Trijicon has just announced a commercially available variant of the USMC’s new Squad Common Optic, the VCOG 1-8×28 SCO.
Selected as the United States Marine Corps’ new Squad Common Optic in early 2020, Trijicon has just announced a commercially available version of the VCOG 1-8×28 SCO. Designed to excel at both close quarters and long-range engagement distances, the commercial VCOG is nearly identical to its military counterpart.
The VCOG 1-8×28 SCO is a true 1x power optic with a first focal plane reticle, making it an effective, versatile option for a wide variety of engagement distances. When set to 1x magnification, the illuminated red reticle allows for quick acquisition of targets at close range, while at higher magnification settings the MRAD tree reticle scales with adjustments to provide accurate holds and range estimations. Combined with the reticle’s 11 brightness settings (including two night-vision levels), the VCOG SCO can be used for everything from clearing rooms to taking precision shots at a distance.
As a military optic, the VCOG 1-8×28 SCO had to be as tough as it was effective. This is why Trijicon opted to use forged 7075-T6 aluminum alloy for the scope’s body and multiple coatings for the scope’s lenses. The coatings provide maximum light transmission, zero distortion and exceed the military’s requirements for abrasion resistance. Despite the tough lens coatings, the VCOG 1-8×28 SCO also includes Tenebraex flip caps for extra protection. The scope also includes tethered turret caps and an integrated base/mount system. This mounting system not only eliminates the need for separate scope rings but also allows the scope to always retain its zero despite the mount’s quick-detach capabilities. The whole scope is also waterproof up to 66 feet.
Each VCOG 1-8×28 SCO will include the integrated Larue Tactical LT799 Mount, Tenebraex flip caps, Trijicon LENSPEN, a soft case, operator’s manual, warranty and the necessary lithium AA battery. It has an MSRP of $3,150 and is available now.
For more information on Trijicon, please visit trijicon.com.
Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 7 new bits of small-bore guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.
Performing well above its price, the Wildcat has more than earned its place among the top .22 LR semi-auto rifles. Now, the polymer-stocked gem has gotten a bit better. Winchester unveiled a suppressed version of the rifle in 2021, making the plinker practically perfect in every respect. While the gunmaker has added a ½x28-inch TPI threaded muzzle with knurled thread protector to the package, it’s kept all the features that made the Wildcat popular in the first place. These include button-rifled chromoly barrel, fully adjustable ghost ring rear sight, integral Picatinny sight rail 10-round rotary magazine and much more. MSRP: $300
Real Avid Speed Jag and Patches
Small bore or large bore, there’s one thing all guns have in common: They all have to be cleaned. While it’s not the most enthralling task known to man, Real Avid makes it a bit easier and more efficient. Unlike traditional jags, tips and square patches, Speed Patches are optimally fitted for maximum bore contact and no-bunch scrubbing when center-spiked over the Speed Jag. This means a cleaner bore with fewer pass-throughs. Quite simply, it adds up to less effort and faster results. Who doesn’t want a system that cuts down on cleaning time and allows more time pitching lead downrange? MSRP: $5.99
Savage Minimalist
There’s been some brainstorming over at Savage Arms, and the Minimalist Rimfire Rifle Series is proof enough. As fairly wild departure from traditional bolt-action plinker design—as its name suggests—the series aims at minimal burden in the field with an overall light 5.68-pound package. If you haven’t figured out how Savage pulled it off, take a second and look at the picture. It’s certainly unique and perhaps practical outside weight savings. Though it doesn’t boast a true hook, there’s more than enough real estate to steady the rifle with the support hand in prone or off a bench. Available in .22 LR Mark II, .22 WMR and .17 HMR, there’s another minimal aspect to the rifle—its price tag. MSRP: $359
Stoeger S8000-E Tac Suppressed Air Rifle
Small bore isn’t confined to guns that burn power. The ones that blow air also have a place, and for the money, Stoeger offers plenty in its S8000-E Tac Suppressed rifle. Available in both .117 and .22 calibers, the piston air gun is unparalleled in its ergonomics as well as shootability. This is thanks to its AFC suppressor and Gas-Ram piston system, which erases all recoil from a shot, making for dead-nuts accuracy … trigger pull after trigger pull. Additionally, a fully adjustable synthetic stock, adjustable trigger, interchangeable grips and integrated Picatinny rail make the gun comfortable and very flexible. MSRP: $249
Heckler & Koch MP5 Rimfire Models
H&K’s MP5 finds its way to many gun owners’ bucket lists—and one most won’t ever get to cross off. Or will they? If a shooter is willing to settle for a semi-auto, rimfire iteration of the classic, then the German gunmaker has the tacticool plinker for you. Made by Umarex of Germany for H&K, the .22 LR MP5 has the look and feel of the real McCoy … but it’s much easier to obtain. Feeding off 10- and 15-round magazines, it also brings plenty of firepower to an afternoon of knocking pop cans on their duffs. To boot, the rimfire is available in pistol and rifle, both suppressor compatible. What could be cooler? MSRP: $479
Optics-Ready TaurusTX 22 Competition
The TaurusTX 22 has enjoyed its share of kudos. Now, it’s taken the next step in its evolution. Meet the optics-ready TaurusTX 22 Competition. Boasting a milled slide compatible with a vast array of micro red dots—from the Trijicon RMR to Leupold DeltaPoint Pro—the full-sized polymer framed pistol brings exceptional accuracy to the rimfire game. Plus, it comes with all the extras that made earlier iterations of the TaurusTX popular: skeletonized slide, 5-inch bull barrel, well-textured grip and suppressor compatibility, just to name a few. For the price, few other .22 LR pistols can hold a candle to what this Taurus brings to the game. MSRP: $484.85
FN 502 Tactical Optics-Ready 22 Pistol
No arguments: The 502 Tactical is an ideal and economical trainer. Even so, it’s a pretty dang sweet pistol in its own right. Sporting FN’s signature Tactical feature set, the pistol’s 4.6-inch barrel with recessed target-crown is threaded ½ x28-inch pitch to accept most .22 suppressors. The optics-ready pistol performs like a robust-style target pistol, delivering fast, accurate rounds on target with more versatility than any other rimfire on the market. The smooth, single-action hammer-fired pistol with its best-in-class trigger—combined with its high-capacity 15-round magazine and superior ergonomics—puts it a cut above the rest and all but guarantees hours of fun behind the trigger. MSRP: $499
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
From Bleiker to Steyr, here are some unique small-bore rimfire rifles that shoot tiny bullets very, very accurately.
When the rimfire rifle bug infected my entire life four or five years ago, I couldn’t decide what precision long-gun to buy. So, I bought, begged, borrowed and almost stole nearly all of them.
In my safe right now, there are a few Anschütz rimfires, a pair of Bergaras, a half-dozen CZs, a couple Rugers and enough parts to build a couple more, a Tikka, a Sako, a few Savages, plus a Volquartsen, Zermatt RimX and two (down from four) Vudoo Gun Works custom jobs.
Not a day goes by that I don’t shoot one of these rifles, and it’s why my new Gun Digest book on smallbore rifles, Rimfire Revolution, has chapters on each of them.
Every major precision rimfire rifle system, be it a $300 Savage or a $3,000 Vudoo, has pros and cons. By tracing the history of each company, and rifle action design, the “why” of these rifles became clear to me. Whether it be a lone engineering working long hours to try a solve nagging feeding problems (Vudoo), or United States Marine Corps precision meeting Spanish steel (Bergara), or expert German design theory and practice applied to rifle barrels (Anschütz), the story of how a rifle came to be, how it works and who made them, are company histories that trace back in some cases to the Kaiser’s Germany, in others to internet forums, in others still to rural Iowa mom-and-pop gunsmiths.
I find it all fascinating as hell, and I think Rimfire Revolution captures some of that. In a way, I wrote the book I hoped to have when I started on this journey those four or five years ago.
Yet, there are other rifles out there, too, not from the current Big Nine of precision rimfire rifle builders. These I personally think of as the oddball rimfires. In the book, I more politely termed them “Other Notable Rifles.” Some are race guns made only for Olympic-style shooting, and European to the core call to mind F1 racers. Others still are dedicated, ultralight, small game hunters. If, like me, you know and have or have shot all the real players in the precision space, these oddballs might be just right for you. Me personally, my next .22 will certainly be one from this list.
