http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/RSS.ashxGUNS Magazine October 2009 PagesThu, 06 Aug 2009 17:00:25 +0200http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=1http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=1Savage .30-06, BuShnell Scope and Minox 10x Bin ocS! $4.95 OUTSIDE U.S. $7.95 OCTOBER 2009 MIGHTY MINI MAG! RUGER HAWKEYE .300 RCM • • HUNTING HUNTING SEASON SEASON PREP PREP Pg Pg26 26 • HANDLOADS • HANDLOADS FOR FOR HUNTING HUNTING Pg Pg14 14 • CLEAN SCENE Pg 18 • CLEAN SCENE Pg 18 MULE MULE DEER DEER RIFLES RIFLES GOING HUNTING? BLADE TALK HAVE ENOUGH GUN? HI-TECH VS. TRADITIONAL GLOCK .50 GI CONVERSION FN USA’S FNAR ARE YOU READY? 20-SHOT .308 BACK-UP GUN DRILLS www.gunsmagazine.com2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=2http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=2More pint-size protection than a POISON DART FROG. pistol and poison dart frog shown actual size THE POTENT P238 SUBCOMPACT Reliable and accurate, with all-metal construction. Nature proves, when it comes to self-defense, size doesn’t matter. www.sigsauer.com/p2382009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=3http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=3New! Cleaning Kits for Hunters in RealTree® and Mossy Oak® ® Extra Brushes & Optics Care for Hunters! OTIS TECHNOLOGY, INC. The Otis Technology Breech-to-Muzzle Cleaning System is widely regarded by experts as the most advanced gun cleaning system in the world! The New HARDCORE HUNTERTM kit includes all the gear from the best selling Tactical kits with extra gear for Hunters! Now available in Mossy Oak® and Real Tree® camo belt cases. Otis makes a Gun Cleaning Kit for every small arm in existence today. as it has for more than 2 decades! No matter what you hunt with, OTIS makes a kit to clean it. For more info, see these kits at your local dealer or at www.otisgun.com Otis Technology, Inc. 6987 Laura St. Lyons Falls, NY 13368 (800) OTIS-GUN (315) 348-4332 FAX WWW.OTISGUN.COM ©Pyramont GMC 20082009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=4http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=4Vol. 56, Number 10, 647th Issue 6 8 MIGHTY MINI MAGNUM Ruger and Hornady’s compact magnums deliver power in a small package. STORY: Dave Anderson PHOTOS: Joseph R. Novelozo OCTOBER 2009 CROSSFIRE Letters to the Editor HANDGUNS MASSAD AYOOb JACOb GOTTfREDSON JOHN bARSNESS DAVE ANDERSON MIkE “DUkE” VENTURINO HAMILTON bOWEN CLINT SMITH 34 ON THE COVER 12 OPTICS 14 HANDLOADING 18 RIFLEMAN The L39A1. 22 MONTANA MUSINGS 26 GUNSMITHING 82 14 COLUMNS 28 RANGING SHOTS™ 32 SHOTGUNNER HOLT bODINSON 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. 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Copyright © 2009 by Publishers’ Development Corporation. 66 VIEWS, NEWS & REVIEWS RIGHTS WATCH: DAVID CODREA 94 ODD ANGRY SHOT JOHN CONNOR JOHN TAffIN SideArmor holsters. 98 CAMPFIRE TALES 34 SURPLUS LOCKER™ HOLT bODINSON Handloads for hunting. 28 38 OUT OF THE BOX™ •TURNING.50 43 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS DEPARTMENTS JEff JOHN 82 QUARTERMASTER FeaTURINGGUNSallSTaRS! THISMONTH: • JUSTIN CAROLL • CLINT SMITH AR stuff. 8 84 GUNS CLASSIFIEDS 86 NEW PRODUCTS JEff MOREY 88 GUNS 2009 FALL CATALOG SHOWCASE! 92 GUN OF THE MONTH SaVaGe.30-06,BUSHNell SCOPeaNDMINOXBINOCS 96 ADVERTISER INDEX back up gun drills. 4 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=5http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=592 PHOTO: PHOTO: JOSEPH JOSEPH R. R. NOVELOZO NOVELOZO GUNS MaGaziNe GUN OF THe MONTH SAVAGE .30-06, bUSHNELL SCOPE AND MINOX bINOCS 44 48 56 60 64 MULE DEER RIFLES 48 Thinking of a new rifle? Here are some guidelines to ensure success. JOHN BARSNESS MIGHTY MINI MAGNUM Ruger and Hornady’s compact magnums deliver power in a small package. DAVE ANDERSON 60 56 HI-TECH VS. TRADITIONAL PAT COVERT When it comes to technology, which knives make the cut? GERMANY’S MASTERPIECE The 7.92x57mm Mauser cartridge. MIKE “DUKE” VENTURINO FABRIQUE NATIONALE’S AUTOLOADER DAVE DOUGLAS It shoots like a bolt gun? 44 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 52009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=6http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=6THE FINEST IN THE FIREARMS FIELD SINCE 1955 CROSSFIRE GUNS MAGAZINE AUGUST 2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Thomas von Rosen, CEO; Thomas Hollander, Randy Moldé, Marjorie Young 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 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Editor Jeff John Managing Editorial Assistant Stephanie Jarrell Editorial Assistant Kerin Van Hoosear Art Director/Staff Photographer Joseph R. Novelozo Advertising Sales Director Anita Carson Advertising Sales Assistant Dana Hatfield Production Manager Linda Peterson Web Site Manager Lorinda Massey Promotions Coordinator Elizabeth O’Neill 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 Guns of the Korean War Just a small correction to Duke’s article. The Commander of the 23rd Inf Regiment at Heartbreak Ridge was Col. Frank Y. Adams. He was commander of the regiment from 7 Jul ’51 until Nov ’51. There was no 34th Infantry Regiment at Heartbreak Ridge. The only units taking part in the battle were units of the 2nd Inf Div, i.e.: the 9th Inf Reg, 23rd Inf Reg, and finally the 38th Inf Regiment supplemented by the French Battalion. I was there and this info comes from our 2nd Inf Div History of the period from June 1950 through October 1951. Charlie Brown, MSgt Ret. via e-mail It was indeed the 23rd Infantry Regiment that Col. Adams, the father of my friend here, was CO of. Somehow in my mind that became 34th between reading it and writing it. My error. Thank you for your service! — Duke by printing articles with pictures of “assault weapon” look-alikes. About all this accomplishes is to furnish more ammunition to the gun-grabbing politicians. Many of them, probably most of them, are like most non gun owners, and don’t know the difference between a real one and something that looks like one, nor do they care. Like Adolf Hitler, they know the value of propaganda, and use it constantly. Being a bit old fashioned, I don’t understand why anyone would want one, as to me, they’re ugly and serve no useful purpose that wouldn’t be served as well or better with a normal rifle or carbine. Vern Henderson Santa Rosa Calif. FIELD EDITORS FMG PUBLICATIONS shootingindustry.com Publisher & Editor: Russ Thurman Advertising: Anita Carson, 866.972.4545 email: anita@shootingindustry.com americancopmagazine.com Publisher & Editor: Roy Huntington Advertising: 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 ONLINE ADVERTISING MANAGER: Tracy Moore, TEL: 888.651.7566, FAX 858.605.0205 tracy@fmgpublications.com Special Editions Savage Great article by Dave on scoring the best deer rifle. I have several that score high on his tests but like him I fall back and hunt with my old Savage 99. Mine is 1903 vintage .303 Savage T/D with factory peep sight. The old gun is a wonderful deer killer and it really talks to me of times past as we sit on a quiet deer stand. It doesn’t get any better. Bob O’Neil Baxter, TN Don’t Say It First, let me say I have enjoyed your maga2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=7http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=72009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=8http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=8HANDGUNS • MASSAD AYOOB • BACk UP GUN DRILLS Stay up to speed with your hideout gun. n an article on a custom I S&W .357 J-frame in the July/August 2009 edition of Rising from supine and drawingfromleft-side pocketholster,Mas cleans backup gun target in Yakima with S&W M&P 340snub,firingsouthpaw. our sister magazine American Handgunner, Roy Huntington comments on the fact a great many people carry these guns, but seldom, if ever, shoot them. That can lead to a negative outcome when a constantly carried defense gun is needed for its intended purpose. In the Midwest some years ago, an officer was shot and wounded after a struggle with a suspect in which he lost his service pistol. He survived to lament he had a snub .38 in an ankle holster the whole time, but forgot it in the heat of the incident and never reached for it. More recently, I debriefed an armed citizen who shot it out with two armed robbers. His single-stack ParaOrdnance .45 ran dry with one perp down and dying, and the other wounded but up and running. He had to fumble for his spare mag to reload, because the pouch had slipped down inside his pants. He harshly critiqued himself for never having thought to reach for his loaded backup revolver. We all need to absorb the lessons both of these good men learned. When fight or flight reflex hits, that computer between our ears will revert to whatever program we’ve put in it. If we haven’t practiced going for the hideout gun sufficiently to make it reflexive, our computer will flash, “No file found.” Building The Repetitions My police department encourages and even issues backup guns. We qualify with them every time we qualify with our service pistols. It gets us used to reaching for the hideout and bringing it into action effectively. Many “civilian” ranges, and many Workingfromastrong-sidebeltholsterperrules, MaswinsabackupgunmatchinJacksonville, Florida,withaSpringfieldarmoryeMP9mm. arrowspointtospentbrass. action pistol sports, don’t allow the ankle rigs, pocket holsters, or crossdraw carries so popular with those who carry secondary handguns. If that’s the case, careful dry-fire drawing practice and trigger time at home can at least groove in the physical movement patterns. Include practice from awkward positions: seated, prone, supine, and so on. One action handgun sport puts some emphasis on these wee weapons — IDPA, the International Defensive Pistol Association. They have provisions for BUG, or Back-Up Gun, events and have even hosted them at the National Championships. The First Coast IDPA group at Gateway Rifle and Pistol Club in Jacksonville, Florida, puts a BUG stage into every second monthly match or so, and once or twice a year will have a match where the whole thing is shot with the small handgun. In the latter, IDPA-required hip holsters are the order of the day, and in the side events, courses of fire are staged so the gun is picked up from a fixed location to eliminate perceived safety problems with ankle holsters and the like. To keep the playing field level, course of fire designs are generally built 8 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=9http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=9MODEL R-15 (Scope and base not included) INTRODUCING THE NEW 30 REMINGTON AR. It’s the world’s only 30-caliber big-game cartridge for the lightweight R-15 platform and produces ballistics similar to the venerable 308 Win. with much lower pressures. Because comparable terminal power was once only available in the heavier AR-10 platform that can weight up to 10 ½ lbs. with a scope, its development creates a revolutionary new big-game hunting system – our handy R-15 platform matched with a cartridge that will put down deer-sized game with gusto. This year’s offerings include the most trusted big-game bullet of all time, Core-Lokt, the pinnacle of polymer-tipped accuracy, AccuTip and an economical UMC loading. As a cartridge, the 30 Remington AR breaks new ground. In conjunction with our R-15 modular repeating rifle, it marks the beginning of a new era in the deer woods of North America. BALLISTIC COMPARISON SHORT RANGE TRAJECTORY OF 30 REMINGTON AR VS 308 WIN. INCHES ABOVE OF BELOW TARGET HOLD 30 REMINGTON AR 15 10 5 0 -5 308 WIN. 050 100 150 200 250 300 DISTANCE (yards) ©2008 REMINGTON ARMS COMPANY, INC.2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=10http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=102009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=11http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=11around a requirement of five shots at a time, allowing for the in-gun capacity of the J-frame .38/.357 revolver, the quintessential backup. Realism I’ve had the good fortune to win the last two all-BUG IDPA matches I shot. Both times I used a gun normally found in the Enhanced Pistol Division — a cocked and locked Springfield Armory EMP subcompact 9mm 1911. Both times I used a straight hip holster. The EMP is a great little carry gun, but strong-side hip is a primary location to my way of thinking, not a backup location. However, rules are rules. I usually carry my second gun on the non-dominant-hand side, for obvious tactical reasons. I try to do my practice shooting from there whenever possible. At the Washington State Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors Association’s challenging annual match in Yakima last year, the BUG stage began with the officer “knocked flat,” feet toward the target, and required him or her to access the backup gun and nail the target five times. I did it left-handed, drawing from a Safariland pocket holster in the left front pocket, and my little S&W Model 340 Military & Police allowed me to plunk all five .38 Special rounds into the center within the HANDGUNS Mas’backupgunatthePoliteSocietyshoot wasthisGlock269mminweak-sideMitch Rosenbeltholster. allotted time, tying for first place. Lots of practice running my gun southpaw from that location made it possible. In 2009, I was able for the first time to shoot the Polite Society match run by Tom Givens of Memphis’ Rangemaster facility. The event included a backup gun stage. While my normal lastditch gun is a small frame, short barrel revolver, I was running a Glock 17 as primary that week, and when I carry a big Glock up front, it seems to make huge sense to carry a “baby Glock” in the same caliber for backup, since the smaller pistol can take the magazines of the larger. Because the squarer autos are slower for me to draw from a pocket than the rounder-back revolvers, I went with a left-handed straight draw holster from Mitch Rosen, and shot the stage southpaw. I’m told I got 3rd place. My fault, not the gun’s; I went too fast, missed the first steel target, and had to come back with a pickup shot. Shooting and even competing with your backup gun is fun. Not being programmed to grab it reflexively and bring it cleanly and swiftly into action when you need it is not fun. That’s a terrifying near-death experience at best, and a one-way trip to the graveyard at worst. Get the practice time in! Build the repetitions! Huntington was right. Yes, ammo is hard to come by right now, but ammunition like money is there to be spent. Get some range time in. Consider a small .22 revolver the same size and shape as your hideout 5-shot .38: something like S&W’s Model 317 is a fun .22 in its own right, and builds draw-to-the-shot practice repetitions that will translate to its more serious, larger caliber counterpart. And remember, dryfire doesn’t cost a penny. High Speed. Low Drag. Uniquely compact, the RSL replaces your rear sights with a high-power laser, allowing you to keep your existing or custom grips and holsters. Smaller, smarter, better. The RSL. — GLOCK in 2009, Other Models Coming Soon L A S E R LY T E . C O M2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=12http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=12OPTICS • JACOB GOTTFREDSON • OPTICAL ILLUSIONS Do you see what you’re seeing? t has been decades now since Warren Page coined the phrase, I “Shooting through the swimming pool.” He was talking about mirage, of course, but I have always wondered if he realized just frequency increases, the wind is moving faster. When amplitude increases and frequency decreases, the wind is moving slower. Amplitude is the height of the wave and frequency is the distance between amplitude peaks. With no wind, a tail wind, or a facing wind, mirage appears to move upward, often referred to as a boil. But mirage and turbulence also move the target optically, creating a phantom target or optical illusion. This occurs because the light is being bent through the air’s changing medium through which the shooter looks. Suppose there is no mirage, and the shooter puts his crosshair in the exact middle of the target and fires a shot, hitting at the exact point of aim. Suppose further when he pushes the rifle forward and looks at the target prior to taking his second shot, the mirage appears to be moving from right to left. He again puts the crosshair in the exact center of the bull he sees and fires again. He hits to the left of the first hit. He knows the wind carried the shot to the left and so for his third shot, he makes the correct adjustment for the wind and fires. He is still a bit left of the first hole. He assumes his wind hold was not quite enough, not knowing his wind hold was perfect. Why is he still to the left? how true his statement is. Did he know exactly what occurs when light passes from one medium to another? It is one thing to know mirage is an indicator of wind, quite another to realize it does something strange to the target as you see it as well. A reader recently took me to task, enquiring why I had made the statement “Light up, bullet up. Light down, bullet down” since, as a High Power shooter using iron sights, he had always heard just the opposite: ”Light up, sights up. Light down, sights down.” It seems the glint from an iron sight or the halo around a brightened target makes the shooter assume the iron sight is in a different place than when the sun is not so bright. Something quite different happens when using optics. MENA SUVARI of wind strength, helping them determine the holdoff required. Benchrest shooters place an 8-1/2x11" or larger piece of paper next to the target. The paper has alternate white and black stripes. Such a device makes it easy to see the direction and speed mirage moves. Mirage takes on a harmonic function with both amplitude and frequency. When amplitude decreases and Bent Light Remember back to your days as a kid when you put part of a stick you were holding in water. As the stick entered the water, it suddenly seemed to bend, pointing in a different direction. Or, if you tried shooting arrows at fish in water, you found the fish did not seem to be where you thought they were. What is going on relates to how light is bent when as it leaves one medium (air in this case) and enters another (water). Though slight, air can take different forms, sometimes acting like more than one medium. A turbulent atmosphere when mirage is present, often worse than at other times, for example, can bend light as well. Many competitive shooters rely on mirage as an indicator 12 Moving Target Because the target is being moved optically to the left, the direction the wind is blowing. Thus, when the shooter pushed his rifle forward for the second, third, and fourth shots, he was aiming at a phantom target. The real target was to the right of what he saw. The light was being bent such that the target he sees is not in the position of the real ThisisaphotoattheBenchrestNationalChampionshipsinPhoenix,arizona.The scopeismountedonanunlimitedrifle.amirageboardishungoneachsideof thetarget.Thealternatingblackandwhitepatternmakesiteasytoseemirage andgageitsamplitudepeaksandfrequency.Onceun2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=13http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=13target, just like the fish he saw in the water was not exactly where his eyes told him it was. This phenomenon is not a problem in most situations, but it matters to benchrest competitors, for example, who are being beaten because their groups are in the .2" area instead of in the .18" area. Or the long-range shooter, who misses because the target is being moved several inches in some cases. In fact, the mirage is sometimes so bad, the shooter can’t see the bull or the rings or the bullet holes in white paper at 200 yards. If you hold the rifle in a steady position on days of soupy mirage, you will observe the bull moving in the direction of the wind and then back, often in an oval pattern. Continue to move your crosshair to the bull’s right most, upper most position as the bull moves in this pattern if a tight group is your goal. “Light Up …” Back to the “Light up, bullet up. Light down, bullet down.” statement. In this case the wind is moving neither left nor right, but toward or away from you or there is no wind at all. The mirage appears to be moving up in waves a bit more chaotic than when the wind is blowing from one side or the other. The phantom target is now being displaced upward optically from its true position. Thus, when you fire at the phantom target, your bullet will strike high because the real target is slightly lower than it appears. Light down is often a case of clouds softening the sun’s bright rays, and mirage is sometimes not seen. When the clouds move away and sun comes back out, mirage Inarighttoleftwind,thetargetisbeing displacedopticallybymirageasshown. Shootingatthecenterbullyouseewillresultin a miss to the left in addition to the bullet being movedtotheleftbythewind. OPTICS Whenthemirageisveryturbulent, the target will sometimes appear to continue to move in a pattern asabove.Continuetomoveyour crosshair until it seems to be on the uppermost,rightmostbulltofire yourshotinarighttoleftwind. When the wind is not blowing or is a facing or tail wind the mirage willappeartomoveupward,often calledaboil.Whenthathappens, the phantom target appears above therealtargetasshown.Shooting atthetargetyouseewillresultin ahighshot. is seen more clearly. Shooters often look at the sky prior to firing their group to see where clouds might lay and how fast they are moving. If the cloud is about to move to obliterate the sun, they might wait until it does to start firing. Or they might fire their group quickly before the sun is covered. To understand the effects of mirage, it is helpful to have a partner place his rifle or scope solidly next to you so it does not move. The shooter shoots at the bull he sees as the partner records where the bull has moved relative to his stationary rifle. Or the shooter can simply put his rifle in a stationary position and watch the bull move relative to his crosshair, which is not moving. Unfortunately, all this has to be combined with holding off for lift, spin drift, etc., as well. Bummer. 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.com2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=14http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=14HANDLOADING • JOHN BARSNESS • HANDLOADS FOR HUNTING The steering end of the case matters most. or some years it’s been fashionable for handloaders to “uniform” F their rifle cases. This doesn’t mean they dress them in desert camo. Instead they try to make them as alike as possible, a technique stolen from benchrest shooting. Some handloaders spend hours uniforming 100 new cases, ending up with only 2/3 as many as they started with, due to rigorous culling of the unfit, leading to the fleeting notion uniforming could be called Darwinian handloading. The first step is weighing the cases, keeping only those falling within certain parameters. The theory is cases of varying weight have varying powder capacities, so muzzle velocities won’t be consistent. This sounds logical, but even brass from the cheapest factory loads rarely varies more than 3 percent in weight, and sometimes less than 1 percent. Even a 3 percent variation in case weight means about half that much variation in case capacity, about 1.5 percent, for about 45 fps in possible variation in 3,000 fps loads. The muzzle velocity of individual rounds often varies that much, even between cases weighing exactly the same. In reality minor differences in case capacity don’t mean much. Next our perfectionist handloader might uniform the primer pocket and flash-hole with a couple of nifty gadgets. One tool cuts the primer pockets to a uniform depth, while another tool removes the burr surrounding the flashhole inside the case, at the same time opening the flash-hole slightly to a uniform diameter. Theoretically, uniforming the primer pocket and flash-hole allows the powder to ignite the same way every time, promoting consistent velocities. This sounds pretty slick, but have you ever measured primers? They vary not just in height but weight, due to variations in the amount of priming compound. Even so-called “match” primers vary somewhat, because they’re still made by humans. The priming compound is spread into primers by hand, using a tool essentially like a wide trowel. The only difference between match primers and “regular” primers is some workers are better at spreading the priming compound uniformly, so are assigned to make match primers. This doesn’t mean these primers are perfect, just more consistent than standard primers. Next, the really anal handloader latheturns the neck of the case so its thickness doesn’t vary from one side to the other. This theoretically centers the bullet in the case, allowing it to start down the bore straightly. This sounds ducky, but cases with lop-sided necks tend to have lop-sided bodies, so tend to come out of a sizing die slightly bent, due to having more brass on one side than the other. The bullet may be seated in the center of the neck, but the neck is cocked at a slight angle, so the bullet starts down the bore eventheaccuracyofheavy-barreled varmintriflesisn’tgenerallyimproved bymost“uniforming”techniques. Neckthicknessisthemostimportantfactor in“uniforming”huntingriflecases.The RCBSCasemastercanmeasurenotonlyneck thicknessbutbulletrun-out. slightly crooked anyway. So it’s better to select cases with fairly uniform necks in the first place, even if the necks are to be turned. The other factor in all of this is the rifle. A real benchrest rifle is such a masterpiece of tight precision case-necks must be turned for loaded rounds to fit in the chamber, and the cases are always neck-sized. The average hunting rifle and ammo simply can’t fit together that precisely or they wouldn’t function in the field. Even in custom hunting rifles the chamber is “looser” than a benchrest chamber, so rounds will feed even if a little dirt or moisture gets in the rifle or on the ammo. This little bit of “slop” (as many gunsmiths call it) guarantees the superperfection of uniformed cases won’t help accuracy. (We won’t even discuss the benchrest technique of the average hunter, who never checks his 3-10X scope for parallax, d2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=15http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=15» LOWEST-PROFILE RECEIVER » INNOVATIVE REVERSE STRIKER FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM » RECOIL ABSORBING INFLEX TECHNOLOGY RECOIL PAD » TOTAL BARREL DYNAMICS WITH CHROME CHAMBERS FOR UNMATCHED PERFORMANCE AND LONGEVITY2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=16http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=16The new 300 and 338 Ruger Compact Magnums (RCMs) are purpose-built to outperform the 300 and 338 Win Mag cartridges, but in a compact, lighter weight 20” barrel. s /PTIMIZEDCASEGEOMETRY DELIVERSMOREVELOCITYWITH 10-15% less powder s ,ONGERBARRELLIFE s ,ESSRECOILMUZZLEBLASTm ASH s 3UPERIORTEMPERATURESTABILITY from -15°F to +140°F s !COMPACTPACKAGETHATDOESNT compromise performance 20" Barrel AMMO 300 RCM, 150 gr. SST 300 RCM, 165 gr. SST 300 RCM, 180 gr. SST 338 RCM, 200 gr. SST 338 RCM, 225 gr. SST Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft/lb) ITEM # 82231 82232 82235 82237 82236 Trajectory Tables 300 yd 2478/2045 2419/2143 MUZZLE 3170/3347 3030/3363 100 yd 2914/2829 2817/2907 200 yd 2691/2411 2613/2502 MUZZ 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd -1.5 -1.5 1.3 1.4 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 -6.1 -6.5 -7.1 2900/3361 2707/2928 2850/3607 2710/3669 2649/3115 2535/3211 2522/2541 2344/2196 -1.5 2456/2679 2367/2800 2271/2291 2206/2431 165 gr. SST® -1.5 -1.5 1.7 1.9 0.0 0.0 -7.5 -8.1 225 gr. SST® www.hornady.com 1-308-382-1390 PO Box 1848 Grand Island, NE 688022009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=17http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=17HANDLOADING ThisRemington700.223isthemostaccuratefactoryrifleBarsness haseverowned.Thesub-1/4"5-shotgrouptapedintohisloading noteswasshotwithfactorybrasssortedforuniformcase-neck thickness.Nootherworkwasdoneonthecases. 