If you are in the market for a rimfire rifle of any kind, Savage likely has you covered. Offered in a wide variety of calibers, configurations, materials, and even colors, Savage’s expansive line of rimfire rifles is sure to have something that will catch your eye.
How Many Different Rimfire Rifle Models Does Savage Offer?
A17—9 Variants
A22—11 Variants
B. Mag—6 Variants
B17—10 Variants
B22—19 Variants
Mark I—4 Variants
Mark II—23 Variants
64—12 Variants
93—38 Variants
42—2 Variants
Rascal—25 Variants
Savage B17 G
Founded in 1894 by Arthur William Savage, Savage Arms is one of America’s oldest lasting firearms manufacturers. They have designed and produced guns for both the civilian and commercial markets as well as military contracts during their time, having provided weapons for the Allies in both world wars. While they no longer offer Lewis guns or Thompsons for sale, Savage Arms is still a prominent and reputable manufacturer of hunting and sporting arms.
Which Savage Model Is Best For You?
Savage’s catalog of rimfire rifles includes 11 basic model distinctions and enough variants of each one to total 159 unique different rifles to choose from. With such minute variations between models such as barrel length, barrel profile, left or right-hand setup, metal finish, stock color, and rail options, there is not enough room to detail each small difference in this article. Outlined below are the general models of the rimfire rifles Savage has to offer. Whether you are interested in precision rifle competitions or plinking soda cans, hunting rabbits or teaching your children the fundamentals of firearms, Savage makes a rifle that will be perfect for the job.
The A Series
Savage A22 Pro Varmint
Like many of their rimfire rifles, Savage’s A Series is offered in several chamberings. These include .22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR, and .17 HM2. The A Series are all semi-automatic rifles utilizing a blowback style action, delayed blowback for the magnum cartridge variants and direct blowback for the rest. The stock is available in several colors and camo patterns on either a synthetic or wooden stock. The wood models are made in both traditional profile and thumbhole style stocks. Some variants have segments of picatinny rail for mounting optics, and all include Savage’s adjustable AccuTrigger. The MSRP ranges from $299 to $709.
The B Series
Savage B22 Precision
Unlike the A Series, Savage’s B Series rifles are all bolt action designs. The A and B Series guns both feed from 10-round rotary magazines except for the Precision variants which instead use 10-round detachable box magazines. The B series can be broken up into three main categories, the B. Mag, the B17, and the B22. Magnum caliber rifles in the B Series include the B. Mag variants chambered in .17 WSM and the B22 Magnum variants which are in .22 WMR. The rest of the B17s and B22s that comprise the B Series are chambered in .17 HMR and .22 LR. Like the A Series guns, the stocks can be made of either polymer or wood. The polymer models are either black, grey, or camo painted, while the wooden stocks can be either laminate or hardwood. All B Series rimfires come with an AccuTrigger as well. The MSRP for the B Series starts at $309 and goes up to $639.
Mark I And Mark II Series.
Savage Mark II BSEV
All Mark I and II guns are bolt action and chambered for the ubiquitous .22 LR cartridge, the only major difference between the I and II is that the Mark I guns are single shots and the Mark IIs accept detachable magazines. With 27 variants all chambered in the same caliber and with the same action, the Mark Series of rifles mostly differentiate from one another in the form of barrel, stock, and sight configurations. Some notable models of Mark Series guns are the Mark II FVX and FVXP that come with a Bushnell 3-9x40mm scope, and the Mark II FVT which has target-style peep sights. MSRP starts at $299 for a basic single-shot Mark I model and goes all the way up to $679 for the Mark II BSEV which features a heavy-profile, fluted stainless steel barrel. The MSRP of a basic Mark I is $269 and the fanciest Mark II goes for $679.
The 64 Series
Savage 64 FXP
The 64 family of guns are Savage’s .22 LR semi-automatic line. Utilizing a direct-blowback action and 10-round detachable box magazines, these little plinkers are fast and handy. With three scoped options and two takedown models available, the 64 you choose can be tailored towards either accuracy or compactness depending on your needs. Other variants include barebones models as well as optics-ready models with picatinny rail or drilled and tapped receivers. All the 64 stocks are more traditional in profile compared to some other Savage rimfires but are still available in either polymer or wood versions with one camouflage variant. MSRP is from $159 to $389 depending on options.
The 93 Series
Savage 93 FV-SR GATOR CAMO
The 93 series is the most expansive and varied family of rimfires from Savage, all 38 variants are bolt action, magazine-fed, and chambered in either .22 WMR or .17 HMR, making this the magnum line of rifles. If you are in the market for a rimfire rifle with punch as well as accuracy, this is the line to look at. There are scoped and camo models for hunters, models with fluted barrels and thumbhole stocks for competitors, and more basic models as well. The gator camouflage variant is quite slick looking in my opinion, but I have to say, if the environment you are trying to blend into is comprised entirely of alligators- you have a problem. MSRP on the 93 family ranges from $289 to $699.
42 Takedowns
Savage 45 Takedown Compact
If you are into backpacking, camping, or prepping for the apocalypse, you know that takedown style guns offer unparalleled compactness and versatility when it comes to transporting and storing weapons with rifle-length barrels. The two models of 42 Takedowns from Savage are identical except for the length of pull, with the shorter one designated as the 42 Takedown Compact. These single-shot, break-action survival guns have two barrels, a .22 LR on top and one for .410 bore shotgun shells on the bottom. This is an ideal backpack gun and is capable of taking a wide variety of small game. The rear sight can be removed and replaced with a scope base if so desired, and the whole package comes in an included carrying case. MSRP is $549.
Rascals
Savage Rascal Target XP
These single-shot .22 LRs are ideal for young shooters to train with, and that’s exactly what the Rascal was designed for. They are simple to operate and don’t have the risk of unintentional follow-up shots like magazine-fed guns do. They are available with iron sights, scope mounts, and even bipod mounts for the aspiring junior sniper. All Savage Rascals come with an adjustable AccuTrigger which not only provides a better pull but increases the firearm’s safety as well. There are left and right-handed models available in classic hardwood stocks or synthetic stocks in colors ranging from black to yellow to pink. The basic model’s MSRP is $199 and goes up to $439 for the Target XP.
For more information on Savage Arms rimfire rifles, please visit savagearms.com.
Love 'em or hate 'em, 2D data matrix codes on guns are likely to stick around.
What Are 2D Data Matrix Codes And What Purpose Do They Serve:
The are machine-readable images used to store data, generally laser etched on to the frame of a gun.
Manufacturers use them to track the production of a firearm as well ensure the intrigity of serial numbers.
Information stored in each code is proprietary to each manufacturer.
They do not take the place of the serial number and other information required by the BATF.
No, a QR scanner won't read them … sorry.
If you’ve purchased a new firearm recently from one of several major manufacturers, you might’ve noticed a small, square pattern of dots, where before only the company’s engraved name appeared along with the gun’s model and serial number.
In an industry where the final turn of a filigree’s orientation from one model year to the next doesn’t go without notice, adding a square of asymmetrical pockmarks is sure to raise eyebrows. And to no surprise, it did, too.
As more firearms appeared on the market with these marks, discussion boards lit up, recoiling and opining endlessly on the illegible and unwelcome addition. Many views are almost comical if not misinformed, but make no mistake: Your eyes do not deceive you—something is afoot.
What is a Dot Peen Marking?
A dot peen marking is an image created using what’s known as stylus pin marking, micro pin marking, or percussion marking device to create a succession of dots that form digits, text, logos, and two-dimensional (2D) Matrix Codes. The latter being the most recent and certainly most cosmetically offensive. As a gun owner, you’ve slowly habituated to this technology without knowing it.
Several firearm companies began printing serial numbers using this technology some years ago. In recent years, lasers took the place of impact tools to create these marks. Most marks simply look like letters and numbers made from a series of dots. However, serial numbers and firearm manufacturer’s information are important and must be more than just “present and eye-readable.”
Located in between the BATFE-required serial number and name of the manufacturer and model, the 2D Matrix Code is readable by internal tracking machines at the Remington plant. The code isn’t required by law and is used to track serialized parts through the assembly process.
According to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE), firearm serial numbers must meet the following requirements:
Must be conspicuously engraved, cast, or stamped (impressed) on the firearm frame or receiver.
The serial number cannot duplicate the serial number appearing on any other firearm the importer previously imported.
For firearms imported after January 30, 2002, the engraving, casting or stamping (impressing) of the serial number must be to a minimum depth of .003 inch and in a print size no smaller than 1/16 inch.
Markings must also include the name of the manufacturer, the firearm’s country of origin, model designation (if assigned), caliber or gauge, name of the importer, and the city and state of the importer. Interestingly, if a foreign manufacturer didn’t mark their firearms to this standard, the importer must do so within 15 days of their release from Customs and Border Patrol Custody.
Section 478.2 (a)(1)(i) also specifies: By engraving, casting, stamping (impressing), or otherwise conspicuously placing or causing to be engraved, cast, stamped (impressed,) or placed on the frame or receiver thereof an individual serial number. The serial number must be placed in a manner not susceptible to being readily obliterated, altered, or removed … That’s no small amount of information, but what does that have to do with the unsightly square of dots?
The Illegible And Offensive 2D Matrix Code
At the risk of allowing the loud voices of a few speak for the majority’s opinion, most of the commenting firearm forum enthusiasts found the square of dots, the 2D Matrix Code mark, well … ugly. At a minimum, most found the mark as cosmetically welcome as Ike Turner at a NOW convention, not to mention the object of several government conspiracy theories.
The Standard Manufacturing DP-12 shotgun is one of the rare exceptions with a QR Code to access the owner’s manual. Unlike the 2D Matrix, this mark has some value for the end-user, but isn’t used in the manufacturing process.