Several other manufactures make rimfire rifles that are or could be considered precision shooting instruments. However, none of the rifles here have deeply penetrated the American market. For most, that's due to design.
Four of the rifles listed here are European race guns built for Olympic-style competition. Others are sporter rifles but have largely suffered from poor distribution. Others still are niche custom small-game rifles. None of these guns are inexpensive. The American rimfire market is changing, but price is still a major factor in most shooters' buying decisions. It's hard to sell all but the most dedicated on a walnut and blue Austrian rifle, for example, when they can get a proven German rifle for the same money or a comparable Czech rifle for half the price.
Bleiker Challenger II
Bleiker Challenger II.
This Bleiker is what a $10,000 single-shot rimfire rifle looks like. The Challenger II series by Bleiker is designed for three position and prone Olympic-style shooting. It comes in five models, the major difference being the five stock/chassis designs. All Bleiker rifles use Lilja Precision Rifle Barrels that are made in Montana. The action is notable for its extremely short bolt design. This brings the receiver closer to the shooter and requires less overall movement to reload and a lightning-fast lock time. For example, some shooters can cycle the action in a prone position without lifting their elbows off the ground.
Gold medalist Ginny Thrasher shoots a Bleiker and says positional shooting is about cultivating stillness. The action-back Bleiker design and short bolt throw help make stillness happen. The Swiss company brought home 13 gold, 14 silver, and 9 bronze medals in the 2014 World Cup and five medals and four new Olympic records at the 2016 games in Rio. They continue to excel in international competition, eclipsing most others. For several years, a Bleiker held the record for the most accurate rifle tunnel tested by ELEY in England.
Christensen Arms Ranger 22
Christensen Arms Ranger 22.
The Ranger 22 brings a rimfire back to this Gunnison, Utah, high-end rifle builder's lineup. The Ranger takes 10/22 mags and comes with a TriggerTech Remington 700-style trigger. It’s not built on a Remington 700 footprint, nor is it a “full-sized” rimfire trainer, like other Remington-based hybrids. Instead, this Frankenstein of a sporter is a high-quality small-game rifle with a carbon-fiber stock and a carbon-fiber tension barrel. It's light, handy and because it's a Christensen, you can reckon it drives tacks. It comes with a sub-MOA at 50-yard guarantee and weighs just 5.1 pounds.
Cooper Firearms Model 57M Jackson Squirrel
Cooper Firearms Model 57M Jackson Squirrel.
Founded in 1990, Cooper Firearms of Montana makes modern bespoke rifles with classic good looks. The Model 57 was added to the lineup in 1999 and evolved by 2001 into the model 57M Jackson Squirrel rifle—considered by many the Holy Grail of a small-game rimfire rifles. Cooper guarantees sub-MOA at 50 yards, but most rifles come with test targets that show smaller groups than that. The barrel is 24-inch stainless and comes in .22LR, .17HMR, and .22WMR. The stock is a work of art in AAA claro walnut with a rollover cheekpiece, semi-beavertail forearm and hand-checkered grip in a crossover multipoint pattern. They run around $3,000.
Feinwerkbau KK 2800
Feinwerkbau KK 2800.
Released in 2018, the KK 2800 is among the newest of the Olympic discipline Euro race guns on the market. Made in Germany, the action has been moved rearward like its competitors for less motion while cycling the action and a rear-from-center balance point. Like the Walther that came first, the bolt can be switched from left- to right-handed without tools. There are wood and aluminum stock models.
Grunig+Elmiger Racer
Grunig+Elmiger Racer.
Swiss G+E has been making target rifles since the 1930s. The R3 Racer is their signature series small-bore positional rifle. In the endlessly adjustable aluminum chassis, it looks like a space gat, a rifle decade ahead of its time. It's aptly named but little used and little known stateside with no real distribution. They're Bleiker level expensive.
Lithgow LA101
Lithgow LA101.
I have a soft spot for the Australian-made Lithgow LA101, imported to the U.S. until recently by Legacy Sports. It might be the most accurate .22LR available at a street price under $1,000. Maybe. Or at least mine is. (It's the most accurate rifle I've ever owned at that price point.) This full-sized rifle feels and runs very much like a Tikka T1x. The solid three-lug, rear-locking bolt with a 60-degree throw runs like glass. It's available in right or left-handed models with a hammer-forged, free-floated, medium contour varmint barrel. The synthetic stock isn't cheap Tupperware material, but it is not as ridged as the comparable Tikka. It takes CZ magazines. The trigger is nothing to call home about, but for $15, you can get a spring set from Lumley Arms, which brought mine down to a pleasing 1.5 pounds.
The problem with the Lithgow is the utter lack of aftermarket support in the United States. There are no stocks, chassis, triggers or anything else to tinker with or better personalize a precision rifle system. BScar makes a 25 MOA pic rail for it. (The model for it was my rifle, and I'm grateful he took the time to do the work.) They're shooters with Australian-made medium contour button-rifled barrels. It's well under sub-MOA at 50 yards, and on my first ELR outing, it handled 460 yards like it was no big deal.
New Ultra Light Arms Model 20 Rimfire
New Ultra Light Arms Model 20 Rimfire.
Melvin Forbes is a living legend, and every rifleman in American should know his name. He pioneered the now ubiquitous ultra-light mountain rifle in the 1980s, building stocks of Kevlar and carbon fiber with custom barreled actions that all hung together well under 5 pounds. The Model 20 Rimfire with the repeating action is squirrel hunter’s grail rifle, but he also makes single shots in benchrest stocks—so accurate is his work.
Steyr Zephyr II
Steyr Zephyr II.
This flashy Austrian rifle is tailor-made for the squirrel woods but has largely not caught on in the United States. Part of that could be its old school meets new school European looks. The walnut stock has a classic Schnabel forend with deep-cut modern fish scale checking. The bolt handle is a long, thin, butter knife design. The 18.7-inch medium weight cold hammer-forged barrel has eight-groove rifling and a 1:15.75 twist. The outside of the barrel has a hammered-in spiral design. It's unique. By all accounts, they're shooters out of the box, too. Distribution stateside has not been great. This makes them not as widely available as comparable Anschütz, Sako and CZ rifles. The comparatively priced Anschütz and Sako rifles have a much longer track record of good shooting, too. The CZs can be had for about half the price. There is not a real aftermarket for upgrades and accessories either. This is all a shame because, at 5.8 pounds, it could be an ideal bushy tail or ground squirrel rig.
Ultimatum Precision Deuce
Ultimatum Precision Deuce.
British Columbia shop Ultimatum Precision is betting on a pair of 2s with the Deuce, their slick new contender in the rapidly expanding world of custom rimfire bolt actions. The Deuce is a three-lug design, with a 60-degree bolt throw, and integrated lug. It takes Vudoo magazines. The action will sell alone or with an International Barrels matched tube as a barreled action. The extractor is designed for an inverted cone breech. Metal in the barrel breach has been spherically removed around the chamber, so the firing pin will never strike barrel steel. The lack of extractor cuts in the barrel, plus the action's Savage-style barrel nut, means a shooter can headspace their rifle to whatever it likes best. An aftermarket of other barrels to choose from is expected. This design is sort of like a three-way lovechild between CZ, Vudoo, and Savage. Delays through all of 2020 have hampered production. As of this writing, I'm uncertain if they yet exist outside of prototypes and in-house testers. What’s known about it largely comes from SHOT Show 2020 and social media.
Walther KK500-M
Walther KK500-M.
Made in Germany for positional and prone Olympic-style shooting, the KK500-M is an extension and upgrade over Walther's popular KK300 series rifles. The short receiver minimizes motion. The new three-lug bolt can be switched from left- to right-handed without tools. It has a 6 o’clock firing pin. It comes with a mechanical or electronic trigger. It's available in an aluminum chassis or laminate three-position stock. The rifle came out in 2016, and despite an initial parts shortage, it has been well received in international competition with medals to prove it. Now, if we could just talk Walther into making a repeater again.
Smith & Wesson has just expanded their popular AR-15 family with the M&P15 Volunteer series, featuring six new rifle configurations to choose from.
Smith & Wesson’s M&P15 family of AR-15 style rifles has been an extremely popular and affordable choice for many Americans since the series first launched in 2006. Used by both civilians and police, the rifles have become known as solid, yet affordable ARs during their time on the market.
