The Savage 110 PCS bolt action pistol has all the features of the Model 110 in a more compact package.
The Savage 110 is one of the most popular models of bolt action rifle, and now the company has announced the newest addition to the lineup: the Savage 110 PCS. PCS stands for Pistol Chassis System, and it’s this new chassis that houses the 110 action and all 10.5-inches of its barrel. Available in five different chamberings, all with the same features as the full-size 110, the new Savage 110 PCS is here to bring big accuracy to a tiny package.
Jessica Treglia, Senior Brand Manager for Savage, had this to say on the 110 PCS:
The Model 110 has set the bar high for bolt-action rifles…Now the adaptability and performance that we see from our flagship rifle line is available in a pistol chassis system. Don’t let the 110 PCS’s diminutive size fool you—we’ve taken this gun out past 500 yards with reliable, repeatable accuracy.
The standard Model 110 features found on the 110 PCS include the adjustable AccuTrigger and its use of AICS-style box magazines. The PCS has a 10.5-inch medium-contour barrel that’s threaded 5/8×24 and the pistol is currently available in .308 Winchester, .223 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor, 300 BLK and 350 Legend.
The new Pistol Chassis System that houses the 110 PCS action is made by MDT and is of monolithic aluminum construction. The 7-inch forend is free-floated and features M-LOK slots for accessories, and it has Picatinny rail on the rear of the chassis and on top for attaching a brace/stock and optic, respectively. The addition of an optic will be required to hit what you’re aiming at, as the 110 PCS does not have any iron sights. It also will accept most standard AR pistol grips and has an ambidextrous magazine release.
The Savage 110 PCS is an ideal option for those who need the accuracy of the classic Model 110 in a more portable package. Ideal for hunters who need to pack light for long treks, the 110 PCS is small enough to fit in a backpack while remaining powerful and accurate enough to take game at significant ranges. All models have an MSRP of $999 and they are available now.
Welcome to 21st-century plinking, thanks to the Rival Arms R-22 … and aluminum.
The dude may abide, but this is America; innovation abounds. Many of us just can’t help ourselves: We have to improve things, make them better and, as a result, everyone benefits from those who just can’t leave things alone.
The Rival Arms R-22 chassis is the perfect capstone for your 10-22 build. (Photo by Yamil Sued)
When the Ruger 10-22 hit the market in 1964, Ruger was just looking for a plinker to compete with all the others. In 1964, a self-loading .22 LR rifle would cost you somewhere between $45 and $55. (Adjusted for inflation, that’d be $370 to $455 in Biden dollars.) The Ruger was right there at the top of the heap, with a list price of $54.95.
Functionally, they were all the same: Load the magazine, chamber a round, shoot until it was empty (10 shots, mostly) and then repeat. Where the 10-22 differed was in design. And time of design. All the existing rifles of the time had been designed years, or even decades, before. They mostly fed through tubes under the barrel, although some had five-round box magazines. The barrels were pressed into aluminum or steel receivers and held in place by means of cross-pins.
Some, like the Marlin Model 60, had firing mechanisms that were complex assemblies of mousetrap springs and stamped-steel parts, between steel rails with the cross-pins “C” clipped into a package. The trigger was what the trigger was, and there was no way on earth to improve it. Anyone rash enough to take one apart for cleaning found it impossible to reassemble and having a gunsmith like me do the job was almost as expensive as buying a replacement.
Accuracy was “minute of tin can,” and reliability for any in the pack was assumed to be marginal. After all, it was “just a plinker.” Part of that unreliable reputation was the tube magazine. Trying to design, then make—and keep in tune—a feed mechanism that’d take a round from the tube and place it in front of the bolt wasn’t easy. The Ruger rotary magazine made that aspect a non-issue.
Then, a strange thing happened. Shooters started to figure out that the 10-22 wasn’t just another plinking rimfire. The method of barrel attachment was the start. Gone was the pinned-in attachment. Instead, the 10-22 uses a clamp that hooks onto a bevel machined into the barrel and pulls it into the receiver.
Anyone with the right-sized Allen wrench could swap barrels. If you wanted a better barrel, you could simply order it and install it yourself. Accuracy improved. The receiver is simply an aluminum shell to hold the bolt and recoil spring. Instead of bolting the receiver to the stock and letting the barrel hang, builders bedded the barrel at the chamber to the stock and let the receiver hang off the back. Accuracy improved even more.
The handguard is slimmed down so you can get a firm grip on the R-22. Not that the recoil of a .22 LR requires it, but good technique is good technique.
The trigger mechanism was dead-simple, easy to remove and clean and easy to improve. So, shooters did. Then, gunsmiths and parts makers started making improved parts. Triggers got better. Along with triggers, the lower half got improved bolt-release levers, safety buttons, and magazine releases. Oh, and the rotary magazine? That got improved also, and now you can have magazines up to 25 rounds in capacity, even from Ruger themselves.
Through it all, the stock remained a stock. Oh, there were laminates and synthetics and exotics, but they were still stocks.
Then, the world went AR-15 crazy, and if it wasn’t an AR, it wasn’t something people looked at.
Be Gone With The Wood
Rival Arms now offers a solution to the last of the problems.
The Rival Arms R-22 chassis system offers all kinds of features, and they’re in sync with the modern shooting marketplace. First of all, it’s a single- piece aluminum chassis. The problem with wood stocks, even laminated ones, is that they absorb water. If you’ve found a way for aluminum to absorb water, tell the biggest engineering school you can find, because you’ve done the impossible, and people who can do the impossible can make money at it. Synthetics can warp in the sun or heat, but aluminum won’t. Well, it will, but by the time it gets to the temperature that an aluminum chassis will sag from heat, we’re all toast because the sun has gone nova.
The handguard or forend has M-lok slots so you can mount whatever accessories you feel are appropriate.
The forend of the chassis is slenderized. Rival Arms calls it scalloped, so you can get a good firm hold on the front end while you’re dealing chaos and destruction on tin cans. The slots on the forend are M-lok, so you can easily kit it out with whatever accessories you want. There’s also a tapped sling swivel location, in case you want to put a sling on your upgraded 10-22.
On the back end, Rival Arms has made life easy. The rear of the chassis accepts standard AR-15 stock assemblies, so you can put on whatever kind of stock you want. Or, if you’re building a pistol, then an arm brace that attaches to an AR receiver socket. So, you have the full range of options. You can (keep an eye on the laws and regs, please; you can’t necessarily go swapping back and forth here on the full range of options) build it as a full-sized rifle, with fixed stock, as a rimfire service rifle or Appleseed loaner, right down to a pistol-barrel arm-braced (even a folder) handy firearm to plink with or keep as an emergency tool in your truck, boat or plane.
And to complement that, the Rival Arms R-22 chassis also accepts most AR-15 pistol grips. Just bolt it right on the exact same way you would on an AR-15.
The chassis is CNC machined from billet aluminum, anodized and then if black isn’t your thing, given a Gun Kote FDE or Stealth Gray coating. Need I point out that as an anodized aluminum part, you yourself can give it a “rattle-can camo” finish of your own choosing? Make it camo to match your surroundings, or some splash of neon colors to suit your competitive streak.
To complete the ensemble, it’s a snap to mount a scope, since that has been possible from the beginning with the 10-22, due to the receiver being drilled and tapped for a scope mount base. You can certainly attach a scope to the receiver, and it’ll be more accurate than most shooters. However, for maximum accuracy, shooters have discovered the best way to attach a scope is with a mount secured to the barrel itself.
The handguard or forend has M-lok slots so you can mount whatever accessories you feel are appropriate.
And speaking of barrels, not only will the R-22 accept factory barrels, but you also have enough room for match barrels up to 1 inch in diameter. Fair warning: If you go with a barrel that big, you’d better have eaten your Wheaties, because it’s going to make the resulting rifle pretty heavy. But really accurate.
The evolution of the 10-22 is now complete, with the Rival Arms R-22 chassis. So complete has the evolution of high tech and innovation been that you could, if you wished, purchase and assemble a “10-22” rifle in which not a single part came out of a Ruger factory. In that, it’s very much like its contemporary of the era, the AR-15. It used to be if you wanted an AR-15, you had to buy a Colt. It used to be if you wanted a 10-22, you had to buy a Ruger. Now, you can assemble the best parts available for your 10-22 and put the assembled receiver into your Rival Arms R-22 chassis.
Have fun.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the February 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
SilencerCo’s new Harvest EVO suppressor is now lighter than ever and designed to be a perfect match for your hunting rifle.
One of the most practical applications for a suppressor is hunting. By eliminating the need for a hunter to wear hearing protection in the field, not only is their level of awareness heightened but their hearing is preserved and the great outdoors stay quieter. With most suppressors on the market designed more for tactical or defensive use, specialty hunting suppressors like the SilencerCo Harvester prioritize features that are most appreciated by those who use them to take game. Now, SilencerCo has upgraded and enhanced its Harvester line with the release of the new Harvester EVO.
SilencerCo’s Senior Product Development Specialist Dewie Viera had this to say on the Harvester EVO:
The most impressive phenomenon of the Harvester EVO is its lightweight nature despite being created from rugged, hard-use materials…Weighing just 10.8 ounces, it is constructed of 17-4 heat treated stainless steel, Inconel and cobalt 6 with a tubeless design. This gives the EVO an edge over other hunting suppressors.
