Knife vs Gun — when is the armed citizen on solid legal footing when using lethal force against an attacker with a blade weapon.
On October 26, 2020, Philadelphia Police shot and killed a man with a knife, 27-year-old Walter Wallace. YouTube videos show the shooting, and to this observer, the two police officers who fired a total of 10 shots were likely justified in the shooting.
Have you considered under what circumstances you’d shoot someone threatening you with a knife?
What Is The 21-Foot Rule?
Just about everyone who has ever attended a training course on lawful use of force has heard of the Tueller drill, referred in some circles as the 21-foot rule.
To bring everyone up to speed, in 1983, Salt Lake Police Sgt. Dennis Tueller, a firearms instructor for his police department, one day timed his officers on how quickly they could draw and hit a man-sized target with two shots from their service revolvers. The distance was 7 yards, and the times averaged 1.5 seconds.
He then timed the officers on how quickly they could run the same 7 yards, and found it also averaged 1.5 seconds. The conclusion was that an officer should have their gun drawn when facing a knife-wielding suspect if that suspect was within 21 feet, or the officer would have no chance to draw and get shots off before being stabbed. This fact does not, though, automatically guarantee the legal system will validate your shooting of someone threatening with a knife from less than 7 yards.
What The Jury Will Consider
All the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident will need to be analyzed, with the results of that analysis being filtered through the reasonable person doctrine. What would a reasonable and prudent person have done in the same circumstances, knowing what you knew at the time?
Did the person display obvious overt threatening acts? Were they verbally threatening to use the knife against you? Was there a past history of violence on the part of the suspect? Was there any other criminal activity being engaged in by the suspect? For example, a person who pulls a knife on you outside the convenience store and states he will kill you if you don’t give him your money, is a different threat than someone who simply is carrying a knife open, exposed and acting erratically.
I worked on a case where an individual (according to the defendant) had previously threatened the use of a K-bar knife, and then moments later, threatened him again and started toward the defendant. The defendant shot and killed the attacker, but the attacker never drew the knife—just had it in its sheath on his hip. There were other extenuating circumstances, which ultimately led the jury to convict (like the drunkenness of the defendant and the fact he fled the scene) and worked against his credibility. My analysis of the scene and testimony in court wasn’t enough to overcome these facts, although I do believe he was justified in taking the suspect’s life.
Knife Vs Gun: Is There An Advantage?
There’s still a tendency for some to discount a knife as being as dangerous as a gun. The old adage that a gun is more lethal than a knife is simply wrong, as a well-aimed and executed knife cut can disable and kill as quick or quicker than a similar wound inflicted with a gun. The phrase in the reasonable person doctrine “knowing what you knew at the time” will be extremely important when you’re looking into the jury box and trying to convince them you had a reasonable belief your life was in danger. That’s where documented knowledge and training will be your ace in the hole.
When I was a young rookie police officer, our tactical and legal training surrounding lethal threats didn’t sufficiently cover knife lethality, in my opinion. It was generally accepted that the officer, if he or she had a baton, should use that baton to disarm the individual with the knife. It was only later, after Tueller’s earlier work and the production and distribution of the 1988 officer survival video Surviving Edged Weapons by Calibre Press, that the current training in knife lethality became widespread. If you carry a gun and haven’t seen this video, you really need to see it.
Training As A Legal Aid
Additionally, receiving hands-on, documented training from a reputable instructor or school might be invaluable if you ever have to justify your actions in court. Under most circumstances, your instructor could be introduced to validate the concepts and training he taught you.
The concept of documented training is what allows most police officers who use deadly force against knife-wielding suspects to avoid prosecution or civil liability. And the same documented training could very well be used by your attorney to convince the prosecutor’s office not to press charges against you, even if the suspect “only had a knife.”
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
A long-feared nightmare of American firearm owners just became a reality, what does this ban on Russian ammo mean for us in the long run?
Promises made, promises kept. Of the millions of first-time gun buyers last year, a sizeable amount of them helped to vote in the current administration and are now surprised that this aggressively anti-gun president is doing exactly as he said he would. Unable to attack the 2nd Amendment through legislation, he has decided to do so through sanctions against Russian ammo manufacturers. They were levied in response to the alleged poisoning of Alexei Navalny. This story is brought to you by the same mainstream media that lied for over four years about Russia’s involvement in the 2016 U.S. election as well as the “Kremlin is putting bounties on American soldiers” headline that was widely believed and subsequently debunked earlier this year. Whether you choose to believe that the poisoning of Navalny was a legitimate event or not, it is clear to all sides that the real purpose of these sanctions is to punish law-abiding American gun owners and not the Russian government.
Following September 7th, no new importation licenses will be granted for Russian-manufactured firearms, ammunition or nuclear or missile-related technology. This will be in effect for at least 12 months but may be lifted after this period if the Russian Federation satisfies certain criteria.
Since Russian firearms were already effectively banned in prior sanctions and missile-related products are not available for civilian purchase anyway, the only real effect on the American public here is the ammunition ban. While it can theoretically be lifted following Russia’s cooperation with America’s demands, because the Russian government denies the allegations in the first place it is safe to say they will never capitulate, effectively making these bans permanent. Overnight the once plentiful and cheap Russian ammo that lined store shelves across the country went the way of Chinese arms and ammunition back in ’93—virtually unobtainable.
Importation licenses are valid until either one year past the date of issue or whenever the allocated number of approved items has been imported, whichever comes first. This means that previously approved importers will still be able to import Russian ammo until their current licenses are no longer valid, so Russian ammo in the States will at least be dying a slow death rather than the swift execution many believed it had received on August 20th when the sanctions were first announced.
This has not stopped many from panic-buying as much Russian ammo as they were able. Shortly after the sanctions were first posted the popular deal-finder website Ammoseek crashed from too much traffic. Gun shops the morning after opened to lines of people waiting to get inside to clear out their entire stocks of steel-cased goodness despite the already present markup. 7.62x39mm ammo was priced at about 27 CPR the morning of the 20th and had already shot up to over 50 CPR by the evening. To say that people are worried about the future of ammo availability right now would be an understatement, and the reasons are obvious.
The effects of this ban will not only be felt by AK-aficionados and frugal shooters who only buy steel-cased, even those who only buy premium, brass-cased ammo will likely begin to see prices rise. This is because Russian-made ammo comprised 30-40% of all ammunition purchased in the United States, and its cost was always low enough to force other brands to stay competitive. By pulling the rug out from under the U.S. ammo market, other manufacturers will have less incentive to keep prices low. Unfortunately, it is likely true that no other nation can produce as much ammunition as cheaply as Russia was able to, as no other nation has the pre-existing infrastructure to produce at the same scale. When it still existed, the Soviet Union was the largest country in the world with one of the strongest and largest militaries. With so much of the USSR’s economy centered around arms production both for themselves as well as for export to friendly nations, it is only logical that they would have invested a great deal into domestic ammunition production. Modern-day Russia inherited this production capability and it remains unmatched by any other nation on Earth. It is because of this that Russia was able to provide, for so much of the American ammo market, and keep prices so low. I fear that no amount of increased production volume from Turkey, Romania, Ukraine or the Czech Republic will ever be able to completely fill the void being left by Russia’s disappearance from the market. I hope that I’m wrong about this, but I’m not holding my breath. We will likely never see any ammo as cheap as it was before the Covid panic and these most recent sanctions.
Not all calibers will be as affected as others, however. While it’s true that Russian ammo supplemented the U.S. supply of virtually all common calibers, there are many other sources for .223, .308 and other NATO rounds. Russian calibers like 7.62×39, 9×18 Makarov and 5.45×39 will not be as lucky. 7.62×39 is still one of the most popular cartridges in the world, including with American shooters. There are several factories still producing this caliber outside of Russia, and while they will never be able to fully match the volume of Russia’s output, given time they will likely eventually increase production enough to somewhat offset the difference. The AK-74’s cartridge, 5.45×39, is almost certainly the caliber that will suffer the most from these sanctions. Russia was by far the number one producer of this round and it now appears that the only possible source for it in the future is Romania. Here’s to hoping that they are able to produce enough to keep the AK-74 market kicking. AKs chambered in 5.56 are undoubtedly about to become more popular than ever before in response to this.
With the stroke of a pen, President Biden was able to deal a major blow to the hobby which is intrinsically tied to one of this country’s most important founding principles. Overnight these sanctions managed to raise the economic barrier of entry to own and practice with a firearm. Needless to say, this will have a bigger impact on this country’s impoverished than anyone else. Unfortunately, it seems that all there is to do now is wait and see how the market recovers in the years to come.
DRG has just acquired Saltwater Arms and are now manufacturing complete, corrosion-resistant AR-style rifles designed for maritime environments.
Saltwater Arms Rifle Advantages:
Utilize stainless steel components.
Parts coated in corrosion-resistant material.
Made in America using cutting-edge technology.
Each product is examined in-house by their quality-control lab.
Based out of Illinois, DRG is a leading U.S. manufacturer of firearm components, primarily for AR-style rifles chambered for 5.56, 9mm and .308. DRG products were already well regarded for their precision manufacturing and high durability, but following their acquisition of Saltwater Arms their catalog just got a lot more interesting. Made to withstand the harsh, corrosive environments commonly found near oceans, the Saltwater Arms-designed rifles now benefit from DRG’s manufacturing process and quality-control facilities.
DRG Manufacturing CEO and avid fisherman Chris Gosell had this to say about the new products:
“We set out to offer distinctive solutions to our customers and choosing to manufacture a new line of fully assembled rifles and pistols seemed to be the natural direction. Saltwater Arms rifles met our high standards and unique “out-of-the-box thinking” and we’re excited to add our expertise to the production. The firearm’s key components are made from stainless steel with highly durable corrosion-resistant coatings to provide users the utmost strength and longevity in the harshest of marine environments as well as worry-free relief for the prepper community.”
They currently have two new rifles for sale with two minor variants of each. Both new rifles are chambered for 5.56, have 16-inch barrels and are available with either 13-inch or 15-inch MLOK handguards. The Barracuda features a Tungsten Cerakote finish and has an MSRP of $1,395.95, while the Blackfin is hard coat anodized black and has an MSRP of $1,049.95.
