Technical dope bag SHOOTING RESULTS (25 YDS.)

Average of 10 Patterns

6 7 14 7 = Point of Hold Federal No. 283-7.5 Premium 28 Gauge 23⁄4", 3/4-oz., No. 71⁄2, Copper-Plated Lead 11 13 13 15 Average Pellet Count: 262

15 16 25 15

Total Hits (cylinder barrel) 96 (36%) 21" Inner Circle 55 (20%) 14 14 15 15 30" Outer Ring 41 (16%)

Total Hits (imp. cylinder barrel) 119 (45%) Cylinder Improved 21" Inner Circle 68 (25%) Cylinder 30" Outer Ring 51 (20%)

CZ-USA BOBWHITE

Manufacturer: Huglu Cumhuriyet Mh. side-by-sides, the Bobwhite No: 22 Huglu-Beysehir-Konya accepts interchangeable choke TR-42710 Turkey Importer: CZ‑USA (Dept. AR), tubes, so its barrels are noticeably P.O. Box 171073, Kansas City, KS wider toward the muzzle, with each 66117‑0073; (800) 955‑4486; measuring 0.73" in circumference CZ-USA Bobwhite www.cz‑usa.com at the choke tubes vs. 0.651" behind really is a fun little gun. It swung Mechanism Type: side-by-side, break- open shotgun them. There is a solid-top rib lightly well and functioned flawlessly, Gauge: 12, 20, 28, 23⁄4" (tested), grooved at its top to reduce glare, and was fast to mount and swing. .410 bore and it tapers from 0.379" at the The radiused buttpad made the Overall Length: 431⁄8" 15 receiver to 0.285" at the muzzle. difference between a quick gun Side-By-Side 28 Gauge Barrel Length: 25 ⁄16" Weight: 5 lbs., 3 ozs. There is a single 0.128"-thick brass mount and hits on some fast here is little doubt that now offers a full line of side-by-side, are left in the white. Pressing the top Trigger Pull: double mechanical: 4½ bead at the muzzle. crossers. Another gun without Ceska Zbrojovka (CZ) is over-under and semi-automatic lever to the right pulls the 1.297"- lbs., left barrel; 4¼ lbs., right barrel The tang-mounted safety is this feature that we shot on the Stock: european walnut; length of pull: one of the world’s top shotguns from Huglu. 9 3 same day routinely snagged, and T thick locking lug in the center of 15 ⁄16"; drop at comb: 1 ⁄4"; drop at not automatic nor is it selective, and pistol makers; and due to the In the side-by-sides, chamber- the receiver rearward, allowing the heel: 2½" as the Bobwhite comes with dual those targets were marked “lost” surging popularity of the firm’s ings from .410 bore up through barrels to pivot open on their hinge Accessories: five choke tubes, choke mechanical triggers. Pressing on the scorecard. tube wrench guns among American shooters, 12 gauge are offered, and we pin. That center lug is joined by a Suggested Retail Price: $869 the safety button rearward to the The Bobwhite offers a solid CZ-USA has become one of the selected the Bobwhite in 28 gauge 0.307"-wide, 0.469"-long lug that “OFF” position moves a tab on the value in a delightful little bird gun nation’s top importers. While CZ for evaluation. The Bobwhite is an protrudes into a recess that extends in circumference. The comb is fairly base of the safety inside the that is well named. It’s obvious does make a limited line of over- extractor-only gun with a spe- all the way through the bottom of the high and straight as well. There is a overtop tails on the triggers, pre- that the folks in Kansas City have unders at its factory in Uhersky cific 28-ga.-size receiver. It has a receiver. Dual rods in the frame are slight cast-off to the stock. Capping venting the triggers from moving impressed upon Huglu what Ameri- Brod, Czech Republic, CZ-USA’s straight grip, dual triggers and a pressed rearward by the fore-end the butt is a soft, black rubber recoil upward to trip the sears. cans are looking for when it comes current line of shotguns is actually splinter fore-end in the English iron on opening, and these push the pad, and there is a radiused plastic The Bobwhite was patterned to shotguns. With its classic lines, made in Turkey by Huglu. With fashion. Single-triggered, pistol- hammers back until they are caught insert at its top, so it won’t stick to at 25 yds., with the results shown fine handling and interchangeable aesthetics that were more Middle grip-stocked and Cowboy Action- by the sears. Power for the hammers clothing while mounting the gun. in the accompanying table, choke tubes, the Bobwhite seems Eastern than American, the Huglu style guns are also offered. is provided by a single mousetrap The wrist and fore-end are hand- and function-fired during a few underpriced for what it delivers. shotguns we examined in the past The action is a very basic box- spring with two tails that extend checkered (that’s not a misprint) in rounds of Sporting Clays. This And that’s OK with us. had good mechanics but suffered lock built on the Anson & Deeley rearward and engage a longitudinal a bordered-point, 20-line-per-inch from limited distribution and pattern. The receiver is case-colored crosspin on the base of the safety. pattern with several overruns and unusual styling and ornamentation. steel and adorned with tasteful, Two other extensions off the spring’s flattened points observed. Partnering with CZ-USA has solved sparse scroll engraving. Curiously, base hold the sears down under The fore-end has a schnabel both of those issues, and CZ-USA the pins retaining the action parts tension until the triggers press up contour at its front, and it is fixed to on their rear, dropping the front of the barrels via a Deeley & Edge- The American Rifleman has used the phrase “Dope Bag” at least since 1921, when Col. Townsend the selected sear out of engagement style latch in the fore-end iron that Whelen first titled his column with it. Even then, it had been in use for years, referring to a sack with its hammer notch, freeing the engages a hanger soldered under used by target shooters to hold ammunition and accessories on the firing line. “Sight dope” also was a traditional marksman’s term for sight adjustment information, while judging wind speed hammer to fall forward and strike a the barrel rib. Wood-to-metal fit is and direction was called “doping the wind.” frame-mounted firing pin. universally proud at the junction