Both the numbers and letters made from a line of dots, and the squares of asymmetrical dots, are designed to be read by a machine—usually with a laser inside a tooling machine or the handheld device of a factory line technician. The marks allow manufacturers to read and track a serialized part through the assembly process and into an integrated order tracking system. The parts, and ultimately the assembled firearm, can then be located anywhere on the factory premises during production and electronically logged to a specific customer when shipped.
So, if the BATFE requires this information and it must be visually legible, why do manufacturers also need an ugly mark so a machine can read it? The simple answers are efficiency and liability. In addition to production tracking, manufacturers can also ensure serial numbers are neither omitted from a series (requiring the manufacturer to account for a gun never made) or duplication (stamping two guns with the same serial number). Sorry, collectors.
Again, the 2D Matrix Code is simply a machine-readable image able to store much more information per square inch than a series of dots shaped like numbers or letters. They’re not readable by common devices such as your smartphone like Quick Response (QR) Codes and have no value to the end consumer.
However, the marks are regulated for industrial quality and consistency standards by AIM, the Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility. The exact information contained in a specific 2D Matrix Code mark is proprietary to each firearm manufacturer. So, you’d have to get the manufacturer to agree to have their machine read your mark and then share what it says.
Epidemic Or Pandemic?
Are the 2D Matrix Codes a COVID-like global pandemic for firearm aesthetics, or are they more akin a regionalized malaria epidemic. The answer is the latter. The BATFE doesn’t require manufacturers to use an electronically readable marking device, a 2D Matrix Code, nor an integrated part tracking system. Smaller manufacturers would have to reach a scale where replacing people with machines is economically sensible. In other words, if you make millions of guns a year, the investment makes sense. If you’re a small custom shop, it’s unlikely.
The 2D Matrix and QR Codes differ in appearance and use. The 2D Matrix (left) can be identified by the straight lines along the bottom and left sides. The QR Code (right) has three squares at the corners. Smartphone apps can scan the QR Code to link to websites or documents.
In silent acknowledgment of this electronically induced wart, some manufacturers managed to nest their 2D Matrix Code in less obvious locations, such as under a pistol slide. Still, most production line machines need the marks to be external and visible in order to read and track a part.
Not A QR Code
I’ve no doubt some shooters will try it, but 2D Matrix Codes aren’t designed to be scanned for information relevant to the owner or open an internet page via a scanning app on your smartphone. That’s what a QR Code does.
Visually, you can tell a 2D Matrix Code from a QR Code as the latter will have three large squares in the corners in addition to the array of dots or squares. The 2D Matrix Code will have solid lines at the left and bottom of the mark and no squares in the corners. Also, neither 2D Matrix Code nor QR Codes are the same as the more familiar bar codes that come on consumer packaging. So, for God’s sake, don’t attempt to scan your pistol at the grocery store checkout.
However, some airsoft and air rifle companies have added QR Codes to their rifles along with the serial numbers, often on a decal, as they’re not bound by ATF marking standards. In one exceptional case, the Standard Manufacturing DP-12 pump shotgun uses a QR Code on the synthetic stock to reference a website for its user’s manual. The QR Code is a clever, techie addition and not out of keeping with the shotgun’s futuristic aesthetic design of the shotgun. However, it’s not to be confused with the 2D Matrix Code, nor would it satisfy BATFE requirements.
So, love them or hate them, that’s what’s showing up on some of your new firearms. You can remove your tinfoil hats; there’s no secret chip in the gun, GPS locator, or biometric scanner—at least not yet.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Beretta brings the rough and ready French MR73 revolver to the American market.
How The MR73 Is A Cut Above The Rest:
Features triple adjustable trigger features overtravel, hammer force and hammer spring weight adjustment screws.
Outfitted with LPA target adjustable rear sight.
Comes with ergonomic Trausch grips.
Battle test by French GIGN counterterrorism unit.
Ah, France! Home of the Eiffel Tower, good wine and revolvers as salty as Charlemagne. Wait … what? You heard that right.
True enough, France isn’t exactly the first country that comes to mind when discussing high-performance European firearms, however, the nation has a long and storied history innovating guns. OK, the Chauchat was a deadly lemon, but a mere mote on an otherwise outstanding record.
Manurhin MR73 Gendarmerie cylinder open
In contemporary times, count the Manurhin MR73 among these triumphs. Built for match accuracy and operator toughness, the .357 Magnum possibly vies for the title “best revolver in the world”. And Beretta is bringing it to America.
What’s So Dang Special About the MR73?
Certainly, it’s a thumb in any red-blooded American’s eye to claim another country—particularly France—makes a better wheelgun than us. But as far as production revolvers go, this could very well be the case with the Manurhin MR73. It had to be among the best, given the demands placed upon the gun by an elite unit of the French national police force unit—Groupe d’intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale (in English National Gendarmerie Intervention Group or GIGN).
Formed in 1973, the GIGN's missions include hostage rescue, threat surveillance, protecting government officials and, most notably, counterterrorism. Initially, the tactical unit employed Smith & Wesson revolvers, but the guns were unable to withstand the GIGN’s rigorous training regimen, which includes firing 150 rounds daily. The French pistol, however, could and in the unit's skilled hands has acquitted itself well.
Manurhin MR73 Sport from the rear, showing the adjustable sights.
Most famously, and mention nearly anytime the MR73 is, is the revolver’s role in the 1994 rescue of hijacked Air France flight 8969. The point man in the rescue, Chief-Warrant Officer Thierry Prungnaud, killed two of the four hijackers—members of the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria—and neutralized a third with his MR73. Mind you, this was with the entirety of the flight’s crew and passengers onboard. There’s little arguing Prungnaud’s skill in a tense scenario with ample opportunity for collateral damage, but his tool responded admirably, as well. Incidentally, he did earn seven rounds of 7.62x39mm for his efforts—and survived. Tough dude.
In this particular case, it’s likely GIGN Chief-Warrant Officer used his 5.25-inch barreled MR73. But members of this unit also were issued a 3-inch barreled concealable model for protection duties and an 8-inch barreled urban sniping variant. French police forces utilized 2.5-, 3- and 4-inch fixed-sights MR73s, and Manurhin has offered all the iterations as sport models. An aside, it’s not unheard of for an issue GIGN MR73 to have more than 250,000-round life, which also speaks volumes to the gun’s ruggedness.
Beretta is slated to import two variants of the famous Manurhin revolver (made by Chapuis Armes)—the MR73 Sport and the MR73 Gendarmerie. The difference here is barrel length, the former with a 5.25-inch pipe, the latter a 4-inch option. Both versions of the 6-round revolver include a cold hammer-forged barrel, LPA target adjustable rear sight, front ramp sight, ergonomic target grip, and a premium target trigger.
The trigger merits comment. Manurhin’s triple adjustable trigger not only features a built-in overtravel screw but also a hammer force adjustment screw and a hammer spring weight adjustment screw. The latter features are built into the frame and offer a shooter more control over the performance of the trigger than most revolvers on the market. And the grips, Ruger fans will most likely recognize them as a Jacques Trausch creation, given he produced a model for the SP101. In essence, the unique rubberized grips are heralded for their fine recoil mitigation qualities and control improvement.
The MR73 Sport in its lockable hardcase.
The aesthetics of the revolver are pleasing as well, with a full underlug, a rich black finish and gold trigger and hammer. Controls are also familiar, with a cylinder release similar to Smith & Wesson’s, placed on the left-hand of the frame.
Pretty top-shelf, perhaps akin to another top-end European revolver maker—Germany’s Korth. Guess what, the Manurhin MR73 runs you nearly as much. Both the MR73 Sport and Gendarmerie run a cool $3,300. Spendy, but look at it this way, it works out to around $.01 a trigger-pull if you get it to 250,000 rounds.
The perfect size to throw in your glovebox or range bag, Fix It Sticks’ new All Purpose Driver Kit makes light work of field repairs.
Fix It Sticks All Purpose Driver Kit, in open case.
Included In The Kit:
Ratchet T-Handle with Locking Hex Drive
T-Handle extension
Magnetic velcro patch
22¼-inch Drive Sockets
SAE: 5/32, 3/16, 7/32, 1/4, 9/32, 5/16, 11/32, 3/8, 7/16, ½ and 9/16 inch
Metric: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 mm sockets
46¼-inch Electroless Nickel Plated Hex Bits
SAE Hex: 0.05, 1/16, 5/64, 3/32, 7/64, 1/8, 9/64, 5/32, 3/16, 7/32, ¼ and 5/16 inch
Metric Hex: 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 5.5, 6, 8 and 10 mm
Torx: 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45
Phillips: 0, 1, 2 (x2), 3
JIS: 0,1,2,3
Slotted: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Stay On The Range Longer
I know I’m not the only one who has had range days cut short by unforeseen problems that I didn’t have the tools to fix. I have tried too many times to tighten a screw with the blade of a knife. Some of my guns would certainly have been less scratched if I had had an All Purpose Driver kit in my bag.
Fix It Sticks are intended for use on any machine with bolts, nuts, or fasteners. Cars, guns, and everything in between can be fixed utilizing the tools found in this small case with dimensions measuring 8.25 X 5.5 X 2.375 inches.
The included bits and sockets come in both metric and standard sizes and can be attached to either the T-Handle directly, or to the T-Handle extender for additional reach and leverage. The MSRP is $200. Fix It Stick T-Handle.
For more information on Fix It Sticks All Purpose Driver Kit, please visit fixitsticks.com.
More than 100 years and still going strong. Few firearms can make this claim. Then again, few firearms are the 1911 pistol.
Born from the genius of John M. Browning, the handgun is among the most iconic of all time. Honorable service through two world wars, countless other conflicts and in the hands of law enforcement and armed citizens alike tends to elevate stock. So, today the venerable pistol remains a giant among guns, even with the onslaught of polymer pistols flooding the market.
In fact, safe bet that next to plastic striker-fired pistols there are perhaps more makes of 1911 than any other handgun. In other words, navigating the market is confusing, especially for first-time gun or 1911 buyers. This raises the question, where to start?