Whether you live by the sea, are prepping for the apocalypse or just appreciate incredibly durable guns, this new line of Saltwater Arms rifles from DRG are worth looking at.
With the fall of the Afghan National Army, the Taliban has gained a trove of U.S. Military Weapons. Here's some of what's in their hands.
Difficult to miss, the ensuing chaos as the U.S. Military departs Afghanistan fills YouTube videos and nightly newscasts. Dramatic scenes of Afghan nationals attempting to escape the approach of Taliban fighters are dramatic and marks among the most turbulent chapters in American history. Less apparent, the trove of military weapons now in the hands of the insurgent forces presently in near-total control of the country.
Fleeing the Taliban onslaught, Afghan National Army (ANA) forces have abandoned or outright surrendered their arms to the insurgents. Almost to the gun, these weapons come from the U.S. Military. The situation is dire enough that Reuters reports the White House is considering launching an airstrike against some of the larger equipment. Even if this comes to pass, the Taliban comes out of the U.S. departure well-armed.
American Investment In Taliban Arms
According to a 2016 U.S. Government Accountability Office report, the Department of Defense had outfitted the ANA with some 884,311 pieces of military equipment since 2003. This includes nearly 600,000 weapons, 208 aircraft, and 76,000 vehicles of various types. In all, according to the Wall Street Journal, more than $80 billion over 20 years has been spent on the Afghan forces. Presumably, given the collapse of the country, most of this equipment is now in the Taliban's hands. But what exactly do they have?
Taliban fighters August 2021 in Kabul.
Gun Digest compiled a list of the likely small arms, vehicles, aircraft and equipment left behind in Afghanistan. By no means is our research definitive, given even the U.S. Military has had difficulty keeping tabs on exactly its supplies to the ANA. According to the Wall Street Journal, a December 2020 report found “[T]he Pentagon didn’t meet U.S. inspection requirements for weapons, inventorying only 40% of applicable military items from May 2019 to April 2020. However, there has been some records of what the U.S. has equipped the ANA with over the course of two decades and more than $80 billion of military spending. Here's what we found are the likely U.S. Military Arms now in the Taliban's possession.
U.S. Military Equipment Sent To Afghanistan
Beretta M9
Beretta M9
Recently replaced by the Sig Sauer P320 (designated the M17), the M9 was the standard-issue sidearm of the U.S. Military since 1985. The DA/SA 9mm replaced the iconic M1911A1 as the military’s go-to pistol, but never endeared itself to soldiers the same way as its predecessor. A 2006 report by the Center For Naval Analysis found of the soldiers who engaged the enemy with the pistol, only 58-percent were satisfied with the weapon—the lowest of any on the survey.
Sig Sauer M17/M18
Sig M17
Duty and compact variants of the P320 the U.S. Military recently adopted as its new sidearm. The striker-fired, double-stack 9mm pistols are manufactured by Sig Sauer and a known for their modular design, incorporating an internal chassis that is separate from the frame. This allows multiple configurations of the handgun, improved longevity. The pistols feed from both 17-round and 21-round magazines and have been praised for their accuracy and ergonomics compared to its predecessor the M9.
M16A2 Rifle
M16A2
Likely the most abundant American weapon supplied to the ANA is the M16A2. This rifle was first adopted by U.S. Marines in the early 1980s, eventually seeing use by every branch until it began getting phased out in favor of M4 carbines in the late 1990s. Some are still in service with rear-echelon units like the Reserves and the National Guard. Like its predecessor, the M16A2 is chambered for 5.56 NATO but the barrel was appropriately rifled for the new SS109 or M855 62-grain projectile. Further changes included a more adjustable rear sight, the addition of a brass deflector and new furniture of a modified design using improved materials. The sheer volume of M16A2s sitting in American stockpiles by the early 2000s made them a prime candidate for equipping the new Afghan army.
M4 Carbine
M4 Carbine
The M4 is what effectively replaced the M16A2 in common U.S. military service. Derived from the CAR-15 which was originally developed for special forces in Vietnam, the M4 carbine is essentially a shortened and modified M16A4. The M4 features a 14.5-inch barrel with an external profile that allows the mounting of an M203 under-barrel grenade launcher. They also have a proportionally shorter gas system and handguard as well as a telescoping buttstock similar to the one designed for the CAR-15. The most substantial change on the M4 is the replacement of the carry handle rear iron sight with a Picatinny rail segment for mounting modern optics. The United States sold M4 carbines to the ANA on a few separate occasions for use with Afghani commandos and special forces, but these were not issued to standard ANA infantry like the M16A2.
M24 Sniper System
M24 Sniper System
The primary sniper rifle of the U.S. Army for the past 30 years, the M24 is well regarded for its accuracy and performance in the field. Based on the push-feed, bolt-action Remington 700 the rifle was, by and large, chambered 7.62x51mm NATO (M24 and M24A2), however, in more recent times the rifle was modified to accept .338 Lapua Magnum, extending its range. Comparably, the 7.62 has an effective range of 875 yards, the .338 Lapua 1,640 yards. For the better part of its service, the 5-round rifle utilized the Leupold Ultra M3A 10×42mm fixed power scope or Leupold Mk 4 LR/T M3 10×40mm fixed power scope to get on target. H-S Precision provided many of the stocks, which at minimum were adjustable for length of pull, and some coming with a fixed cheekpiece.
M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon)
M249 SAW
Designed to provide infantry squads with a high volume of fire, the M249 combines a high rate of fire with accuracy and portability. The light machine gun was adopted in 1984 and has been a mainstay in nearly every U.S. conflict involving ground combat since. Chambered 5.56x45mm NATO, the FN Herstel-manufactured machine gun is operated by a gas-actuated long-stroke piston and is air-cooled. Its feed mechanism is also versatile, capable of grazing off 30-round ATANG magazines or M27 disintegrating belts. At 18 pounds, the gun is easily transported to nearly any fight.
M240B Machine Gun
M240B Medium Machine Gun
A general-purpose machine gun, the weapon is meant to bring heavier firepower to bear on the enemy than the smaller-caliber M249 SAW. Manufactured by FN Herstel, other variations of the 7.62x51mm NATO machine gun are often mounted on vehicles and aircraft, but the M240B is primarily an infantry weapon operate off an integral bipod or mounted on a tripod. A spare barrel is issued with each M240B, allowing barrel swaps to keep the air-cooled weapon in the fight. With a maximum rate of fire of 950 rpm, the machine generally feeds from a 100-round bandoleer containing a disintegrating metallic split-link belt.
M2 Browning Machine Gun
Browning M2
Among the longest-serving weapons in the U.S. Military’s arsenal, the .50-caliber heavy machine gun is also among the most versatile. The M2 or “Ma Deuce” has been mounted on vehicles, in aircraft, on ships and used off tripods. It’s overwhelming firepower on a target as both an anti-personnel and anti-material machine gun. In service since World War I, the John M. Browning-designed weapon doles out a lot of punishment, with an effective range of 2,000 yards and a cyclical rat up to 575 rpm. It is recoil-operated, air-cooled and belt-fed.
M134 Minigun
M134 Minigun
The six-barrel rotary machine gun has become among the most iconic U.S. Military weapons since it entered service in the early 1960s. The externally powered machine gun is best known for its extreme rate of fire, capable of delivering 2,000 to 6,000 rpm downrange. Generally, the M134 is mounted to vehicles and aircraft with its 41- to 85-pound weight making it prohibitive for infantry use. Chambered 7.62x51mm NATO, weapon feed from disintegrating M13 linked belt or linkless feeds. Dependent on its installation it utilizes 500- to 5,000-round belts.
M203 Grenade Launcher
M203 Grenade Launcher
The single-shot 40mm grenade launcher was adopted in 1969 and has been an infantry staple ever since. Originally, the under-the-barrel launcher was designed for use on the M16A1 but has been modified for use on the M4 carbine in modern conflicts. With an effective firing range of roughly 400 yards, its intended use is close fire support, mainly to reach enemies that cannot be hit by direct fire. The launcher fires several different rounds, from high-explosive to illumination and buckshot. Manufactured by several different companies, the M203 adds around 3-pound to a rifle.
Artillery
M114 Howitzer
M114 Howitzer
The medium artillery piece has seen service since World War II and is widely used by U.S. allies around the world. A versatile artillery piece, the 155mm howitzer is capable of shooting high explosive, smoke, chemical, nuclear and illumination rounds.
Vehicles
Up-armored HUMVEEs (M1151/M1152)
M1151 Humvee
Essentially the traditional Humvee, armored to provide ballistic and mine protection. A variety of weaponry can be mounted on its turret.
M113 APC
M113 APC
A fully-tracked armored personnel carrier, the M113 has 28mm to 44mm of 5083 aircraft-grade aluminum for armor. Provides all-around 7.62x51mm protection.
M577 Command Vehicle
M577 Command Vehicle
A variant on APCs, the M577 was designed to function on the battlefield as a mobile command post, typically at the battalion level. In service since the Vietnam War.
M1117 ASV
M1117 ASV
A wheeled, turreted and armored all-wheel vehicle is generally used to support police missions. The hull is mine-resistant and it features composite Modular Expandable Armor System (MEXAS) armor. Depending on its level, MEXAS can protect against small-arms fire, up to RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades). Typically armed with Mk19 Grenade Launcher, M2 Machine Gun or M240 Machine Gun.
Aircraft
U-60 Black Hawk
U-60 Black Hawk
A front-line utility helicopter, the Black Hawk can ferry up 11 combat-loaded troops at a time and is capable of moving large pieces of artillery. Manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft, the Black Hawk has four blades, a service ceiling of nearly 20,000 feet and a cruising speed of 152 to 159 knots.
A-29 Super Tucano
A-29 Super Tucano
Brazilian-made (Embraer Defense and Security), the Super Tucano is a turboprop light attack aircraft. Capable of carrying a variety of weapons, from laser-guided munitions, the aircraft was used extensively in counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan.
