http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/RSS.ashxGUNS Magazine February 2010 PagesFri, 11 Feb 2011 20:18:24 +0100http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=1http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=1WIN! $4.95 $4.95 OUTSIDE OUTSIDE U.S. U.S. $7.95 $7.95 ENTER TO FEBRUARY 2010 .243 WIN HANDLOADING THE THE 28 28 GAUGE GAUGE SAVAGE PREDATOR RIMFIRE FUN OPTICS SPECIAL! BINOCS BINOCS PART PART II II .22 LONG RIFLE RIFLE .22 LONG CONVERSIONS CONVERSIONS • • REDFIELD REDFIELD RETURNS! RETURNS! • • BEST BEST VALUE VALUE MILITARY SPECIAL! • • STEYR STEYR AUG AUG .223 .223 • • US US .30-06 RIFLES .30-06 RIFLES • • FRANCE’S FRANCE’S Mle Mle 1886 LEBEL 1886 LEBEL www.gunsmagazine.com2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=2http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=2SR9 Ruger SR9 Pistol 9mm Luger ® ® THE FEATURE PACKED ® “Ruger’s first striker-fired pistol is definitely a winner.” Dick Williams, Shooting Illustrated Magazine Ruger LCP Pistol .380 Auto ® ™ LCP 2008 Handgun of the Year THE ULTRALIGHT AND COMPACT ™ “The LCP seems right on target for today’s personal protection needs.” Dennis Adler, Combat Handguns Magazine Ruger ® LCR™ .38 SPL+P LCR 2009 Handgun of the Year THE REVOLUTIONARY ™ “Rewrites the small-frame revolver book.” Roy Huntington, American Handgunner Magazine WWW.RUGER.COM/HARD-R ©2009 Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. VISIT W W W . R U G E R. C O M / S A F E T Y FOR S R 9® A N D L C P™ R E C A L L INFORMATION 0806092011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=3http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=3THE MOST ADVANCED GUN CARE SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD! ® OTIS TECHNOLOGY, INC. FIRST IN WAR, FIRST IN PEACE, AND THE ONLY KIT IN THE GUNS OF YOUR COUNTRYMEN! OTIS makes a kit for every gun ever made! ALL AVAILABLE NOW AT A DEALER NEAR YOU! WWW.OTISGUN.COM The Otis Breech-to-Muzzle cleaning system has revolutionized weapons cleaning! It is the system issued to the US Armed Services and the choice of Champion Marksmen and Hunters worldwide! See the entire line at a dealer near you, or www.otisgun.com USA Call today for a free Catalog & a Dealer Near you! 1-800-OTISGUN MADE IN THE HardCore HunterTM Kit The Trophy Hunter’s Premier Gun Cleaning Kit! M16/M4 Chamber Brush Tactical Kit A/P Brush Over 250,000 in use today! Holds 3 .223 rounds Universal Pick & Scaper Set Grip Kit TM Cleaning Kit Fits in M4/M16 Handgrip! Holds 2 AA Batteries NSN # 1005-01-424-2999 The Elite Kit M16/M4 Buttstock Kit GSA Contract: GS-07F-0383M Otis Products, Inc. 6987 Laura St - Lyons Falls, NY 13368 (800) OTIS-GUN- (315) 348-4332 FAX © 2009 PYRAMONT GMC FOR OTIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=4http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=4Vol. 56, Number 2, 651st Issue 6 8 COYOTE THUMPER The Savage Predator .243 STORY: John Barsness PHOTOS: Joseph R. Novelozo FEBRUARY 2010 CROSSFIRE Letters to the Editor HANDLOADING JOHN BARSNESS HAMILTON S. BOWEN MASSAd AYOOB ON THE COVER 12 GUNSMITHING 14 HANDGUNS 16 MONTANA MUSINGS MIkE “dUkE” VENTURINO JACOB GOTTfREdSON dAVE ANdERSON HOLT BOdINSON CLINT SMITH 18 OPTICS 20 RIFLEMAN COLUMNS 22 SHOTGUNNER 24 RANGING SHOTS™ 8 GUNS Magazine (ISSN 1044-6257) is published monthly by Publishers’ Development Corporation, 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128. Periodicals Postage Paid at San Diego, CA and at additional mailing offices. SUBSCRIPTIONS: One year (12) issues $24.95. Single monthly copies, $4.95. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Eight weeks notice required on all changes. Send old address as well as new. SUBSCRIPTION PROBLEMS: For immediate action write GUNS Magazine, Attention: Circulation Dept., 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128 or call (858) 605-0250. CONTRIBUTORS submitting manuscripts, photographs or drawings do so at their own risk. Material cannot be returned unless accompanied by sufficient postage. PAYMENT will be made at rates current at time of publication and will cover reproduction in any or all GUNS Magazine editions. ADVERTISING RATES furnished on request. Reproduction or use of any portion of this magazine in any manner, without written permission is prohibited. All rights reserved. Title to this publication passes to subscriber only on delivery to his address. The opinions and recommendations expressed by individual authors within this magazine are not necessarily those of Publishers’ Development Corporation. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to GUNS Magazine®, ATTN: Circulation Dept., 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128. Copyright © 2009 by Publishers’ Development Corporation. Handloading the 28-gauge. 64 VIEWS, NEWS & REVIEWS RIGHTS WATCH: dAVId COdREA 78 ODD ANGRY SHOT JOHN CONNOR JOHN TAffIN 82 CAMPFIRE TALES 26 SURPLUS LOCKER™ STEYR AUG .223 HOLT BOdINSON 24 Start them off with a single shot. DEPARTMENTS 30 34 OUT OF THE BOX™ •HKP309MMpg30 •TEAGUEKNIVESpg32 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS JEff JOHN 71 QUARTERMASTER FEATUrINGGUNSAllSTArS! THISMONTH: • JACOB GOTTfREdSON • PAT COVERT 72 73 74 76 GUNS CLASSIFIEDS CUSTOM CORNER NEW PRODUCTS GUN OF THE MONTH HKP309mm&HKKNIFE 80 ADVERTISER INDEX The PACT Mk IV timer. 16 4 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=5http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=576 PHOTO: PHOTO: JOSEPH JOSEPH R. R. NOVELOZO NOVELOZO GUNS MaGaziNe GUN OF THe MONTH Hk P30 9MM PISTOL ANd Hk fOLdING kNIfE! 36 40 48 54 60 ON THE FRONTLINE FOR DECADES America’s Military .30-06 rifles. MIKE “DUKE” VENTURINO COYOTE THUMPER JOHN BARSNESS The Savage Predator .243. DOWNSIZING THE BIG BORE SEMI-AUTOS PART II More .22 Long Rifle conversions. JOHN TAFFIN 40 THE FIRST AND THE LAST JOHN SHEEHAN The French Mle 1886 Lebel. REDFIELD REDUX DAVE ANDERSON Leupold revives the storied scope line. 36 WARNING: Firearms are dangerous and iF used improperly may cause serious injury or death. due to the inherent variables in the reloading oF ammunition, be sure to veriFy any published loads with manuFacturer’s data. products mentioned or advertised may not be legal in all states or jurisdictions. obey all Firearms laws. always consult a proFessional gunsmith when modiFying any Firearm. be a saFe shooter! WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 52011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=6http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=6THE FINEST IN THE FIREARMS FIELD SINCE 1955 CROSSFIRE GUNS MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Thomas von Rosen, CEO; Thomas Hollander, Randy Moldé, Marjorie Young Editor Jeff John Managing Editorial Assistant Stephanie Jarrell Editorial Assistant Kerin Van Hoosear Art Director/Staff Photographer Joseph R. Novelozo Art Assistant Jennifer Lewis Advertising Sales Director Anita Carson Advertising Sales Assistant Dana Hatfield Production Manager Linda Peterson Web Site Manager Lorinda Massey Promotions Coordinator Elizabeth O’Neill PUBLISHER Roy Huntington LETTERS TO GUNS GUNS Magazine® welcomes letters to the editor. We reserve the right to edit all published letters for clarity and length. Due to the volume of mail, we are unable to individually answer your letters or e-mail. In sending a letter to GUNS Magazine, you agree to provide Publisher’s Development Corp. such copyright as is required for publishing and redistributing the contents of your letter in any format. Send your letters to Crossfire, GUNS Magazine, 12345 World Trade Dr., San Diego, CA 92128; www.gunsmagazine.com; e-mail: ed@gunsmagazine.com Ithaca Forever I was very pleasantly surprised with the December edition. I have been waiting years for someone to write about the Model 37 (besides Mr. Snyder’s book). The Ithaca is the most underrated shotgun in the world. I have 7 Model 37 Ithacas and would not part with any of them. The Ithaca system of barrel attachment, overall construction and smooth like butter action is a dream. Beats the crap out of any other shotgun I have ever owned. Steve Hart Fort Recovery, Ohio I am a life member in the NRA, and have been for some time, as was my father before me. I have often been irritated by things the NRA has done, but this is the first time I have been ashamed. I thought the NRA is supposed to defend our Second Amendment rights? I’m not so sure anymore. David Lundeen via e-mail CONTRIBUTING EDITORS FIELD EDITORS John Taffin, Holt Bodinson, Dave Anderson, Clint Smith, Massad Ayoob, Mike “Duke” Venturino Sam Fadala, David Codrea, John Morrison, Glen Zediker, John Sheehan, Jacob Gottfredson, Mike Cumpston, John Barsness, Dave Douglas FMG PUBLICATIONS shootingindustry.com Publisher & Editor: Russ Thurman Advertising: Anita Carson, 866.972.4545 email: anita@shootingindustry.com americancopmagazine.com Editor: Suzi Huntington Advertising: Denny Fallon, 800.426.4470 email: denny@americancopmagazine.com Delano Amaguin, 888.732.6461 email: delano@americancopmagazine.com americanhandgunner.com Publisher & Editor: Roy Huntington Advertising: Steve Evatt, 800.533.7988 email: steve@americanhandgunner.com gunsmagazine.com Editor: Jeff John Advertising: Andrew Oram, 866.903.1199 email: andrew@gunsmagazine.com fmgpublications.com Editor: Sammy Reese Advertising: Scott McGregor, 800.553.7780 email: scott@gunsmagazine.com TEL: 888.651.7566, FAX 858.605.0205 tracy@fmgpublications.com NATIONAL ADVERTISING: 12345 World Trade Dr., San Diego, CA 92128, TEL: 866.972.4545, FAX 858.605.0211, anita@shootingindustry.com Special Editions Buttered Up OK, this is where I butter you up by telling you that I think GUNS is the best mag on the market and has the best articles. I just never wrote and told you that before. After reading the John Conner column I knew I had to write and say that was one of the best articles I had ever read. There are lots of lessons to be learned and remembered. To all of your contributing authors, thanks for your time and efforts, they are much appreciated each and every month. Jim Hartzell Middletown, CT No “Supplements” Thank you for having a classy gun publication. I love the articles and, like most of your readers probably do, I own a modest gun collection. One of my favorite aspects of your magazine is that so far, at least, you haven’t succumbed to the temptation to take advertising dollars from companies selling nonfirearm related “enhancement” or “enlargement” products. This makes your magazine much more kid-safe2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=7http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=7ACTUAL SIZE POCKET PROTECTOR. THE TRIM P238 SUBCOMPACT Compact size, lightweight and an all-metal attitude. It’s a big gun that happens to fit in your pocket. www.sigsauer.com/p2382011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=8http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=8HANDLOADING • John Barsness • AN ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE BOOST Handloading the 28-gauge. he poor 28-gauge suffers T from more myths than any other shotshell. Its detractors call it another .410, inadequate for all but tiny birds up close— and even then full choke must be used to ensure an adequate pattern. Its extreme fans see it as another 12-gauge, the all-around shotshell, though traditionalists insist loading more than 3/4 ounce of shot somehow “handicaps” the 28. As usual, the truth meanders somewhere in the middle of this mess. First, small birds do require denser patterns, but the 28 patterns so evenly a full choke isn’t required. As with most gauges, full is more often a handicap to clean kills. The 28 patterns very well with small shot sizes and improved cylinder or modified choke. Size Limit Bigger birds are, well, bigger. This means more shot are likely to hit them, so they don’t require dense patterns. The reality is the 28 works quite well on even the biggest upland birds about as far as most of us can consistently hit flying objects. I’ve killed many wild rooster pheasants cleanly out to 40 yards with the 28, and 5-pound sage grouse even further. The 28 isn’t a 12-gauge, however, or even a 20-gauge. Any of the common gauges above 28 can be loaded with 1-1/4 ounces of shot, 20 percent more than the heaviest factory 28-gauge load. This extra shot provides an adequately dense pattern at longer ranges, and some hunters can make use of that extra range. The notion that somehow the 28 patterns miserably with anything more than 3/4 ounce of shot apparently started with the century-old book by W.W. Greener, the British gunsmith, entitled The Gun and Its Development, still one of the standard references. Things have changed in the past 100 years, however, EileenClarketookthiswildroosterpheasantineasternMontanawithher28-gaugeHatfieldsideby-side.Yes,the28worksonbiggerbirds. 8 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=9http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=9including shotshell components. We now have progressive-burning powders, plastic shot-cups and hard, plated shot. All allow the 28-gauge to produce nice, even patterns with loads heavier than 3/4 ounce. $$$ The big problem with the 28 is expensive factory ammo. Contrary to what some shooters believe, this is not primarily due to a conspiracy in the Obama administration but relatively low sales. Anything mass-produced costs less if vast amounts are cranked out. A secondary reason is just about all factory 28-gauge ammunition uses highantimony shot. This is actually a good thing, since hard shot patterns more consistently, retains more velocity and penetrates deeper than soft shot—but it also costs more. While the price of lead has always varied considerably, these days it seems stuck at a much higher level, around $1 a pound. Making it into shot doubles that cost. The 28-gauge uses less shot than any bigger gauge, so the expensive-to-shoot 28 becomes the cheap-to-shoot 28 when we roll our own shells. Also, because pattern density is so critical to the 28’s ability to take birds cleanly, a handloader can produce ammo with the optimum pattern density for Whenhandloadingthe28,No.7shotisagreatall-aroundsize,providingbothpatterndensityand penetrationonbirdsweighingfrom1to3pounds. any sort of upland hunting. The biggest gap in typical American shot sizes is between No. 7-1/2 (350 shot per ounce) and No. 6 (225 shot per ounce). This isn’t critical in a 20, 16 or 12 gauge because 1-1/4 ounces of No. 6 shot provides an adequately dense pattern, but patterns get to be a little patchy with No. 6 shot in the 28 for anything smaller than pheasants. This is where handloading really helps. One of the best shot sizes for the 28 is No. 7 shot, averaging around 300 pellets per ounce depending on who makes it. This is the same size as British No. 6 shot, the size generally used to hunt pheasants over there, and works marvelously for a wide variety of American upland birds. It’s just big enough to provide plenty of penetration even on pheasant-sized birds, and a 3/4 ounce load of No. 7s contains the same number of shot pellets as a 1-ounce load of No. 6s. Up the shot charge to 7/8 ounce (easy to do in a 28-gauge handload) and there are almost as many pellets as in a 1-1/4 ounce load of No. 6s. Luckily, high-antimony No. 7 shot is available in the US from Ballistic Assert Your Authority with a Superior Gunstock! ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN • 800.925.2522 Look for ATI’s new line of aluminum accessories, including buffer tubes, rails and free-floating forend. WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 92011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=10http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=10loadingthe28-gaugesavesmoneybyboththe generalsavingsofhandloadingandbecausethe 28useslessshotthanbiggergauges. Products Inc. I’ve been using it now for a couple of hunting seasons and 7/8 ounce works very well as an all-around upland load on any bird from quail to pheasants out to 40 yards. Handloading the 28 makes it almost infinitely flexible, but for my own purposes I’ve settled on two lead-shot loads: 1. With the classic 3/4 ounce of shot, 13.0 grains of Alliant Unique works in both Winchester AA and Federal “field” cases with the WAA28 wad. I’m using the “new” Unique, reformulated to burn more cleanly a few years ago, but this load will work with any old Unique you might have lying around. Please note the Winchester case is the older AA style, not the newer HS case. Apparently there are still plenty of the older cases around. If not, use Federals. Use Winchester 209 primers in the Winchester cases, and Federal 209s in Federal cases. Unique can also be used with Remington STS cases, PT28 wads and 209P primers, but the powder charge should be reduced to 12.5 grains. This load recoils very lightly and is marvelous on doves and quail with smaller shot sizes from No. 9 to No. 8. 2. Hodgdon Li’l Gun was designed for the .410 but also works very well with heavy loads in the 28-gauge. My favorite 7/8 ounce load uses 24.0 grains of Li’l Gun in the Winchester HS case, with Winchester 209 primers and the Ballistic Products HV28 wad. I mostly use this load with No. 7 shot for any upland bird from Hungarian and chukar partridge to pheasants. With No. 6 or No. 5-1/2 shot (a specialty size, also available from BPI) it becomes a more specialized load for big birds like pheasants, blue grouse and sage grouse. The 28 can also be loaded with nontoxic shot where required. I load 3/4 ounce of Bismuth, both because it works and because I still have some of the original stuff squirreled away. Bismuth component shot is starting to become available again; I found some on the Internet at Precision Reloading. A good load is 3/4 ounce of No. 6 in a Federal hull, with 15.0 grains of Hodgdon Longshot, the Federal 28S1 wad and 209A primer. This works OK on birds up to pheasants and ducks at moderate ranges, partly because Bismuth shot is a little lighter than lead so a 3/4-ounce load contains more pellets. Some 28-gauge enthusiasts have even loaded Hevi-Shot and taken geese, but the bigger gauges work better when using non-toxic shot. There are limits even to the marvelous, misunderstood 28-gauge. BALLISTIC PRODUCTS INC. 20015 75TH AVE. NORTH P.O. BOx 293 CORCORAN, MN 55340 (888) 273-5623 www.BALLISTICPRODUCTS.COM PRECISION RELOADING, LLC 1700 w. CEDAR AVE., SUITE B MITCHELL, SD 57301 (800) 223-0900 www.PRECISIONRELOADING.COM HANDLOADING SQUEEZE OUT MORE ACCURACY. Until now, even the best rifle stocks have been attached to actions along a single vertical plane. The new AccuStock from Savage actually clamps down on the action vertically, horizontally and front to back. This revolutionary 3D Bedding System literally squeezes more accuracy out of the whole rifle. In fact, on some of our test guns, it squeezed out as much as 50 percent better accuracy. So it’s not just a better rifle stock, it’s a better Savage. savagearms.com 10 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=11http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=112011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=12http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=12GUNSMITHING • Hamilton S. Bowen • BE YOUR OwN GUNSMITH Save a buck for something else. or most of us, watching a craftsman plying a craft with which F we are not familiar, whether it be wiring a house, roping a steer, performing neurosurgery or writing a short story, engenders a certain sense of awe. How in the heck do they do that? Surely, it is magic! Well, no, probably it isn’t. More likely, it is the result of thousands of hours of work, practice, trial, error and dogged determination. However, there is virtually no skill, even gunsmithing, which can’t be acquired on at least a rudimentary level with just a little study and practice. Many comparatively simple gunsmithing jobs land on the benches of gunsmiths every day simply because the gun owner was intimidated by the prospect of touching his gun with a screwdriver. No need for that. Most guns are relatively simple mechanical contraptions and virtually anybody who can walk and chomp gum simultaneously can do a good deal of work with just a little patience and practice, armed with a few simple hand tools. Iron sight installations on rifles are a good example. Suffering from optical menopause and can’t see ordinary barrelmounted sights on your favorite deer rifle? No biggie. Chances are, Lyman, of proper tools for the job will, in the long run, probably cost enough in time, treasure and blood-pressure meds to have warranted purchase of the proper tools in the first place. We’ll cover the basics in a future column but, in the mean time, if you do not already have them, lay hands on gunsmithing supply catalogs from Brownells and Midway and the MSC tool and start reading. Along with some decent tools, you will need a place to work. I have worked in my lap, in a car, in the back of a pickup, at the kitchen table, in a garage and under the open sky, even in the rain. Your best work, however, will be done in organized, dedicated space around a vise, if you can manage it. There are precious few living spaces which can’t accommodate something. Marbles or Williams still make a proper click-adjustable peep sight which will work miracles. Installation usually takes no more than a screwdriver and, perhaps, a different front sight. Sure, there are a few tricks but nothing an old dog can’t learn with a little informed contemplation or, heaven forbid, a perusal of the enclosed instructions. Start Here If you feel your fingers getting itchy and you are edging towards the gun cabinet, here are a few notions to contemplate before launching your career as your own gunsmith. You will need to invest in some tools. Lack Experience There is no substitute for experience in any trade. Unfortunately, hobbyist and amateur gunsmiths often have little chance to acquire much since their exposure to a specific firearm may be limited to the one they have. But there is another way. If you are uneasy about launching into a job on an expensive gun, scare up a beater and practice on it. I have, for example, a couple of Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbines in need of restoration. Before I embark on the woodwork, I’ll practice and test the varnish, shellac and stains on some wood scraps and an old Marlin M57M I’ve been wanting to tidy up a bit for a “tractor” rifle. Just to keep my hand in, I’ll also install a recoil pad, not because a .22 Magnum kicks but because my Marlin was made for a generic person about 8" shorter than me and I need a longer length of pull. Might shorten the barrel while I’m at it. Vicarious experience is nothing to sneeze at so I would suggest getting a hold of books on gunsmithing. These are a wealth of useful information and will help you get started on a job on the right track. For the deadly serious, the NRA Summer Gunsmithing Schools are a great way to pick up experience you’d otherwise take years to acquire. DetailstrippingthiswonderfuloldSmith&Wesson.22Outdoorsmanforathoroughcleaningand lubeisasimplematterandwellwithintheabilitiesofmostrevolvershooters. 12 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUAR2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=13http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=13“Americas Choice for Reloading Value” Start Reloading With The Stuff You’ll Keep BeautyandtheBeast(above).Afteryears inthefield,thelovelyM1905MannlicherSchoenauerrifleisprettytired.Thebeater Marlinwillshowthewaytoaproperstock finish.Whilenoteveryreceiversight installationisasimpleprocess,thisone (below)wasjustamatteroffindingasight matchingthefactoryholepatternonthis Marlin57Mandabitofmillworkjustaseasily donewiththemanual,two-handedmilling machine:theindispensablemetalfile. Brands That Perform Lyman’s Expert Kit Deluxe with 1000XP Electronic Scale and Universal Trimmer Out-Performs the Competition Start with your choice of Lyman’s most popular T-Mag or Crusher presses, and also get all this: • 1000XP Electronic Scale • Universal Trimmer with Expanded Pilot Multi-pack • #55 Powder Measure & Adapter • Auto Primer Feed • 49th Edition Handbook • Universal Priming Arm • Case Lube Kit • Primer Tray • Primer Catcher • Deburring Tool • Powder Funnel • Extra Decapping Pins For a new Lyman catalog: www.lymanproducts.com or 800-22-LYMAN More Tools, More Value Than Any Other Kit! Typically weeklong and taught at various small colleges around the country, these courses will cover everything from basic metal working techniques to barreling bench-rest rifles or building competition M1911s. If you are a real gun junkie, gunsmithing is a wonderful hobby, as rewarding and useful as reloading your own ammunition. You will acquire an increased understanding and appreciation of the engineering, workmanship and genius that went into your gun. You will also take even more pride in your guns after a job well done by your own hand. Lyman 475 Smith St., Middletown, CT 06457 Dept 3050 BROwNELLS 200 SOUTH FRONT STREET MONTEzUMA, IA 50171 (800) 741-0015 www.BROwNELLS.COM MIDwAY USA 5875 wEST VAN HORN TAVERN ROAD COLUMBIA, MO 65203 (800) 243-3220 www.MIDwAYUSA.COM MSC INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY 75 MAxNESS ROAD MELVILLE, NY 11747 (800) 645-7270 www.MSCDIRECT.COM WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 132011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=14http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=14HANDGUNS • MASSAD AYOOB • Old school or high tech pistol packing? Is there room for both? ertain perennial questions come up in this business. Revolver or C auto, 9mm or .45? And, these days, good old fashioned leather holsters or state-of-the-art Kydex or other synthetic? We each have our own answers for all these questions. My answer is the same for each of them: “All of the above.” Yes, I still find regular use for both round handguns and square ones. Yes, my 9mms and my .45s each get their share of both carry time and trigger time. And, yes, there’s still room in my working kit for both traditional leather and modern synthetic holsters. The reason is, with all three of those intensely-debated questions, what we have to do is tailor the tool to the task— and the task can change from day to day. holsters worn on, rather than inside, your belt, leather’s natural ability to stretch combines with the “belt loops fore and aft of the gun” concept going back to Roy Baker’s original Pancake holster in the 1970s to pull the sidearm in tight to your body and keep it concealable. This seems to work better in leather than in plastic or any other synthetic, to this day. Case in point: Kirkpatrick Leather. My buddy Steve Sager alternates between 1911s and Glocks, but stays constant in his brand devotion to Kirkpatrick. I’ve run with him from New Hampshire in winter to Florida in summer, and whether he’s winning an IDPA match as a Master class shooter or just going about his business carrying concealed, he wears Kirkpatrick Leather. Says Steve, “Not once have these holsters failed to retain the weapon firm and snug. The cut of the holster(s) and the superior quality belt(s) ensure the rig is held super close without movement… I wear Kirkpatrick Leather (belts, holsters, mag pouches) all day… I will recommend this product to anyone who will listen.” HOLSTERS: LEATHER OR SYNTHETIC? The Case For Leather MasdrawsarugerP345fromlevel2Safariland securityholster(above).Botharedepartment issue.Safariland’snewestsyntheticIWBholster (below),shownherewithababyGlock,solves atleastoneproblemseeninprevioussynthetic concealmentproducts—thesoundofthedraw. Why leather? It ain’t just, “because we always did,” though, fact is, that’s part of it. We can’t discount the tradition factor. Tradition is part of the whole world of the gun in America in the first place. And, we must remember, if something lasted long enough to become traditional, it must have worked. History shows leather most certainly does work for this particular purpose. If you’re talking about concealable Fromleft,Glock,Colt,andWilsonCombatpistolsaredailycarryconcealable,match-winningfast withKirkpatrickleathercombinations.Photo:SteveSager. 