Thumbnail History Of The Icon
Not absolute imperative to purchasing a modern 1911, it’s worth the time to understand the gun’s roots. (Though, if you want to skip ahead to the buyer's guide, you’re more than welcome.) We won’t dive deep into the ins and outs of its development here, instead, point you to some out-and-out experts on the 1911 have produced deep dives into the gun’s history. Among the suggested reads include Robert Campbell’s The Birth of The 1911 Pistol and Patrick Sweeney’s 1911: Before the Great War. You won’t find a much more thorough background on all facets of the gun’s development.
For our purposes, will home in on two facets imperative to the topic at hand—the modern 1911 pistol. First off, through extensive testing, John M. Browning’s design proved eminently dependable—almost as steadfast as the march of time. One famous example of the pistol’s reliability, not failing through 6,000 rounds of testing in its 1907 field trials. Pretty stout showing to say the least.
The other facet to consider, the pistol was designed as a man stopper. Certainly, extensively used in competitive shooting in modern times, the 1911 has outgrown this pigeon hole. However, its resume as among the deadliest handguns ever developed has been proven over and over, across the globe in some of history’s bloodiest conflicts. Important today, given the 1911’s potential as a lifesaving option for the armed citizen. Of course, on this point, the pistol only gets to take partial credit.
.45 ACP
Ammunition also plays a role in the potency of the 1911, and the .45 ACP certainly offers that in spades. Also developed by Browning, in conjunction with U.S. Army Colonel John T. Thompson (Thompson submachine gun fame), the cartridge defined non-magnum power for most of the 20th Century. Though, in truth, the low-pressure cartridge is relatively mild to shoot and by no means as speed demon out of the muzzle.
Instead, where the .45 ACP makes hay is its diameter. Essentially, a threat is neutralized by massive neural or cardiovascular damage or pain. Bullet breath, especially with non-expanding military full-metal jacket bullets, greatly increases the chances of inflicting one of the three. Depending on who you talk to nowadays, this is considered a negligible advantage in modern defensive handguns. Given the improvements in ammunition, particularly more consistent bullet expansion, some contend the 9mm is just as good as the .45 ACP.
There is some truth in this. The 9mm is absolutely a viable self-defense option and its effectiveness has only been enhanced with ammunition improvements. But even with leaps in terminal ballistics, not every bullet expands and the .45 ACP also reaps the benefits of better bullets. No matter what, a .45 bullet will almost always cut a larger wound channel than any other mainstream self-defense option on the market.
Buyer’s Guide Stipulations
A brief word on the buyer's guide. Chamberings for the 1911 are legion, as are sizes and styles. We’d be here all day with a phonebook-length post attempting to list every worthy 1911 to come down the pike. In turn, there are some stipulations to the picks. Well, three.
As the title says, we’re looking at models best suited for concealed carry. In turn, large Government-sized models and those decked out for competition are absent.
On chamberings—we’re sticking with .45 ACP models. Yup, this leaves out many a fine gun, but we’re suckers for tradition. And it doesn’t get much more traditional than a .45 1911.
The final facet, the pistols are in production today. Again, there are some fine classics out there—some coming in at decent price points—but availability is an issue. While shopping GunBroker.com is fun, we aren’t shooting to send you on a wild goose chase. Also, these are production and semi-custom guns. If you’re purchasing a top-to-bottom custom gun you certainly don’t need a buyer’s guide.
Raise Your 1911 IQ:
Power On The Cheap: Best Affordable 10mm 1911 Options
For an all-around gun at this price point, Springfield Range Officer is your best bet. For a fighting 1911, it’s the Ronin Operator … particularly the Commander-sized 4.25-inch barreled model. Where Springfield did right is the aluminum-alloy frame, trimming up the pistol to a near featherweight (for a 1911) 29.5 ounces unloaded. Lack of heft makes it more conducive to everyday carry.
The pistol boasts a traditional barrel bushing system, foraged steel slide ample checkering on the mainspring housing and a nice set of laminate wood grips complete with Springfield’s dual cannon logo. Combat sights—fiber optic front—are low enough to ensure a clean draw and are quick to build a sight picture. And a “Mama Bear” thumb safety—left-side only—is large enough to intuitively engage and disengage, without creating a dig point in your side when holster. For the money, the Ronin Operator is a top concealed carry 1911.
Classics are difficult to beat. A staple for personal defense since 1950, the Combat Commander definitely qualifies as one. Following the original aluminum-frame design, the 1911 qualifies as a concealed carry piece tipping the scales at 27 ounces unloaded. Certainly, lightweight equates to a bit more buck in the hand but makes it all the more conducive to carry on an everyday basis.
In 2016 and 2017, Colt upgraded a number of its pistols’ standard features, including the Lightweight Commander. These improvements included the manufacturer’s dual recoil spring system, an upswept beavertail, undercut trigger guard, G10 “Black Cherry” grips and genuine Novak sights. Excellent fighting sights, they sit close to the slide, but the familiar three dots grab the eye. Unfortunately, Colt continues to make the Commander with a series 80 fire control—a drop-safety system that results in a trigger not nearly as snappy as the original series 70. Comparably crisp to what you’ll find on nearly any striker-fired, this is far from a deal-breaker.
Colt Lightweight Commander starting at $900 at Armslist.com
Fusion Firearms Riptide-C
Yeah, it pushes the price ceiling of this tier, still, the Riptide-C is perhaps among the best values on the list. Founded by the former president of Dan Wesson, the manufacture is probably best known for custom 1911s and parts. A few years back they jumped into the production pistol game with very impressive results.
It’s difficult to go wrong with any of the Freedom Series, however, the Riptide-C stands out as a gem concealed carry 1911. It’s the little things that make it a self-defense winner—mainspring and frontstrap checkering, fastback grip cut, lowered and relieved ejection port, front cocking serrations, among other things. And the 4.25-inch barreled pistol is 100-percent steel. A bit hefty, but appreciated when you pick up the gun’s pace. Make no mistake you can run the Riptide-C fast. Outfitted with a tradition Series 70 firing system, it offers a very predictable and light break—right around 4 pounds. A side note, consider the price listed hear as a starting point. Spend a bit more money and Fusion will customize any aspect of the Riptide-C.
Fusion Firearms Riptide-c starting at $995 at Armslist.com
Best 1911 Pistols $1000-$2000
Dan Wesson Vigil CCO
Fit tight as a drum and finished to turn heads, one wonders how Dan Wesson can hang such a relatively low price on the Vigil CCO. By the company’s standards, it’s entry-level, but heads and shoulders above nearly anything in its price tier and below. Every part of the gun is forged or tooled, including its lightweight aluminum frame. In short, the Vigil CCO is a quality gun.
It’s also fit for carry. For those unfamiliar with the CCO 1911 configuration, it's simply a Commander-length slide on an Officer-sized frame. Drastically cutting down on the pistol’s height, the main culprit of printing, a CCO maintains a longer sight radius and more weight up front. It’s a nice compromise, keeping it low-profile, yet extremely shootable. You sacrifice a round and the grips are abbreviated, yet Dan Wesson doesn’t leave you hanging (maybe your pinky).
Ample checkering on the frontstrap and mainspring housing, as well as hardwood grips allows supreme control. Also worth note, the pistol comes with a tritium front sight and tactical rear, making it low-light ready.
Comfortable as well-worn shooting gloves, the Wiley Clapp Lightweight Commander might be the ergonomic masterpiece of this buyer’s guide. Oval grips comfortably fill the hand and, combine with 25 LPI checking fore and aft, create a positive surface from which to control the gun.
While lightweight, the gun is a bit more middle-ground for aluminum-framed irons at 30 ounces. Far from prohibitory for everyday carry and a benefit when exercising the gun’s series 70 trigger to its full potential. Similar to most Colts rolling out of Connecticut, the Clapp LW Commander has top-notch accouterments—genuine Novak sights and dual recoil springs. Particular to Clapp models, the rear sight has an extra-wide rear notch for faster target acquisition and boasts a low-profile thumb safety (pro or con depending on who you are). Designed as a fighting pistol that’s exactly what shooters get with the Clapp Commander.
Colt Wiley Clapp Commander starting at $1,250 at Armslist.com
Sig Fastback Nightmare Carry
Best known for DA/SA beasts and military-grade striker-fired pistols, Sig Sauer’s 1911 catalog is somewhat overshadowed. Pity, the manufacturer turns out a dang nice version of Browning’s masterpiece. When it comes to models tailored for concealed carry few outshine the Fastback Nightmare.
As its name suggests, the gun’s defining feature is its rounded frame, making for a smooth-drawing pistol that won’t hang up and is less likely to print. But the gun’s assets don’t stop there. Boasting a 4.2-inch match-grade barrel, a smooth 5-pound trigger and Siglite low-profile night sights, the gun gets on target quickly and hits where aimed. Of course, there’s the Nightmare’s slide. Depending on the beholder, the squared hunk of steel is either a welcome update to the tried-and-true design or sin against nature. Functionally, it’s responsive, thanks mainly to deep and aggressive cocking serrations at the rear.
Why spend the money on a top-shelf 1911? Get a CQB Compact in your hands and you’ll understand the difference. Fitted and tuned by master gunsmiths, the pistol has an utterly exemplary slide-to-frame fit, which at the range or in a defensive situation makes it run like a sewing machine. It also won’t poop out on you, always good on a concealed carry piece.
Wilson Combat lays the pistol out well. Its High-Ride Bullet Proof beavertail grip safety is especially pleasant, making a fundamental high grip on the pistol intuitive. Also appreciated is the ample mainspring housing and frontstrap checking that frame the starburst G10 grips. Add all of these together and you get a gun that's natural to handle and stays put, even under stress.
Wilson in-houses nearly every part, which is seen in little details such as the low-rise combat sight’s shelf on the rear unit. Good for one-handed slide manipulation. Yet, be aware, this is an all-steel pistol and comes in at a hearty 37-ounce unloaded. That will do a number on recoil, and also on less than structurally-sound gun belts.