Other Equipment
AN/PVS 7b Night Vision Goggles (Generation Unknown)
3 Million Rounds of Ammunition (Estimated)
100,000 2.75-inch Rockets (Likely Hydra 70)
Anti-Tank Missiles (Likely FGM-148 Javelin and BGM-71 TOW)
Not every ANA troop was issued an American-supplied weapon, as especially in the earlier years of the conflict there weren’t enough to go around. Much of the ANA force’s equipment was Soviet in origin, some of it dating back to the ‘60s and ‘70s from when the USSR was assisting the Shah and then Daoud governments. Even more, weapons are likely leftover from the Soviet-Afghan War which saw Eastern Bloc weapons brought into the country by both the USSR themselves as well as the CIA during their support of the Mujahadeen. While Soviet forces primarily used AK-74s chambered for 5.45, these are no longer in common usage anywhere in Afghanistan. The prevalence of 7.62×39 ammunition, magazines and rifles ensured that AKMs and older AK-47s were what stayed in common usage. A random sample of Afghani AKs would likely feature examples not only manufactured in Russia but all other major AK-producing countries as well. A good amount of the famous reliability and longevity of the AK’s reputation stems from their prevalence in this region where they have been heavily used and poorly maintained for literal decades of fighting, with most still working just fine. Some contemporarily produced AKs were also supplied to the ANA by the United States as a supplement.
PK/PKM Machine Guns
Hungarian PKM
PKM machine guns are another Soviet weapon that were still commonly used by ANA forces before their surrender. Like the AK, many PKMs were left over from previous conflicts in the region, but more still were supplied by the U.S. and NATO later on. The PKM is a belt-fed general-purpose machine gun chambered for the full-powered 7.62x54R cartridge. The original PK version entered Soviet service in 1961 and a modernized version is still used by the Russian army today. It is also still used by dozens of armed groups, both state and non-state, across the globe. Lightweight for a machine gun and extremely reliable, it is not an uncommon opinion to regard the PKM as the best general-purpose machine gun ever made. Both the Taliban and ANA used these extensively for ground troops as well as vehicle-mounted weapons.
RPG-7
RPG-7
Perhaps the most iconic shoulder-mounted rocket launcher of all time, this Soviet-designed weapon has been used in most major conflicts since Vietnam. Produced not only by the USSR/Russia but several Warsaw Pact nations as well as China, it would be an understatement to say that the RPG-7 gets around. It fires unguided, rocket-propelled grenades of several different varieties, with warheads designed to do everything from penetrating armor to engaging groups of enemy personnel. Again, these have been prevalently used by both sides of the Afghan conflict since before America’s involvement in the region, so the ANA’s stockpile of RPG-7s and rockets will merely supplement the Taliban’s existing collection. Despite being unguided, in the hands of a skilled user, the RPG can be a very serious threat to helicopters.
Elwood Shelton and Adam Borisenko contributed to this report.
Few shoulder-fired .50-calibers have proven more adept at long-range precision than the McMillan TAC-50 sniper rifle.
What Sets The TAC-50 Apart From Other .50-Calibers:
Owns the longest confirmed kill.
As opposed to many other shoulder-fired .50-caliber rifles, the TAC-50 is a bolt-action.
Despite its size, the rifle is a relatively light 26 pounds.
Fairly widely utilized by militaries around the world.
The shot and the sniper who delivered it are shrouded in mystery. Tight-lipped, the Canadian military has never released the soldier’s name, nor the circumstances under which he pulled the trigger. What is known, the marksman from the Joint Task Force 2 connected at 3,871 yards (3,540 meters) in Iraq during the country’s 2017 civil war. Also established, what was on the sniper’s shoulder—the C15 Anti-Material Sniper Rifle. You might know it as the McMillan Tac-50.
Canadian Forces MacMillan Tac-50 (C15) with a Leupold Mark 4-16x40mm LR/T M1 Riflescope
Outside of military gearheads and ultra-long-range aficionados, the rifle is somewhat undeservedly mired in obscurity. Blame another shoulder-fired .50-caliber rifle for this—the Barrett M82—given in the realm of improbable sniper shots, it sucks the air out of the room. But the staple of Canadian and a rash of other nation’s sharpshooters, the Tac-50 has more than squared itself away as a legend. It is death from beyond incarnate.
McMillan TAC-50 Development
For the most part, when the McMillan Tac-50 was being designed in the late 1980s, the concept of an anti-material rifle was out of style. It wasn’t World War II and longer and a TOW missile was a better bet against approaching armor than any shoulder-fired weapon. Then a funny thing happened. Heavy heads in the upper brass figure what was formally known as an anti-tank rifle might have a second life taking shots at something else.
Turns out thin-skinned aircraft on the ground, radar installations and communications equipment don’t fare well when poked through with .50-caliber bullets—particularly the explosive kind. As an added benefit, putting this high-priced equipment out of service sowed chaos in the enemy, perhaps even more so than taking out any single soldier or even a platoon. Thus was born the anti-material rifle (AMR).
At the vanguard was the Barrett M82, in particular the M82A1, which first entered U.S. Military service as the M107 in 1990. Just in time for the first Gulf War.
While the semi-automatic .50-caliber rifle could shoot a country mile—actually, a couple of them—it did suffer from accuracy issues. Loaded with match-grade ammo (often it’s not), the M82 is maybe a 1.5 MOA rifle; plain old ball it’s a very loose 3 MOA weapon. Not the stuff tack drivers are made of, or that was the take of McMillan Firearms.
The offshoot of stock maker McMillan USA and now owned by Strategic Armory Corp. (Armalite’s Parent), set out to take the AMR to the next level. The answer was the Tac-50, and it was a much different take on the system than what Barrett brought to the table.
TAC-50 Specs
The main break the McMillan TAC-50 makes with its AMR predecessor is it's a bolt-action rifle. Logical, given the gunmaker was aiming at accuracy and turn-bolts have that down pat.
The rifle has a large bolt with dual front locking lugs and a safety rear, which works in massive enclosed action. To this is mated a heavy match-grade, stainless-steel barrel made by Lilja Barrels out of Great Plains, Mont. The company has a solid reputation, with its fire tubes accounting for numerous world records and championship titles. In the case of the TAC-50, the barrel maker supplied a 29-inch tube with flutes to reduce weight and improve heat dispersion. This is topped off with a massive muzzle brake, necessary to tame the .50-calibers excessive recoil.
A massive action and bolt, there's nothing small about the TAC-50
As far as user interface, the stock is—logically—supplied by McMillan, a fiberglass model specifically designed for the rifle and for exclusive use with a bipod. Unsurprisingly for a precision rifle, the buttstock is adjustable for length of pull with rubber spacers that can be removed to cut down the firearm’s size. Furthermore, the integral cheekpiece is adjustable for height.
Given the rifle isn’t a gallery gun, it comes sans iron sights of any kind. Instead, it has a McBros 30 MOA (1/2 deg) scope base for mounting an optical sight. Preferably a high-power scope, given the effective range of the rifle. Canada—one of the TAC-50 most famous users—both the Leupold Mark 4-16x40mm LR/T M1 Riflescope and the Schmidt & Bender 5-25×56 PMII telescopic sight have been used. McMillan also endorses the Nightforce NXS 8–32×56 Mil-dot telescopic sight for the Tac-50.
As for magazines, the rifle feeds off 5-round detachable box mags. It’s trigger is a Remington-style single-stage, adjustable from 3.5 to 4.5 pounds. Despite all these bells and whistles, the TAC-50’s most impressive aspect is its overall weight, which for the class of rifle is light at 26 pounds.
Rifle Variants
Since the McMillan TAC-50’s introduction, the company has come up with several variants of the original design. Most notable, the TAC-50 A1 and the TAC-50 A1-R2, and more recently the TAC-50C. Both were released in 2002, but have some notable differences.
TAC-50 A1
McMillan TAC-50 A1
The A1 defining feature is the rifle’s take-down fiberglass stock with a longer fore-end than the original model. Extending the fore moves the balance point of the bipod forward, thus creating a steadier overall shooting base. Additionally, the stock includes an integral cheekpiece, buttstock monopod, smaller pistol grip and repositioned magazine-release lever (in front of the trigger).
TAC-50 A1-R2
McMillan TAC-50 A1 R2
Essentially, this TAC-50 variant is identical to the A1 but includes a proprietary hydraulic recoil mitigation system. Situated in the buttstock, recoil compresses a piston to vastly reduce the amount of recoil a shooter must endure.
TAC-50C
McMillan TAC-50C
The 50C version of the rifle somewhat veers from previous iterations. The twist here is it’s a chassis rifle (hence the “C”), with a Cadex Dual Strike chassis. In addition to the rigidity the design brings—thus improving shot-to-shot consistency—the unit also boasts a fully adjustable buttstock and full-length Picatinny rail.
Given its success with the rifle, the Canadian military is the best-known user of the McMillan TAC-50. However, the rifle has shone for several armed forces around the world, including the French Navy, Israeli Special Forces, Jordanian SRR-61 and the United States. Yes, you heard that correctly, the U.S. While the U.S. Military as a whole never came to adopt the precise .50-caliber bolt-action—it didn’t see the need for one when aiming at targets the size of the side of a barn—the Navy SEALs deemed it a worthy addition to its arsenal where it’s designated the MK15.
Effective Range
So given all of the McMillan TAC-50’s assets, how accurate and how far can the rifle shoot? That, in some respects, is difficult to answer. The company boasts a ½ MOA guarantee with match-grade ammunition and pegs its effective range at 1,970 yards (1,800 meters). These are under ideal conditions mind you. How about real life? Well, there it seems it outperforms its sales-sheet specs.
U.S. Navy Boatswain's Mate assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Eleven (EODMU-11), shoots a McMillan TAC-50 sniper rifle during weapons training at a range in Iraq.
Dandy as the unnamed Canadian soldier’s confirmed kill at 2.2 miles was, it’s been backed up by nearly equally impressive shots by Canuk snipers.