The Harvester EVO can be used on calibers ranging from .223 Remington to .300 Winchester, but its noise-reducing effects will be most effective on .30 caliber guns. The suppressors attach using Bravo mounting accessories, and each can ships with direct thread 1/2×28 and 5/8×24 mounts. When firing .308 Winchester, SilencerCo reports that the Harvester EVO has an average decibel level of 133.1 dB.
The biggest improvements found on the new Harvester EVO are its shorter length and reduced weight, all done without compromising durability. The materials and construction methods used allow the EVO to be only 6.24-inches-long and weigh in at only 10.8 ounces, both improvements over its predecessor—the Harvester 300. SilencerCo claims that the new suppressor’s attributes will make it less likely to get caught while moving through brush, and its lighter weight will reduce fatigue during long treks. This makes the Harvester EVO an obvious choice for serious hunters looking to hush up their gun.
The Harvester EVO has an MSRP of $680 and is available now through SilencerCo retailers. For more on SilencerCo, please visit silencerco.com.
Get More Suppressor Info:
The Suppressor: How Is It Made, It Works And How To Buy One
The Alien Gear Cloak Shoulder Holster is compatible with over 500 guns, including many less popular models, but how does this upper body carry option stack up against other rigs?
Shoulder holsters can offer a lot of versatility with how one carries, but they’re not even an option unless you can get one that fits your gun. Holster compatibility is always something to consider when selecting a carry gun, but the choices are even more limited when looking for a shoulder rig. There’s no shortage of 1911 and Glock fits available, but those who carry slightly less popular handguns will likely face some difficulty in finding one that fits. Alien Gear has addressed this issue head-on with the Cloak Shoulder Holster, a shoulder harness system compatible with the company’s Cloak line of holsters that are available for over 500 different automatic handgun models and configurations. Depending on what you carry, the Cloak shoulder holster may be one of your only options available, but besides widescale compatibility what other qualities and quirks does this shoulder rig possess?
Cloak Compatibility
The primary appeal of the Cloak shoulder holster is its compatibility with so many different firearms, and this point can’t be understated. As more of a niche way to carry, shoulder rigs are often only available for a select number of models. If you carry a 5-inch 1911 or a bare-bones Glock 17, the options are nearly limitless, but for those who carry something a bit more unique or modified it can become a real challenge to even find a compatible shoulder rig.
This is where the Cloak shoulder holster has you covered. The system uses Alien Gear Cloak holster shells which are made of Kydex and custom molded to fit over 500 different models of automatic pistols and their various configurations. Everything from H&K to Hi-Point, Desert Eagles to Makarovs, Alien Gear has a Cloak for it. For this review, I requested a Browning Hi-Power model for toting around my FEG Hi-Power clone. The Hi-Power is, or at least was, extremely popular around the globe, making the lack of shoulder holster options for it frustrating. Now that Springfield has released their SA-35 clone, even more people will likely be searching for an up-top carry option that fits this nearly 90-year-old design.
The Cloak holsters are also made to accommodate modified or rarer versions of more common guns. Certain railed pistols can be ordered to fit specific accessories such as a Streamlight TLR-1 or Crimson Trace Defender. Alien Gear also went the extra mile to ensure the model you select is a true fit for your specific gun. While other holsters may leave the description at “Sig P220”, Alien Gear’s site differentiates between variants like the P220 Carry and P220r which have features that may make them incompatible with standard Kydex P220 holsters. With the Cloak shoulder holster, as long as you can find your gun’s exact model designation in the massive list of options, you know it will be a solid fit.
Cloak Shoulder Holster Features
As a modular system, when ordering the Cloak shoulder holster one has a few different options to choose from. The rig can be ordered either left or right-handed with the choice of either a holster or mag carrier on either side. It can also be ordered with two holsters or two mag carriers, but obviously this option is less practical than having one of each. The magazine carriers can be ordered to fit common sizes of both single and double-stack mags as well as for 5.7 to accommodate FN and Ruger models in that caliber. The carriers use tension to retain the mags and must be adjusted to securely fit your magazines’ specific thickness. Again, due to the modular nature of the design, my 9mm double stack mag carriers came adjusted for a .40 and had to be significantly tightened for proper retention.
Both the holster and mag carrier are adjustable for cant too, ensuring that the user can find the best angle for their draw as well as the rig’s concealment. The Cloak shoulder holster’s straps are also adjustable for size and each side of the rig includes detachable, optional belt hooks.
The Cloak shoulder holster is made using a combination of English bridle leather and CoolVent neoprene, and the rig is available in either brown or black.
The neoprene padding on the inside of the shoulder straps.
The Cloak’s Qualities
It bears mentioning again that it’s the Cloak’s massive list of compatible guns that gives it its greatest appeal. I challenge you to find another off-the-shelf Kydex shoulder rig that has an option for the Ruger 57 with a red dot, or any other of the Cloak’s more obscure fits. But just because the holster fits your gun doesn’t make it one worth wearing, so what other qualities does the Cloak have to offer?
Firstly, the Kydex holster provides excellent retention once properly adjusted. Upon receiving the Cloak rig the holster was slightly too tight for my gun, but after some minor loosening it fit like a glove. It could be adjusted tight enough to solely rely on retention, but the holster also includes an optional thumb-break strap for those who may want it looser for an easier draw. The thumb strap also provides extra safety on SAO guns that are carried cocked and locked, which is what I did with my Hi-Power.
After adjusting my preferred cant angle I found drawing the pistol from the Cloak to be extremely fast and easy. Not as fast as appendix carry can potentially be of course, as shoulder holsters are slower by nature due to their cross-draw design, but fast enough to eliminate concerned about speed during a defensive encounter.
Even with the holster’s retention set relatively tight, I found the belt hooks superfluous. On some shoulder holsters that lack them, attempting to draw can often pull the holster with the gun and blunder the process. On the Cloak shoulder holster, however, drawing was still very seamless without the straps installed. I prefer shoulder holsters that are usable without these straps to enable more casual carry without the need for a belt, so in this department Alien Gear nailed it.
The belt straps are as easily removable as adjusting the holster’s cant is, both use the same system. Asymmetrically shaped pegs secure the holster, mag carrier and belt straps to the rig, and they can be removed simply by rotating the pegs about 180 degrees and pulling them out of their respective holes. Reinstalling them is the same process in reverse.
The belt strap's peg next to its respective hole. This system makes adjusting cant easy.
Once the rig’s straps have been adjusted to your size, the Cloak shoulder holster is quite comfortable to wear. It has wide, padded straps that distribute the weight well, even with a full-size, all-steel pistol like the Hi-Power. I was able to wear it all day without getting too tired of it, and with the right kind of jacket it can conceal very well too.
No product is perfect, and there is a certain amount of subjectivity in worn items like shoulder holsters, but I do have some complaints with the Cloak that are worth mentioning.
One of the first things one must do upon purchasing a Cloak shoulder holster is adjust the straps to fit, and this is where I first encountered some frustration. The straps’ extra length is secured using hex screws that go through holes in the leather, meaning that for each of the four straps you want to adjust you will need to unscrew and reinstall two of these. This is something one will likely only have to do once, but it is a pain, especially when other shoulder rigs have simpler ways of retaining extra strap length.
The Cloak was also one of the loudest pieces of leather I’ve ever dealt with. The first time I put it on I was worried my neighbors were going to hear it squeaking with every breath I took. Even the slightest of movements released a cacophony of sounds from the holster’s thick leather hide. We all focus so much on the visual side of concealment that we often overlook the need for silence as well. I’m happy to report that after wearing the rig a decent amount in the three weeks since I received it, it has quietened up quite a bit. It’s still not silent, but I have faith that with continued use the stiff leather will eventually get tamed. Applying some oil would also likely expedite the process.
The least comfortable aspect of the Cloak shoulder holster is one that only surfaces while shooting with it on. The wide neck straps’ edges are lined with neoprene, the padding of which is comfortable on the body but less so directly on the skin. I found that aiming a pistol with a two-handed shooting grip while wearing the rig resulted in the edges of the straps digging into my neck. The discomfort would be tolerable for a brief emergency situation, but if you were planning on wearing your Cloak to the range to train in it you may find shooting to be quite annoying because of this.
Circled in red is where the strap consistently pinches my neck when assuming a shooting position.
My final observation may be unique to my specific Hi-Power, but because it could affect safety, I thought it was worth mentioning. When carrying cocked and locked with the manual safety engaged and the thumb strap installed, the action of breaking the thumb strap consistently also disengages the manual safety on my gun. While this technically does make drawing faster and simpler, for safety’s sake it would still be preferable if the safety stayed engaged until the gun was fully drawn and presented. Odds are this is unique to my old FEG, but if it happens to your cocked and locked pistol too it could be carried without the thumb strap installed to prevent this from happening. Or, if it doesn’t bother you, one could view it as a feature rather than a bug that has the potential to speed up your draw time.