14 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=15http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=15I’ve lately been testing Kirkpatrick’s inside the waistband “Hidden Defense” and its outside the belt counterpart, the “Reserve,” both of which have one-way snaps fore and aft to prevent shifting and “printing.” I like the fact that unlike some other leather rigs, they don’t squeak or creak. One-way snaps on both designs allow quick on/quick off factor without having to un-do your belt and practically undress to change between armed and unarmed status. The Case For Synthetic Case in Point: Safariland. I’ve carried my police uniform service sidearm in a Safariland holster at least sometimes since the ’70s, when the Safariland Roberts Rangemaster for my Colt .45 auto was made of leather. Since well back in the last century, though, my Safariland duty gear was synthetic, and it still is today. It’s lighter, when you’re looking at +/- 20 pounds of “bat utility belt” wrapped around your uniformed hips. From the SS-III of the ’80s to the Level II Safariland duty rig part of my issue uniform gear today, these snatchresistant Bill Rogers designs have saved countless lives on the street. Leather holds blood-borne pathogens, which are much more easily cleaned off of the assorted “plastics,” and decades of experience remind me I’ve been bled on Simple,classicKirkpatrickleatherservesboth matchanddailycarryneedsforIDPAmaster SteveSager.PistolisWilsonCombat.45.Photo: SteveSager. and puked on way more often as a cop than as a “civilian.” For the non-cop, synthetics protect the gun better from the wearer’s own sweat than leather does. That’s the good news. The bad news? Many “plastic holsters” make a “snick” sound when the gun clears, and in a world where it’s often to your advantage in a deadly danger situation to be able to make a silent, surreptitious draw, that ain’t good. Safariland now offers their Model 18 inside-the-waistband holster, with “artificial suede” on the outside and inside surfaces alike. Outside is, to me, a minor point; it may stabilize the scabbard a tiny bit better. But on the inside it’s a big point: it allows that silent, surreptitious tactical draw. The Safariland Model 18 I’m currently using is for a “baby Glock,” and it works as advertised. Today we have the widest and best range of holster options ever. I’m writing this in a hotel room while on a 3-week road trip encompassing basic to high-speed advanced tactical teaching, visits to a homicide scene or two in my capacity as an expert witness, and a national shooting championship. I have leather and synthetic holsters in my suitcases, and more holsters with me than guns. It’s a complicated world. There is often more than one mission, or one need and both concepts have valid, street-proven places in our array of choices. KIRKPATRICK LEATHER CO. P.O. BOx 677 LAREDO, Tx 78042 (800) 451-9394 www.KIRKPATRICKLEATHER.COM SAFARILAND 3120 E. MISSION BLVD. ONTARIO, CA 91761 (800) 347-1200, www.SAFARILAND.COM Made with Pride in the U.S.A. PM4543 With the introduction of the K9 pistol in 1995, Kahr Arms created the ultra compact major caliber pistol market. Since then many have tried but none has succeeded in delivering a pistol as compact and reliable as the Kahr pistols. With the introduction of the PM45, Kahr continues this tradition of delivering unrivaled Concealed Carry Weapons. The Kahr PM45 has the combination of features which make it the best Concealed Carry .45 ACP caliber pistol in the market. It has the ideal combination of stopping power and shooting comfort, and is smaller, slimmer and lighter than competitive brands. Its smooth double action trigger reduces flinch, improving shot placement, and is safer. ® Check out Kahr's smallest and lightest .45 ACP! In stressful situations, fine motor control is impaired contributing to the possibility of accidental discharges with traditional single action triggers found on many autos and revolvers. The PM45's natural point of aim and low felt recoil make it an ideal gun to shoot and carry. Go to your nearest retailer and 2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=16http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=16MONTANA MUSINGS • MIKE “DUKE” VENTURINO • PHOTOS: YVONNE VENTURINO A TRULY MAGIC BLACK BOx The PACT MK IV timer. the time between shots, the total number of shots and the time for the number of shots to be fired. Another mode of timing is to set a time frame for the shooting. Then you will get a “beep” to start, another to stop, and a reading of how many rounds were fired during the set amount of time. For use as a timer there is a little metal belt hook so the shooter can attach the “black box” to a belt or even pocket when practicing. The second basic mode of operation for the MK IV is, of course, as a chronograph. This requires a set of skyscreens also available from PACT plus one of their mounting bars for the screens. The bar is set so the screens are precisely 24" apart. It is also drilled and tapped so it can be attached to a camera tripod or a car window mount for a spotting scope. The 24" bar makes transporting to and from shooting ranges easy. Having my own home range, I have built a setup with angle iron so I can mount the skyscreen bar in front of two windows. One is for shooting handguns and the other for shooting rifles. Furthermore, I can raise or lower the angle iron so the screens are appropriate for 100-, 200- or 300-yard rifle shooting. To use the MK IV as a chronograph the CHRN button on the keypad is pressed. The machine will then tell you it’s set for a 24" screen spacing. (That can be changed if the shooter desires more distant spacing.) If the spacing is indeed 24" all you have to do is then press the “go” button and the machine will read “fire when ready.” The MK IV then records the velocity of each shot ThePACTMKIV timer/chronograph gavearateoffire ofDuke’shandloads intheM1Thompson as701roundsper minute.Thatis somewhatslower thanitsnominalrate withmilitaryloads. DukecheckingtherateoffireofhisM1 Thompsonsubmachinegun.Notethe PACTMKIVhookedtohispocket. s a general rule, I don’t like electronic stuff. Perhaps my A attitude stems from my almost total ineptitude in dealing with things like DVD and VHS players. I truly would rather go to the dentist than hook one of those things up. And as a corollary to that general rule I often get especially frustrated with chronographs. Nothing sets me off like trying to meet deadlines and the darned chronograph won’t work. I’ve often said when I retire (what a joke) I’m going to pile up all my chronographs on a stack of gunpowder and blow them all up. That is except for one because it is far more than a chronograph. It’s the PACT MK IV Timer and Chronograph. all, but here are a couple of examples. For the basic one you press the timer button on the keypad to set the mode. Then a press on the “go” button gives a 3-second pause and then a loud “beep” to signal the shooter to start. This “black box” then records the time lapse before the first shot is fired, Finally This is one black box with which I am truly impressed. Chronographs are common nowadays, but the PACT MK IV is far more than a chronograph. In fact its primary purpose is as a speedshooting timer. For that it can be set in several different modes. Space isn’t going to allow a full description of 16 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=17http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=17and keeps a running tab of the average for the shots fired. When the string of shots is finished pressing the review button allows the shooter to scroll through the string of shots and also see the final tabulation of average, extreme spread, and standard deviation. There are also some other figures given of which I seldom pay attention. If a shot is obviously an error a “no” button can be pressed to delete it, so the information for the entire string isn’t skewed. (For example, if I’m shooting a .45-70 with black powder loads and nine out of 10 shots read in the 1,200 fps range but the 10th one is at 4,999 fps, then I know that’s goofy.) Being a computer this little black box will also predict trajectories if you feed into it your bullet’s ballistic coefficient. It is compatible with a separate printer but I don’t bother and just jot down the figures I deem pertinent. AsachronographDukeusedthePACTMK IV(above)toclock10roundsofFederal Champion.22longriflesfromhisColt/ CarlWaltherM4.Thiswastheaverageand extremespread.Forchronographingwiththe PACTMKIVtimer/chronographa2'screen spacingbarisavailable(below).Dukehas riggedupapermanentsetupathishome rangetoaccommodatethescreenbarona carwindowscopemount. Fast Times Here’s one mode available with the MK IV I only just discovered and which is especially interesting to me at this point in my life. As I’ve written here many times in the past year, I’ve bought several World War II vintage submachine guns to round out my firearms collection. Looking at the keypad on the MK IV the other day for the first time I took notice of a button labeled RPM. When pressed the screen then said “Full Auto Command.” When the go button was pressed it then said, “fire when ready.” So I loaded up 10 rounds in my M1 Thompson .45 ACP submachine gun and let fly. Not only did the little black box tell me that I had fired 10 rounds in .770 second, but by hitting the “review” button it also said that figured to a cyclic rate of 701 rounds per minute. Fascinating! Since the nominal rate of fire of an M1 Thompson is about 800 rpm, could that be correct? I think so because the RPM of recoil-operated WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM full-autos is determined by the power of the ammunition and those 10 rounds were a cast bullet handload. There will be lots of fun to be had trying different factory loads and handloads through my six subguns and checking their RPMs. I’ll let you know what I learn. Another general rule of mine is I don’t like doing shameless promotion for advertisers. But hear this. I’m not even sure if PACT, Inc. advertises in these pages. And furthermore, by their Web site I don’t even have their most current MK IV. The new one has an XP it is title. I don’t care. This MK IV has been with me for about 15 years and I never fail to be impressed with the magic that comes from it. The best I can say about any item is if the one I have was lost or destroyed I’d immediately buy another. That’s my attitude about this combination timer and chronograph. PACT P.O. BOx 535025 GRAND PRAIRIE, Tx 75053 (800) 722-8462 www.PACT.COM 172011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=18http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=18OPTICS • Jacob Gottfredson • MORE FOR LESS Budget minded optics am often asked what binocular or scope someone should buy I for some use or another. My first question is, “To what use is the intended purpose?” My second question is, “How much are you willing to spend?” The answer to the second seems to be a universal constant: $200 to $300. Throughout my two decades of being an optics writer and evaluator, I have been a bit of an optics snob, I guess, putting my efforts into glass costing many times that amount. But the demand of most people has caused me to begin looking at more affordable options. Below are a couple of great binos at a great price. I had the opportunity to evaluate Carson’s XM-HD 8x42mm Series Binos over the last 3 or 4 months. I was thoroughly impressed with them. I did my standard battery of tests and a lot of bird watching with the wife. Carson has not only gone the extra mile by instrument testing their glass against the opposition, but has made their testing public. That is quite exciting in the sporting optics industry, something camera lens makers have done for years. I hope Carson spurs other sporting optics manufacturers to follow suit. Here is glass with BAK-4 lenses, HD coatings, fully multi-coated, O-ring sealed, phase coated, waterproof and fog proof and has one of the highest light transmission ratings in the industry for just under $300. Most optical prisms in this price range are made from borosilicate (BK-7) contrast, and extremely high light transmission. I have spent considerable time with their Legend Series 8x42mm Ultra-HD binos. I am truly impressed. Don’t confuse these with their Legend series that does not carry the Ultra-HD label. I must admit if I had the dinero, I too would walk around with a $2,000 Swarovski binocular hanging from my neck. My wife got into bird watching, and I have been tagging along (more fun than I thought). In any case, it has allowed me to test many binoculars made for the “can’t live without it” crowd to those made for fellas who— like me—must. Birders must mortgage their homes for the price of their binocular, spotting scope, and digital camera. But need they? I often wonder the same thing when my wife comes home with all those facial creams and a hole in my bank account. Luckily, she never reads anything I write. These Legend Ultra-HD binos have it all: Fully multi-coated lenses, BAK-4 prisms, Rainguard HD coating, armor, water and fog proof, and ED glass. They have incorporated a tripod mount and the case and accessories are great. The case is a hard nylon. Inside are a neck strap, harness, and a microfiber cloth bag to house them in. Another feature I believe every bino should have are the flip down objective lens covers that stay in place, preventing loss. The center focus is large and easy glass. More expensive models use barium crown glass (BAK-4). BAK-4 MENA SUVARI is higher quality glass, yielding brighter images and high edge sharpness. The XM’s clarity, resolution, and contrast are excellent, and light transmission rivals that of much higher priced binos. They are armored coated, with a relatively large center focus ring and stiff-to-move diopter, which is good. A bit on the large size, they are still small and light enough to carry in the field and feature a tripod mount as well. Carson’s warranty is every bit as good as other leading manufactures. They will replace or repair any damaged bino for $12, no matter the reason. I rate these binoculars high in any price range. View other models on their Web site. For those of you who think of Bushnell as K-Mart and Swarovski as Neman Marcus as I have, think again. Bushnell’s Elite series is top-of-theline in the $1K range. But Bushnell carries binos well under $300 that will blow your mind for clarity, resolution, TheCarsonXM-HD8x42mm(left) offersverygoodopticalquality, armor,waterandfogproofdesign, goodinternals,fullymulti-coated lenses,andareprotectedbya greatwarranty.Theyrepresent goodviewingformostb2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=19http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=19to turn, while the diopter wheel locks in place to prevent it from turning, thus not spoiling your image when time is of the essence. The eyecups, like the Carson, can be moved out for noneyeglass wearers and in for those who require them. The Legend uses ED lenses, i.e. extra low dispersion fluorite glass, which enhances color resolution and contrast, and eliminates chromatic aberration and color-fringing. Normally such glass is costly, and I tell people they can live without it unless they are using a spotting scope with a camera. But for this price, why not? You will learn to like their proprietary lens coatings as well, and the magnesium chassis makes for a lighter bino. I rate this binocular high as well. Unfortunately, a lot of quality glass does not appear on the shelves of stores most people frequent. The Internet provides a means of studying the specifications of glass. Think about your use. That will give you some idea of what to look for in size and weight. Will it always be in the vehicle or on the deck? Will you carry it for hours in the mountains? Do you need very close focus for birds? Do you need something ultra light or high power for searching for elk on those far ridges? Do you prefer Porro or roof prism binoculars? MODELS: MAGNIFICATION: PRISM: LENS COATING: FIELD OF VIEw: EYE RELIEF: CLOSE FOCUS: wEIGHT (OUNCES): CARSON xM-HD SPECIFICATIONS MAKER: CARSON OPTICAL, INC. 35 GILPIN AVENUE, HAUPPAUGE, NY 11788 (800) 967-8427, www.CARSONOPTICAL.COM XM-842HD XM-042HD XM-050HD 8x42mm 10x42mm 10x50mm BAK-4 BAK-4 BAK-4 FMC FMC FMC 330' 314' 262' 22mm 17mm 19mm 13.1' 16' 19' 24.3 24.3 24 BUSHNELL LEGEND ULTRA HD SPECIFICATIONS MAKER: BUSHNELL OUTDOORS 9200 CODY, OVERLAND PARK, KS 66214 (800) 423-3537, www.BUSHNELL.COM Legend 198042 Legend 191042 8x42mm 10x42mm BAK-4 BAK-4 FMC FMC 426' 340' 17.2mm 15.2mm 6.5' 6.5' 22.4 22.5 XM-832 8x32mm BAK-4 FMC 420' 15.5mm 9.8' 20.6 MODEL: MAGNIFICATION: PRISM: LENS COATING: FIELD OF VIEw: EYE RELIEF: CLOSE FOCUS: wEIGHT (OUNCES): Do you need a large field of view? After you have made those decisions, look for fully multi-coated lenses, water and fog proof, good lens coatings, armor, extendable eye cups, and BAK-4 prisms. Remember it is very difficult to get a strong, reliable chassis for much under $300. Barrel alignment and a strong enough mechanism to retain that alignment seldom come in a $40 bubble wrap at your local discount store. WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 192011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=20http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=20RIFLEMAN • DAVE ANDERSON • THE RIFLEMAN’S RIFLE The book is back. he pre-’64 Winchester 70 is prized both as a desirable T collectors’ item, and as one of the best—many would say the best—practical hunting rifles. While many rest in collections, apologetically advised they were sold out of the new model, but he had found this old model tucked away and forgotten on a shelf. He must have misinterpreted the look on Barrie’s face for he quickly offered to knock another 10 bucks off the sale price. Over the next 40 years Barrie shot it so much the rifling was eventually gone for the first 4" or 5" of the bore, at which time he had fitted a Featherweight contour barrel chambered in 6.5x55 Mauser. Had he put it away new in box it would be worth a pretty penny today, but the memories of 40 years hunting and shooting have a certain value as well. It was the early 1970s before I owned a pre-’64 70, a used, excellent condition Featherweight .30-06. Currently I own quite a few pre-’64s, though my rifles are for shooting more than collecting. I take pains to preserve their condition, but then I do so with any firearm. In 1982 Roger C. Rule, a pre-’64 fan, published a book called The Rifleman’s Rifle, subtitled Winchester’s Model 70, 1936-1963. The book was a monumental achievement, meticulously researched, well illustrated with excellent photos (many in color), and incredibly detailed. For the serious Model 70 collector or fan it immediately became a standard reference work. A second edition was published in 1996. These were hardcover limited editions, printed on high-grade paper, and very classy books indeed. So much so they have become collectors’ items themselves, worth more than some of the rifles described in the book. I’ve used borrowed copies for reference in the past, always conscious never to be fired, thousands of others are taken afield every year by discerning hunters and shooters. Winchester’s introduction of the “new” Model 70 rifle in 1964 is generally considered a terrible business decision, one which many enthusiasts never forgave. From a purely business standpoint—and firearms production is a business, after all—it was the right move. The new rifle had several features (e.g. recessed bolt face, capped bolt sleeve) which in the event of a case failure better protected the shooter from injury, and Winchester from lawsuits. From a functional aspect it was accurate and it worked, which is all most casual hunters and shooters ask. a pretty good rifle. But it was a very different rifle than the pre-’64 Model 70. I think rifle enthusiasts would have been quicker to forgive if Winchester had just given the new rifle a new model number and let the original 70 retire with dignity (as in fact Winchester did when it retired the Model 12 shotgun and introduced the 1200). Well, what’s done is done. In creating the new Model 70 Winchester created something else, namely the pre-’64 collector. Generally a firearm has to be out of production a few years or decades to become collectible. Pre-’64 70s were collector’s items almost from the day the new model was announced. Around 1967 my friend Barrie Gwillim, a college student at the time, used some of his hard-earned savings to buy his first new hunting rifle. A local department store was advertising the “new improved” Model 70 for $139.95. The display models were all sold when he got to the store, but the clerk thought there were more in the storeroom. After 20 minutes or so the clerk returned holding a long cardboard box. It was a pre-’64 Featherweight .270. He Cheap Vs. Value Most importantly from Winchester’s point of view, it cost less to produce and could therefore be priced to match the competition. In the 20 years after its introduction the new Model 70 sold over a million units, whereas the pre-’64 model never reached the 600,000 mark in its 37-year production run. After the anti-bind bolt feature was introduced in 1968, cut checkering and overall better wood and metal finish in 1972011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=21http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=21The3rdeditionofrogerrule’sclassicisa softcover,moreaffordableversionandcontains everyword,everyB&Wandcolorphotoof theoriginaleditions.Theriflesbehindthe bookarepre-’64Model70Featherweightsin (lefttoright) .270Winand.243Win.Both FeatherwightsarefittedwithBausch&lomb Balvar2.5-8Xvariablesonadjustablebases. of their value and the need to preserve their condition. Many a time I wished for a cheaper version I could take to gun shows and use regularly without worrying about cost or value. I prize the value of the beautiful originals but prize even more the wealth of information they hold. Praise be, a 3rd edition has been released. It contains every bit of information included in the originals, including all the color photos, but in a more moderately priced softcover version. It lists at $99.95. If that sounds a lot for a softcover book, it is an absolute bargain for the amount of material it contains and for the tremendous amount of research performed by Rule. The book is printed on very good quality paper, 8-1/2x11" and 368 pages. The research included questionnaires sent to over 400 serious Model 70 collectors, searches and studies of factory ledgers, engineering process sheets, production blueprints, and serial number records. Rule also located and interviewed key individuals (many of them now deceased) who were involved in manufacturing the rifle. Such research simply could not be duplicated today at any cost. There are chapters on the predecessor Model 54, and on the successor post-’63 model, through 1981 when Olin sold Winchester arms manufacture to US Repeating Arms Co. I wish I could convey the incredible amount of research and detail in this book. Every feature, every detail, every change no matter how minor, is covered in text and photos. Factory parts number lists, disassembly instructions, receiver and barrel stamping variations, bolt face and ejector variations, sight options, and that is barely scratching the surface. For anyone interested in Model 70s, or interested in fine rifles, the history of a great American brand name—or who appreciates a monumental task of research, a true labor of love—this book is indispensable. If you’ve missed out on the 1st or 2nd editions, don’t miss this one. RIFLEMAN THErIFlEMAN’SrIFlE: WINCHESTEr’SMODEl70,1936-1963 BY ROGER C. RULE $99.95, SOFTCOVER, 368 PAGES, 8.5"x11", ISBN: 9781 4389 99050 AUTHORHOUSE 1663 LIBERTY DRIVE BLOOMINGTON, IN 47403 (800) 839-8640 www.AUTHORHOUSE.COM Like a Laptop. But Loaded. The size of a laptop computer, the new MicroVault and Micro BioVault allow you to safely and securely transport your firearm or other valuables anywhere you travel. Outfitted with the fast-opening No-Eyes® Keypad or Biometric technology for total security, both versions fit in a briefcase or daypack. Fits in a briefcase or a daypack GunVault.com2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=22http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=22SHOTGUNNER • HOLT BODINSON • ONE AT A TIME Start them off with a single-shot. Makinggoodwithonlyoneshotisanessential lessoninpatienceandmarksmanship. ately, there has been a flock of semi-auto and pump guns L introduced, designed and marketed specifically for the young or beginning shooter. Anything we can do to recruit young men and women into the shooting sports is a definite plus, and it’s great to see the manufacturers serving that market. Yet, a semi-auto or pump may not be the best “first” shotgun for our youth. I say, “start them off with a single-shot.” The single-shot system is a simple and safe system for young minds to master. Leave the semi-autos and pumps for later, after a degree of gun-handling proficiency has been achieved by your young student. My father had a rather unusual way of teaching his youngsters gun safety. Oh, how I lusted for a BB gun around age eight. ‘Twas not to be. Dad insisted I first prove my firearms safety consciousness with a “real” gun. Instead of a BB gun, which he was utterly convinced encouraged irresponsible, boyish gun-handling, I was tutored on a Winchester Model 67—a petite, bolt action, single-shot .22 LR one of dad’s hunting partners had given him after it had served its training purposes for his own son. The Model 67 was doubly safe. After loading a round in the chamber and closing the bolt, you had to pull back the striker to cock it and then flip up a Mauser-like wing safety, which blocked your line-of-sight until it was shoved down and to the right. 