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JANUARY 2013 Vol. 59, Number 1, 684th Issue

COLUMNS 6 CROSSFIRE Letters to the Editor 8 RIMFIRES hoLT BODINSON 12 RIFLEMAN dave Anderson 16 RANGING SHOTS™ Clint Smith 20 MONTANA MUSINGS mike “Duke” Venturino 22 HANDLOADING John BARSNESS 26 HANDGUNS $5,375 massad Ayoob $5,375 28 UP ON ARs GUN PACKAGE GLEN ZEDIKER 60 KNIVES GIVEAWAY! PAT COVERT 76 62 VIEWS, NEWS & REVIEWS Volkmann Custom 1911, RIGHTS WATCH: David Codrea Andrews Wilson 1 Holster and More! 78 ODD ANGRY SHOT John Connor 82 CAMPFIRE TALES John Taffin DEPARTMENTS 30 SURPLUS, CLASSIC AND TACTICAL FIREARMS™ GSG/ATI’S STURMGEWEHR 44 .22 LONG RIFLE. HOLT BODINSON 34 OUT OF THE BOX™ LASERLYTE’S REAR SIGHT LASER JOHN TAFFIN 36 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Jeff John 68 QUARTERMASTER Featuring GUNS All-stars! THIS MONTH: JOHN CONNOR, JACOB GOTTFREDSON 72 GUNS CLASSIFIEDS 72 CUSTOM CORNER 74 NEW PRODUCTS 30 76 GUN OF THE MONTH 80 ADVERTISER INDEX

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 ad- ditional mailing offices. SUBSCRIPTIONS: One year (12) issues $24.95. Single monthly copies, $4.95. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Eight weeks notice required on all changes. Send old address as well as new. SUBSCRIPTION PROBLEMS: For immediate action write GUNS Magazine, Attention: Circulation Dept., 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128 or call (858) 605-0250. CONTRIBUTORS submitting manuscripts, photographs or drawings do so at their own risk. Material cannot be returned unless accompanied by sufficient postage. PAYMENT will be made at rates current at time of publication and will cover reproduction in any or all GUNS Magazine editions. ADVERTISING RATES furnished on request. Reproduction or use of any portion of this magazine in any manner, without written permission is prohibited. All rights reserved. Title to this publication passes to subscriber only on delivery to his address. The opinions and recommendations expressed by individual authors within this magazine are not necessarily those of Publishers’ Development Corporation. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to GUNS Magazine®, ATTN: Circulation Dept., 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128. Copyright © 2012 by Publishers’ Development Corporation.

4 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 ON THE COVER

REMINGTON R1 & R1S FEATURES 42 BOLT RIFLE MEETS 38 AR MAGAZINES MOSSBERG’S SENSATIONAL MVP VARMINTER. HOLT BODINSON BIG GREEN 42 GOES 1911 REMINGTON’S R1 AND R1S PISTOLS. MIKE “DUKE” VENTURINO WOOD, PLASTIC 48 & GLASS RIFLE STOCK MATERIALS HAVE EVOLVED OVER THE LAST 8 CENTURIES. 38 JOHN BARSNESS BIRTH OF A LEGEND THE STURMTRUPPEN’S 54 COMPANION, THE KAR 98. JOHN SHEEHAN EXCLUSIVE ONLINE FEATURE ONLINE MANUFACTURERS PRODUCT INDEX: WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM www.gunsmagazine.com/product-index THE .22 HORNET STILL BUZZING 80 YEARS LATER. SAM FADALA