03<16;/231=;– '03<16;/239<7431==@35=<17BG=@CA/;=23:A6=E<(%$09 flags, and shoots maybe once every month or two.) This isn’t mere theory. I have tested every aspect of case uniforming quite a bit, and have come to the conclusion the only technique that makes much difference in hunting rifles is sorting cases for uniform neck thickness, so individual necks don’t vary more than about .001" in thickness. The Test The experiment that really convinced me involved a Remington 700 Varmint rifle chambered in .223 Remington, with a laminated stock and heavy barrel, purchased at a local sporting goods store in 2001. This rifle was “accurized” by epoxy-bedding the action area of the stock with Brownells Acra-Glas Gel, in the process free-floating the barrel, then firing a half-dozen bullets with a fine abrasive embedded in their surface. This smoothed out the reaming marks in the throat of the chamber. Oh, and the trigger was adjusted down to 2 pounds. This turned out to be the most accurate factory rifle I’ve ever owned, so I decided to use it to test case-uniforming. A bunch of once-fired Winchester brass was on hand, so I weighed a bunch and selected 20 weighing within .1 grain of each other and with necks varied no more than .001". These cases also had their primer pockets uniformed, and their flash-holes uniformed and deburred. Another 20 cases were then selected purely on the basis of having necks that didn’t vary by more than .001". They weren’t weighed, and the rear of the case was left alone. Finally all 40 cases were loaded with the same charge of Ramshot TAC and 50-grain Nosler Ballistic tips, using Redding Competition dies resulting in extremely straight ammo. Bullet runout was no more than .002" in any of the rounds. I went to the range on a calm WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM morning and put out a couple of wind flags. The scope was a 6-24X Bausch & Lomb (now Bushnell) Elite set on 24X, with the objective adjusted to remove all apparent parallax at 100 yards. I then fired all 40 rounds, alternating 5-shot groups with the uniformed brass with 5-shot groups from the non-uniformed brass. The barrel was allowed to cool between groups, and I watched the wind flags carefully while shooting, ending up with four 5-shot groups with each kind of ammo. The groups with both batches of ammo averaged around 1/4" at 100 yards. This isn’t bench-rifle accuracy, but it ain’t bad for a slightly modified factory varmint rifle. There really wasn’t any significant difference in the two batches of ammunition, though the “ununiformed” ammo did average slightly better, probably due to mere chance. That morning was the final test in a long line of such experiments. Since then I’ve ceased doing anything to my hunting-rifle cases except checking the necks to make sure they’re not lop-sided, since the neck is the “steering” end of the case. With most brass this means culling no more than 10 percent of the cases, and with some kinds of brass (Lapua, for instance) it means culling none at all. Since I always have several dozen centerfire rifles to load for, this has saved enormous amounts of time, and hasn’t hurt accuracy at all. On the other hand, if you really need an excuse to disappear into the loading room for a few hours, go ahead and uniform your brass. After all, handloading is supposed to be fun. Some guys even “de-burr” the flash-holes of Norma and Lapua brass — though the flash-holes are drilled, not punched like the flashholes of American brass, and drilling doesn’t leave a burr. Whatever makes you happy. Personally, I’m a noticeably happier when shooting my ammo than when loading it. B63:C;:35/1G1=<B7<C3A ;]RSZ%$09:4BW 172009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=18http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=18RIFLEMAN • DAVE ANDERSON • BARREL TURNING GREEN? Just clean it. ver the years I’ve made O some pretty good buys in used rifles. Sometimes they cleaned out regularly, the minute flaws in the barrel tend to smooth out. I don’t believe the barrel necessarily gets more accurate, but it will maintain accuracy longer between cleanings. Many hunters/shooters never clean out the copper fouling. After a couple of hundred shots (which may represent five or 10 years ownership) groups open up, they decide the barrel is “shot out”, and it goes on the used-gun rack. People like you and me pick these rifles up cheap, clean them properly, and put the money we save into more reloading components. Around 1980 I purchased a used, excellent condition Browning rifle, a Safari Grade .270 Win made by FN. Hundred-yard groups were terrible, as in 3". I cleaned the bore with powder solvent, then got out a bottle of Sweet’s 7.62 copper solvent. With this and other ammonia-based solvents any copper fouling in the bore shows as blue on the patches. Well, those first patches came out the most vivid, rich shade of dark blue I ever saw. It took a long time, and a lot of patches before the color faded to a barely perceptible blue. With no other change — same scope, ammo, range — the next 5-shot groups averaged less than an inch. I suspect it had never before been cleaned with copper solvent. This was the most dramatic improvement I’ve seen as a result of bore cleaning, though not the only one. need some work, yet often all they need is a good cleaning. Few big-game rifles get shot very much. Varmint rifles get shot. Target rifles get shot. But most big-game rifles aren’t shot enough to be broken in, much less worn out. Most barrels build up copper fouling from bullet jackets as they are shot. The copper buildup damages bullets and reduces accuracy. New factory barrels have minute flaws from the manufacturing process and as a result, quickly build up copper fouling. A new barrel will shoot accurately from the very first shot, provided other factors (barrel and receiver bedding, cartridges, sights and shooter) are adequate. As it is shot, provided the copper is Dead Horse? Another time I got a good deal on a 1960s era Remington 700 BDL .243 because “the barrel was starting to go.” Now a 700 that won’t shoot is about as rare as a Texan who hates barbecue. My thinking was, even with average accuracy it would still be a nice deer/ pronghorn rifle, and in any case a 700 action is money in the bank. ThisRemington700.243Winwasshootinggroupsof1-1/2"plusat100yardswhenDaveboughtit.Witha As Huck Finn’s pa said about thoroughbarrelcleaning,betterscope,Shilentrigger,andhandloadsitwillusuallyshoot1/2"groups.There chickens, if you don’t want it aremanygoodpowderandcoppercleaningproducts,afewDavelikesareshownhere. someone else likely does, and a good deed ain’t ever forgot. With a cheap no-name 4X scope and factory ammunition it shot groups around 1-1/2". After cleaning out the copper fouling, tuning the trigger, fitting a higher power scope and using handloads, I got occasional 5-shot, 100-yard groups of 1/2" or better. Short of actual abuse, it is darn hard to wear out a barrel. Most rifle barrels, in fact, improve from being shot. Accuracy may or may not improve, but almost always the barrel will maintain accuracy longer between cleanings as the bore smoothes up. Several years ago I wrote a review of a Wilson AR carbine in this magazine. Groups from a clean bore were excellent but after three or four 5-shot groups, groups opened up to an inch or more. Decent, but not exceptional for an AR. I bought the test rifle from 18 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=19http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=19Taurus856MODEL New for 2009, Taurus pushes its small frame revolvers to the next level with the Model 856. Offering 6-shot capacity in a two-inch barrel model, these ingenious little revolvers give you an extra life-saving round. The Model 856 is lightweight and easy to carry, offering multiple configurations including the Hy-Lite magnesium model weighing in at only 13.2 ounces. In addition, the Model 856 features a rugged, hammer-forged frame that will last a lifetime, and the Taurus Security System® . UÊÝVÕÈÛiÊȇ-…œÌÊ Þˆ˜`iÀÊ Ê UÊ°ÎnÊ-«iVˆ>ÊœÀÊ°ÎnÊ-«iVˆ>Ê³*Ê Ê Uʈ}…ÌÜiˆ}…ÌÊ>˜`Ê,Õ}}i`ÊÀ>“iÃÊ Uʜ˜}ʍiV̜ÀÊ,œ` UÊ-œvÌÊ,ÕLLiÀÊÀˆ« UʏÜÊÛ>ˆ>Liʈ˜ÊÕiʜÀÊ>ÌÌiÊ-Ì>ˆ˜iÃà />ÕÀÕÃ1-°Vœ“ , ʜ˜i‡Þi>ÀÊ ,ʓi“LiÀň«ÊÜˆÌ Ì…iÊ«ÕÀV…>ÃiʜvÊ>˜ÞʘiÜÊ/>ÕÀÕÃÊvˆÀi>À“°2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=20http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=20RIFLEMAN ThesearepatchesfromacoupleofcleaningsessionswithaSavagerifleDavehasbeentesting. Initiallygroupsbeganopeningupafter15shots.asthebarrelsmoothesup,itwillgo30+rounds betweencleaningsandwilllikelycontinuetoimproveforawhile. Wilson. A shooting buddy borrowed it for 3-gun competition and police duty. He liked it so much we worked out a deal. I agreed to take a couple of vintage S&W handguns in trade, and he agreed to let me out of the police cruiser. Don’t tase me, bro. As rounds went downrange this little carbine has just gotten better and better. Currently it will put five rounds into 1/2 MOA almost every time, with groups around 1/4" not uncommon. I offered to trade back and he offered to demonstrate the effectiveness of police-strength pepper spray. It just may be worth it. I’ve read of elaborate barrel breakin procedures, such as shoot one/clean for 10 shots, shoot two/clean for 10 shots, shoot three/clean … ideally by the light of a waxing 3/4 moon while standing on one leg and chanting Druid incantations. Druid’s Dance Here’s the procedure I follow with my own guns, whether used, new factory rifles, or multi-thousand dollar custom jobs. Before I shoot it I clean the bore, first with powder solvent, then copper solvent. I use Dewey or ParkerHale cleaning rods, proper size cleaning patches, and a bore guide. (One custom barrel maker wrote, if you aren’t going to use a bore guide it’s better not to clean at all.) Then I shoot 3-shot, 100-yard groups. I find I get a better sense of what is happening from five 3-shot groups than three 5-shot groups. What I often (not always) find with a new bore is group size gradually increasing. A .308 Win. Savage BAS/K rifle I recently tested is an excellent example. After cleaning and checking scope 20 and guard screws for tightness I began shooting groups, with Federal Gold Medal 175-grain match ammunition. The first five 3-shot groups at 100 yards measured .19", .38", .44", .69", and 1.07". After another cleaning the next five groups measured .13", .26", .38", .44", and .51". Now this is a bit unusual. The trend line isn’t always, or even often, this consistent. Other factors come into play, such as changing wind and light conditions, not to mention human error. But keep monitoring group size and order and trends will become evident. What is happening is bullets are smoothing out the minute manufacturing irregularities in the bore. Usually you’ll see the evidence in two ways. You can shoot more groups between cleanings without groups opening up excessively. And cleaning becomes easier and faster, with fewer patches needed to get out the fouling. Can we get barrels which are polished and lapped so they don’t need a long break-in period? Sure we can, if we are willing to pay the price. Barrels from custom makers are generally much smoother than those of off-the-rack production rifles (one reason why they can cost more than complete factory rifles). Recently I tested a rifle by David Rooney of Tactical Rifles, Inc. (June 2009 issue). It was superbly accurate, and even after 40 rounds there was no significant loss of accuracy. Moreover the bore cleaned up easier and faster than any rifle I’ve ever shot. During the copper solvent treatment patches came out at worst with just a pale blue tinge, and not much of that. I don’t have any preference in copper WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=21http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=21cleaners. Right now I have a couple of big bottles of powder solvent and 50BMG copper solvent from Montana Extreme, and they work fine. Other good products include Sweet’s 7.62, Barnes CR-10, Shooters Choice Copper Remover, Hoppes Bench Rest 9, Butch’s Bore Shine, Iosso Bore Paste, and Wipe-Out. These are the ones I’ve used most but there are certainly other good ones. Best idea is to check the selection at Brownell’s and Midway USA. They have pages of gun cleaning products; if they weren’t good they wouldn’t carry them. If you are determined to get every trace of copper, Outer’s Foul-Out system uses an electro/chemical process. I’ve never used it but people whose opinions I value say it works very well. Copper fouling is a nuisance, but I can’t hate it. I’ve bought several used rifles (not just those mentioned) whose previous owners thought they were worn out when all they needed was a good cleaning. BARNES BULLETS, INC. P.O. BOx 620, MONA, UTAH 84645 (800) 574-9200, www.BARNESBULLETS.COM BROwNELLS, INC. 200 SOUTH FRONT STREET MONTEzUMA, IA 50171 (800) 741-0015, www.BROwNELLS.COM REFLECT WHO YOU ARE Rock river Arms / NM A4 20" air gauged heavy match stainless steel 1:8 twist barrel / RRA two stage match trigger / free float thermo mold handguard / nm carry handle LE HOPPES BUSHNELL OUTDOOR PRODUCTS 9200 CODy OVERLAND PARk, kS 66214 (800) 423-3537, www.HOPPES.COM IOSSO PRODUCTS 1485 LIVELy BLVD., ELk GROVE, IL 60007 (888) 747-4332, www.IOSSO.COM BUTCH’S BORE SHINE LyMAN PRODUCTS, 475 SMITH STREET MIDDLETOwN, CT 06457 (800) 225-9626, www.BUTCHSBORESHINE.COM MIDwAy USA 5875 wEST VAN HORN TAVERN ROAD COLUMBIA, MO 65203 (573) 445-6363, www.MIDwAyUSA.COM OUTERS N5549 COUNTy TRUCk ROAD z ONALASkA, wI 54650 (800) 635-7656, www.OUTERS-GUNCARE.COM SHOOTERS CHOICE 15050 BERkSHIRE IND. Pky MIDDLEFIELD, OH 44062 (440) 834-8888, www.SHOOTERS-CHOICE.COM wIPE-OUT SHARPSHOOTER, R. PRECISION INC. P.O. BOx 171, PAOLA, kS 66071 (785) 883-4444, www.SHARPSHOOTR.COM Home Hunt Target reflect who you are at www.rockriverarms.com Al Mar Knives Our Sere Operator knives are handmade to exacting standards, assuring the highest quality in the industry. Excellence m o r e Mini SERE Operator™ 4” Blade SERE Operator ™ 5” Blade l e a r n WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 20" air gauged heavy match stainless steel 1:8 twist barrel / RRA two stage match trigger / free float thermo mold handguard / nm carry handle @ w w w . a l m a r k n i v e s . c o m 21 Rock river Arms / NM A42009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=22http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=22MONTANA MUSINGS • MIKE “DUKE” VENTURINO • PHOTOS: YVONNE VENTURINO THE 1918 COLT 1911 “Duke’s Luck” strikes again. ack when I was in the 1st grade my school had a raffle for a B chocolate Easter Bunny — 5¢ per ticket. I won and must have used up my lifetime luck for games of chance because I’m an Signal Corps. Later in better light that same “Winckler” was found scratched on the bottom of the vintage correct two-tone magazine. There was one hang-up. Its price was so low as to make me suspicious. The seller was an acquaintance so I gave him my best squinty-eyed look upon asking, “What’s wrong with this thing.” To which he said, “Well, somebody tried to checker the front of the trigger.” And in truth that indeed was its only problem albeit the price was about half of what I’d seen on comparable condition and vintage 1911s. Since, I’m actively putting together a collection of WWII firearms, and it was likely this one participated in that ruckus to one degree or the other, it became mine. Still being in a bit of wonder about this 1911’s low price I also bought a collector’s book on 1911s and 1911A1s titled The Model 1911 And Model 1911A1 Military And Commercial Pistols by Joe Poyer. That night at home I fieldstripped my new .45 and studied it with the aid of a magnifying glass. The darn thing proved “right as rain” except it didn’t have the original Colt barrel. It carried a replacement made at the government’s Springfield Armory. That’s OK: Colt 1911 and 1911A1 barrels are drop in items and that SA barrel was properly marked as World War II vintage. Between 1911 when the US Army officially adopted the .45 ACP in the absolute zero at gambling. But when it comes to finding good guns, I am a stellar performer. In fact one friend said he would like to follow me around just to get a chance at stuff I pass up. The serial number dated it as having been manufactured in 1918. The holster with it was just as interesting as the handgun itself. On it, someone had carved “J.G. Winckler 1931.” There was an emblem carved on it. I found out it was the crossed flags of the US Army Duke’sluckmostrecentlyresultedinthis1918 vintageColtModel1911withtheholstershown markedwiththepreviousowner’sname. Recently Duke’s Luck struck again at a Montana gun show. Just after I had made the pronouncement to a friend it appeared my money was safe, I happened to look down at a table and there it was. “It” was a nice Colt Model 1911 .45 with US military markings. Dukesayshewillprobablynever shoot paper with his Colt Model 1911,preferringtoplinksteel. 22 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=23http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=23WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 232009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=24http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=24MONTANA MUSINGS Duke’snewColtModel1911atleftwithaColtModel1911a1atright.Thearmymadesubtle changesbetweenWWIandWWIItosolvesomeissuessoldiershadwiththe1911. guise of John M. Browning’s Colt Model on later guns. During WWII, 1911A1 1911 and 1985 when they replaced it grips became checkered plastic. Prior to with the M9 Beretta 9mm there were that they were checkered walnut. Now at this point, any gunwriter only two basic versions issued. For about the first 10 years the moniker was worth his salt would tell you he sat down Model 1911. Then, circa 1926, the US at the bench (or behind his machine rest) military asked for and got a few minor and test fired a variety of .45 ACP factory changes, which resulted in a Model loads and handloads and his new pistol shot X-inch size groups at X number of 1911A1 designation. yards. Not me! I Those changes have fired several included a slight hundred rounds bevel along each side through this of the frame behind 1911 and nary a the trigger, a shorter one of them has trigger as measured been at paper from front to rear, a targets. They longer spur on the grip have been shot safety and a shorter at steel falling spur on the hammer. plates, dueling Those latter two items tree paddles, were changed to asidefromsome230-grainjacketedFMJ and some of help with the 1911’s factoryloads,Dukewilllikelynevershoot Action famous “hammer anythingbut230-graincastbulletsinhisColt my Target PT-Torso bite” problem wherein Model1911. standing steel the hammer comes targets. Except back during its cycle and takes a bit of flesh from the web of when I’ve obviously mashed the trigger the shooter’s hand. (Personally I can’t I’ve hit every darn thing aimed at despite see where they improved anything as a the tiny sights of early 1911s. And it hits Model 1911A1 bites me as badly as a pretty much where I point it. The only bullet weight fired in it has been 230 Model 1911.) grain, which was what it was meant for Visible Changes anyway and most of those have been The most visible thing to look for cast bullets. I’m not about to ruin my fun when discerning a Model 1911 from by firing it at paper targets and finding it a Model 1911A1 is the mainspring won’t stay on a pie plate. housing at the back of the grip. The No sir! This Colt 1911 has joined a former version is flat there while the few other WWII vintage handguns such “A1” has an arched housing. Actually as an FN Browning P35 9mm from the US Government made it far easier to 1944, a Walther P38 9mm from 1943, a tell 1911s from 1911A1s. They decreed Luger P08 9mm from 1938, and even an any up to serial number 700,000 were British Enfield No. 2 .38 revolver as my 1911s, from number 700,001 on they current “fun guns.” That means they’re were 1911A1s. Other dead give-aways the ones I pack down to my range to for an early Colt 1911 is they have a plink with when I steal some trigger blue finish instead of the Parkerizing put time for myself. 24 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=25http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=25Order Your Copy While Supplies Last! ONLY $9.95 (outside U.S. $17.95) A LOOK INSIDE: • Pistol or Rifle? • Everyday Practice • Robotic Targets • Hand-Cannons Order at www.americanhandgunner.com Mon-Fri 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. PST Call Toll-Free WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM P.O. Box 502610 • San Diego, CA 92150-2610 888.732.2299 252009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=26http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=26GUNSMITHING • HAMILTON BOWEN • RIFLE READy? Hunting season prep. Shootingyourgun before hunting season is critical to preparation forhuntingseason. awoke one morning recently to realize our annual .310 Cadet I club match was upon me so thought I’d take a few shots to verify sighting and give the gun a look-over before the match. Didn’t happen for a variety of reasons. Lucky for me, the gun performed flawlessly and the few lost targets were operator error. Such cavalier treatment of a serious big-game hunt could have far more disastrous results. Far, far more disastrous. You could spend thousands of dollars and travel thousands of miles only to miss (or, unspeakably, wound) the trophy of a lifetime because you failed to take a few simple precautions. Getting your hunting rifle ready for the hunting season shouldn’t take much time. A few simple checks and tests will give you a fighting chance of success in the field and minimize interference from the Fates, ever ready to visit bad luck on us mortals just because they can. While many of us hunt with lever, single-shot, double and iron-sighted rifles, these remarks are made with traditional, scoped magazine rifles in mind. There are a couple of philosophies of gun preparation that bear mention. Some Knowingyourammoandrifleworkletsyou concentrateonhunting. shooters (about .00012 percent) will tear down their rifles to the individual parts, inspect them and lovingly reassemble the gun with a torque wrench and caliper in hand. Fine, time and inclination permitting. Most of the rest of us subscribe to the “If it ain’t broke, let it alone” school. That said, even we must attend to a few matters to avoid a Murphy visit. Eyeball It First, get out the rifle and simply give it a long, hard, close visual inspection, looking for goobered sights, dinged optics, cracks in the wood, especially around the rear tang and bottom metal. Eyeball swivels and, more importantly, the sling if you use one. Sling maintenance isn’t usually high on anyone’s list of priorities but leather can crack with age, stitching can fail and you can drop your gun. Very bad form. My guess is the biggest single source of rifle trouble is with the optics. Unlessyouhavethreehands,a goodrifleviseletsyouconcentrate ondoingagoodjob.Yourrifleand nervoussystemwillthankyou. 26 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=27http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=27Fieldstripping most rifle bolts isfairlystraightforwardonce you’vedoneitatimeortwo. Checking and tightening the screws every year sounds like a good idea, but is just nibbling at the edges if the initial scope installation was sloppily done. If you didn’t do the installation yourself, at some point, a systematic teardown and re-installation by you or your favorite gunsmith is obligatory. Assuming the installation is sound, I simply review screw torque on accessible ring and base screws with the proper screwdriver or Allen wrench and clean the lenses with some camera shop lens paper. Make sure the lens covers are still fitting well to minimize admission of dust and grime when the rifle isn’t deployed. need to procure the appropriate owner’s manual or gunsmithing book to guide your through the process. Range Test? Of Course By far, the most important step in preparing your gun for hunting season is a thorough range test of not only the gun but the ammunition. Any tightening of scope and stock screws is grounds for checking scope regulation. Many outfitters will want you to shoot your gun with them looking over your shoulder but that is not the time to start zeroing your gun. Inspect your ammo carefully. I like to run each round through the magazine. You can’t imagine how important this simple check is. Nothing like showing up in Outer Okavingostan with your carefully reloaded ammo only to find it won’t function in your gun for some reason or other. Just be careful as this is an exercise safely done only at the range under live-fire conditions. Living in the South where the humidity runs about 110 percent in the summer time, I tend to slather the bore with oil after every use, even if I don’t do much else to it. From time to time, the first shot out of an oiled bore seems to land somewhere quit different from subsequent shots. If you can do so without fear of bore damage, I’d leave off the oil after range testing for the last time if there is any chance you won’t get to shoot again until you have a critter in the crosshairs. Might just make some difference. A little commonsense preparation will go a long way towards securing a good hunt by giving you peace of mind and confidence. The rest is up to the critters and Lady Luck. Good Hunting! TIPTON RIFLE VISES MIDwAy USA 5875 wEST VAN HORN TAVERN ROAD COLUMBIA, MO 65203 (573) 445-6363 www.MIDwAyUSA.COM MAGNA-TIP SCREwDRIVERS BROwNELLS 200 SOUTH FRONT STREET MONTEzUMA, IOwA 50171 (641) 623-4000, www.BROwNELLS.COM Screws Stock screws and bedding are much like scope installations, especially with wood-stocked rifles. Yes, it is well to check the bottom metal and tang screws before heading afield but, again, if the rifle hasn’t been properly bedded at the time of manufacture or since, weather, mileage, phases of the moon and value of the euro will all affect bedding and, therefore, point of impact and accuracy. Rubber-stocked rifles with pillar bedding and properly Loc-tited screws are usually safe but, in time, the screws and bedding should be examined in detail. I would prefer not to let a serious hunting rifle, even one shot just a few rounds a year, go more than a few years without removing the stock and checking bedding and stock screw torque. One sleeper problem arising more often than you’d think is bolt lubrication. Striker action can get sluggish enough to cause misfires because of lubricant failure, especially in cold weather. The usual source of trouble is when lubricant age hardens and drags on the spring, weakening the effect of the firing pin. But even good, synthetic lubes can stiffen in the harsh cold. The best course is to clean out the bolt and run it dry or with a very light dusting of powdered graphite. When warm weather returns, relube with your favorite light grease. Boltaction rifle bolts are not always the easiest thing in the world to tear down, clean and lube and there are many variations on the theme. If you are not familiar with your rifle’s bolt, yo2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=28http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=28RANGING SHOTS • CLINT SMITH • AR STUFF Good gear for your rifle. any feel the number 7 is lucky and it may well be. Dealing with M the AR rifle platform on an almost daily basis, I am always looking at or for equipment and support gear to make my life with this rifle easier. I found some pretty good stuff lately and thought I would tell you of these 7 products because they work for me handling, shooting and cleaning the rifle while using it just short of everyday of the week. Leupold, always an industry leader in optics, has introduced two new scopes specifically for the AR rifle platform. The smaller of the two is a Mark AR 1.5-4x20mm. We just tested it big time by running it hard and heavy in an Urban Precision Rifle school. Once the eye relief was set and the scope mounted to allow for the manipulation of the charging handle freely, it zeroed up easily and held zero for the entire class without a hitch, which says something as this is no shooting mat class. The second model is the MK AR 3-9x40mm with a mil-dot reticle structured on a smallish frame similar to Leupold compact versions. Again, this one is designed just for the AR rifle from the ground up. Both scopes have covered adjustment knobs, 1/2 MOA clicks and are set for 55-grain ammunition at a nominal 3,100 feet per second. Set in Leupold rings, the two scopes are rock solid glass suited to varmints, crap out of them in the worst of weather and conditions an outdoor range can create. They are built well and work well. Firebird Dual Magazine Holder Scott Springer is known for his XD work, but in all candor I know or think of him as an innovator as he is always looking for a better way to skin the proverbial cat. The Firebird is an excellent piece of gear made to fit the very popular and functional MagPul magazines. As per usual for Scott, his Firebird is a precision made piece of gear. Two formats exist for dual 30-round magazines or a 20- and 30-round format very useful in law enforcement vehicle weapons racks. All the Firebirds can be distinctly marked prior to shipment if you want bases made and marked for you. law enforcement or thought-out private sector personal defense applications. CAT M4 Tool The Combat Applications Tool is truly a tool in every aspect of the word. The guys in Wyoming have been thinking pretty smart as their small but very effective tool helps to clean some of the toughest areas in an AR and at the same time functions as a small wrench as might be required. The design allows for the cleaning of the bolt, the carrier, the firing pin and a patch holder to work the crud out of the carrier area from where the bolt works. I like it, have used it the last three days, and I have only had it for four days. Lots of stuff is plastic today and some is good and some isn’t. If you’re not much of a plastic person, Fusil USA is making an outstanding all-metal magazine for the AR rifle. My versions are black Parkerized and I have beat the SO Tech Mission Go Bag Ideal for the AR rifle for a law enforcement officer as an active-shooterresponse bag or my personal favorite “all around put all my spare stuff in it bag for a road trip.” The SO Tech Mission Go Bag is a low profile bag with the ability to be carried in a cross body, shoulder or waist mode that allows room for quite a bit of gear. I put spare rifle magazines in onepouch and handgun mags in another. Other internal pouches separately hold ammunition, water bottles and first aid gear. Well made and well organized inside, the big pockets keep gear separate and organized unlike many of the other bags out there today. I use external pouches for small binoculars and mine also can serve as a platform rest for the rifle. SOT is solid stuff. I like it and use it for trips and as a daily range bag. The SO Tech part number is MGB. The CRT15 cleaning tool is made by the Magna-Matic tool people and you can tell tool people made it when you put your hand on it. Addressing bolt carrier internal crud on one end, the 2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=29http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=292009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=30http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=302009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=31http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=31“Americas Choice for Reloading Value” Start Reloading With The Stuff You’ll Keep RANGING SHOTS Brands That Perform Lyman’s Expert Kit Deluxe with 1000XP Electronic Scale and Universal Trimmer Out-Performs the Competition Theleupold1.5-4Xscopewasidealonthe flattopaR.Bothleupoldscopesacquitted themselves well during constant use during a ThunderRanchrifleclass. 