22 It was the perfect teaching gun because it was uncomplicated. You loaded one round, closed the action, cocked the striker and applied the safety. It was an excellent system for teaching safety, patience in the field, respect for the game being pursued and exacting marksmanship, plus a box of .22 shorts lasted a long, long time. Singleshotshelpyounghunterslearn.Note thebeautifulcasehardeningonthepre-WWII vintageIverJohnsonChampion. Proved A year later, having now spent two years as a brush-busting driver for the adult hunters of the community and proving I could be trusted with a firearm, it was time for a shotgun. In those days, there weren’t any gun stores as we know them today. Guns were sold by the local hardware store, Sears, Wards, or if you were lucky to have one nearby, a gunsmith. Our provider of arms and ammunition was the local hardware store. Rimfire ammunition was stored there in wooden drawers that were pulled out from one long wall of the store. Boys bought .22 shorts. Men bought .22 longs. Behind the main counter shelves held stacks of green boxed, Remington centerfire ammunition and a wide assortment of BudCecil’s1941IverJohnson16-gaugeisstill onactiveduty68yearslater.Complexforgings andmachiningwerequalitiesinherentinprewarAmericanfirearms. paper shotgun shells. Slug and buckshot loads were priced per shell and could be purchased on that basis—one shell or a 100. Finally, on the main floor an open gun rack always held 15 or 20 new rifles and shotguns. The hardware store was heaven for a boy of nine. Before the opening of the next small game season, dad and I looked through the meager rack of shotgun models on WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=23http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=23hand, and he decided that a Stevens Model 94, single-shot 12-gauge would be the perfect “first” for me. The Stevens Model 94 sported a 28" barrel choked “Full,” an auto ejector and an exposed, rebounding hammer. The Stevens basically functioned just like my Winchester .22. Load one shell, close the action, cock the hammer and take the shot. The only safety trick was to learn how to lower the cocked hammer if the shot were not taken. Having a rebounding hammer that rested in a safe position well away from the head of the firing pin, the Stevens system was very safe to handle. A light, single-shot shotgun was what, and only what, all the boys in the community were permitted to have. There were a few 12-gauges, more 16- and 20-gauges and quite a few .410s to be found in my circle of friends. We weren’t particularly Asingle savvy of ballistics shot is still in those days and available didn’t debate today the merits of the fromH&r various gauges or 1871, shot sizes (except Rossi and for high brass vs. T/C.Thisone low brass shells) isthe“Topper” nor did we ever feel fromH&r. at a disadvantage having only one shot. We just went hunting as much as we could, harvested a lot of small game and varmints and kidded each other about our misses. Being a single-shot, my Stevens epitomized the versatile gun. You could, and I did, load everything in it, most of which will now go unmentioned. When we wanted to load anything from rubber balls for use on dogs bothering our female hounds in heat to deer-slaying pumpkin balls, we merely opened up the star crimp, poured out the shot and stuffed in our new projectile. The nice thing about a single-shot chamber is that it readily digests shells a semi-auto or pump system would simply choke on. Hawks were fair and legal game in those days, and one routinely harassed our pheasant population. I was determined to get him. You couldn’t get close enough to him to deliver a load of No. 6 shot so I devised a devilish hawk-killing load—an ounce or so of .25-caliber, steel ball bearings we regularly shot in our Wham-O slingshots. Morning after morning, I waited patiently for the marauder to appear. He finally did, sweeping low over the field, and I let loose with my super hawkkilling load. An ounce of steel ball bearings WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM exited the mouth of that shell and bounced down the forcing cone, leaving behind what resembled a string of shallow foxholes. When the ball bearings reached the bore, it got even worse. Streaking down that Stevens steel barrel, those miserable ball bearings carved out what is known in muzzleloading circles as “straight rifling.” Yup, that barrel was perfectly, parallel rifled from one end to the other. Did I bag that hawk? Yes, I did. At great expense, I might add. Did the newly-rifled Stevens still pattern? Yes, it did and don’t ask me why. It seemed to shoot as well or even a bit better when I was sky-crawling for high flying crows. I still own and use one old, but beautifully crafted, Iver Johnson singleshot, 16-gauge with a forearm crudely stamped with the name of its original owner, “Bud Cecil—1941.” We went to war in 1941. I hope Bud Cecil made it through the conflict because when I bought the gun used, it was virtually brand new. Cruising the gun racks at Murphy’s Gun Store in Tucson, Arizona, I routinely see fine, used single-shots, selling for $80 to $90. H&R and New England Firearms currently offer an extensive line of Topper and Pardner single-shot shotguns and single-shot Handi-Rifles. Rossi offers both shotguns and rifles based on their single-shot action as does T/C. There’s no shortage of great single-shot shotguns to choose from. So start youths and beginners off with a single-shot. There is no better firearm design available to permanently etch the fundamentals of safe gun handling on their young, uncluttered minds. Semi-autos, pumps and doubles can come later. DOES IT AGAIN! With the NEW KWIK-MOUNT®/ 22 ADAPTER FOR RIFLES with GROOVED RECEIVERS Universal mo2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=24http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=24RANGING SHOTS • CLINT SMITH • SOLVING A PAIN IN THE NECK Where the little .22 Long Rifle shines. lthough I think most of us would attempt to do otherwise, if you A live long enough, I guess you’ll probably do something stupid. I’ve now lived long enough to have done several stupid things; the most recent being the sideways roll downhill on an ATV with me being on the underside of the mechanical beast. For this dose of stupidity, I recently got two steel squares with a slider bar, four screws, a new donor disc and a bone spur removed from its pokey place in my spinal cord. The $30,000 was well spent, but the second-generation stupid thing is that as part of the cure I put myself in a place where I can’t shoot anything for several months. This not shooting for me is almost worse than the cure of the cut throat, push, pull, poke, prod and grind. Then again I really need for this repair to work and I really need to get well. That said, I am behaving myself and doing as I am told especially with all the people yelling at me to “not do this” and “not do that” and you get the point. Never one to let it go, after some conversation, I ended up getting to shoot .22s and no matter what the caliber, shooting is shooting! Picking up lots of sympathy or pity from friends, I have received several things to help me shoot as my body mends, and after doing and working with this .22 stuff, it is actually good. It just worked out that the great ammo shortage of 2009 played right into the whole picture because, me being me, I had .22s stored up. So all and all I get to shoot quite a bit for not a lot of money and—even more importantly—with no neck jarring recoil. Tactical Solutions My AR-type .22 comes from Tactical Solutions Products of Boise, Idaho. The upper has a fixed front sight and TheActionTargetduelingtree(above)provided anexcellenttargetforallthe.22rimfire action.Thepaddlesswingfreelyevenunderthe minimalrecoilofthelittlerimfireandthesound andmovementaremoregratifyingthansimply punchingpaper. TacticalSolutionsAr.22solvedtherifleproblemandtwogreat.22handguns,theSmith&Wesson Model18andtheWilson/Marvel1911.22conversion,helpedkeepClint’shandgunskillscurrent, solvingtheproblemofshootingfirearmswithminimalrecoiluntilthesteelplatesandscrewsin Clint’sneckhealed. 24 a rail-type rear receiver to which I was able to add a set of iron sights and a GG&G Quick Detach scope base with a Leupold scope. The system allowed me to get trigger time and the Tactical Solutions upper set up to my lower has worked without fail. The TSP .22 upper mounted directly onto my old personal lower straight from the box without a hitch including no filing, fitting or pounding of pins. After bore sighting the scope, the first five rounds on target all touched at 25 yards from a benchrest. After a few adjustments to the scope, I thumped on my 8" steel plate set at 100 yards as well as an Action Target plate rack made for .22s without effort. Since I am a bit of a neat-and-clean freak, the .22 cases are a bit bothersome to pick up which I cured by draping a small veil over the action while firing that allowed for the fired WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=25http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=25BlackdogArmagazinesfromTacticalSolutionsfedwithoutfailintheArrifleplatform.Theupper fittoClint’slowerwithnofuss. cases to pile up neatly for collecting at the base of the shooting point. Besides being nice people with great products the Tactical Solutions Products upper functions absolutely perfectly and often the flaw with .22s is the loading system (aka the magazines), but with TSP Blackdog .22 magazines the rifle ran great and shot even better! Wilson 1911 Conversion After talking with John May and Bill Wilson the two of them sent me a Wilson Combat .22 conversion upper for my 1911. The Wilson shop built me a 5" 1911 pistol this year and the .22 upper slid right on without effort and the pistol cycled correctly as well as being way more accurate than me. Trying different ammunition, I found the pistol seemed to prefer heavier 40+ grain projectiles, and over “30 something” weight hollowpoints acted a bit sluggish. With the Remington 40-grain .22s the pistol worked just great, although the recoil is there (a good thing) the action, load, safety lever sights were all the same. The Wilson Combat marked slide is built in collaboration with Marvel Precision and the conversion is packaged in the typical Wilson Combat style, first class in a padded protective case. Fit and finish are excellent and the actual mounting of the conversion is much easier than taking off and putting back on the regular .45 ACP slide. rarely used by me, was in fact crisp with a clean let off. The revolver shot all the .22s I put in it and, revolvers being what they are, the wheel gun was not the least bit sensitive to any .22 ammo by brand or bullet weight. The Action Target people, who are long time friends, helped me by sending a .22 caliber 6-plate dueling tree. It came in handy near the house during the time I wasn’t supposed to wander too far towards the range. The little rack swung plates nicely back and forth with the .22 hits and the movement of the plates confirms solid hits. I shot some paper, but mostly I just shot the rack because something happened when the gun went off (you know what I mean). It has been two months now as I finish this column and by the time you read it I should be back to the big guns. Then again, all and all considering the level of dumb move I pulled, I am lucky to be back in service and I can say that the little .22 cartridge was a large part of the healing process and they are pretty nifty guns for this purpose. TACTICAL SOLUTIONS 2181 COMMERCE AVE., BOISE, ID 83705 (208) 333-9901, www.TACTICALSOL.COM SMITH & wESSON 2100 ROOSEVELT AVE., SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104 (800) 331-0852, www.SMITH-wESSON.COM wILSON COMBAT 2234 CR 719, BERRYVILLE, AR 72616 (800) 955-4856, www.wILSONCOMBAT.COM LEUPOLD 14400 Nw GREENBRIER PARKwAY BEAVERTON, OR 97006 (503) 526-1400, www.LEUPOLD.COM ACTION TARGET 1281wEST, 220 NORTH , PROVO, UT 84601 (801) 377-8033, www.ACTIONTARGET.COM S&W Revolver My issue revolver for the duration of the neck thing is a Smith & Wesson Model 18 blue-finished 4"-barreled, 6-shot. Based on the time tested S&W standard K-frame, this current version is of the new genre with a key type lockable action. The trigger is made narrow and the hammer more like a wider old-fashion target style. The double action was a bit heavy at the start but it is smooth and single action, although WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 252011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=26http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=26™ • HOLT BODINSON • RETURN OF THE STEYR AUG The king of the bullpups still reigns supreme. hort, compact, odd-looking but distinctive, Steyr’s 5.56mm S AUG (Armee Universal Gewehr) has been the most successfully received of all the military bullpup designs. Adopted in 1978 by Austria, the AUG is the official arm of a number of countries, most notably Australia and New Zealand. The original semi-automatic model of the AUG was never imported in great quantity and was relatively pricey at the time when compared to Colt AR-15s selling for less than $800. of American troops. Designed in the 1970s at Steyr Mannlicher GmbH & Co., the AUG was conceived as a modular and ambidextrous 5.56mm rifle, carbine or light machinegun. Composed of six main components—the barrel, receiver group, bolt group, stock group, trigger group and magazine—the AUG can be disassembled into those modular components without tools in a minute. The key component in switching from let’s say, a rifle into a carbine, is the AUG quick-change barrel assembly. In seconds, you can pull a 20" rifle barrel and install a 16" carbine barrel. Similarly, to configure the AUG for a right- or left-handed shooter, you can change from right- or left-hand ejection by simply swapping out the bolt and the ejection port lids. The AUG is powered by a short-stroke, gas piston system which is adjustable to compensate for cold weather or severely fouled conditions. The 7-lug rotary bolt is carried and cammed into battery by a bolt carrier that reciprocates within the receiver on two hollow steel rods containing the return springs. Frankly, the AUG has been sorely missed in the milsurp stream for many years, and collector prices for existing examples have been approaching the stratosphere. Well, Steyr’s fixing that problem with the introduction of their new, semi-auto AUG/A3 SA USA, manufactured and assembled under contract by Sabre Defense Industries of ThelittleAUGspelledlightsoutforthisfawnkillingcoyote.Thecompactdesignhandled wellintheconfinesoftheblind. Nashville, Tenn. Picking up the new AUG reminds you just how ergonomic the overall design is. With an overall length of just 28" and weighing 7.8 pounds, the AUG has a handling dynamic all of its own. Your hands naturally cradle the stock. All the essential controls are at your finger tips, except for the magazine and magazine release. Once you’ve handled and shot an AUG, you realize just how much sense the bullpup design makes. Simplicity And Common Sense By virtually eliminating the buttstock and replacing it with the receiver itself, the design immediately shrinks the overall length of a rifle or carbine by at least 7" to 10". When you’re loaded down with body armor, a backpack and munitions and probably cramped up inside a Humvee or chopper, a compact weapon is a distinct advantage. It’s no accident the telescoping-stocked M4 has emerged as the hands down favorite Synthetics In the construction of the AUG, Steyr has made maximum use of synthetics and composites. The stock is molded from a fiberglass-reinforced polymer. The receiver is made from a steel-reinforced aluminum extrusion, and the modular Withanoveralllengthofjust28",theAUGisahandyvarmintcallingcarbine.TheAUGfeaturesright andleftejectionportstoaccommodaterightandleft-handedshooters.Thecombinationflashhider/ muzzlebrakeisbotheffectiveandloud. 26 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=27http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=27fire control system, housed under the buttplate, consisting of the hammer and sear, is composed entirely of plastics with the exception the mainsprings and pivot pins. I have a hunch Gaston Glock learned a few things from Steyr Mannlicher! The new semi-automatic AUG/ A3 SA USA model with its 16" barrel can be classified as a carbine within the AUG family. Gone is the earlier model’s distinctive, integral carrying handle incorporating a 1.5X scope sight made by Swarovski. Instead the “A3” model incorporates two universal (MIL-STD-1913) Picatinny ribs. One rib forms a conventional “flattop” on the top of the receiver for sighting devices. The other is a short rib on the right side of the receiver for auxiliary accessories. Compact,sturdyandhandy,theSteyrAUGdefineswhatabullpupshouldbe. Sighting For testing purposes, I mounted Burris latest FF30 TACT scope in their tactical high rings. The Burris FF30 TACT scope features a 30mm tube, 3-9x40mm optics and repeatable target adjustment knobs. With the straight, high comb of the AUG, high rings are almost a necessity. The new AUG proved to be very tight. Tolerances are obviously being held to a minimum. As I used the AUG, the non-reciprocating charging handle, called a “cocking slide”, became easier to work because the bolt carrier was obviously wearing in a bit. So, too, the polymer trigger seemed to smooth out over time. Trigger Speaking of triggers, the challenge in any bullpup design is the trigger. How do you mechanically link a forward mounted trigger to a rear mounted sear and achieve an acceptable trigger pull? In the AUG, the designers used a doubleended, U-shaped rod running from the trigger along both sides of the frame and around the magazine well to connect to the front arms of the sear at two points. The distance from the trigger to the sear is approximately 9-1/2". The result, a long, mushy, trigger pull, breaks very cleanly but at a weight-of-pull of 10-3/4 pounds. The consistency of the break point makes the heavy trigger of the AUG manageable, but it takes some getting used to. There is no forearm to the AUG bullpup design. In its place is a foldable, vertical, barrel grip. With the short 16" barrel, actually 18" with the flash hider, it’s important to keep your hand on the grip and not forward of it. With your hand on the vertical grip, your flesh is only 1" away from the gas regulator emove the magazine; pull back and lock the charging handle into the frame notch and inspect the chamber to ensure it’s empty. Holding the vertical grip, depress the barrel lock button with your thumb and rotate the barrel assembly clockwise until it unlocks and moves forward (1). Remove the barrel forward. Unlock the charging handle and let it ride forward. From the left side, R STEyR AUG DISASSEMBLy/REASSEMBLy push the square receiver lock button located at the front of the magazine well all the way through to the right side of the stock. Pull the receiver and bolt carrier forward off the stock housing (2). Separate the bolt carrier from the receiver (3). Push in on the depression in the rubber buttplate while pushing in on the sling swivel pin and remove the buttplate (4). Push in on the projecting flange of the hammer and sear assembly while pulling out the sling swivel pin. Remove the hammer and sear assembly (5). The AUG is now fieldstripped (6). Reassemble in reverse order. HINTS: Ensure the receiver assembly is fully seated and locked. After relocking it, try to pull it forward as a safety check. Remember to pull the charger handle to the rear and lock it in the receiver notch before reinstalling the barrel. 1 2 3 4 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 5 6 272011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=28http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=28SURPLUS LOCKER Theearlierintegral1.5Xscopehandlehas beenreplacedbyPicatinnyribsonthetop andside(above)forthemountingofsights ofyourchoiceandotheraccessories.The AUGgasvalve(below)isadjustableto combatcoldweatherandseverefouling. Theforwardbarrelgrip(upperright)provides astableshootingplatformwhilekeeping yourhandawayfromhotgases.Useit.For aquickvisualroundcount,AUGtranslucent magazines(belowright)areideal. Do you need A Gun Belt? exhaust port and 4" away from the rear vent of the flash hider/muzzlebrake. At the range, I used a rear bag under the butt and a folded towel between the heel of my forward gripping hand and the bench. It proved to be a very stable position. The chrome-lined barrel is hammer forged with a 1:9" twist and so marked. A sensible compromise of a twist, it can handle either 55-grain M193 ammunition or 62-grain SS109 rounds, however, the AUG seemed to favor sporting over military ammunition. Ammo Shortage Unfortunately, at the time of the test, no SS109 ammunition was available, but there was plenty of M193 around. Shooting 3-shot groups at 100 yards, the AUG grouped both IMI M193 and CorBon 55-grain FMJ into 3-1/2". I thought it could do better than that, and it did. Hornady 55-grain Varmint Express and Winchester 55-grain Ballistic Silvertip averaged 2", and then it got even better. Federal 55-grain Hi-Shok averaged 1-1/2" while the absolute best groups were turned in by Hornady 40-grain Varmint Express averaged 3/4" to 1". That gave me an idea. A pair of local coyotes had been living off Coues white-tail fawns all summer and needed to be sorted out. Disassembling and blocking the 30-round, translucent AUG magazine to a 5-round capacity, I loaded it up with Federal 55-grain HiShok and took the AUG hunting. As I discovered, the neat quality of the AUG as a varmint calling rifle is its compact THE BELTMAN’S HAND MADE BELTS ARE TWO LAYERS OF TOP QUALITY BULL HIDE (NOT COW HIDE) FOR FIRMNESS AND DURABILITY, AND WILL EASILY SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF A FULL SIZE FIREARM AND ACCESSORIES. SUITABLE FOR CONEALED CARRY, COMPETITION, OR DRESS WEAR, OPTIONS INCLUDE: VELCRO LINING, TAPERING, STIFFENERS, BUCKLE SELECTION ETC. AVAILABLE IN THREE WIDTHS, FOUR COLORS, AND EDGED TO PERFECTION FROM $69.95. ALSO OFFERED IN HORSE HIDE, SHARK, AND GENUINE ELEPHANT. If you carry a gun, YOU DO! AUG MAKER: STEYR ARMS, INC. P.O. BOx 840 TRUSSVILLE, AL 35173 (205) 467-6544 www.STEYRARMS.COM ACTION TYPE: Gas operated, semi-automatic CALIBER: 5.56x45mm (.223 Rem) CAPACITY: 30 (42-round magazines available) BARREL LENGTH: 16" OVERALL LENGTH: 28.15" wEIGHT: 7.8 pounds FINISH: Matt black SIGHTS: NATO Picatinny rail STOCK: Fiberglassreinforced polymer PRICE: $1,900 to $2,500 (919) 387-1997 www.thebeLtman.net 28 size. You can hunker down and hide in very heavy brush and still be able to quickly manipulate and fire the carbine in any direction. Taking a stand, I turned up the volume on my Hunter Specialties’ Johnny Stewart varmint caller and lowered the boom on the male of the pair as he came charging in. Sweet success! It may be the first coyote taken with the new AUG, but it won’t be the last. If you’re getting a bit jaded with the endless variations of the AR-15 platform being offered, you will find the AUG bullpup a breath of fresh air. Retaining all the elements of its military antecedents, it has also proved to be a handy hunting rifle and a lot of fun to shoot. WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=29http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=292011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=30http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=30• MASSAD AYOOB • A dependable and accurate pistol. eckler and Koch’s most recent carry pistol design is the P30, H ours chambered for 9mm Luger. It’s a plain-looking little gun, an “old school” design except for the radical placement of the HK’S P30 9MM decocking lever next to the hammer at the left rear of the slide and for replaceable grip inserts to change not only the dimensions of the backstrap, but of the sides of the grip as well. The result is a “have it your way” fit to the hand, making good trigger reach more achievable. Capacity is a healthy 15+1 9mm rounds, and the grip fills the hand nicely without being too hard to conceal in a hip holster. The test gun came with two magazines. This pistol is traditional double action (TDA) with a long, heavy pull for the first shot, and a shorter, lighter press required for each subsequent shot until it is de-cocked. Average pull in single action measured 5 pounds, 7 ounces. Double action was very consistent at 10.4 pounds. Pull was smooth in both cases, but “riding the link” is difficult since there is a long re set and still a long travel back from there to actual sear-break. I found my trigger finger chafing painfully after only a few shots. It was getting caught on the HK signature magazine release paddles that ride on both sides of the bottom of the triggerguard. In fairness to the pistol and its designers, this didn’t happen with all shooters involved in the testing. What we did find universally was that with a straight-forward-thumbs firing grasp, the thumbs ride the ambidextrous slide stops and prevent the slide from locking open when the pistol is shot dry. However, if you keep your thumbs out of the way you get super-fast reloads, because there’s that almost-too-accessible slide stop on either side, and the trigger finger can drop the magazine without shifting grasp to use the thumb, thanks to the shape and location of the mag release. The right side slide stop lever feels a little sloppy, but works fine, so long as your digits don’t touch it when they shouldn’t. Europeans don’t like Tritium, and this gun has Inova night sights, which only glow when illuminated shortly before you need to fire in dim light. The trick is knowing when that’s going to be. YouwanttoshoottheP30withthumbclear ofslidelocklever(above).Modularfitwith interchangeablebackstrapsresultsingood graspandtriggerreachforavarietyofshooters. Yourgrasphastobesomewhatbrokento depressdecockingleverlocatedattheback oftheslide(top).Southpawshooterswillhave tocompletelybreaktheirholdtodepress decockingleveratrearofslide. Thesightswerebig,easytoseeand registeredatthefactoryforpointofaim/ pointofimpact.likemostmodernfirearms, theHKP30hasauniversalrail(above)for lightslikethisStreamlightTlr-1.recoilisso soft,it’seasyandfuntoshoottwoHKP30s atonce(below). ThearrowshowswhereMas’fingergotpinched betweentriggerandmagreleasepaddle. WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 2010 302011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=31http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=31TheP30provedvery accuratewithboth Winchesterstreetproven127-grain+P+ (left)andremington 147-grainsubsonic. That said, though, when “ready to go” the three big, green sight globes shone as brightly as American TFO (Tritium Fiber Optic) sights and made night shooting easy. The strange de-cocking lever position did not make any friends among the testers. If firing one hand only, the righthanded shooter has to partially break his hold, and the southpaw almost totally break his hold, to get the one thumb to that button and push it forward. In twohanded shooting, it’s almost as awkward. This was the single biggest confusing aspect as expressed by our testers who shot the HK P30. Accuracy The P30 fulfills two long-standing HK traditions. It comes out of the box with the sights reasonably registered for point of aim/point of impact, and it groups. I shot it with Winchester’s hot 127-grain +P+ Ranger JHP, and Remington-UMC’s 147-grain subsonic FMJ target load. Both were spot on for elevation. Groups centered very slightly right, but that could have been the sun, as testing was done with very strong sunlight from the right. The Winchester +P+ ammo gave me a 5-shot group measuring 1.65". Measurements were done center to center of the farthest shots, to the nearest .05". Four of those shots were in 1.05", and the best three were in 0.85". Remington’s jacketed truncated cone range load put all five of its rounds in 1.35". Four of the