WARNING: Technical data and information contained herein are intended to provide informa- The Turkish walnut stock is of the butt and receiver, and the tion based on the limited experience of individuals under specific conditions and circumstances. well-grained for a gun in this price inletting around the fore-end latch is They do not detail the comprehensive training procedures, techniques and safety precautions class—which makes sense, as uneven, but not distractingly so. absolutely necessary to properly carry on similar activity. Read the notice and disclaimer on the The Bobwhite’s boxlock action houses dual mechanical triggers, and most European walnut comes from Barrels measure 2515⁄16" long contents page. Always consult comprehensive reference manuals and bulletins for details of power for the hammers is provided by a mousetrap-style spring. proper training requirements, procedures, techniques and safety precautions before attempting Turkey these days. The wrist is and are blued steel with chrome- any similar activity. Unusually, it accepts interchangeable choke tubes. Five are supplied. straight and measures a mere 47⁄8" lined bores. Unlike most 28-ga.

068 AR February 2006 Vol.154 Vol.154 February 2006 AR 069 dope bag SHOOTING RESULTS (100 YDS.) Remington 7615P

.223 Rem. Vel. @ 10' Energy Group Size In Inches Manufacturer: Com- (f.p.s.) (ft.-lbs.) Smallest Largest Average pany, Inc. (Dept. AR), P.O. Box 700, Madison, NC 27025-0700; AA No. 223MM vg 2754 A . 927 1.86 2.90 2.32 (800) 243-9700; www.remingtonle.com 55-gr. JHP d 72 S Caliber: 5.56 mm NATO/.223 Rem. Action Type: slide action, center-fire rifle Fed. Classic No. 223B 2800 Avg. 958 1.32 3.38 2.16 Receiver: Parkerized carbon steel 55-gr. FMJ BT 49 Sd Barrel: 161⁄2" Parkerized carbon steel Win. No. SBST223B 2844 Avg. 988 1.82 3.10 2.65 Rifling: six groove, 1:9" RH twist 55-gr. BST 18 Sd : detachable AR-15/M16 box magazine Average Extreme Spread: 2.38 Sights: Wilson Combat ghost-ring rear, XS Sight Systems bead front (tested) Measured average velocity for 10 rounds from a 161⁄2" barrel. Range temperature: 68° F. Trigger Pull: two-stage, 6 lbs.,12 ozs. Humidity: 12%. Accuracy for five consecutive, five-shot groups at 100 yds. from a sandbag. Stock: length of pull, 14"; drop at heel, Abbreviations: AA (American Ammunition), BST (ballistic silvertip), BT (boat tail), Fed. 21⁄2"; drop at comb, 11⁄2" (Federal), FMJ (full-metal jacket), JHP (jacketed hollow point), Win. (Winchester). Overall Length: 371⁄2" Weight: 7 lbs. Accessories: 10-round magazine, instruction manual Suggested Retail Price: $750 (tested), $675 with rifle sights

Remington 7615P testing. Additionally, the receiver is drilled and tapped for a scope mount, and Leupold offers a Pica- tinny rail for the receiver. The rifle itself is extremely Pump-Action Rifle handy with a short but stout 16½" The 7615P shares many controls with its bigger brother, the Model 870, barrel that measures 1.17" in diam- lthough offering fast opera- through any distributor that carries which has been a law enforcement staple for decades. Examples are the eter just forward of the receiver. tion and simplicity of use, Remington’s law enforcement line. slide action-release lever (arrow, r.) and the cross-bolt safety (arrow, l.). The finish on the rifle was evenly A slide- or pump-action The 7615P offers similar operation applied and attractively “flat.” For center-fire are not nearly as to a standard The 7615P features a synthetic the magazine-well adapter and accuracy testing, we mounted a common as their shotgun brethren. with the same slide-action opera- adapter factory fitted into the maga- magazine system. Remington Trijicon TriPower low over the Within this niche market, however, tion, cross-bolt safety at the rear of The bolt of the 7615P differs zine well of the rifle that allows the assured us that this does not in receiver, which allowed for a the Remington 7600 series of center- the trigger guard and slide action