mm Scout Scope has an eyepiece measuring 1.61 inches. It’ll require rings that are substantially higher. But the Burris 2-7X32mm variable power scout scope eyepiece diameter is only 1.481 inches. Sadly, Leupold has discontinued their scout scope, which makes Burris scout scopes the best option for low mounting.
Jim Brockman of Brockman Custom Guns machined bases for Talley rings right to the barrel of this Marlin 1894. This permitted very low mounting of the now discontinued Weaver 4X scout scope.
Another option is the Leupold VX-Freedom 1.5-4x28mm IER Scout Duplex scope. Though Leupold calls it a “scout” scope, with an eye relief of only 6 inches, it’s more of an intermediate eye relief (IER) scope as the name also implies. For best application, this riflescope will need to be mounted so that the long eyepiece extends over the action. And, since the eyepiece diameter is small—1.4 inches—the scope can be mounted with very low rings that won’t terribly compromise cheek weld.
If you want to mount a scout or IER scope as low as possible, you can also do what I did with a Marlin 1894. I sent it to Jim Brockman at Brockman Custom Guns and had Jim machine the barrel to accept the direct attachment of Talley rings. This method of scope attachment will work on many traditional lever guns. It does away with the need for scope bases, which ultimately increase the mounting height of the scope. Another option is to commission a custom mount from a gunsmith like Jerry Dove at Dove Custom Guns; I did this for another Marlin. Dove can make mounts extremely thin to help keep the scope as low as possible.
Notice how low this scout scope has been mounted to this Marlin 1894. This was possible because base cuts for Talley rings were machined right into the barrel.
Reflex/Red Dot Sights
With the right rings, the Leupold Freedom RDS prismatic sight can be mounted reasonably low on a traditional lever gun.
The other optical sight option for traditional lever guns is the reflex/red dot sight. In most cases, these can be mounted to the same lever rail a scout scope would use. Some can also be mounted to standard Weaver-style bases. And others, like the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro, can be had with a base that’ll affix to the drilled and tapped mounting holes in the top of Marlin lever-action rifles.
With Leupold’s DeltaPoint Pro mounted on the Leupold base, a shooter can still manage a decent cheek weld.
Unfortunately, all these mounting methods, especially those where a reflex sight is attached to a rail, tend to push the reflex height to the point that maintaining that good cheek weld can be problematic. The best option I’ve found for keeping the sight low is the mounting base for the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro on Marlin lever guns. I also believe that with some gunsmith help, certain reflex sights could be mounted directly to the top of the action on some lever guns without a mounting plate.
One optical sight option many may be overlooking for lever guns is the Leupold Freedom RDS 1x sight. Eye relief is unlimited, and the AR-style mount that comes with this red dot/prismatic sight can be removed and replaced with low or medium 34mm scope rings. Aimpoint has a collection of similarly designed and sized red dot sights that can be mounted reasonably low and in the same manner. The primary downside to all these dot sights is their lack of magnification. Their upsides are light weight, compactness and unlimited eye relief.
Leupold’s Freedom RDS prismatic sight comes with a mount for attachment to an AR-15-style rifle. For use on a lever gun, this mount needs to be replaced with a set of 34mm rings.
Of course, if you’re not all that concerned about destroying the handling characteristics so inherent to traditional lever guns, you can mount just about any riflescope you want. I once met a guy traipsing through the woods who had a 4-12×44 riflescope attached to his Marlin .30-30. It was even outfitted with target turrets. It looked as foolish as a saddle on a pig, but he seemed happy. And while I don’t think that fellow was headed to the underworld, I do think he would’ve been better outfitted with a much smaller optical sight, or even the factory iron sights that came with the rifle.
But of course, what does a hillbilly who has spent most of his life hunting whitetail deer know about lever guns?
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the November 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Primary Arms has just expanded the GLx line with a new reticle option for the popular GLx 4-16x50mm riflescope and a new LPVO scope with two reticle choices.
Primary Arms describes the GLx series as the company’s “mid-tier” line of optics that aim to provide shooters with quality rifle scopes at more affordable prices. These scopes have proven to be popular for everything from hunting to plinking to long-range shooting competitions since they were first introduced, and Primary Arms has just expanded the series with new scope models and reticles.
The already popular GLx 4-16x50mm FFP rifle scope is now available with an illuminated ACSS Athena BPR MIL reticle, and the GLx 1-6x24mm FFP is a brand-new scope design that will be available with either an ACSS Raptor M6 or ACSS Griffin MIL M6 reticle.
GLx 4-16x50mm FFP
Released in 2020, the GLx 4-16x50mm FFP is Primary Arms’ most popular riflescope in its class. Designed to be both lightweight and precise, users of the GLx 4-16x50mm FFP also appreciated its glass quality and overall durability. Because this scope’s design is so well-liked, Primary Arms felt that the best way to improve upon it was with the addition of a new, more advanced reticle option.
The new reticle is the illuminated ACSS Athena BPR MIL, and Primary Arms claims that it will improve upon the scope’s long-range capabilities. By combining the features of both a MIL Grid with those of existing ACSS reticles, the new scope will enable shooters to achieve a high level of precision with any caliber or barrel length. With the same 4-16x magnification range and wide field of view of existing GLx 4-16x50mm FFP scopes, this new reticle combo would be a great match for any precision rifle. MSRP is $749.99.
The new Illuminated ACSS Athena BPR MIL Reticle for the GLx 4-16×50 FFP riflescope.