Seeking to provide consumers with more premium, feature-rich options, Smith has expanded its AR offering with a line expansion that pays tribute to its new home state Tennessee. The M&P15 Volunteer series is comprised of six new rifles, including three “Volunteer XV” and three “Volunteer XV Pro” models. Regardless of whether it is a “Pro” model or not, all of the new rifles feature upgrades over the standard M&P15 guns including chromed firing pins, flat triggers and B5 Systems furniture.
The M&P15 Volunteer XV Series
The three M&P15 Volunteer XV rifles all feature carbine-length gas systems, 16-inch barrels with 1:8 twist rates and an Armornite finish inside and out. For furniture, the rifles include BCM Gunfighter M-Lok forends, B5 Systems Bravo stocks and B5 Systems P-Grip 23 pistol grips. Each rifle also ships with an A2 birdcage flash hider.
M&P15 Volunteer XV (13507)
The base model of the new M&P15 Volunteer XV line, the carbine includes an A2-style gas block/front sight and ships with flip-up rear sights from either Magpul or WGS. Though, it does sport a Picatinny optics rail, in turn, the addition of a scope is a snap. A BCM Gunfighter fore and B5 Systems Bravo Stock give the gun excellent ergonomics that adjust to any shooter and a M-Lok compatible fore. MSRP starts at $1,049.
M&P15 Volunteer XV Optics Ready (13510)
A competition-ready option, the Optic Ready Volunteer XV is ready to get decked out with your favorite high-performance optic. Sans iron sights, the rifle has front (on the gas block) and rear rails allowing customization of its aiming solution. The flat-faced trigger really pays dividends for those looking for a 3-Gun option that won’t break the bank. MSRP starts at $1,049.
M&P15 Volunteer XV Red Dot Sight (13513)
For those who are in the market for a carbine ready to go out of the box, the Red Dot Sights Volunteer VX checks off all the boxes. Crowned with a Crimson Trace 1x red dot sight, this option gets the shooter on target the moment they get the carbine home. MSRP starts at $1,099.
M&P15 XV Volunteer Pro Series
Variety is the defining feature of the M&P15 Volunteer Pro rifles, offering options that better fit individual shooters' needs and missions. Most notably, all three Pro models boast specific barrel lengths and gas systems. They also all feature some distinct upgrades over the standard Volunteer models, including free-floated M-LOK aluminum fore-ends, upgraded barrels, B5 Systems SOPMOD stocks and Radian Raptor ambidextrous charging handles. Each will also come with a PWS 556 muzzle brake.
M&P15 Volunteer XV Pro 16” (13515)
Essentially the standard variant of the line, the Volunteer Pro offers a stepped-up system at a very affordable price. Complete with a 16-inch barrel and a mid-length gas system, the rifle is soft-shooting, thus quicker shot to shot, getting the most out of its target crowned barrel. MSRP starts at $1,569.
M&P15 Volunteer XV Pro 14.5” (13516)
The nimble option, with a 14.5-inch barrel and carbine-length gas system, the M&P15 Volunteer XV Pro might be the handiest of the line. Perfect for CQC—but still able to reach out—the carbine meets NFA regs as a rifle. This is because Smith & Wesson has pinned and welded the PWS 556 muzzle brake to the barrel, bringing its total length to 16 inches. MSRP starts at $1,569.
M&P15 Volunteer XV DMR (13517)
Looking to reach out? You found the Volunteer to fit you with the DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle). With a 20-inch barrel, the rifle has enough bore to milk all the ballistic potential out of a 5.56 NATO round. While it comes with Williams Gun Sight Company folding front and rear sights, most shooters will likely take advantage of the Picatinny optics rail to get the rifle to reach out beyond average engagement distances. MSRP starts at $1,599.
Marine sniper Frank Galli's advice on how to be the best ‘rock chucker’ you can be.
I start every precision rifle class with my objectives. One of my bullet points reads: “To guide the student on their precision rifle journey.” Every sport or hobby is a journey; we start out as a curious party and, once we’re hooked, it becomes a divine quest for the Holy Grail of information and experience.
I laugh when newer shooters call me an “OG” in this field. They’re right; I’m part of the original gangster squad who helped cultivate the sport as we see it today. Despite creating a bunch of forks in this precision rifle road, the journey has stayed relatively consistent. The common theme over the years—change—is our one constant in life.
Young PFC Galli during Marine Corps Training in 1986. There was a lot less equipment to manage back in the day.
Humble Beginnings
My personal journey began years ago in Connecticut, shooting a Crossman 760 air rifle. From there, I progressed to a Crossman 766, ending with an RWS single-break-style air rifle. With no education and just mimicking what I saw, I was Daniel Boone conquering the wilderness. When I got older, I enlisted in the Marine Corps hoping to be a Scout Sniper. If my backyard landscape was any indication of my potential military service, I was guaranteed a slot in Sniper School.
Author Frank Galli shooting the Accuracy International ASR Rifle at Gunsite in 2021.
Life doesn’t work that way, but I did manage to land a slot at Sniper School early in my Marine Corps journey. Attending Sniper School as a PFC was pretty rare. I was the lowest-ranking student in class, and some of the tips and tricks just weren’t there in the beginning. When you don’t yet know the trade, the tips and tricks can be a total mystery.
I see more problems with students who try to jump to the tips and tricks before learning the trade.
The fix is to learn the trade. You have to focus on the basics … the fundamentals of any sport. Even beyond my military service, as I attended classes later in life, I’d still join basic classes with other instructors. I think the fundamentals—the basics—are the lifeblood to learning any sport or hobby correctly. Sure, we can adapt bad habits to work, but it never translates well to other systems.
I had to pay a little extra attention in class, because I didn’t know everything that was being discussed. Sniper School isn’t really a shooting school; it’s a Sniper School, and shooting is just a small part of the equation. The instructors believe the shooting part should’ve been covered in both boot camp and after as part of your yearly qualifications. They expect the students’ unit to focus on the small details.
Coming off of Sniper School, you feel a bit invincible when it comes to your shooting skills. And after school, my basic qualifications improved each year. Experience and education, combined with a healthy dose of confidence, are powerful motivators. Never underestimate the mental side of any sport.
Non-Military Options
Fast-forward to 2002, one year into creating the Sniper’s Hide website: I got a visit from Jacob Bynum of Rifles Only in South Texas. Rifles Only is a training facility, and with 9/11 in the rearview mirror, the military was beginning to use more civilian schools. After that meeting in Connecticut, I traveled to Texas to see what Rifles Only had to offer. I was shocked at the way they shot. Picking my jaw up off the floor, I could only think, “these guys are amazing”. Why was I never exposed to this type of precision rifle shooting in the military?
The speed and accuracy in which they were shooting was beyond reason. Sniper School pressed the mantra: slow and deliberate. Everything we did was slow and deliberate, from our movement to our shooting. These Texans took that mindset and threw it out the window. They were scrambling as fast as physically possible and hitting targets in a dynamic fashion.
For seven years, I soaked up the lessons learned at Rifles Only. We refined recoil management; the term “loading the bipod” was born there. That thumb being floated to the side of the rifle, I was there the day it started. Jacob excelled at using our body mechanics to adjust the flow of the rifle’s recoil. It’s also the home of precision rifle competition like we see today. Going back to the 1990s, Rifles Only was hosting tactical precision rifle matches for a very long time.
Current Precision Rifle training has a lot more equipment to manage while making information easier to access.
Refined Thinking
In 2011, another change happened when I left Rifles Only. My time in service and my experience had reached a point where I was looking at refining some of the topics and techniques from previous years. Original thought enters the arena. I’m no longer relying on my lessons from the past, I was now able to refine my thinking to suit my personal style. This is where the tips and tricks enter the conversation.
The fundamentals are just that—the basics—universal truths we use to execute the shot process. Being universal, they’re designed to work regardless of the individual. But we’re just that: unique individuals; one size doesn’t fit all. Tips and tricks allow you to work independently of others. My smaller size means I have to adapt to certain situations a taller shooter might not, so I need to understand my body mechanics to be successful.
The journey has now progressed to the experimental phase of my life. I can be a bit more cavalier with my shooting because my experience tells me what to expect. I can refine the pros and cons of my adjustments based on the results, because my process is established. When something odd happens downrange I understand the cause and effects based on years of shooting. I can start creating shortcuts to our processes or, when instructing, adjust how a process is discussed to help a student absorb it quicker.