In one month in 2002 in Afghanistan, Master Corporal Arron Perry and Corporal Rob Furlong recorded two of the all-time longest confirmed kills, each behind the TAC-50. Perry connected at 2,526 yards (2,310 meters) and Furlong at 2,657 yards (2,430 meters). Incidentally, those are the fourth and fifth longest shots in history, which means the McMillan TAC-50 owns three of the top five all-time longest shots.
Yeah, it’s not lab data with all variables controlled for, but it speaks volumes about the rifle's potential. Enough so, it backs up many contentions the TAC-50 a legitimate anti-personnel sniper rifle, in addition to an AMR.
Parting Shot
Certainly, the McMillan TAC-50 isn’t as well-known as some of its .50-caliber counterparts, but it’s more than staked its claim as one of the best. It’s one of the few AMR’s designed to bring precision to the battlefield. While that’s a questionable asset when aiming a 30-foot by 30-foot radar, it more than has proven an advantage. With a motivated sniper behind the trigger, the rifle delivers death from afar and is among the deadliest small arms in use today.
The new ARES Adaptive Retention System from DRD Tactical can help you operate faster, smoother and longer.
DDR Tactical ARES System Benefits:
Maintains a tighter center of gravity.
More evenly distributes rifle’s weight.
No sling to become tangled in gear.
Can be quickly brought in and out of action.
Many shooters only practice their hobby while seated at a bench or standing at a firing line. While this is good fun and good practice, if you ever envision using your rifle in any sort of real-world defensive situation, it’s not enough. The two basic components of engaging in a firefight are shooting and moving, the latter of which gets neglected far too often. One must only watch a few short clips of real-life gunfights to see that to be truly proficient with your rifle one must be able to run, jump, scale and fight all while retaining their weapon. Some slings on the market were designed to help with this the best they could, but ultimately none of them offer the same level of retention as systems like the new ARES from DRD Tactical.
It may not be the first of its kind, but the ARES seems to be an improvement on the retention system concept. Constructed from what appears to be high-durability plastic, the mounting plate’s mouth opens at the top in a wide “V” shape before narrowing into a channel near the bottom. This channel is what retains your rifle close to your chest via the peg attached to your AR’s endplate or a QD-sling point. The whole system then attaches to MOLLE, ideally on the front of a plate carrier.
This system enables you to quickly go hands-free without worry that your rifle’s sling will become entangled in your gear. Even slings that can be cinched tight to one’s body tend to flop around during intensive movement, and slings are notorious for getting snagged on things. The DRD Tactical ARES system solves this problem by eliminating the amount of potential play between your body and your rifle. By keeping the rifle closer to your center of gravity the ARES also enables quicker movement and better agility. Another advantage is when the rifle is secured to your chest it effectively turns your entire plate carrier or vest into a sling, evenly distributing the weapon’s weight over a greater surface than what any traditional sling can provide. This should help to reduce fatigue any time you need to carry a rifle for an extended period.
There are pros and cons to each piece of gear like this and each mission has different requirements, but DRD Tactical’s ARES system looks like good execution of this somewhat novel concept. Those whose profession entails a lot of standing around, patrolling or even running while armed would likely appreciate what this system has to offer.
The future of ammo is here, True Velocity’s composite-cased .308 Winchester is available now with more calibers to come.
True Velocity Composite-Cased Ammo Advantages:
Extends Chamber Life
Reduces Throat Erosion
Lighter Weight
Sub-MOA Accuracy
Extreme Consistency
Originally developed for The U.S. Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapons program, True Velocity’s composite-cased ammunition first became available to the public through their commemorative box set. Now, for those who’d actually like to try shooting this innovative new ammo, it’s available in more economically viable 20-round boxes.
While the biggest advantages of composite-cased ammo are only useful for military logistics on a large scale, there are some benefits that can be experienced by the individual shooter as well. The reduced heat transfer between the cartridge case and the chamber results in decreased throat erosion and a longer chamber life, although you’d have to be shooting a lot of True Velocity exclusively to benefit from the effects. The sub-MOA accuracy and extremely consistent muzzle velocity is the real appeal of this ammo for the average enthusiast, both of which are achieved by what True Velocity describes as “medical-grade manufacturing.” The use of robots and intensive quality-control systems ensures that each round produced is perfectly within spec.
Twenty-round boxes of .308 Winchester are available for purchase now with an MSRP of $69.99 per box. They will be introducing new calibers for sale in the coming months as well, and while they didn’t specify which ones, 5.56 is probably a safe bet.
Pocket pistols are simple in theory, but the history of the concept’s development suggests otherwise. Since the auto pocket pistol concept was first introduced with John Browning’s Colt 1908 Vest Pocket, there have been attempts to make them in a wide variety of calibers, sizes and qualities. What started as a gentleman’s uber-concealable defense piece eventually branched off into the realm of Saturday night specials as well, somewhat damaging pocket pistols’ overall reputation. There was one pocket pistol, however, that's innovative design kept it a popular choice despite the overall reduction in the concept's popularity. That pistol is the Seecamp .32, and its designers managed to squeeze a lot of quality into a very tiny gun.
The L. W. Seecamp Company was founded in 1973 by Ludwig Seecamp, a German immigrant to the United States. Classically trained as a gunsmith before the war, after moving to America he spent several years working as a designer for Mossberg before retiring and establishing his own company which would specialize in double-action 1911 conversions. As new double-action .45s like the Browning BDA were released, Seecamp’s 1911 conversions were being pushed out of the market and he felt the need to release something new.
By 1968 most pocket pistols were cheap imports, but the 1968 Gun Control Act’s “sporting clause” seriously restricted what pistols could be brought in. Aiming to capitalize on this void in the market, Seecamp released his LWS .25 in 1981.
Hammer-fired and double-action only, the LWS .25 was based on the Czech CZ-45 but managed to be even smaller. The .25 model was around long enough to prove that the design had merit and that people were willing to buy it, but only a few years after its introduction it was replaced by the .32 caliber version which is still being produced today.
For most of the Seecamp .32’s production, it has been overseen by the original Seecamp’s son, Larry. Continuing in his father’s tradition, during this time every Seecamp pistol was made the old-world gunsmith way: individually and by hand. While the resultant pistols were of very high quality, with only about seven workers on staff this was a very expensive and time-consuming process which resulted in over a year’s worth of outstanding orders to accumulate. For those who would like a Seecamp pistol, however, a positive change to production occurred in 2014. As Seecamp’s original master gunsmiths retired and Larry Seecamp was unable to find replacements for them, he sold the entire business to the company of a family friend, Whalley Precision. The general consensus since the takeover is that the pistols’ quality has not reduced any, but they have become much more readily available and for much better prices. Today Whalley Precision still produces LWS pistols in .25 ACP, .32 ACP and .380 ACP.
Design Details
Nothing can be designed without intent, and the intent behind the Seecamp pistols was self-defense. While this is thankfully a common and socially acceptable reason to own a pistol today when the Seecamp .32 was released this was not the case. Sections of the owner’s manual were actually published in firearms magazines because of how unorthodox it was to unapologetically claim that your pistol was designed for self-defense against other humans. In a time when other companies were still pretending that their Saturday night specials were intended for target shooting or sporting purposes, it took guts to be honest about your design’s capabilities.
The reality of Seecamp pistols’ capabilities is that they are decidedly not for sporting purposes, as otherwise they likely would have had sights of some kind. The Seecamp was designed from the ground up to be a last-ditch, point-and-shoot self-defense weapon, and its only safety is its 11.5-pound DAO trigger pull.
Seecamp .32s utilize a chamber-ring delayed blowback operating mechanism, unlike the direct blowback action of the original LWS .25. While .32’s higher pressure necessitated a new operating mechanism, it is still a light-enough recoiling round to be very pleasant to shoot even out of a small gun. This easy controllability is likely why the .32 Seecamp remained the most popular model even after the introduction of the LWS .380.
As a purpose-built self-defense pistol, the Seecamp .32 was designed around the only .32 hollow points available at the time and would fail to cycle anything else. While some considered this a downside, others viewed it as a reasonable compromise to make the Seecamp the best possible defensive pistol it could be. Partially thanks to the Seecamp .32’s popularity, there are now a wider variety of defensive .32 hollow points that are produced and that function properly in a Seecamp system. Every Seecamp model has a 6+1 capacity and a heel-style magazine release.
Since the Seecamp .32’s release, it has been a favorite backup gun for police officers across the country. Ideally sized for a pocket or ankle holster, these make great emergency deep concealment pieces whether you have a badge or not. They are surprisingly ergonomic for their size, making it no surprise that the gun’s general characteristics have been copied by at least two other manufacturers since its introduction. Now that the backorders have been filled and one can be purchased new right off the shelf, there hasn’t been a better time to add a Seecamp to your collection. MSRP is $510 for the LWS .32, a fair price for what may be the greatest pocket pistol ever made.
For more on Seecamp guns, please visit seecamp.com.
The World War II-era M1 Garand, chambered in .30-06 caliber, was the first semi-auto issued to American fighting men.
Built like a Sherman tank, accurate to 1,000 yards and available on the surplus market, the battle-worn M1 Garand still soldiers on.
What makes the M1 Garand the “greatest battle implement ever devised”?
The M1 Garand was the first semi-auto rifle issued to American military personnel.
The rifle is a long-stroke gas-piston-operated firearm, similar to the AK-47.
The M1 Garand's operating handle doubles as a forward assist.
The M1 is top-loaded, fed with an eight-round clip of .30-06 Sprg. ammunition.
Its magazine can be topped off; however, this is not recommended.
The M1 weighs between 9.5 and 10 pounds, depending on the wood used for the stock.
The M1 Garand is perhaps the most storied battle rifle in U.S. history, having stormed the beaches of Normandy and Iwo Jima. It was a cornerstone to America's victory in Europe and the Pacific and hold a revered place in soldiers' and shooters' hearts.
The grand M1 is still available today and not only makes a unique addition to a collection, but also provides endless hours of enjoyment. The Garand is a competent target rifle, has been used to take more than one deer, and is a solid survival option if need be. And yes, you can still purchase one.