five were in 1.10" and the best three, in barely over 1/2"—.60", to be exact. Excellent accuracy for an out of the box 9mm carry gun. P30 MAKER: HECKLER & KOCH 5675 TRANSPORT BOULEVARD COLUMBUS, GA 31907 (706) 568-1906 www.HK-USA.COM ACTION TYPE: Locked breech, semi auto CALIBER: 9mm CAPACITY: 15+1 BARREL LENGTH: 3.86" OVERALL LENGTH: 6.99" wEIGHT: 22.3 ounces FINISH: Matte black SIGHTS: Fixed, 3-dot GRIPS: Integral polymer frame PRICE: $1,005 Reliability Arriving as it did in the midst of the “Great Post Obama Election Ammo Drought,” we didn’t get to put as many shots through the P30 as we usually do in testing. However, with roughly 300 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM assorted hollowpoint and ball rounds ranging from subsonic to +P+, there were zero failures to fire, feed, extract or eject. Thumbs that rode slide stop levers and prevented lockback were, after all, human error and techniques incompatible with the pistol’s design. Bottom line? My big beefs were the awkward placement of the decocking lever, and the chafing of my trigger finger, but while the former was universal, the latter was not. Dry fire the P30 in the gun shop, and you’ll quickly find out if finger pinch will be a problem for you. My big smiles came from the outstanding accuracy, cycling reliability, and out of the box presighted-in factor I’ve come to expect with HK pistols. While the P30 won’t win me away from the P2000 with LEM trigger as my favorite HK carry pistol of the current crop, I could appreciate the reliable P30 for its ability to keep every shot in the X-ring, even if I had to take a Dremel tool to the magazine release paddle to keep it from pinching my trigger finger. At $800 to $900 “street price” in gun shops, this pistol’s inherent accuracy and reliability make it worth writing the check. Visit Us At SHOT Booth#1925 312011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=32http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=32• PAT COVERT • ALL THE RIGHT STUFF Kenny Teague’s Medium Hunter. rkansas has produced a fountain of excellent custom knifemakers A over the years. The names Bob Dozier, Pat Crawford and Ryan Wilson are just a few of them, and as you’d expect these artisans have passed their talents on to up and comers in the field. One of those knifemakers is Kenny Teague. Living in Arkansas all his life, Kenny grew up hunting as a kid and hasn’t stopped since. Along the way he found an itch to make knives and ended up at the door of Bob Dozier, one of the most successful guys in the trade. Most of the knives Dozier makes are for hunters and outdoorsmen, so Kenny found himself helping out around the shop and learning the ropes. In no time, he was making his own knives. On a recent trip to Arkansas I was able to catch up with Teague, inspect his wares and was impressed! Despite the similarities to his mentor’s knives, Kenny has his own style and when he offered me the opportunity to test one I jumped all over it. The test knife was his KT3 Medium Hunter, an 8" clip point fixed blade. The KT3 has a 3.4" blade which falls into the category of perfect if you need a knife to perform a wide variety of field chores and small enough to do some serious skinning and dressing. Teague’sKT3MediumHunterfeaturesadeepbelliedclippointbladewithblacklinenMicarta scales.At8"overall,thisfixed-bladecan handlealotofchoreswithoutgettinginthe way.TheKT3’s3.4"D2steelblade(below)has adeephollowgrindmadeforslicing.Theknife carvedthroughsomeseriouslytoughseasoned hardwoodingoodmeasure. The Steel This is a full-tang knife with D2 steel running end to end. D2 has been around for ages, but in recent years has become quite popular because it holds an edge very well but is easier to sharpen than many stainless steels. That’s because D2 is a high carbon steel that falls just short of the required quantity of chromium to qualify it as a true “stainless steel.” In a way, D2 offers the best of both worlds because even though it is not a true stainless, it is highly corrosion resistant, yet offers the easy-to-sharpen qualities of good old-fashion carbon steel. It is the only steel Bob Dozier uses in his knives. The KT3 has a 4.25" handle with black linen Micarta scales (other colors are available). The bulge in the handle is designed to fit the palm to enhance the grip of the knife. The handle has a lanyard hole in the butt and a heatformed Kydex sheath is provided. The 3.4" blade has a deep 1" hollow grind which facilitates deep cuts. Teague heattreats his knives to a Rockwell hardness of 60-61 RC, which through many years of testing his mentor Dozier finds is ideal for D2’s edge-holding capability. Teague’sMediumHunter(above)hasanample handleformosthandsandcanhandleawide varietyoffieldduties.Theknifecomeswith aKydexsheath.TheKT3heat-formedKydex sheath(below)hasahighcollar—youwon’t losethisknife.Abeltloopislocatedonthe backsideofthesheath. Designed For Work The clip on the backside of the blade has a low profile allowing it to easily slide under flesh for snag-free slicing. Short of a drop-point blade, which is gently curved on the backside, a clip point is about as good as it gets for 32 dressing game. The choil, the part of the blade just below the edge grind, has a peaked guard to help prevent slippage during cutting. Overall, the KT3 has all the right stuff you would look for in a soundly designed, medium-size hunting knife. I tested the Teague KT3 on a wide range of materials to see how it would handle each. The deep-bellied hollowground blade performs well on just about anything you throw at it. Cutting rope and paracord is a cinch and there is enough blade to whip through 1/2" rope in one swipe. Shaving bark is equally effortless as is shaving green hardwood. You can point a tent peg or spear point with the KT3 with ease. The tuff-test for me has always been slicing and carving seasoned hardwood. A firm grip and sharp carving edge are essential for working your way through 2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=33http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=33THE 39TH BRIGADE BOwIE I mentioned Kenny also makes larger knives. The “39th Brigade Bowie” is a special issue knife Teague makes for his Arkansas patriots. Dubbed the “Bowie Brigade,” the Arkansas 39th Brigade ranks as one of the elite enhanced National Guard units in the US, and Kenny makes three levels of the 12.25" bowie just for its members, with the additional honor of having made one for presentation to president George W. Bush. Over the years many of these fieldgrade bowies have found their way to Iraq and Afghanistan while other, up-scale models are displayed in tribute to the accomplishments of the 39th Brigade’s troops. In respect for the 39th Brigade, Kenny does not sell this special issue knife to his regular customers, but if you like the style he has a design in his line similar to it. LIMITED OFFER NEW! Includes TWO 30-round magazines ROCK RIVER ARMS OPERATOR SERIES * Rock river Arms ELITE OPERATOR / #BB2520 $1325 / $1060 after coupon NEW! Operator stock NEW! Includes TWO 30-round magazines Rock river Arms / ENTRY OPERATOR / #BB2500 $1200 / $995 after coupon NEW! Operator stock NEW! LE Includes TWO 30-round magazines Rock river Arms / TACTICAL OPERATOR / #BB2510 $1200 / $995 after coupon Home NEW! Operator stock 2 PACKAGE PRICE INCLUDES ONE OF SCOPE MOUNT Configurations Hunt 4 PACKAGE PRICE INCLUDES ONE OF Rear Sight ASSEMBLIES 30MM Mount #AR0131 1 INCH Mount #AR0130 Target Kennymakessomesure’nuffbigknivesas well.Thisishis12.25"baselevelbowiemade especiallyforArkansas’39thBrigadeNational Guardunit. Stand Alone Rear Sight #AR3305ASY Tactical Carry Handle #AR0125ASSY Dominator2 EOTech Mount #AR0125FASSY A2 Carry Handle #AR0052CASY camps over the past decades and less dependence of heavy duty field chores has in negated the necessity for many to carry large knives, so this knife is perfect for a lot of today’s outdoorsman. If you are into survival and camping from scratch you’ll probably want a bigger knife. Teague can fix you up here, too, with larger models in his line. Otherwise, you’ll like everything about the KT3. Better yet, the knife is priced at $195, an extremely reasonable value for a custom, handmade knife of this quality. For more information on Kenny Teague’s KT3 Medium Hunter and other knives in his repertoire, contact the custom knifemaker at the address below. TEAGUE KNIVES 900 HIGHwAY 71 N.E. MOUNTAINBURG, AR 72946 (479) 369-2374 *Coupon must be completed by both the customer and dealer and presented with your order placed at Rock River Arms to receive special pricing. Coupons may be obtained at www.rockriverarms.com or requested by phone or e-mail. No other substitutions apply. No other discounts may be used. This offer expires April 15, 2010. VISIT US AT www.rockriverarms.com Or CALL 866.980.ROCK (7625) to REQUEST A COUPON WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 332011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=34http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=34• Jeff John • My dad was fortunate enough to return from the European theater after WWII with some nice souvenirs. I now have his Mauser, a K43 semi-auto rifle, a CZ Model 27 semi-auto handgun and one very old big-bore rifle I can’t identify. I hope you can help. Robert L. Pearce Penn Yan, NY Your dad had a discriminating eye. Your big-bore carbine is a French Mle 1866 Chassepot Needle-fire captured during the Franco-Prussian War. Not my area of expertise, so I had to call in the big guns. John Sheehan responds: The photos are indeed of a Prussian carbine conversion of a French Chassepot captured during the Franco-Prussian War. The neat conversions were officially issued as the “Aptierter ChassepotKarabiner M1871.” It’s estimated somewhere in the neighborhood of 275,000 were converted to this Q: Converted Chassepot A: Inthecenterandattherightofthereceiverare theoriginalFrenchmarkingswhileattheleft arethenewGermanmarkingsofKaiserWilhelm (crownoverFW). configuration beginning in 1875. They were in service from 1875 until 1884 by which time they had gradually been replaced with the Mauser M1871 Karabiner. These carbines were issued to mounted units, including the Cavalry, Uhlans and Kurassiers, as well as the train, siege artillery and the pioneers. The conversions were chambered for the German 11x60mmR cartridge developed by Mauser for the Model 1871 Infantry rifle. The original French needle fire chambers were reamed out and sleeved to the new metallic cartridge dimensions. The bolt heads were replaced, the needles removed and replaced with The loser in a a striker and a gas conflictoften vent was cut from leavesbehindmuch the chamber to equipment.The the receiver ring. Germanscaptured A very interesting manythousandsof and unusual sliding FrenchMle1866 extractor was fit in Chassepotneedlethe floor of the bolt- fireriflesduringthe way. Franco-Prussian Much of the Warin1870.largely original stock obsoleteeven furniture was retained then,theGermans along with most of convertedthemto the French markings. centerfirein11mm A new carbine-style Mauser. nosecap was added along with a clearing rod carried in the stock under the barrel. German Imperial markings were added and are easily distinguished from the remaining French markings. Standard German inspection marks will be found on the barrel flats along with the traditional cipher of Kaiser Wilhelm. These rugged, serviceable conversions filled the needs of the German mounted arm until such time as they could be replaced by the newer Mauser carbine. Questions and Answers Due to the volume of mail received, GUNS cannot offer a personal reply. Please e-mail your question to ed@gunsmagazine.com or snail mail to: GUNS Q&A, 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128 34 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=35http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=352011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=36http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=36or over 50 years the .30-06 was the issue rifle cartridge of F American military forces. The rifles spanned bolt actions, semiautos and even full autos, such as the BAR. The BAR were either select fire semi-auto, full-auto or full auto only. The early Model 1918s were select fire but the later Model 1918A2s could only be switched in full auto from either 350 rounds per minute to 550 rounds per minute. Prices for good, genuine BARs seem to start around $25,000. I don’t 36 Mike “Duke” Venturino Photos: Yvonne Venturino have one. What I do have is an Ohio Ordnance Works Model 1918A3, which is semiauto only and hence can be owned by anyone who can legally own a rifle. It is made with genuine US Government surplus parts except the receivers are newly manufactured. Like the originals this “new” BAR fires from a 20-round box magazine. Not only was a “BAR man” expected to carry the 22-pound rifle, but besides his personal gear he was given a “BAR belt” that held 12 more of the 20-round magazines. That lash-up added about 25 more pounds to his load! The Beginning As most of us already know the US Army adopted the .30-06 in 1906 as the round for the 1903 “Springfield” rifles it had adopted three years previously. At first those rifles were chambered WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=37http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=37manufactured prior to the early ’40s. It is arguably the finest bolt-action military rifle ever produced. Workmanship in regards to fit and finish were superb, and its reputation for fine accuracy was well deserved. Collectors can point out minor variations of ’03s all day long but in practical terms they were all of a type. They had 24" barrels, a very intricate, fully adjustable, ladder style, rear sight graduated to 2,700 yards. It could also serve as a peep sight once the ladder was raised but a fairly inefficient one since it was far out on the barrel. Front sight was a simple blade, which incidentally was furnished in 11 different heights so each rifle could be sighted in properly. Battle zero for ’03s according to The Springfield 1903 Rifles by Lt. Col. William S. Brophy was 547 yards (500 meters). Magazine capacity was five rounds and it could be loaded singly or by means of a 5-round stripper clip. military forces were interested in formal target shooting in those days and their competition teams had influence. Those shooters preferred pistol grip stocks to the straight grip of the standard ’03. Therefore about 1929 the change was made to pistol grip stocks and the model designation changed to 1903A1, but the rifle’s receivers were just stamped 1903. Too Few When America entered WWI in April 1917 there weren’t enough Model 1903 Springfields to equip our armed forces. The Marine Corps, being rather small, had enough, but the Army did not. Remington and Winchester (and an Eddystone factory also owned by Remington) had been busy making Pattern 1914 .303 caliber rifles for the British. So those companies made that same rifle with a few minor alterations for the US. The two most significant changes were removing the Brits’ “volley sights” and chambering it for .30-06. These were the US Model 1917, commonly and mistakenly called “Enfields” since none had ever been made in an “Enfield factory.” Again they were all of a type with 26" barrels and a magazine capacity of six rounds, but loaded with the same 5-round stripper clip as the ’03s. However, sights were a vast improvement over the ’03s. The Brits had stipulated a peep sight located on the rear receiver bridge, capable of being elevated to 1,800 yards, coupled with a post front sight protected by “wings.” That wasn’t a bad idea for a time when bayonet fighting was still considered important. Because it weighed a pound more than an ’03 Springfield (about 10 to nine The Magazine Cutoff Since many American Ordnance officers had started their careers in the single shot era, the ’03 was designed with a magazine cutoff. It’s a lever at the rear of the receiver’s left side. Pushed up to ON and the bolt will feed cartridges out of the magazine. Pushed down to OFF and the bolt will not feed them. This feature enables the magazine to be left loaded and single rounds dropped on top and fed into the chamber. (Author’s note: In all my considerable reading of American military history I’ve not once seen reference to soldiers using their ’03 Springfields as single shots.) When the magazine cutoff lever is between ON and OFF it serves as a bolt release. Only one major change occurred in the Model 1903 Springfield in its three decades of official service. American Duke’s friend Kirk Stovall with the Ohio Ordnance Works Model 1918A3 Browning Automatic Rifle. Firing the 22-pound BAR in the most practical manner is from its bipod. for a .30-03 round with a 220-grain roundnose bullet traveling at about 2,200 fps. Then in 1905 the Germans got the worlds’ other major military organizations upset by going to pointed bullets in their ammunition. That caused the United States to follow suit in 1906 by converting to a 150-grain spitzer bullet going in excess of 2,700 fps for the 1903s. The US Model 1903 was official standard issue for the US Army until 1936 when the M1 Garand was adopted. In reality it stayed “standard” for several more years because so few M1s were WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM Besides in2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=38http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=38when loaded), its bolt cocked on closing and its basic appearance was just a little foreign to the American eye, these 1917s were not as popular with troops as our domestic designed rifle. Still in an amazing manufacturing feat those three factories turned out over 2,200,000 Model 1917s by 1919. These rifles not only saw service in WWI, they were in action in most theaters of combat in WWII. If they weren’t in American hands then with our allies such as the Chinese, British, and Free French. The Garand The M1 Garand may be the most famous American battle rifle ever, but it sure got off to a slow start. The government-owned Springfield Armory had John C. Garand working on its design for over a decade and a half before it was adopted. Here’s an interesting fact. It almost wasn’t a .3006. Initial work had been done with an experimental .276 cartridge. It’s no wonder military people steeped in bolt-action rifles for decades resisted the semi-auto M1 Garand. It was just so different from what they were used to. It loaded with an 8-round “en-bloc loader” commonly called a “clip.” Its magazine couldn’t be topped off during combat but had to be emptied completely first. It was gas operated, making it much harder to fieldstrip for cleaning, and it was considered less accurate than the ’03 (in truth, it is in regards to standard off-the-shelf specimens). What it did A offer was firepower and the fellows actually fighting with the big 10-pound M1s loved them. M1 Garands had 24" barrels with perhaps the best battle sight ever put on a rifle. Its rear peep sight was fully adjustable for windage and elevation. Its front sight was a post protected by “wings” as started with the 1917s. Springfield Armory was the primary manufacturer of M1s during WWII, but Winchester helped, too. During the Korean War of 1950 to 1953 Springfield Armory made more and Harrington & Richardson and International Harvester joined in, too. Although the 7.62mm NATO cartridge and its M14 rifle were officially adopted circa 1954, none actually entered troops’ hands until about 1957. So in reality the M1 Garand stayed in service for over 20 years and the .30-06 lasted for a half century. Faster, Cheaper Let’s return to the US Model 1903. During WWI, the government-owned Rock Island Arsenal also produced ’03s. When WWII was brewing, the government prevailed on Remington to take the old Rock Island machinery and produce ’03s. They did to the tune of over 300,000. So M1903 Springfields can be found marked Springfield Armory, Rock Island, or Remington. But Remington had some sharp engineers and they figured out ways to make Springfields faster and cheaper. B C (A) Earlier, the Model 1905 rear sight on the Model 1903 Springfield was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, which is why it was discontinued in the wartime emergency of 1941/1942. Raised, it offered a small peep. Lying flat, its battle zero was set for 500 meters. (B) The peep rear sight of the British-designed US Model 1917 was a fine battle sight, but lacked windage adjustment. (C) Duke considers the US Model 1903A3 to have a fine rear sight because it is a windage adjustable peep type. (D) The M1 Garand rear sight was arguably the best sight ever issued on a battle rifle. This one is the WWII “locking bar” version. (E) The M1 Garand (below) was loaded by means of an 8-round “en bloc” loader, most commonly called a “clip.” D E 38 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=39http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=39They were given stamped instead of machined parts and changed so much only a couple dozen parts remained interchangeable with the old ’03s. These new rifles were called US Model 1903A3. Between 1942 when Remington was given permission to alter the basic ’03 design to A3 and February 1944 they produced over 1 million rifles. A contract was given to the former typewriter manufacturer Smith-Corona and they produced another 1/4 million. Personally speaking, to me the best change Remington’s engineers made was the incorporation of a peep sight at the rear receiver bridge. Even with elevation only to 800 yards, it is windage adjustable and makes for much better shooting than the ’03s open rear sight. During ’03A3 production, the government gave Remington the go ahead to built a sniper version designated M1903A4. These were a stopgap measure utilizing civilian Weaver 2.5X Model 330C scopes in Redfield mounts. They made about 28,000 and, in reality, impressed about no one. They weren’t particularly accurate because unlike our British and Russian allies Americans didn’t pick a rifle to become an ’03A4 because it showed superior accuracy potential. They just picked them at random. In a move long frustrating counterfeiters, they marked the 03A4s only 03A3 but put the marking upside down on the left front of the receiver. In the last few years I’ve gathered up at least one each of the following (and sometimes more than one): Model 1903, Model 1903A1, Model 1903A3, Model 1903A4, Model 1917, M1 Garand, and the facsimile BAR mentioned in the beginning. I’ve fired thousands of .30-06s rounds collectively through them and here are my opinions. Shooting First off, the Model 1903A3 is my favorite. I have both Remington (2-groove barrel) and Smith-Corona (4-groove barrel) and they give equal shooting precision. I like the peep sights. The Model 1903A4 isn’t so great as charged. My iron sighted ’03A3s outshoot my single, scoped ’03A4. All the variations of ’03 Springfields have been accused of delivering “heavy or punishing recoil.” To me they don’t. The Model 1917s have a little less recoil due to that extra pound of weight but shoot and handle just fine. I like their peep sights too. M1 Garands are great to shoot but less fun to clean. And that BAR in .30-06 caliber is a pussycat. It ought to be—it weighs 22 pounds! Shooting it fxrom the bench is about as gentle as firing a .223 Remington. Lifting it up on the bench is the hard part! And a final word here pertains to .3006 ammunition. If you’re going to buy it, and some firing with semi-autos is in the picture, buy the variety labeled “For M1 Garands.” Hornady sells it with 168-grain HPBT bullets and Federal has a new load with 150-grain FMJ bullets. The “Garand” loads differ from ordinary .30-06 ammo in that it is loaded with propellants of medium burning rate. Most .30-06 factory ammo is loaded with slower burning propellants and they have been known to bend the operating rods of Garands. I don’t know if this caution pertains to the Ohio Ordnance Works BARs but I prefer to err on the safe side. Mine only gets the above two factory loads and my handloads listed below. With the same thought in mind I have settled on only two basic handloads to feed my assortment of military .30-06s. I’ll use any 150-grain jacketed bullet, but prefer the 155-grain Palma match bullets by Sierra, Nosler or Hornady over either 48 grains of Hodgdon’s Varget powder or 46.5 grains of IMR4895. That latter All 20th century Springfield bolt actions (the M1903A3 is shown above) and the M1917 were loaded via the same 5-round stripper clip, although the M1917 magazine actually held six rounds. Duke will shoot about any .30 caliber bullet between 150 and 168 grains in his .30-06 military rifles but prefers these three 155-grain ones. Duke’s favorite .30-06 handload for his military rifle collection shoots very well from his SmithCorona Model 1903A3. Both Federal and Hornady now have introduced specific factory loads for M1 Ga2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=40http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=4040 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=41http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=41John Barsness Photos: Joseph R. Novelozo his story has been told in print before, but T some stories are too good to use only once. Several years ago a well-known custom riflesmith flew to Wyoming to spend a few days shooting prairie dogs with a friend who lived there. Of course the riflesmith brought one of his custom $5,000 rifles chambered in .223 Remington, along with 1,000 handloads. The friend picked up the riflesmith at the local airport, then drove to a local shooting range to make sure flying across the continent hadn’t knocked the Swarovski scope off zero. After setting his rifle on the sandbags, the riflesmith loaded the chamber, then aimed carefully. Instead of a bang there was an almost inaudible crack. The fancy custom trigger on the custom .223 had broken. Of course there wasn’t a replacement trigger within hundreds of miles, so they drove to the nearest gun store, a tiny place in a small town. The gun store had several Savage boltactions for sale, including one chambered in .223 Remington. The riflesmith purchased the .223, along with some scope- B A The Mossy Oak camo covers the entire rifle and breaks up the outline very well ending in a black hard rubber buttpad. B Leupold’s Custom Shop did a good job camoing the scope to help blend it in with the rifle. The turrets feature finger-adjustable, 1/4-MOA clicks with resettable pointer dials. C The tang safety is of the 3-position variety. All the way forward with the red dot exposed is the “fire” position, back halfway allows the bolt to be opened with the safety on and all the way back is on safe with the bolt locked closed. D The rifle has a flush-fitting detachable 4-shot magazine and the release is deeply recessed into the stock to prevent it from being accidentally dropped. The knife (far left) is a Grayman Knives Suenami 5. C A WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM D 412011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=42http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=4242 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=43http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=43WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 