Final Thoughts
The Cloak shoulder holster has an MSRP of $193.88, making it neither the most expensive nor cheapest shoulder rig available. For the money, you get a very modular and versatile setup that could be used with multiple different guns as long as you have the compatible Alien Gear holster shell for it. If you carry a weird gun and want a shoulder holster for it, the Cloak is definitely worth considering. One could otherwise order a custom rig made, and it will likely be a bit more comfortable to wear, but it will also be more expensive, less modular and almost certainly use leather for the holster portion. The potential speed of drawing from retention Kydex offers a big advantage over leather and will likely be this holster’s biggest appeal besides its numerous available fits. The Cloak shoulder holster can be a bit of a pain to initially set up and break in, but once that’s out of the way it offers a comfortable way to concealed carry some of the more unique guns in your collection.
What's a portable precision rifle? How about something you can sling in a shoulder bag and reach out 1,000 yards and beyond.
Just a couple decades ago, you never really saw a bolt-action with a barrel length less than 20 inches. For the better part of a century, it was common practice for rifles to have a standard length of 24 inches and, as a result, most of the industry’s ammunition testing is done with barrels of this length. This has led to a misconception that long barrels are needed for accuracy, but this and other myths are being dispelled as technology and new materials allow unheard-of performance.
At just a hair over 27 inches, this complete 16-inch rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor is a capable 1,000-yard accuracy machine that has some of the best parts available today, along with some of the most advanced carbon-fiber technology.
Case in point: a 16-inch 6.5 Creedmoor that fits in a racket case and can drill targets past 1,000 yards.
The Portable Precision Rifle
Action To accomplish the feat of building out a rifle that can fit into a racket case and pick off plates at a grand, I went about it with the idea that it’d need to be very rigid—while saving weight in the most important areas for portability. The basis of the build is a squared-up Remington 700 action. While other, more compact actions were available, it just made the most sense to work with something that wouldn’t require special stocks and scope rails.
A solid scope and mount setup, like the Leupold in Badger Ordnance rings here, is a necessity for precision. This particular scope is nice and light and rides easy in a bag with a covered windage turret.
Barrel While the action didn’t take much thought to work out, the barrel was different. A short, 16-inch all-steel barrel is heavy, and it’d need to be a full contour to absorb heat and maintain stiffness. The weight of such a barrel would make so small a rifle hard to use, so I instead went with a carbon-fiber tube from X-Caliber barrels. This barrel makes use of a Savage-style barrel nut to set headspace, so it was easy to install on the action with just a set of go and no-go gauges from Brownells for a proper installation. The thick barrel was finished out with a Badger Ordnance muzzle brake.
Stock The stock is very unique in that it telescopes instead of folds to the side. JTAC Industries is a smaller company that hasn’t seen much press, which is a shame because they managed to deliver a telescoping stock that’s actually solid with virtually no wiggle. It even locks in three positions for length of pull. They make stocks for Howa actions as well—even the mini action. This model is called the Screech Owl.
The Geissele trigger is a two-stage design and is great for a portable precision rifle, as opposed to a light single-stage.
Optics The other parts I put into the build ensure maximum versatility and weight savings where possible. The scope, a Leopold VX3i LRP, was added due to its low weight, protected windage turret and wide magnification range. It was secured to the rifle with a Nightforce base and Badger Ordnance rings. A Magpul bipod and BCM grip finished it out.
To prevent heat distortion on the scope, a KE Arms SHTF wrap was added. Carbon-fiber barrels radiate heat very quickly, and this little product can help reduce mirage. The rifle was set up with a Short Action Precision sling for positional shooting support: The quality of these slings cannot be understated, if you ever shoot from a place other than a bench. The trigger is a two-stage unit from Geissele Automatics and is very much at home on a compact rifle.
Firing The Rifle
In case you were wondering, this thing barks. You’ll want some ear protection. The ergonomics of the build are good, with the only minor issue being the short length of the cheek rest. While firing 120-grain bullets, the rifle hardly moves, which makes it perfect for spotting your own hits.
A good sling, like the Short Action Precision model here, can make a light and maneuverable rifle rock-steady in sitting and unsupported positions. It’s a huge plus for the mobile competitor or hunter.
The rifle was zeroed for 200 meters with Black Hills Gold 120-grain GMX , where it printed groups of 1 inch for five shots at that distance. Velocity was 2,735 fps. My 26-inch barrel velocity for the same load is 2,949 fps, meaning it loses about 21 fps per inch.
I went up with a fast handload, featuring Hornady 120-grain ELD Match loaded up to 2,900 fps. I got this load up to 3,000 fps, but it was blowing out primers, so I dialed it back a touch. This load grouped 1 MOA at 1,000 yards.
The JTAC cheek rest is only adjustable for height. It’s comfortable but can make the head feel a bit awkward when in firing position. I’d add a bit of length to the butt pad to alleviate this, just like I added some foam cushion to keep my face from slipping.
Now, compare this to the standard for .308 Win., the 24-inch barrel and 175-grain Sierra MatchKing at 2,600 fps. As a baseline, the 120-grain ELD-M from this short rifle generates superior speed from a barrel far shorter, and at 1,000 yards, has 8.7 mils of drop as opposed to 11.3 on my calculations. The .308 is also right at subsonic velocity at 1,000, but the 120-grain 6.5mm is still supersonic. Wind drift is actually very similar between the two across the board, as is retained energy. The 120-grain 6.5mm is about equal in energy at 1,000 to the 175-grain .308 Win.
Using handloads to maximize performance is perfectly fine, considering I built the rifle to begin with, but that’s not to say that you can’t get the same performance from factory ammo. The 143-grain ELD-X in factory form is slower but better than the 120-grain handloads, but it increases recoil for no discernible gain on target other than slightly better wind drift. The point of this is that short barrels paired with efficient bullets fired from effective cases can yield amazing results.
The portable precision rifle's stock telescopes out and is able to be collapsed with the push of a button. It slides easily and is very simple to use.
To wrap this up and put it in a racket case: You don’t need a long barrel for long range, but you need to consider the bullet and cartridge first. You can’t do this with a 16-inch .308 Win., because the bullets and cases won’t allow it. Pick the range you want to shoot, then the bullet and everything else will fall into place after that.
You’ll likely be surprised how short you can go and not miss a beat these days. It’ll only get better from here, as technology allows more performance in less space.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
More On Bolt-Action Rifles:
Building A Precision Rifle With The Faxon FX7 Action
New Ultra Light Arms redefines accuracy among ultra-lightweight rifles.
I’m going to tell you a story about the best bolt-action hunting rifle ever created. What will surprise you is the name attached to this rifle isn’t Browning, Winchester or Mauser. In 1979, a West Virginia gunsmith began experimenting and quit his job as a machine shop instructor at a vocational school to introduce the lightest but most-balanced, best-shooting but easiest-carrying, hunting rifle ever made. Since 1984, he has turned out more than 7,000 examples of this perfection. Melvin Forbes of New Ultra Light Arms started this venture, not by trying to take an existing rifle and fixing it, but by creating his own.
Because his rifles have remained a custom-only offering, Melvin Forbes’ name isn’t as well-known as men like Hawken or Mauser. However, his contribution to the history of the rifle is just as important.
Forbes based his design around a cylindrical bolt-action receiver with a two-lug bolt. The bolt was fitted with a Sako-style extractor because of its shortness and reliability. It also had a plunger-style ejector, and the bolt release was located on the tang. A special trigger/safety mechanism was designed and then crafted by Timney Triggers that provides three functions from two positions. In the forward position, the rifle will fire; in the rear position, it’s on safe, but if you press down on the safety you can work the bolt, safely unloading the rifle.
A barrel was needed, and for that Forbes turned to West Virginia barrel maker Douglas Barrels. For calibers up to .30, a number-one contour is used, and it’s attached to the receiver with an uncompromised dedication to ensuring everything was centerline-of-the-bore true. This being a proprietary action, scope mounts were needed, too. Traditional mounts can add as much as a half pound or more, so Forbes designed his own. Not only do they weigh less than 3 ounces, they’re also contoured to conform to the same centerline the rifle is built on.
Not Just Any Stock Forbes needed a stock, and in the early ’80s, all lightweight synthetic rifle stocks were manufactured using technology from the fiberglass boat industry. Though they were reasonably stable, they were heavy. A former mold maker, Forbes created a design that, with a negative drop comb, insisted that the rifle recoiled straight to the rear and also perfectly positioned the shooter’s eye in line behind the riflescope. Though the stock felt great in hand and on the shoulder, it didn’t help stiffen and support the lightweight barrel enough to deliver the accuracy desired. And, it was too heavy.
New Ultra Light Arms also makes rimfire rifles that are just as light and just as accurate as the centerfires they produce.
For help, Forbes went to a friend who worked for the Allegheny Ballistics Laboratory in Rocket Center, West Virginia. Currently, they manufacture advanced composite structures for the F-22 Raptor. At that time, they were building incredibly strong and lightweight materials for rockets. They helped Forbes understand how to hand-lay Kevlar and carbon fiber in a way that would—and you might find this hard to believe—actually make the stock stiffer than the action and barrel. Forbes took this technology and applied it to his stock, but unlike conventional wisdom still dictates, Forbes bedded his barreled action from the tang to the tip of the forend. In other words, the entire action and barrel are supported.
When Forbes’ stock comes out of the mold, it weighs an incredibly light 8 ounces, and after adding paint and a recoil pad, and fitting it to the rifle, it still weighs only 17 ounces. Most remarkable is how the stock stiffens the barreled action so that accuracy is on par with benchrest rifles. But Forbes made another discovery, and he had to seek help from engineers at West Virginia University to understand what was happening.