Modern equipment requires education; you don’t just pick up these tools.
Shooting is a perishable skill; it’s a sport and an extension of my person. If you think about it, it’s advanced rock throwing. Our ancestors picked up a rock and threw it at something. They refined rock-throwing by attaching the rock to a stick, creating a spear and progressing to an arrow. Today, we boil rocks down to create bullets, hoping to push accuracy and speed to the next level. Tomorrow, it’ll be particle weapons that instantly extend our reach without external influence.
Until we reach that point, I’ll educate and train my body to be the best rock chucker I can be.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
There are many ways to carry one’s armor and gear, so here are some things to consider when choosing a plate carrier setup.
As we touched upon in our body armor buyer's guide, there are a few different methods of carrying hard armor plates and the gear that goes along with them. The biggest divergence between plate carrier setup styles is whether one chooses to attach their gear to the plate carrier itself, or if they decide to run a slick carrier with some sort of chest rig or load-bearing equipment (LBE) on top of it.
As evidenced by those who wear body armor professionally, each mission may have different requirements that can influence what plate carrier setup is best for that day. Here we’ll look at the pros and cons of each system in terms of the everyman and attempt to help determine the best setup for your specific needs.
Plate Carrier Setup Basics
The most common way of wearing body armor today includes the use of a traditional plate carrier setup, meaning that the vest used to retain the armor plates is also used for carrying extra gear. Plate carriers are not a replacement for backpacks, however, and should only be used for carrying gear that may need to be accessed quickly like spare magazines or medical equipment. This is typically accomplished using the MOLLE webbing found on most carriers.
MOLLE accessories can be a bit of a pain to initially install, but it is still a very doable process. Some typical items that can be found on modern warfighters’ plate carrier setups may include various styles of magazine pouches, an IFAK (individual first aid kit), a tourniquet, a water source, a radio and sometimes a holster for a sidearm.
Some examples of more modern military-issue plate carriers. Slovak special forces (left) shows cable management with a comm system and U.S. special forces (right) show a PC-mounted holster. Photos: Wikipedia.
Soldiers often carry things like grenades on their carriers as well, but obviously, as civilians seeking ways to improve our defensive capabilities, these are unfortunately not an (legal) option. Other gear commonly worn on military setups may also be useless to you, such as a radio if you live alone, so one must consider each item specifically for their needs rather than just copying what military members may do.
Different plate carrier styles can make attaching certain gear either easier or harder, and one should choose the vest they purchase accordingly. Carriers that are patterned more after military-style models often include provisions for cable management, which can be extremely useful for those who wish to run more advanced communication systems or CamelBak-style water sources.
How MOLLE is arranged around the plate carrier is worth paying attention to as well, as some styles lend themselves to mounting certain items better than others. For example, if you plan on carrying your sidearm on a plate carrier-mounted holster, you best ensure that your intended holster will fit where you want it to without disrupting the use of other items. With such a plethora of different vests and pouches on the market, it’s a good idea to plan most of your plate carrier setup out before you begin buying anything.
Cable management loops on a military-style rig. Without a serious radio these have limited usefulness.
Some people purchase slick-style rigs and then attempt to build them up into more traditional plate carriers, but this usually ends up being more expensive and less practical than choosing a traditional style from the get-go. Again, one should think about what situations they predict being involved in that would justify dawning their body armor. A basic home-defense plate carrier setup will be very different than one intended to be used for days on end during the apocalypse.
Plate Carrier Setup Styles: Pros & Cons
I still have the first plate carrier setup I put together, but I’ve since moved on to using a slick rig plus load-bearing equipment. The short answer as to why was because I decided that I value comfort more than speed. Traditional plate carrier setups have many potential advantages, including ease of access to gear, faster on/off times and greater versatility for mounting things like pouches. After spending a decent amount of time LARPing on the range with my kit on, however, I felt like I could do better. The traditional plate carrier was quite bulky, and I felt that it didn’t distribute the weight of my gear ideally, impeding both my general comfort and perceived mobility.
The author wearing his more traditional plate carrier setup.
Also, the load-bearing equipment I’ve chosen to wear over my slick plate carrier is better suited for the items I’d like to carry. While the integrated pouches are locked into their positions and accessing their contents is slower than on my traditional plate carrier setup, it provided more pouches for carrying the gear that I did want to have. Most importantly, I felt that the slick rig/LBE combination was more comfortable to wear and move in.
The LBE I use has an integrated holster for a pistol on its belt, and it also allows for the wearing of a backpack or water supply. Backpacks in relation to plate carriers is a whole separate discussion with many different considerations, so we will be covering those in a separate article. The pouches on my LBE allow for the easier carrying of small items like spare batteries compared to my traditional carrier as well.
The author wearing his Ferro Slickster plate carrier plus an old Russian load-bearing vest capable of accepting AKM mags.
There are many good slick-style plate carriers to choose from, and plenty of good chest rigs and load-bearing vests as well. There are too many to cover here, but we will look at several options in a separate article. Put simply, the main advantage of a slick carrier and LBE combo is its potential to better distribute the weight of your gear around your body.
Again, it’s worth mentioning that much of this depends on the LBE/chest rig that you’ve chosen and one’s personal preferences. Those who are planning a setup around AR mags will have many more options to choose from, but for those like me who run AKs or more obscure platforms, they will be mostly limited to surplus models. My current LBE is Russian and a bit outdated, but I found that it works well for my needs.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to choosing one’s plate carrier setup, there is, unfortunately, a lot of subjectivity and trial and error involved. It is unlikely that you will be completely satisfied with the first setup you acquire, but having some level of extra protection is always better than nothing. Many of the considerations involved will pertain to your lifestyle, where you live and what type of defensive situation you are anticipating.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that just because modern militaries have opted for a certain style of plate carrier, that doesn’t mean the reasons for those changes will benefit you. For example, militaries today have become concerned with the ability to rapidly remove their armor in case of being wounded or falling into a deep body of water. This has led to the phasing out of the slick carrier/chest rig combos that were used extensively in the early GWOT days and their replacement by traditional carriers that have gear mounted directly to them. It has also resulted in most modern plate carriers having some sort of quick detach system. The reality is unless you have a medic following you around or plan on wearing your rig on the open ocean, the benefits that these new models provide are less valuable.
An American soldier in Afghanistan 2002 wearing LBE over his armor.
Most civilians looking for a plate carrier setup will likely be fine with more rudimentary gear. The primary concern is the ability to wear hard armor plates comfortably and effectively, followed by the ability to carry spare magazines for your rifle. How those goals are achieved will look wildly different between individuals. Whether you end up with an uber-tactical plate carrier decked out with high-speed taco mag pouches or a simple slick armor carrier with a generic chest rig worn over it, you will already have a great advantage over those who have nothing of the sort. Whatever you settle on, just remember to wear it while you train.
A look at one of the author's top steel target picks: the Action Target PT Hostage.
My education and adventures with the defensive handgun really began when I became a police officer almost 30 years ago. At that time, the most popular target used in law enforcement was the B27. The B27 target is a life-size black silhouette of a man, and inside the silhouette are five oval scoring rings. Typically, this target was used for qualification, but because police departments hate to spend money, it also became the de facto practice target.
As I became involved in combat pistol competitions, I was introduced to the IPSC target. The common IPSC target is a carboard target measuring 30 inches tall by 18 inches wide. It’s shaped to replicate a human torso and head, and it also has scoring rings—squares and rectangles—in the torso and head regions. The IPSC target is a bit more practical than the B27 target, and it typically has a white and a brown side. Because it’s cardboard, it’s much easier to work with … and it lasts longer.
Steel targets are great for training, because they provide immediate audible and visual feedback.
But in combat pistol competitions, whether IPSC sanctioned or not, steel targets started becoming very popular. The old standby steel target was the pepper popper. Though now offered in various sizes, originally it was about 42 inches tall and based around a center 12-inch circle to replicate a torso, with skinny legs and a head section as well. When you shoot the pepper popper, it falls over, and it can be adjusted so a head shot is required to knock it down—or even adjusted so that a .45 ACP will knock it down, but a 9mm will not.