432011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=44http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=44A kit of Ultra Bore Coat comes complete with bore degreaser, directions, and enough UBC to do several rifle barrels. U ltra Bore Coat consists of microscopic ceramic particles in a quick-drying liquid glue. It was originally developed for military use in artillery barrels but also works quite well in sporting arms. It’s applied to a perfectly clean, degreased bore with a bore-mop. You just swab the stuff in and wait an hour or so for the glue to dry, then shoot the rifle at least five times quickly. The heat and pressure of the firing presses the ceramic particles into any tiny imperfections in the bore, smoothing the surface so much that metal fouling is greatly reduced or even eliminated. I first tested UBC three years ago in a brand-new stainless E.R. Shaw barrel in .223 Remington fitted to a Remington 788 rifle. Before installing the UBC I shot 50 rounds of factory 50-grain ammunition through the new barrel. At the beginning 5-shot groups ran around .6" at 100 yards; by the end they‘d grown to over 1.5". The bore was then cleaned with Montana Extreme’s .50 BMG, among the strongest solvents available, and it required a lot of .50 BMG and borebrushing to come clean. The barrel was fouled. After installing and fire-curing the UBC, I shot another 50 rounds of the same factory load through the barrel. The last 20 shots were fired into one group measuring 1.01", with 17 of the shots in .75". The bore was then cleaned with standard Montana Extreme. The cleaning consisted of pushing three consecutive solvent-soaked patches through the bore. This removed all the powder fouling—and there was no visible copper-blue on any of the patches. UBC doesn’t work quite that spectacularly in every barrel, but with the exception of a couple of .204 barrels it has cut copper-fouling at least 90 percent in the bores I’ve tried it in so far, a total of around eight rifles ranging up to .338 in diameter, including the chrome-lined barrel of a Bushmaster AR-15. The problem with the .204’s was apparently caused by getting enough UBC inside the bore without essentially pushing it out at the same time. The firm selling UBC is working on solving the problem with a very small bore-mop. The other great thing about UBC is that it’s good for the life of the barrel—as long as you don’t try to clean the bore with a wire brush. Ultra Coatings inC. 425 s. Kansas ave., olathe, Ks 66061 (913) 764-7707, www.UltraCoatingsinC.Com mount bases. After transferring the Swarovski to the Savage, he and his friend went back to the range and found the Savage shot just as well as the $5,000 custom rifle. The riflesmith made his friend swear an oath of silence, but the friend didn’t take it very seriously, laughing frequently every time he told the story. To those of us familiar with Savage bolt-action rifles this story isn’t surprising. Recently Savage introduced a heavybarreled, camouflaged version of the Model 10 and sent one chambered in .243 Winchester along for testing. Meanwhile, Leupold’s Custom Shop camouflaged a new 3.5-10x40 VX-3, and equipped it with one of their Custom Bullet Drop Elevation Dials with adjustment markings to match the trajectory of a 75-grain 6mm Hornady V-Max at 3,475 fps. The rifle came with Weaver bases, painted in the same Mossy Oak Brush Pattern camouflage as the rifle. The rifle is advertised at 7.25 pounds, and after mounting the scope in Leupold PRW steel rings the entire rig weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces. This is a fine weight for a coyote rifle, light enough to carry all day and aim quickly. With the heavy 22" barrel it balanced quite well, settling down yet not feeling sluggish. The stock is dual pillar-bedded, and unlike some factory synthetic stocks is quite stiff, even through the foreend. As with all Savage bolt-actions the barrel is free-floated, one of the not-so-secret “secrets” of Savage accuracy. Free Floated My personal test for effective free-floating—aside from shooting—is to grab the fore-end tip and barrel with my right hand 2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=45http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=45of JB Compound and a lot of shooting. These days, however, there’s an easier solution. Instead I installed Ultra Bore Coat (see sidebar), a matter of about an hour’s time, then went back to the range and fired five “curing” shots. After cleaning the bore with Montana Extreme solvent, the rifle settled right down and shot very well for a number of consecutive groups with all three bullets. The most accurate powder proved to be Hodgdon Varget, also not much of a surprise. Discounting one flier with the Hornady V-Max’s (due to operator error) the size of 5-shot groups with all three bullets hovered between .5" and .7", with none different enough to be statistically significant. This is also what I’ve come to expect with most of today’s plastic-tipped varmint bullets. Since the muzzle velocity of all three bullets was in the mid-3,400s, I also suspected the Leupold’s elevation dial would work closely enough with any of them. This was confirmed by the highly scientific (and fun) method … he and his friend went back to the range and found the savage shot just as well as the $5,000 custom rifle. the riflesmith made his friend swear an oath of silence, but the friend didn’t take it very seriously, laughing frequently every time he told the story. After the UBC treatment the rifle shot very well with all three bullets tested. The flier in the Hornady group is due to operator error. The Accu-Trigger, one of Savage’s greatest achievements, broke very cleanly at a little over a pound. WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 452011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=46http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=46of cranking the dial to various ranges out to 400 yards and busting some fist-sized rocks. Savage advertises the Accu-Trigger on the Predator as adjustable from 1-1/2 to 6 pounds, and the data on the .243 test target claimed this particular trigger broke at 28 ounces, a little over 1-1/2 pounds. Perhaps it did, especially when new, but my own Timney trigger gauge indicated it varied about half an ounce either way from an average of 20 ounces. It was a pleasure to use. I have run into a few shooters who claim they can’t get used to the tab, but I have grown quite fond of them since buying my first Accu-Trigger equipped Savage (a .22-250) about five years ago. Leupold has made some noticeable advances in the VX-3 over the VX-III line. The optics have definitely been upgraded. They were good before, but they are better now. This scope was tested on my standard brightness/sharpness chart at 25 yards after dark, the chart illuminated by a 100-watt bulb off to one side of my rest. The light is blocked from shining on the scope itself, so stray light doesn’t interfere with the view, and the scoped rifle is placed on a rest so it’s absolutely steady. The chart is a series of alternating black and white lines, starting 1" wide at the top of the chart and growing narrower down to the bottom, ending up 1/8" wide. I always set variables on 6X, ensuring the test is of optical quality, not exit pupil size. The practical quality of any scope’s optics is a matter of both brightness and sharpness, and this test measures both. The scope is rated by how far down the chart the black and white lines can be differentiated; at some point only gray can be seen (just as a zebra appears gray in the distance). The VX-3 rated in the same class as some very expensive competition. In 46 addition, eye relief is just about constant. It only varied .4" from 3.5X to 10X, right in the same range as two other VX-3s I’ve tested. The adjustments have been upgraded too, with dual erector springs. Each and every time the scope was adjusted, the bullet holes went exactly where they were supposed to, and during the long-range rock shooting the elevation went where it was supposed to go. The nicest thing is that all this has been accomplished without raising the price much. A combination of this Savage and Leupold would be hard to beat for the serious predator hunter. hodgdon Powder ComPany 6231 robinson, shawnee mission, Ks 66202 (913) 362-9455, www.hodgdon.Com hornady mFg. Co. 3625 old Potash hwy., grand island, ne 68802-1848 (800) 338-3220, www.hornady.Com nosler, inC. P.o. box 671 , bend, oregon 97709 (800) 285-3701, www.nosler.Com sierra bUllets 1400 west henry street, sedalia, mo 65301 (660) 827-6300, www.sierrabUllets.Com WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=47http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=47model 10 Predator hUnter maKer: savage arms, inC. 100 sPringdale road, westField, ma 01085 (413) 568-7001, www.savagearms.Com aCtion: Bolt action CaPaCity: 4+1 Caliber: .243 Win (tested), .204, .223, .22-250 barrel: 22" heavy chrome-moly overall length: 43" weight: 7 pounds, 4 ounces sights: None, Weaver bases provided Finish: Mossy Oak Brush Pattern stoCK: Synthetic, dual pillar-bedded retail: $806 3.5-10x40mm vx-3 maKer: leUPold & stevens 1440 northwest , greenbriar ParKway beaverton, or, 97006 (503) 646-9171, www.leUPold.Com magniFiCation: 3.5X-10X length overall: 12.5" tUbe diameter: 1" objeCtive lens: 40mm eye relieF: 3.7" (3.5X), 3.4" (10X) weight: 13 ounces internal adjUstment: 1/4 MOA retiCle: Duplex PriCe: $624.99 (standard finish), $119.99 (custom finish) Leupold Gold Ring 10x42 Binos would be good choice for this walkabout .243 Savage Predator and a Harris folding Bipod is also a very useful piece of gear. The knife is Grayman Suenami 5. WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 472011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=48http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=48ast month we looked at reasons for .22 Conversion Units and the work of Bob Marvel. This time we pick up with a look at those units offered by other companies. Ciener offers the largest selection of .22 Conversion Units which fall into three basic categories, Colt-style, Browning Hi-Power, and the foreign designs consisting of the Beretta 92/96, Taurus 92/99 and the Glock 19/23 and 17/22. All of the Ciener .22 Conversions come with 14- or 15-round magazines. For the 1911 Ciener offers the Platinum Cup with fully adjustable sights and the 1911A1 with fixed sights. Both units installed easily and quickly on a pair of Series 70 Colts for me. The Platinum Cup went on a Colt Gold Cup while the 1911A1 on my ivory stocked Colt Government Model. Both units were properly lubricated with Gun Butter before being assembled and after two magazine fired to settle them in were then totally reliable. The Platinum Cup features a serrated front sight and Millett adjustable rear sight both of which made it very easy to sight in. The 1911A1 with its fixed sights shoots less than 1" low and can be easily filed in for point of aim to equal point of impact. The Platinum Cup/Colt Gold Cup liked Federal HPs best with the result being 1" groups for 9 shots at 20 yards, while the 1911A1/Series 70 Colt Government Model accomplished the same thing with CCI Green Tags. Switching to the Browning Hi-Power we find the standard Ciener version is known as the Hi-Power while the targetsighted version is the HP Plus. The latter was an easy fit on my modern production 9mm Browning, however neither version would match up with my .40 S&W Browning. They could be installed but were too tight for use and would require L John Taffin lapping in the slide rails. Instead the standard unit went on an older Belgian Browning. The HP Plus target sighted version did its best work with CCI Mini-Mag HPs, CCI Green Tags, and Winchester Super-X HV. Ciener has not forgotten two foreignborn pistols which have had a great influence in the United States. In the 1980s the standard 1911 was retired and replaced by the 9mm Beretta Model 92. The shooting public has always been quick to adopt military cartridges and firearms such as the .30-06, .308, .223 and of course the .45 ACP 1911. The same is true of the Beretta which is very popular in its civilian version. My son’s first semi-automatic pistol was the Beretta. The ingenious semi-automatic pistol from the mind of Gaston Glock has great influence around the world with more than 4 million units now being produced. The owner of a Glock 19 or 17 can make it even more versatile with the addition John found shooting the Kimber .22 Conversion Unit on a Kimber CDP perfect plinkin’ pleasure. 48 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=49http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=49of a Ciener Glock 19/23 or 17/22 Conversion Unit. Installed on the Model 19 the result is an extremely compact, lightweight, 15-round .22 weighing 18 ounces. The longer barreled, larger frame Beretta comes in at 30 ounces with the Ciener Conversion Unit in place. Both the Beretta and Glock .22s were extremely pleasurable to shoot and also provide a perfect illustration of the adaptability of the human hand. The grip frame on the Glock is thin and short while the Beretta’s is longer and wider. Both feel good in my hand. Both units performed perfectly, however groups obtained were little larger than the other units with both being 2" pistols. I think this is more to be attributed to my eyes and the fact it is winter as this is written and I was testing inside where the lighting is a poor second to the natural version, at least for my eyes. The Ciener Beretta Conversion Unit provides silver on silver sights which simply do not stand out well enough for my eyes, and due to its construction also has a shorter sighting radius while the Glock has a shorter sighting radius than all the others. Blame me, not the pistols. All Ciener units carry a retail of $249 for the target sighted versions and $50 less for the standard version both complete with magazine. John found the Ciener conversions fit his vintage Hi Power very well, but not his recent production .40 S&W version. A good lube is necessary to ensure reliability. John’s Colt Gold Cup fitted with a Ciener Platinum Cup Conversion Unit rests on the Colt 1940 catalog pages. The new lighter weight Ciener conversions are more reliable than the old all-steel Colt’s. Kimber Kimber is all 1911 offering two identical (except for finish) .22 Rimfire Target Conversion Kits with excellent sights consisting of an adjustable rear mated up with a post front sight both of which slant towards the shooter, which cuts down on glare. They are also black and square with no white dots cluttering up the sight picture. The silver colored unit matched up perfectly with the alloy frame of a Kimber CDP resulting in an eye pleasing and easy carrying lightweight unit. Of all the units tested on all the various semi-automatics this combination is the one I would choose to pack if I was going to be hiking all day. Those few saved ounces really add up. I’d inherited several bricks of 40-year old CCI Mini-Mags last fall. I was very surprised when 10 rounds through the Kimber/Kimber all went in the 10 ring at 25 yards. The second Conversion Kit in black matched up perfectly on an Auto Ordnance 1911. Both units were 100-percent reliable once they were broken in by running a couple magazines of ammunition through them coupled up with proper lubrication before hand. The silver colored version mounted on the Kimber CDP performed best with Winchester’s Super-X High Velocity averaging 1-1/2" for 9 shots at 20 yards. I was especially pleased with the performance of the black unit which was WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM These targets (top, left) were shot with scope-sighted Marvel Precision Unit 1, a marvelously accurate conversion unit, while these targets (top, right) were made with Marvel Precision Unit 2 mounted to a Dan Wesson Patriot 1911. The Beretta 92 conversion shot well (bottom, left) if a little low for John. This target (bottom, right) was fired at 25 yards with the Kimber .22 Conversion Unit with 40-year-old CCI ammunition. 492011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=50http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=50mounted on the AO. I bought that 1911 a few years ago for $200 and it proved cheap is not always too expensive. I doubt I will ever go back to the .45 upper for this semi-automatic. This combination gave me 1-1/4" groups with both CCI Mini-Mag HPs and Remington Golden Bullets. Each of Kimber’s Conversion Kits complete with 10-round magazine has a price of $330. Marvel Precision is also all 1911 offering two .22 Conversion Units. Unit 1 is designed to turn a 1911 into .22 match gun and 50-yard groups of 1" or less are guaranteed using a machine rest. This unit installed easily on a .45 Dan Wesson Patriot which would not accept another maker’s unit and function. With the Marvel Precision Unit in place performance was flawless after a very short break-in period. Designed with a barrel locking system this unit’s barrel underlug is machined so when the recoil rod is tightened the barrel is solidly locked to the frame. Marvel’s Unit 1 has sights consisting of a barrel rib solidly attached with Allen screws. Three versions are offered, one with adjustable sights, one with slots for scope mounts, and the third one which incorporates ameriCanCoP.Com ameriCanhandgUnner.Com . 22 Conversion aCCUraCy data manUFaCtUrer: jonathan arthUr Ciener PlatinUm CUP 1911 1911a1 load groUP siZe (inChes) groUP siZe (inChes) ameriCan eagle hP 2 1-3/4 CCi green tag ComPetition 2 1 CCi mini-mag hP 1-5/8 1-1/2 Federal hP 1 1-1/2 remington golden hP 1-1/2 1-7/8 winChester sUPer-x hv 1-5/8 1-1/2 manUFaCtUrer: jonathan arthUr Ciener browning hP-PlUs browning hi-Power load groUP siZe (inChes) groUP siZe (inChes) ameriCan eagle hP 1-7/8 1-3/8 CCi green tag ComPetition 1-1/2 1-7/8 1-3/8 1-1/2 CCi mini-mag hP Federal hP 2 2 remington golden hP 2-1/2 1-3/8 winChester sUPer-x hv 1-1/2 1-1/2 manUFaCtUrer: jonathan arthUr Ciener beretta 92 gloCK 19 load groUP siZe (inChes) groUP siZe (inChes) CCi blaZer 2 1-3/4 CCi Pistol matCh 2 2 CCi standard veloCity 2 2-1/8 Federal lightning hP 2-1/4 1-1/2 winChester x-Pert hP 2-1/8 2 winChester t22 2-1/8 2 manUFaCtUrer: Kimber silver target blaCK target load groUP siZe (inChes) groUP siZe (inChes) ameriCan eagle hP 1-5/8 2-1/2 CCi green tag ComPetition 1-3/4 1-1/2 CCi mini-mag hP 1-5/8 1-1/4 Federal hP 1-3/4 2 remington golden hP 2 1-1/4 winChester sUPer-x hv 1-1/2 1-3/4 manUFaCtUrer: marvel PreCision Unit 1 (iron sights) Unit 1 (2.5-7x sCoPe) load groUP siZe (inChes) groUP siZe (inChes) ameriCan eagle hP 1-1/8 3/4 CCi blaZer 1-3/8 1-1/4 CCi green tag ComPetition 1 7/8 CCi standard veloCity 1-1/2 1 CCi mini-mag hP 1-1/2 7/8 7/8 CCi mini-mag +v 1-1/8 Federal hP 1-1/4 1 remington golden hP 1-1/2 5/8 winChester t-22 target 1 7/8 winChester sUPer-x hv 1-3/8 1 gUnsmagaZine.Com 50 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=51http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=51Kimber offers both silver and black adjustable sighted .22 Conversion Units. These two are fitted to a Kimber CDP (top) and an Auto Ordnance 1911. both styles. Mounted on the barrel, they do not move with the slide. All three ribs at my disposal gave me the option of using both iron sights and a scope, so it was fired with 10 different loads at 20 yards with the iron sights and 25 yards with a Simmons variable scope set at 3X. For all 10 loads the average at 25 yards was less than 1" with me behind the gun, some as tight as 5/8" and 3/4", so I have no doubts as to the veracity of their accuracy claim from a machine rest at 50 yards. Experienced .22 shooters know how picky various firearms can be when it comes to .22 ammunition. This Marble Precision Unit 1 has proved to be the exception to the rule and from my experience I say it would work well and shoot superbly with just about anything; mFg: marvel PreCision Unit 2 groUP siZe load (inChes) CCi mini-mag hP 1-3/8 CCi mini-mag +v 1-5/8 CCi stinger 2 CCi veloCitor 1-3/4 remington yellow jaCKets 1-3/4 winChester wildCats 1-3/4 the starting price with one sighting rib and 10-round magazine is $429. Marvel Precision’s Unit 2, which they refer to as the Round Top, features a standard type slide with sights mounted to the slide consisting of a post front sight and an adjustable rear sight mounted in a dovetail and solidly anchored. While Unit 1 was designed with the match shooter in mind, Unit 2 is geared for the shooter who wants an accurate and easy to carry plinking pistol or a trail gun. While the Marvel Unit 1 performs flawlessly with anything, Unit 2 is designed for use with High Velocity loads only. This unit with one 10-round magazine sells for $325. Tactical Solutions Tactical Solutions’ .22 Long Rifle Conversion Unit is the 2211 made for 1911-style semi-automatics. When Tactical decided to design a Conversion Unit my friend Steve Nielsen provided an early Colt Gold Cup to house their prototype. It differs from all the others in several ways. Both Steve and I have fired this particular .22 extensively over the past couple years and in the early stages it required considerable tweaking to bring it to perfection and make it work manUFaCtUrer: taCtiCal solUtions 2211 groUP siZe (inChes) groUP siZe (inChes) load (red dot sCoPe) (iron sights) ameriCan eagle hP 1-1/2 1-5/8 CCi green tag ComPetition 1-1/8 1-1/2 CCi Pistol matCh 1-1/2 1-5/8 CCi mini-mag hP 1-1/4 1-5/8 Federal hP 1-3/8 2 remington golden hP 1-5/8 1-5/8 remington hv 1-3/8 2 winChester sUPer-x hv 1-1/4 1-5/8 winChester t22 target 1-1/2 1-1/2 winChester Power Point 3/4 1-1/8 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 512011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=52http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=52                          Featuring select invited artisans from the Knifemakers Guild, American Bladesmith Society, Contemporary Longrifle Association and renowned artisans of blades.   with the heavier steel slide. By using a steel slide they are able to provide a stay open on the last shot feature. To do this on an aluminum slide would requires a steel insert, which some manufacturers say would probably eventually be battered off the slide. The sights are mounted on the barrel using a rail, not the slide and do not move with the slide. The 2211 is offered in one version with three options for the sighting rail consisting of a standard rail with adjustable sights, a Picatinny rail, or a combination of both. With proper lubrication functioning was perfect. Since I had two options with this particular unit, set up with a red dot sight or adjustable sights, I ran 10 different .22 loads through it both with the red dot at 25 yards and the iron sights at 20 yards. Tactical Solutions 2211 Conversion Units retails for $400 to $440 complete with magazine, depending on the sighting rail chosen. No matter how much shooting experience we have, and mine is now at 60+ years, we never outgrow our need for a good shooting .22 pistol. Any conversion unit from these manufacturers allows you to have both a centerfire pistol and rimfire semi-automatic with nothing separating them but a few minutes to swap out. I will be adding several of these test .22 Conversion Units to my shooting battery. In fact a couple of these .45s will probably be confined to .22 shooting from now on. jonathan arthUr Ciener 8700 CommerCe st. CaPe Canaveral, Fl 32920 (321) 868-2200, www.22lrConversions.Com Kimber one lawton st., yonKers, ny 10705 (800) 880-2418, www.KimberameriCa.Com bob marvel gUns 2303 CoUnty rd., Crete, ne 68333 (402) 826-3679, www.bobmarvelgUns.net advantage arms 25163 west avenUe stanFord valenCia, Ca 91355 (661) 257-2290, www.advantagearms.Com marvel PreCision P.o. box 127, Cortland, ne 68331 (402) 791-2246, www.marvelPreCision.Com taCtiCal solUtions 2181 CommerCe ave., boise, id 83705 (208) 333-9901, www.taCtiCalsol.Com gUn bUtter 15321 meadow road, lynnwood, wa 98087 (425) 742-7331, www.gUnbUtter.Com 52 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=53http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=53Experience Counts. Issue 1 • January 1955 Issue 649 • January 2010 GUNS Magazine Celebrates 55 Years Early retirement — not an option Get One Full Year (12 issues) GUNS has been a part of young, budding shooters’ lives for 55 years. Through the years, GUNS Magazine has remained the“go-to”shooting sports publication for first-timers as well as seasoned gun enthusiasts. That’s not about to change. A team of writers that includes Dave Anderson, Clint Smith, John Taffin and Mike Venturino make sure the new content in each issue appeals to all ages and skill levels. They’ve spent a lifetime moving from grip to trigger, to bring you maximum enjoyment every month. Hopefully you’ll enjoy time with your favorite writers for a long time to come too. The year ahead will include features you’ve been waiting for. Subscribe today so you won’t miss an issue. FREE 2009 Digital Edition CD with your paid order BONUS! ONLY $24.95 Call toll-free (888) 732-2299 M-F 8am-3pm PST ($64.95 outside U.S.) Visit: www.gunsmagazine.com P.O. Box 509094, San Diego, CA 921502011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=54http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=54ThE FirST ThE LAST A ugust 1914. The gentle sloping ridgeline was bathed in the warmth of the sun; the westerly wind blew ripples through the tall summer wheat. It was hard to believe they were at war when surrounded by the beauty of the unspoiled French countryside. As they reached the crest of the ridge, “H-a-a-a-a-alt!” the order echoing down the line as each NCO picked up the call and carried it down the length of the Regiment, “Fall out! Dig in!” The welltrained troops milled about in orchestrated pandemonium as they quickly stacked rifles, dropped their packs, removed their Lenneman pattern entrenching tools and began to dig. “Mon Dieu, but this is hard ground!”… “We’ll have our share of blisters before this day is done!” John Sheehan B C RrrrrRRUUUMPH was heard in the distance. “What was that?” ZzzzzzzwwhooooouuuuBOOOOM! A fiery gray and white airburst erupted in a flowery blossom of death 50 meters beyond the crest of the hill. ZzzzzzzwwhooooouuuuBOOOOM! The second shell exploded directly above them, it’s momentum carrying the shower of shrapnel past their position. A scream pierced the air as one of the regimental staff’s runners was struck in the chest by several shrapnel balls. The pace of digging became frantic as they piled the growing mounds of dirt in front of the rifle pits, trampling down the wheat in the process as the artillery continued to fall among them. “Positions! Take cover! Load!” the sergeant shouted and Pvt. Gerreau jettisoned his spade, tossed his pack on top of the unfinished berm for additional cover and dropped down in the shallow pit alongside his good friend, Pvt. Lebeau. He opened the bolt of his Mle 1886/93 Lebel rifle, engaged the magazine cut-off and reached for a cartridge from the ammunition pouch on the right side of his belt. He set the 54 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=55http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=55A round in the open action and closed the bolt, the extractor slipping over the rim of the case as the locking lugs of the bolt head closed and rotated into battery. Smoke drifted across the ridge, mingling with the shafts of wheat. The screams of the wounded reached a peak, then died away to whimpering and cries for help. “Get ready!” Pvt. Gerreau peered over the lip of the berm. The artillery fire was lifting. “Volley fire! Present!” Pvt. Gerreau rose up, shifting his weight forward onto his left hip, wrapping the sling of the rifle around his left forearm, he steadied the Lebel, found the sights and searched for a target. As the smoke from the bombardment cleared, he was astonished to see three columns of gray clad, spike-helmeted infantry emerge from the tree line at the base of the hill. “Aim!