from that of a standard 7600 use of AR-15/M16 magazines. any way reduce or compromise comfortable cheek weld. This optic fire rifles has proven to be one of release at the front of the trigger rifle in that it has three locking Although it appears to be the strength of the locked action, also seemed quite well suited for the more popular because of its guard. According to Remington, lugs rather than four. Reming- oversize, the outside width of and in our tests, we did not have the intended purpose of this rifle. ton eliminated the lug on the combination of “user-friendliness” these similarities have made for the adapter is the same size as a any problems. We found the rifle to be pleasant and affordability. significantly easier transitioning bottom of the standard 7600 standard, Remington 7600 propri- bolt to allow clearance for the Other qualities, such as its to shoot due to its .223 Rem. cham- Recognizing the strengths of from the 870 for officers who may etary magazine. This means that magazine-well adapter. Parkerized finish and synthetic bering and 7-lb. weight. The rifle this rifle design, Remington’s Law not have had much prior experience basically the only modification stock and fore-end, bring the functioned perfectly in both accu- Enforcement Division is offer- with rifles. Apparently, the .223 Rem. required for the receiver was a rifle more in line with the rest of racy testing and rapid-fire strings, ing two Duty/Patrol variants of chambering has also made it popular significantly in design, utilizing a hole on its right side to accept a Remington’s law enforcement and its short, handy size allowed it the 7600 rifle: the 7600P in .308 with smaller-statured officers who that locks into a barrel screw that holds in the adapter. products. The 7615P is offered to swing quickly and point naturally. Win. and the 7615P in .223 Rem., are uncomfortable with the recoil of a extension. The 7600’s barrel, fitted Although not immediately with a standard set of rifle sights, Although the 7615P is offered as tested here. The 7615P is available 12-ga. Model 870. through a barrel bracket at the front obvious, the second significant with both the front and rear sight part of Remington’s law enforce- The basic 7600 series of rifles— of the rifle’s steel receiver, screws alteration is the number of lock- mounted on the barrel. There ment product line, it will likely although similar to the Model 870 into a barrel extension that houses ing lugs on the 7615P’s bolt. is also a Wilson Combat ghost- appeal to civilian shooters as it is in appearance and use—differs the recesses for the locking lugs. While a standard 7600 has four ring-sight model that has the rear ideal as a handy, portable ranch- The 7615P is a variant of the stan- locking lugs, this rifle has only sight mounted on the receiver. type long arm that utilizes a com- dard Remington Model 7600, how- three. The absence of the fourth We received the latter model for monly available magazine. ever, it offers some distinct changes lug, normally positioned at the Remington fitted the 7615P’s magazine from the standard rifle. First and lowest position when the action well adapter into the standard 7600 series foremost of these—as well as being is open, allows clearance for of rifles, making for an ingeniously simple the most obvious—is the extended solution to the issue of adapting the rifle magazine-well adapter forward to use AR-15/M16 magazines. The piece fitted to the upper rear section of the of the trigger guard. The standard adapter is what Remington calls a “strip- 7600 series of rifles is designed per guide.” It strips a round from the mag to accept detachable, proprietary We mounted a Trijicon TriPower on the while then holding the next round down magazines whose limited-capacity 7615P as it is ideal for the type of shoot- as the action continues to close. may make them less than ideal for ing for which this rifle is designed. law enforcement or self-defense.