For the money, you get exactly what you expect out of the No Name CCO—an impeccably built 1911 that won’t fail and is as concealable as they come. Gad, what more do you need? Not much, given the Guncrafter 1911 is a no-frills fighter.
Yes, there are some functional ergonomics considerations, such as the soberly extended thumb safety. But overall, what it appears the gunmaker was striving for was a streamlined piece that didn’t step on itself with trimmings. As is the case with many 1911s, the trigger is the belle of the ball, smooth at polished marble and breaking like thin ice—4 pounds or a hair under.
To get on target, you get the choice of GI tritium sights, with a square or U-notch rear, and choice of blackout front post or fiber optic standard. Again, this is CCO configuration (explained above), in turn, it feeds off 7-round magazines. But the No Name’s smaller frame makes it a bit lighter (33 ounces) and a cinch to keep undercover.
No matter the Nighthawk, you’ll purchase uncompromising execution. Like nearly every example at this tier of 1911, the pistols are built to excruciating tolerances, by masters of the craft, with top-grade material and customizable in any way you can imagine. Though, even if you stuck with the base model of the Talon II, you wouldn't compromise in any way.
The commander-sized pistol boasts several features that make it an exceptional choice for concealed carry. Chief among these is a forged aluminum frame, lightening the pistol to a hair under 35 ounces. To this, Nighthawk installs upgraded controls, including a bilateral safety with matching paddles on both sides of the gun, a beavertail grip safety with memory pad and a conventional slide lock. Constructed of aluminum, the trigger boasts an adjustable overtravel stop, and its guard has a high cut at the where it and the frontstrap meet. All this makes for very intuitive manipulation and shooting.
The Talon II is outfitted with Heinie Slant Pro Straight Eight Tritium night sights, for low-light operation, as well as a match-grade barrel to hit what you aim at. Checkering abounds fore and aft, and Cocobolo grips gives the pistol a timeless look. In short, it’s the whole package.
Capable of precision shots right out of the box, Bergara’s new Premier Competition Rifle was designed with shooters’ needs in mind. Loaded with features more typically only found on custom built rifles, the Bergara aims to make precision rifle competitions as accessible as any other shooting sport.
Standard Features Of The Bergara Premier Competition Rifle:
Arca-Swiss Rail
MPA BA Competition Chassis
TriggerTech Trigger
Heavy Profile Stainless Steel Barrel
Bergara Premier Competition Rifle, profile
The Rifle
Available now chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor as well as 6mm Creedmoor sometime later this year, the Bergara Premier Competition Rifle is only an optic away from being a very capable long-range rifle. The MPA BA Competition Chassis that the rifle is housed in provides for a very solid base, capable of maintaining extreme accuracy even while suffering from abuse in the field.
Several points of adjustment on the stock ensure that the shooter can get behind his scope as comfortably as possible. The Arca-Swiss rail on the front end of the handguard allows for three different mounting options. The special screw hole on the bottom is designed to accept standard camera tripods, and picatinny rail on the lower and upper halves can mount a bipod and night vision respectively. The rifle’s #7 profile stainless steel barrel is 26 inches long and features a 1:8 twist rate for the 6.5 Creedmoor chambering. Manufactured in-house by Bergara, the barrel was designed to stay cooler longer and to have minimal impact on accuracy when it finally does heat up. The rifle feeds from 10-round detachable box magazines.
Bergara Barrel, stainless steel #7 profile.
Guns From Spain, Si Or No?
When I think of Spanish guns, I admittedly think of Stars, Llamas and CETMEs before I think of precision competition rifles. That being said, Spain has one of the longest histories of firearms development in the world and I have full faith in their ability to manufacture quality products.
Spanish firearms have sometimes had a less than stellar reputation in the United States, but this is mostly due to Spain’s unique copyright laws that allowed them to legally manufacture many clone weapons of other country’s designs. Rumors were once spread that these Spanish copies used subpar materials in their construction, but this has been proven false and the once-cheaply-imported Spanish surplus has gone up in value as more people recognize their quality. Bergara Rifles are quite a different beast than the Spanish imports of yesteryear, but they are certainly still holding themselves to the very high standard that is necessary for precision rifle manufacturers.
The Bergara Premier Competition Rifle is guaranteed to be capable of producing at least 1 MOA groups at 100 yards using match-grade ammo. Its MSRP is set at $2499.
For more information on the Bergara Premier Competition Rifle, please visit bergara.online.
The Lyman Trigger Pull Gauge makes measuring trigger break easy as pie. But this raises the question, do you need one?
How The Lyman's Gauge Get A Handle On Pull Wieght:
Accurate within 1/10 ounce or 2 grams.
Reads to a maximum of 12 pounds or 5.4 kilograms.
10-reading memory.
Comes with hard case.
Gun writers are expected to be multitalented. Not only are we supposed to be expert shots, encyclopedic historians, wizard reloaders, and skilled photographers, we also have to be able to measure everything (we’ll leave out the “thrifty” and “wise” part).
The Lyman trigger pull gauge—complete with its hard case and the measuring rod extended.
Readers, shooters, and the editor all obsess over trigger pull weight. In the old days, that was a real hassle. Using dead weights—iron discs hanging from a rod—I could spend an inordinate amount of time measuring triggers and dodging dropped weights.
It’s a Snap! Now, Lyman has made it easy. Its trigger pull gauge, the electronic version, makes it a snap to snap.
The process is simple: Unload and lock the firearm in place. Turn the unit on, ready it, and then place the extended rod against the trigger and exert pressure. Now, this does require a certain amount of finesse: If you vary the location of the rod on the trigger, you’ll get varying readings; if you change the angle, you’ll get varying readings.
Well, in any case, you’ll get varying readings, but only varying within an ounce or so; and you can press the “average” button to find what the set so far averages at. The gauge measures from 1/10 ounce up to 12 pounds. Beyond that, you’ll have to rig up something … and then also get that trigger corrected.
If you have a metric urge and you just have to know the trigger pull weight in grams, you can switch over to that. When you do so, you can expect your gun club buddies to make fun of you at the next range session. But, in this international world, Lyman would be un-clever to have two separate trigger pull gauge units—one English and one metric—and this company is not un-clever.
Do You Need A Trigger Pull Gauge?
How does this work? Well, the same way we measure pressure in cartridges these days. There’s a piezoelectric chip epoxied to an aluminum bar inside the unit. The piezo changes its electrical resistance as it’s compressed, expanded or bent. The electronics simply read the change in electrical resistance as the aluminum bar flexes, flexing when you apply pressure as you pull.
You get a direct readout in pounds, ounces, and tenths of an ounce right on the screen. And, you can average up to 10 measurements with just the push of a button.
Now, if you have a fine trigger pull—and you’re happy with it—perhaps you shouldn’t weigh it.
I found that out awhile back when I was working on my 1911: The First 100 Years book. I had a chance to handle a bunch of prewar and World War I 1911s that had been unaltered since then.
Nice trigger, I thought to myself on the first one. And then, I weighed it: It was more than 6 pounds. But, it was clean and crisp, with no grit, creep, or other obnoxious things. The others were the same. If you hadn’t known the weight, you’d think, Nice trigger; must be 3½ to 4 pounds.
So, if you like your trigger, you might not want to measure it. However, if you’ve paid for a trigger job and specified a certain weight, you’ll want to know. If you’re a competition shooter and you have multiple thousands of rounds through your gun, you’ll want to know if the trigger pull has changed since you started. Changing is usually bad and is an indication that something is wearing and needs tending to.
And if you’re a gun writer, you absolutely must provide the trigger pull weight for every firearm you review … or your editor is going to be more than a little put out. That’s why my Lyman trigger gauge rests in its provided hard case, and I have spare batteries in my gear bag.
I won’t go so far as to say that I won’t leave home without it, but if I’m going to the range, it definitely goes with me.
For more information on the Lyman Trigger Pull Gauge, please visit lymanproducts.com.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Sig Sauer’s newest suppressor, the MODX-45, brings modularity alongside durability.
MODX-45 Spec Ranges:
Length: 3.25-9.25 inches
Weight: 5-9oz
Noise: 133-149dB
Constructed from seven 3D-printed titanium baffles, the MODX-45 utilizes the latest 3D-printing technology to make this new .45 ACP suppressor as light as it is strong.
MODX-45 Suppressor on a Sig Sauer 1911
Sig Sauer took the same concepts that made their previous MODX-9 popular and scaled the design up for the .45 ACP cartridge, making this a perfect match for a Sig 1911, P220, or any other .45 with an appropriately threaded barrel.
The modular nature of Sig’s segmented, 3D-printed cans allow for the shooter to easily and quickly trade compactness for quietness. With the included tool, the titanium baffle segments can be added or removed to bring the silencer from 3.25 inches to 9.25 inches, lowering the decibel level from 149dB to 133dB with an additional seven points of variation in between.
MODX-45 full range of adjustment.
For Pistols Or PCCs
Suppressed pistol caliber carbines have grown in popularity as both range toys and serious self-defense weapons in recent years. The previously released MODX-9 seems like such a great match for Sig’s own MCX 9mm carbine that I can’t help but wonder if they will ever release a .45 variant MCX to pair with the new MODX-45. As it is a naturally subsonic round, .45 remains a popular choice to suppress regardless of the platform.
Not everyone believes that the added modularity is beneficial, however. Time will tell if cans with adjustable lengths will become the norm, or if they will one day become a forgotten trend replaced by suppressors of more monolithic construction.
The MODX-45 has an MSRP of $1000
For more information on the MODX-45 pistol suppressor, please visit sigsauer.com.
Get More Suppressor Info:
The Suppressor: How Is It Made, It Works And How To Buy One
Ed Brown, renowned for their custom 1911s, continues their Fueled Series with its new custom Smith&Wesson M&P 2.0 9mm—the MP-F4.