… FIRE!” And so it began…. The slab-sided French Mle 1886 Lebel is as amazing today as it was when first introduced during the last quarter of the 19th Century. It stunned the Germans, France’s hated rival, and sent shock waves across all of Europe. The French Balle M 8x51mmR cartridge was the first small caliber, smokeless powder round introduced by any army in the history of warfare. In the age of billowing clouds of white smoke and rainbow trajectories, the new French rifle sent a 232-grain cupro-nickel jacketed, lead-core roundnose bullet downrange at an astonishing 2,050 fps. In addition, the soldier’s position was not given away to the enemy, except in low light conditions, and he could still see his target after he fired should a follow up shot prove necessary. In addition, the soldier could carry more ammunition without increasing his combat load. This was absolutely astonishing in an age when the velocity of the average military bullet was in the neighborhood of 1,400 fps and the average caliber 11mm. In its day, the implications of the introduction of the French small-caliber smokeless powder cartridge were taken as seriously in military circles as the introduction of the V2 rocket or the Me262 were during WWII. Just as amazing was the fact the French introduced such a revolutionary cartridge in such an outdated weapon. As the Mle 1885 Kropatchek was being redesigned as the Mle 1886 Lebel, tubular fed magazine rifles, first introduced during the American Civil War, were already being surpassed by rifles with newer, obviously better designed magazines. Alfred von Mannlicher in Austria-Hungary and (A) It is a little known fact that color photography existed prior to WWI. Fully armed and equipped Zouaves in field order advance through the woods in this prewar original color photo. (B) A bearded Zouave prepares his rations in another pre-war photo. In war, the brush would provide little concealment for his bright red uniform. (C) In this pre-war photo a squad of French Zouave in marching order advances past one of the out buildings of a French farm with full kit. The brightly polished Mle 1852 mess kit was carried strapped to the blanket roll on top of the pack, demonstrative of the excellent targets presented to the Germans during the first three months of the war. (D) The slab-sided Mle 1886/93 Lebel was the standard issue rifle of the French Infantry throughout the Great War, although the Kropatchek tubular magazine was already obsolete when the rifle was adopted. D WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 552011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=56http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=56Paris Lee in the United States had both already perfected effective box magazine repeating rifles. Ferdinand Ritter von Mannlicher designed the first clip fed rifle to be introduced by any major power in large numbers in the form of the Model 1885 Mannlicher straight pull rifle. This weapon was mass-produced for Austria-Hungary in its final version as the Model 1886 Mannlicher. Other lesser-known repeating rifle designs were already pointing the way towards the superior characteristics of the inline magazine. The drawbacks to the Kropatchek design lay in the time required to reload the rifle once the magazine was empty. Fully loaded, the Lebel held 8 cartridges in the tubular magazine, which extended the entire length of the forearm. In addition, under battlefield conditions with the rotary magazine cut-off engaged, a 9th round could be positioned on the cartridge lifter and a 10th round manually chambered just prior to engagement. Compared to a 5-round box magazine, this appears on the surface to be a more than adequate T he Model 1886 Lebel represents an evolutionary design originally based on the Mle 1878 Kropatchek as produced by Steyr of Austria-Hungary for the French Marines. It was followed by the French development of their own Kropatchek designs, i.e. the Mle 1878/84 and Mle 1885 rifles, both of which incorporated tubular magazines. The Mle 1885 Kropatchek saw the introduction of the machined steel receiver which is one of the hallmarks of the Mle 1886 Lebel. All of these designs included variations of the Mle 1874 Gras bolt design that utilized the bolt root closing on the right sidewall of the open bolt-way as the primary means of locking the action. With the introduction of the high-velocity, smokeless 8mm Balle M cartridge, the Lebel’s new bolt head design incorporated the dual opposing locking lugs necessary in order to safely accommodate the substantially higher pressure of the new revolutionary smokeless cartridge. When the bolt was closed, the magazine release allowed the magazine spring and follower to push the next cartridge out of the magazine and onto the top of the cartridge lifter. When the action was opened, the spent casing was extracted from the chamber and ejected. The rearmost travel of the bolt engaged and raised the cartridge lifter, which placed the next round in line with the chamber. The forward motion of the bolt chambered the cartridge. While revolutionary in its day, by the time of the adoption of the Lebel in 1887, the Lebel had already been eclipsed by more efficient designs. Following the introduction and issue of the Mle 1866 Lebel in 1887, by 1893 several teething problems had arisen requiring alterations to the new rifle. This included the addition of wings on the rear sight base wrapped around the barrel, which proved necessary when silver soldering alone resulted in the separation of original rear sight bases from the barrel under field conditions. The receiver of the Mle 1886/93 Lebel housed a simple bolt (above), which evolved from the earlier designs of the Mle 1866 Chassepot needle rifle and its metallic cartridge successor, the Mle 1874 Gras. The Lebel bolt root closes against the receiver sidewall to provide an additional measure of safety in addition to the dual opposed locking lugs on the bolt head, which was necessary when taking into account the increase in pressure generated by the thennew smokeless powder. The rotary magazine cutoff button can be seen on the receiver just above and forward of the triggerguard. The Mle 1886 Lebel was fitted with a standard ramp and leaf style rear sight (below) with a slider mounted on the ladder-type leaf. The original sight was regulated out to 2,000 meters, however with the introduction of the Balle D cartridge with its lighter 198-grain spitzer boattail, new rear sight leaves registered for 2,400 meters were introduced in 1901. A stacking hook was also added to the nosecap and the rudimentary safety consisting of a rotating cocking pie2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=57http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=57substitute. However, in all but the briefest of firefights, the apparent advantage in magazine capacity rapidly disappears. Once empty, the Mle 1886 Lebel must be reloaded one round at a time through the top of the action. First the bolt was drawn back, and then the cartridge lifter was depressed. It was at this point the soldier required a third hand as he now had to fumble through his ammunition pouches for individual cartridges, each one of which had to then be inserted into the magazine individually, with each successive cartridge pushing those before it farther up the tube in the forearm. When you compare this to Lebel’s contemporary, the Mannlicher rifle, the advantages of the Mannlicher system quickly become apparent. To reload a dry Mannlicher, all the soldier had to do was to draw the bolt back, ejecting the empty fired case clear of the receiver, reach into his ammunition pouch, pull out a 5-round en-bloc clip and push it down into the magazine until the retention hook caught hold of the clip and he was in business. The ability to load the magazine to capacity with a single clip proved to be far superior than loading individual rounds into the rifle, no matter how many rounds the magazine would hold. In an all out firefight, the volume of fire maintained with the Mannlicher was far superior and was only eclipsed with the introduction of the Mauser charger, more commonly known to most modern firearms enthusiasts as the stripper clip. Another drawback of the Mle 1886 Lebel was caused by the excessive weight of the rifle when fully loaded combined with the fact the point of balance of the weapon shifted continually as the magazine was emptied. This does not make for consistent off hand accuracy, despite the fact the Lebel is an inherently accurate rifle. Mind you, the Mle 1886 Lebel was not a disaster; it is simply a shame the French introduced one of the great breakthroughs in military technology i.e. the small caliber, smokeless high-velocity cartridge in a rifle outdated before it was introduced. With that said, the Mle 86, despite all of its drawbacks, was a very serviceable and dependable rifle. It was the primary infantry weapon of the French Poilu throughout WWI. The Berthier Mle 1907-15 and Mle 1916 were much easier and less expensive to manufacture than the Mle 86 Lebel and were produced in large number before the end of the war, however they never eclipsed the Mle 86 Lebel’s record in terms of frontline service during the Great War. An estimated 3,000,000 Mle 1886 Lebels were in inventory in August of 1914! Various sources estimate the total production of the Lebel from 1887 until 1920 running as high as 4 million rifles. WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM Early Uniforms The four regiments of Zouaves in the French Army in 1914, while dressed in traditional North African style uniforms, were composed entirely of native Frenchmen rather than Colonials (bottom, left). The uniform was composed of a vest (sedria), which was worn underneath the short waste jacket (tombo), atop a pair of triple width baggy trousers (saroul). A 13' long dark blue woolen sash was wrapped around the waste over the vest and trousers and was intended to provide additional lower back support while on the march. The cartridge belt in turn, was worn over the woolen sash. The entire affair was topped off with a soft red cap with blue tassel (chechia). The traditional gaudy uniform was completely abandoned before the end of 1914 for obvious reasons! The uniform in this display is perhaps the rarest example in the author’s collection. The Metropolitan Infantry Regiments of the regular line units went to war in a uniform (bottom, right) just as ill suited for modern warfare as that of the Zouaves. While the bright red or garance trousers as they were referred to by the French, were not as generously cut as those of the Zouaves, they were equally as conspicuous in the rifle sights of the German soldiers who shot them down by the tens of thousands during the Ba2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=58http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=58By the end of the war, five different variations of the Lebel bayonet were to be found in French inventories including (above, from top to bottom) Mle 1886 Lebel epee bayonet with German silver or maillechort grip, Mle 1886/16 simplified Lebel epee bayonet, also with maillechort grip, wartime simplified pattern eliminating the recurved quillion in order to reduce the manufacturing time and cost of each bayonet. The Mle 1886/16 simplified bayonet (middle) had a brass grip in place of the standard German silver and the Mle 1886/16 simplified bayonet with steel grip. The Mle 1916 Lebel bayonet with double-edged knife blade (bottom), was an experimental bayonet never officially adopted by the French Army. It is not known exactly how many were produced during the war. In order to conserve brass and copper which was required in ever greater amounts during the war for munitions production, late war bayonet production saw the introduction of both iron and steel grips, all of which were the simplified Mle 86/16 configuration. These included (below, top two) bayonets with painted iron grips, while the bottom two bayonets have steel grips. One version (bottom) sports a stamped sheet metal barbed wire cutter that aligned an individual piece of wire with the muzzle of the rifle, which was then discharged, thus cutting the wire. The Mle 1886 epee bayonet with German silver grip was originally issued with the Lebel. The attachment system is quite robust with a small lug on the underside of the rifle barrel engaging a groove in the top of the bayonet grip. A circular section on the butt of the pommel engages a similar cutout on the front of the nosecap. The retention hook is engaged and disengaged via a button on the left side of the bayonet, just below the crossguard, that locks in place behind the rear most portion of the rifle barrel lug. 58 overlook the flaws of the Lebel relative to the wave of more combat worthy designs developed in the later years of the 19th Century. That the French opted to adopt the first Berthier carbines in 1890 with a Mannlicher magazine design is indicative of the realization the box magazine was indeed superior to the tubular magazine. The attempts made by the French to convert the Mle 1886 Lebel design into a cavalry carbine proved to be a complete and utter failure, once again, due to the limitations of the tubular magazine in a carbine-length weapon. However, by this time, far too much time and money had been spent on the Lebel infantry rifle to abandon the design in favor of Mannlicher’s newer clip-loading system. Budgetary considerations were and still are, always of concern in any peacetime weapons program. As a collector, however the Mle 1886 Lebel is absolutely one of my favorite rifles. Carried into battle in the millions during WWI, the Lebel saw action from the Marne to Gallipoli, from Africa to the Middle East, from the Chemin des Dames to Verdun! Verdun—the very name of that epic battle seems to sum up the world gone mad into senseless slaughter on an incomprehensible scale. When you pick up a Mle 1886/93 Lebel, it is hard not to think of Verdun! When you consider the rotational system used by the French Army during that 9-month long ordeal, you have a better than three in four chance the rifle you are holding saw service in the hands of a French Poilu living through the hell called Verdun. It’s hard to imagine another rifle of this period that can be tied with such a degree of certainty to one of the most hotly contested battles of the long, senseless, brutal war. The Mle 1886 Lebel is never going to win a beauty contest, but it’s not the ugliest rifle the French ever produced either (have you looked at the MAS 36 lately?), however, it is as steeped in history as any battle rifle ever issued. The Lebel served honorably in some of the bloodiest battles in history and is synonymous with French valor in the First World War. The fabled “Poilu,” horizon blue greatcoat, skirt buttoned back, Mle 1915 Adr2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=59http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=592011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=60http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=60edfield scopes are back. It’s a pleasure to see another quality American-made scope available, and to see Leupold honor a fine brand name by returning it to production. John Hill Redfield was born in 1859, the son of Oregon ranching pioneers. Over an adventurous life he was a rancher, professional hunter, gunsmith, deputy US marshal, and mining engineer. In 1906 Redfield moved to Denver, Colorado, where there was a mining boom. He found rifle sights in great demand and in 1909 began manufacturing sights full time. Even though riflescopes were still novelties at the time, in 1916 Redfield developed the rotary dovetail base/ring system, which would be a standard for decades. many immigrants of the era (such as my paternal grandfather) they anglicized the spelling of their names (to “Frederick” and “Volpel”). John C. Stevens, another brilliant inventor, joined the firm and quickly proved so indispensable he became a partner. After Volpel’s death the business was renamed Leupold & Stevens. On the east coast another Germanborn optical expert was establishing his own business. Dr. Friedrich Otto Kollmorgen was a successful optical engineer who had worked in Germany, Austria and Britain before moving to the US. He established Kollmorgen Optical, Brooklyn, NY, in 1916, manufacturing the periscopes for the first US submarines. In the decades leading up to WWII all three companies—Redfield, Leupold, and Kollmorgen—were prospering at their various enterprises, making quality products and employing skilled workers, in the manner intelligent, hard-working R Dave Anderson Optics Markus Friedrich (Fred) Leupold was born in Ravensburg, Germany in 1875. He emigrated on his own to the US when he was 16, moved to Oregon in 1907 and together with a brotherin-law, Adam Voelpel, he established a successful business making quality optical surveying instruments. Like people can prosper in a free economy. The Second World War and its aftermath brought huge changes. Companies which had contributed to the war effort, as these three had, saw military contracts end as the armed forces demobilized. Millions of recently discharged servicemen were working, starting families, buying all sorts of products and fueling the greatest economic boom in history. The demand for sporting firearms and accessories was unprecedented. It was clear riflescopes would become far more popular than iron sights. Marcus Leupold (son of the original Markus) on a famous deer hunt lost an opportunity when a scope fogged, and prophetically said, “I could make a better scope myself.” Which is what he did. Shortly before the war a Texas gunsmith, M.L. Stith, designed a scope mount to fit several popular rifles without the need for drilling and tapping. (They are still in demand to this day, with shooters who don’t want to alter fine collectible rifles). A scope to go with the mount seemed a logical idea. Meanwhile Kollmorgen Optical (which had moved operations to 60 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=61http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=61Northampton, Mass.), with periscopes no longer in demand, was looking for new products lines. The result was the Stith/Kollmorgen Bear Cub scope, the first models with a 7/8" tube, later changed to 26mm (an inch is 25.4 mm). When Stith died in the mid ’50s, the scopes were marketed for a time as the Kollmorgen Bear Cub line. The Redfield company was selling a lot of scope bases, but demand for iron sights was rapidly declining. Clearly the company needed a scope sight. By 1959 the Navy was building new subs, and Kollmorgen began making periscopes again (as the company does to this day). Redfield purchased the scopemaking division of Kollmorgen and moved production to Denver. In 1962 they changed tube diameter from 26mm to the industry standard 1" (I’ve seen Redfield scopes with the legend “1" tube” prominently displayed). Competition Creates innovation For the riflescope industry, the 1960s and early 1970s were both innovative and fiercely competitive. Weaver scopes were by far the most popular, providing great value for the money. Other American makes—Bausch & Lomb, Leupold, Lyman, and Redfield— were all popular with rifle enthusiasts. Variable scopes were in great demand. Various technical problems with early variables were being solved. Redfield was especially innovative, with some very bright engineers, including Don Burris, who would later start his own company. Among its innovations were the Widefield eyepiece, the Accu-Range reticle, long eye relief scopes for Winchester 94 rifles, variables with different ranges such as 1-4X and 6-18X. Leupold had led the way in designing fog-proof scopes, and the toughness of Leupold scopes was already becoming legendary. Perhaps its most-copied innovation was the Duplex reticle of 1962. This reticle has become the industry standard. Plenty of riflemen have never used anything else. In the 1960s Leupold plowed all its profits into plant expansion and the most modern manufacturing equipment. Patiently, brick by brick, the company was laying the foundation for longterm success. Leupold was one of the first to adopt computer-assisted design and manufacturing. Today its worldleading expertise in CNC manufacture is recognized not just by scope makers The predecessor to the original Redfield line, a mid-’50s era Kollmorgen Bear Cub 4X (above, top gun) is on a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight .30-06 made in 1956. The new Redfield 3-9X variable, reintroduced and made by Leupold at their Oregon factory, is fitted to a Remington 700 SPS in .223 Rem. The new Redfield scopes have clean, simple lines and the smooth, non-reflective matte finish (below) complements the finish on many current popular rifles such as this Remington 700 SPS. but also by many other industries, and by the designers and makers of the CNC machines themselves. Redfield scopes remained popular, with sales in some years exceeding 125,000 units. The company was considered a sound investment for companies wishing to diversify. All looked well, except… its manufacturing process used various solvents for cleaning components. And for decades waste fluids were dumped on the ground. The “Redfield Riflescope Case” involved class action lawsuits by hundreds of nearby homeowners, claiming groundwater contamination. Heavy fines were levied by the EPA. When it all shook out the company was bankrupt and in 1998, after 90 years in business, Redfield came to an end. Rights to the Redfield brand name were held for a time by the Blount Corporation. Subsequently Meade Optical purchased the brand name with plans to reintroduce a line of scopes. For whatever reasons this never happened. Leupold had been interested from the start but felt the price was too high. When the opportunity came again, Leupold was ready. The Redfield reputation for quality still carries a lot of weight with American hunters and shooters and it gives Leupold the option to expand its customer base with a moderately priced but high quality scope line with a different market2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=62http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=62anyway to encourage customer loyalty and repeat business. The Leupold product line includes hundreds of possible combinations of type, finish, and reticle style. With this full line Leupold has the ability to supply virtually any potential customer. The new Redfield line is planned to be more basic and simple; only the most popular variable ranges, limited reticle choices, and only a matte-black finish. Matte black, which many customers prefer for its low-key, non-reflective qualities, takes less time and therefore costs less than a highly polished finish. Savings were found in other areas. The box in which many scopes are packed, with pretty pictures and a hard glossy finish, can cost around $4. Redfields will be shipped a cardboard box with nicely designed but low-key logos and markings, which cost only about 80¢. Or take the soft lens-cleaning cloth traditionally supplied; you still get one with each new Redfield, but the cloth carries a Mossy Oak pattern, supplied by Mossy Oak. Leupold incurs no cost, buyers get a free cleaning cloth, and Mossy Oak gets to promote its products to hundreds of potential customers. What Leupold did not do is cut quality. Redfield scopes are being made at Beaverton, Oregon, on the same machinery, and by the same people who make Leupold scopes. They carry the same unsurpassed lifetime warranty for which Leupold is famous. Quality of aluminum tubing, optical glass and coatings, reticles, adjustments, and finish is identical to those carrying the Leupold name. The scope illustrated here is a 3-9X variable. Hunters and shooters who recall the 1960s will find it familiar. If redField 3-9x40 maKer: leUPold & stevens 1440 northwest greenbriar ParKway beaverton, or, 97006 (503) 646-9171 www.leUPold.Com magniFiCation: 3.3X to 8.5X (actual) objeCtive diameter: 40mm eye relieF: 4.2" (3X), 3.7" (9X) internal adj. range: windage at 100 yards CliCK valUe: 1/4" tUbe diameter: 1" weight: 12.6 ounces overall length: 12.3" length oF main tUbe: 5.6" retiCles: 4-Plex, Accu-Range PriCe: $149.99 other models: 2-7x33, 3-9x50, 4-12x40 one combination typified the 1960s era it would be a Remington 700 BDL in 7mm Rem Mag with a Redfield 3-9X variable. Redfield fans will be pleased to see the three knurled rings on the eyepiece, a tradition dating back to the original Bear Cub scopes. Finish of the current Redfield is a smooth, attractive, non-reflective black matte. Standard reticle is of course the Duplex. An optional reticle adds aiming points for longer range shooting. It’s called the Accu-Range, though it is different from the Accu-Range of the 1970s, which had two crosswires at the top for bracketing targets and estimating range. Along with several other writers I was able to tour the Leupold factory and watch scopes being made. Leupold workers machine tons of aluminum and steel into scope parts—tubes, reticles, turrets, oculars, and objectives—every year. The size and efficiency of the Leupold plant is simply unsurpassed. In eight weeks Leupold makes more scopes than all European scope makers combined made in a year. A very few components are purchased from outside vendors who can supply the quality required. For example, Leupold specifies strict standards for optical glass ingredients and dimensions, and purchases it from various suppliers in Asia, Europe, and the US. Glass elements arrive at the factory in sealed containers and undergo stringent inspection before being installed. The assembly area is a marvel. Anyone entering the assembly room must wear surgical-style cap, gown, and cloth boots. The pride these assemblers take in their work is obvious. Final inspection is rigorous. Every scope, to mention just one step, is clipped to a rack and submerged in water to test seals. We shot the scopes on a nearby range, on rifles ranging from Remington 700 and AR-style .223s up to .375 H&H. Later, with a sample at home I ran all the usual tests: a half-hour in a basin of warm water, then overnight in the deepfreeze.2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=63http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=632011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=64http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=64FOREIGN The Greater Depression and Civil War 2 ENEMIES and traitors VIEWS NEWS AND REVIEWS RIGHTS WATCH • DAVID CODREA • ChiCago gun Ban heads to supreme Court The third novel of the Enemies trilogy MATTHEW BRACKEN Author of Enemies