GLx 1-6x24mm FFP
This is Primary Arms’ new scope design, and it will be available right off the bat with a choice between two different reticles. Featuring true 1X magnification at the low end, this new LPVO (Low-Power Variable Optic) was designed for both precision work at longer ranges as well as more quick-acquisition work closer in. To complement these attributes, the new scopes will also feature Primary Arms’ Daylight Bright illumination and AutoLive technologies. The former helps the optic perform closer to a true red dot when in 1X magnification mode, and the latter helps to auto-adjust the brightness according to the ambient light level and to preserve its battery when not in use.
The GLx 1-6x24mm FFP scopes will be available with either an ACSS Raptor M6 or an ACSS Griffin MIL M6 reticle, and each has advantages depending on how you plan on using it. If the scope is to be mounted on a firearm chambered for a common caliber such as .308 or 5.56 (or rounds with similar ballistics), the Raptor reticle is the way to go due to its built-in ballistic drop compensator. If the scope is to be mounted on a variety of guns or one chambered for a round with wildly different ballistics, the Griffin is the superior choice due to the versatility of a MIL Grid system. Regardless of reticle choice, both new GLx 1-6x24mm FFP scopes will have an MSRP of $699.99 upon release.
The Raptor M6 reticle (left) vs the Griffin M6 (right).
Far too many Simonov carbines have been ruined over the years by bubbas with power tools, but here are a few SKS accessories that can tastefully take yours to the next level.
In Volume 2 of the Gun Digest Guide To The AK And SKS, Patrick Sweeney shares a painful anecdote about a man who let his elderly father borrow his very collectible and rare SKS to go hunting with. When it was returned, it had been “fixed” beyond repair. To better suit his fancy, the fudd in question had ground off the bayonet lug, altered the sights and sporterized the stock, all for a single hunting trip. It would have been funny if it weren’t so sad, as this story took place back when the only Simonovs in the U.S. were Vietnam bringbacks—and this one had papers to prove it. This would not be the last time an SKS would be disfigured horribly, but at least as the prices of these guns have gone up, the less often they’ve been the subjects of home gunsmithing projects.
A quite professionally “Bubba'd” SKS being used in Syria. Photo: Mitch Speth on SKS Files.
If you are an SKS owner looking to make your rifle more practical or functional, or just want to modify it for fun, you have every right to do so. However, there are plenty of ways to achieve this that are not permanent. Here are a few SKS accessories that either enhance or compliment your Simonov carbine, without any permanent alterations.
Basic SKS Accessories
Before looking at aftermarket SKS accessories, one should first consider if they have all the original pieces of kit that were issued with these rifles. Do you have a sling? A cleaning kit? Stripper clips, and pouches or a chest rig to hold them in? These are all examples of original SKS accessories that no Simonov is truly complete without. Even if not original (as originality may not be your goal), at a minimum, every SKS owner should have a sling on their rifle, a cleaning kit hidden in the buttstock and stripper clips for faster loading. Once these basics have been acquired, one can start to consider buying some more interesting, non-permanent aftermarket SKS accessories.
A Simonov with some original-issue SKS accessories.
Optics
As evidenced by the number of SKSs that have had scope rails welded on to them over the years, it’s clear many who own the rifle would like a way to mount an optic to it. Well hold your horses and drop that welding torch, because in 2022 there are more elegant solutions to this dilemma.
A number of different manufacturers produce scope rails that can be attached without any permanent modifications being made. They typically mount by replacing the takedown pin and/or the rear sight. There are several different styles, some better than others, but what’s important is there are ways to mount an optic without drilling, tapping or otherwise damaging the SKS. Whether you’re adding it just for one hunting trip or for the foreseeable future, you or the next owner will be able to remove it. Some models are better suited for red dots while others are more ideal for magnified optics, so choose your model accordingly.
Another even simpler sighting enhancing SKS accessory is the addition of a new front sight post. Installation is as simple as threading the old one out and replacing it with an aftermarket upgrade. They are available with embedded tritium for night use or in different colors of plastic for better visibility during the day. This can also be accomplished the quick and dirty (and cheaper) way by just painting the sight with a color of your choice. Models are also available that add a crosshair for greater accuracy or a larger point for faster acquisition.
Tritium SKS front sight post from Kensight (left) and SKS cross hair front sight from KNS Precision (right).
Ammo
Guns need ammo to go bang, and the internal 10-round magazine of the SKS leaves many owners wanting. Thankfully, there are some good SKS accessories that either increase capacity or on-board ammo storage. Capacity is increased by replacing the factory-fixed magazine with an aftermarket one. These aftermarket SKS mags have been around for a spell. While it may be a stretch to consider these tasteful, they are not permanent. One could choose to remove the factory magazine to facilitate the use of aftermarket ones, then simply reinstall the original one when they’ve decided to go back to basics. Again, these come in a variety of styles but essentially function the same way. There are even factory-made extended 20-round mags from China, but these are somewhat rare and collectible. Regardless of whether you’re using a factory or aftermarket extended SKS mag, know that none are as reliable as the original fixed 10-rounder.
A 50-round drum and 30-round SKS magazine from ProMag.
A simpler solution is the addition of a pouch on the stock for holding loaded stripper clips. This addition is obviously not permanent, but it adds the ability to carry up to 30 spare rounds directly on the rifle. After a little practice loading from stripper clips, this can be even faster than attempting to reload using the aftermarket extended/detachable magazines. While increased capacity is nice, reliability is better, so keep that in mind before considering replacing the original magazine.