Full List Of Customized Components On The MP-F4:
Machined Pins
Slide Backplate
Magazine Baseplate
Magazine Well
Extractor
Trigger
Sights
Accuracy Rail
Slide
Barrel
The recently announced MP-F4 from Ed Brown is the fourth and latest installment in their custom Smith and Wesson M&P line that they call the Fueled Series. Much like with their 1911s, the Fueled Series guns are improved and customized on both a micro and macro level.
Ed Brown Custom MP-F4 S&W M&P 2.0 9mm
The luxurious overhauls included in this package begin to blur the line between a competition pistol and a defense gun. The components that have been upgraded lend themselves to not only improved reliability and accuracy, but to quicker reloads and cleaner trigger pulls. Effort was also certainly put in to making the MP-F4 a handsome gun as well, at least for those who are partial to the “space blaster” aesthetic.
Optics And Suppressor Ready
In 2021, is a custom gun really custom unless it has a red dot and a can? The suppressor market has exploded in recent years and has helped encourage manufacturers to ensure their threads are concentric and their guns are up to the extra abuse imparted by shooting suppressed. The MP-F4 comes with a match grade, 416 stainless steel barrel. It is fluted, threaded (with a custom thread protector), and titanium nitride coated to give it a distinct golden color. The ported slide reduces weight while also exposing more of the barrel to view.
The custom slide is also cut to accept a Trijicon RMR or any other compatible optic. When ordering the MP-F4 from Ed Brown, one can either purchase the standalone pistol or buy it as a package with a Trijicon RMR or SRO.
The Heart Of The MP-F4
Ed Brown begins each custom Fueled Series job by replacing the factory front rail block with an improved accuracy rail. Ed Brown claims that this new rail enables their gunsmiths to fit each gun to much tighter specs than what are normally found on Smith and Wesson M&Ps. By securely mating the slide to the frame, the accuracy rail eliminates rattle and improves the mechanical accuracy of the system.
Ed Brown's custom accuracy block ensures the slide and frame are tightly mated to reduce rattle and improve accuracy.
The upgrades found throughout the MP-F4 mean that the gun can outperform most shooters who pick it up. For those who have religiously trained on their standard M&Ps, this may be just the gun to squeeze that last bit of possible accuracy out of the platform.
The MP-F4 begins at $2,195 and goes up from there if packaged with an optic.
For more information on the MP-F4 and the Ed Brown Fueled Series, please visit edbrown.com.
Springfield offers a new optics ready 9mm compact for concealed carry in the XD-M Elite Compact.
Why The XD-M Elite Is Ideal For Concealed Carry:
Small and light enough to be easily concealed
Large enough to be shot comfortably and accurately
Optics ready out of the box as well as enhanced iron sights
Plenty of aftermarket support and accessories available
Springfield Armory recently unveiled the newest pistol in their X-DM Elite series, the X-DM Elite 3.8 inch OSP. The Springfield XD started its life in Croatia in the early 1990s as a duty sidearm known as the HS2000, and since Springfield acquired the rights to license it in 2002, they have changed quite a bit more than the gun’s name.
Springfield Armory XD-M Elite Compact OSP
Today’s handgun market is being driven by concealed carry considerations. Companies are no longer simply trying to make a gun as small as possible like they were when .25 ACP pocket-guns were in vogue, the contemporary concealed carrier now demands usability as much as concealability.
This is why the most popular new CCW guns of today were designed with ergonomics, practical accuracy, and tactical manipulation in mind while still keeping the pistol as compact as possible. Springfield’s new XD-M Elite Compact OSP follows in that trend.
The 9mm Compact's Basics
The XD-M Elite Compact OSP is offered in 9mm with a 3.8 inch match-grade barrel and a shorter grip than standard Springfield XD models. The Compact OSP ships with two 14-round magazines that sit flush inside the gun’s flared magwell, intended to help hasten reloading. If you value ammunition capacity over concealability and reload speed, however, you can easily remove the flared magwell and instead use standard XD-M 19-round magazines in conjunction with magazine sleeves. Doing this transforms the gun into what is essentially a compact XD-M Elite slide on top of a full-sized frame.
The slide serrations have been enlarged to ensure the gun can be easily charged even with wet or dirty hands, and an ambidextrous slide stop lever and magazine release facilitates right or left-handed shooting.
The XD-M Elite 3.8 inch Compact OSP’s trigger utilizes Springfield’s META system, which they claim offers the “finest trigger pull available on a production polymer-framed pistol.” I have not tried the META trigger system myself, however I find Springfield’s claim to be dubious considering they did not limit their comparison to striker-fired pistols. Perhaps it is the best trigger on the market for a polymer-framed, striker-fired gun, but in a world where there exist polymer-framed DA/SA and SAO pistols, I have trouble believing that a striker-based system could offer a better feeling trigger. Of course, the shooting community will ultimately be who decides how good the META trigger system truly is.
Red Dot Or Iron Sights?
The OSP in the gun’s namesake stands for Optical Sight Pistol, one of the biggest improvements Springfield has made with their new XD-M Elite Compact. The Springfield Standard Footprint found on the XD-M Elite Compact OSP slide can accommodate both popular aftermarket pistol sights as well as the HEX Dragonfly it is being marketed with. The gun can be purchased as either a standalone pistol or as a package with the HEX Dragonfly.
If carrying with a red dot isn’t your taste, the seamless cover plate can be left on the optical mount for iron sight use. The gun comes standard with Springfield’s Tactical Rack U-Dot rear sight and a high-visibility fiber optic front post, making it a viable defense pistol even without mounting a red dot.
A gun blowup on the YouTube channel Kentucky Ballistics provides a stark reminder to always know what ammo you're loading into your gun.
The above video was produced by the YouTube channel Kentucky Ballistics, which has some pretty interesting shooting content. Particularly if you enjoy large-caliber firearms and general mayhem. Though it’s doubtful the host of the channel, Scott Allen DeShields Jr., ever dreamed he’d film this level of chaos.
In short, he was at the receiving end of a .50-caliber blowup. Not fun.
A more detailed rundown, his Serbu RN-150 blew up when a Saboted Light Armor Penetrator (SLAP) round caused a dangerous pressure spike–one the rifle's manufacture's estimates exceeded 85,000 PSI. Slow-motion footage of the malfunction is shown, and while the damage to the rifle is catastrophic it’s nowhere near the injury DeShields suffered due to the blowup.
In many respects, the online gun guy is lucky to have escaped with his life. The locking cap that closes the breech stripped its threads and hit the host's face, breaking his right orbital bone in three places and his nose, as well as causing him to go temporally blind. Recoil on the chassis severely broke his hand. And most alarmingly, two ears on the lower sheared off—one grazing his head, the other going through his neck lacerating his jugular vein and puncturing his lung.
As the recap shows, DeShields made it through the potentially deadly mishap, but only after undergoing surgery. Though he doesn’t blame the gun or any obstruction. Instead, he has his suspicions about the surplus SLAP round being the root of the ordeal. His wager, the ammo was loaded hot. But there’s the potential with what happened it could have been the other way around– underloaded.
Unbeknownst to many, underloaded or reduced loads are potentially more dangerous due to a phenomenon known as Secondary Explosion Effect (SEE) or plain old detonation. Both P.O. Ackley and Noma’s Nils Kvale independently confirmed the occurrence. In his authoritative book, Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders, Ackley summed what he believed caused the event thusly:
What causes these unpredictable pressure and occasional blow-ups is the use of heavily coated slow burning powders in reduced charges that leave a lot of air space in the case. When this is coupled with under-ignition from a weak or faulty primer, the whole charge does not start burning at once. Instead, gas is apparently formed. This ignites, causes a violent wave. More powder ignites, and all hell breaks loose.
There are other theories as to rare event's causes, but all revolve around underloading.
Hot or reduced load, the video provides a good reminder you should always know exactly what you're feeding your guns. That, and also always wear your safety specs. How much worse would the carnage have been if DeShields didn’t have safety glasses on when the cap hit his face?
By the way, if you’re interested in learning more about SEE and P.O. Ackley’s other pioneering firearms research, be sure to check out P.O. Ackley: America’s Gunsmith, available exclusively at the GunDigestStore.com.
Under appreciated, barely a second thought is given to the bipod. A mistake, given attaching the right one to your rifle's fore-end tightens groups and extends your range.
What Are Important Factors In Choosing A Bipod:
Style of shooting: hunting, target shooting, competition.
Responsiveness to recoil management techniques.
Weight of rifle.
Fit to your body type.
Most people view bipods as an accessory where less is more; they don’t see the benefit or understand its true importance.
The majority of rifle systems I see average about $5,000 with scopes and bipods included. It’s $2,000 for the rifle, $2,400 for the scope, and $100 for the bipod. Looking at this trend, I tend to hurt a few feelings—mainly because they’re doing it wrong. The bipod matters, and putting the right bipod into context should be a top priority.
Why A Shooting Bipod Matters
Bipods have to support the rifle in a way that supports precision—not subtracting from it. Yes, a bipod does have a bearing on precision at long range. It’s physics; we want to balance inside the triangle of stability and not teeter on top of the pyramid.
The bipod should be as far forward on the stock as possible to minimize the shooter’s influence at the rear. If you follow the legs in a straight line toward the barrel, the triangle should be over the bore … not under it. We want to hang the barrel, not balance it on top.
Many new shooters default to a Harris bipod style because it’s cheapest and most common, and people feel it works. Sure, it does—if you don’t mind working harder instead of smarter. Harris bipods have been around a long time and have barely changed since the beginning.
And that should be your first clue: Because they’re stamped metal, they’re often out of square just enough to throw the recoil pulse off; plus, they don’t give under recoil. There’s a lot of movement unless it’s adequately managed.
Recoil management is quickly becoming fundamental to accuracy and consistency—so much so that the Army includes it as a fundamental in their sniper training. Having a bipod that responds to the shooter’s recoil management technique makes the job easier and more consistent. You find you’re resetting your position less often, and shot placement is more consistent.