Foreign And Domestic, and Domestic Enemies: The Reconquista Signed books for $22 each, S&H incl. Specify titles ordered. Steelcutter Publishing P.O. Box 65673 Orange Park FL 32065 “Sotomayor said she would recuse herself… only in the Maloney case….” A To read 100 pages of each book and for more ordering options, go to www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com lawsuit challenging the City of Chicago’s longstanding ban on handguns, McDonald v. City of Chicago, has been accepted for review by the US Supreme Court. The Second Amendment Foundation and the Illinois State Rifle Association have joined with city residents in a case filed by lead counsel Alan Gura, who argued and won the Heller case against Washington DC. From their petition: “At issue are Chicago’s laws (1) banning the registration of handguns, thus effecting a broad handgun ban; (2) requiring that guns be registered prior to their acquisition by Chicago residents, which is not always feasible; (3) mandating that guns be re-registered on an annual basis, including the payment of what amounts to an annual tax on the exercise of Second Amendment rights; and (4) rendering any gun permanently nonregisterable if its registration lapses.” But didn’t Heller establish the Second Amendment articulates an individual right? Yes, but only against a ban from federal entities. From www.ChicagoGunCase. com, a Web site established to chronicle McDonald’s progress: “At stake is not just the question of whether the Second Amendment secures the right to arms against state and local governments, but also the extent to which the Supreme Court preserves individual liberty against encroachment by state and local governments.” McDonald will decide if the Fourteenth Amendment applies to the Second Amendment as it has to other rights that have been selectively incorporated by past decisions to include state and local governments. To date, 34 state attorneys general have weighed in supporting this conviction. Again, per ChicagoGunCase. com: “Texas, leading a group of 33 states, filed one amicus brief urging the Court to hear our case and hold the Second Amendment binds state and local governments. California separately filed an amicus brief urging the same.” Additional supporting briefs have been filed by the Institute for Justice and Cato Institute and Constitutional Law Professors. NRA has joined petitioners in these and the state briefs. Now comes the wait. Per Alan Gura, “Our opening brief is due November 16. The city’s brief is then due December 16. Our reply brief is due January 15. The case is expected to be argued in February, with a decision expected by the end of June, 2010.” What can we expect from the High Court? Of interest is the newest justice, Sonia Sotomayor. Per www.CNSNews. com, “In Maloney v. Cuomo, Sotomayor signed an opinion of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit that said the Second Amendment does not protect individuals from having their right to keep and bear arms restricted by state governments…. As justification for this position, the opinion cited the 1886 Supreme Court case of Presser v. Illinois.” While some are holding out hope she will recuse herself, she’s kept the door open to hear McDonald. From CBS News: “Sotomayor said she would recuse herself… only in the Maloney case…. She did not agree, however, to recuse herself if the Supreme Court hears another case involving very similar material from the 7th or 9th circuits.” Which means it’s going to be an interesting wait. Visit David Codrea’s online journal The War on Guns at waronguns.blogspot.com. 64 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=65http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=65VIEWS NEW AND REVIEWS senators detail ammo-Ban ConCerns letter signed by 13 senators to US Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar detailed their concerns about the impact a ban on traditional ammunition would have on hunters, the economy and wildlife populations. The letter was sent after NSSF brought the issue to their attention. “At this time, the motives behind NPS actions addressing lead issues are very unclear. Especially in these difficult economic times, this action will discourage people from hunting and fishing and decrease revenue into the Pittman-Robertson fund that funds state conservation efforts,” the letter stated. —Courtesy NSSF A gander mountain private? ander Mountain Co.’s (NASDAQ:GMTN) two largest shareholders plan to buy out most of the outdoor-recreation retailer’s investors as part of a plan take the company private, Dow Jones Newswires reports. The decision to go private came after the company concluded the disadvantages of remaining a company subject to Securities and Exchange Commission requirements “outweighed the benefits of public company status to the company and its shareholders,” Gander Mountain said. The company’s board approved the recommendation of independent directors. —Courtesy NSSF G ANY TIME. ANY PLACE. in .45 Long Colt & .410 Buckshot. An Attacker’s Worst Nightmare! The All-New RANGER Badly injured soldier direCts air strike ritish Corporal Paul Mather from the Army Air Corps was on patrol with 2nd Battalion The Rifles alongside elements of the Afghan National Army when they found an old Russian-style anti-tank mine on the northwestern side of a group of compounds, no more than 500m from the Forward Operating Base they were returning to. Following the discovery the platoon took up defensive positions WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM MADE IN TEXAS BY TEXANS. B 14 Interchangeable Barrels Available from .22 LR to .45 Long Colt! *Not available in California or Massachusetts. www.bondarms.com • 817-573-4445 • Granbury, Texas www.gunsmagazine.com 652011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=66http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=66as experts dealt with the device. Cpl Mather’s role as a Forward Air Controller was crucial in cocoordinating air support to protect the troops on the ground. Speaking later, Cpl Mather explained, “I was speaking to a pair of A-10 jets (United States Air Force aircraft)… [when] an RPG (rocketpropelled grenade) came over the wall and hit a soldier on the back of his rucksack. It bounced off and landed on the floor in the middle of the patrol. I heard a massive shout of ‘RPG!’ from the Platoon Sergeant and everybody dived into available cover.” The shrapnel from the first blast missed Cpl Mather but his body went numb from the shock wave. With his hearing temporarily gone as well, the first he knew about further explosions was when he felt shrapnel rip through both his upper legs and left arm. 2009-B Catalog Thank You For 25 Great Years lairintl.com 800-717-8211 ~ www.sinc Guns_QuarterPageAd_flat.indd 1 George Tichbourne KNIFEMAKER 11/4/2009 Corporal Paul Mather, a Joint Tactical Air Controller with the British Army Air Corp called in critical air support for his team despite being severely wounded in an 1:49:56 PM initial attack. Photo: MoD SHEFFIELD STYLE BOWIE http://www.tichbourneknives.com (905) 670-0200 7035 Maxwell Rd. #5, Mississauga, Ontario L5S 1R5 CANADA 66 “It hurt like hell,” said the Corporal, “but after the explosions had stopped and my hearing came back I climbed through the irrigation ditch towards a stream. Once out of immediate danger I ran towards a group of soldiers who were treating other casualties.” Six other casualties were also being treated following the blasts, but Cpl Mather was the most seriously hurt. He adds, “I had a hole in my WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=67http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=67left bicep that the medics applied a field dressing and tourniquet to, to stem the blood flow. And I had lots of shrapnel injuries to the back of my legs and buttocks, one of which was a hole the size of my fist.” United States Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft flying over Afghanistan have proven one of the best low level attack craft available to coalition forces due the amount of payload and long loiter time they provide. Photo: Staff Sergeant Aaron Allmon, DoD Despite his injuries Cpl Mather quickly realized the A-10s and Apache attack helicopters had seen the explosions and were trying to contact him, so he picked up his radio handset to relay information on the enemy’s whereabouts. “I told one of the Fusiliers to take a smoke grenade from my bag and throw it into the compound where the RPGs had come from,” Cpl Maher said. “The pilot immediately picked up the smoke signal from his cockpit… I then gave direction for a strike onto the compound.” Most of the casualties had by now been put on stretchers, including Cpl Mather, and they began extracting out of the danger zone to a casualty collection point ready to be picked up by the MERT (Medical Emergency Response Team) helicopter. As they moved, the Taliban started preparing to engage them again with RPGs from the same positions as before. The patrol immediately laid down suppressing fire onto the compounds. “It was tricky because there were multiple local national buildings to the east of the wall, and I had to ensure I wasn’t going to hit any of those buildings as we were not sure what or who was inside them,” said Cpl Maher. Two further air strikes were carried out on the target and then the A-10s pushed clear of the MERT WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 672011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=68http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=68Who Else Wants To Be A Certified Gunsmith And Make An Extra 2,000 - $3,000 Per Month Gunsmithing Part-Time! FREE* DVD ! OFFER Professional Gunsmithing Course Introductory Lesson Robert Dunlap - Instructor, Master Gunsmith $ Become A Certified Gunsmith In As Little As 3 Months - GUARANTEED! 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Cpl Mather decided to become a Forward Air Controller after seeing the Joint Tactical Air Controllers and the Fire Support Teams on an exercise in Arizona and describes it as by far the greatest and most challenging job he has done in the Armed Forces. —Courtesy MoD Court Chantilly, VA 20151, (703) 263-9795, www.aimpoint.com.— Kristi Hinton, Aimpoint Marketing sniper’s eye M You will learn how you can get Certified as a Gunsmith in as little as 90 days through AGI’s Exclusive Professional Gunsmithing Home Study Course taught step-by-step by Master Gunsmiths on DVD video. It’s the ONLY Professional Gunsmithing Course using this up-to-date & proven method. *The information package & one hour DVD are FREE, we only ask that you pay just $9.97 for the priority mail shipping, which is FULLY REFUNDABLE! AGI industry Career ooking for work? Visit www. nssf.org/jobs for current employment opportunities in the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry. Employers: Log in to post a job opening. —Courtesy NSSF L Watch a FREE online video by going to: www.agioffer.com/introguns110 Ad Code: ADDED BONUS! You will automatically receive a 2 Months FREE Trial Membership in the Gun Club Of America which includes the GCA monthly newsletter and GUNTECH monthly VIDEO MAGAZINE on DVD! An additional $60 value! - yours FREE with option to continue membership at only $29.95 per month. Call us today! 1-800-797-0867 GUNS0110 aimpoint awarded army ContraCt arine snipers and designated marksmen have been operating across the vast Iraqi deserts since the outbreak of hostilities in 2003. As with all units operating in Iraq, past and present, they have found themselves evolving to meet the changing needs of the Iraqi military and political landscape. Small teams of snipers are finding reasons to venture into the constantly shifting environment simply referred to as “outside the wire.” “Working with previously gathered information, we gather additional intelligence and conduct operations watching over possible insurgent hot spots, caches or [improvised explosive device] cells,” said Sgt. Neftaly Estremera, a chief scout with the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Headquarters and Service Company. “We provide surveillance and [reconnaissance] capabilities for areas of interest.” DIXIE 2010 CATALOG ONLY $5.00! A legend in its own time Our 2010 catalog salutes the “American Tradition” handmade rifle and renown riflemakers the House Brothers.with replica blackpowder firearms and more than 10,000 items including blackpowder shooting supplies, antique gun parts, and accouterments. The Aimpoint M68 Close Combat Optic has several features the Army desires such as being compatible with every generation of NVD, up to 10,000 hours of daytime operation on one battery, 100,000 hours of use on NVD setting, unequalled light transmission and is submersible to 80'. PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND EXPERTISE GUARANTEED www.dixiegunwork2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=69http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=69this means not only do you operate in the shadows, but you also work to ensure when others are busy, you’re filling in the gaps.” It is these qualities that Marines within the DMTs have found themselves liking most. “I love operating; I mean really, what is there to not like,” said Estremera. “I mean yes, the sand fleas tear you up, but at least you know you’re actually making a difference. We’ve been able to stop [people trying] to come [across the border] illegally. It’s getting to the point now where it’s mainly just illegal cigarette smuggling. We’ve come a long way.” Marines with the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion designated marksman team go over last minute mission planning before conducting operations north of Sahl Sinjar, Iraq, last August. USMC photo: Lance Cpl. Jason Hernandez designated marksman, the men of the 3rd LAR Bn. DMTs find their true skills are in not having to fire a shot at all. Much like policemen around the world, the snipers are there to gather evidence and gain a visual, while keeping themselves unseen. After the “insert,” described as the trickiest part by Injerd, the team goes back to one of the fundamentals of infantry operations: communications. “Once we have communications established, we check out the area and move in to our selected [position],” explained Injerd. “From there we set up and watch out. If we catch the bad guys committing crimes like smuggling, we call in for ground units, and we’re their eyes until they get to the area.” And so, as the needs of Operation Iraqi Freedom change, so do the Marine snipers deployed in support. For even though the deadliest weapon in the world may very well be a Marine and his rifle, the most versatile weapon could quite possibly be a Marine sniper. —Lance Cpl. Jason Hernandez, USMC One of the more interesting facets of the marksman life is the ability to take creative approaches to mission accomplishment. This is something members of the team feel is not only essential, but also one of the more unique elements of the job. “The guidance is pretty general,” said Injerd. “It’s a good line of work because you get to be creative with your mission planning; that’s something not many units ever truly get to do.” A large part of mission planning is location. Snipers have the luxury of choosing where to establish themselves and how best to insert. While other, larger formations are limited by their loud engines and shouted squad commands, the DMTs can slip in and out once they’ve decided on where to conduct their work. “We usually insert anywhere from one to two kilometers from the operating zone,” added Injerd. “We’ll go over the plan, mount up and then move to wherever it is that we feel we can accomplish the mission most effectively.” While many movies and books tend to emphasize the marksmanship skills of the Marine sniper and WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM platoon Commander awarded Bronze star B etween March 15 and August 10, 2008, a young officer led his platoon through a highly kinetic battlefield in the Garmsir District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Azada Wosa (see GUNS December 2008 issue). During the first 30 days of the operation, the platoon commander’s leadership was battle tested by the ensuing 40 direct-fire engagements. The Marines of 3rd platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, operating under International Security Assistance Force, followed 2nd Lt. Christopher M. Young through the fight. “This is the stuff you read about in the history books,” said Col. Paul J. Kennedy, 2nd Marine Regiment commanding officer. Kennedy presented the Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device to Young for his actions during the operation, Aug. 14, 2009. 692011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=70http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=70“We inserted in Garmsir at the very end of April, and for about three weeks we were always in some type of fight in the morning and every evening,” said Young. On May 4, 2008, while providing suppressive fire in support of a route clearance mission to establish the battalion line of communication, Young and his platoon endured a barrage of enemy indirect fire. As rounds impacted in close proximity of Young, he ensured the safety and protection of his Marines while simultaneously directing an artillery attack onto the enemies’ fortified position, successfully deterring enemy fire to allow the route clearance mission to advance. First Lieutenant Christopher M. Young (left), the Combined Anti Armor Team platoon commander with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, stands with Col. Paul J. Kennedy, the 2nd Marine Regiment commanding officer, after receiving the Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device, last August for combat actions while serving in Garmsir District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan during March 15 to August 10, 2008, in support of Operation Azada Wosa. Within the first 30 days of the operation, as a second lieutenant, Young led his Marines on 40 direct-fire engagements, protected his Marines and accomplished other achievements in connection with combat operations against the enemy as platoon commander of 3rd platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Photo: Lance Cpl. Brian D. Jones The following day, he successfully foiled an enemy ambush that attempted to engage his Marines while on patrol. “An [insurgent] appeared through the tree line about 10 meters from me, and he shot at me and [my sergeant],” recalled Young. “He hit [the sergeant], fortunately in the side [small arms protective insert]. We returned fire killing him. Other enemy fighters fled the tree line. We were able to prosecute more enemy who were fleeing from the area.” Young’s instinct and skills as a battlefield leader stopped the enemy in their tracks, giving his Marines the opportunity for numerous victories. Young said his platoon’s actions secured the company’s southern flank, preventing further assaults by the enemy. Young has a new group to lead now as a first lieutenant. He serves as the platoon commander for the Combined Anti-Armor Team, Weapons Co., 1/6, and his new Marines can rest assured following his closing statements at the ceremony, that their personal well being is a major priority. Young ended by saying his biggest fear was letting down his Marines. —Lance Cpl. Brian D. Jones, USMC And that Churchill does, through case studies, exploring how Founding-era insurgent violence precedents were adopted in the Fries Rebellion, an armed uprising against a house and land tax in late 18th century Pennsylvania. Churchill provides a guided tour for how the nation strayed from the vision of the Founders, supplanting libertarian revolutionary memories with an ethos of national patriotism, noting the profound shift this marked in the relationship between individual and state. VIEWS, NEWS AND REVIEWS TO SHAKE THEIR GUNS IN THE TYRANT’S FACE T On May 15, exhausted from a night’s operations behind the enemy’s defensive line, Young successfully employed an ambush on four insurgents, killing two and mortally wounding the others. “In the midst of all that was happening we caught a fire team of [insurgents] out in an open poppy field coming to man their positions and we successfully [engaged them],” Young recalled. 70 here are essential books those interested in truly understanding the militia and its relevance to our times need to have in their libraries. This is one of them. Robert H. Churchill is a professor and historian who, per his University of Hartford biography page, “specializes in the history of the American Revolution, early national political culture, and American political violence.” Attorney David T. Hardy had this to say on his “Of Ar2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=71http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=71this powder Funnel works Jacob Gottfredson I have been handloading ammo for nearly as long as I have been alive. I remember some of the handloading tools that have gone by the wayside, and I have wondered why they fixed some things that weren’t broken. One reason, of course, was the introduction of plastics. And therein, sometimes, lies the problem. During many of the more recent years I have used plastic funnels. They drive me a bit crazy. Powder seems attracted to them like stink on… well, you know the problem. I have used some of the things suggested to prevent static electricity, like washing them or rubbing them with the little fabric softener cloth my wife uses in the wash. But being a bit lazy, I have gotten used to simply pushing the powder stuck to the walls into the case with my finger. Not a good practice. the 30 caliber works fine for my 7mm cases. What I didn’t know is Satern Custom Machining is also a cut rifle barrel maker, manufactures bore guides, rail scope mounts, and other goodies. Satern says the following about the funnels on their Web site: “Funnel will stay on the case without other support, powder flows into case without bridging, suitable for use with smokeless or black powder, as the funnel will not cause static sparks.” The funnel is sold through Midway, Russ Hayden Shooter’s Supply, and Sinclair International. The price runs from $10.25 to $17. satern Custom maChining 320 west, 5th avenue north estherville, ia 51334 (712) 362-4991, www.saternmaChining.Com The TOPS SNW packs a whole lot of essential gear in one handy pouch. tops survival neCk wallet Pat Covert I These quality Satern Custom Machining funnels solve many reloader’s problems. Look them up for other products, like cut rifle barrels, bore guides, etc. Then one day a company called Satern Custom Machining sent me a couple of metal funnels they manufacture. These are nicely crafted funnels, made for exact calibers to prevent spill between the funnel mouth and the case. The bottom of the funnel is made of brass and the top from aluminum. That finally ended my problem with powder sticking to the funnel. I am now a happy camper, or I should say handloader again. Satern might get after me for saying this, but I have found the 6.5mm funnel they sent also works fine for my 6mm and .22 cases, and WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM confess, I’m one of those people who think you can’t have enough survival gear. Just don’t like to get into a situation where the one thing I didn’t pack for an outing ends up being the one thing I need in a pinch. The TOPS Survival Neck Wallet (SNW for short), a compact survival kit, can cover your backside in a lot of instances. TOPS is known for making a mega-selection of affordable tactical and sporting knives, a fact not lost on a lot of our military troops who are on a budget, and more recently they have been expanding their line with a wide array of survival aids, many of which are included in the SNW kit. The kit is centered around a 5.75" tall by 6.75" wide black ballistic nylon neck pouch (not unlike an admin pouch) with a clear, see-thru ID window, two staggered interior pouches, a zippered money/credit card pouch and an additional pouch on the rear with a bright fluorescent red and silver reflective surface. With the pouch you get a world of survival goodies including: a 126 decibel whistle, a small survival saw, a 3-rod Ferrocerium and Magnesium fire starter, compass, P38 military can opener, small LED flashlight, dogtag signal mirror, Lansky sharpener, small carabiner, 24' of fishing line, offset Phillips/Flathead screwdriver, a preformed snare, wide ranger rubber band, large sail needle, and a 3X magnifier/fire starter. If you pack everything TOPS provides into the SNW neck wallet the whole package weighs in at just under an easily toteable 10 ounces. One great advantage of this kit, however, is it can be very easily tailored to fit your needs. For instance, if you’ve got provisions for a knife sharpener elsewhere in yo2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=72http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=72FEBRUARY 2010 Classified ads $2.00 per-word insertion. ($1.50 per-word insertion for 3 or more) including name, address and phone number (20 word minimum). Minimum charge $40.00. BOLD WORDS add $1.00 per word. Copy and rerun orders must be accompanied by PAYMENT IN ADVANCE. NO AGENCY OR CASH DISCOUNTS ON LISTING OR DISPLAY CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING. All ads must be received with advance payment BY NO LATER THAN THE 1st OF each month. EXAMPLE: Closing for DEC. 2008 issue (on sale NOV. 5th) is SEPT 1st, 2008. Ads received after closing will appear in the following issue. Please type or print clearly. NO PROOFS WILL BE FURNISHED. Include name, address, post office, city, state and zip code as counted words. Abbreviations count as one word each. 