A buttstock pouch that can hold three loaded stripper clips from Strike Hard Gear.
Other SKS Accessories
Back when SKSs were a dime a dozen, replacing the wooden stock with an aftermarket polymer one was popular. Not only did they often add a folding or adjustable buttstock, but pistol grips and accessory rails as well. While replacing the stock is not a permanent modification, I consider them to be too untasteful to recommend in good conscience. You can do what you want with your own rifle, but before dropping the action into a new stock consider what you’re trying to accomplish and see if these less intrusive SKS accessories can achieve it for you instead.
If you just want rails on your SKS for mounting a weapon light, this can be achieved by either replacing the bayonet or the gas tube. The former works by using the bayonet lug to instead mount a small segment of Picatinny rail, while the latter replaces the gas tube and adds a rail segment on top. These gas tube replacements are marketed as scope mounts, but between poor manufacturing QC and the often-loose-fitting nature of SKS gas tubes, I would not recommend using one for any sort of aiming device. For a flashlight, however, they can still be considered.
Ultimately, with SKSs costing much more today than they did years prior, most owners are more interested in their historical provenance than they are with it being a practical rifle with modern features like optics or lights. If you do want to add SKS accessories such as these, however, it’s entirely possible to do so without harming its resale value or originality. Even when only using products mentioned in this article, your SKS’ fighting capabilities can be brought much closer to 21st Century standards.
The Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical is the newest model in the 940 Pro lineup, and it’s now sporting an optics-ready receiver, 7-shot tube and oversized controls.
When Mossberg first launched the 940 series, it was built for competition, even going so far as to take some design pointers from Jerry Miculek during its development. Since then, a few hunting models of the 940 have been released as well, but now Mossberg is taking their most popular autoloader in a more tactical direction. The new Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical comes out of the box with features that make it more ideal for defensive use, including an optics-ready receiver, a 7-shot magazine tube and oversized controls.
Being a 940, the heart of the 940 Pro Tactical is still its gas system. The 940 gas system is not only durable, but fast and reliable too. It can reliably cycle a wide variety of loads without issue and Mossberg claims that it can last up to 1,500 rounds before needing to be cleaned. That’s a lot of trigger time. The 940 Pro Tactical also features corrosion-resistant internal parts for greater durability and an anodized follower for a smoother action.
One of the biggest upgrades on the 940 Pro Tactical is its optics-ready receiver. It has a low-profile cut to allow the direct mounting of RMSc-pattern red dots and has also been drilled and tapped for use with rail-mounted optics. A cover plate is also included for those who plan on sticking with iron sights, which on the 940 Pro Tactical are fiber optic. The barrel has been threaded to accept Mossberg’s Accu-Choke system as well.
Other tactical features on the Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical include an adjustable length of pull buttstock, an enlarged and beveled loading port, oversized controls, an M-LOK compatible barrel clamp and a 7+1 capacity with standard shells. MSRP is $1,120.
Worldwide travels with the Mossberg Patriot, a rifle of exquisite character and grit.
In 2014, Mossberg invited me on a safari in South Africa, and to be the first to test a new bolt-action rifle. I’m always eager to assess a new hunting rifle; I enjoy it almost as much as being on safari. What I couldn’t have known at the time was that this new rifle—in one version or another—would end up accompanying me on many more hunts across the world over the next 6 years.
This is the original version of the Mossberg Patriot. It’s available in 13 chamberings at a suggested retail price of $594.
The new rifle was the Patriot. By the 1776 definition, a patriot was essentially a rebel, a colonial American who sought freedom from oppression and was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice while pressing the point. They represented all walks of life and needed guns they could trust. Given Mossberg’s heritage, the then anti-gun legislation in Mossberg’s home state of Connecticut and the continuing assault on firearm freedoms across the country, a better name for a new rifle, built to appeal to hard-working Americans, couldn’t have been chosen.
The Mossberg Patriot is a twin-lug, push-feed bolt-action, utilizing a spring-loaded plunger ejector and an extractor centered within the face of the bolt’s bottom locking lug. The bolt handle somewhat mirrors that of the Winchester Model 70, checkering and all. It feeds from a detachable, polymer magazine that weighs 2 ounces, and the barreled action is held in place by two screws that sandwich a polymer bedding block/magwell between the action and stock. It’s a simplistic but effective approach to bedding, and very similar to the technique used on Mossberg’s MVP rifles.
The first animal to fall to the Patriot was an impala. Next, I took a waterbuck and a sable at about 120 yards on two separate days while hunting near the Limpopo River. After that, I traveled south near Kimberley and met my 14-year-old son who joined me on another safari. He used the same Patriot to take a warthog at 160 yards, a kudu at a shade over 300 yards, and an impala at about 240 yards. My son and I returned on another safari the following year and he took several more warthogs at various distances, plus another kudu bull at almost 500 yards. He used the same, original, Mossberg Patriot.
The author's son takes aim with a Mossberg Patriot.
Wearing The Love
By that time, the rifle’s stock was beginning to look a bit rough; it had spent nearly two months in the field in Africa. As you can imagine, my son had become attached to it, partly because it had been a large part of his introduction to Africa, but also partly because it had worked like a rifle is supposed to work every time the trigger is pulled. He took his pocketknife and, much like a fighter pilot, scratched tally marks in the Patriot’s stock reflecting all our kills.