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! The CRT15’s protruding pin goes inside the bolt where the firing pin normally goes. Then the small curved arm is pressed against the outside of the bolt and the tip of the curve busts the carbon off of the back end when the bolt is rotated. This helps in a big way to stop potential damage to the gas rings that sometimes occurs if a brush is used, because I do not have to put a brush on or near the gas rings. The CRT15 is another tool to make your life with the AR easier. Industry gold standard, Brownells, has a specific tool for cleaning the carbon from the often hard to reach area on the bolt carrier. It is a bit bigger tool than the others with a easy to grasp handle ideal for the work bench or shop cleaning area. Brownells’ part number is 133-100-016AB. BROwNELLS 200 SOUTH FRONT STREET MONTEzUMA, IA 50171 (800) 741-0015, www.BROwNELLS.COM CAT P.O. BOx 1377, DOUGLAS wy 82633 (970) 769-8317, www.CATM4.COM CRT 15 TOOL MAGNA-MATIC w4599 COUNTy ROAD Iw wALDO, wI 53093 (920) 564-2368, www.MAGNA-MATIC.COM FUSIL-USA 116 N. LIVELy BLVD., ELk GROVE, IL 60007 (847) 437-1880, www.FUSIL-USA.COM LEUPOLD 14400 Nw GREENBRIER PARkwAy BEAVERTON, OR 97006 (503) 526-1400, www.LEUPOLD.COM SO TECHNOLOGIES 206 STAR OF INDIA ROAD CARSON, CA 90746 (800) 615-9007, www.SPECOPSTECH.COM SPRINGER PRECISION LLC 20791 EGyPT DRIVE BEND, OR 97701 (541) 480-5546 www.SPRINGERPRECISION.COM Lyman 475 Smith St., Middletown, CT 06457 Dept 2067 Optimized light gathering Sight with the proper eye, you’ll see the image on the top. Use the wrong eye or lift your head, the lights go out. The Magni-Hunter from HiViz Shooting Systems utilizes our revolutionary Magni-Optic technology to ensure optimized hand-eye coordination and spot-on accuracy. The skeletonized base provides the perfect balance of light-gathering optimization and durable protection of the interchangeable LitePipe. The additional light allowed into the LitePipe ensures visibility in early morning or late-evening hunting situations. 1941 Heath Parkway, Suite 1, Fort Collins, CO 80524 1-800-589-4315 t'BY See What You’ve Been Missing! www.HIVIZSIGHTS.com 31 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=32http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=32SHOTGUNNER • HOLT BODINSON • REMINGTON’S NEw wEATHER BEATER The Model 887 excels where other guns just rust. Remingtonstylistspulledoutallthestopswhen shapingtheModel887.Fore-endandpistolgrip panelsaregrippywithoutbeingsharp. hat’s been the most successful pump gun in firearm history? W Now entering its 6th decade of continuous production, it’s Remington’s Model 870 found in patrol cars as readily as in Jon boats and has been morphed into every slide-action variation imaginable. This year, meet the Model 870’s grandson, not the Model 870’s replacement, but a high-tech addition to the Remington family of shotguns — the radically new Model 887 Nitro Mag. At first glance, the Model 887 looks like just another black, synthetic stocked, pump gun, albeit with a few very intriguing lines. Once you pick it up and shoulder it though, you immediately know there’s something very different about this shell-shucker. It’s much lighter than it looks, and its balance and liveliness belies its rugged, somewhat stocky, appearance. The giveaway to the Model 887’s subtle secrets lies at the end of the muzzle. Looking at the muzzle, you see a conventional Rem Choke screwed into an unusually thin barrel wall in turn encased in a thick polymer jacket of some sort. In fact, from the side, the barrel profile is so chunky the Model 887 could easily be mistaken for a 10 gauge. Glancing at the receiver, you find a similar combination of metal parts embedded in a black, polymer shell. Then it dawns on you the Model 887 reflects the technology and production processes pioneered by Remington in the Model 66 and refined by Glock. The new scattergun is a sophisticated blending of metal and plastic Remington calls the new polymer treatment their “Armorlokt” coating. It serves several purposes. Armorlokt moderates the weight of the gun, resulting an excellent between-the-hands balance and responsiveness. By shielding most exposed metal parts with their Armorlokt polymer, Remington has ensured the exterior of the gun is impervious to weather and corrosion. Finally with its combination of Armorlokt steel mated to a synthetic buttstock and fore-end, the complete Model 887 is uniquely well protected against dings, scratches and other vicissitudes of field and marsh. To take a line from Remington’s 2009 catalog, “you can wipe it down with your wet dog or a decoy bag at the end of the day.” athree-linecompositerib(above)providesa simplebuteffectivesightingplane.Faceting the barrel with cut panels is as unusual as it is eye-catching(below). Stylish Being able to mold their Armorlokt polymer into complex and intricate shapes has given the stylists at Remington a very free hand, and they’ve taken advantage of the opportunity. The styling of the Model 887 is in one word, “radical,” particularly the barrel. 32 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=33http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=33The exterior of the barrel is faceted with a series of cut panels running along the bottom of the barrel as well as along the top where they blend into the elevated rib. The rib itself is eye-catching with molded-in grooves running its length, the center groove of which is the seam line of the barrel jacket. The panel motif is extended along on both sides of the receiver and with a bit of texture added, panels form the gripping surfaces of the fore-end and pistol grip. The stylists have even given the triggerguard a modern, squared-off look. I’ve handled some polymer stocked shotguns with contoured and textured fore-ends and pistol grips frankly too sharp in the hands and uncomfortable to shoot — not so with the Model 887. Remington’s textured panels along the fore-end and pistol grip are grippy but not sharp. They’re functional and will prove their worth in a waterfowling environment. ThemuzzleoftheModel887(above)readily revealsitspolymer/metalconstruction. Winchester3-1/2"turkeyloadwith2ounces ofNo.4shotplusfullchoketubeat25yards equalsadeadbird(below). Versatile Chambering Digging a bit deeper into the design of the Model 887, it’s chambered to handle 2-3/4", 3" and 3-1/2" shells interchangeably, which is quite a feat. There’s nothing harder to feed than a square-ended shotgun shell. To encourage good timing and feeding in a pump gun, you should cycle it fully and very quickly. Short stroke it or leisurely pump it and you’re headed for a misfeed, particularly when trying to cycle 3-1/2" shells through the action. The Model 887 handled all three length shells, but it was a bit cranky at first when feeding the 3-1/2" roman candles. The problem corrected itself. Like the Model 870, the M887 utilizes twin action bars to operate the action. There is a distinct difference in bolts between the models. The M870 bolt tips up-and-down to lock and unlock. The M887 sports a lugged rotary bolt. My impression is the M877 rotary bolt takes a bit more effort to cycle than the old tipping bolt design. MODEL 887 NITRO MAG MAkER:REMINGTON ARMS COMPANy P.O. BOx 700 MADISON, NC 27025 (800) 243-9700, www.REMINGTON.COM MECHANISM: Pump action CALIBER: 12-gauge 2-3/4", 3", 3-1/2" CAPACITy: 4 OVERALL LENGTH: 48" BARREL LENGTH: 28" SIGHTS: Hi Viz front wEIGHT: 7-3/8 to 7-1/2 pounds FINISH: Armorlokt PRICE: $399 (black), $532 (camo) WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM Introduced on the Model 887 is a new recoil pad, branded with the moniker “SuperCell.” Remington claims it makes a 3" magnum load feel like a light field load. It does seem to moderate the punch of a 3" shell, but to my shoulder, not enough to make a 3-1/2", 2-ounce magnum load anything other than painful in this light pump gun. The Model 887 comes in two different finishes — black or in a marsh grass-looking Advantage MAX4HD camouflage pattern. Both models feature 28" barrels. The black model comes with a Modified Rem Choke and the camo model with an extended Over Decoys Rem Choke. That’s right, one choke tube per gun. You’ll have to buy the rest. How did the Model 887 shoot? I liked its balance and pointing qualities. The 2-stage trigger was gritty through the first stage, and the point-of-impact was just a bit low for me. Otherwise, I liked the way the Model 887 handled, fed and shot. The Model 887 is a racy looking, moderately-priced shotgun and to a generation raised on the AR, it will have a lot of curb appeal. One thing for sure, it’s the best weather-beater out there. 332009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=34http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=34™ • HOLT BODINSON • AN ENFIELD GEM The L39A1. Shootingthe7.62mmNaTOenfieldbroughtback fondmemoriesofHolt’sdaysshootinghighpower competition. ome milsurps simply jump off the gun show table at you, shake S up your psyche a bit and demand to go home with you. So it was at a recent show. I was strolling the aisles in idle mode, not really looking for anything specifically, when “Wham!” Now, I’ve seen a lot of Enfields, but among the rarest of the breed are the very late 7.62 NATO conversions, specifically the L8 series, the L39A1 military target rifle, its civilian counterpart, the Envoy and, with the addition of a No. 32 scope to the L39A1 target model, the L42A1 sniper rifle. The Enfield that jumped off the table at me was a remarkable looking L39A1. It may be my Camp Perry days as a big-bore competitor, but there is something extraordinary appealing to me about arsenal derived, military target rifles. I’ve had my runs with stargauged M1903 Springfields, Springfield M22s, National Match Garands and .45s, Mauser KKWs and Wehrmanns, Venezuelan FN 24/30s and some I don’t remember. Their appeal to me is really two-fold. When it comes to designing a target rifle, it’s intriguing to see what a government arsenal can cook up because a military target rifle placed in international competition becomes a symbol of national pride and a measurement of armament quality. The other interesting aspect is the on-range performance. How accurate are military target rifles in comparison to commercial or custom competition rifles? Standing behind the table at that gun show I was to learn was a fellow enthusiast named Larry Trail. Holding the L39A1 in my sweaty palms, I was curious about its history before discussing its value. Trail, as it turned out, was a long time associate of Val Forgett’s at Navy Arms and had recently retired from the company before moving to Tucson. He said Forgett had imported a number of L39A1 target rifles and L42A1 snipers, and the particular L39A1 I was holding came in with a lot of 59 more from Pakistan. The story reminded me how thankful we can be for entrepreneurs like Val Forgett and the folks at Century International Arms for ferreting out precious milsurps in some of the most unlikely locations in the world. Yes, the L39A1 and an empty wallet went home with me that day. With the British adoption of the 7.62 NATO round and the FN/FAL, designated the L1A1, you have to ask yourself why Britain went to the effort to convert their WWII No. 4 rifle into an L39A1 and the L42A1? The answer was accuracy. The Brits did not consider the FN/FAL design inherently accurate enough to fulfill a target or sniper role. What’s interesting about the conversion is the surprising strength of the No. 4 action. All that was done to accommodate the higher pressure Thel39a1boltheadfor7.62NaTOammunition isproofedfor19tonsofpressure. Parker-Haledevelopedarefinedmatchsight forthel39a1calibratedtothetrajectoryofthe 7.62round. Thisparticularl39a1wasset-upasa10-shot repeaterratherthanasasingleshot. 34 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=35http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=35SURPLUS LOCKER generated by the 7.62 round was to replace the existing No. 4 bolt head with a bolt head proofed for 19 tons per square inch and featuring a wider extractor. The new bolt head on all converted No. 4s is clearly stamped “19T.” The rest of the conversion process included replacing the barrel with a special chrome-moly one, adapting the charger guide to accept 5-round 7.62 stripper clips, and fitting a new magazine that incorporated an ejector. The L8 (a standard-looking No. 4 military L39A1 MILITARy MATCH RIFLE MAkER: ENFIELD, Uk MECHANISM: Bolt action CALIBER: 7.62 NATO CAPACITy: 10 OVERALL LENGTH: 46-1/2" BARREL LENGTH: 27-1/2" SIGHTS: Parker Hale 7.62 match sights wEIGHT: 10 pounds, 1 ounce FINISH: Black, baked enamel VALUE: $1,100* * In V.G condition according to the Standard Catalog of Military Firearms, 4th Edition, by Phillip Peterson, ISBN: 0-89689-477-0, Gun Digest Books, 700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990, (715) 445-2214, www.krause.com. model) conversion was carried out at Fazakerley while the L39A1 and L42A1 models were converted at Enfield. In fact, the conversion process was so straightforward, commercial conversion parts kits were marketed by Sterling. Examining the L39A1 more closely, Enfield really did a fine job of fielding a full-blown, big-bore target rifle. The heart of the L39A1 is its heavy contoured, 27-1/2" match barrel, measuring .775" at the muzzle. The barrel is hammer forged, and the spiraling forging marks are clearly evident, even through the thick, baked-on, black enamel finish applied to the barrel as well as all other metal parts of the rifle. With all the voodoo surrounding the proper match bedding of normal Enfield barrels, the armorers of Enfield made a wise decision and decided to completely free float the L39A1 barrel. None of that “clearance the thickness of a dollar bill” at Enfield! The gap between the barrel and the stock at the front band measures a full, gaping 1/8", and there is more cooling space under the handguard. With the exception of fitting a “19T” bolt head to the bolt and modifying the magazine well for a 7.62 magazine, the No. 4 Mk2 action on this L39A1 is standard issue. It has been stripped of any earlier identifying marks and has The7.62matchbarrelisfree-floatedandgiven alotofcoolingroomunderthehandguard. been re-stamped on the left receiver wall with the designation: “7.62 m/m L39 A.1. UE.70. A920.” The 2-stage trigger is mounted on the receiver, rather than pinned to the triggerguard, providing a rather crisp and consistent trigger pull of 4 pounds in the second stage. The L39A1 was supposedly fitted with a standard No. 4 magazine, making it a single shot. That’s not true in the case of this L39A1. It’s a repeater, and it’s fitted with a 10-shot, 7.62 magazine ™ Over and Under Shotguns. Winchester Model 101 ® ™ Exquisite Belgian-made craftsmanship. Built to last. Low-profile receiver. Pachmayr® Decelerator® recoil pad. Back-Bored barrels. Classic Model 101 dimensions. Beautiful Pigeon models. See the entire Model 101 lineup at winchesterguns.com M O D E L 1 0 1 P I G E O N T RA P WINCHESTER IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF OLIN CORPORATION WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 09-164-WRA_GM.indd 1 6/23/09 12:58:09 PM 352009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=36http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=362009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=37http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=37marked “CR141A 65” on the magazine wall and “CR1256 1965” on the top of the follower. The magazine design is ingenuous. Rather than fussing with the fabrication and installation of a new ejector for the 7.62 round, the Brits simply added a small, raised, folded metal tab to the left rear lip of the magazine. That little tab engages the base of the fired case perfectly and flips it out to the right with vigor. The names “Parker Hale” and “Enfield” are joined at the hip. From the earliest days, England’s Parker Hale Company has designed and marketed an extensive line of accessories and parts specifically for the .303 and 7.62 Enfields. It’s no surprise this L39A1 sports a complete set of Parker Hale aperture target sights. The rear receiver sight features an adjustable diopter eyepiece, vernier graduated elevation and windage scales and quarter-minute adjustment knobs. There’s also a push release for the rapid adjustment of the elevation staff. What’s interesting is the Parker Hale elevation scale is also graduated in 100-meter units for the trajectory of the 7.62 NATO round. The 7.62 meter scale is calibrated from 200 to 1,000 meters. The Parker Hale front match sight is conventional with a long sunshade and interchangeable apertures for changing A full set of front sight apertures is carried in a canscrewedtothebottomofthepistolgrip. conditions or personal sight picture preference. The extra Parker Hale foresight apertures are housed in a small metal container screwed to the base of the pistol grip, an arrangement often seen on Martini .22 match rifles. Performance? The 7.62 NATO or .308 Win is a classic match cartridge. We’ve had a lot of experience with it. Loading densities approximate 100 percent and there’s a fine selection of .308" match bullets available. It’s a flexible and forgiving cartridge to load. The standard mid-range match loads have traditionally been built around a 168-grain match bullet and 40 to 42 grains of a medium burn rate powder like IMR 4895 or IMR 4064, yielding 2,500 to 2,600 fps. The latest Sierra Manual recommends 42 grains of RL-15 and a 168-grain Sierra MatchKing. Using Winchester brass with a standard Winchester large rifle primer, that’s exactly the load I cooked up for the L39A1 test. From either prone or from a rest, the L39A1 consistently turned in 5-shot groups at 100 yards ranging from 1-1/4" to 1-1/2". Juggling powers, primers, powder weights, various match bullets and seating depths to shave those groups a bit, I’m sure the L39A1 could be fine tuned to be a truly competitive acrossthe-course rifle. As a milsurp enthusiast, keep your eyes open at the shows. You never know when a gem like this is going to jump across the table at you and beg to be taken home. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: THelee-eNFIelD:aCeNTURYOFlee-MeTFORD &lee-eNFIelDRIFleS&CaRBINeS, By IAN SkENNERTON, HARDCOVER, 608 PAGES, ©2007, $79.50. FROM RAy RILING ARMS BOOkS CO., INC., 6844 GORSTEN ST., PHILADELPHIA, PA 19119, (215) 438-2456, www.RAyRILINGARMSBOOkS.COM ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN • 800.925.2522 When there’s a tough job that needs to get done, let ATI Gunstocks help you earn a reputation. WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 372009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=38http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=38• JOHN TAFFIN • Guncrafter Industries’ Glock .50 GI Conversion Unit. he best thing about being T a gunwriter is not all the great guns I get to test (that is TURNING .50 second-best). Number one is all the great folks I meet such as my dear friend Hal Swiggett. Hal served in WWII, spent many years as a photojournalist, gunwriter, editor and guide on the YO Ranch in Texas. I wrote some freelance articles for Hal, inherited Chairmanship of the Outstanding American Handgunner Awards Foundation from him, and when he decided to retire from his yearly sixguns feature for Gun Digest, he turned that chore over to me. Hal was many things, however, the main thrust of his life was that of a Baptist preacher. He was in fact a true Pistol Packin’ Preacher traveling the Hill Country with his Bible and a .45 ACP 1911 lying beside him on the seat of his pickup. When some ignorant soul who figured Bibles and .45s were mutually exclusive items tried to trap Hal by asking him why he carried a .45, Hal put him in his place with: “Because they don’t make a .50!” Well eventually someone did make a 1911-style .50 and that someone was Guncrafter Industries and their cartridge is known as the .50 GI. The Guncrafter Industries .50 GI Custom 1911s are not cheap retailing for $2,895. Now, Guncrafter is now offering a much less expensive way to shoot the .50 GI with their conversion unit for the Glock Models 20/21. This unit sells for $595 which when added to the price of a Glock results in just over 1/3 of what it costs to buy the 1911 .50 GI. The .50 GI Conversion Unit consists of a complete top end, slide, barrel, recoil spring and guide rod. The slide and barrel are machined from stainless steel forgings. This unit is designed for drop-in installation, however tolerances can sometimes be experienced which TheGlock.50GIcarrieseasilyinaninsidethepantsholsterbytheleatherarsenal(above).The .50GIGlockcomparedwiththeGuncrafterIndustries.50GI1911-stylepistol(below).TheGlock conversioncarriesaslightlygreaterpayloadof9+1. 38 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=39http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=39Amplifies Sound While Automatically Blocking Hazardous Noise • Directionally placed stereo microphones enhance sound for more natural hearing while blocking harmful impact noise over 82 dB • Comfortable, contemporary, low profile earcup design for all-day comfort • External audio jack, allows you to connect to any audio source • Compact, folding design • Noise Reduction Rating 22 • Includes 2 AAA Batteries ImpactSport ™ • Auto shut-off extends battery life SOUND AMPLIFICATION EARMUFF For more information contact your local distributor or call: 800-682-0833 or visit us on the web at: www.howardleightshootingsports.com2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=40http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=40The.50GIConversionUnitdeliversfineaccuracy andplentyofpowerat20yards.Notepointof impactchangeasthepowerisincreased. require some machining. My test unit installed easily on my Glock 21 and it took about one minute to remove the stock barrel, slide, and recoil spring and replace them with the .50 GI Conversion Unit. It fits nicely with very little slide to frame movement and functioning has been 100-percent reliable. The .50 GI Conversion Unit comes packed in a lockable padded polymer case along with a magazine. This case is a good place for storing the original Glock upper unit and magazine when the .50 GI Conversion Unit is in place. Having one pistol with the possibility of shooting either .45 ACP or .50 GI provides exceptional versatility. With a standard Glock base pad the magazine holds 8 rounds. My test unit came with a 9-round extended base pad magazine. With the latter magazine this gives a 10-round capacity, however I usually like to use any magazine with one less round than maximum. The Conversion Unit not only installed easily it is also quite attractive with its stainless steel TheGuncrafterIndustries.50GIConversionUnitsimplyreplacesthetopendoftheGlock21.45 aCP.Theunitcomeswithonemagazinewithanextensionfor9roundscapacity.astandard.45aCP magisshownbelow.TheGuncrafterIndustries.50GIConversionUnitcomeswithitsownrecoil spring.TheunderneathlooksjustlikeaGlock. 40 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=41http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=41.50 GI FACTORy AMMO PERFORMANCE LOAD VELOCITy GROUP SIzE (BULLET wEIGHT, TyPE) (FPS) (INCHES) 275 JHP 762 2-1/2 275 JHP 895 1-7/8 300 JFP 714 2 300 IMI JHP 736 1-7/8 300 IMI JHP 835 1-3/8 300 SPEER GDHP 843 3 300 TMJ 874 1-1/2 240 LSwC 703 2 Notes: Groups are the product of 5 of 6 shots at 20 yards. Chronograph screens set at 10' from muzzle. finish contrasting with the black polymer frame of the Glock 21. Soft Shooting In addition to their Conversion Unit, Guncrafter Industries also offers loaded ammunition, Hornady and Lee reloading dies, as well as .50 GI brass and bullets. Bullets offered are a 275-grain JHP or 300-grain JFP and the same bullets are offered in loaded ammunition. The .50 GI is a low- to medium-pressure cartridge and in spite of the large caliber and heavier weight than the standard .45 shoots quite softly in the Conversion Unit mounted on the Glock. In fact, I found it much more pleasant to shoot than the .40 S&W from a Glock. The sharper recoil of the faster .40 S&W finds the bottom of the Glock trigger catching the fleshy part of my trigger G21 .45 ACP wITH .50 GI CONVERSION UNIT MAkER: GLOCk 6000 HIGHLANDS Pkwy SMyRNA GA 30082 (770) 432-1202 www.GLOCk.COM CONVERSION: GUNCRAFTER INDUSTRIES 171 MADISON 1510 HUNTSVILLE AR 72740 (479) 665-2466 www.GUNCRAFTERINDUSTRIES.COM ACTION TyPE: Locked breech, semi-auto CALIBER: .50 GI CAPACITy: 9+1 BARREL LENGTH: 4-5/8" OVERALL LENGTH: 8" wEIGHT: 30 ounces FINISH: Stainless steel slide and barrel SIGHTS: Fixed, white outline rear, white dot front GRIPS: Integral polymer PRICE: $595 (Conversion unit only) PRICE: $637 (Glock 21) ACCESSORIES: THE LEATHER ARSENAL 27549 MIDDLETON ROAD MIDDLETON, ID 83644 (208) 585-6211 www.LEATHERARSENAL.COM WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM JohnfoundtheGuncrafterIndustries.50GI GlockshotsofterthanhisGlock22in.40S&W. finger. This does not happen with the .50 Conversion Unit in place. Sights furnished on the .50 GI Conversion Unit consists of a square notch rear sight mounted in a dovetail and a tapered front post. The rear sight is outlined in white and it matches up with a white dot in the front sight. The sights are big, bold, easy to see and for me they proved to shoot right to point of aim. Along with the test .50 GI Conversion Unit, Guncrafter Industries also sent their latest factory ammunition. The 275-grain jacketed hollowpoint is rated at 875 fps and clocked out of this Conversion Unit at 895 fps while the 300-grain jacketed flatpoint, rated at 700 fps, does 714 fps. In addition to these two loadings I also had six other loads left over from my earlier testing of the .50 GI 1911 and the results with these rounds are on the accompanying chart. This is not a target pistol, but rather a self-defense pistol providing more than adequate accuracy. The two latest factory rounds gave 5-shot groups of 1-7/8" and 2" respectively. In addition to serving as a very large caliber self-defense pistol I can see some applications in hunting fields. In fact, for big boars at close range, this big bore should do fine. For either application the .50 Glock, just as the original .45 Model 21 Glock, carries easily in an inside the pants holster by The Leather Arsenal. The Leather Arsenal specializes in concealed carry holsters, and this is good quality leather. 