Here's what you need to know about the M1 Garand if you're in the market for the old warhorse.
The M1 Garand, generally chambered in .30-06 Springfield, was the first semi-auto issued to American fighting men when our enemies and allies were still carrying bolt-action rifles little different from those of World War I. This revolutionary design was adopted by the U.S. Military in 1936 after more than a decade of development and even then saw some key changes before ending up as the rifle carried to victory in WWII and Korea.
In fact, the M1 Garand was so successful that it continued to see use in Vietnam and with reserve troops into the early 1970s, although it had been officially replaced in 1957 from front line service. Even then, the Garand was still in use with the militaries of a dozen friendly nations that we equipped, including the Greek Army well into the 1980s.
The M1 can weigh between 9.5 and more than 10 lbs. empty, depending on the type of wood used. Add a sling and buttstock cleaning kit, and the scale tips up. Of course, this much weight soaks up a lot of recoil, which helps with weapon fatigue and faster follow-up shots.
M1 Garand History
Designed by Canadian-born John C. Garand, a long-time Springfield Armory engineer, the rifle that bears his name is a long stroke, gas piston-operated, eight-shot clip-fed semi-automatic rifle chambered in the same .30-06 cartridge as its predecessors, the 1903 Springfield and the M1917 Enfield.
The long-stroke piston on the M1 is like that found on the AK-47 and constitutes a long steel operating rod that is one piece with the charging handle and joins the rotating bolt, which features two locking lugs on its face.
When firing, the operating rod, handle, and unlocked bolt move back as one unit, improving the rifle’s reliability in field conditions but also negatively affect precision accuracy. In addition, the bolt handle can serve as a forward assist to properly seat a round. Nevertheless, the M1 was considered very accurate and was used in the sniper role with scoped variants as well as in modern competition.
Even using iron sights the Garand is capable of outstanding accuracy and continues to be popular for competition.
It is possible that Mr. Garand may have come up with different features on his rifle if left to his own devices, but the terms that the military contract called for set the stage. The most off-putting feature to our modern eyes is undoubtedly the clip mechanism, which was demanded instead of a removable magazine.
Clips or Mags?
Although many people use the terms interchangeably, a clip and a magazine are not at all the same. A magazine holds the ammunition to feed into the gun; a clip holds the ammunition to be loaded into the magazine.
The M1 has a fixed internal magazine, which is fed from the top by a spring metal clip holding eight rounds. Without the clip, the M1 becomes a single-shot weapon with the shooter only being able to load one round at a time.
The eight rounds are staggered in the clip, and there is no top or bottom, so it doesn’t matter on which side the top round is located (which is handy for a battle rifle). On the last round fired, the clip automatically ejects, and the bolt locks to the rear.
Retracting the bolt and depressing the clip latch located on the left side of the receiver manually ejects a full or partially full clip. Magazines can be topped off, but this is not easy or recommended, and it is far better to eject a partially expended clip and replace it with a fresh one. Both 2- and 5-round clips are commercially available.
M1 Rifle Operation
Operating the M1 is simple, but takes a bit of practice at first. Once the bolt is locked to the rear, a full clip is inserted through the top of the receiver and pressed down. The bolt then automatically releases to go forward and load the first round. It is best to do this with the thumb of the right hand while using the palm to hold back the bolt handle, otherwise the bolt could slam onto your thumb with some force, causing the infamous “Garand thumb.”
Moreover, the safety catch is somewhat novel and reminds me of those found on SKS rifles. To engage the safety on the M1, depress the metal catch in front of the trigger guard toward the trigger. This moves the steel tab into the trigger guard, partially blocking access to the trigger.
Overall, the Garand is a simple rifle system to master with a bit of practice. The biggest obstacle is avoiding the dreaded “M1 thumb” when loading.
When you are ready to fire, simply place your finger on the trigger and push the safety bar forward and out of the trigger guard area.
M1 Garand Gas System
The final gas system adopted for the M1 uses a hole in the bottom of the barrel toward the front of the rifle to divert gas against the front of the operating rod.
The short gas tube located underneath the barrel at the front was made from stainless steel to prevent corrosion; it was then painted black since the stainless steel would not be easily Parkerized. This accounts for the difference in finish of this part from the rest of the rifle. It should also be noted that a lot of military .30-06 ammunition is corrosive because it has sodium in the primer and requires the use of water to clean properly and prevent rust.
Garand Production Figures
During World War II, Springfield Armory (the government armory not the Springfield Armory we know of today) and Winchester Repeating Arms produced approximately five million Garands. After the war, another nearly 1.5 million were produced by Springfield Armory, Harrington & Richardson Arms, and International Harvester Corporation.
Almost every M1 has undergone some sort of arsenal repair or rebuilding, which often included new barrels and replacement parts from different manufacturers. Even Beretta produced Garands using Winchester machinery after the war, and Beretta parts can be found on M1s imported from service with European armies.
I have owned several, all purchased through the Civilian Marksmanship Program or CMP. These differ significantly from M1s that may have found their way back to the U.S. from commercial importers.
That’s because CMP guns are all genuine U.S. Government surplus that have been inspected, repaired and test fired by CMP armorers and are free of those annoying import marks.
Maintenance And Disassembly
Maintenance and disassembly of the M1 Garand is straightforward, although at first glance it does seem like there are a lot of parts to keep track of; of course, they must be reassembled in the correct order, too. Also, it is best to assume that any ammunition you use, except for modern commercial stuff, is corrosive — requiring you to clean accordingly.
The M1 Garand clip, the magazine is part of the rifle. It loads pretty quickly once you get a hang of feeding in the clip. Photo courtesy garandgear.com.
M1 Sights
The front blade sight is fixed, but the rear peep is outstanding with elevation adjustments in 25-yard increments out to 1,200 yards with easy windage adjustments. Mounting a scope on a Garand is no easy task and in order to keep the rifle as close to original as possible it's best to stick with iron sights.
Shooting the M1
This is a large, heavy rifle, and I can’t say that I would have relished having to carry it in combat. It is easy to understand why a lot of American soldiers preferred the M1 Carbine. Still, the rifle is very well balanced, shoulders easily, and the recoil — even with the full-sized .30-06 battle round — very manageable.
Accuracy on the range firing at 100 yards from a bench rest and using the standard iron sights was very good — as good as most of the scoped ARs I shoot. My best group was an impressive 1.4 inches using Remington ammo, but the Greek 1980s vintage surplus stuff also produced a 1.4-inch group.
Keep in mind that this is out of a WWII vintage, semi-auto, beat up, rebuilt, Greek loaner rifle using ammo that was made in Greece when Jimmy Carter was president.
Many variants of the M1 Garand were created during and after the war, including a never-issued tanker and paratrooper model as well as select-fire versions and ones with detachable magazines. Some were also chambered and issued in 7.62x51mm NATO (.308 Winchester), especially once the .30-06 round was phased out.
M1 Garand For Sale
The best place to get a real American M1 Garand is still through the CMP, and they have various grades available, although supplies are dwindling. Rack Grade guns are the cheapest and have the most replacement parts and wear. Criteria for purchase is easy to meet, and CMP ships the rifle directly to your door.
Given the interest in the rifle, away from CMP, Garand prices have soared. At gun shows, it's not unusual to find a common model, such as one from the Springfield Armory, draw in excess of $1,000. Rarer and more collectible ones, such as International Harvester M1 Garand, demand a premium price, even in rough shape.
U.S. M1 Garand .30 Caliber Specifications: Caliber: .30-06 Springfield Barrel: 24 in. Overall Length: 43.5 in. Weight: 10.5 lbs. empty Stock: Walnut Sights: Fixed blade front, adjustable peep rear Action: Semi-auto Finish: Parkerized Capacity: 8-round clip Price: $525 256-835-8455 www.odcmp.com
Made for long treks over open country, the new Razor HD LHT is light, rugged and ready to go the distance.
Razor HD LHT 4.5-22×50 FFP Features:
First Focal Plane XLR-2 Reticle
RevStop Zero System
4.5-22 Power Magnification
50mm Objective Lens
Weight: 21.7 Ounces
Vortex Optics understands the difficulties associated with western hunting. Wide open country, erratic elevation changes and volatile weather all contribute to the western hunter’s need for a good riflescope. Vortex’s previous Razor HD LHT scope had proven popular already, but their new 4.5-22×50 FFP promises to take things to the next level.
Easier Aiming
Several features on the Razor HD LHT 4.5-22×50 FFP were intended to make aiming as easy for the shooter as possible, starting with the new XLR-2 reticle. The reticle provides ample information for calculating holdovers or adjusting for range at any magnification level, something which has also been increased over the previous generation of Razors. The reticle also benefits from the Razor HD LHT’s new FFP functionality which ensures that the reticle scales accordingly as you increase the scope’s zoom. The reticle is available with either MOA or MRAD markings and can also be illuminated for shooting in low light conditions. With the addition of the RevStop zero system that allows for quick and reliable returns to zero at the throw of a lever, the new Razor HD LHT was clearly designed for maximum long-range performance.
Ready For Anywhere
Of all the groups that utilize long-range optics, western hunters may have some of the greatest requirements for durability. The rifle must be packed in for miles of rough terrain only to be deployed among the sharp edges of the Rockies. That’s why the new Razor HD LHT was designed to be as tough as it is accurate. The scope body is constructed from a single piece of aircraft-grade aluminum and then covered in Vortex’s patented protective coating. The end result is a scope that is shockproof, waterproof and fog proof all while remaining one of the lightest scopes of its size.
Each Razor HD LHT 4.5-22×50 FFP comes with lens covers, a sunshade, lens cloth, RevStop zero ring and a CR2032 battery for illuminating the reticle. MSRP is $1,999.99 for either reticle option.
Smith & Wesson makes a marked break from tradition with its first bullpup shotgun, the M&P 12.