070 AR February 2006 Vol.154 Vol.154 February 2006 AR 071 dope bag

Without cleaning between shots, pre-soaked cleaning patches left more precise with charge weights. and with an admittedly hot barrel, the barrel completely unfouled. But most blackpowder shooters will the shot groups opened up to a still After soaking the breechplug, the find that a cleaner-burning charge, American Pioneer Powder respectable 3" or less. fouling practically dripped away without the burden of a powder Following the range session, after a pass with a soft-bristle measure, is more than acceptable American Pioneer Powder’s clean- brush. We were done cleaning in a for hunting and practice. American 1516 f.p.s. The maximum spread burning qualities became imme- matter of minutes. Pioneer’s Jim Shockey’s Gold is was approximately 180 f.p.s., diately evident. Dark deposits of For those who demand the most certainly worth a look. which is slightly higher than some partially burned powder were consistency possible with their other blackpowder substitutes we virtually nonexistent. More impres- charge weights, the easy fix is Available from: American Pioneer have tested before. We attribute sive, after a full day of shooting, the to use American Pioneer’s loose Powder; (Dept. AR), 1475 Blair Road this to the inconsistency we found final cleanup was just as adver- powder, available in FFg and FFFg. Whitewater, CO 81527; (888) 756-7693; in the actual charge weights. tised. A few passes with Traditions’ A powder measure can be much www.americanpioneerpowder.com. Weighed on an RCBS digital pow- der scale, individual sticks varied by as much as 5 to 6 grs. To further explore the effects of the different stick weights, we paired high- and low-end weight Nielson Brothers Arms sticks together and shot for veloc- ity. For example, shot No. 7 had a combined stick weight of 92 grs., while shot No. 8 had a combined Bullet Concentricity Gauge stick weight of 87 grs. Predictably, the velocities reflected the charge weights with speeds of 1634 and 1505 f.p.s., respectively. Of course, of run-out would have improved the other considerations factor into average for the remainder of the any muzzleloader’s velocity, such box to 0.001". as sabot integrity, primer ignition, Through testing completed at fouling and tamping pressure. the Olympic Training Center in The more consistent each of these Colorado Springs, Colo., Nielson variables is kept, the higher the formulated that for every 0.001" potential for greater shot-to-shot error in the concentricity of a bul- pressure, velocity and accuracy. let, dispersion increases 0.1" at very now and then, a com- the bore. Although we detected Despite these inconsistencies, 50 meters. Referring to the sorted pany makes an exception- no problems with loading, we accuracy results were better than ammunition test, 1 to 2 percent Eally bold claim concerning wondered if this would affect shot- expected. When cleaning between mallbore rifle and pistol Nielson found that the groups of cartridges in a box of match the performance of its products. to-shot consistency. Even though shots, groups measured no larger matches can be lost by fractions increased with each thousandth’s ammunition