412009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=42http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=422009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=43http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=43• Jeff John • Q: How do you measure a bullet? Being in the Navy, we shoot NATO What’s In A Name? 7.62x51mm. I own a CZ 52 in 7.62x25. I know it is the length of the round but, is it the whole bullet or the length of the casing? AW1 (AW) Luke Pratt USS Underwood (FFG-36) First, thank you for your service. Cartridge names which include measurements can be both misleading and confusing. The military has for years used the barrel’s minor diameter before rifling to identify the cartridge’s caliber and then the length of the case, while most commercial makers name cartridges after the barrel’s groove diameter — but not always. Regarding our service round, 7.62x51mm, “7.62” is the metric diameter of the bore of the barrel, and “51” is the length of the brass case without the bullet. Ditto for the 7.62x25mm. Translated to inches, the 7.62x51 (also known as the .308 Winchester): 7.62=.300", which is the barrel’s minor diameter, while the actual bullet diameter is .308" (7.82mm), the diameter of the grooves in the barrel. As for the second number, identifying the case length, 51mm=2.0078" and the trim-to length listed in the Lyman Reloading Manual is 2.005". Your 7.62x25mm also uses .308" bullets. Dual color Illuminated BDC Reticle A: TRUU,/ÒÊ8/,Ê ILLUMINATED RIFLE SCOPES *3-9 x 44mm B 3-12 x 44mm of thought, of the senses—everything that makes you confident when it’s time to squeeze the trigger in low light conditions. That’s what we had in mind when we designed our /,1U,/ÒÊ 8/,Ê Illuminated scopes. Ultra-high contrast, high resolution optics host a dual color illuminated reticle with adjustable brightness, for superb target acquisition in low light. Combine that with specially formulated multi-coatings and a waterproof/ fog-proof/shock resistant aircraft aluminum housing and you’ll start finding reasons to stay in the field longer. C 4-16 x 50mm *Also available with duplex reticle TRUGLO® Optics œ`Êi>ÌÕÀið Modest Price Tag. 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 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 432009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=44http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=44Mule Deer rif M y friend Milo McLeod likes to say, “Mule deer are the poor man’s bighorn sheep.” Both animals prefer steep country, whether timberline basins or the “breaks” along high-plains rivers, where Lewis and Clark first encountered mule deer and bighorns more than 200 years ago. Mule deer are also about the same size as bighorns, with blocky brown bodies and pale rump patches. The hunting itself can be remarkably similar, involving long hours of glassing, then stalking rough country for a shot normally not nearly as long as some hunters might guess. Luckily, to hunt mule deer you don’t need to be as lucky as a lottery winner or as rich as the CEO of a failed bank. Nonresident licenses can be drawn relatively easily in several states, or purchased through outfitters. Lots of mule deer live on public land, and guided hunts can be booked for less than a gambling vacation in Las Vegas. Also, the average hunter usually doesn’t need a new rifle to hunt mule deer. If you hunt whitetails, you probably own a suitable rifle. Yes, the average mule deer is bigger than the average whitetail, but that’s because most mule deer live further north than most whitetails, and northern deer are bigger than southern deer. In fact, in a game department survey 44 West Virginian Richard Mann chose a Remington 700 Sendero in .264 Winchester Magnum with a 3.5-10x40 Leupold Vari-X III scope for his first mule deer hunt in the Missouri Breaks of Montana. His handloads used 130-grain Nosler AccuBonds at over 3,200 fps, good for a 1-shot kill at 330 yards. John Barsness in Nebraska, whitetail bucks averaged slightly heavier than mature mule deer bucks, because the whitetails tended to live on river-bottom farmland and ate a lot of crops, while the mule deer tended to live on higher, less-fertile country. My wife Eileen accuses me of being an obsessive measurer, but she isn’t far behind, the reason we use an 800-pound freight scale to actually weigh big game animals. Multiplying the field-dressed weight of a deer by 1.25 results in a close estimate of its live weight. Using that formula, my 10 biggest mule deer bucks have averaged 257 pounds on the hoof. The two smallest weighed right around 200, and the biggest weighed 375. Those are good-sized deer, but they’re still The old 7x57 Mauser is a fine mule deer cartridge. This Montana buck was taken in the Missouri Breaks with a custom Remington 700 by Rifles Inc., using a 140-grain Nosler Partition handloaded to 2,900 fps and a Leica 1.5-6X scope. The buck fell at the shot and never moved. smaller than a mature cow elk, and their bones aren’t nearly as heavy. Along with hunting and guiding for mule deer in my home state of Montana, I’ve pursued them in a number of other places from Alberta, Canada, to Sonora, Mexico. On one hunt in Alberta, I brought a .280 Remington with 150-grain Nosler Partition handloads. My guide Dave WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=45http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=45fles Brad Ruddell took this nice Colorado buck with a 7mm Weatherby Magnum and a Weatherby 175-grain Hornady Spire Point factory load at 300 yards. This is a little more than needed for mule deer, but he was also hunting elk, and took a 5x5 bull the next day. had only vaguely heard of the .280. I explained it was just about exactly the same thing as the .270 Winchester. He was too polite to comment, but was obviously thinking, “Then why don’t you just use a .270?” The other hunters in camp all used various 7mm and .300 belted magnums (this was a decade before the current spate of WSMs, RUMs and other alphabet magnums). The biggest, a wildcat, duplicated the .300 Weatherby. Dave was also curious about the .300 wildcat, but didn’t say anything to its owner. Instead he later asked me, “What’s he think we’re hunting, elephants?” Dave’s own deer rifle (as opposed to his elk and moose rifle) was a .25-06 Remington. There’s certainly no harm in using a .300 magnum on mule deer. I’ve done it myself, more than once, and have also used various .338 and .35-caliber cartridges, especially when hunting timber deer. But my own guiding experience revealed an old truth: Many hunters can’t handle the recoil of a .300 magnum. It’s far better to use less cartridge and put the bullet in the right place, but many hunters who’ve never seen a mule deer still “know” they’re really big and shots will be really long. In reality the average shot may be shorter than in much modern whitetail hunting. Mule deer prefer country that’s up-and-down. While bucks can occasionally be found on ridgetops or across sagebrush flats, most mature bucks live in broken country where a shot beyond 300 yards is unusual, or in timber where 100 yards is a long ways. I like to hunt big mule deer more than any other big game animal on earth, so have taken a few good ones in 40+ years of hunting them. My 10 biggest bucks were taken at an average of 204 yards. The shortest shot was 75 yards and the longest 360. This wasn’t because of missing shots beyond 360 yards, but because I’ve never felt the need to shoot further. Some hunters do shoot mule deer at much longer ranges. The 360-yard shot came last year, while hunting with Wynn Condict in south-central Wyoming. The previous winter had been very severe, with snow up to 4' deep even in the valleys. This is hard on big bucks, since they’re worn down by the November rut without time to recover before winter. There were quite a few middle-sized bucks around, but I held out for a big survivor, and finally found him on the fourth day, when he was pushed out of an aspen draw. The buck first appeared on a sagebrush ridge, trotting away at around 300 yards. I got the scope on him about the time he dropped off the ridgetop, and used the reticle to estimate the range as over 350 but not 400 yards. The buck was about to disappear into a side-draw when I put the correct dot on the front of his shoulder and shot. The bullet landed just behind his shoulder, thanks to a little skill and some luck. He was a very old, grayfaced buck with heavy 27" antlers that had probably been even bigger a year or two earlier. The rifle was my battered New Ultra Light Arms Model 24 in .30-06, and the bullet a 180-grain Norma Oryx, a very fine all-around, bonded bullet that opens widely. It broke the opposite shoulder and stopped under the hide, retaining 85 percent of its weight. A lot of people wouldn’t choose the .30-06 for hunting big mule deer, and even those who do WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 452009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=46http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=46Texas riflesmith Charlie Sisk made this custom .300 Winchester Magnum on a Ruger 77 tang-safety action. Barsness used it in Sonora to take this big buck, using a handloaded 168-grain Barnes Triple Shock X-Bullet at 3,200 fps. The scope is a 6x42 Leupold FX-III. Modern lightweight rifles make hunting steep mule deer country easier. Both of these Kimber Model 84s weigh less than 7 pounds scoped. On top is a .338 Federal with a 1.5-4.5X Nikon Monarch and below is a .257 Roberts with a 6x24mm Burris. Most whitetail hunters already have a good mule deer rifle. This Remington 7600 in .308 Winchester obviously worked well on this Texas whitetail with 150-grain Remington Ultra Core-Lokt factory loads, but would do just as well on mule deer. often use a 150- or 165-grain bullet, because they shoot flatter than a 180. However, I’ve used various 180-grain spitzers on a lot of animals around the world, and if you know the trajectory it’s darn good all-around load, especially when matched with a multi-point reticle like the 3-9X Trijicon AccuPoint on my NULA. Also in camp was a hunter in his 30s who likes long shots. He decided to make the shot his trophy, and killed a young 4x4 buck at 610 yards with one shot from a .243 Winchester, using a Leupold scope with the Boone & Crockett reticle. Aside from wanting to make a bragging shot, however, there was no real reason to shoot that far. The buck could have easily been stalked to half that range. The .243 is supposed to be too light for really long shots. In fact quite a few people have stated the .243 is really too light for deer, except maybe little whitetail does in the South. This has not been my experience. When in my 20s I hunted with a .243 for several years, taking 15 mule and white-tailed deer without a problem, plus a couple of pronghorns, and have seen the .243 used quite a bit by other hunters. In my experience it works on mule deer if the hunter shoots straight and uses a decent bullet. My 10 biggest bucks were taken with the .257 Roberts (2), .270 Winchester (2), 7x57 Mauser (1), .280 Remington (2), .30-06 (2) and .300 Winchester Magnum (1). In theory the bigger the cartridge the quicker it should kill, but to tell the truth I couldn’t see much difference. All the bucks were hit fatally with the first shot, but four also received a second shot (I tend to keep shooting until everything really, truly stops). One was the buck killed with the .300. Six bucks were all taken with one bullet, including the pair shot with the .257 Roberts and the one taken with the 7x57. If we average the bullet diameters, bullet weights and muzzle velocities of the loads used, the result is approximately a 150-grain bullet of .28 in diameter at 2,900 fps. That “average” cartridge could be a .270 Winchester or a .280 Remington, or even a handloaded 7x57 out of a 24" barrel. I certainly would be happy to hunt mule deer for the rest of my life with any of the three. Scope Sense When I started hunting in the 1960s a 4X scope was considered a good longrange scope, but today some hunters consider a 3-9X a little on the low side. Obviously, eyesight varies among hunters. At 56 I can still use peep sights effectively, despite wearing glasses to correct severe myopia, and frequently use 4X and 6X scopes. Even when using variables I usually set them on 6X and 46 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=47http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=47leave them there. My wife Eileen, on the other hand, finds 6X a little wimpy. All her big game rifles have variables topping out at 8X to 10X — and she leaves them there. Last fall I watched her stalk and shoot a muley buck at 50 yards—with a 3-9X Leupold set on 9X. Scope magnification is to a certain extent an individual choice, but there are advantages to mid-power scopes, and even fixed-power scopes. First, multi-point reticles only work on one magnification in the typical secondfocal-plane variable. If the scope’s magnification is changed, then the reticle’s secondary aiming points won’t put the bullet in the right place. Let It Be The differences can be figured out, but a hunter has enough to think about when a big mule deer appears. When guiding, I was driven nuts by guys who started dinking with the magnification ring on their scope while aiming. Too often this allowed bucks time to say good-by. Today’s hunters often can’t remember which dot or hashmark to use, or how far they have to crank the elevation turret. Sometimes they even start fiddling with the darn parallax adjustment on their 4.5-14X. Believe me, it’s hard enough to find a big mule deer buck once. Twice is often impossible, especially if you spook him the first time. So it helps to keep things as simple as possible. If using a variable scope, make it no more than 10X so there’s no need to fiddle with the parallax adjustment. If using a multipoint reticle, leave the scope on the correct magnification. You can always turn the scope down when hunting the lodgepoles or aspens, but remember to turn it up again for those longer shots. If you (or your eyes) can tolerate the notion, a fixed 6X scope is plenty for most mule deer hunting. The idea 6X is too much for close range shooting was born in the days of 3/4" and 7/8" scopes with tiny ocular lenses. A modern 6X has a field of view of at least 4' at 25 yards, plenty for aiming at the front end of a deer, and enough magnification for most of us out to 400 yards. Another myth about mule deer is big ones don’t taste very good. Late in the rut this can be true, but most states don’t hold rifle seasons very far into the rut. When a big, fat buck is taken anytime up to the second week in November, treat the meat right and you’ll eat darn well that winter. Wynn CondiCt WyCon Safari P.o. Box 1126 Saratoga, Wyoming 82331 (307) 327-5502, WWW.WyConSafariinC.Com WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 472009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=48http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=48It seems optics, guns and ammo are getting smaller and more powerful every time we look. The Ruger Hawkeye Compact Magnum in Hornady’s new .300 RCM delivers magnum performance in a shorter, handier rifle. 48 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=49http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=49RugeR and HoRnady’s CompaCt magnums deliveR poweR in a small paCkage. “Y ou need a .223. You need a .308. You need a .375. That’s it. You don’t need any other calibers.” So said a custom gunmaker to me a couple of years ago when we were discussing the many new cartridges. I couldn’t really disagree, except … Whenever a new cartridge is introduced someone is sure to announce, “It doesn’t provide anything we don’t have already! Manufacturers are just trying to get us to buy something new so they can increase their sales!” Guys, I’m not usually a sarcastic person, but … duh. This isn’t quite a deep philosophical insight. Of course companies want to increase sales. Companies want to survive, just as people do. In order to survive they need to make and sell a product. Firearms aren’t like cornflakes. You don’t need to buy a new box every week. About 1975 my brother-in-law bought a Winchester Model 70 .30-06. With it he has hunted antelope, whitetail and mule deer, moose, elk and black bear. He’s never considered buying another rifle and never will. A box of cartridges lasts him 3 or 4 years. Rifle and ammo companies are not going to thrive selling a total of one rifle and 10 boxes of Dave Anderson Photos: Joseph R. Novelozo ammo to each hunter. Long, long ago I bought a pre-’64 Winchester 70 Featherweight .30-06. From then on I didn’t “need” another big game rifle. (Actually I did buy another just like it as a spare.) I have enough components on hand to last a lifetime and then some. Nonetheless I am interested in every new offering, and I’m darned if I can see how having more choices is a bad thing. The Ruger/Hornady alliance has provided some very interesting developments. I call it an alliance, as the two companies are not partners in any formal sense. Ruger doesn’t tell Hornady how to make ammunition, and Hornady doesn’t tell Ruger how to make rifles. It seems they agree on a common goal and then work in their own area of expertise to meet the goal. One example was the .375 Ruger. Hornady designed a cartridge to match (actually slightly exceed) ballistics of the The Leupold 3-9x40mm, an old standby, makes perfect sense for a hard-hitting gun like the Ruger Hawkeye .300 RCM. The Ruger stock features a crossbolt for strength. WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 492009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=50http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=5050 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=51http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=51WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 512009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=52http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=52m77 HaWkeye ComPaCt magnum maker: Sturm, ruger & Co. inC. 411 SunaPee Street neWPort, nH 03773 (603) 865-2442, WWW.ruger.Com CaliBer: .300 RCM (tested), .338 RCM CaPaCity: 3+1 Barrel lengtH: 20" overall lengtH: 39-1/2" WeigHt: 6-3/4 pounds SigHtS: Bead front, barrelmounted U-notch rear StoCk: American walnut finiSH: Matte blue retail: $899 vx-ii 3-9 x 40 rifleSCoPe maker: leuPold & StevenS 1440 nortHWeSt greenBriar ParkWay Beaverton, or, 97006 (503) 646-9171, WWW.leuPold.Com aCtual magnifiCation: 3.3X to 8.6X (actual) eye relief: 4.7" (3X), 3.7" (9X) tuBe diameter: 1" lengtH: 12.4" WeigHt: 12 ounces internal 56" windage & adjuStment: elevation finiSH: Matte black retiCle: Duplex PriCe: $329.99 Overleaf: Ruger’s Hawkeye Compact Magnum is chambered for the Hornady designed .300 RCM. The knife is a Gerber METOLIUS Gut Hook. CaSe CaPaCitieS .30-06: 69 .300 rCm: 75.2 .300 Saum: 75.9 .300 WSm: 84 .300 Win mag: 91 (In grains of water. An average of 5 fired cases, filled to the case mouth) .300 rCm faCtory BalliStiCS Bullet veloCity veloCity (WeigHt, grainS, Style) (fPS, faCtory) (fPS, CHronograPHed) 150 SSt 165 SSt 180 SSt 52 3,175 3,030 2,900 3,128 3,000 2,860 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=53http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=53great .375 H&H, while fitting standard-length actions. Ruger designed the stainless/synthetic Alaskan and blue steel/walnut African rifles to fit the cartridge. Cartridge and rifles have been very successful, especially considering you don’t see a lot of .375s among deer hunters. I think what really caught everyone’s attention was the amazing demand for the Alaskan model, with its 20" barrel and short overall length. For decades conventional wisdom has been 22" to 24" barrels for standard cartridges, 24" to 26" for magnums. The success of the Alaskan showed many shooters want compact rifles and short barrels combined with high performance. Ruger and Hornady naturally want to meet the perceived demand. Specifically, in the case of 30-caliber cartridges, the objective was a case to fit the Ruger short action, and powders which would approximate .300 Win Mag ballistics in a 20" barrel. Why not just use the existing Winchester-designed .300 WSM or Remington-designed .300 SAUM? Probably for the same reason the Canon camera company doesn’t pour money into developing new optical designs and lens coatings, and then market the result under the Nikon or Pentax brand names. The .300 RCM is a shortened version of the beltless .375 Ruger case, with the same .532" diameter case head. Case length of the .300 is 2.100" with a 1-caliber neck and shoulder A banded ramp front sight (above) is paired with a fully adjustable rear sight (below) on the Ruger Hawkeye Compact Magnum. “ I think what really caught everyone’s attention was the amazing demand for the Alaskan model, with its 20" barrel and short overall length.” angle of 30 degrees. Incidentally, case capacity varies considerably between brands and even between individual cases. Most .300 Win Mag fired cases hold around 91 grains of water but I have some Norma cases which hold 96. Fired cases hold more than unfired cases. The .300 RCM cases I had held 73.5 grains of water unfired, 75.2 fired. Hornady reports higher velocities with .300 RCM loads than their .300 Win Mag loads. With 180-grain bullets in 20" barrels they show 2,900 fps for the .300 RCM, 2,830 for the Win Mag. In 24" barrels the figures are 3,000 for the RCM and 2,960 for the Win Mag. A 3-position safety locks the 1-piece bolt closed when pulled all the way to the rear. In this position (above), the bolt may be opened while the safety is still applied and pushed all the way forward is off. A soft red rubber pad (below) is fitted to the satin-finished American walnut classic-style stock. Speed I have no doubt this is true, though the .300 Win Mag with its bigger case can certainly be loaded hotter. It’s no trick to safely load the Win Mag to 2,950 fps with 180-gain bullets in a 20" barrel (Maj. George Nonte reported doing so back in 1972) and to 3,100 fps in 24" barrels. Originally the Win Mag factory rating was 3,070 fps with 180-grain bullets. The current trend in factory loads is a bit slower. Several brands of .300 Win Mag ammunition with 180-grain bullets chronographed in my rifles at 2,950 to 2,960 fps. The .300 RCM factory ammunition I had chronographed within 30 to 40 fps of factory claims. Factory loads I broke down were loaded with Hornady SST bullets and a flattened ball-type powder. Hornady also loads a 150-grain monolithic WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 532009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=54http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=54The Ruger 77 Mk II Sporter in .300 Win Mag with Zeiss 3.5-10X scope shoots 180-grain bullets at 2,960 fps. The Ruger 77 Mk II Hawkeye Compact Magnum with Leupold 3-9x40 scope, shoots 180-grain bullets at 2,860 fps, is 5-1/4" shorter and nearly 2-pounds lighter than the Sporter. on this a bit. The factory .300 RCM in a 20" barrel beats factory ’06 loads by 200 to 250 fps and equals or exceeds even hot ’06 handloads. By the way, just when did the .30-06 become some kind of mild cartridge fit only for small game? Back in the 1920s when the ’06 was being used on lions and such, writer Ned Crossman disparaged the idea of using such a powerful a round on a “flea-bitten whitetail buck weighing not over 125 pounds” (quoted in Shots at Whitetails by Larry Koller). In the 1950s and ’60s deer hunters used rounds such as .30-30. .32 Special, .303 Savage, .250 Savage, and I even recall a couple of .44-40s and .25-20s. Those who selected the .30-06 did so because they also hunted bigger game. Back then, I thought of the ’06 as a moose and elk round, and haven’t found much reason to change my views. When I read of the .300 RCM being a “hot” .30-06, or “+P” ’06, I consider it high praise indeed. Amazing Consistency The Hornady .300 RCM is excellent ammunition. Velocities were amazingly consistent, maybe as a result of the short powder column, Hornady quality control, or more likely both. The first six rounds with the 165-grain SST bullet over the chronograph produced these numbers: 3,003, 3,002, 2,996, 3,002, 3,002 and 2,997 fps. I was so impressed I went ahead and fired the entire box over the screens. Extreme spread for all 20 rounds was 36 fps with an average of almost exactly 3,000 fps. Ten rounds with the 150- and 180-grain SST bullets gave extreme spreads of 53 and 49 fps respectively. Standard deviations were in the range of 10 to 12 fps. Another characteristic was relatively mild recoil. Recoil is a function of both cartridge and rifle. The powder charge plays a considerable role in felt recoil, more than many shooters realize. A bigger case needs more powder just to reach the same velocity (of course the bigger case can also utilize even more powder to get higher velocities). Comparing 180-grain loads, an 8-pound RCM (2,860 fps) has about the same recoil energy as a 9.5-pound Win Mag (2,960 fps). Recoil energy is a bit higher than an 8-pound .30-06, though my Featherweights with hard buttplates actually GMX bullet rated at 3,075 fps in the .300 RCM. It is designed feel as though they recoil more. for high weight retention and deep penetration. I haven’t The Rifle shot anything with it yet, but Sammy Reese (our single issue publications editor) reported excellent results with the bullet The Ruger 77 Hawkeye rifle for the .300 RCM is a very on a wild pig hunt. neat rifle indeed. Overall length with 20" barrel is just 39-1/2". It’s been suggested Hornady is using some “magic Fitting a Leupold VX-II 3-9x40 scope in Ruger rings brought powder” and reloaders can’t come close to factory ballistics. I the weight to 7 pounds, 15 ounces. With a light web sling believe Hornady is using a non-canister powder with burning and three rounds loaded, all-up weight is right around 8-1/4 characteristics well suited to the RCM case capacity and short barrels, but I doubt there is any special magic. I’m planning to do some load testing for a future “Rifleman” column. Considering how well Alliant RL-17 does in the similarcapacity .300 SAUM I have high hopes for it in the RCM case. Just where does the .300 RCM fit in? It is at least equal to most .300 Win Mag factory loads when both are fired in 20" barrels (though handloaded Win Mag loads will still outrun it by 100 fps or so). From a 20" barrel the RCM is only about 100 fps behind factory Win Mag loads fired in 24" barrels. What about a comparison to the classic .30-06? Let’s make sure we’re comparing apples to apples. Factory ’06 loads with 180-grain bullets are rated at 2,700 fps in 24" barrels. Most f2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=55http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=55The best 3-shot 100-yard group (above) with the Ruger Compact Magnum was with .300 RCM Hornady ammunition loaded with 150-grain SST bullets and measured 7/8". Typical 3-shot, 100-yard group (below) with Ruger Compact Magnum and 165-grain Hornady SST ammunition measures about 1.3". The Ruger Hawkeye Compact Magnum is also available in stainless steel with a synthetic stock. Shooting the .300 RCM and Hornady’s new GMX bullet, FMG’s Single Issue Publication editor Sammy Reese quickly dispatched this wild hog in the central coast region of California. pounds. Eight pounds field-ready is not really light by today’s standards, but for a cartridge of this power, I wouldn’t want it much lighter. There’s enough weight in the barrel to avoid the “muzzle light” feel of some carbines. The rifle’s balance point is about 5" ahead of the trigger, just where I like it. It balances and handles beautifully. I could get 4 cartridges in the magazine but it’s a tight fit, and the bolt couldn’t be closed over 4 rounds. Ruger rightly calls it a 3-round magazine. Cartridge feeding is slick and smooth whether feeding from the left or right feed rails. The 77 Mk II is a designed to feed from the magazine, but the bolt will close and lock on a cartridge dropped into the chamber. Overall quality of workmanship is very good. Barrel and receiver have a low-luster matte finish. Stock finish and checkering are likewise well done. I found just three tiny overruns in the checkering which weren’t covered by the pattern border. The recoil pad has a