How Does The M&P 12 Stack Up:
Dual tubular magazines
Push-button magazine selector
AR-style controls
3-inch chamber
Lower ejection
Loved in some corners, reviled in others, bullpups stir the passions. And while there are devotees to the oddball design stateside, the backed-up configuration has never really punched a toehold in the market. Outside of midsized manufacturers, such as KelTec, it’s usually been gunmakers from across the pond—IWI and Steyr in particular—who’ve scratched the Yanks’ bullpup itch. However, this might change.
Rolling the dice the bullpup shotgun’s time is now, Smith & Wesson has unveiled its rendition of the oddball design as an expansion of its M&P line of defensive/tactical firearms. Dubbed the M&P 12 Shotgun, the 12-gauge is the company’s first attempt at a scattergun in quite as spell and is a marked break from its previous smoothbores. One thing is for certain, the time is ripe for the introduction of a defensive shotgun—bullpup or otherwise. Much like carry-friendly pistols, tactical shotguns have flown off the shelves the past two years in America’s record-breaking gun-buying flurry.
What The M&P 12 Shotgun Brings
If the UTS-15 and KSG had an attractive kid it might look like the M&P 12. It’s definitely as blocky in stock and fore, and like the aforementioned bullpups, the shotgun boasts a dual-tubular magazine design. Throw the confetti, because this means the Smith & Wesson scattergun has plenty on tap without compromising overall length. To that end, the 27.8-inch long gun holds six 3-inch shells per tube or can maximize capacity with seven 2 3/4 shells per tube. Shooters can even load up even more, given Smith & Wesson boasts it will also properly cycle mini shells, which isn’t the case with all shotguns. A push-button selector intuitively situated at the rear of the fore allows for quick mag changes and plenty of flexibility of what you pitch downrange.
Perhaps the most visually notable aspect of the M&P 12 is its two-grip design, offering more control over the guns and potentially faster actuation of the pump. Though, it does tend to increase the overall profile of the gun. The nice part, however, Smith & Wesson recently rethought the entire concept of grips and has veered away from run-of-the-mill AR handles. Instead, the shotgun is outfitted with M&P pistol grips, complete with interchangeable palm swell grip inserts to customize each user's fit.
As to some of the M&P 12’s finer points, its controls are configured similar to an AR-15—fully ambidextrous as well—making it very intuitive to manipulate. It’s outfitted with a Picatinny optics rail (there are M-Lok slots too), though this is somewhat forward, which makes sense, given a red-dot is the most likely candidate for an optic. It boasts a push-button load/unload assist system, as well as a loaded chamber indicator and compatibility with Rem Chokes. And it has a reciprocating dust cover over the receiver, a bid to make clearing damaged shells or malfunctions easier. One other nice touch, the action lock lever is located at the front of the trigger guard, which removes having to take the gun out of ready to reach.
As to the tale of the tape, the gun has a 19-inch barrel and weighs in at a tick over 8 pounds. Now the big question, what does it cost? At present, Smith & Wesson has an MSRP of $1,165 on the M&P 12, which puts it at the upper end of the market. Though with the way tactical and home-defense shotguns have flown off the shelves in recent months the price is likely far from prohibitive.
Not The First Smith & Wesson Shotgun
A quick note about Smith & Wesson pivoting to shotguns, it isn’t the company’s first rodeo with scatterguns. It’s peddled both sporting and defensive break action, pump and semi-auto guns. Many of their more modern offerings were contract jobs, such as the Japanese-made (Howa) Model 3000 pump and Model 1000 semi-auto. However, shotguns have rolled off the manufacturer's lines, most notably the side-action 916—based on the Nobel Shotgun Company’s Eastfield Model. Though the M&P 12 marks the company's first foray into the scattergun in nearly 30 years and no word if it’s made in-house. Time will tell if this proves a wise move.
M&P 12 Specs: Caliber: 12 Ga Capacity: 6 3-inch per tube, 7 2 3/4-inch per tube Optics: Yes Color: Matte Black Safety: Ambidextrous safety selector Length: 27.8 inches Action: Pump Action Stock: Synthetic Fixed Stock Grip: M&P with Four Interchangeable Palmswell Grip Inserts Barrel Material: 4140 Chrome-Moly Vanadium Steel Barrel Length: 19 inches Weight: 8.3 pounds MSRP: $1,165
For more information on the M&P 12, please visit smith-wesson.com.
Rare Breed has rejected the ATF’s claim that the FRT-15 trigger qualifies as a machine gun based on the agency’s own definition. Time to grab some popcorn.
ATF Rul. 81-4 The National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. 5845(b) defines “machine gun” to include any combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a weapon to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.
Rare Breed Triggers caused quite the stir when they released their FRT-15 trigger for AR-style rifles last year. At first glance, it's easy to see why. The FRT-15 enables its users to shoot in controllable, sustained bursts of fire in a way that is very outwardly similar to the function of a machinegun, but it does not technically meet the definition of one according to the ATF’s own rulebook as defined by the National Firearms Act (NFA). Rare Breed Triggers clearly has a better grasp on this definition than the ATF.
Standing for “Forced Reset Trigger”, the FRT-15 forcibly resets the trigger after each round is fired, avoiding legal classification as a machinegun because there is only one round fired per trigger pull despite the greatly increased rate of fire. Regardless of how blatantly this device skirts the spirit of the law intended to restrict private ownership of fully automatic weapons, it does not change the fact that it complies with the letter of the law. If the ATF wishes to classify the FRT-15 as a machinegun, they will need to amend how a machinegun is defined within the NFA.
The situation is best understood by simply reading the correspondence between the ATF and Rare Breed Triggers, as any attempt to paraphrase the response from Rare Breed’s lawyer would not do it justice. In the letters which can be read at the bottom of this post, attorney Kevin Maxwell eloquently, professionally and summarily informs the ATF of the many issues with their attempted new classification.
The case is still ongoing, and the results will remain unknown for quite some time, but Rare Breed’s refusal to comply with the ATF’s baseless cease and desist order is a glimmer of hope in the otherwise bleak onslaught on our constitutional rights. Many Americans flat-out disagree with the Supreme Court’s confirmation of the NFA’s constitutionality, but that’s a conversation for another day. As long as the NFA requires citizens to register their suppressors, SBRs and pre-’86 machineguns with the federal government, that’s what law-abiding citizens will do. The ATF is currently also targeting braced pistols, 80% receivers and homemade firearms. So their attack on Rare Breed triggers appears to be the agency testing the waters on compliance.
The development of this case holds interest for all gun owners, whether they purchased an FRT-15 themselves or not. An ATF court victory would enable them to classify things however they please, regardless of their own definitions. If this is the outcome, FRT-15 owners should expect a knock on the door from the Federales at some point where they may even see their dog get reclassified as target practice. If the courts determine that the ATF is obligated to abide by definitions as they are written in the NFA, we will likely see the FRT-15 and a slew of similar designs flood the market and finally enable the common man to own weapons with otherwise financially prohibitive fire rates.
A behind-the-post view of Skinner Sights, an aiming solutions company equal parts tradition and innovation.
What Makes Skinner Sight Special:
Sights are machined from solid steel, stainless steel or brass bar stock.
No aluminum, except on its Picatinny rail products.
Designed to match and enhance the aesthetics of the rifle.
At the same tick, they're engineered to maximize the accuracy potential of a firearm.
The finest man I’ve ever met makes peep sights, and his name is Andy Larsson.
How good of a man is
Larsson? He makes arguably the finest peep sights in the world; yet, more often than not, it’s for life advice that I call him.
Skinner Sights also makes a 1-6x24mm optic, which is a great tool for turkey hunters.
What’s a man’s character have to do with making peep sights? If you want the very best sights, you need them to be made by a man who can see himself, you and your targets clearly. Mental clarity has and always will be more critical to good marksmanship than how well you can run a lathe.
“I’ve always been an outdoors person, hunter, shooter andt reloader … almost from birth,” Larsson says. “During high school, I had access to a lathe, mill, shaper and welding equipment, and I applied the training to gunsmithing immediately by re-barreling rifles and pistols in school shop class. During college, I worked at a sporting goods store as the ‘in-house’ gunsmith. After college, I continued gunsmithing as a hobby while serving as a Christian minister. I also opened, owned and operated an archery shop for a few years.”
As Larsson grew more experienced with firearms and life, he adjusted his sights on some new goals.
“I first worked for Buffalo Bore Ammunition, then had a chance to purchase Skinner Sights from my friend of 30 years, Dr. Tim Skinner,” Larsson says. “I bought the business in August of 2010 and never looked back.”
Andy Larsson creates sights for hunters that work because he does most of his product development where hunters are—in the woods. A constant tinkerer, Larsson often solves big problems with small solutions because of his ability to see the needs of the shooter so clearly.
Larsson’s purchase of Skinner Sights wasn’t an impulse. Skinner and Larsson had known each other for years because of the work Larsson did for him. Skinner certainly saw what Skinner Sights could be now because of who Larsson was then.
Forging Skinner Sights
As any successful entrepreneur will tell you, talent alone isn’t enough to win: It takes an enormous amount of hard work as well.
“My goal at first was just to make the first payment to Dr. Skinner,” Larsson says. “The next level was a desire to grow the six basic products he had been offering and expand our line of proven, durable, aesthetically pleasing, rugged and accurate sights. I was a one-person band, doing all the marketing, machining, assembly, packaging and shipping. It was a quick learning curve, and by January 2011, I hired two employees.”
As much of a realist as any straight-shooting man ought to be, Larsson was a dreamer. He’s just a dreamer who has enough grit to make his come true.
Larsson has grown Skinner Sights into a brand trusted by the world’s best firearms manufacturers, such as Marlin and Henry.
“I’m passionate about bringing new products to the market,” Larsson says. “It’s very satisfying to have an idea, lay awake at night figuring out the details on how to hold the part, cut the part, finish and apply the results in a way that will help shooters. To see that come to fruition when the first orders come in is very motivating.”
Larsson’s mechanical aptitude was machine-matched to a work ethic and moral values with very high expectations.