Finding Your Style Of Bipod
The first problem is people tend to set up too low. When you hear the overplayed mantra, “Get as low as possible,” it’s related to the other positions, not just the prone. Kneeling is lower and more stable than standing, sitting is lower and more stable than kneeling, and prone is lower and more stable than sitting.
The ThunderBeast bipod is another top-tier product that has a lot of stability with the added benefit of versatility.
Once you’re prone, set the bipod to your body type and not some arbitrary idea that you have to be as low as possible. Super-low prone isn’t a thing. If we wanted to get super low, we’d use the Hawkins position, which balances the front of the rifle on our fist and has the shooter laying on top of the stock. It was meant for shooting over a slope, which keeps the sniper’s head from being too high on the skyline.
Set the bipod to your body type. Many shooters feel Harris-style bipods will bounce. That’s due to the unforgiving nature of the legs. They don’t flex with recoil, allowing it to be managed correctly. Not to mention, there are springs in the feet; you need to be a notch up.
The Harris is the lowest common denominator, and most people who enjoy using them have a lot of rifle on top. You’re working much too hard for positive results. In more than one of my classes, I’ve taken fundamentally good shooters, where we see the groups don’t match the action, replaced their bipod and immediately noticed a decrease in group size. It’s a neon sign.
Get On Target With Frank Galli:
Mils vs. MOA: Which Is The Best Long-Range Language?
Compare a top-tier options like the Elite Iron Revolution Bipods: This is the pinnacle of excellence in bipod design. In my world, the hierarchy of bipods starts with Harris and ends at the Elite Iron. In between, I default to the Atlas Bipods or the ThunderBeast Arms.
Top-tier bipods, all in a row. It makes a big difference in the amount of effort needed, and it’s a piece that will either shrink or expand your downrange groups.
The Atlas CAL is currently one of my favorite bipods, along with the TBAC, due to the size and stability factors. They manage recoil much better than most other bipods of that size and style. It’s the small amount of flex in the legs and the increased bridge size to move the stance wider that makes the difference. After all, a little goes a long way.
Choose a bipod based on your intended use:
Hunting
Target Shooting
PRS/NRL-Type Competition
Considering the above situations, each discipline has a specific set of needs.
Hunting rifles have to be maneuverable. Smaller, lighter bipods are the preferred choice. If you’re hunting and have the opportunity to take a prone shot, it was a gift. Take it and use what’s on hand. This a discipline where bipods have the least bearing when playing the odds.
For target shooting, we want the best bipod money can buy. You want the utmost degree of accuracy. There’s a reason F Class bipods are very wide; it increases stability and matches their rear rests. Here’s where I’d recommend the Elite Iron Revolution.
In competition, the PRS/NRL have their own set of specialty bipods, like the MDT Cyke Pod. This design is meant to bridge the obstacles the shooters will encounter. Many times, the shooters will remove the bipod to use the bags so quick-releases are preferred. Smaller and lighter, many matches offer limited prone shots.
Pairing the correct bipod with the correct weapons platform is crucial for downrange precision. Here, the Tikka Tac A1 wears an TBAC bipod.
Tactical shooters: The Atlas, with the first models being the lowest consideration, and the Atlas CAL being the current leader of the pack. TBAC made a huge splash with their entry, and it has a lot of design features that were hand-chosen to solve problems encountered by the Harris. It’s the Harris-style we were waiting for, and it’s a game changer.
The Bottom Line
Bipods should not be an afterthought. They’re an important piece of the puzzle. Recently, we had a discussion on Sniper’s Hide about essential accessories, and the bipod is even more important than a level. A level just points out a problem; the bipod is the tool that fixes it. If you’re finding yourself canting your rifle, the answer is: Get a bipod you can tighten down in order to prevent yourself from pulling or pushing the rifle over. The Elite Iron, Atlas CAL, and TBAC all have superior locking features. It’s nearly impossible to cant if you set it up correctly.
Although it seems like a small piece, don’t skimp on your bipods. They’re an important part of the shooting puzzle. The money invested today will pay dividends tomorrow.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
An engagement can happen at any time, day or night. With this in mind, learning low-light shooting basics is imperative to have an upper hand in lethal-force encounters.
Unless you lock yourself in your linen closet once the sun goes down, likely your risk profile includes low-light environments. You know what? Felonious thugs tend to operate in these settings, using darkness to cloak their misdeeds. If you have grasped where this is going, it means that if you value your safety you better sharpen up your low-light shooting skills.
Jamey Caldwell, an instructor at 1-Minute Out and former special operator, sheds some light on the topic in the above video. Which, at its most fundamental, is less daunting than it sounds.
What Low-Light Shooting Entails Equipment and darkness add challenges to engaging a threat, but getting your gun into the fight remains the same at midnight as it does mid-day. This means, you’ll still draw, present, prep the trigger, build a sight picture and break a shot adhering to the fundamentals. That’s the good news. The bad, the two added variables—low light and equipment—are doozies.
Unfortunately, a 4-minute video isn’t enough to give a full grasp of all theories and tactics for conquering the dark. Hours could be spent on weapons lights theory and technique, let alone adding in actual shooting. Suffice to say, like anything self-defense, the only way to become proficient is through training and practice. Which, in and of itself is a challenge. Gun ranges generally don’t let you dim the lights for this kind of training.
Unless you have access to land where you can safely shoot when the sun is over the horizon, expect to enroll in a low-light shooting course. Even if you’re experienced with a handgun, it’s a worthwhile investment when lead by a qualified instructor. Plus, it comes in a setting in which you can send live rounds downrange, which is indispensable.
Importance Of Learning Your Equipment This isn’t to say you can’t get some experience without burning powder. Becoming familiar with your equipment, be it a flashlight or a direct attach weapons light is as imperative as solid marksmanship. Dryfire practice in the confines of your home makes an excellent venue to educate yourself on your illumination equipment.
It’s valuable time spent. Lethal-force encounters happen within a blink of an eye, adding another piece of gear to the equation only slows down your response further. You do the math. It only makes sense you know your torch as well as you do your gun, lest you fumble what might be your only chance to defend yourself from the things that lurk in the shadows.
Contrary to popular belief, there's no one right way to aim a defensive handgun. The dynamic situation requires multiple techniques to quickly get on target.
When it comes to the practical application of aiming and shooting a defensive handgun, there’s endless arguments about which technique is best. The reality is that if you only practice or use one technique, you’re limiting your ability to deliver peak performance. There is, however, a difference between a beginner learning to shoot a defensive handgun and an experienced shooter wanting to enhance their abilities.
The truth of the matter is that without a specific definition of “aiming,” it’s hard to classify any handgun shooting technique applied to an intended target as “unaimed” fire. Aim is, after all, your intent to hit.
Aim is also a topic often discussed by clinical psychologist Jordon Peterson—not “aim” as it relates to shooting, but aim as it relates to life. As it turns out, both are similar. When it comes to aiming a handgun, if you think you’re going to do a bad job, that you don’t have enough time, or that you’re going to have to do it perfectly, the end result is the same as an aim you might have with any other goal you might want to achieve—it’ll never happen or it’ll happen too late to matter. Peterson’s advice is to do it, if nothing else, haphazardly. At least then you’ve taken a shot.
So, comparatively, aiming is anything between and including taking a precise sight picture and, as some would suggest, haphazardly, point shooting. In both cases you’re attempting to hit—aiming at—a target, whether you’re actually using the sights to do it or not. Starting with what is generally considered the technique that’ll produce the best results on target, let’s examine that technique and others, all the way through to the one that’ll generally give the best results on a clock. As you’ll see, as with most things in life, the best answer for most problems lies somewhere in the middle.
Precision Sight Picture
With the precision sight picture, the front sight is in clear focus, is perfectly centered in the rear notch, and is directly over the spot on the target or threat that you wish to hit.
What is it? If you want your bullets to arrive at the target as close as possible to where you’re aiming, you need to hold a precision sight picture as the trigger is pressed. A precision sight picture is one where the front sight is perfectly centered in the rear sight and remains unwaveringly on target as the trigger is pressed. This obviously will take the most time of any technique.
When do you use it? It’s best used when time allows or distance demands to ensure a vital zone hit. For some shooters, this could be 10 yards; for others, it could be 20, depending on skill level and size of the available vital zone there is to shoot at. Furthermore, if you’re shooting to stop the threat, you’re shooting at a vital zone, not a shirt button; for most real-world defensive shootings, a precision sight picture isn’t necessary.
A flash sight picture doesn’t necessarily require the perfect alignment of the front sight in the middle of the rear notch, or that the front sight be in perfect focus. In fact, at common defensive handgun distances, as long as the front sight is in the rear notch you can achieve vital zone hits.
What is it? Jeff Cooper talked about the flash sight picture as being part of his Modern Technique. As described in the book, The Modern Technique of the Pistol by Gregory Boyce Morrison to which Jeff Cooper served as an editorial advisor, “The flash sight-picture involves a glimpse of the sight picture sufficient to confirm alignment.” Let’s try to define it another way. The flash sight picture is confirmed with a focus on the front sight, and instantaneous verification is within the rear notch and covering the vital zone.
When do you use it? The use of the flash sight picture is driven by time: The less you have, the more it’s needed. How close or how far away should the flash sight picture be used? At any distance where you need to focus on the front sight to get a vital zone hit.
Target Focus Shooting
Target focus shooting works best with a highly visible front sight like this XS Big Dot Sight. The shooter’s focus in on the target.
What is it? Shooting with a target focus is very similar to shooting with a flash sight picture. The difference is that your eyes are focused on the target as opposed to the front sight. The similarity is that you can still see the front sight over the vital zone. Essentially, it’s the introduction of the handgun sights—properly or very near properly aligned—between you and the target or threat zone you’re focused on.
When do you use it? For most shooters of at least moderate skill, target focus shooting can be applied in and around three to five yards. More practiced shooters might stretch it to seven yards. Here’s a good way to look at it. It can and should be used until the distance to the target and the available or exposed threat zone requires you to focus on the front sight to get a hit.