The author’s son carved tally marks for him and his father in the stock of the Mossberg Patriot they used on two African safaris.
Part of a father’s job is to make sure a young man is exposed to the right kinds of experiences and that he grows up in an atmosphere that’ll build character and shape his mind correctly. My son developed a strong love for Africa, and we were fortunate to be able to spend months at a time there over the next several years. When he was 17, Geoffrey Wayland, the owner of Fort Richmond Safaris, and without question the best professional hunter I’ve shared the field with, suggested it was time for my son to try for buffalo. I agreed, and the rifle I chose for that safari was one he was intimately familiar with: the Mossberg Patriot. But that Patriot was chambered for the .375 Ruger.
Though this version of the Patriot in .375 Ruger, which the author and his son used for bear and buffalo, is no longer available, you can still get the synthetic stocked and stainless Cerakoted version for only $505.
However, in May of 2017, a month before that safari was to begin, I had the opportunity to hunt black bear on Vancouver Island and thought the Patriot in .375 Ruger would be ideal, and it was. We hunted from a small boat along the coast, and as the tide went out, the bears would come down along the banks to feed. We located a nice bruin feeding on a grassy flat, put to shore about 400 yards away and made a stalk. A single bullet from about 90 yards was all it took. The rifle’s laminated stock and Marinecoat steel were ideal for the damp and corrosive coastal elements.
This now discontinued Marinecoat and laminated stocked Patriot in .375 Ruger was the ideal rifle for coastal bear hunting on Vancouver Island.
As for the buffalo, it was an epic adventure. We put nearly eight miles on our boots working a herd. Finally, an opportunity came but cover was sparse, and we could only close the distance to about 100 yards. Geoffrey instructed my son to take a seat, and when the buffalo turned broadside, to poke him in the shoulder.
He did, and as the buff wheeled, the Patriot roared again and another bullet smacked him in the backside. The hunt had taken most of the day but was over in an instant; the bull didn’t go 50 yards. On examination the first bullet had centered the heart, and the second had taken out the hip. My son and I had used the same Patriot on epic adventures 10,000 miles apart.
A buffalo hunter needs a hard-hitting and reliable rifle. This Mossberg Patriot in .375 Ruger performed flawlessly.
The Mossberg Patriot Goes North
For my next adventure with a Mossberg Patriot, I need to back up to 2002—well before the Patriot existed. I was hunting in Newfoundland for woodland caribou when I learned about the Newfoundland Grand Slam. It’s achieved when a hunter takes a woodland caribou, moose and black bear, all during the same hunt. It’s not the accomplishment or bragging rights that makes it so special; it’s getting to experience a successful hunt for all three species within a single week. Woodland caribou tags are hard to come by, and it was 16 years later when I got my chance. For that hunt, I selected another Patriot; this time a tack-driving 6.5 Creedmoor.
The final segment of the trilogy that makes up the Newfoundland Grand Slam; a 350-pound black bear taken with a Mossberg Patriot Revere.
The moose was easy. At lunchtime, one of the guides spotted a bull just across the lake the lodge overlooks. I grabbed my rifle and, several shots later, he was down. The caribou required a bit of hunting and bog trekking but was collected in a single day. The bear, on the other hand, required several uneventful and long days in a tree stand while watching a bait pile. On the last day, a 355-pound bear steeped out and the Newfoundland Grand Slam was complete. Admittedly, I didn’t shoot well on that hunt; even with a sub-MOA rifle the shooter must do their part. Maybe I was focused too much on the opportunity and not enough on the trigger press.
Part of the Newfoundland Grand Slam, this bull moose fell to a Mossberg Patriot in 6.5 Creedmoor.
The Patriot Heads West
In February of the following year, I was on a coyote hunt in frigid Wyoming. I had several rifles with me, but to test Hornady’s V-Max load for the 6.5 Creedmoor, I’d taken the same Patriot I’d used in Newfoundland. We were calling a deep draw when I spotted two coyotes coming in fast. They stopped on the ridgeline at about 150 yards, and I immediately dropped the big male. His mate turned and ran but made the mistake of stopping to look back at her lover. Credit must be given to the fast-cycling Patriot’s bolt; the video showed both coyotes were dispatched within 5 seconds. Redemption was found for my poor shooting in Newfoundland.
Flying East From Atlanta
Later that spring, my son and I were in Africa for another month. We were filming several video productions; I was one of the hunters, and he was the cameramen. That same Patriot, which I’d taken to Newfoundland and Wyoming, was with us and I used it to take my largest kudu bull. Then, I began taking other clients out to call jackals, and we were very successful up to the point when the shooting began. In a week’s time, we’d called in numerous jackals and the clients had managed to miss them all.
This magnificent waterbuck was taken in South Africa in 2014 with the original version of the Mossberg Patriot.
Frustrated, I convinced my son to go with us one evening and bring the 6.5 Creedmoor Patriot, arguing I needed a good rifle and someone who could shoot it. We set up near a drying waterhole with two other clients positioned at tactical locations. It took a while, but eventfully two jackals came sneaking in. When one stepped up on the high bank of the waterhole at about 120 yards, my son and the Patriot put his nose in the dirt. To date, that Patriot—the Revere version that’s sadly been discontinued—has taken a moose, a caribou, a black bear, two coyotes, a kudu bull, a blesbok, a warthog and a jackal.