Forbes discovered that in his rifles would shoot all bullet weights to the same point of impact at 100 yards. Any serious rifleman knows this is, well, impossible, and Forbes wanted to understand why it was happening. With the help of some super-smart guys, they discovered that the stock was actually dampening barrel vibrations. In other words, it was making the super-thin barrel think it was very thick. Essentially, what Forbes had created was a 5-pound benchrest rifle.
Flattery Through Imitation Associates who invested in Forbes’ creation insisted the company be named Ultra Light Arms. A plethora of copycats soon emerged, and they were marketed as “ultra lights,” thus marginalizing the name of the rifle that created the genre. Other manufacturers tried to copy his design: It’s not hard to build a lightweight rifle—but what’s hard is building a lightweight rifle that’ll shoot really well and not knock the slobbers out of you when you pull the trigger.
The two-position/three-function safety on New Ultra Light Arms rifles allows them to be loaded and unloaded with the safety on.
This was partly because these copycats simply screwed thin barrels on existing actions and then attached a conventional synthetic stock. The difference—the main difference—was the stock. These manufacturers who thrive on automation and turning out guns as fast as possible did not—and still do not—understand the technology behind the Forbes stock, nor wouldn’t invest the money necessary to have these stocks built by hand like they had to be.
An improperly balanced rifle—of any weight—is hard to shoot offhand. When Forbes created his rifle, he designed it from the front guard screw out. In other words, with a conventional scope attached, his rifles balance on the front guard screw, right between the hands. This balance is what makes them so easy to shoot well from field positions.
Executives at Colt, however, recognized what Forbes was doing, and, in 1999, they purchased his company with the intention of offering what would be called the Colt Light Rifle. At the 2000 SHOT Show, they took orders for more than 7,000 rifles on the first day. Unfortunately, due to mismanagement, Colt had to cease the Colt Light Rifle project, and Forbes bought his company back. Several thousand Colt Light Rifles were produced, but they utilized a cheap synthetic stock. Many who own them send them to Forbes for restocking.
The New Ultra Light Arms Model 20 set the benchmark for lightweight and accurate hunting rifles. It’s a mark that has yet to be reached by any other rifle.
About a decade later, Forbes was approached again about offering a commercial version of his rifle, specifically the Model 24. Forbes crafts actions that are sized to match a family of cartridges and names these actions based on their weight. The Model 20 weighs 20 ounces and is sized for .308 Winchester-class cartridges. The Model 24 weighs 24 ounces and is sized for .30-06-class cartridges. This goes on all the way up to the Model 40, which will work with cartridges like the .416 Rigby.
The new company, Forbes Rifles, was to offer a commercial, non-custom version of the Model 24. But things didn’t go as planned. Forbes’ partners thought they’d be better off by abandoning the stock he designed in favor of a less expensive version. They failed, and the leftover parts were picked up by Barrett, who called it the Fieldcraft. It underwent some changes, but its real deficiency was the use of a conventional stock. Fieldcraft rifles couldn’t perform on the same level as the rifles from New Ultra Light Arms and were soon discontinued.
Still Aiming High Now at 74, Forbes is still building the same rifle he’s been building for 35 years. And he’s still doing it the exact same way. The metalwork is flawless, and the rifles are built on a true centerline, but the secret—the thing that makes them so special—is the stock. How special are these rifles? Consider this, they retail for about $3,500, the wait is six to eight months, and 70 percent (7 out of 10) of those who purchase one order another within 12 months. I currently own four!
The bolt release on New Ultra Light Arms rifles is located on the left side of the tang. On left-handed rifles, the location is reversed.
Melvin Forbes’ name might never be as well-known as that of Paul Mauser, but he designed a better and stronger rifle. For those fortunate few who own one of his rifles, his name is just as revered and belongs on the list of iconic rifle engineers, because he realized the rifle stock is just as important as the steel. (Forbes loaned Nosler an action for testing, and they used it for 12 years and fired 4.5 million rounds through it. It was still functional when it was retired.)
Forbes is a rifle magician, and his magic—his science—is real. If you want to experience it, all you have to do is believe … and write a check. But when you do, Forbes will tell you, “That’s my rifle; you’re just paying to have it on permanent loan.”
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the February 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Viridian has just released a green E Series laser sight for the Springfield Hellcat, providing a new aiming option for this popular CCW pistol.
Weapon laser sights are an easy way to gain faster potential target acquisition on any weapon system. For those who train with them, laser sights enable their users to make quick, accurate hits on target without the use of traditional irons or optics. For individuals who’ve been searching for a laser sight to mount on their Springfield Hellcat, Viridian Weapon Technologies has just released a new green E Series laser specifically made to fit this popular CCW pistol.
Viridian President and CEO Brian Hedeen had this to say on the new green E Series laser:
Viridian is offering a green E Series laser sight for the Hellcat. Now Hellcat owners have an even more versatile way to get on target fast. With the compact design of the Hellcat with the E Series laser and the Hellcat’s exceptional capacity, this is a solid option for self-defense.
The new green E Series laser has a 100-yard range in daylight and can reach out over two miles in the dark. While both distances are well beyond the practical range of a Hellcat, the new green laser option has significantly more range than the older red laser model. The laser’s activation button is ambidextrous and will automatically turn off after five minutes to save battery, as its always-on battery life is listed as 60+ minutes. The unit was specifically molded to fit the Hellcat’s trigger guard and mounts using the gun’s Picatinny rail.
The E Series lasers for Springfield Hellcats have an MSRP of $132 and are available now. The unit’s body can be ordered in either black or FDE either with a red laser or the newly available green, and each purchase includes Viridian’s 7-year warranty.
Springfield’s compact carry option just got punchier with the release of the XD-M Elite Compact OSP .45 ACP.
Recent years have seen CCW pistols trend towards being smaller, higher capacity and optics-ready. Springfield’s Hellcat has been a valiant competitor in the micro 9mm market, but the company’s XD-M Compacts have been popular carry options as well. Previously only available in either 9mm or 10mm, Springfield is now also offering the XD-M Elite Compact OSP .45 ACP.
Most of the features on the new XD-M Elite are the same as on the other caliber models. It has fully ambidextrous controls, a flared magwell and the same META trigger found on other XD-M guns. Like other compact XD-M pistols, the XD-M Elite Compact .45 ACP has a 3.8-inch hammer-forged barrel. Other standard features include Picatinny rail, a Fiber Optic front sight and Tactical Rack U-Dot rear sights.
The flared magazine well on the XD-M Elite Compact OSP .45 ACP is also removable. Uninstalling it will make the pistol slightly more carry-friendly, but it also enables its use with Springfield’s extended 13-round mags. The gun comes with two 10-round, flush-fit magazines in the box for a standard capacity of 11+1.
Like the 9mm OSP models, the new .45 can mount a wide selection of popular pistol red dots. Springfield has plates available for the Vortex/Burris footprint pattern, as well as for the Leupold/Shield and Trijicon/Holosun patterns. With these optics plate choices, one could mount virtually anything they wanted on their XD-M Elite Compact OSP .45 ACP.
For a simpler approach, however, Springfield also has a package available that comes with an optic already installed. The package includes a Hex Dragonfly red dot sight, and when purchased with the pistol the bundle costs about $100 less than buying the items separately.
The Springfield XD-M Elite Compact OSP .45 ACP pistol has an MSRP of $653 and the package with the Hex Dragonfly will cost $843. The new guns look like a decent carry option for those looking for a modern, optics-ready pistol but still prefer the .45 ACP cartridge.
The .410 revolver sold extremely well upon their introduction, but do these weapons serve a purpose?
The Judge, the Governor and the Public Defender. No, this is not the beginning of a bad “walked into a bar” joke, these are the names of the three most common revolvers chambered for .410 bore shotgun shells.
The novelty of a true shotgun revolver gave new meaning to the term “hand cannon” in many people’s eyes, but others were quick to dismiss the concept as useless. On one hand, five rounds of buckshot as fast as you can pull the trigger seems pretty intimidating, but others will point out that even the best .410 loads are rarely used to take game larger than turkeys. So, who’s right? Does the .410 revolver have a place in the gun world? Or was the concept merely a well-marketed gimmick that became more popular than it should have?
A .410 Taurus Judge.
.410 Revolvers’ Intended Purpose
As evidenced both by the marketing surrounding .410 revolvers as well as the rhetoric of their advocates, these guns were bought and sold with self-defense in mind. Advertised as a versatile, compact yet devastating weapon, the .410 revolver quickly gained a following of dedicated carriers. The concept was popular enough to spur the creation of defensive .410 loads, purpose-built for use in handguns. The Taurus Judge was not actually the first .410 revolver, but it was the first widely popular model that drove companies like Smith & Wesson to iterate the concept.
An ad for the Taurus Judge .410 revolver advocating its use for self-defense. Photo:Taurus USA on Twitter.