Gun Indexing
Indexing the gun over the target isn’t a means of precision shooting. However, at close range, it’s very fast and can be very effective.
What is it? Gun indexing is very similar to target focus shooting; you introduce the handgun between you and the target/threat zone you’re focused on. The difference is that instead of attempting to see sights that are lined up but out of focus between you and the target, you’re just looking for a gun between you and the target.
When do you use it? For novice shooters, they may have to be no more than a couple yards from the target to apply this technique. It’s very fast because the action is essentially no more than shoving the gun between you and the target. As you become more experienced you might be able to stretch this distance to as far as five yards.
Hip/Point/Retention Shooting
With point/hip/retention shooting, you have no visual reference of the gun or the gun’s sights as they relate to the target. It’s a close-range technique and a very fast technique, but it requires a tremendous amount of practice.
What is it? The best way to explain this method is to describe it as cowboy shooting, at least the cowboy shooting you see in movies where the gun clears leather, is rotated toward the target, and fired from the hip or near the hip in the retention position. This is a very hard skill to master, because the gun is being aimed by body position without a visual reference of its relationship to the target.
When do you use it? Obviously, this technique should be used when your target/attacker is very close—inside three yards—because with the gun closer to your body, it’s more difficult for the attacker to grab hold of. It’s a very fast technique, but it takes an experienced shooter to be able to hit a target—much less a vital zone—with this method at any distance at all. Most will max out at about three yards.
Making the Call On Aiming Technique
Which is best? What might surprise you is that none of these techniques are better than the other. They’re all equally important, because from a tactical standpoint they should all be applied based on the situation. If you’re three yards from the target and take the time to establish a precision sight picture, you might get your gun taken away from you or pull the trigger too late to save your life. Conversely, if you’re at 15 yards and try to shoot from the retention position, you could incapacitate your adversary with laughter because he’ll be cackling at your inability to hit anything. The key is to know your limitations with each technique and apply them accordingly.
An experienced shooter will move between these techniques subconsciously as the situation dictates. Practice has taught them what they need to see or feel given the range, target size, and perceived available time. If you’re five yards from a threat and you think you need to point shoot in order to incapacitate the threat before it reaches or shoots you, that’s a noble goal. However, the reality might be that you must shoot with a target focus or at least a flash sight picture in order to get the hits you need as soon as they’re needed.
To try to put some numbers to this and after the expenditure of a lot of ammunition, I found that I could keep five shots inside a 5-inch circle at 25 yards using the precision sight picture. Problem was, it took me about 15 seconds to do it. I also found that between one and three yards I could shoot from the retention position and keep five shots inside a 5-inch circle—about half the time—in less than 2.5 seconds.
With the gun indexing method, most of the time I could keep five shots inside a 5-inch circle out to about four yards and within about 3 seconds. By using the flash sight picture, I could stretch that distance to about 12 yards, but it took me about 5 seconds at that distance. As for the target focus technique, for me it worked about as well as the flash sight picture; however, I had to switch to a different handgun with a very bold XS Sights’ Big Dot Sight for the best results.
Interestingly, with all the techniques where the handgun was being fired out in front of my face, I sometimes found I’d use multiple techniques for individual shots within the five-shot string. This was possible and happened because of conditioning/practice. My brain recognized when the gun was indexed properly, when the front sight was positioned properly, and when I had the correct flash or even precision sight picture, and it made my finger pull the trigger.
How Do You Train and Practice Aiming?
The best way to train or practice is the crawl, walk, run, method. Pick a reasonable distance—something between three and seven yards—and become proficient with the precision sight picture. When you get to where you can put five shots inside a 5-inch circle in less than 5 seconds, you’ll very likely be using the flash sight picture but not realize it. Then, you can try to do the same with a target focus, and ultimately—hopefully—progress with the same results by doing nothing but indexing the gun.
As for effective hip/point/retention shooting where you can reliably hit the vital zone, that takes a hellacious amount of time on the range and lots and lots of ammo. I was once conducting a torture test with a Remington R51 and after about 250 rounds became bored. So, I started hip shooting/quick drawing. At first, I could hardly hit a silhouette target at 10 yards. But after the remaining 750 rounds and another two days on the range, I was getting hits from the holster in about a second. Even now, and after a lot more practice, I need to be inside five yards to reliably get vital zone hits with this technique.
So, which technique should you use? All of them, but more specifically, the one that’ll allow you to get vital zone hits as fast as possible, given the situation.
The 5.56 NATO is a medium-range master and the .300 Blackout is lights out when quarters are close. However, until recently reaching out with your AR-15 was a shaky proposition. Then the age of the .224 Valkyrie dawned.
Specifically designed to reach out past 1,000 yards, the small-bore cartridge has won its share of advocates. Not only thanks to its ballistic talents but also its firearms compatibility. The small-fry is the only long-range cartridge designed with the AR-15 in mind.
To some, this is a small detail, after all, jumping up to the AR-10 unlocks nearly limitless country-mile options. There are, however, advantages with sticking to America’s favorite rifle. The biggest plus, if you already own one and want to pitch the .224 Valkyrie, you simply invest in a .224 Valkyrie upper without a worry of compatibility. No fuss, no muss. Not to mention, a heck of a lot cheaper than investing in a brand new iron—especially if you’re just dabbling with the cartridge.
Why Go .224 Valkyrie?
The answer to this is fairly self-evident—long-range shooting. Essentially, the Federal-designed cartridge was concocted to accept heavier-for-caliber bullets, thus improve the ballistic profile of the .224-inch diameter projectiles. The company did so by necking down the 6.8 SPC case (derived from the .30 Remington), thus providing a system that would seat the bullet without compromising case capacity. Overall, it wildly succeeded.
By Federal’s telling, from a 24-inch barrel, the .224 Valkyrie remains supersonic out to 1,300 yards. Results vary depending on a number of factors, but get pretty darn close to that mark with most appropriate loads out of most rifle-length setups. Which is to say, it bests nearly anything else spit out of an AR-15.
Along with improving range, the cartridge also enhances the hunting potential of the rifle, particularly in terms of deer-sized game. Not that the .223 Remington/5.56 NATO hasn’t harvested its share of backstraps. However, heavy-for-caliber bullets offer more peace of mind of a one-shot kill given their longer profile boosts their penetration potential.
New King Of ARs … Not So Fast
Despite its long-range and hunting prowess, the .224 Valkyrie isn’t a replacement for standby AR options. Not by a long shot. At medium range, the .223 Remington/5.56 NATO shoots flatter and hits harder, in turn, the newer cartridge won’t dethrone the king anytime soon. That said, investing in a .224 Valkyrie upper adds a ponent arrow to a rifle’s quiver, giving an AR-15 and its shooter the tools to truly reach out.
Get More .224 Valkyrie Info:
Does The .224 Valkyrie Make Sense For Most Shooters?
Our .224 Valkyrie upper selections are the complete variety. That is, the upper is completely assembled and factory head spaced. They’re practically ready to shoot when they reach your doorstep. That said, some of the builds are not so complete as the term implies, shipping sans charging handle, bolt and carrier group. In those cases, you’ll have to supply your own, which deserves a word.
The .224 Valkyrie does not use the same bolt as the 5.56 NATO or .300 Blackout. The parent case for latter two cartridges is the .223 Remington, which has a head diameter of .378. The .224 Valkyrie, on the other hand, is a derivative—reaching all the way back—of the .30 Remington, a case with a head diameter of .422. In turn, when you go shopping for this part you’ll need to shop specifically for .224 Valkyrie/6.8 SPC bolts. Don’t get the right one, guess what … your rifle won’t run.
Best .224 Valkyrie Upper Options
Savage MSR Long Range
Best known for its bolt actions, Savage Arms in recent years has proven an adept AR-15 manufacturer. No more so than when it comes to the Valkyrie. When the cartridge was introduced in 2017, the gunmaker and Federal were owned by the same company. Thus Savage was in at the ground floor of its development and understands the Valkyrie inside out.
The company offers two .224 Valkyrie upper options, but we tend toward the longer barrel Long Ranger, especially for a precision build. Outfitted with a 22-inch stainless-steel heavy barrel, the system offers more than enough bore to ensure top ballistic performance with most loads. It being Savage, the barrel is button rifled. The company has used this process for years, and is among the best, producing extremely smooth and consistent rifling, thus reducing friction and bullet deformation. As for the twist, it’s 1:7”—fairly standard and versatile.
The upper is complete with a bolt, bolt carrier group (BCG) and charging handle. Savage doesn’t skimp here, particularly on the BCG, which is a self-lubricating nickel-boron affair. As to the handguard, it certainly tends more to precision shooting than tactical, given its sparse M-Lok slots—situated fore and aft. The assumption is, if you are looking for a more “tactical” .224 Valkyrie, you’ll opt for the 18-inch Recon upper, which has much more real estate for accessories. MSRP: $899; https://www.savagearms.com/
Aero Precision M4E1
Among the largest selection of .224 Valkyrie uppers, the M4E1 series is a variable candy store for Valk enthusiasts. They’re affordable to boot. Generally speaking, Aero offers one of the best price points of any manufacturer on this list, making it a logical starting point for someone just getting into the cartridge. That said, don’t think you're getting the AR equivalent to a Sizzler's steak—Aero turns out quality components and backs them up.
As for different models, don’t get too amped up. Mainly we’re talking different barrel lengths (18, 20 and 22 inches) and handguards here. Though, it's difficult not to prefer the models with Aero’s Atlas S-One handguard. Slim as a fleeting second and extremely lightweight, due to the elimination of a full-length rail, the handguard helps keep the rifle-length uppers more manageable and nimble. Definitely a plus if you’re aiming yours at hunting.