The now discontinued Revere was a more elegant version of the Patriot, with a semi-fancy European walnut stock that had maple and rosewood accents.
The Patriot Heads South
My last adventure with a Mossberg Patriot came as the COVID pandemic was spreading. In January of 2020, I found myself in Sonora, Mexico, with another 6.5 Creedmoor. Prepared for extreme distance, I was armed with the LR Hunter version of the Patriot and was after a ghostly Coues deer buck. Just at dusk on the very first day, we spied a group of deer courting along the edge of a pasture on the working cattle ranch we were hunting on. I went prone and at about 160 yards, once again a Mossberg Patriot ended the hunt, adding a fourth country to its successful worldwide performance.
The Mossberg Patriot LR Hunter rifle is available in 6.5 CM, 6.5 PRC, .308 Winchester and .300 Winchester Magnum.
The Mossberg Patriot just might be the rifle for those with champagne tastes living on a beer budget. Actually, with several versions priced from $400 to $800 now offered, if you like guns you can trust, it could be the right rifle for any budget. Patriot rifles, in one form or another, have served my son and I well on everything from coyotes to buffalo. That’s what a rifle is supposed to do, and that’s what Mossberg’s Patriot is all about—helping you affordably realize your hunting dreams, while giving a thumb to the nose for the British we won independence from.
And to all those who don’t understand, firearms are an integral part of a free society. Here’s to all the Patriots out there.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Build Your Rifle IQ:
5 Best Scout Rifles To Seriously Consider For Survival
Not all gun belts are created equal. Not even close.
In the world of defensive handgunning, handguns, holsters and ammunition get the most attention. Gun belts are usually considered an accessory, when in reality they’re a necessity. So, why don’t gun belts get more attention? Partly because most people don’t understand the importance of a good gun belt, and partly because humans try to save money any way they can. Any belt will support a holster, right?
Yeah, for sure. Just about any belt will support a holster. But the job of a gun belt is not to just support a holster; a gun belt needs to support a holster, a handgun and maybe even a reload. Not only does it need to support those things, but it also needs to hold them securely so that access to the handgun and the reload can be conducted swiftly and efficiently. Have you ever looked at a policeman’s duty rig? The belt is more than 2 inches wide, very thick and very stiff. Sure, cops put a lot more stuff on their belt than you will, but the concept is the same; your gun belt needs to be rugged and dependable.
Gun Belt Length
First and foremost, a gun belt needs to fit you. What exactly does that mean? Well, it needs to go all the way around your waist and should have some notches still available in both directions. The adjustment is there for when you decide to go with an inside the waistband holster as opposed to an outside the waistband holster. And it’s also there for when you eat too much, or for when your time at the gym starts working and you’ve shed a few pounds. Most gun belts have five holes, and your gun belt should fit you best when the prong goes through the middle hole.
To measure the correct belt length, lay a belt that fits you flat on a table. Then take a measuring tape and stretch it from the end of the buckle frame, where the prong rests on the frame, to a hole that fits you snuggly. This should give you your belt size—belts are usually sized in full inches—to the center hole. This measurement allows for that in-and-out adjustment you’ll need.
Thickness And Width
The proper belt width is a combination of two things. First, the belt should fit the holster perfectly. In other words, if your holster has a 1¾-inch slot, your belt should be 1¾ inches wide. This helps to hold the holster firmly on the belt and against your body without any movement. Secondly, the belt should be comfortable for you to wear. Some folks don’t find thin belts comfortable, especially after a holster and accessories have been added. I’ve found that the wider the belt, the more comfortable it is to wear. If you like a wide or thin belt, make sure you purchase a holster that’s compatible.
With regard to thickness, in most cases avoid gun belts that are only one-layer thick. Unless that single layer is extremely thick—say about 2/10ths of an inch—it won’t have the stiffness necessary to support a full-size duty handgun. Even with ultra-compact handguns, remember, the belt isn’t just supporting the handgun and holster; it should also provide some resistance for the draw and when holstering. As a minimum, with leather belts go with at least two layers thick unless you wear your belt very tight and the holster fits the belt perfectly.
Multiple Belts
In the big scheme of things, one belt is generally not enough. We don’t dress the same all the time. The average guy could probably get by with three different belts, including one gun belt for everyday wear and another for dress wear. The makeup and look of both would depend on what your everyday and dress lifestyles are. The third gun belt would be a belt you wear when you’re knocking around the outdoors, doing chores or some other activity where looks aren’t that important and where the belt might get some rugged use.
You might also have a different belt for different holsters or handguns. I rarely carry a synthetic holster, but when I do I’ve found I like a synthetic gun belt. In fact, the belt I most often use with a synthetic holster isn’t marketed as a gun belt at all. I have a Slide Belt Survival Belt that utilizes a 11/4-inch-wide strap made of two layers of polymer that sandwich internal webbing. It has a tensile strength of 1,500 psi. The buckle is kind of cool; it has an integrated knife, fire-starter, LED light, and bottle opener. But what I like most about this belt is that it’s easily and infinitely adjustable with ¼-inch clicks to perfectly fit me, regardless of how round I might feel.
Slide Survival Belt with knife buckle.