Both Taurus and S&W were quite clear in their marketing that the .410 revolver concept was useful as a self-defense weapon, both for the home and concealed carry. Their advertisements highlighted the fact that the revolvers were versatile due to their ability to chamber .45 Long Colt as well as various .410 shotshells. Despite being large-framed with big cylinders and short barrels, .410 revolvers were also touted as easy to carry. While they’re certainly more compact than any other weapon chambered for .410 besides some derringers, compared to modern CCW options they’re absolute bricks. While some people can and do effectively conceal even larger handguns, for the average individual they’re simply too big for this purpose. Compromises to concealability and comfort could be more understandable if .410 revolvers had other merits that compensated for their bulk, but when it comes to defensive uses they do not.
A Taurus Judge .410 revolver versus a Springfield Hellcat in size. Photo: HandgunHero.
In a previous post on using .410 shotguns for home defense, we looked at how even the best defensive loads yielded subpar results when compared to larger shotgun gauges. While they do have some advantages that people seek such as lower recoil, the consensus is that barring a few niche circumstances that there is almost always a superior choice for defending one’s home. When looking for defense outside of the home with .410, the result is largely the same.
.410 birdshot lacks the power to even be considered valid for self-defense, and while .410 buckshot can certainly prove lethal it lacks the spread to gain the hit probability advantage of larger-bore shotguns. .410 slugs are simply less effective than .45 LC as well. The result of all this is that even if you are carrying a .410 revolver for defense, their ability to chamber .45 LC will always make that caliber the best choice in weapons of this type. Considering that there are much better defensive handgun rounds than that it raises the question as to why anyone would ever choose to carry one.
When it comes down to it, for personal defense against other humans there is always a better choice than a .410 revolver. Something worth considering, however, is that there are other threats besides humans.
The .410 Revolver Niche
Despite thinking that these guns became popular mostly due to misleading marketing, I don’t believe that they are entirely useless. I maintain that when it comes to choosing a weapon for defending against other humans, either inside or out of the home, the .410 revolver is a suboptimal option regardless of the ammunition loaded.
Depending on where in the country you live, however, humans may not be at the top of your threat list. Many rural Americans live in places infested with dangerous species of snakes, and carrying to defend against them may even take priority over other, less common dangers. For individuals that this applies to, a go-to option for many years was the Snake Charmer. Advertised as cheap utility shotguns, Snake Charmers were single-shot break-actions chambered for .410 bore, and many people found them useful for taking care of varmints and pests on their property. With an overall length of nearly 30-inches, however, they were not the most portable guns out there. Couple that with their one-shot capacity and the need to cock the hammer before firing, an unseen snake may bite you before you can bite it.
A .410 Snake Charmer.
For those who frequently patrol snake country, I can see the advantage of having a .410 revolver on their hip. With the first chamber loaded with birdshot, one of these could dispatch a snake very fast. Without the need to conceal it, revolvers like the Judge become far more packable. They can be comfortably open carried for quick access and are definitely more compact than a Snake Charmer. The versatility claim still has merit here too, as it still gives one the freedom to load or at least carry a wider variety of ammunition.
The .410 revolver concept gets a lot of flak, and in my opinion for good reason. These guns were sold as defensive tools for use against human threats, and while they can be as lethal as any other firearm, it doesn’t change the fact that there are both better ammo types and guns for that purpose. If you own one of these things for the novelty of having a handheld shotgun, there’s nothing wrong with that as they can be very fun to shoot. If, however, you use a .410 revolver for CCW or home defense, it’s probably time to consider getting something else. But, if the number one threat to your safety has cold blood and fangs, there’s nothing wrong with giving it a taste of justice.
Springfield Armory’s latest rifle, the SAINT Edge ATC, is here to deliver maximum precision from the AR platform.
Springfield Armory has just announced the release of the SAINT Edge ATC, an AR-style precision rifle chambered for .223 Wylde. ATC stands for “Accurized Tactical Chassis”, and it’s this unique system that gives the SAINT its edge. Springfield guarantees that the new rifle can deliver sub-MOA three-shot groups with a good shooter and match-grade ammo.
Accurized Tactical Chassis
The SAINT Edge ATC chassis system is of monolithic design and machined from 6061 T6 aluminum, serving as both the rifle’s lower receiver and handguard. This allows the barrel to be completely free-floated by eliminating any contact between the lower receiver and the barrel, barrel nut or gas system. The lower receiver portion of the ATC uses standard AR components and magazines, and the handguard has a section of Picatinny rail at the bottom for mounting a bipod. The handguard also has a few M-LOK slots near the top.
The SAINT Edge ATC also has what Springfield calls the Accu-Tite Plus tensioning system, a series of set screws that ensure a tight, solid lockup between the upper and ATC lower. These systems combined are at the heart of the SAINT Edge and the key to making a maximally accurate AR-style rifle.
While it’s the new chassis system that makes the SAINT Edge unique, any precision rifle also needs a good barrel. In this case, it’s an 18-inch Ballistic Advantage with a 1:7 twist and .223 Wylde chamber. The chamber makes the SAINT Edge compatible with both .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO, and the twist rate is ideal for stabilizing heavier match-grade projectiles.
SAINT Edge Options
Springfield has announced two variants of the SAINT Edge ATC, a standard version and the SAINT EDGE ATC Elite. Both versions share the same ATC system and barrel and should have the same inherent mechanical accuracy, but the Elite version comes with a few more tricks up its sleeve.
Besides coming in a Coyote Brown Cerakote finish rather than the standard model’s black, the Elite model also has a LaRue 2-Stage trigger and collapsible B5 Systems Precision Stock. These are a bit of an upgrade over the standard model’s flat match trigger and B5 Systems Enhanced SOPMOD stock. Both models include A B5 Systems Type 23 P-Grip.
The final difference between the rifles is their price point. The standard model has an MSRP of $1,549 and the Elite model is $1,899. Both models come with one 20-round PMAG and are available now.
Word has come out that the ATF will soon add Form 4 to their online eForm system.
Like most things related to government bureaucracies, the National Firearms Act is overly complex and difficult to navigate. This article won’t serve as an introduction to the NFA process as a whole, but should hopefully give you a better understanding of the changes about to take place, and what they could mean for you.
Simply put, the NFA restricts the ownership of certain firearms and firearm-related devices such as suppressors. Items restricted under the NFA, including machineguns, are legal for non-prohibited Americans to own, but only after receiving approval from and registering the item with the government. The process can be lengthy and complicated, especially for first-timers, but there has been an interesting development recently that will hopefully make all our lives a little easier.
The two most common types of forms that are submitted when buying an NFA item are Form 1 and Form 4, the former is used for constructing your own NFA items and the latter is for transferring existing ones. For some time now the ATF has had a system in place that they call eForms. eForms allow for the digital submission of the necessary paperwork involved in the transfer/registration process without the need for snail mail. After ironing out any initial problems, eForms proved to be a useful development indeed, eventually lowering the wait times and errors associated with the process. For the forms which could be submitted using eForms, some individuals saw the total duration of the process drop down to just a couple of weeks, and sometimes even less. While the expedited process was appreciated by those who could take advantage of it, the system was still missing the most common form needed by civilian shooters: Form 4.
The ATF's eForm website form selection page, hopefully we will soon see Form 4 here as well.
Understanding ATF Forms
For those unfamiliar with the various ATF forms, here's an intro to the most common ones:
Form 4473: If you've ever bought a gun, you've likely filled out a Form 4473 before. This is a “Firearms Transaction Record”, and one must be completed when transferring a firearm from an FFL. Part of this form includes your National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) number and background check.
Form 1: This form is an “Application to Make and Register a Firearm”, and it's for individuals without a Federal Firearms License (FFL) who want to create an NFA item. This includes things such as manufacturing an SBR by swapping your brace for a proper stock on an AR pistol or chopping down your weapon's barrel below 16 inches.
Form 2: This form is only for licensed SOTs who are legally allowed to own and manufacture NFA items. Form 2 is known as a “Notice of Firearms Manufactured or Imported”, and one must be filled out when manufacturing or importing an NFA item. This form is the only way that new machineguns can be made in or imported into the United States.
Form 3: Another uncommon form for most people, a Form 3 is only needed for FFL SOTs to transfer NFA items amongst one another. If you're a SOT and manufacture a machinegun, for example, you would use Form 3 to transfer it to another SOT anywhere in the country.
Form 4: The current talk of the town, Form 4 is known as an “Application for Tax Paid Transfer and Registration of Firearm” and is used when non FFLs wish to own a restricted NFA item. For prefabricated and legally transferable SBRs, SBSs, suppressors, machineguns and more, Form 4 is used to transfer that item to the buyer and register it with the ATF. Form 4 is what will soon be added to the eForm system.
Form 20: This is likely the most commonly used ATF form by non-FFLs after the 4473, Form 4 and Form 1. Form 20 is an “Application to Transport NFA Firearms” and must be filled out and submitted to the ATF prior to transporting certain NFA weapons between states. For example if you plan on taking your SBR to a match outside of your home state where the weapon is registered, you would need to submit a Form 20 and receiver approval before legally doing so.
ATF Form Changes
On December 3rd, however, the ATF announced that a new eForm system will launch sometime in December of this year, and this time it will include Form 4. While this isn’t as good of news as the abolishment of the whole system would have been, for those who wish to own restricted NFA items it should now become a faster and easier process. As this screenshot from the ATF's website shows, currently only forms 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 6A, 9, 10 and 5300.11 are available as eForms, but Form 4 should supposedly be listed here as well by the end of December.
An excerpt from the ATF's website as of December 9th 2021, this list will hopefully soon be updated to include Form 4.