nice soft feel, much better than the pads on the 77s I already have. Great Features The Mk II action has many features I like: a 1-piece bolt, controlled-round feeding, a big claw extractor, mechanical ejection, and a 3-position safety which locks into the cocking piece when fully engaged. Ruger barrels are typically very well made. The trigger pull was the one disappointment. The last three M-77s I’ve bought had very nice triggers, crisp, consistent, and breaking at 4 pounds. I just had to drop in a lighter trigger return spring to bring pull weight down to 3 pounds. The test rifle’s trigger is crisp and consistent enough but heavy at 5-1/2 pounds. The basic design of the LC6 trigger is very good, and I don’t anticipate any difficulty in tuning it to the 3-pound break I like. I’m just surprised to find it this WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM heavy. Accuracy testing consisted of 3-shot groups at 100 yards. Best group was 7/8", worst group 1.7", average group size 1.35". Functioning proved completely reliable. When I was much younger I went through a “carbine phase” (the shorter and lighter, the better). In those days I never wore ear protection while hunting. As a result I suffered some hearing loss and came to really dislike short barrels. Short of a life-saving emergency I’ll never fire another round without ear protection. In the field I generally use soft foam plugs. If the game doesn’t give me time to get the plugs in place it can darn well get away. Still hunting, or on a stand, I sometimes wear electronic muffs which allow normal sounds while blocking out gunfire. As a result my biggest objection to short barrels has been eliminated. One of my favorite hunting rifles is a Ruger 77 Mk II Sporter (laminated stock/stainless steel) in .300 Win Mag. It is accurate, flat-shooting and powerful. I’ve shot something like 15 species of game with it, from 80 pounds to 1,000+, almost all killed with one shot. Compared to its bigger brother, the Compact Magnum is over 5" shorter, nearly 2 pounds lighter, yet produces nearly the same ballistics. Considered individually there is nothing particularly dramatic about another short magnum cartridge, or another compact, medium-weight rifle, yet I’m starting to think the combination of the two is something very special. Hornady mfg. inC. 3625 old PotaSH HWy., grand iSland, ne 68802 (308) 382-1390, WWW.Hornady.Com 552009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=56http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=56Wh en it co me s to tec hn ology, Wh ich kn ive s ma ke th e cu t? he technological advances in knives have been a constant ever since the tactical folder exploded on the scene and every year the manufacturers compete to up the ante with the latest, greatest styles and steels, materials and mechanisms. The sporting knife segment of cutlery has benefited from this newer technology in both fixed-blade and folding knife form, bombarding the customer with a dizzying array of new knives to consider. But is newer necessarily better? Didn’t we get along just fine with simple, hard-working knives before the technoboom hit? With newer technologies come higher prices. Are these new advances worth the added expense? If so, how do you know which advances are worth the extra price? In your local supermarket you can compare the price of beans from can to can, but it’s not so easy when, in many instances, you don’t have a chance to do a side-by-side comparison with knives. What is new and what is traditional? You may be surprised. Some stainless steels we consider modern have been in use for more than a century. For instance, the most widely used stainless steel in cutlery today, 440C, has roots dating back to 1906. Likewise Micarta, T Pat Covert Two takes on D2 steel are shown here: DiamondBlade Knives Summit (top) with friction forged D2 has a thoroughly modern edge while Knives of Alaska’s Alpha Wolf uses the old standard. a hugely popular handle material for all types of tactical and sporting knives today, got its early beginnings around 1910. One key factor separating a traditional knife vs. a hi-tech one are the materials. In the early 1990s, when modern day tactical knives were being developed, a new breed of steel dubbed ATS-34 — popularized by legendary custom knifemaker Bob Loveless — began to replace more traditional stainless and tool steels in custom knives. ATS-34 is the Japanese equivalent of 154CM steel made in America. This created an atmosphere of “newer is better” among custom knife buyers and eventually this same mind-thought trickled into the factory knife realm. A bevy of newer steels have followed ATS-34 with names like BG-42 and S30V. These new, improved steels are highly touted among custom knifemakers and, like ATS-34, have found their way in the manufacturers’ production lineups. They also add to the cost of a knife. The US manufacturers have bought into the new steel stream more so than the Europeans, who continue to use highgrade variations of 440 stainless steel in many of their higher end knives. D2, a decades old non-stainless tool steel with a high degree of chromium content for rust-resistance, is also enjoying a comeback. Highly successful custom knifemaker Bob Dozier never jumped aboard the new steel train and swears by D2 as the best steel you can put in a knife. 154CM, an older stainless steel, is now back in vogue as well. Recently these two steels have been modified to improve their edge qualities by tightening the grain structure. DiamondBlade Knives has developed a method of differently 56 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=57http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=57heat-treating the lead edge of their D2 blades (using a technique DBK calls “friction-forging”) to greatly enhance their cutting and edge holding capabilities. Crucible Materials Corp., a company offering a group of steels for knifemaking, has developed a powdered steel version of 154CM stainless steel, dubbed CPM154, which has a much tighter grain overall. Results of tests on both of these modified steels has been extremely positive. Just as the way of steel has gone, so have handle materials. Old timer Micarta, a phenolic resin lay-up similar to fiberglass, has been trumped in recent years by newer synthetic handle materials like G-10 and space-age Carbon Fiber. There is no doubt these newer materials are tougher and more durable, but they also add more cost to a knife. Meanwhile, lower priced molded synthetic plastics such as Zytel and FRN (fiberglass reinforced nylon) have replaced older synthetics like Delrin. Like Delrin, these newer materials lend themselves better to mass manufacturing, resulting in lower production costs often passed on to the consumer. Two big ones in old-vs.-new steel. At top is Bob Dozier’s Bowie in traditional D2, at bottom Walter Brend’s Rescue in newly modified CPM154 stainless. German knife companies still favor long-proven 440C stainless steel. The Puma folding hunter (top) and Boker Drop Point (bottom) both sport 440C. “While there has been great experimentation with handle designs over the years, the human hand hasn’t changed and here again basic designs are fixed in tradition.” Many of the newer knife designs may look Martian-like compared to those of yesterday, but many elements of them are firmly rooted in history. This is most apparent in blade styles. The most common blade styles on knives today — spear point, drop point, trailing point and clip point — are some of the earliest designs ever developed and the same ones we grew up with. Some custom knifemakers have developed morphed versions of these blade designs, sometimes combining them, to make modified versions that may look foreign to us, but the basic roots are there. The tanto blade of Asian lore and other exotic styles, such as the Filipino bola, have also found their way onto modern fixed-blades and folders. WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM Is digital camo the wave of the future? Spyderco’s Paramilitary (top) and SOG Knives’ Aegis models seem to think so. 572009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=58http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=58While there has been great experimentation with handle designs over the years, the human hand hasn’t changed and here again basic designs are fixed in tradition. A handle with a bulbous center to fit the palm, a guard above the fingers to prevent the hand from slipping, and ample length to allow a full grip will always be appreciated by the user. Adding fingergrooves can also improve grip, as long as they fit your grip and not someone with a larger or smaller hand. New designs in blade locks on folding knives have been abundant in recent years. The popular liner-lock, modernized by custom knifemaker Michael Walker (who hid it inside the handle) was originally patented in the early 1900s. Sturdy bar locks, which block the tang of a blade very effectively, have been more frequent recently as well as “safeties” similar to those found on firearms. Safeties are particularly helpful on folders with legal autoopening blades, called “spring assisted openers.” It is interesting to note camouflage patterns (including popular patented designs by top manufacturers like Welcome to state-of-the-art folding knives! At top is Blade-Tech’s Magnum Hunter in S30V steel and G1 handles, at bottom is DiamondBlade Knives’ Monach with friction-forged D2 and textured carbon fiber. Carbon steel and old-time handle materials still have a nice fan base, especially among those who like old patterns like these (below). At top is the Moore Maker Lock-back Trapper in yellow bone, at bottom a W.R. Case & Sons Sodbuster in Rosewood. Realtree) have been used on knife handles for quite a few years, but now we are seeing digital camo, such as that adopted by the US military, showing up on cutlery and other outdoor accessories. In future days it will be intriguing to watch to what degree the digital patterns carry over into more consumer-oriented areas like hunting and camping. New technology in the cutlery industry has given us more options than ever before, but it is not the do-all end-all to buying a knife. Just the fact Micarta has been around for a century and is still one of the most popular handle materials says a lot. For instance, a custom or manufactured knife with state-of-the-art S30V blade steel and handle scales of Micarta is a blend of the old and new. Such a combination is not unusual and for good reason — both materials are excellent for the purpose they serve. If you upgrade the handle to a newer material, such as carbon fiber, you will lose a small amount of weight and may get a little more life out of the handle, but how many of us wear out a handle in the first place, and is it worth the additional price? In essence, technology is a good thing when used in the proper circumstance. Esthetics is a subjective animal, but also a key factor in buying a knife. Some users like the cutting-edge look of carbon fiber while others prefer the earthy, traditional appearance of stag. Both make for fine handles and chances are neither will fail you in the field. This is a similar choice the hunter makes between a wood or synthetic stock. Synthetics, however, do have an advantage in that they are more impervious to the elements and are easier to clean. If this is an issue in your case, go with the synthetic. It should be noted, however, many shooters today are firing 50- or even 100-year-old rifles with wooden stocks and voicing no complaints making the point that, given proper care, traditional materials will last more than a lifetime. Multi-blade folders are most often found in traditional patterns such as Trappers and Folding Hunters. These offer the obvious advantage of having a choice of blades and/or tools. Taken to the extreme in some cases, such as the mega-function Swiss Army knives, multi-blade knives are not generally made for hard use but more for versatility. The Right Edge The choice between old and new technology is not difficult once you consider your needs. In most circumstances the common, average user can mix and match steels and handles to2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=59http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=59been proven over time while newer ones can offer more durability. If you are a hard user, chances are you’ll want the latest great everything in a knife for the longer lasting benefits. You may want to ask yourself, “How many knives have I worn out over the years?” The answer should determine your choice. Blade-teCH induStrieS 2506 104tH Street Court SoutH Building H lakeWood, Wa 98499 (877) 331-5793, WWW.Blade-teCH.Com BoB dozier kniveS Po Box 1941 SPringdale, ar 72765 (888) 823-0023, WWW.dozierkniveS.Com Boker uSa, inC. 1550 BalSam Street lakeWood, Co 80214-5917 (800) 835-6433, WWW.BokeruSa.Com Brend kniveS 353 County road 1373 vinemont al 35179 (256) 775-2668, WWW.BrendkniveS.Com diamondBlade kniveS SoutHern offiCe 3100 airPort drive deniSon, tx 75020 (800) 221-6873 WWW.diamondBladekniveS.Com kniveS of alaSka, inC. SoutHern offiCe 3100 airPort drive deniSon, tx 75020 (800) 572-0980, WWW.kniveSofalaSka.Com moore maker, inC. P.o. Box 133 matador, tx. 79244 (830) 391-5402, WWW.mooremaker.Com Puma knife ComPany uSa 13934 WeSt 108tH Street lenexa, kS 66215 (913) 888-5524 WWW.PumaknifeComPanyuSa.Com Sog kniveS 6521 212tH Street SW lynnWood, Wa 98036 (888) Sog-BeSt, WWW.SogkniveS.Com SPyderCo, inC. 20011 golden gate Canyon rd. golden, Co 80403 (800) 525-7770, WWW.SPyderCo.Com W.r. CaSe & SonS Cutlery Co. Po Box 4000, oWenS Way Bradford, Pa 16701 (800) 523-6350, WWW.WrCaSe.Com CrossBreed Holsters LLC. ARE YOU TIRED OF UNCOMFORTABLE HOLSTERS? ARE YOU CARRYING A SMALLER GUN THAN YOU WANT TO JUST SO YOU CAN CONCEAL IT? I got my SuperTuck holster from you for my XD 4” back in February. I use it everyday 10 to 12 hours, sometimes tucked, sometimes not. This is the most comfortable holster I have ever had. Holds my XD close to my body and just makes it disappear. It holds the gun firmly, yet easy and fast to draw. Who says you can’t conceal carry a full size gun? They never tried a SuperTuck. I love it! Thanks, IdbI# Why not try a CrossBreed TODAY? Lifetime Warranty! Try-It-FREE-Guarantee! 888.732.5011 www.CrossBreedHolsters.com WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 592009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=60http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=60onsidering my gun magazine persona, what cartridge would you C think I have loaded and fired more of in the first half of 2009? Would it be one for BPCR Silhouette competition? No, although I’ve Mike “Duke” Venturino Photos: Yvonne Venturino handloaded about 1,300 rounds of combined .45-70, .45-90, and .40-65 match-quality loads so far this year, I’ve only fired about 300 of them at this writing. What about .30-06? With my current focus on a World War II military firearms collection I now own 11 .30-06 rifles. You’re getting close if you guessed that one. Indeed I have loaded about 1,000 rounds of .30-06 this year, but I’ve only fired about half of them. My most reloaded and fired caliber of 2009 at mid-term is the 8mm Mauser, of which I had never even owned a rifle so chambered until 2001. And I only bought it because I was at a gun show, bored, and it was priced right. It’s a nice condition German K98k made in 1937 by Sauer & Sohn. K stands for karabiner — German for carbine, which at 8.6 pounds with a 23.6" barrel the K98k certainly is not by usual standards. But it was their weapon and they could call it what they wanted. Not being an 8mm Mauser handloader then, I also picked up several hundred rounds of Turkish military surplus ammunition. That was a waste. They sprayed bullets all over the target paper with some going through sideways. Fearing I had bought a lemon I shot some Winchester 8mm Mauser factory loads next. I don’t remember their exact group size, but it was pretty decent and all bullets hit point on. That surplus ammo was then taken out of its nifty, 5- round, brass stripper clips. They were kept and the ammo given away. I’ve never delved into the 8mm surplus ammo scene again. Instead, a set of Lyman dies made me an 8mm Mauser handloader. Before getting into details, let’s take a look at some of the rather confusing background of this world famous cartridge. First off, what are the differences between the 7.9x57mm, 7.92x57mm, and 8x57mm? None. They are just different names for the same cartridge. It seems that the 7.9mm and 7.92mm designations are used all around the world except here in the United States. Our name for it is 8mm Mauser and so headstamped are cartridges either made here or intended for sale here. What about when there is a “J” or “JS” included with the name? That’s a different ball game entirely. Here’s why. When the German military first adopted the cartridge in 1888 it used a 226-grain roundnose bullet of .318" diameter. Come 1905 they modernized it to a 154-grain spitzer but increased the bullet diameter to .323". Naturally they didn’t want anyone firing those .005" larger bullets down a .318" barrel so the earlier rounds were named “J” and the later ones “JS.” The “S” stands for spitzer, or so I have read. Also what I have read is all German military rifles after 1905 were made for the JS size bullets but that some sporting rifle makers saw fit to stay with the smaller J size for their rifle barrels. It is a fact to be aware of. With that 1905 remodeling of their military cartridge Germany set the world’s other major military organizations on their collective ears. It is no coincidence the United States Army switched from a 220-grain roundnose in their .30-03 cartridge to a 150-grain spitzer in 1906. Hence, the .30-06. Likewise, the British and the Russians went to pointy bullets in their respective military cartridges. Compared to 8mm Mauser (how I will refer to it henceforth) the .30-06 was a rather obscure round in military Duke has become very fond of his Action Target PT Torso steel plates. He admits to not caring for military open sights but has found he can do decent shooting with his K98k despite its very high point of impact. Duke’s 300-yard range is dotted with the tiny black spots of the Action Target PT Torso steel plates. 60 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=61http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=61organizations. Of course, Germany was the 8mm Mauser’s most noted user in two world wars. But it also was standard at one time or the other for countries such as China, Romania, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and many others. In fact in the early years of WWII Japan captured so many 8mm rifles from China they armed five full divisions of troops with them. Those captured Chinese rifles were a variation of the basic Mauser Model 98 as have been the vast bulk of 8mm Mauser rifles. The designations given to those 98s by their adopting countries are too numerous to detail here. They can be seen in the book Mauser Military Rifles Of The World, 3rd Edition by Robert W. D. Ball. Still they were mostly of a type: turn-bolt action with internal magazine of 5-round capacity. Interestingly, when Germany and Poland went at each other in 1939 the average infantryman on both sides was armed with variations of the Mauser 98 in 8mm. Buying that first 8mm Mauser rifle didn’t immediately turn me into a rabid fan — either of the cartridge or the rifle itself. The reason was I didn’t think my aging eyes would permit even halfway decent shooting with its open sights and, besides, its point of impact at 100 yards was a foot above point of aim. Until this past winter it wasn’t fired much. By WWII both the American and British military forces recognized the benefit of peep sights. Even the Japanese had a stab at peep sights on both Type 38 6.5mm and Type 99 7.7mm rifles. Not understanding rifle shooting as much as sword fighting, they put the peep sight out on the barrel. But the nations using one or another variation of Mauser 98 stubbornly stuck to open battle sights with the rear one placed far out on the barrel. My second 8mm rifle came in 2006 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM These are Duke’s four World War II vintage 8mm rifles. From top: 1937 vintage K98k, 1937 vintage Czech VZ24 with 4X scope of unknown make, 1942 vintage K98k with ZF41 1.5X scope, and 1945 vintage K43 with original 4X German ZF4 scope. This is the tiny 1.5X Zf41 scope the Germans put on K98k rifles during WWII, originally to arm one marksman per squad. Even though the K43 has a detachable box magazine it was meant to be loaded from the top by means of 5-round stripper clips. The K43 is often found fitted with a scope. The ZF4 scope atop this K43 is marked with the model and a manufacturer’s code. The K43 has the notorious WWII “duffel bag cut” of the stock so it could be brought back by a returning GI. It has been repaired, after a fashion, and is strong enough to shoot. 612009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=62http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=62and carried a scope: not much of a scope to be sure but still better than open sights. On this K98k, the German Wehrmacht installed a 1.5X telescope designated the Zf41 mounted far out on the barrel over the rear sight and predated “scout rifles” by about 50 years. Although this rifle/scope combination is considered by some as a “sniper rifle” as developed its purpose was as a “marksman’s rifle.” The idea was to issue one per squad for more precise shooting. Examples of such would be shooting into the firing apertures of pillboxes or tanks. The Wehrmacht used the Zf41/K98k combo as a sniper rifle because true sniper rifles were in short supply. My K98k/Zf41 combination turned out to be a fine rifle made by Mauser-Werke of Berlin in 1942. But the Zf41 scope was cloudy to the point of uselessness. Still, I did not do much 8mm shooting. In 2007 came a VZ24 8mm rifle set up as an actual sniper rifle. Again, it’s a basic Mauser 98, but made by at BRNO in Czechoslovakia and dated 1937. This one has a scope of unknown make but fashioned exactly as some of the German scopes shown in the book The German Sniper 1914-1945 by Peter Senich. It has a thick center post and is most likely 4X. Many European countries bought these Czech-made rifles prior to WWII but I can’t ascertain for sure where mine went. It’s probably a safe bet if it stayed in central or Eastern Europe, then it saw use on the Eastern Front during the war. What is sure is it saw hard use. Cosmetically there is a lot of wear on stock and metal, but what worried me most was the barrel’s grooves are dark. That stems from microscopic pits. I really got worried upon first shooting it and getting groups that wouldn’t stay on one of John Taffin’s hats. Those loads used 150-grain bullets. I tried other bullet weights and the rifle began shooting nicely, dark bore and all. In the winter of 2009 two things really started me down the 8mm shooting and handloading path. One was finding Numrich Gun Parts Corporation imports reproductions of the Zf41 scopes. I bought one and stored the original away. Also I acquired the German K43 semi- (Brand, Bullet WeigHt, tyPe) Bullet 8mm Handloaded ammo PerformanCe PoWder CHarge veloCity (Brand) (grainS WeigHt) (fPS) (model, Barrel lengtH, inCHeS) rifle Sierra 150 SPitzer H4350 50.0 2,795 K98k 23.62 Comment: Accurate in K98k but not in VZ24. Hornady 195 SP Varget 47.0 2,522 K98k 23.62 Comment: Accurate in all four rifles. Hornady 195 SP IMR4895 45.0 2,326 K43 22 Comment: Accurate in all four rifles. SPeer 200 SPitzer IMR4895 45.0 2,306 VZ24 23.25 Comment: Good load but slightly less accurate overall as 195 Hornady bullet. Sierra 200 HPBt Varget 47.0 2,484 K98k 23.62 Comment: Accurate in all rifles except VZ24. Notes: All handloads used Winchester brass and Winchester large rifle primers. Velocities taken with PACT Professional Model Chronograph with start screen at approximately 6'. load 8mm faCtory ammo PerformanCe veloCity (fPS) (Brand, Bullet WeigHt, tyPe) (model, Barrel lengtH, inCHeS) rifle 2,410 VZ24 23.25 Comment: Accurate in all four rifles. Hornady 195 2,422 K43 22 Comment: More speed from shorter barrel – interesting. norma 196 2,393 VZ24 23.25 Comment: Mediocre accuracy from all rifles. mitCHell’S 198 2,353 K98k 23.62 Comment: FMJ bullet, Loads freshly manufactured in Yugoslavia. mitCHell’S 198 2,303 K43 22 Comment: Perfect functioning. Shot better in this rifle than bolt actions. Notes: Velocities taken with PACT Professional Model Chronograph with start screen at approximately 6'. Hornady 195 auto, which was more or less their answer to the American M1 Garand topped with a scope — a 4X designated the ZF4. An outfit named Berlin-Lubecker Machinenfabriken made my K43in 1945. That pins down date of manufacture closely since the Russians had occupied Berlin by May 1st that year. As opposed to the M1 Garand, the Germans developed the K43 (earlier designated also as G43) with a 10-round detachable magazine. However, the magazine was intended 2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=63http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=63NATO. In it is the information that the sS Patrone load used a bullet weighing 12.8 grams. That translates to 198 grains. Finally I had some idea of a baseline towards which to work with my handloads. Also worthy of note is Hornady now has a factory loading with their 195-grain spirepoint rated at 2,500 fps and one is imported from Norma in Sweden with 196-grain bullet also rated at 2,500 fps. The 8mm Mauser never gained a great following in this country. One reason Americans haven’t gone for the 8mm Mauser in great numbers is our ammunition manufacturers have been afraid of the “J” and “JS” barrel dimension situation. Fearing their factory loads with .323" bullets would be fired in rifles with .318" barrels they hold pressures down to about 35,000 psi. Mauser 98 rifles in good condition are easily good for 50,000 psi. Therefore, until recently, all American factory loaded 8mm cartridges have been wimpy. Wanting my 8mm handloads to give good service in all four of my rifles, 150-grain loads were excluded quickly. The VZ24 wouldn’t shoot them well with any powder tried. Speer’s 200-grain spitzer, Sierra’s 200-grain HPBT and Hornady’s 195-grain spirepoint were fired in all four rifles with a variety of suitable propellants. Interestingly the VZ24 wouldn’t shoot the HPBTs worth a hoot while the other three rifles did fine with them. Finally, all four rifles handled the 200-grain Speer and 195-grain Hornady well enough. I have settled on the latter because overall it seemed to shoot just a bit better from all four rifles. To condense some rather extensive load development, I’ve finally settled on either Varget or IMR4895 powders for all my 8mm Mauser handloading. With the scoped rifles, my 100-yard 5-shot groups usually run in the 2" to 3" range. well enough to make consistent hits out to 300 yards pleased me immensely. With all three of the scoped 8mm rifles I can whack those steel plates until boredom overcomes my enthusiasm. And that’s the story of my 8mm Mauser experiences to date. From only knowing the basics of its history a few years ago it has now become one of my most fired and favored rifle cartridges. Ringing Steel Along with the 8mm rifles this winter I also bought several of Action Target’s PT Torso armored steel plates. They are dimensioned at 13" wide by 24" tall. One each is set at 100, 200 and 300 yards and I’ve shot at them so much these last few months I’ve come to consider them “shooting buddies.” With my 8mm shooting interest going full tilt I also dug out my first, open-sighted K98k. With it on those PT Torso targets a six o’clock hold at 100 yards gave high hits, a six o’clock hold at 200 yards gave slightly lower hits and the same hold at the 300-yard steel gave center hits. Someday I’ll find a taller front sight for it because I’d rather have it zeroed dead on at 100 yards. Better yet, discovering that my 60-year-old eyes can still see those sights aCtion target 1281 WeSt, 220 nortH, Provo, ut 84601 (801) 377-8033, WWW.aCtiontarget.Com BlaCk HillS SHooterS SuPPly (norma) P.o. Box 4220, 2875 S. Creek drive raPid City, Sd 57709 (605) 348-4477, WWW.BHSHooterS.Com Hornady P.o. Box 1848, grand iSland, ne 68802 (308) 382-1390, WWW.Hornady.Com mitCHell manufaCturing CorP. P.o. Box 9295, fountain valley, Ca 92728 (800) 274-4124, WWW.mauSer.org numriCH gun PartS 226 WilliamS lane, WeSt Hurley, ny 12491 (845) 679-4867, WWW.gunPartSCorP.Com NO CLEVER HEADLINES NO “WARM & FUZZY” PHOTOS 1-/ÊÊ,/Ê61Ê We know it’s not about the beautifully crafted ads…it’s about great }՘ÃÊ>ÌÊ>Ê}Ài>ÌÊ«ÀˆVi°Ê-ÌiÛi˜ÃÊ,ˆviÃÊ>˜`Ê-…œÌ}՘ÃÊ>ÀiÊ̅iÊ Žˆ˜`ʜvÊ}՘Ãʅ՘ÌiÀÃʏœÛi]Ê>˜`Ê>`Ê>}i˜VˆiÃʅ>Ìi°Ê -/6 -Ê x£ÓÊ "Ê 7 Ê "6,É1 ,Ê -,*Ê fș™ÆÊ -/6 -Ê ÓääÊ 7/Ê Î‡™8{äÊ - "*Ê -,*Ê f{™™Ê UÊ -6Ê ,-]Ê °Ê UÊ 777°-6,-° " WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 632009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=64http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=64The FNAR has a pistol grip stock, adjustable for length of pull and an interchangable cheekpiece adjustable for three different heights. he PR folks at FNH told me, “You’ll love this gun. It shoots as well as a bolt gun.” I’ve never been a cynical type and of course I always take PR folkspeak as gospel. Come on — really? An autoloader that shoots as well as a bolt rifle? Not a chance, not even from such a prestigious gun manufacturer as Fabrique Nationale Herstal. I had a bunch of ammo in the garage and the weather in southwestern Colorado had just turned nice so I decided to put their new rifle to the test. At first glance, the gun simply looks like a slimmed down and updated version of the sporting Browning BAR, but looks can be deceiving. Like the sporting version, the FNAR receiver is precision machined from 7075 T6 aircraft grade aluminum alloy matte anodized for a durable and aesthetically pleasing finish. Instead of being drilled and tapped for conventional scope mounts, this one is topped with an ample Mil-Std M1913 accessory rail for an optical or electronic sight system. This light-barrel version was equipped with a 20" contoured fluted Mil-Spec match-grade, hammer-forged barrel and the bore is hard chromed. The crown is recessed to protect it from hard use. The FNAR is also offered in a 20" heavy contour barrel configuration adding about a pound to the overall weight. I’d rate the factory trigger on the high side of fair. It consistently broke at approximately 4 pounds after an advertised .10" take-up. There was no slop and the break was crisp. This might be a good trigger pull for the company 64 T Dave Douglas lawyers, but frankly, I’d prefer something lighter for both hunting or tactical use. The crossbolt safety was easy to operate and quite reminiscent of the old and familiar stand-by Remington 870 shotgun. I even tried it with both a pair of tactical gloves and a pair that actually keep your hands warm. It was very easy to use and provided a tactile and audible snick in both directions. The bolt handle is slightly extended making manipulation easy to properly seat the first round out of the magazine or ejecting the last round after a cease-fire. Like the safety, it is easily manipulated while wearing gloves. The bolt locking mechanism is placed on the right side of the receiver. At first it was a bit awkward to use but, by the end of the day and around 200 rounds downrange, engaging it became second nature. The magazine release is ambidextrous. Right or left-handed shooters can manipulate the release with the first finger allowing very quick magazine reloads. One of the really nice things about the mag release is its size. FNH didn’t scrimp on the metal when designing it. Its profile is low enough and the release is protected by a ridge on the receiver to prevent accidental release but it’s also nice and big and round. You won’t need to search for it when a rapid reload becomes necessary. The stock is black polymer, thus “We spent over 200 rounds and just could not put the gun doWn. this is a really fun gun to shoot. and one reason it Was so much fun is We didn’t experience a single malfunction.” WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=65http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=65The 9-pound FNAR is at home in the police cruiser or as a self-defense tool for the civilian. Note the hefty mag release just ahead of the triggerguard. Dave found the FNAR utterly reliable in the limited 200-round test. Cartridges feeding out of the magazine have a straight shot into the chamber. saving a good deal of weight. The pistol grip is nicely textured assuring a positive hold on the gun even in wet weather. Three Mil-Std M1913 rails are fixed on the fore-end allowing easy mounting of a laser and a light. There is a sling swivel integrated in the bottom rail for sling attachment or a Harris bipod. Additionally, as with the pistol grip, the fore-end is aggressively textured. You can make this gun fit your particular shooting hold preference. FNH includes three differently-sized cheekpieces so you can adjust for your best cheekweld and the firm has also includes three buttplates for length of pull adjustment. All you need is a screwdriver and about 5 minutes and you’re in business. The model tested was equipped with a sturdy, box-type detachable 20-round magazine. It is also available in a 10-round configuration to accommodate fnar maker: fn uSa P.o. Box 697, mCClean, va 22101 (703) 288-1292, WWW.fnHuSa.Com oPeration: Gas-Operated Autoloader CaliBer: .308 Winchester (7.62x51 NATO) CaPaCity: 20- or 10-round detachable magazine overall lengtH: 41.5" WeigHt/ligHt Barrel: 9 pounds WeigHt/Heavy Barrel: 10 pounds Barrel: 20", Fluted, light or heavy contour trigger releaSe travel: .10" lengtH of Pull: Adjustable finiSH: Matte black StoCk: Black polymer, pistol grip PriCe: $1,821 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM those states where the 20-rounders are illegal. The mags are of steel construction with a low friction follower for smooth feeding. I mounted the Leupold Mark 4 6.5-20x50mm LR/T M1 with an illuminated reticle for some range work. The combo of this scope and the FNAR 7.62x51 is truly awesome in either a tactical or hunting environment. The illuminated reticle is great for precision shot placement in low light or for use with night vision equipment in the tactical arena. Additionally, it works really well in range estimation for hunting and target shooting. Controls include a side focus parallax adjustment knob for quick and easy parallax focusing from 75 yards to infinity and finger-adjustable .25-MOA windage and elevation adjustments with audible, tactile clicks. This scope, a beast with a 30mm tube, is rugged, absolutely waterproof and can withstand all sorts of hunting or tactical abuse. The FNAR 7.62x51 is gas operated, so recoil is minimal even for a gun weighing in at a mere 9 pounds, including its empty 20-round magazine. The heavy barrel version is only a pound more. It’s easily carried due to its relatively short 41.5" overall length and 7.5" height. Standard length of pull is 14.12". Three of us shot the FNAR for about 4 hours in an informal session over on Rick Taylor’s personal range in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. We spent over 200 rounds and just could not put the gun down. This is a really fun gun to shoot. And one reason it was so much fun is we didn’t experience a single malfunction. Operation was absolutely flawless. We fed the gun ammo from Hornady, Black Hills, Federal, Remington and handloads in 110-, 150-, 168- and 180-grain. It simply gobbled down everything we threw at it without so much as a single hiccup. FNH touts 1-MOA with Federal Match 168-grain GM308, Winchester The FNAR comes with a 20-round detachable magazine. A 10-round magazine is available in those states keeping the hi-capacity ban. A Leupold Mk 4 6.5-20X scope with iluminated reticle was used for the test. Fitting on the provided M1913 Picatinny-style rail, the scope features 1/4 MOA clicks and a 30mm tube. The fore-end is fully textured and has accessory rails on the forward portion for lights and lasers. The barrel is fluted and the bore hard chromed. Supreme 150-grain Power Point X3085, Federal High Energy 180-grain Softpoint 308B, Remington 152009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=66http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=66VIEWS NEWS AND REVIEWS RIGHTS WATCH • DAVID CODREA • This ATTAck On Gun RiGhTs shOuldn’T Fly ed Kennedy had a problem a while back. Per The T Washington Post, “Kennedy said … that he was stopped and questioned at airports on the East Coast five times … because his name appeared on the government’s secret ‘no-fly’ list. “Federal air security officials said the initial error that led to scrutiny … should not have happened even though they recognize the no-fly list is imperfect. But privately they acknowledged being embarrassed that it took the senator and his staff more than three weeks to get his name removed.” Which makes the latest attack on gun ownership by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy even more outrageous. Having been thwarted in 2005, she recently reintroduced H.R. 2401, the “No Fly, No Buy Act of 2009,” with the stated objective “To increase public safety and reduce the threat to domestic security by including persons who may be prevented from boarding an aircraft in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and for other purposes.” How will she do that? By amending the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to prevent anyone on the admittedly “imperfect” list from buying a handgun. And if it took someone with Kennedy’s connections three weeks to get the problem sorted out, imagine how long it could take you and I. But there’s more to this than inconvenience. Aside from the fact being denied a gun can be life threatening in itself, a gun owner could find themselves in serious legal trouble. Author and attorney Dave Kopel noted, “Under the New McCarthyism, a prosecutor could send a gun-owner to federal prison without needing to show the person had ever committed a crime, or had taken 66 any steps preparatory to committing a crime, but merely that the person’s name was on list compiled by a federal agent and the person had owned, used, or tried to buy a gun. By federal law, anyone on the prohibited persons list for guns is barred not only from buying a gun, but even from holding a gun for a moment. A name can also be placed on the no-fly list based solely on information supplied by a foreign government — information which may often be reliable, but sometimes may not be.” Factor in the recently released Department of Homeland Security report on “right wing extremism” that warned authorities “returning veterans possess combat skills and experience that are attractive to right-wing extremists,” and the government’s penchant for classifying Constitutionalists as potential threats (see “Homegrown Terrorists,” my April 2008 “Rights Watch” column). Then understand that Rep. Peter King, as reported by WorldNetDaily, “has sponsored H.R. 2159 … which permits the attorney general to deny transfer of a firearm to any ‘known or suspected dangerous terrorist.’ The bill requires only the potential firearm transferee is appropriately suspected’ of preparing for a terrorist act and the attorney general ‘has a reasonable belief’ the gun might be used in connection with terrorism.” Guilty until proven innocent. Unalienable rights denied without due process. The word for this is “un-American.” That McCarthy and King are United States representatives who have sworn an oath to support and defend the Constitution, well, figure out what the word for that is. Visit David Codrea’s online journal The War on Guns at waronguns.blogspot.com. WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=67http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=672009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=68http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=68FiRe up ith the help of Royal Artillery soldiers, the Afghan Army has taken another step towards fighting the Taliban on its own two feet by bringing out the big guns. The Afghan National Army (ANA) has not fired its artillery for more than two years, but once again the sound of 122mm D-30 guns was heard in Helmand province. At Camp Shorabak, the home of the ANA’s 3rd Brigade 205 Hero Corps, its new 102-strong Artillery Company gave a demonstration of its new firepower to the head of 3/205 Brigade, Brigadier General Mohayoddin Ghuri, and the head of the British Task Force Helmand, Brigadier Tim Radford. W An Afghan Gunner loads a shell into a Russian D-30. Introduced in 1963, the D-30 is used by at least 13 countries worldwide. Photo: Cpl Rupert Frere The Afghan Artillery Company has been trained for the past few months by British Gunners of the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team from 40 Regiment Royal Artillery and the Royal School of Artillery in Larkhill. Brigadier General Mohayoddin said, “For three years we have trained together with the British, worked together, been fighting together. We are not friends, we are brothers, like one family in Helmand. My soldiers and the British soldiers are no different, because my soldiers support the Afghan people and I say thank you to the British people for sending their families to Afghanistan to support the Afghan people.” Said Major Jon McCleery, head of the artillery training team, “We are at 4/24/09 8:41:10 AM the very early stages but we can see real progress and our intention is that during this summer we wish to see them at the forward operating bases supporting operations. Initially we would see them 68 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=69http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=69In this sequence, warriors from the new Artillery Company of the 3/205 Brigade of the Afghan National Army fire Russian D-30 artillery guns at a demonstration at Camp Shorabak, Helmand province. The 122mm Frag-HE projectile weighs 21.76kg (47.97 pounds). Photo: Cpl Rupert Frere supporting ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) troops with UK observers directing the firing, but the secondary aim is to develop an ANA observer capability so they can call in and direct their own artillery. Brigadier Tim Radford added, “The advantage of having extra D-30 guns is we can augment our already existing guns within Afghanistan and particularly in Helmand in the fight against the insurgency in southern Afghanistan. “We are getting one stage closer to the ANA being independent and getting away from purely mentoring into partnering and ultimately being able to operate by themselves against the insurgency.” The D-30 gun is a Russian-built gun which fires 122mm rounds. It has an effective range of 15.4km (16,841 yards) and a maximum range of 21.9km (23,950 yards). The last time the D-30 guns were fired in Afghanistan was in early 2007. Since then many of the ANA gunners have been redeployed as infantry soldiers limiting the ability to fire artillery. — Courtesy MoD Live: 7" Live: 7"2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=70http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=70YOUR #1 ONLINE RESOURCE FOR GUN TRAINING ri e pistol shotgun trap skeet self-defense ar-15 maintenance cleaning gun smithing gun safety OpeRATiOn MAni GhAR The 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force concentrated on the West Dorafshan region of Oruzgan Province during its latest missions as part of Operation Mani Ghar (the name of a local mountain). The joint Operation involving Dutch, Australian and Afghan soldiers, saw the forces working together to cordon and search the area. All three nationalities made significant cache finds and put a serious dent in the weapons available to insurgents in that region. An Australian Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle, with dismounted soldiers in support patrols through the rural Baluchi Valley region of southern Afghanistan. Photo: ADoD www.guntalk.tv The top shooters & instructors are on Gun Talk TV to train you! Watch hundreds of FREE ONLINE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS! 70 Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel, the Commanding Officer of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force joins his men during a patrol in the Baluchi Valley during Operation Mani Ghar. Photo: ADoD WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=71http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=71Lance Corporal Joseph Byrnes (right) and Private Adrian Titiriga (left) behind the F89 mini machinegun, soldiers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force’s Combat Team Tusk, scan their arcs as they secure a position in the Dorafshan region of Oruzgan Province. Photo: ADoD Australian soldiers and their Afghan partners conducted patrols and missions throughout the areas east and north of their main base, not only conducting targeted searches, but vehicle check points and security patrols as the Dutch Battle Group worked to secure the area. Whilst the mission was underway, Australian Engineers took the chance to improve the Baluchi Crossing, which is the crossing point for the Dorafshan Rud (River) at the entrance to the Baluchi Valley, where a number of the Australian Patrol Bases are situated. — Courtesy ADoD WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 712009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=72http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=72helpinG heAl DOES IT AGAIN! With the NEW KWIK-MOUNT®/ 22 ADAPTER FOR RIFLES with GROOVED RECEIVERS Letter to Wounnded Warriors: Now that we have been home for a couple days I wanted to write a proper thank you letter. I cannot express what this trip meant to my family. Since my husband, Jerry, returned from his last two tours in Iraq, after being injured both times, life has been different for us. Jerry has been on crutches for over 10 months now and still has no time frame for when he might be able to walk. His neck and back hurt everyday. Between doctor appointments, surgery and physical therapy, there isn’t much family time for us. Jerry takes a lot of pain medications so he can’t drive, he has a portable traction machine he uses on his neck daily and he has a bone stimulator machine he uses on his knee daily. He hasn’t been able to really do much with the girls since his return and this has caused some depression to tackle on top of everything else. Universal mounts enabling scopes to be interchanged easily onto a variety of receivers. Satin smooth finish available in brite black, silver, and black matte, all at the same price. Sets the standard for looks in the industry. If you can’t find our bases at your favorite distributor, contact KWIK-SITE and we’ll make SURE you get them. Wounded Warriors Family Support allowed Jerry Broesch, injured during each of his two tours in Iraq to have a 7-day vacation at the WWFS resort and have a little family time with his wife and little girls. Otherwise, life is a series of doctor visits, surgery and recovery. Leading U.S. Manufacturer of Scope Mounts 5555 Treadwell, Wayne, MI 48184 (734) 326-1500 Fax (734) 326-4120 www.kwiksitecorp.com 72 In steps your program! You sent us for 7 days to Orlando. We stayed at the Bahama Bay Resort. The grounds are beautiful and the staff is wonderful. The unit we stayed in was spacious and comfortable. The showers were walk-in with bench seats so Jerry could shower without any problems. The pool was right behind us so even when he didn’t feel up to coming out with us, he could sit on the screened porch and WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=73http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=73watch the girls swim and feel like he wasn’t missing everything. We were able to visit many locations during our trip. We went to Epcot, Animal Kingdom, The Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and we even went to Sea World. It was nice to be able to take our time and set our own pace at the parks. Jerry was able to go on some rides with the girls and they all loved that. At Sea World, Jerry was able to dive with the sharks. Being in the water took all the pressure off his neck, back and knee and for those 30 minutes he was truly able to enjoy himself without pain. And the girls were able to see the “old” Dad as he used to be prior to being injured. This program is amazing. We were able to go somewhere as a family and not think about doctor appointments or physical therapy visits. We were able to just focus on getting our family back. Even though things are never going to be the same in our family, Dad will be OK and that was important for the girls to see and understand. We can never repay you for the wonderful gift you gave us. It went way beyond just providing us with tickets and a place to stay. It was a huge step in the healing process for our entire family. For that we will be eternally grateful. Sincerely, The Broesch Family WOunded WARRiORs FAMily suppORT 920 s 107Th Ave, suiTe 250 OMAhA, ne 68114 (402) 502-7557, WWW. WOundedWARRiORsFAMilysuppORT.ORG (WOunded WARRiORs, inc. is A nebRAskA nOn-pROFiT cORpORATiOn. We ARe A 501(c)(3) TAx-exeMpT cORpORATiOn) JpFO videO dOcuMenTs RAcisM behind Gun cOnTROl Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership has just released a compelling new documentary with a title sure to raise some eyebrows: “No Guns for Negroes.” It’s meant to be shocking. The very idea of denying a human being their rights because of their race ought to be, and that’s the way gun control got started in this country — and continues to be applied. Ralph W. Conner, Chairman of WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 732009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=74http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=74Sierra .30 caliber, 165 grain SBT GameKing Speer .30 caliber, 165 gr. Trophy Bonded Hornady .30 caliber, 165 gr. InterBond Swift .30 caliber, 165 gr. Scirroco Nosler .30 caliber, 180 gr. AccuBond Accuracy @ 200 yards Total Penetration (inches) Retained Weight (gr.) % Retained Weight Retail Price for 100 Bullets 0.729" 18.30 156.60 94.9% $25.71 1.598" 20.88 161.00 97.6% $159.88 2.323" 20.75 151.60 91.9% $45.38 2.942" 19.30 156.00 94.5% $56.49 1.335" 26.00 127.40 70.8% $48.61 Notes 1. Accuracy testing represents a single 10 shot group at 200 yards. 2. Ballistic testing represents a single shot into calibrated ordnance gelatin at 100 yards. 3. All tests were fired in a return to battery rest at a muzzle velocity between 2650 and 2720 fps. 4. Firing tests were conducted on 3/3/04. 5. Retail prices as of 10/1/08. world’s most accurate bullets and offered F them at a price well below the bonded core or over 60 years, Sierra has made the bullets now on the market. Test results show Sierra’s GameKing bullets are more accurate, have comparable weight retention and penetration, and are far less expensive than the bonded core bullets. Choose Sierra for your next hunt, because all things being equal, there’s nothing more important than accuracy. the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)-Chicago, and Donna Major, Boston Field Coordinator for Second Amendment Sisters, are our guides through this 20-minute video that takes viewers through the racist history of gun control. We learn of the slave codes, such as the Louisiana statute that declared “Slaves cannot use any weapon, even in self defense.” We learn of black codes, designed to keep freedmen unarmed with edicts not meant to apply to whites. We see what happened when armed civil rights groups such as the veterans of the Deacons for Defense and Justice stood up to the Klan and to corrupt officials. And we see how minority citizens are exploited by current political and social “leaders” who do not speak of this history, and who promote policies guaranteeing bad people can continue to rely on good ones being defenseless. “No Guns for Negroes,” is a free download from the JPFO website, but a high-quality DVD is available with a 1-year membership ($25). Sign up for two years ($40), and JPFO will also send you a copy of their Second Amendment documentary “2A Today for the USA.” JPFO membership is open to all and I urge you to join. After all, who else is bringing us great information like this? For further information, contact JFPO, P.O. Box 270143, Hartford, WI 53027, (262) 673-9745, Fax (262) 673-9746, www.jpfo.org, email: jpfo@jpfo.org. 1400 West Henry Street Sedalia, MO 65301 Tech support: 1-800-223-8799 Other calls: 1-888-223-3006 Contact your dealer for the complete line of Sierra bullets or visit www.sierrabullets.com pARk seRvice AMMO bAn coalition of parks, wildlife and wilderness groups, led by the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), have urged Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to back a proposed ban on traditional ammunition and lead fishing tackle in national parks by 2010. NSSF has been at the forefront in the fight to keep traditional ammunition legal throughout the United States, including national parks. NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane attended a meeting last month at the US Department of Interior, where he discussed the recently released CDC study results showing no human health risk to A 74 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=75http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=75those who consume game harvested with traditional ammunition. He also pointed out to lawmakers and regulators there is no evidence the use of permitted traditional ammunition impacts species populations. NSSF will continue to educate lawmakers, regulators and media on the merits of traditional ammunition while correcting the misinformation being pushed by anti-hunting and other politically motivated groups about the ammunition. — Courtesy NSSF ATF ReFORM bill L egislation, “The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2009” (S. 941), strikes a fair balance between providing ATF with additional regulatory options to encourage even greater compliance short of revocation while at the same time affording licensees more rights and due process in the regulatory scheme. The bi-partisan bill was introduced by Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). It would allow ATF new powers to issue fines and suspend licenses of Federal Firearms Licensees (as opposed to current regulations which only allow for license revocation). The legislation would also allow ATF to distinguish between violations and “benign/ administrative” violations and create an appeal process whereby FFLs would have cases heard before a neutral administrative law judge, rather than an ATF official. NSSF is supportive of this bill as it will help protect the rights of FFLs while giving ATF more flexibility in how they exercise their regulatory authority to encourage enhanced compliance. — Courtesy NSSF Visit www.birchwoodcasey.com or call: 800-328-6156 1926RA2108 TAkinG iT TO TheM SSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane participated in an National Public Radio interview opposite Josh Horowitz, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence last May. Following Horowitz’s description of Americans who WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 75 N2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=76http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=76exercise their Second Amendment rights as “insurgents” who participate in a process that “erodes core democratic values,” Keane challenged the gun control advocate. “To assert that the action of exercising a constitutional right is somehow ‘anti-democratic’ and reserved for ‘insurgents’ is offensive and historically ignorant,” responded Keane. “This is just one more example of how far removed the gun-control movement is from mainstream America.” — Courtesy NSSF. cOnseRvATive TuRn ccording to a survey from the Pew Research Center released in late April, public attitudes on gun control have moved in a more conservative direction over the past year. For the first time in a Pew Research survey, nearly as many people believe it is more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns (45 percent) than to control gun ownership (49 percent). As recently as a year ago, 58 percent said it was more important to control gun ownership while 37 percent said it was more important to protect the right to own guns. — Courtesy NSSF A RiG’s neW diGs irchwood Casey recently announced they had acquired RIG and Bore Runner gun care products from the Fenton, Missouri, based Jackson Safety Company (Silencio). “We’re excited that Birchwood Casey will be selling the popular line of RIG gun greases and Bore Runner rods and accessories”, said Todd Binsfeld, Birchwood Casey’s Marketing Manager, Sporting Goods. “The products will continue under the RIG brand, but will be incorporated into the Birchwood Casey program.” Products under the RIG brand include Universal Gun Grease, RIG + P Stainless Steel Lube, Cleanpower Breech Brushes and Bore Runner shotgun cleaning rods. Contact Birchwood Casey, 7900 Fuller Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344, (800) 328-6156 x7933, www. birchwoodcasey.com. — Courtesy Howard Communications. B 76 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=77http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=772009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=78http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=78bAck TO bAsics When evading capture in the South African bush, grassy juice from an impala’s stomach quenches thirst. Noisy hippos mean water is nearby, as does sighting an African fish eagle. These are a few tips Staff Sgt. John Otfinoski, a squad leader with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, learned recently in survival school taught by the South African Special Forces. Otfinoski, 27, of Middletown, Conn., was one of three US Army noncommissioned officers to complete the 3-week course in April, which focused on how to live off the land, tracking and evading capture. “They strip you bare and teach you how to survive in the bush,” Otfinoski said. “It was different than anything else I’ve ever experienced.” Master Sgt. Robert Seifert, of Special Operations Command-Africa, and Sgt. 1st Class Nickolas Maney, of the 6th Ranger Training Battalion, also took part. Often it’s US Army NCOs offering mentorship to African nations — one of the key missions for US Army Africa. This case was the reverse, South African instructors taught US Army NCOs how to survive in the wild, with little more than a rifle and canteen. “They call it ‘going back to Adam,’ right down to the basics,” Seifert said. “The stuff they teach you — it’s the real deal. It throws you out of your comfort zone.” That meant navigating at night by stars rather than using a GPS, or rubbing wood together over elephant dung to spark a fire rather than flipping open a lighter. “When you’re all alone, it’s dark and you make fire — that’s a Master Sgt. Robert Seifert, from Special Operations Command - Africa, displays the first fish the survival course team caught on day one. During the 3-week course, US Army NCOs learned to fish using sticks, homemade string and improvised hooks, thankfully catching bigger fish than this, Siefert added. Photo by: Rick Scavetta Sgt. 1st Class Nickolas Maney, of the 6th Ranger Training Battalion, learns the art of surviving in the South African bush from a South African Special Forces instructor. Photo by: Rick Scavetta psychological victory over nature,” Seifert said. “It says, ‘I’m not totally powerless.’” For Seifert, 43, the SASF course reminded the 25-year veteran of his early days in the US Army infantry, when survival training was an annual event. While some things the South Africans taught resembled training from his 17 years in Special Forces, the Minnesotanative learned important lessons. “Our Army has all this technology we rely on. They stripped those things  BallisticBallisticindependent independent aiming aiming grid grid Built-in Built-in IOA IOA range range finder finder Bold Bold center center lines lines for for low low light light The Horus Evolution No Obsolete Crosshairs No Outdated Mil Dots No Counting Clicks Don’t waste precious time aiming with conventional scopes. Stop fiddling with obsolete turrets that force your eyes off target. Evolve to a Horus Vision reticle. Simply sight your target at the correct drop and wind grid coordinates, then pull the trigger. You've instantly become faster and more accurate. Don't buy just any scope - buy a shooting evolution.   