Choose Wisely
A good gun belt will set you back between $75 and $150. Versacarry’s Underground Belt is a very rugged three-ply belt that retails for $85. With its basketweave stamping, the Safariland 1¾-inch B4 Ranger Belt is suitable as a dress belt and retails for $66. Galco’s Casual Holster Belts are made of the highest-quality leather and retail for around $100. And, while they might pass as a dress belt, Galco also offers exotic holster belts made from alligator, shark, and ostrich hide, that are sure to please those who dress way nicer than this hillbilly ever will. Be selective when choosing a gun belt; if it doesn’t cost as much as your holster, you probably picked the wrong one.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Sig Sauer has just announced the P322, a .22 LR pistol similar to the P365 that comes suppressor and optics-ready with an enhanced capacity magazine.
There are many reasons to enjoy .22 LR handguns. Besides being a cheaper alternative for training, they also make for great suppressor hosts and allow for a greatly increased magazine capacities. Sig has taken advantage of all three benefits with their newly announced P322.
Sig’s last .22 LR pistol was called the Mosquito, and it became infamous for issues with feeding and extracting rounds. The P322 is the company’s attempt at rectifying its reputation in the rimfire world. Besides the claimed improvements to general reliability, the P322 also includes several desirable features out of the box while remaining as affordable as a .22 LR pistol should be.
Ready For Anything
The P322 comes ready to mount nearly any accessory you would want to attach to it. Besides having a 1913 rail for mounting lights or lasers, the P322 also includes a suppressor adaptor for its threaded barrel as well as a removable rear sight for mounting an optic. It also ships with a fiber optic front and rear sight as standard, so even those who don’t want to utilize the pistol’s RMSc-pattern footprint will have upgraded sights to shoot with.
Another important feature of the P322 is its large magazine capacity. Unlike the limited capacities of many rimfire handguns like the Sig Mosquito, the P322 takes full advantage of the available space to make its mags as large as possible. With a standard capacity of 20-rounds, this gives the P322 an even higher capacity than is possible with the Glock 44 using aftermarket, flush-fitting mags. This makes the P322 an attractive option for serious plinkers as well as those who may want a .22 LR handgun for self-defense. 25-round magazines from Sig will be available for purchase separately as well.
The P322’s frame and ergonomics are similar to Sig’s popular P365 concealed carry pistol, but the two guns are not the same. The new rimfire is slightly larger than its CCW counterparts, and it uses an internal single-action only hammer as opposed to a striker-fired mechanism.
Sig’s new rimfire also has fully ambidextrous controls with a reversible mag release, an interchangeable trigger (flat or curved) and an integrated magwell for easier reloading. The Sig P322 has an MSRP of $399 and will include two 20-round mags and a magazine loader in the box.
Firepower, hitting power and nimbleness–there's a raft of reasons to consider the AR pistol. We give you seven affordable options if you're looking to go small.
You want fair, play Go Fish. Otherwise, when you’re planning to defend yourself, your property, your family your entire objective is to put your thumb on the scale. As the iconic Col. David “Hack” Hackworth said, “If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn't plan your mission properly.” No truer words have ever been spoken.
Applying the unfair approach to saving your own skin touches every facet of self-defense: mindset, training, software and hardware. That last point is especially pertinent. If you ever wanted a single justification as to why you need an AR pistol, that is it.
Firepower, hitting power, accuracy, wieldiness—the petite configuration of America’s favorite firearm has it all. Which, when it comes to home defense or superior vehicle-based security, gives you the ultimate—an unfair advantage. If that’s not enough, they’re fun as Friday night to boot.
What Makes An AR Pistol?
Avoiding putting the horse before the cart, we should take a moment to discuss exactly what defines an AR pistol. It seems self-evident, but like so many firearms topics it’s painted in about every shade of gray imaginable.
Putting aside it’s essentially an AR-style gun—built on an AR upper and lower receiver with a direct impingement or piston operation system—the firearms essential has the following attributes:
A barrel less than 16 inches or an overall length of less than 26 inches
No vertical foregrip
No traditional rifle buttstock (think M4 telescoping and the like)
Study the National Firearms Act of 1934, you’ll find physically the AR pistol is a stone's throw from a Short Barreled Rifle (SBR). Legally, they’re a world apart. Whereas you can procure an AR pistol-like any other off-the-shelf gun—your local legislation aside—an SBR is classified a Title II Weapon. This means the firearm requires the figurative pound of flesh to purchase—a mountain of paperwork, a note from your local law enforcement, $200 to the Feds (tax stamp) and plenty of waiting.
Not an AR pistol! Take a close look, that's a buttstock making this a SBR. A no no, unless you jump through the correct hoops and pay your pound of flesh.
The dividing line between the AR pistol and SBR, the last in the bullet point—buttstock. Which leads us to…
The Bracing Pistol Brace
Goiterish in appearance, an exposed buffer tube is neither attractive nor very handy. Though, in the early days, that was about your only option when it came to an AR-pistol. Maybe a rubberized sheath to soften it up, but not by much. This changed in 2012, with a stroke of genius from Alex Bosco.
The disabled veteran cobbled together a brace that attached to the buffer tube of an AR and futher to the forearm. The idea was more overall support and control of the gun. He quickly sold the design to firearms giant Sig Sauer and it became known as the “Sig Brace”. Equally as quickly, shooters noticed the Sig brace allowed comfortable shouldering of the AR pistol, along with better handling attributes. Can of worms officially opened.
Was a brace actually a brace? Or was it just a buttstock by another name? Or, in a strange metamorphosis, was a brace a brace until the moment it hit the shoulder than magically became a buttstock?
So much fuss over such a little part.