If you already have submitted a Form 4 and are waiting on approval, keep in mind that aborting the process to resubmit it using the new eForm system will likely only result in a longer delay, so just hold fast in the meantime. If, however, you were recently considering purchasing a suppressor, factory-made SBR or a pre-86 machinegun, waiting a couple more weeks to submit the Form 4 using the new eForm system will probably net you a faster turnaround time than filing the old-fashioned way.
Just like when the original eForm website launched (or any government program for that matter), the new eForm system will likely experience some problems upon release. Hopefully the transition to the new system proves to be painless, but history suggests otherwise. With any luck though, by sometime next year Form 4s will be known for being potentially just as fast as some Form 1s can be.
More On Suppressors
The Suppressor: How Is It Made, It Works And How To Buy One
Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 13 new bits of guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.
Aiming to go long? Don’t ignore the buttstock. Creating consistency in how a rifle mounts to the shoulder and how the eye lines up to the scope, upgrading this stock feature definitely helps you go the distance. Designed for compatibility with AR-style rifles and chassis systems that utilize a buffer tube-style attachment, the stock works with a wide swath of firearms—and goes a long way to enhance the system. Fully adjustable, the stock allows shooters to dial in both length of pull and comb height to create a perfect and repeatable interface between shooter and gun. And, at 28 ounces, it’s more than manageable on most long-range rigs. MSRP: $236.99
McMillan Z-10 Bag Rider Stock
Leave it to McMillan to level up bench shooters’ systems. Engineered for the utmost adaptability when shooting off bags, the aptly named Z-10 Bag Rider Stock is just the ticket when throwing lead from a solid, level surface. Among the high points of the system is a swept butt profile that better accommodates the use of a rear bag. Its geometry allows shooters to micro-adjust the elevation of the rifle more quickly, easily and precisely. Of course, the Z-10 also has all the other bells and whistles precision shooters expect, such as adjustable length-of-pull and cheek rise, thumb shelf and pistol grip. And it’s constructed from fiberglass, creating a rock-solid, flex-free platform from which to place shots. MSRP: Starting at $603
HEX Dragonfly
Competitive shooters have known it for decades and now the general public is catching on—red dots rule the roost. There’s no faster way to upgrade a pistol’s aiming system than adding reflex optics, and Hex makes it more affordable than ever. Boasting a near entry-level price, the Dragonfly doesn’t compromise one bit, offering a reliable, battle-ready optic. Projecting a bright 3.5 MOA dot, the aluminum-body optic proves lightning fast on target acquisition and transition, and it delivers a crystalline sight picture thanks to scratch-resistant, anti-glare glass. The fully adjustable brightness setting gives the Dragonfly the ability to adapt to any situation, and a 16-hour auto-off feature prevents draining its battery. MSRP: $249
Remington 870 +2 Magazine Tube Extension Kit
Be it home defense or competition, it’s always good to have plenty on tap in your shotgun. XS Sight bumps this up with its +2 Magazine Tube Extension kit, designed to work seamlessly with Remington 870 pump-action shotguns. The magazine tube extension kit includes a factory detent removal tool, a 45-inch Wolff 12-gauge extended spring and the +2 extension tube. The one-piece tube, made from hard-coat anodized 6061 aluminum, keeps a scattergun overall light, while also offering real estate to mount an accessory in addition to increasing capacity. MSRP: $80
Wilson Combat Multi-Caliber Magazine
Switching mags to match calibers is a pain … and expensive. Wilson offers an elegantly simple solution—a universal magazine. Well, almost universal. Wilson Combat’s mag smoothly runs 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem., .300 Blackout and 300 Ham’r ammunition without fear of jamming or bulging the magazine itself. Holding 30 rounds, it also puts plenty of firepower in your hands. Designed with a nonslip polymer tube, anti-tilt follower and powerful spring, the mag will function reliably in the harshest field conditions. MSRP: $18.95
AR-15/M16 Barrel Vise Jaws
Get to a certain level of building or working on firearms and you’ll need to invest in specialty tools. Barrel vise jaws are at the top of this list. Utilizing two “V” blocks that clamp into a bench vise provides a solid base to work on an AR-15 barrel, whether you’re headspacing or installing a muzzle device. Compatible with most barrel profiles, up to 1-inch bull barrels, Luth-AR’s shop upgrade is versatile. Made of aircraft-grade aluminum, it’s very durable. By the way, the jaws aren’t anodized, so you don’t have to worry about scoring your barrel’s finish. MSRP: $29.99
DeSantis Gunhide Furious Flashlight Holder
Eliminating the bulk and aptitude for ejecting from a pocket, DeSantis’ Furious Flashlight Holder rethinks how to tote a handheld light. Honestly, it’s genius in its simplicity. Taking a cue from modern holster design, the belt-attachable holder is made of form-fitting Kydex to keep your torch at hand and in place. Additionally, it offers some of the amenities found on top-notch pistol rigs, such as two-screw tension adjustment and safety features. In this case, the safety is a wide mouth that ensures the light won’t inadvertently get flipped on and drain its battery. Attaching via a powder-coated spring clip, the Furious is compatible with any belt up to 1¾ inches. MSRP: $38.99
X-Vision Optics RFP875 Rangefinder
Spartan as modern rangefinders go, there’s plenty to like in X-Vision Optics’ latest gadget. In particular, the price. Few and far between are ranging tools that do what they promise and come in under $250. So yeah, the RFP875 doesn’t link up to your scope to give it a shooting solution or measure wind movement downrange. What it does do is give you dead-accurate readings out 875 yards and incline compensation up to 90 degrees, plus simple two-button controls and 6x magnification. If you’re honest with yourself, that’s all you need the next time you go out to fill your tag. MSRP: $219
Adaptive Tactical EX Performance Tactical Light Fore-End
The age-old problem: How do you light up a pump-action shotgun? One answer, Adaptive Tactical’s lighted fore-end. Throwing blinding 300 lumens, the EX Performance provides more than enough light to illuminate any of the bumps in the night. And it offers some nice functions to boot, such as momentary on and rapid strobe, in addition to a continuous beam. Powered by two AA batteries and operated by an ambidextrous on/off switch, the light ups the level of the most popular pump-actions, such as the Mossberg 500 and Remington 870. Furthermore, the light is removable, revealing a 2-inch Picatinny rail, in case you want to run a laser sight instead. MSRP: $130
Fenix E18R
It’s difficult not to like what’s going on at Fenix. The E18R is the perfect example. No bigger than a minute, the handheld torch is a second thought as an EDC option and is more than manageable to tote in a front pocket. Yet, the mighty mite punches above its weight, throwing an impressive light on a problem—750 lumens by Fenix’s telling. That’s not even getting into its strobe function and four brightness settings. But where the E18R really makes hay is that it’s rechargeable via a magnetic charger. For the minimalists out there, it ticks off all the right boxes. MSRP: $65
Sionyx Aurora Pro
Full-color digital night vision? Let’s just say the Aurora Pro leaves its competition green with envy. Better yet, Sionyx’s flagship optic brings its game-changing tech to a wide audience, with a price tag a fraction of its competitors. So you lay your coin down what do you get, aside from technicolor nighttime? An impact and water-resistant NV system with the ability to film at 720p and an adjustable frame rate of up to 60 frames per second. A rechargeable power source and Pelican case are nice perks too. Overall, whether as a back-country insurance policy or something to level up your carbine, the Aurora Pro has it down pat. MSRP: $999
Nightstick TWM-30
Tailor-made for full-framed weapons, the TWM-30 doesn’t skimp in shedding light on the situation. It’s a big mother, no doubt, but worth every tittle of its 5.4-ounce weight, doling out an impressive 1,200 lumens of light. That’s enough to reach out to nearly 636 feet. It and its olive drab green twin, the TWM-30F, both feature law enforcement adopted single-motion switches for momentary and constant on. Yes, it has a strobe function too. And the gun light is made so you can beat the snot out of it, with an aircraft-grade aluminum body that’s IP-X7 waterproof and impact resistant. Nightstick’s new light is as legit as they come. MSRP: $130
Steiner TOR Mini
Small as it is combat-worthy, the TOR Mini brings a whole different game to your pistol. First off, the laser-sight more than lives up to its mini moniker. The unit is just over 2 inches in length and 1 inch in width, which means it’s next to nothing even on a sub-compact pistol. Add to that a hard-anodized machined aluminum housing that makes it both dust- and splash-proof, and you have a system ready to stand up to your everyday abuse. Finally, direct diode-type lasers (both red and green) offer unparalleled dependability, giving you an aim point, even in frigid climates (something not all lasers can claim). Fully adjustable windage and elevation, righty-lefty friendly controls and compatible with weaver and Picatinny rails, the TOR Mini squeezes plenty into a small package. MSRP: $287
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Following the earlier release of the SCO15 lower, one can now assemble complete SilencerCo AR-15 builds using the new SCO15 upper.
If you couldn’t figure it out from the company’s name, SilencerCo specializes in making silencers. Armed with ample manufacturing capabilities, however, they didn’t stop there. Starting with the release of the SCO15 lower receiver earlier this year, SilencerCo marked its entry into the AR-15 receiver market. Featuring a few upgrades but otherwise remaining mostly standard, the lower also had some unique SilencerCo flair. Now with the release of the new SCO15 upper, complete AR-15 receivers can be assembled using exclusively SilencerCo parts.