Other steel targets were and are used as well for competition. These are generally small circles or squares that’ll fall over when shot. Fortunately, back in the day, many local ranges purchased pepper poppers and other steel plates for matches, and members could use them when practicing. I even managed to convince my department to buy a few steel targets. However, the downside to all these targets was that, after you shot them, you had to walk downrange and reset them. This, of course, slowed matches, training and practice.
As competitive combat pistol and three-gun shooting competitions continued to grow in popularity, the availability and variety of steel targets dramatically increased. By the time I left law enforcement in 2005, the types of steel targets being used were beginning to defy the imagination. Not only were there several companies making them, but the prices were also reasonable enough so the average guy could afford one … or several.
These three Action Target PT Hostage Targets have been shot thousands of times with handguns and rifles.
Finding The One
I talked to several manufacturers and conducted a lot of research about steel targets before I spent any money. If I was going to spend several hundred bucks, I wanted to make sure I got my money’s worth. Not only did I want a target that’d be beneficial to my defensive handgun training, but I also wanted a target I could shoot with a rifle. This meant it needed to be constructed of AR550 steel. My other requirements were that it be reactive, and that I wouldn’t have to walk downrange to reset it.
Ultimately, I settled on the Action Target PT Hostage Target. This is an AR550 steel target that’s shaped sort of like a human torso. With a 3-foot base, it stands about 5 feet tall, with a target face measuring 24 inches tall (including the head section) and 13 inches wide. It also has a swinging 6-inch plate that flops to either side of the head section when the plate is hit. The target only weighs about 60 pounds. For handguns, the recommended safe shooting distance is 10 yards; for rifles, it’s 100.
In over 10 years and after 10,000 or more rounds, the only maintenance these targets have ever needed were painting. As you can see, they’ve been painted a lot.
But one of the unique features of this target is that it’s mounted at an angle, so it’s slightly facing toward the ground. There are also no bolt heads or weld seems on the target face. This means the splash from bullet impact is cleanly forced almost straight down. Though Action Target doesn’t recommend it, I’ve shot these targets as close as 3 yards with a handgun with no issue whatsoever. With rifles producing muzzle velocities less than 2,500 fps, I’ve also found it safe to shoot at 50 yards.
The swinging head plates on the Action Target PT Hostage targets allow for creative training drills.
This target is ideal for just about any type of defensive handgun drill—you can paint the target face any way you like—and the swinging head plate allows you to be creative with the drills you come up with. (Action target also offers two small swinging steel plates for a pelvic hit zone for an additional $89.)
I liked the target so much I ended up getting three more, and over the span of what’s now been 10 years, I couldn’t fathom a guess as to how many handgun and rifle rounds these targets have stopped. The only maintenance they’ve ever required was painting, and they’re still as good as new.
Clearly, the advantage of these targets is that you get immediate feedback when you shoot. You’ll see the headplate flop to the other side, the target wiggle, hear the ring of the steel and, if the paint is fresh, you’ll also see the point of impact. All this combined with not having to go down range and tape bullet holes or reset steel increases the enjoyment of the training session and the quality of the training.
I’d strongly urge anyone with their own place to shoot to consider the purchase of some steel targets. I’d also suggest that the first steel target purchased be the Action Target PT Hostage Target. With a 3-foot stand, they retail for $352 and you can order direct from Action Target.
Like mine, it should last 10 years or more—that’s only about $35 a year. A box of 100 cardboard IPSC targets costs about $70, and you’ll run through ’em pretty fast, not to mention the stapler and staples you’ll need, and the trash they’ll create.
FN America has announced the relaunch of the FN High Power, and it features several interesting updates and modernizations.
Designed by the legendary John Browning and Dieudonné Saive, FN Herstal of Belgium was the original manufacturer of the pistol most commonly known as the Browning Hi Power. This iconic handgun has had many different names in its nearly 90 years of existence, but regardless of what you know it as, FN has just announced its return in 2022. Now featuring some major redesigns and modernizations, the new FN High Power will be built in the U.S. by FN America at their South Carolina factory.
High Power Legacy Features
While FN America has made several changes to the design, at its heart, the new FN High Power stays true to the original. Fans of the classic BHP should feel right at home with this pistol. The rereleased FN High Power will still be chambered for 9mm, be single-action-only and will have a steel frame and slide. At a glance, the profiles and controls are very similar between the original and the redesign as well. The new High Power’s lines were left mostly unchanged, giving it the same sleek look of an old-world gun despite the modern machining and manufacturing techniques used to make it.
FN High Power Redesigns
Most of the new features on the FN High Power were implemented to address the shortcomings of the original design according to contemporary standards. Probably the biggest change is the gun’s enhanced magazine capacity. While the original BHP’s 13-round magazine was revolutionary for its time, today even many concealed carry pistols can rival or match that. Modern 15-round Hi Power mags from Mecgar were an improvement, but still were lacking compared to modern full-size service pistols. That’s why FN designed the new High Power to feature a 17+1 round capacity, using newly engineered magazines to bring it to a competitive level.
The grip’s ergonomics have also been updated to prevent hammer-bite, and a new takedown lever greatly simplifies the disassembly process compared to the original BHP. The manual thumb safety and slide release are ambidextrous as well, and the magazine release is reversible.
The FN High Power’s appearance has been updated too, now receiving a durable PVD finish rather than being blued or made of stainless steel. The new finish is available in either black, FDE or stainless steel (the color, not the material), and each pistol also includes two sets of polymer grip panels in different colors.
MSRP for the FN High Power starts at $1,269 and the new pistols are supposedly available now, but it may take some time before you actually begin to see them hit store shelves. From the looks of it, FN America really has a winner with this one. They managed to take a classic, beloved and hugely influential design and bring it into modernity without compromising its aesthetics. After handling a few models at SHOT ’22, I can tell you that they feel as solid as they look. My only complaint is that the grip angle didn’t feel as comfortable to me as the original’s did, but this is obviously subjective. With other companies like Girsan releasing modernized BHP clones with features like accessory rails, time will tell if FN America follows suit.
The final day of SHOT Show 2022 has come to an end, so here are a few of the last things we saw that piqued our interest.
SHOT Show 2022 is now over, and while nothing completely mind-blowing was revealed this year, there was still plenty of interesting new guns, gear and ammunition to check out. As always, here’s a look at some of our highlights:
PSA AKs
Palmetto State Armory had some pretty interesting Kalashnikov variants on their wall at SHOT ‘22, and all of them will supposedly be released within the year. This photo shows a spread of new 5.45x39mm variants, most inspired by the AK 100 series, but also with a classic AKS-74U “Krinkov” pistol on the bottom. The top is a clone of an AK-103, and the middle two are clones of the AK-105 in both a pistol and rifle format.
Probably the most unique new PSA AK is the Chinese Type-56 spiker clone, and it will be hitting shelves within 90 days. PSA also teased a new 5.56 AK that takes standard AR-15 magazines, and unlike the Yugoslavian rifle that likely inspired it, PSA’s version includes a paddle-style mag release too.
New Holosun Optics
Holosun had some very nice-looking new pistol red dots on display. The enclosed model called the EPS seems to be getting the most attention, and I can see why.
I had the dot slightly misaligned in this photo, but you can see that the EPS can co-witness with iron sights quite nicely.
Magpul/Maztech X4 Round Counter System
Magpul had a very interesting collaboration with Maztech displayed off to the side of their rather large booth space this year. The two companies are releasing a round-counter system that is bringing reality just that much closer to science fiction. It works by combining Maztech’s HUD-display LPVO scope with Magpul’s new smart magazines. When combined, the scope’s HUD will display both a count of the ammunition in a gun’s magazine as well as the total ammo stored on one’s person. The smart magazines count the rounds in them and communicate with the scope, providing its user with information about when they need to reload as well as how much ammunition they have left in total.
Ghost Gunner 3/Zero Percent Receivers
If you weren’t already aware of Defense Distributed, they are the company that is largely responsible for the “ghost gun” controversy and are a continuous thorn in the ATF’s side. One of the most pressing issues for Second Amendment advocates this past year has been the government’s concern with “80% receivers”, which by law can be sold as unregulated paperweights rather than serialized firearms like complete lowers are. The 80% lowers can be finished either by hand or with small CNC machines like the Ghost Gunner line made by Defense Distributed.