Hawk 3-12x deer & game hunting long range, varmint Predator 8-26x Falcon 5-20 x steel hardened, illuminated 2000+ yds all purpose Raptor 4-16x (650) 588-8862 www.horusvision.com/learnmore4 78 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 2009 GM1009 Talon 1-4x quick action, illuminated2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=79http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=79away,” Seifert said. “We don’t train like this anymore. It reemphasized our need to get back to basics.” The course, just one phase for South African Special Forces recruits, was held specifically for foreign troops. The American NCOs trained alongside troops from France, Sweden and Botswana near the Kruger National Park, roughly a 5-hour drive northeast from Pretoria. The instructors, who spoke English with a choppy South African accent, were Zulus, veteran soldiers who grew up in the bush and fought with the SASF in Angola in the early 1980s, Otfinoski said. Creating shelter from scratch was just one of the things Staff Sgt. John Otfinoski, a squad leader with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, learned recently in survival school taught by the South African Special Forces. Photo by: Rick Scavetta “They are very proficient and know the bush like Wikipedia in their heads,” Otfinoski said. “If you’re thirsty, they know a plant with buds growing underneath that can fill your canteen.” Living off the land also meant catching, killing and cooking their food. African monitor lizards taste like — chicken. Fire ash apparently adds a salty taste to boiled During survival training, US Army NCOs spent nearly 3 weeks in grasshoppers. The “gut the South African bush in Phalaborwa, near the Kruger National water” (juice squeezed from Park, living off the land, learning the art of tracking and the grassy pulp found in an evading capture. Photo by: Rick Scavetta impala’s stomach) proved a point, but it was disgusting, Seifert said. “It was the foulest thing I tracking, spying telltale signs such as ever drank,” Seifert added. broken branches or moved grass. Such In all, the Soldiers learned about spoors are better seen with the sun more than 70 birds, 50 trees and 25 to one side. Tracking at high noon is insect species. When it comes to eating difficult. Tall wheat appears shinier after bugs, Otfinoski learned to avoid insects it’s walked though. with bright colors. Stick to natural tones, Once they understood how to track, like those of the brown grasshopper of they learned the opposite — how to which Otfinoski ate hundreds during escape and evade capture. The Gray his few weeks in the bush. “I now know Lourie bird calls out “go away” when I’ll never die if there are grasshoppers humans are near. It can be heard for miles, around,” Otfinoski said. “I’d be totally indicating danger when evading people comfortable.” tracking you. At night, grasshoppers While learning to feed themselves, stop chirping when you pass. — Rick the NCOs also practiced the art of bush Scavetta (U.S. Army Africa) WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 792009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=80http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=80RAF ends 18 yeARs OF cOMbAT OpeRATiOns in iRAq The last Tornado GR4s and VC10 tanker aircraft returned to the UK from the Middle East yesterday, marking the end of 18 years of combat operations for the RAF in the Gulf. The Tornados from XIII Squadron arrived home, Wednesday 3 June 2009, at RAF Marham in Norfolk while the VC10s from 101 Squadron, who also provided air-to-air refueling for the Tornados all the way back from the Middle East, came home to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. As a mark of respect, Squadron Leader Martin Balshaw, Commanding Officer of the Hercules C-130 detachment at 901 EAW, read out the names of the 35 Royal Air Force and Royal Auxiliary Air Force personnel who have given their lives whilst serving their country on Iraq-related operations since 1990. Following a 2-minute silence a Tornado GR4 flew over the assembled company to mark the end of the ceremony. RAF squadrons, in various forms, have been based in the region since August 1990, when a week after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait the UK sent 50 Tornados and 12 Jaguar aircraft to the area. After the first Gulf War, they patrolled no-fly zones over Iraq and monitored activity on the ground. During the second Iraq conflict, the squadrons supported troops on the ground and bombed enemy installations. Air Commodore Tony Barmby, Air Officer Commanding 83 Expeditionary Air Group, said, “As the UK ends 18 years of combat operations in the skies over Iraq, I am privileged to have had the opportunity to command the RAF folk who support, engineer and operate the Tornado GR4 strike/recce aircraft, VC10 air-to-air refueling tankers and C-130 transport aircraft. I could not A squadron of Tornado GR4s flank a VC10 refueling aircraft on their return to RAF Marham, UK. (Photo: Derek Bower) 80 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=81http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=81to assist, dropping munitions if the situation warranted it. The process involved working in close cooperation with Army ground forward air controllers, watching ahead of convoys for stopped vehicles and/ or individuals acting suspiciously. Wing Commander Gerry Mayhew, Officer Commanding XIII Squadron, said, Tornado GR4 pilots shake hands on arrival back home at RAF Marham, “It is a great honour UK. (Photo: SAC Ellie Insley) to be in command of the final Tornado have wished for a more outstandingly Squadron to conduct combat operations professional group of airmen and over Iraq and another to fly the very last women.” Tornado sortie in the region. Missions flown by Tornado GR4 “XIII Squadron, as part of the RAF’s crews flying in the Middle East include wider Tornado Force, has been involved close air support, reconnaissance, in operations over Iraq since 1991, airborne forward air control and strike carrying out a wide range of missions co-ordination armed response. that have ranged from finding the A typical mission over Iraq lasted infamous Scud missiles during the first eight hours, and involved loitering on Gulf War, to patrolling the no-fly zones station for up to six hours, interspersed and supporting our Army and coalition with air-to-air refueling provided by 101 colleagues on the ground.” Squadron VC10s. The Tornado Force is already When troops were fighting insurgents prepared to assume responsibility for Tornado crews were often called in the delivery of air power in Afghanistan Members of 901 Expeditionary Air Wing and 83 Expeditionary Air Group marked the end of the 18-year long UK Combat Air Operations in the Gulf with a moving sunset ceremony on 31 May 2009. (Photo: Cpl Scott Robertson) when it replaces the Harrier Force in the summer. While the return of the Tornados from the Middle East marks the end of combat operations for the RAF over Iraq there are still some support and logistic elements remaining in the area of operations while the British draw down of forces and equipment continues. — Courtesy MoD .223 55 GRAIN BDC DIAL THE EASIEST WAY TO ACCURIZE YOUR AR INTRODUCING THE NEW MARK AR™ SERIES FROM LEUPOLD. Available in 3-9x40mm or 1.5-4x20mm models with multiple reticle options, each with laser-engraved 55-grain .223 BDC dials, starting at $279 msrp. Other BDC dials available through the Leupold Custom Shop. ,%50/,$s,%50/,$#/- WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 812009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=82http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=82sideARMOR hOlsTeRs Justin Carroll I appreciate a quality piece of handgun leather as much as the next guy — probably more than the next guy — and try to keep one or two for each handgun I own. However, there is no denying the virtues of modern polymer and plastic holsters, and I try to keep one of these available for each of my pistols, as well. One such holster caught my attention in a big way — the SideArmor “Modular Outside the Waistband” holster. Manufactured from Kydex, SideArmor’s flagship holster sports some interesting features. First, an adjustable tensioning device allows the handgun to be carried securely. Secondly, and more perhaps more interestingly is the adjustable cant. By loosening three screws on the back of the holster you can adjust the cant through a 60-degree range of motion. This allows the use to go from a forward “FBI cant” to a rearward crossdraw cant, and everything in between. The outside the waistband pistols including Glock, SIG, FN, and Springfield, as well as the 1911 and Smith & Wesson N-frame revolvers. Holsters are typically available in black, tan, OD, and the ACU and MARPAT camouflage patterns and matching magazine pouches are available. SideArmor has also recently introduced a line of Mil Std. 1913 rail interfaces for several popular rifles and shotguns. Aside from a high-quality product at an affordable price, SideArmor also boasts excellent, responsive customer service. If you’re looking for a rugged, dependable holster (and value service with a smile), SideArmor is definitely worth a look. sideARMOR 7810 nORTh hiGhWAy 89, suiTe 320 FlAGsTAFF, AZ 86004 (928) 526-4379, WWW.sideARMOR.cOM A SideArmor Modular Outside the Waistband holster for a Glock 20/21 and matching magazine pouches, both in OD Green. ATlAs bipOd Clint Smith model can also be had with an optional sweat guard and speed cut, if you so desires. Also available from SideArmor are IWB holsters and holsters also accommodating a wide array of popular weapon-mounted tactical lights. SideArmor’s holsters fit a variety of T he Accu-Shot name is synonymous with very high quality. The firm makes support equipment for a broad spectrum of rifle shooters from bench types to law enforcement and military applications. Their rear monopod is accepted around the world as the gold 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 ask for the PM45. KAHR ARMS: P. O. Box 220, Blauvelt, NY 10913 Sales Support & Service: 508-795-3919 Websites: www.kahr.com / www.kahrshop.com 82 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=83http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=83standard for rear rifle support systems and, being true to their nature, the newest addition to their product line in the form of the Atlas bipod is already raising the bar for what a bipod should be and do. The bipod is built from 6061 aluminum and anodized flat black. Atlas attaches to the rifle by the use of several different types of systems including Picatinny-type rails or the ARMS17S, which is a quick release system for removal of the whole bipod as required. The legs, when extended, have adjustments in the nominal range of 5" to 9", with four variations in height. In the down position, two position settings of either 90 degrees or 45 degrees allow forward or back positioning with a nominal 15 degrees cant available. The aluminum Atlas Bipod by B&T Industries is a rock solid tool for heavy rifles. All parts are designed to be lockable when set, and cant is controlled by the use of knurled wheel located between the legs. Standard issue feet for the legs are soft rubber with more aggressive optional tips available if needed. The Atlas of legend was required to hold up heavy stuff like the Earth. The B&T bipod doesn’t have to hold the world, but it does in fact have to hold the rifle steady and that’s a task it does well. I think it is arguable Atlas held up the world, but there is no arguing the new Atlas bipod will soon be holding up the front end of a bunch of rifles. One is holding my rifle up and Ms. Heidi’s. b&T indusTRies, llc p.O. bOx 771071 WichiTA, ks 67277 (316) 721-3222 WWW.Accu-shOT.cOM WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 832009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=84http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=84OCTOBER 2009 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. Mail to GUNS MAGAZINE CLASSIFIEDS, 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, California 92128. NOTE: WE NOW HAVE DISPLAY CLASSIFIEDS IN BOTH GUNS MAGAZINE AND AMERICAN HANDGUNNER. ASK FOR OUR NEW RATE CARD. (858) 605-0235. ACCESSORIES GUNSMITHING GUNSMITHING INSTRUCTION AT PCC. Two-year hands-on program; excellent facilities; financial aid available; VA approved. Piedmont Community College, P.O. Box 1197, Roxboro, NC 27573 (336)599-1181; www.piedmontcc.edu INSTRUCTION KNIVES & SWORDS LEATHERCRAFT AMMUNITION APPAREL AUCTIONS/SHOWS BOOKS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES COLLECTORS EMBLEMS & INSIGNIA FIREWORKS FOR SALE GUN PARTS GUNS FOR SALE 84 HELLO LEATHERWORKERS: Presenting The Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal. Instructions, sources. 1 year 6 BIG issues, $32 US, $36 Canadian, $46 Other Countries. www.leathercraftersjournal.com. Subscribe toll free 888-289-6409. (715-362-5393). ca-gm MILITARIA MILITARY SURPLUS MISCELLANEOUS OPTICS POLICE EQUIPMENT REAL ESTATE SURVIVAL VIDEOS WANTED TO PURCHASE WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=85http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=852009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=86http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=86Accu-TAc AR FlAsh hideR From Wilson Combat The Accu-Tac AR flash hider sports a 3-pronged external profile and exclusive external accurizing flutes that improve muzzle harmonics over other blast dispersing brakes. These extensively tested features effectively dissipate flash and minimize muzzle signature but unlike many competitive AR muzzle devices the Accu-Tac has no negative impact on accuracy. Fits standard GI threaded AR barrels. Check it out at www.wilsoncombat.com. WeATheRFXi From bushnell Weather plays a key part of every outdoor activity and the WeatherFXi makes it easier to plan for your trips afield. The new wireless WeatherFXi provides customized 7-day weather forecasts from the Internet for over 20,000 cities in the US and around the world. It’s truly "plug and play" with no wires, sensors or subscriptions necessary. Users can select their home city and four other favorite places for quick access to weather conditions from AccuWeather.com. Check out www. bushnell.com or call (800) 423-3537 for more info. BReechVAulT shoTgun lock From GunVault The GunVault Shotgun BreechVault is the safe and affordable solution to secure most shotguns and help prevent tampering or accidental discharge. Fitting virtually all shotguns, the unit easily inserts into the breech and locks in place with the easy-to-use keylock system, making the firearm inoperable. It allows for a round to reside in the shotgun’s carrier when locked and can be quickly chambered by removing the BreechVault with the easy-to-use key-lock system and activating the breech bolt release button. Retail: $19.95. For additional info visit www.gunvault.com or call toll-free (800) 242-1055. neW APo hg BinoculARs From minoX Two models are available, 8.5x43 and 10x43, both developed with the latest technology in binocular design. With SCHOTT flouride ED-glass lens elements, the APO HGs deliver a brilliant color-fringe-free image, and the all-new Minotec multicoating on the glass repels dirt, dust and water, or other general soiling of external glass surfaces. These APO binoculars include all of the proven features from the original HG line and run from $1,799 - $1,849. Check ’em out at www.minox.com. 86 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=87http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=87For more New Products visit us online at www.gunsmagazine.com TAcTicAl scoPe From sWiFt optiCs Swift Optics introduces a new Tactical Scope that boasts a 30mm tube for maximum windage and elevation adjustment, Mil-dot reticle, smooth operating side focus, large covered target turrets, and a coil spring for more accuracy. Fully multi-coated lenses and Swift’s signature clarity make it the perfect scope for AR-15 lovers. Priced at under $350. For more info call (877) 697-9438 or visit www.swift-sportoptics.com. The oRiginAl diRTy hARRy shouldeR holsTeR From laWman leather Goods Lawman Leather Goods introduces the most famous big-bore shoulder holster in the world; worn by police, military and hunters in more than 23 countries for over 32 years. Now made for all handguns! Any make, caliber or barrel length; made to the exact gun. Visit www.LawmanLeatherGoods. com or call toll free: (877) 44-LAWMAN. TRoPhy cAm TRAil cAmeRA From bushnell The new Trophy Cam Trail camera from Bushnell fits in the palm of your hand. It’s packed with features that make it one of the most sophisticated trail cameras on the market. Two models are available: the standard neW Ammo From ameriCan taCtiCal imports American Tactical Imports has launched a new line of highquality ammunition available in both 5.56x45 and 7.62x51 caliber. Designed for the everyday shooter with quality performance and value for the dollar taking first priority, all ammo is boxer-primed and fully reloadable. ATI is moving quickly to establish itself as a model and one with a built-in color viewer. Both are digital night vision cameras with high quality 5MP full color resolution, designed to run for up to 220 days. For more information visit www. bushnell.com or call (800) 423-3537. reputable and recognized importer of many high-quality products from around the world. Check out www. americantactical.us for more info. BenjAmin mARAudeR PcP From Crosman Developed to use 2,000 psi of compressed air instead of the norm of 3,000 psi, the Marauder will be available in both .177 and .22 caliber. It features a hardwood stock with ambidextrous raised comb and custom checkering with a choked and internal shrouded barrel. The new two-stage adjustable match grade trigger pack, with redesigned metal trigger, makes every shot smooth and steady. The Marauder also has a raised design aluminum breech that makes it easier to load and is grooved to accept 11mm scope mounts. To learn more, visit www.crosman.com. model 505 AuTo hook From Colonial KniFe (Colonial Cutlery) The new Auto Hook is the ultimate rescue tool. Manufactured from 440A stainless steel, the blade locks open (and in closed position), plus the lock mechanism can slide forward to add an extra level of protection against premature closing. Attached is a glass breaker positioned for one-handed movements to break glass and cut away seat belts. Available in assorted colors, Retail: $49.99. For more info check out www.colonialcutlery.com. WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 872009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=88http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=88MAGAZINE 2009 CATALOG SHOWCASE Turn to page 2 to visit with A.G. and for information on AKTI's fight to KEEP FOLDING KNIVES LEGAL! A.G. RUSSELL™ KNIVES Since 1964, A.G. Russell™ Knives has supplied the knife needs of customers worldwide. The A.G. Russell name means quality, dependability and knowledge. Catalogs and web site includes most quality production brands and many handmade knives, some available only from A.G. Russell. FREE 479-571-6161 • www.agrussell.com Dept GA1009C A.G. Russell Knives 2900 S. 26th Street, Rogers, AR 72758 CATALOG INQUIRY #10 AMERICAN COP SUBSCRIPTION A Magazine By Cops, For Cops. Cops need information they can trust. That’s why FMG Publications is bringing the “tell-it-like-it-is” reputation of American Handgunner into the police publication world. American COP will offer solutions to real-world problems YOU deal with every day. $24.95 US and $44.95 Foreign includes six bi-monthly issues. Plus FREE Tool Logic Magnetic Light with your paid subscription. Visit us online at: www.americancopmagazine.com CATALOG INQUIRY #11 AMERICAN HANDGUNNER SUBSCRIPTION Imagine a magazine with such detailed information that each issue makes you feel like you’ve fired the guns featured. Every issue provides the latest news on handguns and accessories in a tell-it-like-it-is style you won’t find anywhere else. Nothing prepares you for handgunning like American Handgunner. 1 year subscription $19.75 (outside the U.S. $39.75) www.americanhandgunner.com CATALOG INQUIRY #12 Our catalog display allows GUNS Magazine readers to select literature on a wide variety of shooting products. Please check the box(es) of the literature you’d like to receive on the attached order card. Enclose (in the envelope provided) a check or money order payable to GUNS Magazine for the total literature fees plus $2.50 handling charge. If paying by credit card, please include all information needed. OR: Send a list of the catalogs you want to request, listing the name and catalog inquiry number of each, with your check or VISA/MC# for the total catalog fees plus $2.50 handling charge. Mail to: GUNS Magazine, P.O. Box 509094, San Diego, CA 92150-9094. Catalogs will be mailed directly to you by the companies making the offer. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. GUNS Magazine and Publishers Development Corporation are not responsible for unprocessed orders. Companies participating in this section have accepted full responsibility for filling reader requests. HOW TO ORDER 2008 ANNUAL/SPECIAL EDITIONS Special Savings! Two additional Special Editions available for 2008. Order our 2008 Special Editions individually for $9.95 US/$17.95 Foreign or order all six for $45.00 US/$85.00 Foreign. Visit us online for easy ordering. www.gunsmagazine.com www.americanhandgunner.com www.americancopmagazine.com CATALOG INQUIRY #13-19 2009 ANNUAL/SPECIAL EDITIONS Order our 2009 Special Editions individually for $9.95 US/$17.95 Foreign or order all six for $32.95 US/$67.45 Foreign. The GUNS 2010 Special Edition and the American COP 2010 Special Edition are now available. $9.95 US/$17.95 Foreign. Visit us online for easy ordering. www.gunsmagazine.com www.americanhandgunner.com www.americancopmagazine.com CATALOG INQUIRY #20-28 88 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=89http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=89THE BELTMAN THE BELTMAN makes sturdy, top quality, DUAL LAYER, Bull Hide belts for dress wear, concealed carry or competition. Options include: Horse, “Lizard”, Shark, Elephant, Velcro, tapering, stiffeners, etc. Hand made in three widths, and five colors from $59.95, any length! Catalogue $3.00. P.O. Box 1302, Apex, NC 27502 • 919-387-1997 www.thebeltman.net CATALOG INQUIRY #29 BLACK HILLS AMMUNITION Black Hills Ammunition specializes in .223 and .308 ammunition. It’s the choice of the US Army, USMC, USAF and the US Navy Rifle Teams. We also have 14 different calibers in our Cowboy Ammunition Line, 10 calibers - 29 different loadings in our Black Hills Gold™ Hunting Line and superb but economical remanufactured ammunition in many calibers. $2.00. BROWNELLS INC Catalog #62 is 592 pages and filled with more than 30,000 top brand-name accessories to make your rifles, shotguns and handguns look and work better. Plus, 134 of those pages are filled with 9,000 genuine factory parts from 22 factories so you can repair guns to original equipment specs. A huge selection of specialized gunsmithing tools help you install those parts and accessories correctly. Also available are special catalogs for Military/Law Enforcement and everything for the AR-15/ M16 and Model 1911. Full-time tech staff answers your questions. Selection. Service. Satisfaction - 100% guaranteed. Business discounts available. Call 1-800-741-0015 or order on-line at: brownells.com. Mention Dept. #B2Q. $5.00 (Refundable with order) CATALOG INQUIRY #30 CATALOG INQUIRY #31 JONATHAN ARTHUR CIENER Preeminent Designer/Manufacturer of .22LR Conversion Units in the World. These allow the use of inexpensive .22LR ammo in your firearm. Products include models for 1911A1, Browning Hi-Power, Beretta 92/96, Taurus PT92/99, Glock 17/22 & 19/23 Pistols, AR15/ M16, Mini-14/AC556. AK47/84 rifles, Thompson SMG. Catalog with info on purchasing direct - $5.00 www.22lrconversion.com CATALOG INQUIRY #32 CIMARRON ARMS Cimarron Firearms offers detailed copies of the firearms used taming the frontier of Texas and the American West. Cimarron is clearly recognized as the leader in authentic high quality Cowboy Action Shooting firearms, supporting SASS since its start in 1987. Send $5.00 or your FFL to: Cimarron F.A. Co. P.O. Box 906 Fredericksburg, TX 78624 CATALOG INQUIRY #33 CRIMSON TRACE CORP Crimson Trace Lasergrips are the world’s only gripintegrated laser sights. Instinctive activation button turns on laser with normal grip pressure. Fully adjustable for accuracy at any distance. Easily installs for a custom fit on dozens of revolvers, semi-autos, 1911s and AR-15, Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, Beretta, Kimber, Ruger and Glock. Call 1-800-442-2406 or go to crimsontrace.com for a FREE catalog today! CATALOG INQUIRY #34 DESANTIS HOLSTER DeSantis offers a complete line of police, military, concealment, hunting and cowboy holsters and accessories. DeSantis is the originator of the Gunny Sack. We also offer cell phone holsters, belts and bags. For more information please visit us online. $5.00 www.desantisholster.com or call us at: (800) GUNHIDE. CATALOG INQUIRY #35 DIXIE GUN WORKS The greatest blackpowder/muzzleloading catalog! More than 700 pages of replica guns, antique gun parts, accoutrements and supplies for the shooter, hunter and historical enthusiast. The Dixie Gun Works catalog also features a section of General Information of facts and figures designed to improve one’s knowledge in the fascinating field. In the U.S. - $5.00; outside the country, $20.00. ELITE SURVIVAL SYSTEMS Our 2009 catalog is now available. It is packed full of Assault Systems™ cases - the largest selection of cases on the market. Other products include holsters and concealment options, range bags and cases, and a complete line of tactical nylon products. $3.00 Toll-Free: 866-340-2778 www.elitesurvival.com CATALOG INQUIRY #36 CATALOG INQUIRY #37 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 892009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=90http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=90Catalog $5 Volume #107 Since 1889 Finest Quality Holsters & Belts A century of handcrafting superior gunleather. 