In 2015, the ATF briefly chose the third definition, saying using it as a shoulder stock represented a redesign of the pistol into an SBR. That stretch of the definition of redesign thankfully was short-lived and, thanks to SB Tactical’s efforts, the agency reversed itself on the shouldering question in 2017. Though the language is wishy-washy. First off, the brace cannot be modified in any way to make it strictly a stock–leave those straps on. Furthermore, the ATF uses words such as “situational”, “sporadic” and “incidental” to describe when it's acceptable to shoot one from the shoulder. In short, they're saying it's legal, but don't be flashy about it.
Again, AR pistol braces are in the news—never a good thing. Along with 80-percent lower receivers, the current administration has set its sights on one of the defining features of AR pistols. On June 7th, 2021 ATF published a new notice of proposed rulemaking on its website ominously titled Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached “Stabilizing Braces”. Overall, the rule—aside from pushing the limits of vague terminology—appears aimed at re-classifying any gun equipped with a stabilizing brace as an SBR. In turn, all such guns would be taxed and registered according to the NFA—even the ones currently owned. Fun, fun.
Similar to the arbitrary system laid out for firearms importation, the classification scheme utilizes a point system. And, boy howdy, does it ever seem skewed to eliminate the majority, if not all bracing systems. In thumbnail, the rule dictates firearms with stabilizing braces must weigh at least 4 pounds and measure between 12 and 26 inches. If it falls within these parameters, the brace is evaluated for certain features. Then the entire firearm and the brace are evaluated for a different, yet similar, set of features.
As for brace evaluation, the rule breaks it down into four categories:
Device incorporates features to prevent use as a shouldering device
Minimized Rear Surface lacking features to discourage shouldering
Rear Surface useful for shouldering the firearm
Material added to increase Rear Surface for shouldering
Those standards are about as well-defined and coherent as a Jackson Pollack painting, which doesn’t bode well for the American gun owner. The good news, these rules have not yet gone into effect in 2022. Though, there are rumblings they may soon.
All that behind us, for the time being, shouldering is acceptable, but maybe something not recommended for a day at a public range. Use caution. As history proves, the issue comes down to one factor—bureaucratic edict. Like a spring breeze, that could change direction at a moment’s notice, thus leave you in a perilous position if you’re not up to date.
AR Pistol Advantage
Is a screen pass in football more run or more pass? Tough to say, it shares so many elements of each. Yet, it’s indisputable puissant and under the right circumstances is a game-changer. The same can be said for the AR pistol.
Home defense, truck gun, bug out bag—anywhere quarters are tight or storage space is at a premium the hybrid platform excels. However, the AR pistol’s nimble nature and unassuming size aren’t the only assets it brings to the table.
First and foremost, it’s chambered for centerfire rifle cartridges. Yes, absolutely, the AR pistol is available in pistol-caliber cartridges, but the argument exists that—as a defensive arm—you’re doing yourself a disservice going this route. While a 10-inch barreled pistol will neuter a rifle round considerable—ballpark 500 to 700 fps for the 5.56—its performance still vastly outdoes what a pistol cartridge gains out of the longer bore. In turn, a hit is more likely to neutralize a threat more quickly than with a “nightstand” handgun.
Definite leg up from 9mm. Shooting the 5.56 NATO and other rifle cartridges is perhaps one of the great legs up the AR pistol has on traditional handguns.
You also have more rounds on tap, at least most of us do. Draconian corners of the country have mucked this up, cutting down magazine capacities to 10 to 15 rounds—which mirrors traditional pistols. But a great majority of shooters have 30-round options at their disposal; a few PMAGs and you’re well on the way to tipping the scales in your favor when the need tipped the most.
A potent cartridge and firepower are definite advantages, but don’t mean squat if you don’t hit the threats you face. Here too the AR pistol has a leg up, particularly on traditional handguns. A more stable platform, it offers greater overall control, as well as recoil management. Certainly, the heater won’t print a cloverleaf at 200 yards, like its bigger brothers. But most shooters find it possible to deliver more hits where they want them consistently than with other handguns.
Along these lines, the pistol works seamlessly with an optic, particularly a 1x job that allows you to shoot with both eyes open. Absolutely, traditional handguns have gone this route in recent years with the rise of the reflex optic. The case exists, however, the AR pistol facilities a more intuitive and steadier view through the optic, thus improving accuracy potential.
The AR pistol and red dot optics were meant for each other.
Finally, the AR pistol was almost made for suppression. Given you’re not bound by barrel-length requirements, you can invest in a perfectly sized platform relative to your can size. Pretty sweet deal. With a carbine, no matter what you're stuck with 16-inches-plus suppressor.
Incidentally, if the AR pistol has piqued your interest, it might be worth thinking about finally diving into suppressors. Short barrels equal a loud gun with excessive muzzle flash. A can will greatly reduce both.
Affordable AR Pistol Options
If a gunmaker rolls out an AR it’s a pretty sure bet they have a complementary AR pistol in their catalog. Which is to say, your options are legion.
While the likes of Daniel Defense, Noveske and LWRCI are always solid choices when it comes to any AR configuration if you’re considering your first pistol you might not have the cool $2,000 plus to buy one. With that in mind, we’re listing 7 entry-level AR pistol options from reputable gunmakers that are certain to get you on target. These guns all have MSRPs below $1,100, which means they’ll hit the retail outlets at price points almost every shooter can afford. Just a quick note, we kicked up the ceiling by $100 because nearly every model has increased in price due to 2022's inflation. Overall, most models are running around $200 more than they were a year ago.