“My core value is first to follow the golden rule,” Larsson says. “We treat our customers the way we want to be treated. Customer service is paramount. Don’t sell gimmicks. Never steal anything from another company. Be honorable. Always leave something on the table. A business will reap what you sow. Appreciate your customers and listen to them. Don’t borrow against the company. Make it profitable. Invest in people and infrastructure. Bring everyone forward with you that you can. Help others. Be loyal to those who have been loyal to you.”
A good idea matched with a great work ethic still isn’t enough to succeed in today’s ultra-competitive outdoor industry marketplace. Larsson also needed to know how to market Skinner Sights—and he did just that.
“Everything now has our name on it,” Larsson says. “Dr. Skinner had not been marking any of his products. After registering the name, Skinner’s exclusive use in the firearms market, I bought a small Pantograph engraver and put Skinner on everything I built.”
Larsson knew then what his goals would be. “I want the brand Skinner to continue to be relevant in the market, appearing on other manufacturers’ OEM products, and branch out to other outdoor products. I’m working on some products for ORV machines, the fishing/boating industry and perhaps something for the adult air gun market.”
Once the Skinner Sights name was known, he added value to the brand’s identity.
Larsson is a deep, devoted family man and is rarely found far away from Sheila, his wife, who has grown into a successful world-class hunter herself.
“Whenever responding to a customer, I would link our website,” Larsson says. “Using online blogging and forums, we got the name out there. I’m very visual, so photos were included everywhere. Our unique shape and design stand out. In late 2010, I introduced the Black Gold line, and they were an instant hit. Today, more than half our sales include the Black Gold option, and we incorporate the colors into our logos and advertising.
“Getting our sights into the hands of real users, gun writers and shooters around the world was important,” added Larsson. “I love people, especially shooters and hunters, so we quickly developed lasting relationships in the firearm industry. These folks are now our family.”
So, what exactly are Skinner Sights? According to Larsson, his sights are machined from solid steel, stainless steel or brass bar stock. “No aluminum, except on our Picatinny rail products,” Larsson proudly said. “A Skinner Sight looks like it grew on your rifle. It is designed to enhance your firearm’s beauty, be rugged as the gun itself, accurate, reliable and comes with a lifetime warranty. We use our products daily in the field and on the range. Our customer service is among the best in the industry. Our goal is your success. These are products I’ve developed based on a lifetime spent in the outdoors and shooting world. I stake my life on them, and so can you.”
Larsson’s plan, ethics, skill and vision have rewarded his customers and his employees and family as well. Skinner Sights has grown significantly since 2010, with some of Larsson’s most authentic validation to his business acumen coming by word of mouth.
“We just celebrated our 10th anniversary and still love our association with the industry, the friends we have made here, and bringing my ideas and dreams to the market to help other shooters and companies be successful.”
Skinner Sights makes a variety of systems for many different manufacturers.
What’s one of Larsson’s main battle cries as a business owner?
“Never get in too deep that you can’t keep your head up,” Larsson explains. “I work with manufacturers I trust. I’m also very trusting until we have been given reason to do otherwise. Remember, we reap what we sow. If a company is shady in their business deals, steals product ideas or sells you out for their profits, it will come back to bite them later.”
The most telling thing about Larsson was revealed when I asked him who his best and most influential mentors in hunting, shooting and business are:
“My father, who introduced me to the love of shooting, hunting and reloading,” Larsson says. “My boss during college days: He trusted me with his customers. Various friends who share outdoor passions. Tim Sundles from Buffalo Bore Ammo has been an employer, friend, mentor and encourager.
“Dr. Skinner for his trust, innovation and vision,” Larsson added. “Coni and Randy Brooks, who built Barnes Bullets into an amazing, world-recognized, standard-setting business. Their ethics, inspiration and innovation witness what can be done with the right business model. Coni also inspired Sheila to engage fully in the outdoors and the firearm industry.
Need to front mount something on a Ruger Mini14? Skinner Sights has you covered.
“Anthony Imperato (and crew) of Henry Repeating arms reached out to us early on, trusted us to develop some sight solutions for Henry Rifles, set a standard in customer service, generosity and made-in-USA loyalty. Eric Lundgren of Remington/Marlin is innovative, level-headed and communicates clearly how Skinner Sights can help their product line. My staff and employees: They are the backbone of production, and customer fulfillment and service. My crew helps the business grow every day. And my wife, Sheila: Every day we wake up ready to embrace whatever adventure awaits. My respect for and relationship with Sheila inspires me to do better, reach higher and be successful.”
Skinner Sights continues to hit where it’s aiming, both with its customers and its future. We continue to grow.
“I have some cool new ideas to bring forward this fall, and we continue to stay relevant in the marketplace without chasing the current ‘fads,’” said Larsson. “We’re not just another company with a CNC machine and a can of spray paint. Our products and designs should endure the tests of time.”
For more information on Skinner Sights, please visit skinnersights.com.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the November 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
One of John Browning’s many revolutionary designs, the Colt 1908 Vest Pocket is the one that got the pocket pistol ball rolling for decades to come.
Colt 1908 Vest Pocket Features:
.25 ACP, 6+1 Capacity
Direct Blowback Action, Single-Action Trigger
OAL: 4.5-Inches
Weight: 13 Ounces
Technically speaking, the Browning design that first kicked off the pocket pistol trend was released in Europe as the FN M1905. But it was virtually identical to the version Colt would begin to sell on the American market a short while later as the Colt 1908 Vest Pocket. Whichever name you know it as, this iconic little mouse gun was Browning’s attempt to make the smallest centerfire pistol possible utilizing his new .25 ACP cartridge.
It was the turn of the century and automatic pistols had only just begun to take off, with most designs being full-sized duty pistols intended for military service. Cowboys may not have taken issue with wearing their irons proudly on display, but Browning recognized that the modern gentleman preferred to carry concealed, and he preferred to carry comfortably. Acknowledging the inherent reliability issues with .22 rimfire cartridges, he set out to design the .25 ACP centerfire and a new pistol to go along with it. His design was first introduced by FN as the M1905 onto the European market, and Colt followed suit in America shortly after under the name “Model N” (more commonly known as the Colt Model 1908 or Colt Vest Pocket). Their collectability makes these guns less than ideal for practical CCW today, but the design that birthed the automatic pocket pistol as a concept deserves a second look.
Not only was the Colt 1908 Vest Pocket the first automatic pocket pistol, it was also the first pistol in common usage to feature a striker-fired design. Too small to incorporate a hammer, shrouded or not, the only way for Browning to make his pistol as small as he wanted was to design a new firing mechanism that would fit inside. Other guns had utilized striker mechanisms before, but none this small or efficient.
Colt 1908 Vest Pocket back of slide, striker mechanism is contained inside in lieu of a hammer. Photo:Rock Island Auction Company.
The low-pressure nature of .25 ACP enabled the design to use a blowback action, and like all other semi-auto pistols of its time the Colt 1908 Vest Pocket was single-action only. The original design incorporated two safeties, a manual thumb-safety and a grip safety, similar to what would eventually be seen on Browning’s 1911 pistol as well. As a gun that was designed to be concealed close to the body and quickly accessed for self-defense, these features were obviously wise inclusions. The magazine holds 6 rounds of .25 ACP and is removed via a magazine heel release. Like virtually all pocket pistols, the iron sights on the Colt 1908 Vest Pocket are nearly non-existent. This gun was clearly intended more for point-shooting across a card table than hitting bullseyes at the range. Colt would go on to produce this pistol until 1948, where it would remain many people’s pocket pistol of choice for decades to come. While there have been many innovations made on the pocket pistol concept since its introduction, many people stayed loyal to Browning’s original design.
A Colt 1908 Vest Pocket being held in “The Maltese Falcon” (1931). Photo: IMFDB
While ultra-small pocket pistols like the Colt 1908 Vest Pocket have certainly fallen out of common usage since at least the 1980s, there are some that still believe in the utility of a gun small enough to be smuggled in a cup of coffee. Caliber choices in a gun this small are essentially limited to .22LR and .25 ACP, and the greater reliability of .25 makes it the clear winner in my mind especially since the two are so ballistically similar. There have been a plethora of pocket pistols released since Browning started it all, some cheap imitations and some legitimate innovations on the concept. If you have a Colt 1908 Vest Pocket at home, its historical provenance and value probably mean that it’s best left as a safe queen, but if the right situation warranted it these guns would still make for a great backup or deep concealment piece.
Apex’s new CZ P-10 trigger kit can be configured for either the range or carry, giving you an edge in accuracy wherever you may need it.
Apex CZ P-10 Trigger Kit Features:
Easy, Drop-in installment.
Choice of a sub-4 pound or 5.5-pound trigger pull.
Doesn’t compromise safety.
MSRP: $104.95
The CZ P-10 has been a relatively popular concealed carry pistol since its introduction. Fans of the platform praised it for having an already nice trigger out of the box, but even the best striker-fired designs leave something to be desired for many shooters. For those looking to give their gun a lighter pull and a cleaner break, Apex’s new CZ P-10 trigger kit can help make it happen.
Trigger Options
Different tasks require different gear, and your pistol’s trigger is no different. Having as light of a trigger pull as possible can be nice at the range, but not everyone is brave enough to stick a chambered piece in their pants when it has a hair-trigger, especially when there’s no manual safety to speak of. While it’s generally considered safe practice to carry appendix with a good holster, negligent discharges have happened using this method. A heavier trigger decreases that risk. This is why Apex’s CZ P-10 trigger kit can be easily configured for either the range or your belt.
To achieve the lightest pull possible, the Apex kit’s trigger, disconnector and slide cover plate must all be installed. This combination of parts reduces the CZ P-10’s pull weight to below 4 pounds while also providing a smoother take-up and cleaner break. This configuration should help shooters maintain a steadier sight picture and grip while firing, and the trigger’s reduced over-travel should also aid competition shooters looking for faster splits. Because this kit uses no new springs, the upgrade shouldn’t result in any light primer strikes or reliability issues. The alternative configuration of the CZ P-10 trigger kit is intended more for CCW or duty use. By retaining the use of the factory CZ disconnector the pull weight remains at about the stock 5.5 pounds, but the other Apex parts work to create a cleaner and more distinct break.