Regardless of the ATF’s future ruling on 80% receivers, the newly revealed Ghost Gunner 3 has essentially rendered their attempts useless. The new machine has made “zero percent receivers” a reality, meaning that a solid block of aluminum can be inserted, and a complete AR-15 lower receiver can be spit out. This means that unless the ATF believes that they can ban blocks of aluminum, American citizens will always be capable of producing the registered component of an AR-15. Unfortunately I didn’t snap a photo of the machine itself, but here’s a small peek at Defense Distributed’s booth. This new machine is a major victory for 2A rights.
The third day of SHOT Show 2022 is over, so here's yet another look at the Gun Digest team's highlights from the show floor.
The crowds on the third day of SHOT Show 2022 were even lighter than yesterday’s, rewarding those of us who persevered with more hands-on time with cool guns and gear and more time to speak with others in the industry. We got to try out the cutting edge of night vision at Sionyx and spoke with companies like PSA about some very cool things they have planned for the future. None of those things have photos to go with them, however, so here are our five highlights that do:
Century Arms Cugir Imports
Century Arms is the sole importer of weapons from the Cugir factory of Romania, which happens to be my favorite type of Kalash currently available in the U.S. The standard AKM pattern rifle, the WASR-10, has been a steady and consistent import for decades, but some of Cugir’s other guns only come in on occasion. For example, the very popular Cugir-made “Draco” AK pistol hadn’t been imported for what was probably over a year, causing their value on the used market to spike. Thankfully, Century has just confirmed that not only are more Dracos coming in, but some other very desirable and less common Cugir imports are as well.
WASR-UF rifles will be hitting our shores very soon, and AES-10B rifles will follow later this year. The “UF” in WASR-UF stands for “under-folder” if you couldn’t guess, and the AES-10B is essentially just a semi-auto Romanian RPK. Previously imported, both rifles already have established reputations and will be as solid as the standard and well-proven WASR-10. It’s very exciting that we will be able to find these interesting, military-quality AKs on store shelves once again.
Crimson Trace Optics
Crimson Trace has always been known for their laser-aiming devices, as their name suggests, but the company has just revealed a massive expansion into optics of all sorts. Besides fifty new magnified riflescopes, Crimson Trace has also introduced ten new electronic red dots along with some other useful gadgets. The new red dots will be called the RAD (Rapid Aiming Dot) series and will include four micro models for CCW pistols, four full-size models for larger handguns and two “RAD MAX” models for long guns.
Crimson Trace also made an angled foregrip and flashlight combo device that features rechargeable, quick-swappable batteries. They call it the RIG and it will be available soon as well.
Uintah Precision Muzzleloader AR Upper
Uintah Precision is mostly known for their bolt-action AR uppers, but at SHOT 2022 they decided to show off a prototype of something even more retro. It’s a muzzleloader AR upper that will supposedly be very affordable once released, and capable of being slapped onto any regular AR lower. It essentially will work by having a nipple for a primer at the back of the chamber, firing when the hammer is dropped just as it normally would, only now loaded through the muzzle.
FB Radom GROT
In America, FB Radom has most recently been known as the producers of some of the best quality AK rifles that are currently imported. While true, the Polish military has actually been phasing their Kalashnikov-pattern guns out of service for quite some time, replacing them with their domestically designed and produced GROT rifles. These are pretty standard modern 5.56 military service rifles, but more imports of this style are always better. The examples that FB brought out to the show are the first GROT rifles I am aware of existing in the country, so hopefully that means they will be available soon.
Girsan Modernized Hi Powers
We really seem to be living through the rebirth of the Hi Power right now, and it's a wonderful thing to see. Springfield has released their new American-made SA-35 clone, FN just announced their updated High Power, and now Girsan of Turkey has teased their own modernized versions of Browning’s iconic double-stack too. On the show floor today they had examples with extended beavertails, accessory rails and more, and supposedly even an optics-ready version is on the way as well.
The second day of SHOT Show 2022 has come to a close, so we’re bringing you another quick look at what jumped out at us today.
SHOT Show 2022 goes on, though admittedly with less steam than previous years. The withdrawal of several large companies has resulted in an ample amount of new seating space, and stricter admission policies have reduced the density of the average crowd. Besides the fact that rows of chairs are less interesting than new products, the lower attendance has actually helped give those of us here more time to play with the guns and more time to talk with representatives. We’ve gotten to handle some pretty neat stuff so far and talk to some interesting people, so here’s our summary of SHOT Show 2022 day two:
Kel-Tec P15
When Kel-Tec released the first images of the P15, they really should have included some reference of scale. I’m sure I’m not the only one who initially assumed it was larger than it turned out to be, making me wonder what exactly the point of it was. After getting to handle a couple of different P15s on the floor today, it suddenly made more sense. The pistol is much smaller, slimmer and lighter than you’d expect, and it feels good in the hand. I’m not a very big fan of polymer-framed striker-fireds to begin with, so my positive reaction to the P15 came as quite a surprise.
Another surprise was that Kel-Tec decided to make an all-metal version of the P15 as well, and while it looks much classier and is more solid than the polymer version, it also weighs more than the polymer model's mere 14 ounces. The metal version also comes optics ready instead of having an accessory rail, and it will supposedly cost nearly double the MSRP of the polymer P15 ($425). Both models had fiber optic and tritium front sights and both had excellent triggers as well.
H&R/Nodak Spud Retro ARs
It came to light not too far back that JJE, the parent company that owns Palmetto State Armory, had acquired NoDak Spud as well as the rights to Harrington & Richardson, and the two are about to be slammed together like peanut butter and chocolate. For those who haven’t dived into the world of retro AR-15s, NoDak Spud has been the primary source for historically accurate AR-15 receivers and parts for many years. For anyone who was looking to build a clone of a military or police AR from the 60s through the 80s, NoDak was the place to go. H&R was also one of the original manufacturers of M16 rifles, and most of those used in Vietnam bore their mark. If you weren’t already aware, retro AR cloners can get quite obsessive about having the correct roll marks, and this has led to copyright controversies in the past. With this merging of NoDak Spud with the legally owned H&R brand name and JJE’s production capacities, it means that some very historically correct mass-produced retro ARs are about to become a reality.
PSA’s booth had a single H&R stamped M16A1, and it looked pretty damn close to the real thing to me. The NoDak/H&R rep who was there explained to me how the markings on this model had some slight inaccuracies that will be adjusted before they enter production, and that they will even have premium models that are properly roll-marked rather than engraved for those who are that pedantic about the fine details. The first complete guns they sell will be the classic M16A1, featuring furniture sourced from Brownells and the proper pencil-profile barrels. They will also be selling the carry handle upper receivers and other parts separately for those who want to build their own.
The H&R rep assured me that they will also eventually be expanding to produce almost all of NoDak Spud’s old catalog, including C7 uppers, M16A2-era parts and even some old, early prototype models. PSA will be selling the complete retro ARs as the family expands as well as the individual parts. What I’d like to see most out of this would be if PSA began selling the same extremely affordable AR pistol kits that they currently do, except with a C7 upper in place of a flat-top and skinny CAR-15 handguards rather than the fat M4 ones, essentially making it a Colt 733 clone in pistol form. Regardless, I’m very excited to see what’s to come.
KUSA “Khaos” 12-Gauge
Much like the Mossberg Shockwave, Kalashnikov USA’s latest 12-gauge weapon is technically classified as a “firearm” so it can have its 12.5-inch barrel while still being legal. This is essentially KUSA’s KS-12 Saiga clone in a new, smaller form factor. It functions the same and will take the same magazines as the KS-12 but can be much more easily wielded in compact spaces. For those who have wanted a small 12-gauge but prefer semis to pumps, this new space blunderbuss may be worth taking a look at.
Laugo Alien Pistols
I only had a passing awareness of the Laugo Alien from watching a few videos online, and despite not being very interested in fancy competition race guns I stopped by their booth to check it out. It felt very well made, which should be expected for its price tag, but it was the trigger that compelled me to share the experience.
I had heard it was nice, but it’s impossible to convey through words. I’ve never even been particularly concerned with trigger quality in the past as long as it was adequate, but the Laugo Alien felt almost like clicking with a crisp, mechanical computer mouse. It was extremely short and light yet very positive and predictable. If you ever run across one of these in the wild, be warned, dry-firing it once may be enough to convince yourself that you need one.