CMMG BANSHEE 100, MK4, 5.56
Never afraid to tackle a new caliber or configuration, CMMG has among the most extensive AR catalogs out there—rifle and pistol. As for shorties, the gunmaker’s BANSHEE line has become a favorite, thanks to its excellent fit and finish, and performance.
CMMG does not list these in their catalog any longer, so it's safe to assume the striped down BANSHEE MK4 is soon to become a thing of the past. However, there seems to be ample stock left at various retail establishments, so we're still backing this horse. Sure enough, you’ll have to put down extra coin if you want a brace. And the pistol only comes with one barrel length option, a relatively long 12.5 inches. But you get to tailor the rifle exactly to your needs, plus you have the peace of mind of investing in a CMMG gun. Get one while you still can. MSRP: $950 // cmmginc.com
Out-of-the-box the Ruger AR-556 pistol doesn’t leave you wanting for much. In fact, for the price point it’s one of the best values going—particularly its 5.56 NATO model. Though if you’re willing to throw down an extra $50, you open the door to other chambering options, including .350 Legend and .300 Blackout.
As to the 5.56, the 10.5-inch barrel AR pistol comes with a factory-installed SB Tactical SBA3 Pistol Stabilizing Brace, a proven and comfortable option. Up front, the gun is outfitted with a 9-inch free-floated handguard that has an exceptionally thin profile and plenty of M-Lok attachment slots. Also, Ruger has opted for a carbine-length gas system—logical given barrel length—which makes it much less bucky. MSRP: $1,059 // ruger.com
Diamondback Firearms DB 15 PCML
Turning out AR pistols for around 6 years now, Diamondback Firearms is an old hand at the configuration. And at this point, the company offers a lot of the proverbial bang for the buck. Available in both 7- and 10-inch barreled builds, the PCML models offers a solid base to build up a nimble gun.
Again, you're getting a stripped-down option sans a brace (what did you expect for this price point?), so include that in your calculations. However, you get a well-made gun with a chrome-moly barrel, aircraft-grade aluminum receivers and a lightweight handguard that has a bit of dash to its design. For someone looking to get acclimated to the configuration, is short on cash and doesn't want something that falls apart in their hands, the PCML models provide a good entry point. MSRP: Starting at $782 // diamondbackfirearms.com
Palmetto State Armory 10.5″ Carbine-Length 5.56 NATO
Honestly, it’s difficult to go through ARs—especially the affordable kind—without hitting upon Palmetto State Armory. The South Carolina concern does it right, both in manufacturing and price.
To that end, the company 10.5-inch 5.56 is an excellent entry-level option. Yes, the gunmaker offers cheaper AR pistols, but none as well-endowed. What’s to like about it? The 9-inch lightweight handguard (M-Lok compatible, of course) and SB Tactical SBA3 brace. Off the shelf, this provides a competent package for nearly any operation. Furthermore, PSA includes a polished single-stage trigger that breaks much cleaner than a plain old mil-spec. MSRP: $899 // palmettostatearmory.com
Core 300 Blackout Truck Gun
Mixing things up, if you’re in the market for a .300 Blackout, Core Rifle Systems has a tidy little package in its Truck Gun. A dandy out of short-barreled guns and, in sub-sonic loads, eminently suppressible, the cartridge is a natural performer out of Core’s 7.5-inch barreled gun. Furthermore, the overall small size of the AR pistol, it’s next to nothing to add a suppressor without impeding its agility. The gun boasts an M1 flash hider, Core’s 7-inch M-Lok handguard and SB Tactical’s SBA3 brace, making it ready for your pickup the moment you take it home. MSRP: $899 // core15rifles.com
Radical Firearms AR Pistol
If you have a particular build in mind for a production AR pistol, Radical Firearms is a good starting point. The whole thrust of the company is flexibility, offering the choice of five different handguards when you order—huge benefit.
Granted, not every model comes complete. Only the RPR, MHR and FCR configurations are available with a brace—an SB Tactical SBA3 in all cases and all with 7.5-inch barrels. Radical offers 10.5-inch pistols as well, but only with a bare tube. But that’s far from a deal-breaker. Fit and finish on Radical’s guns are top-notch, but 5.56 NATO chamberings are the order of the day. MSRP: $685 // radicalfirearms.com
Springfield Armory SAINT AR-15 Pistol
Once again, we're dealing with a pistol that has been discontinued the past year. However, we're sticking with this gem in our buyer's guide for the time being for two reasons: the SAINT is still readily available in retail outlets, and it's the tits.
Right off the bat, the gun comes completely decked out and ready to roll. One of its most eye-catching features, its Trinity Force Breach Blade 1.0 Std. brace. Unobtrusive and whisper-thin, the brace does quite a bit to cut down on the bulk and weight of the gun, while maintaining its overall function. Furthermore, the gun’s 9.5-inch barrel is a nice “Mama Bear” length, milking a bit extra from the 5.56 NATO cartridge, while remaining nimble as ever.
The handguard is polymer, but a top-shelf unit—Bravo Company’s BCMGUNFIGHTER PMCR, which aside from being M-Lok compatible also comes with an integral hand stop. A valuable landmark that adds a solid safety measure to the system.
If this baby gets your juices flowing, which it easily could, don't wait if you run across one. Time is running out on getting one new out of the box. MSRP: $849 // springfield-armory.com
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.