measured 0.004". If For example, American Pioneer the majority of the shaved powder than 1½", even though we were Sof a point. At the highest levels increment increase in allowable fired, these bullets can increase a Powder claims to have fired 5,562 trickled down the bore, a small shooting with iron sights. While we of competition, any advantage can measurement of concentricity. group size to as much as 0.77" at consecutive shots through a percentage was lost. certainly weren’t able to put 5,500 mean winning or losing. Olympic Twenty rounds with a concentricity 50 meters. Because multiple fac- muzzleloader over a 90-day period Shooting a 240-gr. XTP bullet, rounds downrange, we did test and world prone rifle champion Matt measurement of 0.000" averaged tors influence a bullet’s flight path, without ever cleaning its bore. the 100-gr. charge averaged for accuracy on a fouled barrel. Emmons used the Nielson Brothers a 0.24" group size. Twenty rounds this doesn’t conclusively improve Intrigued, we ordered Ameri- Arms .22 rimfire bullet concentricity with a concentricity measurement a shooter’s group size. Rather, the can Pioneer Powder’s Jim Shokey’s gauge at the Athens Olympics. of 0.003" averaged a 0.35" group. Bullet Concentricity Gauge from Gold .50-cal. Sticks. The com- SHOOTING RESULTS (50 YDS.) Bullet concentricity is simply the We tested a variety of ammuni- Nielson Brothers Arms allows the pressed charges have a tapered, Bullet/Load Vel. @ 15' Energy Group Size In Inches alignment of the axis of the bullet to tion with the Nielson Bullet Concen- most demanding smallbore com- rectangular shape. The small end (f.p.s.) (ft.-lbs.) Smallest Largest Average the axis of the case. Lester Nielson tricity Gauge and were surprised petitors to reduce the influence

of the tapered stick is inserted .50-cal., 1516 Avg. 1234 1.43 3.0 1.65 began investigating improved .22 by the amount of deviation that we that excessive run-out can have on first into the bore, then the larger 240-gr. XTP Sd 56 long rifle accuracy in 1994. Team- found in one box of match ammuni- their scores. end is pressed in with the thumb. 100-gr. equivalent ing up with H-S Precision, Nielson tion. Eley Tenex displayed the best (two sticks) This larger end was slightly larger used H-S Precision’s shooting tun- and most consistent results. In a Available from: Nielson Broth- than the bore of the .50-cal. Knight Average Extreme Spread: 1.65 nel to derive results that indicated box of 50, just 10 percent measured ers Arms, Inc. (Dept. AR), 3230 Disc Extreme used for testing, so Measured average velocity for 10 rounds from a 26" barrel. Range temperature: 70°F. that bullet concentricity affected 0.003" of run-out and averaged Watsabaugh Drive, Gillette, WY powder granules were shaved Humidity: 24%. Accuracy for three consecutive, five-shot groups at 100 yds. from a rimfire accuracy, even with match- 0.0013". Removing the 10 percent 82718; (307) 660–2629; from the stick as it was forced into sandbag. Abbreviations: XTP (Extreme Terminal Performance), Sd (Standard deviation). grade .22 LR bullets. of ammunition that displayed 0.003" www.nielsonbrothersarms.com.

072 AR February 2006 Vol.154 Vol.154 February 2006 AR 073