Franklin Armory G-S173 Binary Glock Trigger
Franklin Armory had one of these at range day, but unfortunately we missed it while we were there. Here’s a picture of a Glock with one installed to at least show what will soon be available. This example has also been SBR’d so it can have its stock, which is a very practical addition to this device that is otherwise mostly a novelty. The G-S173 is a whole conversion kit that includes a slide and some components as well as a trigger, essentially only requiring that one already has a Glock 17 Gen 3 frame and barrel to build it into a complete “select-fire”, binary Glock. Franklin currently only has the G-S173 model that functions with Gen 3 17s, but they suggested that more options will eventually be released in the future.
Some of the best long-range shooting gear, made right here in the USA by companies like TBAC and RRS.
Adaptive Tuning System
The Adaptive Tuning System (ATS) is getting a lot of attention in the precision rifle world. It also has a bit of controversy as to the merits of a harmonic tuning system for your rifle.
We understand barrels have a harmonic property to them, and those harmonics can be tuned to move the accuracy node to the cartridge you’re shooting. Do you have a lot of ammunition that’s not grouping as well as expected? Adjusting the tuning can bring it from 2 MOA to ¼ MOA … during a casual afternoon at the range.
The devices are simple: a weight system tied to a rotating adjustment that threads on the end of your barrel. It uses the existing threads, provided your barrel is threaded. They’re graduated so the user can rotate the adjustment and then lock it in place once the accuracy node is achieved.
The products born out of competition tend to work really well. These shooters are investing a lot of time and money when competing. Today’s competitions are won by a single point or single stage, so anything you can do to gain an advantage is necessary. The ATS isn’t the only tuner of this type available, but his doesn’t require additional gunsmithing … and it’s very good.
ThunderBeast Arms (TBAC)
Aside from being personal friends, I really like the ThunderBeast (TBAC) products. It’s a suppressor company, but they also create a top-notch bipod, which was born out of Army contracts for a new sniper system.
People mistakenly believe anything holding up the front of a rifle is enough; however, tests have proven that accuracy can vary based on design.
First, the Army wanted the bridge to hold the legs slightly wider apart. Balancing the barrel over an apex is inferior to hanging it inside a triangle shape. That creates stability.
The Army also wanted to move the leg locks to the side. Why? Because shooters often accidently employ the locks when pushing or pulling the bipod against an obstacle.
Machined to perfection, the TBAC Bipod isn’t cheap, but it’s so worth it. They also removed any panning feature from the design. We’re not machine gunners, so we don’t want to pan anyway. This requested change led to Atlas adding the CAL to their lineup. The CAL and TBAC appear very similar for all these reasons.
The final step was providing a tight lockup, so the rifle isn’t canted during the shot. You don’t fix cant with a level, you simply identify it … and you fix can't with the bipod by locking it in place or providing enough tension that the shooter won’t roll it over accidently.
It’s hard to put into words, but you really have a different experience behind the rifle with a good bipod.
In addition, TBAC cans are some of the best precision rifle suppressors on the market. With precision rifle shooters, sound suppression is always meaningless without accuracy. If, without a suppressor, my rifle groups 3/8 MOA, I don’t want that group to be 5/8 MOA when I add the suppressor. Sound suppression often comes at the cost of accuracy, because the idea is to create a bunch of turbulence inside the can. I won’t tell you how many suppressors I currently own, but if you guessed less than 30, you’d be way wrong. Many sit collecting dust because they opened up my groups.
Precision Underground
Rarely talked about are nylon products, such as rear support bags. I’m the ultimate rear bag snob and don’t believe in shortcutting this part of the equation.
Rear bags can matter, and today, we see a lot of guys looking for that “one bag” solution. Thanks to precision rifle competition, the use of nylon bags has grown exponentially.
Because of the need to manage bags during competition, many have neglected the elements of a proper rear bag. More goes into a rear bag today than just filling a sock with sand. Sure, that worked for me in the Marines in 1986, but in 2021, I want more out of my rear bag.
The height, width and depth all matter when trying to balance the rifle between the bipod and bag. I recently sampled 12 different Precision Underground Bags to help nail the fill amount alone.
We can compromise, and for one or two shots, anything works. But when you want a real five-shot group—not one shot fired five times—how the bag supports the back of the rifle matters.
Really Right Stuff
Really Right Stuff leads the pack when it comes to shooting tripods. Given the choice between carrying a rifle with just a bipod or a rifle with just a tripod, I want the tripod. There’s no precision rifle shooting problem I cannot solve with a tripod.
Different-sized tripods handle different tasks in the field. Many use the 33 Series for precision rifle competition. For the hunter, there’s the Ascent series. They took the smaller 14 Series legs and modified it to use an Anvil 30 shooting head. It still features a removable center column, one with a micro ball or a short version for the Anvil. These are perfect to hunt with due to their size and weight.
We’re living in the golden age of precision rifle. Everyday something new drops, thanks to all the great innovators around the country making these products. Everything mentioned here is currently in my toolbox ready for deployment.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The first day of SHOT Show 2022 is over, so here’s a quick peek at some of its most interesting guns and gear.
Returning after a year's sabbatical, SHOT Show 2022 is now in full swing. With Monday being Industry Day At The Range, today was the first real day of walking the show floor and looking at what the different companies had to offer. While nothing we saw on display today is going to revolutionize the small arms world any time soon, there were still plenty of interesting items to see from brands both big and small. Here’s what jumped out at us on day one of SHOT Show 2022:
Smith & Wesson CSX Pistol
Smith & Wesson’s new concealed carry pistol was unfortunately not at range day, but they brought out some examples to the floor for some hands-on impressions. It felt very nice in the hand, even with the short flush-fitting 10-round mag. The single-action trigger was very crisp, and it overall felt like a very well-made piece. No word on a 30 Super Carry version of the CSX as of yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised to hear one announced in the near future. Whatever your opinion on the CSX is, in the world of new concealed carry guns at least it’s something different.
FN High Power
It’s hard to keep secrets in the gun industry, so it was impressive that FN managed to keep their new iteration of John Browning’s classic design under wraps until SHOT Show 2022 was actually in motion. The new FN High Powers felt very solidly constructed and featured an interesting aesthetic blend of the original design with some modernizations, such as a 17-round magazine. The BHP has definitely made a comeback recently with clones from the likes of Girsan and Springfield, so having a new, slightly modernized option from the original manufacturer will certainly be appreciated.
Everything on the new FN High Powers looked and felt great to me besides one detail: the profile of the grip. This is subjective of course, but I know I’m not the only one who fell in love with the original BHP design largely because of how perfectly its grip fit my hand. The new FN High Power grip felt perfectly fine, nice even, but some minor changes to its profile eliminated that magic, “perfect match” feel I experienced with the original design. That being said, it still looks solid and it’s nice to see the Hi Power finally receiving the love it always deserved in the USA.
Tippmann Belt-Fed .22 Gatling Gun
Tippmann brought out a prototype for their new .22 belt-fed Gatling gun, and while there’s still work to be done before it becomes commercially available, it looked very promising indeed. We joked with Tippman Jr. about how it seemed like the most fun solution for dealing with a squirrel problem, and he assured us that it was since its 50-round belts will be able to be linked together. Tippmann’s mag-fed Gatling guns are convenient and fun, but unless you own a cartoonish number of magazines it’s virtually impossible to shoot them enough to get the barrels hot. With this new belt-fed option, as long as you take the time to load and link the belts you could crank away all day. The MSRP will supposedly be less than $400 as well.
Odyssey A.T.S. Virtual Reality Training
One of the most unique booths we stopped at today, and probably the most fun as well, was the Odyssey virtual reality training system. The system is still being developed and improved, but the company has already come a long way since they first debuted at SHOT Show and their potential is evidenced by the fact that they have already sold units to the U.S. military. It essentially works by acting as the missing link between virtual reality video game headsets and practical firearms training, replacing the plastic, ambiguously shaped controllers of yore with something much closer to a real firearm. The system is compatible with laser training pistols, BB guns, and even real firearms, the latter of which can use a conversion kit that utilizes gas to simulate recoil.
The software side is open source and will allow users to create any simulation environment that they desire, and Odyssey even teased that the system will be compatible with augmented reality as well. This would allow users to train on the range with live ammo, but rather than putting holes in paper, they will be able to mow down hordes of virtual enemies. The Odyssey system still has some work to be done before it’s perfect, but this is without a doubt the future of firearms training and probably even of video games as well. This is a small company that’s very well worth keeping an eye on.