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 5 THE FINEST IN THE FIREARMS FIELD SINCE 1955 C RO Fire BOARD OF DIRECTORS Thomas von Rosen, CEO; LETTERS TO GUNS Thomas Hollander, Randy Moldé, Marjorie Young PUBLISHER Roy Huntington GUNS Magazine® welcomes letters to the editor. We reserve the right to edit all published letters for clarity and length. Due Editor Jeff John to the volume of mail, we are unable to individually answer your letters or e-mail. In sending a letter to GUNS Magazine, Managing Editorial Assistant Stephanie Jarrell you agree to provide Publisher’s Development Corp. such copyright as is required for publishing and redistributing the Art Director/Staff Photographer contents of your letter in any format. Send your letters to Crossfire, GUNS Magazine, 12345 World Trade Dr., San Diego, Joseph R. Novelozo CA 92128; www.gunsmagazine.com; e-mail: [email protected] Photography Assistant Jade Moldé Advertising Sales Director Anita Carson Advertising Sales Assistant Dana Hatfield Veterans Day one is almost guaranteed to shoot Production Manager Linda Peterson Did John Connor in “Odd Angry themselves in the leg or blow off their Website Manager Lorinda Massey Shot” in the November issue really genitals. Promotions Coordinator Elizabeth O’Neill CONTRIBUTING EDITORS say that Veterans Day is celebrated As a NRA-certified instructor, I John Taffin, Holt Bodinson, Dave Anderson, on the 10th of November—twice!? instruct my students to never, repeat Clint Smith, Massad Ayoob, I wouldn’t be surprised if I was never, use a holster that doesn’t cover Mike “Duke” Venturino reading the Huffington Post but the triggerguard of their firearm. FIELD EDITORS John Connor? Really? And no one Dale Deming Sam Fadala, David Codrea, John Morrison, Glen Zediker, John Sheehan, Jacob caught that? Sterling Heights, Mich. Gottfredson, Mike Cumpston, John Barsness, Mike Propst Dave Douglas, J.B. Wood No excuse. We both get to wear the Contemptibles Dunce Cap and sit in the corner.—Jeff I just read Duke’s article and want John to say the French MAS 1936 is a very FMG PUBLICATIONS fine-shooting rifle, loads easily and More Veterans Day the bolt action is quite smooth. As for shootingindustry.com Please remind John Conner that front sight adjustment, it’s not made Publisher & Editor: Russ Thurman Veterans Day is November 11 and the to be adjusted. Instead the rear sight Advertising: Delano Amaguin, 888.732.6461 Marine Corps Birthday is November is adjustable for both elevation and email: [email protected] americancopmagazine.com 10. Other than that I enjoyed reading windage by replacing the leaf with again both stories. one that has the “peep” hole placed Editor: Suzi Huntington Semper Fi, correctly. There were 25 variations Advertising: Phil Mendelson, 800.426.4470 Charles Thomas available (sadly some are no longer email: [email protected] available today). Replacement was americanhandgunner.com OK, John’s a former Marine. He can quite easy. Slide the sight aperture all Publisher & Editor: Roy Huntington Advertising: Steve Evatt, 800.533.7988 serve half duty in the corner and I’ll sit the way forward, remove the hinge email: [email protected] out the whole term.—Jeff pin at the front and voilà, the leaf slides out and the new one slides in. gunsmagazine.com “Tres facile.” The other nice thing is Editor: Jeff John Higgins Boats Advertising: Jason Moreau, 866.903.1199 the amount of surplus ammo still email: [email protected] I did not see any reference to the available for this weapon. National World War II Museum Pamela Jean Street Dunn fmgpublications.com located in New Orleans in John via e-mail Editor: Sammy Reese Advertising: Scott McGregor, 800.553.7780 Connor’s column about the Higgins email: [email protected] boats. M240 ONLINE ADVERTISING MANAGER: Tracy Moore, It is well worth a visit should the TEL: 888.651.7566, FAX 858.605.0205 opportunity to do so present itself, I would just like to point out the [email protected] NATIONAL ADVERTISING: 12345 World Trade Dr., as my daughter and I discovered a caption for the Marine machine San Diego, CA 92128, TEL: 866.972.4545, FAX 858.605.0211, couple of years ago. gunner’s photo on page 70 in the [email protected] CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Lori Robbins, Charles Brumbelow November issue is incorrect. The TEL: 800.633.8001, FAX 858.605.0247, via e-mail caption states the Lance Corporal [email protected] “…sights into his M240B machine The National WWII Museum gun...” The version of the M240 in 945 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 528-1944 the picture is the “G” not the “B.” The www.nationalww2museum.org lack of a handguard and heat shield around the fore-end and barrel are the CUSTOMER SERVICE telltale signs. Also, the Marines don’t www.gunsmagazine.com Shame On You have the M240B. That’s an Army issue SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES ...... 858.605.0252 On the lower left hand corner of weapon. Express Service . . www.gunsmagazine.com and click “contacts” EDITORIAL ...... 858.605.0243 page 20 in the November 2012 issue, SFC William McClure, owner Email: ...... [email protected] PRODUCTION ...... 858.605.0216 you picture the Galco pocket holster The X Ring Email: ...... [email protected] with the Ruger LCR. As shown, and Ashland, Neb. BOOKS/MERCHANDISE ...... 888.732.2299 Email: ...... [email protected] a picture being worth 10,000 words, General Counsel/Legal Affairs: Steele N. Gillaspey Email: ...... [email protected] Check out www.gunsmagazine.com for our digital edition, news, our exclusive Product Index, Web Blasts, online features, to enter the Giveaway Package and more! And if you have any news about hot new products you’ve found, or anything you think we need to know about, drop me a line at [email protected]! PRODUCED IN THE U.S.A.