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Box 502610 • San Diego, CA 92150-2610 JB_Custom2.indd 1 888.732.2299 Call Toll-Free WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 732011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=74http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=74Nd-3 From Laser genetiCs Combining a powerful, eye safe green laser diode and a precision optical collimator, the ND3 pairs with your scope and allows you to cast a bright beam of green laser light to fully illuminate targets up to 250 yards. The ND3 mounting system for 1" scope tubes provides full adjustment for windage and elevation alignment. An additional mount for binocular and spotting scope is included. For more info: 3911 SW 47th Ave, Suite 914, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314, (954) 581-2144, or www.lasergenetics.com. MOdEl 8 From stag arms The Model 8 and Model 8L ships with a 5.56 NATO chambered 1:9" twist, 16" chrome-lined barrel, front flip sight, gas piston system, and Midwest Industries low-profile flip-up rear sight and adjustable stock. The Model 8L has been specifically designed from the ground up for left-handed shooters. Contact Stag Arms, 515 John Downey Dr., New Britain, CT 06051, (860) 229-9994, www.stagarms.com. TaCTICal 2-STagE TRIggER FOR REMINgTON 700 RIFlES From Huber ConCepts Huber Concepts employs the latest computer technologies, ergonomics, mathematics, advanced manufacturing methods and motion physics to provide the best triggers. This new trigger has only one user adjustment screw: 1st stage creep length, with stage weights set at the factory.Huber Concepts, 322 N. Military Rd., Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, 54935, (920) 921-9641, www. huberconcepts.com. FlaShlyTE aNd SUbCOMpaCT V2 laSER paCkagE From LaserLyte A first from LaserLyte, this weapons-mountable flashlight is simple and allows the user to keep both hands on the weapon. The system produces 25 lumens, has an ambi switch and three super-bright LED lights with a 1-hour run time. The V2 features an integrated cross lock bar, hinge clamp system and a quickdetachable release, adjustment for windage and elevation, rear activation switch and removable accessory rail. The laser and light can be used individually or together. Retail is $199.95 from LaserLyte, 101 Airpark Rd., Cottonwood, AZ 86326, (928) 649-3201, www.laserlyte.com. VOlUNTEER 4x4 EFI From Cub Cadet Showcasing a 748cc V-Twin engine, it has a ground speed of 0-32 mph and 4-wheel drive with differential lock, and additional traction through slippery and unstable conditions. Its 14.4 cu. ft. steel cargo box and 3" fully welded frame offer increased durability while a wider 63" stance allows for increased stability and the ability to tow up to 1,400-pound payload capacity. Learn more at www. cubcadet.com, (877) CUB-TOUGH. hOlSTER MOldINg pRESS From CKK The SMP-12, and larger SMP-24, are the industry standard tools for molding Kydex, Concealex, Bolteron, ABS and other thermoforming plastics. Over 1,200 items available for holster making supplies, from Kydex sheet to belt loops, fasteners and mounts. Contact CKK, P.O. Box 215, Haralson, GA 30229, 877-25-KNIFE, www.KnifeKits.com. 74 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=75http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=75For more New Products visit us online at www.gunsmagazine.com MOdEl 1894 CUSTOM aNd hIgh gRadE From WinCHester Winchester Repeating Arms is excited to announce the return of the Model 1894 lever action rifle to its line of firearms for 2010. Delivery will begin in the 2nd quarter of 2010. Both models have 8-round magazine capacity, 42" overall length, 1:10" twist barrels with an average weight of 8 pounds. Retail for the Custom is $1,959, High Grade is $1,469. Contact Winchester, 275 Winchester Ave, Morgan, UT 84050, (800) 333-3288, www.winchesterguns.com. 1740 aNd 1770 lONg CaSES From peLiCan For easy 1-person transport, the 1740 and 1770 cases come standard with two rugged double-wide handles, and wide track wheels. Built for longer equipment and weapons, the 1770 Long Case is 54.58" long. Due to large internal volumes, both cases feature dual integrated automatic pressure equalization valves that keep moisture out and prevent vacuum lock so they’re easy to open at any altitude. From Pelican, 23215 Early Ave., Torrance, CA 90505, (800) 473-5422, www.pelican.com. a-10 aMERICaN From ConneCtiCut sHotgun Connecticut Shotgun Co.’s A-10 American is a low profile hand detachable full sidelock over and under, which is considered the height of fine gunmaking and they are carried out to the highest level. Standard model is $3,995 and the Deluxe model is $4,995. if all discounts apply. Contact Connecticut Shotgun, 100 Burritt Street, P.O. Box 1692, New Britain, CT 06053, (860) 225-6581, www.a10american.com. REgENT R100 1911a1 .45 From iaC imports The Regent R100 is a basic 1911A1 of exceptional quality at an affordable price. Features include a cold hammerforged stainless steel barrel and a tough mil-spec black finish. The Regent is manufactured in Turkey in a state-of-the-art factory under AQAP 120 NATO quality standards and is only $559.95. Contact IAC Imports, 6G Dunham Rd., Billerica, MA 01821, (978) 667-7060, www. iacimports.com. pOwER SwITCh From a1 optiC The A1 Optic Power Switch solves all the problems illuminated scopes and dot sights have, and fits most illuminated scopes and dot sights. There are no timeouts in hunting or survival that give you time to turn the power dial; success depends on a fast shot. It comes with a sticky back Velcro to attach to any grip point on your firearm. Contact A1 Optic, P.O. Box 144, Plymouth, WI 53073, (920) 528-8044, www.a1optic. com. ElIMINaTOR aR-15 ClEaNINg kIT From iosso Reducing cleaning time while increasing accuracy, this cleaning kit contains 6 precision fit brushes. The brushes clean the Upper Receiver, Chamber, Bolt Carrier, the .223 Bore, the Bolt Carrier Key Tube and the Gas Tube of the AR-15. The kit also includes the Eliminator Cleaning Tool & Rod. From Iosso, 1485 Lively Blvd., Elk Grove, IL 60007, (888) 747-4332, www.iosso.com. ElIMINaTOR laSERSCOpE From burris The 4-12x42mm Eliminator LaserScope features an integrated 800 yard rangefinder coupled with a very simple yet very accurate method of customizing the trajectory compensation capability to virtually any cartridge. A few clicks in the set up mode is all it takes to enter or change the ballistic curve to perfectly match your specific cartridge’s performance. From Burris, 331 E 8th St., Greeley, CO 80631, (970) 356-1670, www.burrisoptics.com. WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 752011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=76http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=76PHOTOS: JOSEPH R. NOVELOZO he nifty HK P30 is the latest version of compact high-capacity defense pistols by the storied T German firm of Heckler & Koch. A lightweight polymer-framed pistol featuring ambidextrous controls and a 15+1 capacity of potent 9x19mm, this P30 is going to make one lucky reader’s day. Also included is a knife by HK with the scales matching the grip style of the P30 9mm pistol. Made by Benchmade, the little liner lock knife features a modified drop-point 1/2 serrated blade, one-hand opening and a removable pocket clip. You can’t win if you don’t enter, so send those post cards in pronto! Don’t have a postcard? Go to www.gunsmagazine.com, take the survey and enter online. hk p30 9mm pistol and hk Folding poCketkniFe! to enter Contest: use your own postcard (no envelopes, please) Follow sample card to right. Mail postcard to: GUNS Magazine, gom FeBruary P.O. BOX 502795, San Diego, CA 92150-2795. Entries must be received before marCh 1, 2010. Limit one entry per household. Question oF the month: Would you be interested in more information on Guides and Outfitters: (a) yes, tell me about destinations and cost. (B) no, i hunt locally only. (C) no, i don’t hunt. Name Address City, State, Zip Email Address CirCle answer(s) to Question oF the month: (a) (B) (C) iF i win, ship my prize through: FFL Dealer Address City, State, Zip Phone # ( ) Store Hours: ___________ ___a.m. thru ______________p.m. Attention Deployed Military: USE STATESIDE ADDRESS! 76 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 2010 SAMPLE ONLY2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=77http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=77p30 maker: heCkler & koCh 5675 transport Boulevard ColumBus, ga 31907 (706) 568-1906, www.hk-usa.Com aCtion type: Locked breech, semiauto CaliBer: 9mm CapaCity: 15+1 Barrel length: 3.86" overall length: 6.99" weight: 22.3 ounces Finish: Matte black sights: Fixed, 3-dot grips: Integral polymer frame value: $1,005 value oF paCkage: $1,050 hk14650 maker: BenChmade knives 300 BeaverCreek road oregon City, or 97045 (800) 800-7427, www.BenChmade.Com distriButor: heCkler & koCh 5675 transport Boulevard ColumBus, ga 31907 (706) 568-1906, www.hk-usa.Com Blade material: 8CR13 Stainless Steel (58-60HRC) Blade length: 2.95" overall length (Closed): 3.88" weight: 2.2 ounces sCales: Black Molded Thermoplastic loCk: Liner lock priCe: $45 This contest is open to individuals who are residents of the United States and its territories only. Agents and employees of Publishers Development Corporation and their families are excluded from entering. Contest void where prohibited or restricted by law. Winners must meet all local laws and regulations. Taxes and compliance with firearms regulations will be the responsibility of the winners. Winners will be notified by CERTIFIED MAIL on official letterhead. ATTENTION DEPLOYED MILITARY: USE STATESIDE ADDRESS! No purchase necessary to enter. WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 772011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=78http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=78ODD ANGRY SHOT • JOHN CONNOR • to honour the Charge they made… You can help. here were 30 million English who talked of England’s might, “T There were 20 broken troopers who lacked a bed for the night. They had neither food nor money, they had neither service nor trade; They were only shiftless soldiers, the last of the Light Brigade. O 30 million English that babble of England’s might, Behold there are 20 heroes who lack their food tonight; Our children’s children are lisping to “honour the charge they made —” And we leave to the streets and the workhouse the charge of the Light Brigade!” their dreams. Their original and ongoing “signature” program provides “bedside backpacks” to every severely wounded warrior returning to a stateside military treatment center, stuffed with an array of clothing items, toiletries, a CD player and music, prepaid long distance calling cards and more. Over a very few years the WWP has expanded to include educational assistance, “Warriors to Work” employment help, a disabled sports program, workshops on coping with combat stress, and other services too many to list here. WWP is non-profit and emphasizes empowering wounded vets to help themselves and each other. Go to www.woundedwarriorproject.org. The Fisher House Program is a unique public-private partnership which donates and maintains small, comfortable homes built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. This enables the families of our vets—many of whom could not otherwise afford it at all—to come and stay close to their loved ones during their time of greatest need. Since its founding in 1990, Fisher House has provided over three million days of lodging and now serves over 10,000 families annually. No family ever pays to stay at a Fisher House! Get details at www.fisherhouse.org. Gunshot wounds and IEDs aren’t the only problems our troops face. Many service families find themselves in dire financial straits when loved ones deploy— including activated reserves. Unmet Needs is a program operated by the VFW—Veterans of Foreign Wars—to offset loss of income and increased hardships at home. Funds typically go for everything from baby formula to school clothes. Most grants are under $1,500. Vermont American Power Tool Accessories, makers of drill bits and saw blades, kicks in 100-percent of the program’s administrative costs so every penny of your donation goes to a deserving military family. Please remember that when you’re buying drill From “The Last of the Light Brigade,” e-mails from readers wanting to do Rudyard Kipling, 1891. something extra for our troops during Just three weeks after the bloody the Christmas season, both those still in battle of Balaclava during the Crimean the field and those who have returned War, Alfred Lord Tennyson penned his to our homes and hospitals, many famous poem The Charge of the Light grievously wounded. You asked for Brigade, immortalizing the valor of recommendations on valid, worthwhile men who carried out a brutal, blundered order, and did so with matchless bravery, riding resolutely “into the mouth of Hell.” Almost 40 years later, Rudyard Kipling wrote The Last of the Light Brigade, calling his countrymen’s attention to the sorry, shabby treatment given the ragged survivors of that charge; crippled, homeless and poverty-stricken. If you haven’t read either poem in too many years, here’s your chance. I’ll wait… Long a friend to and champion of his beloved “Tommies”—British soldiers— Kipling pulled no punches in his “Honored” is good—honored and helped is even better. poem, “Till the fatted souls of the English were scourged with the thing called Shame.” Thankfully, charities to give to, and I’m more than they responded—both personally and in glad to help. Christmas may be over, but Parliament. the need goes on. Thankfully too, our veterans, with Helping Wounded few exceptions, now receive better care Warriors—And Their and support than ever before—and I Families don’t have to appeal to sha2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=79http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=79bits, OK? Go to www.vfw.org or www. unmetneeds.com. Honored American Veterans Afield is a creation of the shooting industry, and sponsored by our parent company FMG Magazines. The mission, in brief, is to support our badly wounded veterans— many of them amputees—in their return to civilian life, and specifically, to enjoy once more the outdoor sports they loved and can love again. Whether it’s taking them on a group deer hunt in Texas, bustin’ clays in Georgia or poppin’ varmints in Montana, HAVA sets it up, then paves—and pays—the way. Go to www.honoredveterans.org and check out both the Sustaining Sponsors and the ever-lengthening Honor Roll of American veterans whom HAVA has had the privilege of serving. Your donation is tax-deductible and thoroughly appreciated. The DAV—Disabled American Veterans—has been representing our service-disabled vets and providing literally dozens of rehabilitation and assistance programs since 1920, when it was founded by WWI veterans. I’ve been donating to DAV since before becoming a veteran myself, and I always will. Many if not most of its staff are disabled vets themselves, and its rate of benefits delivered per dollar donated is exemplary. Right now, for example, DAV is assisting over 200,000 veterans’ applications for benefits from the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. You couldn’t put your tax-deductible dollars in a better place to do more good. www.dav.org. On The Personal Side Please visit the listed Web sites. You’ll see several of ’em need and graciously accept volunteered time and services, which could range from meeting a paraplegic vet at your local airport and providing a ride to a hotel in conjunction with a HAVA event, to stuffing “comfort” packages bound for troops in Iraq or Afghanistan. If you qualify for membership in the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars, join up! I’m not big on going to meetings, but I pay my annual dues gladly, knowing they fund very worthwhile programs—and it’s always an opportunity to pitch in an additional donation. If you’ve served in any of the armed forces, peacetime or wartime, join your service association too. I belong to the Marine Corps Association, and again, the MCA operates its own veterans-assistance programs. I can’t give to all, and I can’t give much to many. But you and I can give something to some, and together, we can make a difference. And I’ll guarantee you this: If your heart’s in it, no cord of firewood, nor winter coat can give you the warmth you’ll feel in return. —Connor OUT Live: 7" Live: 7"2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=80http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=80ADVERTISER PAGE ADVERTISER PAGE FEBRUARY 2010 ADVERTISER’S INDEX The companies listed have featured advertisements in this issue. Look to them first when you are ready to make a purchase. ADVERTISER PAGE Advanced Technology International. . . . . . . . . .9 Al Mar Knives . . . . . . . . .52 American COP Subscription. . . . . . . . .63 American Gunsmithing Institute . . . . . . . . . . . .68 American Handgunner Subscription. . . . . . . . .59 ArmaLite . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 The Beltman . . . . . . . . . .28 Bond Arms . . . . . . . . . . .65 Burger Knives . . . . . . . . .28 Conetrol Scope Mounts .64 Crimson Trace Corp. . . . .79 D & L Sports . . . . . . . . . .73 DeSantis Holster . . . . . . .65 Dixie Gun Works . . . . . . .68 El Paso Saddlery Co. . . .66 Elite Sports Express . . . .67 Firearm Engraver & Gunmakers Guild . . . . .52 FMG Special Editions . . .73, 80 Fort Knox Security . . . . .50 Galco Gunleather. . . . . . .13 Guns Magazine Subscription. . . . . . . . .53 GunVault . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Jantz Supply . . . . . . . . . .29 J.B. Custom Inc. . . . . . . .73 Kahr Arms. . . . . . . . . . . .15 Kimber Manufacturing Inc. . . C4 Kirkpatrick Leather Company . . . . .64 Kwik-Site Co. . . .23, 51, 69 Lyman Products . . . . . . .13 Mitchell’s Mausers . . . . .67 Old West Reproductions Inc. . . .52 OneStopKnifeShop.com .25 Otis Technology Inc. . . . . .3 ProMag Industries . . . . .31 Rock River Arms. . . . . . .33 S & K ScopeMounts . . . .50 Savage Arms. . . . . . . . . .10 SIG SAUER . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Sinclair International . . . .66 Springfield Inc. . . . . 11, C3 Steelcutter Publishing . . .64 Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc. C2 Superior Firearms . . . . . .33 Ten Ring Precision . . . . .73 Thunder Ranch Training DVDs . . . . . . . 34, 35, 56 Tichbourne Knives . . . . .66 Walther USA . . . . . . . . . .17 Order Your Copy While Supplies Last! ONLY $9.95 (outside U.S. $17.95) Order at www.americanhandgunner.com 888.732.2299 Mon-Fri 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. PST Call Toll-Free A LOOK INSIDE: • Improvised Weapons for Self Defense • Using Cover Properly • Non-Lethal Protection • Common-Sense Concealed Carry • Gunsite Basics • Plus Much More P.O. Box 502610 • San Diego, CA 92150-2610 80 AH_1/2HZ_PersDef09.indd 1 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 2010 3/13/09 8:38:01 AM2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=81http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=81continued from page 82 and frames. This allowed 250-grain bullets to be driven to 1,550 fps. (Remember this is even before the .44 Magnum arrived, however his goal was 1,800 fps.) In 1957 Casull acquired special 1:24" twist barrels from P. O. Ackley which greatly improved accuracy. He abandoned the 5-shot Colt and Bisley Model Single Actions and began building his own revolvers using 4150 steel for the cylinders and 4140 for the frames. Remember this is still with the standard .45 Colt brass and with the new sixgun he was able to get to 1,800 fps with a 230-grain bullet. In the February 1966 issue of this magazine in an article entitled “A Power-Packing Pistol: The .454 Magnum,” Casull was converting .44 Magnum Ruger Super Blackhawks to 5-shot .454s. Again, the brass was standard .45 Colt. CAMPFIRE TALES Freedom Arms By 1972 Casull’s .454 Casull Magnum custom-built revolver was being offered through Rocky Mountain Arms and the triplex loaded ammunition used a 235-grain bullet loaded to 2,000 fps from a 7-1/2" barrel. I don’t have any idea how many, if any, were actually sold to the public. A few more were offered in the late 1970s through North American Arms. Then Dick Casull hooked up with Wayne Baker and in 1983 the first Freedom Arms .454 Casull was delivered from the factory in Freedom, Wyoming. Along with the new sixgun there was also new brass, .454 Casull brass made longer than .45 Colt cases. This was done to prevent them from being used in .45 Colt sixguns. My first article on the .454 Casull appeared in the July/August 1987 American Handgunner. To this day, this article still contains the most comprehensive load data ever offered on the .454. My first .454 Freedom Arms was a 10" version. I had contacted Wayne Baker in early 1986 to obtain a test gun and that was one of the best things I ever did in more ways than one. Not only was this the finest single action to ever come from a factory, in June of that year Freedom Arms hosted the first annual Shootists Holiday. Ever since that time sixgunners have been gathering once a year to shoot together and share ideas. Prolific Data My first .454 Casull exhibited something I had never experienced in a revolver. There was absolutely no play whatsoever in the cylinder from either front to back or side to side. It’s simply locked up totally tight and the barrel cylinder gap was almost nonexistent. WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM I loaded and shot, reloaded and shot over and over again. I used both cast and jacketed bullets and my first article featured 13 different bullets and more than 150 loads. It not only remained tight, it exhibited exceptional accuracy. Before the 1980s were out I also had 4-3/4" and 7-1/2" .454s and spent one summer developing more than 600 loads running each of them through all three sixguns. In addition to developing the .454, Casull also designed two bullets and Lyman offered the molds. These were 260- and 300-grain gas-checked, flatpoint designs, numbers 454628GC and 454629GC. At that first Shootists Holiday in 1986, I shot alongside Dick Casull using his 12" octagon barreled .454 and his loads with the 260-grain bullet over WW296 powder ignited by Remington Bench Rest Rifle Primers. Would you believe 2,344 fps! Casull’s 300-grain not only works well in the .454 it is my favorite heavy bullet for the .45 Colt in Ruger Blackhawks, although my loads are held at 1,200 fps in the 6-shot Ruger. Using the Casull/Lyman 300 grain bullet over 32.0 grains of H110 in the 4-3/4", 7-1/2", and 10" Freedom Arms Model 83s results in muzzle velocities of 1,600 fps, 1,700 fps, and 1,750 fps respectively. These are not what one would call pleasant shooting loads, however they are suited for the biggest of big game hunting. J. D. Jones also designed a line of SSK .45 caliber bullets and his 340 grain which was offered by NEI as #345.451 loaded over the same powder charge gives muzzle velocities of 1,600 fps, 1,775 fps, and 1,800 fps from the same three sixguns. The latter load sho2011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=82http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=82a halF Century with sixguns The .454 Casull he year was 1954. The words “under God” were added to the T Pledge of Allegiance and the Dow reached an all time high of 382.74. Elvis was telling us That’s All Right, Bill Haley and the Comets sang Rock Around The Clock and Alan Freed, who read the comic strips to us on the radio every evening when I was very young, coined the term Rock & Roll. A new house cost $10,000, a new car was $1,700, polio was conquered by Jonas Salk, we were all going to see Blackboard Jungle, and a young Utah gunsmith by the name of Dick Casull was blowing up Colt Single Actions. Casull, like Elmer Keith a generation before him, was an experimenter trying to come up with a truly powerful sixgun load. In 1925, Keith had blown up a Colt Single Action .45, switched to the .44 Special, had several custom Colt Single Actions built including his famous No. 5 SAA, and developed what would forever be known as the Keith Load. In the early 1950s Casull chose the .45 Colt because he considered its slow moving bullet a much better killer on game than the .357 Magnum, and also because .45 Colt brass was available in the solid head version while the .44 Special was still the old style balloon head. He would need the strongest possible case for what he wished to accomplish. the outer walls and especially over the bolt slots. In pursuit of a more powerful .45, Casull bulged many cylinders; the cartridge case itself was sufficiently strong however the cylinder was not. In his work Casull used frame-mounted firing pins, special barrels and heattreated frames, but no matter what he tried, cylinders burst and top straps blew just like they had done for Elmer Keith three decades earlier. Not only did he have problems with the strength of the sixgun, he also found he had ignition problems with his loads. Primer pockets were reamed to accept rifle primers, however he did not have the right powders to accomplish what he expected with his .45 Magnum. Keith had ground black powder to an almost flour-like consistency to get as much power as he could from the .45; Casull went with triplex loads. The best powder available at the time was Hercules 2400, however it did not ignite satisfactorily and in fact gave erratic results and unburned powder granules. A triplex loading, consisting of three Hercules powders, Bullseye, Unique, and 2400 was developed. These powders were loaded in sequence and were held in place by compression. Since the advent of H110 and WW296 not only is triplex loading not necessary, the newer powders also provide better results. Add Beef Something had to be Taffin’s sixgun done to provide more choice for sixgun strength. Special Africa was this 5-shot cylinders were 7-1/2" Freedom made as large as possible Arms .454. and still be able to fit the Colt Single Action frame window. By using 4140 several chamberings in the Colt from steel, Casull was able to top Keith’s .22 Hornet, through the .44 Special, but Heavy .44 Special load by 100 fps. Next eventually centered down on the .45 came special heat treating of cylinders Colt. As great as the Colt Single Action is, .45 Colt cylinders are very thin on continued on page 81 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 2010 Ka-Blooie The Colt Single Action was, and is, a marvelous sixgun. For me, especially in .45 Colt, it balances and points better than any other sixgun I have ever experienced. Casull played with 822011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=83http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=83WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 832011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=84http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS0210/?Page=84Ultra CDP II™ pistols in .45 ACP & 9mm have 3-inch barrels & weigh just 25 ounces. The Best Defense. The Custom Defense Package–CDP–from Kimber. The Pro CDP II™ .45 ACP has a 4-inch barrel and full-length grip. At just 28 ounces, it is easy to carry & conceal. CDP pistols are powerful, accurate and absolutely dependable. Built in the , they feature night sights and 30 lines-per-inch Kimber® Custom Shop™ checkering on the frontstrap and under the trigger guard for a positive grip. , Slides are machined from stainless steel and aluminum frames wear KimPro II™ a premium finish that is self-lubricating and extremely resistant to the elements. All have a match grade barrel, chamber and trigger. Adding these features during production reduces their price by over $500, giving them incredible value. See them in action at www.kimberamerica.com. Carry the best. Carry a Kimber. The Custom CDP II™.45 ACP has a 5-inch barrel and weighs only 31 ounces. It is the nest full-size 1911 carry pistol available today. CDP pistols feature match grade barrels, night sights and a Carry Melt treatment that rounds & blends edges to prevent snagging on clothing or holsters. The Choice of America’s Best. www.kimberamerica.com For information on products and dealer locations please send $2 to: Kimber, Dept. 264 One Lawton Street, Yonkers, NY 10705 Information is also available at (800) 880-2418 ©2009 Kimber Mfg., Inc. All rights reserved. Kimber names, logos and other trademarks may not be used without permission. Names of other companies, products and services may be the property of their respective owners. Kimber firearms are shipped with an instructional manual and California-approved cable lock. Copy of instruction manual available by request. 84 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • FEBRUARY 20102011-02-11T20:18:24+01:00