Precision machined from billet 7075 aluminum, just like the lower, the SCO15 upper has all the standard features shooters have come to expect with an AR-15 upper. It comes standard with Picatinny rail on the receiver’s flat top, and internally it has M4 feed ramps for compatibility with all modern barrels. It is also compatible with standard AR dust covers, forward assists and charging handles.
Besides the novelty of having an upper and lower receiver from the same company, the new SCO15 upper promises to aesthetically match the SCO15 lower better than anything else on the market. While both components have mostly standard features, SilencerCo did redesign them some. Manufactured with more angular, futuristic-looking lines than what is seen on mil-spec ARs, the SilencerCo receivers stand out without appearing too flashy. They would make handsome additions to any high-tech AR build, especially one with a SilencerCo can installed as well.
The new SCO15 upper is undoubtedly well-made, but with a higher-than-average MSRP of $219, it may not have enough extra features to make a big splash. If you’ve already invested in a SilencerCo lower, however, it might be worth getting a SCO15 upper too just to make it a matching set.
Need the skinny on how to best protect your castle? Three trained experts give their takes on how to perfect your home defense strategy.
After traveling overseas, when I land back in the United States I feel at ease and much more relaxed. When I get home—back to my house—that level of ease and relaxation is even further heightened. A man should feel safe in his own country and especially in his own home, and not just because you’re around friends and can wear your Batman pajamas. At home, you should be safe from ridicule—some folks think grown men shouldn’t wear pajamas—and violence.
A practical and effective home-defense strategy involves a lot more than a gun.
Many turn to a firearm as their frontline of a home-defense strategy, but, in reality, it should be their last. In fact, from a tactical perspective, there are a lot of things you can do to increase the security level of your home that don’t involve a firearm. I reached out to three individuals, who I consider to be experts on personal protection and self-defense, and asked them, “What, in addition to firearms, can be done to increase safety at home?”
Dave Hartman, Gunsite Academy
Currently serving as the training director for Gunsite Academy, which is the oldest and largest civilian firearms training school in the world, Dave Hartman has a résumé that cannot be ignored when it comes to topics surrounding personal protection. Hartman is a solid fellow who is possibly better in tune with topics related to self-defense than anyone I know. He’s also a friend who I’ve hunted with in Africa.
Seek out high-quality self-defense training that specifically addresses working from cover and inside a structure.
One of the first things Hartman suggested was to make sure your cell phones are charged at all times, because hard lines can be cut. If you have to make that 911 call, “Give a brief description of the situation and keep the line open; 911 calls are all recorded and can serve as evidence at a later date.” He also suggested that when you speak with the dispatcher and possibly the perpetrators, “… do so in a clear and concise voice.”
Hartman was also adamant that you understand the difference in cover and concealment. “There are very few things in a house or an apartment that constitute cover,” he says. This is important when you’re planning or choosing things to hide behind. Block or brick walls, full refrigerators and freezers, and gun safes are some things that’ll stop most handgun bullets.
Some commonsense suggestions that Hartman made were to check doors and windows before retiring for the night, and to make sure if you have an alarm, you set it. Hartman also mentioned the importance of external lighting and surveillance cameras. “Fake cameras can serve as a deterrent.” Like alarms, dogs are an early warning system too. He said, “When I go to bed at night, my door is locked with my dogs in the room.”
Hartman also suggested that ideally you want your attacker or intruder to come to you and to not, “… go looking for a gunfight; gather the family and shelter in place if possible.” But he also added that, “If you have to go on the offensive due to circumstances beyond your control, act decisively and without hesitation.”
Finally, Hartman strongly suggested that you find training and practice your skill at arms, because you may have to shoot to stop an attack. But, at the same time he felt it was imperative to take an emergency medical course so that you have the basic skills necessary to treat a gunshot or stab wound.
Wilson Combat is the largest and most successful custom firearms manufacturer in the world. The company was founded by Bill Wilson, who is without question one of the most experienced trigger-pullers I know. Wilson lives on a very secluded and safe ranch in Texas, and it’s the last place I’d want to attempt to infiltrate. As a founding member of IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association), Wilson intimately understands self-protection with a firearm.
Wilson Combat founder Bill Wilson.
One of the best suggestions I’ve heard with regard to home-defense preparation came from Wilson. He suggested keeping a good set of electronic ear protection with your home-defense weapon/weapons. “Not only will they protect your hearing if your weapon of choice has a lot of muzzle blast, but if you crank the volume up, they will enhance your ability to hear the threat and family members.”
Similarly, not only do you need to hear your threat, but you also need to see it, and Wilson said to, “Make sure you have a quality handheld flashlight and weapon light mounted on your weapon for threat location and identification.” One thing I learned as a police officer is how much bad guys hate light. In many cases, a bright light is all that is needed to make them change their mind and on top of that, a bright light in their eyes makes it almost impossible for them to affect a precision attack.
Similar to Hartman’s comment about cover, Wilson also said to, “Locate and put to memory areas of your home/property that are good defensive positions that will stop an incoming bullet.” Survival is the goal, and keeping bullets out of your body makes surviving easier. Additionally, you can even stage tools or weapons where you plan to shelter.
Dave “Boon” Benton, Threat Management Solutions
I’m convinced that Gunsite Academy is the best location for self-defense training with a firearm. That doesn’t mean there aren’t great instructors providing great training in other locations. One of those I can recommend without hesitation is Benghazi survivor, Dave “Boon” Benton. I worked with Benton training some local patrol and SWAT officers and his ability to convey practical, tactical and lifesaving information in an understandable and layered manner is top tier.
David “Boon” Benton training SWAT team officers.
For the most part, Boon echoed the suggestions of Hartman and Wilson with regard to keeping your cell phone charged and close. Similarly, he stressed the need for a flashlight, expressing the 3L rule when selecting one. L1: Get a flashlight with lithium batteries because of their better shelf life. L2: Get a flashlight with LED bulbs, because they last longer and are more impact resistant. L3: And understand that lumens matter; for a defensive light, you want at least 100 lumens.
Also, like Hartman, Boon strongly suggested being prepared to deal with emergency medical situations. When everything is said and done, yeah, you can call the EMTs. But, with a serious injury, time is of the essence. Have a good emergency medial kit handy and bring all the family/household members up to speed on how to use it.
Another thing that Boon stressed, and all these experts agreed upon, was that first and foremost, you should have a plan. A primary, secondary and third plan isn’t a bad idea either. Different situations warrant different responses. If you or another family member aren’t at home, the plan will be different. If the threat remains outside that should alter the plan as well. Don’t over complicate it, but have a standard operating procedure in place for different situations that may arise.
The plan(s) should also be practiced until there’s surety everyone in the home is playing from the same sheet of music. Are you going to shelter in place or evacuate? If you are sheltering, where? If you are evacuating, where? Assign different responsibilities to responsible persons, who gathers the children, calls 911, etc.
Having a layered defense that includes lights, cameras, dogs, alarms and good locks is one thing. However, being prepared to deal with a threat that may breach these obstacles is another. Your door lock or surveillance camera won’t panic, but you might, especially if you’ve not made any preparations for the assault.
Having a gun isn’t enough; the occupants of your home need a planned response. If a situation you didn’t prepare for arises, yeah, you’ll have to alter the plan. What’s key here is having a plan that you can alter as opposed to making it up as you go.
Richard Mann's Plan
As an example, we have a fenced yard with an electric gate that contains two dogs. They’re not eat-you-up dogs, but they’re barking dogs that spend fair-weather months outside. Their favorite pastime is barking at anything that doesn’t normally occur around our house. We also have surveillance cameras that provide a day-and-night view all around the home and exterior lighting to eliminate dark spots.
Training should be considered a necessity, and force-on-force training is very helpful in learning tactics and how to control your emotions when under stress.
Inside, we have the dog that’ll bite, and we have a plan to centralize in the kitchen where the medical kit is stored and where we can secure behind things capable of stopping bullets. Guns are secured in our bedroom and at each end of our home. In the event of an attempted breach, it’s my job to collect the kids, and my wife’s job to call 911. Once gathered in the kitchen, we can view all entry points and shelter as needed.
Everyone’s situation will vary, just spend some time applying some logic and you can put together a similar and practical approach to dealing with a potentially life-threatening problem. Run through the plan just like you would a fire drill a couple times each year and take the time to discuss concerns that might arise or changes that have occurred. There’s no place like home for comfort and security, and while the cops might laugh at your Batman pajamas, at least you’ll be alive to show them off when they finally get there.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the April 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
A makeover for the made-over Enhanced Ruger Precision rifle.
When the Ruger Precision Rifle (RPR) debuted at the 2015 SHOT Show, it was hotter than MAGA hats after President Trump’s election night victory.
The RPR’s out-of-the-box accuracy, combined with a comparatively attractive price point, created instant demand. The marketing campaign certainly helped, with the company using a quote from its president, Mike Fifer, “Sixteen hundred yards. Enough said.”
The finished product – and upgraded Enhanced Ruger Precision Rifle.