6 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 PROVEN RELIABILITY. QUICKER REACTION TIME. MORE RESPECT

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Visit your dealer or go to www.coltsmfg.com MADE IN THE USA from German and Czech Model ’98 Mausers to homegrown versions of the Sten gun. Faced with a rudimentary economy and the lack of an advanced industrial production base, the Israelis needed a domestic arms industry and a cheap, easily produced submachine gun suited for the ambush, raid, night-fight- ing style of close-quarter combat in which they found themselves engaged in daily. Uzi Gal gave it to them. Working at the government owned Israeli Military Industries (IMI), Gal took some of the best features of the A full-size copy of the Czech vz23 subgun, specifically, its original 9mm Uzi, the barrel-enveloping bolt and handgrip new Walther Uzi is a rimfire clone complete magazine well and crafted what was to with faux suppressor. become the most popular submachine gun of the era. For ease and economy of produc- tion, Gal designed the Uzi to use a maxi- mum amount of stampings and heat- One Neat Uzi resistant plastics. The major compo- nents—the receiver, top cover, trigger housing and folding metal stock—are And it’s a .22 Long Rifle. welded-up, sheetmetal stampings. The only precision machining is found M16 rifle as well as the HK MP5 and on the bolt and the barrel. The Uzi is Holt Bodinson HK416 are superior rimfire examples simple to make, simple to use, reliable of those famous models. They are the in the dirt of combat and cheap. In full ne of the most iconic and most best-of-the-best rimfire clones of the combat mode, it can be fitted with a recognizable firearms of all original models and a delight to own bayonet, anti-tank grenade, suppressor Otimes has just joined the rimfire and shoot. The Uzi upholds that same and flashlight. club, and it’s a beaut! Under license tradition. The Walther-made rimfire version from IWI-Israel, the current manu- Historically, the Uzi is a product is even better, yes, the suppressor facturer of the Uzi family of tactical of its political times and environment. surrounding the 16" barrel of the firearms, Carl Walther of Germany The times were the 1940s and 1950s rimfire version is a fake, but by remov- has created an exacting rendition of when Israel was emerging as a nation. ing the screw-attached front hand- the UZI submachine gun in .22 Long The new country was forged in conflict guard, you will find a 10-slot Picatinny Rifle. With similar weight, length, with its Arab neighbors who were rib under the barrel just waiting for a controls and even disassembly proce- doing everything possible to insure it flashlight or laser. dures, the Walther rimfire version of would not be a successful nation-state. Over Gal’s objections, the gun the Uzi, imported by UMAREX USA, The environment, the sandy, dusty was named in his honor—the Uzi. is a remarkable achievement of arms deserts of the Middle East, is about as It quickly made its reputation in the making. tough a proving ground as exists for Six-Day War and during the daring Reviewed earlier, the Walther- any weapons system. Entebbe rescue mission. The picture produced, UMAREX USA versions At that point in time, Israel’s Defense of a take-charge Secret Service agent of the Colt 1911, M4 carbine and Forces were armed with everything wielding an up-lifted Uzi seconds

The Uzi is simple to make, simple to use and utterly reliable. The Uzi’s classic, folding metal stock is tough, stable and quick to deploy.