2025 E. Yandell El Paso, TX 79903 Ph. (915) 544-2233 Fax (915) 544-2535 EL PASO SADDLERY Since 1889 El Paso Saddlery has been making the finest holsters, belts and accessories in the world. Our products include antique and modern styles. So why buy a reproduction when you can have the REAL THING. $5.00 FORT KNOX SECURITY Fort Knox Security Products continues to perfect perfection; especially the Guardian Series. New this year to the Guardian Series is our standard reinforced fire door. This addition nearly doubles the fire protection of the Guardian, moving it to 1680 degrees in 90 minutes. With the reinforced fire door, patented star corner bolts a 5 to 1 reduction rack and pinion multi-gear drive locking system and our four stage, high luster baked acrylic urethane metallic finish, the Guardian Series sets the standard for the rest of the industry. Lifetime warranty includes the Sargent and Greenleaf locks. FREE CATALOG INQUIRY #39 FULTON ARMORY We specialize exclusively in the AR-15, M1 Garand, M14/M1A and M1 Carbine rifles, uppers, lowers, parts, tools, accessories, books, Black Hills Ammo, Tetra Gun Care Products, and more. And now, setting the new standard in .308 type carbines and rifles - we proudly present the new TITAN FAR .308. Everything on a Fulton Rifle is the finest of its kind, lovingly hand assembled by an expert armorer. Then, every rifle is shipped with a 30-day money back guarantee and a limited lifetime warranty. FREE CATALOG INQUIRY #38 www.fulton-armory.com 1-301-490-9485 CATALOG INQUIRY #40 GALCO GUNLEATHER Building on four decades of success, Galco continues to design and produce innovative products, the full line of which is shown in this year’s 40th anniversary catalog. With dozens of cutting-edge products, Galco will remain the serious shooter’s first choice in gunleather for another forty years! FREE Galco, as always, “For those who demand the best. and know the difference.” 800-874-2526 GalcoGunleather.com CATALOG INQUIRY #41 GALLERYOFGUNS.COM GalleryofGuns.com is the ultimate online catalog that features a state-of-the-art consumer firearm purchasing tool called Gun Genie. Gun Genie allows you to conveniently purchase new firearms from one of the world’s largest inventories, with the convenience of shopping at home! Let GalleryofGuns.com do all the work for you. FREE GUNS MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION GUNS Magazine makes the shooting sports more enjoyable. Read about the latest shooting trends and newest guns. Tips and test reports will help you buy better and shoot straighter. Discover why sportsmen all over the world have been shooting with GUNS Magazine for over 50 years. 1 year subscription $24.95 (outside US $44.95) CATALOG INQUIRY #42 www.gunsmagazine.com CATALOG INQUIRY #43 HOGUE GRIPS Hogue - for the finest OverMolded™ rifle and shotgun stocks in black, OD green & camo. Handgun grips in soft rubber, exotic hardwoods, G-10 and aluminum. Also HandAll® grip sleeves, customgrip screws, slings and swivels recoil pads, Tamer™ pistol grip shotgun stock, PowerSpeed™ holster, firearm accessories and more. FREE CATALOG HOGUE® Inc. 1-800-getgrip www.hoguegrips.com CATALOG INQUIRY #44 KAHR ARMS Kahr’s latest catalog has detailed information and specifications on Kahr’s line of 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP double action only compact pistols. Kahr’s products are made entirely in the USA at Kahr’s state of the art factory in Worcester, MA. FREE MAGNUM RESEARCH Totally redesigned 2009 catalog introduces the new Micro Desert Eagle, provides the latest information on the legendary Desert Eagle Pistol - including the deluxe 25th anniversary edition - and offers expanded coverage of rimfire and centerfire rifles and Magnum’s Biggest Finest Revolver. Full-color, 20-page catalog also highlights custom finishes as well as holsters, grips, sights, scopes, shirts, caps and other accessories. $5.00 or download catalog PDF for FREE at: 2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=91http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=91PROMAG INDUSTRIES If there’s one characteristic about our magazines we vowed never to change, it’s the quality that goes into their manufacture. This dedication to only turning out superior products for dependable performance has held true since our conception. That’s why each and every one of our magazines comes with a lifetime warranty. What’s more, when it comes to selection, we carry magazines to fit most popular models – foreign and domestic. Each and every ProMag is made right here in the U.S.A. where pride and craftsmanship go a long way in ensuring your satisfaction. Visit us online to see our full line. FREE www.promagindustries.com REDDING RELOADING The 2009 Redding Catalog features new die sets for the 30 Remington AR, 338 MarlinExpress and 416 Ruger as well as a new Competition Seater for the 357 Sig. It also introduces a completely new die system to remove the bulge from 40 S&W cases fired in some autoloaders. For up-to-the-minute Redding information and helpful tech tips, visit our website. FREE www.redding-reloading.com Redding Reloading Equipment 1089 Starr Road, Cortland, NY 13045 607-753-3331 CATALOG INQUIRY #48 SINCLAIR INTERNATIONAL Our full color catalog is full of high quality shooting and reloading products for the precision rifle shooter. Shooting rests, reloading tools, hard-to-find components, specialty cleaning tools and gunsmithing tools are among the thousands of products you will find in our catalog. FREE 800-717-8211 support@sinclairintl.com www.sinclairintl.com CATALOG INQUIRY #49 CATALOG INQUIRY #47 THE SPORTSMAN’S GUIDE The LOWEST Prices, the BEST Quality, GUARANTEED! Name-brand ammo, shooting and hunting gear and clothing at low discount prices for 32 years. Big savings on names you trust.Winchester®, Remington®, Browning®, Steiner®, Federal® and more. Fast Shipping and 100% satisfaction guaranteed! Toll-free 1-888-622-4365. FREE STREICHER’S Thank you for trusting your business to Streicher’s. We understand you have a choice when purchasing the Law Enforcement and Public Safety equipment you rely on every day. That’s why our mission in 2009 continues: to become Your Professional Equipment Solution. We hope you’re as excited as we are about our 2009 product lineup. In this catalog, you’ll see that we’ve added some of the most innovative life-saving products ever made available in the industry. As always, you can check online at www.policehq.com and www.streichers.com to research and purchase nearly ALL of the products and services we offer, as well as find the most up-to-date information and exclusive specials. Your Equipment Solution is only a phone call (or mouse click) away. $3.95 TACTICAL RIFLES Offering true One Hole Precision, Tactical Rifles’ Master gunsmiths hand build every rifle to each individual customer’s own specifications. Offering a multitude of calibers and specifications, Tactical Rifle guarantees less than 1/2MOA with factory match ammo. Visit our web site or call us toll free for more information. FREE 877-811-GUNS (4867) www.tacticalrifles.net CATALOG INQUIRY #52 www.sportsmansguide.com CATALOG INQUIRY #50 CATALOG INQUIRY #51 WILSON COMBAT The Wilson Combat 2009 catalog celebrates 31 years of guncrafting excellence. This catalog contains 52 pages of high resolution photos of our current line of firearms, as well as a complete, comprehensive overview of our product line. FREE WOLF PERFORMANCE AMMUNITION WOLF now has a great selection for the sports shooter. High volume shooters can still rely on WOLF Polymer coated cartridges like: 762x39, .223 Rem and pistol rounds 40S&W and .45 Auto. WOLF Gold Brass lines includes: 22-250 Rem, .223 Rem (75 GR Match HP), 303 British, 7.5x55 Swiss, 6.5 Grendel SP. WOLF .22 Match Target and Match Extra are excellent rounds. WOLF has Target Sport Shotshells. Most recently WOLF added primers for L&S rifle, L&S pistol, L&S rifle and pistol MAG and 209 Shotshell. 100% Performance guaranteed on all WOLF Ammunition! GUNSMAGAZINE.COM Additional Order Forms are av2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=92http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=92sAvAGe .30-06 PHOTOS: JOSEPH R. NOVELOZO T BUSHNELL SCOPE AND MINOX BINOCS he rifle’s stock has dual pillar beds and the Bushnell 3-9x40mm scope is installed and factory boresighted. The rifle also has Savage’s well-known and well-liked AccuTrigger to touch off a shot from the free-floated button rifled barrel. The stock also has a top loading internal box magazine, nylon sling and swivel studs. You have to find the game first, so we’ve included a nifty pair of Minox BV 10x25mm Binocs. The pocket-sized glass is clear, powerful and portable. They are waterproof to 9.8' and have nitrogen gas filling and phasecorrected prisms. You can’t win if you don’t enter, so send those postcards in pronto or go to www.gunsmagazine. com and enter online. 92 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 20092009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=93http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=93111Fxp3 MAkeR: sAvAGe ARMs 100 spRinGdAle ROAd, WesTField, MA 01085 (413) 568-7001 WWW.sAvAGeARMs.cOM. AcTiOn Type: Bolt action cAlibeR: .30-06 cApAciTy: 4+1 bARRel lenGTh: 22" OveRAll lenGTh: 42-3/4" WeiGhT: 6-1/2 pounds Finish: Blue siGhTs: Bushnell 3-9x40mm sTOck: Black synthetic, checkered, dual pillar bedding vAlue: $640 vAlue OF pAckAGe: $839 bv 10x25 bRW MAkeR: MinOx GMbh WAlTeR-ZApp-sTR. 4 35578 WeTZlAR GeRMAny iMpORTeR: MinOx usA p.O. bOx 123 MeRiden, nh 03770 (866) 469-3080, WWW.MinOx.cOM MAGniFicATiOn: 10X Field-OF-vieW: 315' at 1,000 yards AnGulAR Field-OF-vieW: 7.4° WeiGhT: 10.4 ounces lenGTh: 4.29" ObJecTive ApeRTuRe: 25mm TWiliGhT FAcTOR: 15.8 exiT pupil: 2.5mm eye RelieF: .6" clOse FOcus: 7.87' vAlue: $199 TO enTeR cOnTesT: use yOuR OWn postcard (no envelopes, please) Follow sample card to right. Mail postcard to: GUNS Magazine, GOM OcTObeR P.O. BOX 502795, San Diego, CA 92150-2795. Entries must be received before nOveMbeR 1, 2009. Limit one entry per household. quesTiOn OF The MOnTh: How do you read GUNS Magazine?: (A) yearly subscription or newsstand. (b) Online at GunsMagazine.com. (c) Online and printed edition. (d) Friend’s copy Name Address City, State, Zip Email Address ciRcle AnsWeR(s) TO quesTiOn OF The MOnTh: (A) (b) (c) (d) 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! 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 SAMPLE ONLY 932009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=94http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=94ODD ANGRY SHOT • JOHN CONNOR • The FAce OF Gi JOe He wasn’t a toy. od bless candy-stripers. You know, the teenage girls who G volunteer in hospitals, known by their red-and-white striped jumpers and big, bright smiles? They’re gone from most hospitals worth the risk to send a single Marine to the far western Pacific. Then in the spring of ’42, things changed. The Japanese pushed into the Solomons, building bases — including a large airfield at Lunga Point on a hilly, thickly jungled island called Guadalcanal. From there they could isolate and then attack Australia. America decided to send that one Marine …With some friends, of course. now, I’m told, because of “liability concerns.” If you ever wind up crunched in a hospital bed, I hope you get a real, jumper-wearing, freckle-flecked, big-eyed, wide-grinning candy-striper like mine. One smile is worth at least 60 milligrams of morphine. The best thing about candy-stripers is, they seem to actually like just coming by to see you. Maybe it’s part of their assigned duties, like smiling, asking tons of questions about how you got broken and what does your doctor say? and shyly filling you in on which patient is a big butthead, which nurse is so sweet! and which doctor has been nicknamed “Count Dracula” by the staff. My ’striper told me I had a nickname too. “Didja know,” she whispered breathlessly, nodding back toward the nursing station, “they call you GI Joe? Is that OK with you?” She must have misread the look on my face, because she hurriedly asked, “Do you know who that is? Y’know, the plastic Army-guy toy?” Yeah, I knew who and what she meant. I knew of both the “action figure” and the man: the original GI Joe. That man is gone now, God rest his brave soul. And I heard recently the toy is gone too. But neither one are forgotten. America’s entry into World War II was what historians might call “inauspicious.” We now have generations of Americans whose knowledge of those dark times is limited to knowing we won, so in modern terms, it couldn’t have been that bad, could it? Yes, it was. The pride of our Pacific fleet rested in the oily mud of Pearl Harbor, and the Japanese Empire had handily rolled up every other US and Allied presence in that broad ocean except for Australia and New Zealand. The Japanese appeared invincible — an outlook quietly shared by many military leaders. The North Atlantic was a German lake, ruthlessly coursed by U-boats, and Hitler’s boys owned Europe plus big bites of Africa and the Middle East. But our British cousins held tenaciously to their isles, and were fighting for every inch of sand in North Africa. America was determined to strike back, but where, and with what? Priority was given to North Africa, where at least we had friends waiting, and our combination could trap Rommel’s Afrika Korps between US and British forces. Some war planners felt it wasn’t Both GI Joes are gone now — the real man, and the “action-figure” toy — but not forgotten. Enter GI Joe Mitchell Paige was born in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, to immigrant Serbian parents who changed the family name from Pejic to Paige. His mother constantly reminded Mitch and his brother of their heritage, including a warrior history dating back to the fabled Battle of Kosovo in 1389. At the same time, she made them fiercely proud to be free — and Americans. Mitchell enlisted in the Marines. The history of the battles fought for the malarial morass of Guadalcanal is reading for a long winter month. Like a head-on train wreck filmed in slow motion, both sides savagely bloodied each other for creekbeds and ridges, week after unending week. The critical difference was, the Japanese could land supplies and replacements far faster and in greater numbers. They could win a war of attrition, but Japanese pride demanded a glorious, decisive victory. After all, they were only fighting Americans — not, to their minds, true warriors. They landed 15,000 more troops — and went for a coup de main. Battles raged on 2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=95http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=95perhaps, the entire war in the Pacific. Screaming Banzai! Banzai! the Japanese charged out of the jungle treeline by the hundreds in a human wave of flashing steel, sweat and chaos. Their voices almost drowned out the hammering of Paige’s machineguns, and their bodies nearly covered the Marines in their fighting holes. But the wave broke and receded, ebbing back into the treeline. Paige moved up and down the line, tending to the wounded and counting the dead. He moved fast, knowing another charge would soon come. And the charges came all through the night. Every man — every single man including Paige — was either killed or seriously wounded. Paige propped up his wounded so they could continue to fire, and placed his dead to make it appear their positions were still manned. Finally, toward dawn, when he was the only Marine able to move, Paige went from machinegun to machinegun, firing bursts from each in turn. When his own gun was destroyed, he took over another. Then he heard increased rustling and voices in the treeline. The Japanese were forming for another charge. Paige picked up a 40-pound machinegun, draped a belt of ammo over his shoulder — and walked down that hill, blazing away at every movement. The final charge never happened. At dawn, Paige was found sitting up behind his machinegun, watching over his wounded and keeping a wary eye on the jungle. Intelligence indicated his platoon was attacked by about 2,000 enemy infantry. Hundreds lay dead on the hillside. CATALOG #31 Catalog #31 is the only source you’ll ever need for current, obsolete and military gun parts, gunsmith supplies, military surplus and shooting accessories. Order your catalog NOW! Our latest edition is over 1,344 pages and features more than 180,000 individual items, over 500 schematic drawings and parts lists, and a store brand name to original manufacturer cross reference. We carry products for hundreds of manufacturers, such as Heckler & Koch, Colt, High Standard, Ruger, Marlin, Mauser, Mossberg, Remington and Savage. Also SigArms, Uberti, AMT, Benelli, and the full line of Glock parts. ITEM#AD-31 $19.95 U.S. Orders: Shipped bulk mail. Shipping charges included. Foreign Orders: Shipped air mail (30 day delivery) or surface (90 day delivery). Shipping charges additional. Mail: PO Box 299 West Hurley Ny 12491 — or — 226 Williams Lane, Kingston Ny 12401 Order Toll-Free: 866-686-7424 • Toll-Free Fax: 877-GUNPART • Web: e-GunParts.com The Other GI Joe Mitchell Paige received a battlefield commission, a Purple Heart and the Medal of Honor. He went on to fight other campaigns in WWII and Korea, retiring from the Marine Corps as a Colonel in 1959. When the Hasbro Toy Company developed their “GI Joe” action figure, they asked Colonel Paige if they could use his likeness for their plastic hero’s face. Paige agreed, with one stipulation: GI Joe should always be a United States Marine. Now Colonel Paige is gone, and I hear the toy GI Joe is too; no longer a Marine, but some kind of smooth international operator, like a James Bond with combat boots. Rest assured he does not fight anyone from any group politically incorrect to portray as an enemy. If somebody wants to call me GI Joe, I don’t deserve it, but that’s OK. I know who the real GI Joe was. Semper Fidelis, Colonel. WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM George Tichbourne KNIFEMAKER SHEFFIELD STYLE BOWIE http://www.tichbourneknives.com (905) 670-0200 7035 Maxwell Rd. #5, Mississauga, Ontario L5S 1R5 CANADA 952009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=96http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=96ADVERTISER PAGE ADVERTISER PAGE OCTOBER 2009 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 ADCO Sales Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Advanced Technology International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Al Mar Knives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 American COP Subscription . . . . . . 85 American Handgunner Subscription . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 ArmaLite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Benchmade Knives . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Birchwood Casey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Browning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Collector’s Armoury Ltd. . . . . . . . . . 76 Conetrol Scope Mounts . . . . . . . . . 72 Crimson Trace. . . . . . . . . . . . . Corp.69 CrossBreed Holsters LLC . . . . . . . . 59 Daniel Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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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 AH_1/2HZ_PersDef09.indd 96 1 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER 2009 3/13/09 8:38:01 AM2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=97http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=97continued from page 98 however, something happened and that happening was the .44 Magnum. Bill Ruger made his original Blackhawk frame and cylinder a bit larger to hold the .44 Magnum and the thought of the .44 Special and .45 Colt in the original .357 Blackhawk was forgotten. Now here it was 15 years later and I was looking at a brand-new Blackhawk in a yellow and black box marked .45 Colt. Finally, a .45 from Ruger! Instead of using the original Blackhawk, Ruger’s first .45 Colt was built on the Super Blackhawk-sized mainframe and cylinder. Suddenly, for the first time since the .45 Colt had appeared in 1873, we actually had a sixgun capable of realizing the true potential of the .45 Colt case. It did not take experimenters long to discover the Ruger .45 Colt Blackhawk could easily handle 300-grain bullets at 1,200 or more fps. The problem in the early ’70s was the fact there were no heavy bullets or bullet molds throwing heavy bullets for the .45 Colt. I used 300 grain .45-70 bullets sizing them in steps to .458", then to .454", and finally to .452". It was a long process again, but it did work. Now we have many molds for heavyweight bullets available such as the 310- and 325-grain Keith-style bullets from NEI as well as 300-grain bullet molds from both Lyman and RCBS. My first loads with heavy bullets in The modernization of the .45 Colt single action sixgun is represented by the .45 Blackhawk (top to bottom) the Colt New Frontier, the Ruger .45 Blackhawk, and a were assembled Ruger Bisley Model customized by Ben Forkin. Stocks in order are by Colt, with 18.5 grains of Herrett’s, and Charles Able. 2400. Today, I use 21.5 grains of H110 or WW296 almost Scovill designed RCBS 45-270 SWC. exclusively for 1,200 fps. I haven’t Cast of wheelweights, this bullet weighs forgotten the original Keith 425424, 283 grains and over the same powder 18.5 2400 load and this past summer charge gives around 850 to 900 fps and used it in a 7-1/2" New Model .45 Colt is a very potent load. I have already Blackhawk to take a Catalina goat. It mentioned the bullets and powders used worked most decisively. for semi-heavy loads in the Ruger .45 In the 1980s I was about to learn Colt Blackhawk. more about the potential of the .45 Colt The .45 Colt is without a doubt the through a young Wyoming gunsmith most versatile of sixgun cartridges. named John Linebaugh. John contacted It started as a black powder cartridge me on the evening of July 4, 1984 and in 1873 and in custom guns today the I was very skeptical about what he was muzzle velocity of that original load telling me. So he suggested sending me can be doubled. There are a whole lot one of his custom .45 Colt sixguns so I of diehard .45 Colt fanciers who would could see for myself. John was putting not even consider looking at what new cylinders in single action .45s with they consider to be the inferior and some amazing results. His favorite less powerful .44 Magnum. That’s not sixguns then were the El Dorado and bad for a cartridge which is more than Seville from US Arms. By utilizing the 135-years old. WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM entire frame window John could fit an oversized, 6-shot cylinder to squeeze everything possible out of the .45 Colt. What was possible was 1,675 fps with a 260-grain bullet and 1,600 fps with a 330-grain bullet and if I had not loaded, shot, and chronographed them myself I would not have believed it. Not only did I learn a lot about the .45 Colt from John Linebaugh, my first article to appear in American Handgunner was about his .45 Colt custom El Dorado in an article entitled “New Speed, New Power, From The Colt .45.” It appeared in the January/February issue of 1985. A lot has changed since my first feeble efforts at reloading the .45 Colt more than a half-century ago. Today I can pick from a long list of bullet molds for both standard and heavy loads. For my Colt Single Action and USFA Single Actions I have several favorite bullets, Lyman’s 454190 255-grain conical and t2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=98http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=98A hAlF-cenTuRy WiTh sixGuns The .45 Colt. he year was 1957. Maverick and Wagon Train had arrived on T TV, Pat Boone was watching Love Letters In The Sand, Fats Domino was on Blueberry Hill, and I was about to shoot my first .45 Colt reloads through a brand new 7-1/2" Colt Single Action. It was not easy to find components in those days and I had to settle for 225-grain roundnose .45 ACP hardcast bullets. The powder was DuPont’s 5066. I took a shortcut which could’ve been a disaster: I did not have a loading scale and simply used a chart to set the powder measure. I don’t know if I read the chart those little specks of lead on the side of wrong or set the measure wrong but I do her icebox. know when I touched off that first round My first two molds were from something definitely was wrong. When Lyman. One was the 454190, a copy of I pulled the trigger the barrel pointed the original .45 Colt conical bullet, and, straight up and the hammer slapped of course, Elmer Keith’s semi-wadcutter me soundly on the back of my hand. It 454424. Cast bullets were lubed by wasn’t as bad as the Ruger .44 Magnum standing them in a pan, pouring melted Blackhawk, however, I did know .45s lube around them, waiting for it to cool, were not supposed to recoil like this. I and then using a Kake Kutter to remove had the typical disease of most 18-year- the bullets from the pan. After this they olds at the time; that is, my brain had were shoved through a sizing die using not yet fully developed. Instead of the 310 Tool. Again very slow, but it stopping and pulling all the rest of those rounds I just shot them as quickly as I could to get rid of them. Isn’t there something about God watching over fools and reloaders, especially young ignorant reloaders? I had learned one thing and that was to buy a powder scale. For reloading I was using the Lyman 310 Tong Tool, which does not have leverage for fulllength resizing. So I bought a full-length sizing die and used a vise to squeeze the cases into the die and then knocked them out with a wooden dowel. Very slow, but it worked. I bought single The 100+ years of .45 Single Actions include (clockwise, from top left) cavity molds and used an iron the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Generation Colts plus a currently produced USFA pot and dipper with my mother’s Single Action. Stocks pictured in order are by Peacemaker Specialists, kitchen stove as the heat source. Roy Fishpaw, Charles Able, and Eagle Grips. She never complained about all worked. I definitely would not want to give up the 20-pound bottom pour pots, 2-cavity and 4-cavity molds, and the lubrisizers I have at my disposal today. Sometimes progress works for us! I made the same mistake with the .45 Colt as I did with everything else during the 1950s and actually for quite some time after that. I loaded them to the hilt. The load was either 18.5 grains of 2400 or 10 grains of Unique. Years later when I had a chronograph I would find these loads clocking out at approximately 1,100 and 1,000 fps respectively. In the late 1950s the sport of Fast Draw swept across the country and I ordered an Arvo Ojala Hollywood rig. The first date I had with the lady now known as Diamond Dot was to go to Boyle’s Gun Shop one evening in November of 1958 to pick up my Ojala rig for the 7-1/2" Colt. I still have that rig and she is still going to gun shops with me. In 1963 I had to sell that first Colt Single Action but before the ’60s were over I had several other .45 Colt Single Actions, and I had also learned to cut back on my loads. I stopped using the Keith Load and dropped down to 9 grains of Unique. Today I am more likely to use 8 to 8.5 grains. The Colt sixguns appreciate it and so do I. In 1966 we made one of the best decisions we’d ever made in our lives — we moved to Idaho. (I was influenced by Elmer Keith in more ways than one!) Super Strength In the summer of 1971 I was in my last year of graduate school and terribly bored being away from the family. I hit every gun shop I coul2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=99http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=992009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=100http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1009/?Page=100Ultra 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.2009-08-06T17:00:25+02:00