The Apex CZ P-10 trigger kit can be dropped into the C, S or F variants of the 9mm P-10 for quick and easy installations. Note, however, this kit was designed to be used with the most recent generation of CZ trigger bars labeled as #19. If your P-10’s trigger bar is marked with a #16, #17 or #18 you will have to replace that component before installing this kit.
The black variant of the trigger is available for pre-order now with units beginning to ship August 17th. For competition shooters who like things flashy, a red version will eventually be released as well.
For more than half a century, the Marlin Model 336 has stood as a model of what a modern lever-action rifle should be.
What Has Made The Model 336 A Sterling Lever-Action Rifle:
Solid receiver made for an overall stronger rifle.
Round bolt smoothed out operation of the lever-action, making it faster.
Count its cousin, the Model 1895, it's been chambered for everything from small- to big-bore cartridges.
Shooting the .35 Remington it proved an all-time classic North American hunting rifle.
Men in red, woolen coats. Remember them? They slew deer by the step-side truck full with a smattering of the gear we use today, a great many armed with what quite a few would currently consider an anachronism. By that, I point to the lever-action.
Yes, I can hear it now … “But, but, the lever-action isn’t as accurate as a bolt-gun and you certainly can’t deliver your payload as far out.” There is truth in this view. For the time being, the lever-action isn’t the first gun off the rack for a precision rifle match or your personal attempt to connect at a mile. To counter that, is that what you really need in the field or for a majority of other applications?
Technologically advanced as hunting has become, most deer (safe guess elk, too, and maybe antelope) are taken 200-yards in. It’s the veritable cannon to kill a mosquito applying a chassis rig for this job. If that’s how you roll, more power to you. But, when practically and soberly assessed, the appropriately chambered lever-action is most likely a better bet. They’re plenty accurate for the job, faster than a wink when operated properly and just plum cool guns to put meat on the table.
Especially when you talk the Marlin Model 336.
Model 336 History
In some respects, Marlin's lever-actions—at least since the Model 1889—have sat at the crux of tradition and progress. At one end, the gunmaker dedicated itself, though not exclusively, to an age-old design. At the other, they’ve advanced it, creating arguably a more resilient and reliable rifle, better suited to modern shooting.
The 336's predecessor, the Model 36—an evolution of the 1893—still boasted the square bolt. Photo: icollector.com
In particular, starting with the 1889, Marlin lever-actions’ side-ejection (to the right) have proven better suited to modern hunting methods (read: with a scope). Their solid top receiver and locking lug have also made for a stronger design, particularly when accommodating modern rifle cartridges. And the guns’ two-piece firing pin, which can’t fire until the action is close, has created a safer overall firearm.
In 1948, the advent of the Model 336 took this a step further. An advancement of the Model 36, Marlin improved the design considerably by breaking from its traditional design, in particular the square bolt. Not that there’s anything wrong with the iconic bolt; it’s still found on the Model 1894 and remains a milestone in the progress of the lever-action. But the rounded bolt of the Model 336 offered up a little something more.
Aside from the metallurgical advancements of the time, the design proved much stouter in many shooters' eyes. It’s hard to argue against that, given its solid receiver is inherently stronger than Marlin’s older ones with a raceway milled out of the upper quarter. Additionally, the operation of the Model 336 feels smoother and faster, in part thanks to a redesigned carrier, enhancing not only its speed but potentially its accuracy—at least shot to shot. An improved extractor stamped out of spring steel also did its part in improving the rifle’s overall function, clearing spent brass with authority. What it added up to was one of the finest hunting rifles ever made—more so given the cartridges for which it was chambered.
The big wrinkle to the Marlin 336 story presently is what its future holds since Ruger bought its remains in the autumn of 2020. It’s hard to argue the acquisition isn’t a best-case scenario for the company and its prospects in the future. Bill Ruger was an absolute sucker for classic gun designs, essentially founding the company and moving it to the forefront of the market with well-priced reboots of iconic guns. Heck, the cornerstone of the gunmaker’s empire—the Standard—is a tweaked Japanese Nambu pistol that looked to most folks like a Luger.
It’s certain, Marlin as a whole should be in good hands. As to if Ruger will continue to make the Marlin 336 in particular, good news! The rifle is slated for release sometime this year. Though, little word on if Ruger plans on any modifications to the original design and what models will be available. Time will tell.
Feeding The Marlin Model 336
Like all self-respecting lever-actions, the Model 336 initially came chambered in .30-30 WCF (as well as .32 Special). Absolutely explosive deer medicine, it was only natural Marlin turn to the standby rimmed centerfire cartridge to christen the new rifle. However, a year after its introduction, the 336 found a match nearly made in heaven—.35 Remington.
Originally developed in conjunction with the Remington Model 8 semi-automatic rifle, the long bottle-necked cartridge was a natural in the Model 336. Its round and flat-nosed bullets played nicely with the 336’s tubular magazine, and, boy, could it deliver a wallop close in. All of a sudden, the Marlin rifle became a legit coast-to-coast North American game-getter, capable of dropping an elk as easily as it could a whitetail. Sure, it thumped more than the .30-30, but not prohibitively so. In fact, the Model 336 in .35 Remington remains a favorite of hunters who need to deliver a succession of fast shots on tough critters—such as hogs.
A cutaway of the 336's action shows the locking lug lowered, which fits into the notch at the back of the bolt when closed. Photo: merzantiques.com
Certainly, the successful marriage of the 336 and .35 Remington—one which, along with the .30-30, endures today—must have gotten the Marlin heavy heads thinking. If the Model 336 action is wildly popular with the relatively large medium-bore .35, how would it fare with something bigger? Fairly well, as it turns out.
Today, the Marlin Model 1895 continues to define big-bore lever-action rifles, available in behemoth .45-70 Government and, under the guise of the Model 444 Marlin, in .444 Marlin. The large rifles have especially taken off with the loosening of deer hunting regulations in some areas of the country, which now allow straight-walled rifle cartridges, in addition to pistol caliber long guns. But despite its designations, the 1895 and 444 are pretty much the Model 336, at least where it counts—the action. Logically, they’re quite a bit beefier.
Along with these current chamberings, the Model 336 strictly has provided a launching pad for a host of other cartridges, including .307 Winchester, .32-40 WCF, .32 Special, .219 Zipper, .356 Winchester, .375 Winchester, .38-55 Winchester, .410 bore and .44 Magnum. Each has had its fans, except perhaps the .44 Magnum, which never quite got along with the 336. On the bright side, this incompatibility led Marlin to dust off its classic Model 1894 design and chamber it for modern magnum pistol cartridges, which few will complain over.
A Note On Marlin Micro-Groove
Marlin is famous for its Micro-Groove rifling, a forward-looking concept that appeared soon after the Model 336, in 1953. The idea behind it goes like the following. Many shallow grooves tend to better index the bullet down the centerline of the bore and cause less deformity. Originally, the Model 336 boasted Marlin’s traditional “Ballard” rifling. However, over the course of its history, most of the rifles have included Micro-Groove rifling. (We'll see if Micro-Groove continues with Ruger's Marlins.) Though, some of the offshoots of the line have gone away from it in more recent decades.
Debate rages over the actual downrange results of Micro-Groove rifling, particularly with cast bullets. Whatever the truth of the matter, Marlin bent to customer demands and did away with the boring system for a number of models—including the 1894 and the 336’s cousin, the 1895. Both reverted to Marlin’s more traditional Ballard style. Though, the core Model 336 line—both .30-30 and .35 Remington—continue to use the Micro-Groove system and, as its always been, say as much on the barrel.
Marlin 336 Models
Marlin has turned out a slew of riffs on the original Model 336, with 16.5-inch barreled carbines up to 24-inch barreled rifles among their ranks. The gun has been outfitted—and still is—with both round and octagon barrels, as well as straight and pistol-grip stocks—depending on the model.
With a tactical flare, the 336 Dark Series shows Marlin's dedication to advancing the design.
Rocky Mountain rear sights and a bead front were the order of the day to start, but now every model, save one, boasts semi-buckhorn rear sights, generally with a ramp front—hooded and unhooded. The odd one out is the Marlin 336 Dark Series, which has a more tactical bent and comes with an XS Ghost Ring peep rear (post front) dovetailed into a Picatinny rail.
Before becoming a Ruger brand, the Model 336 line was composed of eight variations, including 336C (Compact), 336 Dark Series, 336C Curly Maple (stock), 336TDL (Texan Deluxe), 336XLR (Long Range), 336SS (Stainless Steel), 336BL (Big Loop Lever) and 336C with a 3-9x32mm scope. Every model is available in .30-30, but only the 336C comes in .35 Remington. Universal to every Model 336—as it has been from the start of the line—is a tubular magazine. Depending on variation, this gave the rifle a capacity of five or six rounds.
While the Model 336 had always been cherished as a hunting-season staple, the Marlin Dark Series opened the rifle's utility somewhat. Oldtimers might find it difficult to conceive, but the line ushered in the Marlin 336 as a tactical tool. Not that it couldn't hold its own chasing whitetail. But it's been upgraded to make it a legitimate SHTF option.
In particular, the 336 Dark is suppressor-ready with a 5/8×42-tpi threaded muzzle. It sports XS Lever Rail, complete with a fully adjustable ghost ring and an easy way to mount an optic. The company replaced slotted screws with Torx. And, for an extra dash of the tactical, it oversize loop is wrapped in paracord, and it comes with a sling made of the same stuff.
Parting Shot
Over the years, the Marlin 336 more than proved itself among the acme of lever-action rifles. Its production number alone tells this tale, as it was among the most produced rifles in history. There is a certain amount of solace it will soldier on under Ruger.
Outside of a few small points, the 336 is a solid rifle, among the best lever-action rifles of the past 80 years. It’s kept the age-old design raking in backstraps during hunting season. And proven itself adaptable to the times as a tactical tool. In all likelihood, it will continue to do so into the future.
For more information on the Marlin Model 336, please visit marlinfirearms.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.