Zastava M77
Unfortunately, there is nothing certain about the future of Zastava M77 imports, but the fact that they had one hung up at SHOT Show 2022 was a good sign. The best I could get Zastava’s rep to confirm to was “we’re working on it”, but that’s better than nothing. This unique Yugoslavian/Serbian 7.62x51mm AK battle rifle has been imported before and they are very desirable on the used market, so hopefully Zastava USA manages to start bringing these in soon.
A small spread of what we got to play with at the SHOT Show 2022 Industry Day At The Range.
After so many events having been cancelled last year, the return of SHOT Show in 2022 was nice to see. Like always, this year’s show started the week off with their Industry Day At The Range, a chance for those in the gun world to come together and get some trigger time on the newest and hottest items.
Not everything had returned to normal with this year’s range day, however, as several big names were notably lacking from the list of exhibitors. Neither Smith & Wesson nor Savage were in attendance, despite each having a new pistol that many surely would have enjoyed trying out. Other brands like Sig and Beretta were missing as well, but their decisions to pull out of this year’s show entirely were already known. That being said, Industry Day At The Range 2022 still had plenty of exhibitors to visit and guns to shoot, so here’s a look at a few of our highlights:
30 Super Carry
We finally got the chance to go hands-on with Federal’s new dedicated carry cartridge. While there’s only so much information you can gather from firing a mag or so worth of ammo, we were able to walk away with some initial impressions. Firstly, neither anyone on the Gun Digest team nor anyone we saw firing it while we were waiting experienced any malfunctions.
S&W Shield Plus in 30 Super Carry.
A cartridge built for concealed carry needs to be reliable, and from what we saw today it has no issues with feeding or extracting. Federal had two S&W Shield Pluses available for testing, one chambered for 30 Super Carry and the other for 9mm to get a direct, side-by-side comparison. As expected, 30 Super Carry had noticeably less recoil and was easier to handle than the 9mm version of the same gun. The heft of the Nighthawk also helped to absorb recoil and made for a very soft-shooting pistol.
30 Super Carry (left) vs. 9mm (right).
Aero Precision Suppressors
Aero had teased their intention to begin making suppressors a few years ago, but they hadn’t said anything more about them since until today. Aero Precision’s first line of suppressors will be called the Lahar 30 line and are slated to come out later this year.
Competitively priced, the new cans will be offered in three lengths and will all have .30 caliber bores. The examples they brought out to Industry Day At The Range were still in the white, but the final products will feature a black finish. We got to try them on both a .300 BLK and a 5.56 AR, and while the .300 BLK was unsurprisingly quiet the 5.56 version hushed-up better than expected.
Aero Lahar 30 suppressors.
PSA AK-105
Palmetto State Armory brought out their new PSAK-105 today, a 5.45x39mm AK pistol inspired by the Russian AK-105 carbine. The gun definitely looked the part, and it was one of the softest-shooting AKs I’ve had the pleasure of handling. It will ship as a pistol with a side-folding pistol brace for legal simplicity, but it has the proper rear trunnion for installing a stock if one chooses to register it.
I hope that PSA continues to help grow the American AK industry, and I do appreciate their ambition and innovation, but I still feel like their AKs have some room for improvement. The PSAK-105’s brace did not fold as smoothly or as easily for me as it should have, and the magazine release was rather stiff as well. Little issues like these all take away from the general feeling of “solidness” that AKs are known for, and if PSA wants to compete with imported models they’ll need to iron those details out. It was still a very fun gun to shoot and didn’t malfunction seriously in any way, I just have very high standards when it comes to Kalashnikovs.
The PSAK-105 in 5.45x39mm (bottom).
Byrna Technologies Non-Lethal Defense Products
A wildcard on this list isn’t technically a firearm at all, just firearm-shaped. Byrna Technologies makes non-lethal defense tools marketed towards both law enforcement and civilians, and they have some new options for both on the way this year. CO2-powered, Byrna’s products fire .68 caliber balls that can either act as deterrents through kinetic force or with chemical irritants. The Byrna SD pistol was already available, but new carbine-style options are on their way now as well. They provided surprisingly decent range and accuracy, especially when the CO2 canister was fresh, and the ability to mount optics on the new models made them very easy to score hits with.
Sig’s entry into the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon Program, the MCX-Spear, is now available on the commercial market.
The U.S. Army’s search for a replacement for the M4 is not over, but Sig Sauer’s entry has made it into the final stages of the Next Generation Squad Weapon Program. Sig’s rifle, the MCX-Spear, now has a semi-auto variant available on the U.S. commercial market. Sig claims that it is currently the most innovative and advanced AR variant in existence.
The MCX-Spear is not the only NGSW Program entry to receive a commercial variant with this news, as a commercial variant of the 6.8x51mm hybrid military cartridge is launching alongside it. Called 277 SIG FURY, this new cartridge will serve as the original chambering for the commercial MCX-Spear, although caliber conversions are possible as well. For those interested in the new rifle but don’t want to stockpile a brand-new cartridge, swapping the barrel on the new MCX will allow it to fire 7.62 NATO and 6.5 Creedmoor too. Sig has claimed that their new cartridge provides “magnum performance” without added weight, however, so it may be worth considering.
Sig’s new rifle will feature a 6-position adjustable folding stock, ambidextrous controls, match-grade trigger and an adjustable gas system. The MCX-Spear will also include a free-float, MLOK handguard that features a full-length Picatinny rail for mounting optics. Sig’s NGSW suppressor entry, the SLX, is available now as well.
Sig Sauer President and CEO Ron Cohen said this about the new commercial Spear variant:
This is a rare opportunity for passionate consumers to own a piece of history…This first production run MCX-SPEAR, and all of the revolutionary technology behind its development, is being offered to the commercial market in a configuration that is a near match to our NGSW-R submission. Further, this is the only rifle submission to the program that is designed and engineered in the United States by a company with the manufacturing scale and proven adherence to military-grade quality requirements – which is a tremendous source of pride for everyone at SIG SAUER.
The commercial MCX-Spear will ship with two 20-round magazines and has an MSRP of $7,999. Each purchase will include two boxes of the new 277 SIG FURY ammunition as well.
The Croatian VHS-2 bullpup rifle is now available on the U.S. commercial market for the first time as the Springfield Hellion.
Springfield Armory has a longstanding relationship with HS Produkt of Croatia, the company responsible for Springfield’s entire family of popular XD pistols. Now, for the first time, HS Produkt’s VHS-2 bullpup is being imported into the U.S. and sold under the name Springfield Hellion. Practically identical to its military counterpart, this new semi-auto 5.56 rifle has been eagerly awaited by American bullpup fans for years. The Springfield Hellion will now be competing against the handful of other bullpup rifles on the market such as the AUG, Tavor and Desert Tech MDR.
The VHS-2, or Springfield Hellion, may be a new design for the U.S., but the rifle already has a well-established reputation abroad. Used by the Croatian and Iraqi militaries, as well as some smaller special forces and police groups, the VHS-2 has already undergone the necessary improvements that were revealed during the testing of the original VHS. Unlike many other “new” guns in the U.S., the Springfield Hellion should already be good to go from the first batch of imports.
As a bullpup design, the Springfield Hellion features a 16-inch barrel in a package only 28.25-inches-long overall. The barrel is hammer-forged, has a 1:7 twist and comes with a 4-prong flash hider. Compact and handy, the Hellion is also a very capable fighting rifle. It feeds from STANAG AR-15 magazines (unlike the original VHS-2 which uses G36 mags) and is a fully ambidextrous design. The stock is adjustable for both length of pull and cheek riser height, and the rifle includes metal flip-up iron sights that are integrated into the top optics rail. The Hellion comes with a two-position adjustable gas regulator with one setting for running a suppressor, and the rifle’s handguard also has MLOK slots for attaching accessories.
The introduction of the VHS-2 to the U.S. market is exciting news for bullpup devotees, appreciators of military service rifles and those just looking for a very competent, compact 5.56 rifle. Its MSRP of $1,999 is within the range of other available bullpups, making it another fine option to consider for those searching for one. Time will tell how well the Springfield Hellion will fare against other bullpups in terms of popularity and aftermarket support.
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.