As to the brass tacks, the receiver itself is forged, yet Aero machines them to a billet appearance. No matter length, the barrel is bead-blasted stainless-steel and heavy profile, an aspect that sloughs heat and maintains optimal harmonics. Though it’s worth noting, this upper does not come with bolt, BCG or charging handle—Aero, however, sells all of those. MSRP: Starting at $524; aeroprecisionusa.com
Atheris Rifle Co. A15-M
Like betting the horses without a racing form, you don’t quite know what you’re putting your money on with many small manufacturers. It could be a nag, it could be a winner. Atheris Rifle Company falls into the latter category, especially with a thoroughbred .224 Valkyrie upper at a decidedly affordable price.
A few of the A15-M highlights include in-house manufactured nickel-boron BCG, heavy-contour stainless-steel barrel and lightweight M-Lok compatible handguard. As for receivers, the company offers both forged and billet, with the latter running a touch more, but not so much to dissuade a motivated buyer. What Atheris doesn’t make—charging handle and dust cover—it turns to a top-end supplier, namely Strike industries.
Nice package, but certainly tailored more for a dedicated long-range shooter. The choice is between a 22- and 24-inch barrel, sizable on both counts. Furthermore, Atheris uses a very faster 1:6” twist, good for 90-plus-grain bullets, but a tough on lighter, thin-jacket options.
About the only nit to pick is the handguard length, which at 15 inches does tend short for the build. However, Atheris is more than willing to swap them out with an option more fitting to your style simply by contacting them. MSRP: Forged Receiver $749; Billet Receiver $649; atherisrifle.com
CMMG Endeavor
Given the Banshee blitz of the past few years, it's easy to lose sight CMMG still turns out a top-notch rifle. It’s not all shorties coming out of Missouri! The gunmaker was an early adopter of the .224 Valkyrie, embracing the cartridge within a year of its release and now offers it in its outstanding long-range Endeavor series of complete uppers.
Don’t let the fact it’s part of CMMG’s long-range catalog scare you off if you have a field gun in mind. There are three Endeavor variations of the .224 Valkyrie, the 100 and 200 sporting more hunting-friendly 20-inch barrels. The 300—with 24 inches of pipe—is perhaps better fit ringing distant steel.
Regardless of iteration, the guts of the build are the same—medium taper stainless-steel barrel, CMMG’s proven forged Mk4 receiver and chrome-lined phosphate finished BCG (9310 steel bolt). But each one comes with different accouterments. Perhaps the most notable, the 100 is capped with an A2 comp, while the 200 and 300 come with CMMG’s SV compensator brake. Furthermore, the 300 comes with an ambi charging handle and choice of 10 Cerakote finishes—if you need a dash of flare.
No matter where you land, you’ll end up with a solid and versatile upper. CMMG goes with the standard 1:7” twist, making them compatible with most off-the-shelf ammo. And the Endeavor can shoot, easily falling in the sub-MOA category. MSRP: Starting at $674; cmmg.com
Palmetto State Armory 20″ Valkyrie
Honestly, when talking AR parts or builds, you knew Palmetto State Armory would crop up sooner or later. Prolific supplier of everything black rifle, the company isn’t prohibitive on coin spilled, yet washes out as a solid option, even against high-tier names. Not a bad starting point for those looking to invest in their first .224 Valkyrie upper.
The company offers fourteen options in this corner of the market, though really, you’re only selecting between handguards and barrel lengths. The meat of the builds is the same, the matting of PSA’s A3 forged receiver and a 18- or 20-inch heavy stainless-steel barrel. In any case, the real feel of the catalog is to hit the middle ground, a flexible system at home tracking deer or pitching copper-jacked lead to the next zip code.
As to the handguard, since that’s the choice to be made, we tend to prefer the lightweight cross-cut model on a 20-inch barrel. M-Lok compatible, the system does away with much of the optics rail—there are sections fore and aft—cutting weight and making for a much more comfortable system.
PSA outfits its uppers with BCG and charging handle, so you can slap it on and start shooing once you receive it. As to twist, this being a jack-of-all-trades option, it should surprise no one Palmetto opted 1:7”. MSRP: $539; palmettostatearmory.com
Follow these guidelines reloading revolver cartridges for maximum performance, reliability and safety.
Keys To Reloading Revolver Cartridges:
Style of bullet dictates style of crimp.
Research your revolver–make, model, date of manufacturer–to build a clear idea of its limitations.
Don't exceed these limits hot-rodding, thus potentially damage the cylinder and frame.
I’ve been a wheelgun guy since I was a kid. My dad taught me how to shoot with that Ruger Single Six he wore on his gun belt each night he’d take the ’coon hounds out in the fall. How many raccoons fell to that pistol even he can’t estimate.
As my friends and I got older and began to acquire our own handguns (they were primarily wheelguns) and subsequently began to handload for them, we learned an awful lot about what to do and what not to do.
When it comes to reloading for revolvers, there are a few guidelines that’ll help keep you—and your gun—healthy and running properly.
Revolver Cartridges And Crimp
Most revolver cartridges are rimmed cartridges. That’s important, because it gives the handloader some flexibility in their approach, especially regarding different crimp styles. Where the straight-walled pistol cartridges that work so well in the auto-loading handguns require a good, clean and square case mouth for proper headspacing, the rim of revolver cartridges handles the headspacing duties. This leaves some options for the case mouth: Depending on the bullet you’ve chosen, you can work it a few ways, but you’ll certainly need to use a crimp of some type for all revolver ammunition.
The most popular means of keeping things put is the roll crimp, for which the mouth of the case is physically rolled into a crimping groove, or “cannelure.” I like this method and prefer it over any other for fast, hard-kicking cartridges. If you were to skip the crimp on a .454 Casull or .44 Remington Magnum, for example, you run the risk of having your bullets “pull” or “pull crimp,” extending outward from their original seating depth under recoil. Should this happen, the projectiles can (and will) move so far outward that they’ll prevent the cylinder from rotating, thereby creating quite a mess.
The Roll Crimp
A roll crimp is obtained from the seating die, because there’s a small shelf located inside the die body. When the die is set low enough, the cartridge case mouth is pressed against this shelf, rolling the mouth inward into the groove in the bullet and locking the two components together.
Various stages of attaining the balance of seating depth and roll crimp: The two cartridges on the left are no good, while the cartridge on the right has the proper balance. The seating depth allows the roll crimp to fall right into the cannelure of the .480 Ruger bullet.
Don’t worry: Upon ignition, that crimp (and, for that matter, the case walls) will be blown out immediately, being expanded to the chamber dimension. A roll crimp will not only prevent the projectile from moving, it’ll also help even out your velocities.
However, too much crimp can actually damage a bullet, so it’s one of those “Goldilocks” situations: You need just enough crimp to do the job, but not too much; it needs to be just right. The most important thing to remember is to start with a uniform case length. If you don’t have a consistent case length, the amount of crimp will vary accordingly.
I like the RCBS Case Prep Station for its trimmer, which can easily be dialed in to give a precise case length. Redding makes a great crimp die—the Profile Crimp Die—which is designed to put a more uniform crimp than a seating die will and is to be used after the bullet is seated. Pick a case length (some like the SAAMI spec; some like it a bit shorter in order to be able to trim new cases) and then set your seating die for a proper roll crimp … unless you’re using a bullet with no cannelure.
The Taper Crimp
On a bullet with no groove, you’ll have to use a taper crimp, which squeezes the sides of the case body tightly against the bullet to give proper pressure. It’s almost like neck tension for a case with no neck. There’s nothing wrong with this method; in fact, I know folks who use it in conjunction with a stiff roll crimp—as long as it keeps your projectiles where they need to be.
You’ll need to flare your case mouths before seating a bullet. And, to extend case life, I don’t try to over flare. Just open that mouth enough to seat your bullet without crumpling the case wall. You’ll see a longer case life, because the brass isn’t being overworked.
If you can’t use a roll crimp on your ammo, a profile or taper crimp will give the proper tension to prevent the projectile from moving.
Because we aren’t concerned with the way the cartridge will feed from a magazine, the bullet profile and the way it interacts with the feed ramp become non-issues. Wadcutters, semi-wadcutters, flat nose, round nose, hollow point—all will perform wonderfully in a revolver.
We can also abandon the concern of whether or not the ammunition will cycle an action: Because the cylinder is manually rotated, either by cocking the hammer of a single-action or via the trigger squeeze of a double-action, the lightest loads will perform safely.
I can load my Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt to run with the lightest 180- and 200-grain lead bullets. Yet, the same gun will handle a 300-grain Hornady XTP Mag or 325-grain Swift A-Frame heavy handgun and can run the spectrum of powder—from TiteGroup and Lil’ Gun to H110 and BlueDot. The heavier loads will certainly provide some substantial muzzle jump. But, as long as you hang onto it, the handgun will perform.
Revolver Cartridge Load Development
And maybe now is a good time to talk about load development, because I’ve seen some guys try to turn a .44 Special into a .44 Magnum or a .38 Special into a .357 Magnum. Beating the snot out of a handgun, trying to get it to be something it isn’t, is a lousy idea.
I have a little Smith & Wesson Model 36—a classic .38 Special snub-nose—and the temptation to run it into the red when I first got it was certainly there. However, the beauty of the little gun is in its size and the ability to conceal it. It isn’t a .357 Magnum, and it’s not even a +P .38 Special. And when I load for it as it’s supposed to be (the gun loves the 158-grain Hornady XTPs at a suitable velocity), it’s a pleasure to shoot. Trying to make a “silk purse out of a sow’s ear,” as my late mother would say, can result in cracked cylinders, stuck cases, jammed-up actions, and other catastrophic results.
These .44 Remington Magnums are loaded with Barnes XPB lead-free hollow-points, and the crimp is set perfectly.
Before you begin reloading revolver cartridges do a bit of research about its make, model, and even its date of manufacture, because all of these can play a role in the pressure limits that particular gun can handle. Reloading for your revolver will invariably allow you to shoot it more. As a result, you’ll become more proficient with that gun.
Roll your own for hunting season, and you might just find a new passion.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