Shooters soon found out the tagline was more than mere marketing hype. seemingly overnight social media was bombarded with videos of RPRs being shot accurately beyond 1,000 yards and even up to a mile. The rifles were so popular many writers (including this one) couldn’t get ahold of them for testing without waiting for several months. The RPR chassis rifle was somewhat unique at the time – a bolt action rifle with several black rifle components. In no time people were customizing the RPR – most commonly swapping out the handguard, adding a metal bolt shroud, and putting on some kind of muzzle brake.
As time passed, the popularity of the Ruger Precision Rifle continued to bloom. The platform is still gaining support, with nearly 16,000 members at the time of this writing on the dedicated Ruger Precision Rifle Facebook page. In 2016 the company took note of some of the modifications that were being done to the RPR and Ruger began offering the Enhanced RPR. Refinements included a billet aluminum bolt shroud, a new handguard, and a muzzle brake. Coincident with these upgrades Ruger also bumped the price by about $200 to $1,599 MSRP. While these were clearly welcome upgrades, there remained areas for improvement if one were so inclined. This article walks through some of the more common upgrades to the Enhanced RPR. As with all firearm modifications, ensure your rifle is completely unloaded before beginning your work (magazine removed, visually inspected empty chamber).
Stock
Perhaps the first thing noticed on the RPR is the stock. The design is very space-gun like, and it is adjustable for length of pull, cant, and cheek weld. Some shooters like the stock while others can’t pull it off their gun fast enough. Though it is a folding stock, it may be replaced by nearly every type of aftermarket stock designed for a black rifle. The folding component remains on the rifle, so that feature is retained after this customization. For this project the Magpul Precision Rifle Stock (PRS) Gen 3 was selected. The PRS has been a go-to stock for precision black rifle builds for many years. It is easily field-adjustable for length of pull (1.4 inches of adjustment) and cheek weld height (0.8 inches of adjustment) without the use of tools. It is also adjustable for butt stock pad height and cant. The Gen 3 PRS is compatible with both small and large frame black rifles, and it works on the RPR. Other enhancements to this latest generation of PRS include limited rotation QD sockets for sling attachment both fore and aft on the stock – the latter being part of a removable and reversible sling loop. Magpul also designed MLOK slots in the bottom of the stock to allow for attachment of an accessory. Finally, the Gen 3 PRS is almost 10% lighter at 27.8 ounces compared to the Gen 2 PRS.
The new Magpul Precision Rifle Stock (PRS) 3.0 is lighter than previous models, yet retains full adjustability. The Magpul MOE+ has a grippy texture and a storage compartment.
Swapping out the stock is as straightforward as on any black rifle. Simply loosen the nut near the action on the original stock to relieve the pressure of the clamp that holds the stock to the buffer tube. Next install the PRS by sliding it onto the buffer tube. Total time for this modification was less than 5 minutes.
Trigger
The stock trigger in the Enhanced RPR is very good, but it is not for everyone. Most people can use the stock trigger with good results, but the center blade safety feature bothers some shooters. For those who want to upgrade the RPR trigger the Timney drop in trigger is a great option.
The red Timney 2 stage trigger assembly can be seen here.
To trade out the stock trigger the clam shell action must be disassembled. This is a simple process, but it’s nerve racking to do the first time. Three hex head bolts must be removed – two on the side of the action and one at the rear of the action. The latter is concealed by the folding stock. Ruger made these bolts identical to each other, so you don’t need to keep track of which is which. A 3/16 hex wrench is required for this step. If the bolt has not yet been removed, now is a good time to do so. A single hex bolt holds the trigger assembly to the action. This is also a 3/16 hex head. On the side of the assembly a detent in a J-shaped slot must be moved to the top of the J. Next pull the silver tabs away from the action. Finally, tap the trigger assembly on the muzzle side with a nylon mallet and the whole thing pops out. The Timney trigger installs in the reverse manner. Slide the Timney assembly into position and install the retaining screw. The two stage Timney trigger may be adjusted for pull weight, but only the second stage may be adjusted once installed. Make any adjustments to the take up stage now. The trigger may be put on safe manually at this point by pushing on the bar on the side of the assembly. This opens the recess into which the safety selector will insert. Total time for this modification was 15 minutes.
Handguard
The new handguard on the Enhanced RPR is an excellent upgrade from the original. As compared to the original RPR handguard it is lighter in weight, and does not have a full length rail. Complaints were answered and the new version addresses many user concerns. However there are other options out there. For this project the Seekins Precision SP3R Rail System – Ruger Compatible was selected. Seekins products are works of art, combining form and function in a ways that delight shooters. Having used a SP3R Rail System on my 3-gun rifle for years I was very familiar with the features. The SP3R has a proprietary mounting nut and precision rail-to-nut fit that creates a very rigid free floating rail. The flat bottomed rail makes it easier to shoot off of many barriers used in action shooting competitions. MLOK or Keymod slots are available, and the Keymod version got the nod on this build.
Changing the handguard on the RPR is the exact same process as for a black rifle. Mounting screws are backed out and the original rail is removed. Next the mounting nut is removed. After replacing the barrel (below) the Seekins mounting was threaded all the way on and then backed off to roughly index the rail. The jam nut was tightened hand tight and then the SP3R Rail was indexed, which was achieved by taking a one piece scope mount and attaching it on both the upper and the SP3R. Finally the rail was removed and the jam nut tightened fully. The SP3R handguard attaches to the mounting nut with 12 screws. Total time for this procedure was 10 minutes.
Barrel
The barrels used by Ruger in the RPR produce very good results. Removing them is a challenge because they are “on there”, but an AR armor’s wrench and a good barrel vise will take care of business. There are plenty of YouTube videos covering this process if you wish to do it yourself. The key is to have a very good barrel vise. Some may wish to have this done by a reliable gunsmith. This is the route this writer chose, in part because the process requires head space gauges and I didn’t have the gauges for 6.5 Creedmoor at the time.
A carbon-fiber-wrapped match grade barrel from PROOF Research was selected for this project. These barrels are 50% lighter than stainless barrels of similar contour and they dissipate heat better as well. The advantage of the latter is PROOF barrels keep tight groups even after long shot strings. Beyond sustained accuracy these barrels just look great. I’m all for viewing my rifles as tools to be used, but I have to admit I smile every time I look at that PROOF barrel. The weight loss is significant, but it does not transform the RPR into a mountain gun.
Other Items
The stock grip is nothing special, and since I was using a Magpul stock I went with the Magpul MOE plus grip. This is a grip I use on several other rifles, so the familiarity added to the appeal. The stock safety for the RPR is a standard black rifle safety retained by a simple spring. For this project Seekins Precision ambidextrous safety was installed during the trigger swap out. This simple modification gives the shooter some flexibility when operating the rifle. Likewise, the stock muzzle device was changed for an AAC Brakeout 2.0 that allows an AAC SR-7 suppressor to be attached as necessary. The only trick with this upgrade is to note the stock muzzle brake has a jam nut that is hard to see. It allows the brake to be clocked to the appropriate position. The AAC Brakeout 2.0 does not require indexing.
Detail of the Advanced Armament Brakeout 2.0 muzzle device and the Proof Research carbon fiber wrapped match grade barrel.
The Finished Ruger Precision Rifle
This rifle shoots better than I do I’m sure, but sub-MOA is relatively easy for me to achieve. I have been able to take the rifle out to 1100 yards using factory ammunition. Hornady ELD Match 140 grain ammunition has produced the best results to date. The ELD bullet tip developed by Hornady’s research team does not deform at high speeds and retains its high ballistic coefficient better than other ammunition.
For more on the Ruger Precision Rifle, please visit ruger.com.
German Precision Optics has just entered the fixed power scope market with the release of their new SPECTRA 7.5x50i riflescope.
By combining strict German quality control with large-scale production facilities abroad, German Precision Optics is able to offer high-quality glass at more reasonable prices. The company’s variable power riflescopes, red dots, binoculars and rangefinders have already established a good reputation, but now GPO has decided to venture into the fixed power scope market. Recently announced, the new GPO SPECTRA 7.5x50i scope has several traits that will appeal to the all-around scope user.
The draw of the SPECTRA 7.5x50i scope is its simplicity and versatility. While variable power scopes obviously have their uses, they also add a lot of complexity that not everyone takes advantage of. Many situations that benefit from the use of a magnified optic don’t require the zoom to be adjusted, resulting in a scope with unnecessarily high weight and more failure points. The SPECTRA 7.5x50i with its fixed 7.5x magnification can be lighter and simpler, and even has a larger than average field of view. The scope’s 50mm objective lens also features a GPObright lens coating for the highest possible resolution and light transmission.
The SPECTRA 7.5x50i scope’s body is constructed from a solid 30mm tube that’s dust-proof, waterproof and nitrogen-filled for use in any environment. The scope’s reticle is a standard GPO G4i that uses the company’s GPO iCONTROL illumination system.
Illuminated G4i reticle.
The GPO SPECTRA 7.5x50i scope is powered by a CR2032 battery, and one is even included in the package. The SPECTRA also comes with a cleaning cloth, see-through lens covers and GPO USA’s lifetime warranty. With 7.5-power Magnification and a 50mm objective lens, this scope seems to offer a good balance between fast target acquisition and the ability to reach out and touch something. It has an MSRP of $599.99 and appears to be a good do-it-all scope for a jack-of-all-trades rifle.
For more on German Precision Optics, please visit gpo-usa.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.