8 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 Popping off the top cover reveals a square bolt riding in a sheetmetal trough.

Hidden under the detachable front handguard is a useful Picatinny rib.

“Hands-find-hands” placement of the maga- zine and fire controls enhances the Uzi’s operational readiness. after John Hinkley, Jr. shot President Reagan is among the most famous of all Uzi action photographs. To truly appreciate the ingenuity of the Uzi design, you have to remove the top cover of the receiver, which is easily done by merely depress- ing the cover latch and lifting off the cover. What you see in both the centerfire and rimfire versions is a square bolt, reciprocating back-and- forth in a trough formed by the sheet metal receiver. Furthermore, when you look at the sides of that trough, you see pressed-out grooves running along both sides of the receiver that are there to capture dirt, sand and combustion crud. With the top cover sealing off the bolt raceway and the receiver together with those dirt- collecting grooves, the Uzi is one weather- and combat-proof little

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 9 “They’ll Need an

Remington’s .22 Long Rifle X-Ray Golden Bullet HP, CCI’s Mini-Mag and Quiet were to See MY Gun!” top performers in the Uzi. Recognized as the World’s Stealthiest & Most Comfortable Holsters Don’t risk detection! Our unique computer-assisted design eliminates angles that create outlines and bulges that tell others you’re subgun. Combat results around the While early Uzi’s were produced carrying. You walk... run… bend in world have proved it is. with wood stocks, the Walther-made total comfort—with any size gun! One of the great features of the Uzi Uzi is fitted with the later model’s fold- Superior construction lasts for decades. design is the positioning of the maga- ing metal stock. It might be a bit cold No wonder it’s the #1 choice of many law enforcement officers nationwide. zine within the centrally located grip. in cold weather and a bit hot in sizzling The grip frame also incorporates three weather, but it’s one of the best fold- 50% Stronger leather essential controls—the manual safety, ers ever put on a subgun. You whack 50% Thicker Kydex® the grip safety and magazine release it with your hand to open it and whack Smoother, faster draw catch. Not only does the location of the it to close it. It’s one piece of rugged 100% made in the USA magazine protect it, but also that loca- engineering. tion facilitates the “hands-finds-hands” The sights of the Walther Uzi “The most comfortable IWB I’ve worn in the concept of swapping out magazines in consist of an “L-style” flip-over, rear 30+ years of concealed carry, competition the stress of combat and during night peep sight with two apertures—a large and instructor duty.” operations. Close your eyes and try it. aperture for close-in work and a smaller Gregg Smith, Rangemaster/CRSO One hand will naturally and consis- aperture for more precise long-distance NRA-Certified Instructor, Clatskanie, OR tently find the other hand, and that’s shooting. The rear sight is adjustable SPECIAL! Quick-assemble holster kits at exactly where the Uzi magazine well is for windage. The front sight is a post wholesale prices: Just $39.97! located. adjustable for elevation by screwing it SAVE 10% at our website when you use up-or-down and locking it in place. promo code: GN0113 UZI RIMFIRE With a sighting radius of only 12", WATCH OUR FREE the Walther Uzi isn’t a target gun. It’s VIDEO: “Conceal It MANUFACTURER: a fun gun of a plinker. The 20-round, … and Stay Alive!” Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen P.O. Box 4325 polymer magazine functioned and fed D-89033 Ulm Arnsberg, Germany perfectly. The Walther does need high- OldFaithfulHolsters.com www.gunsmagazine.com/walther-arms velocity fodder to function reliably. I tried CCI’s New “Quiet” round as a LICENSER: IWI, www.israel-weapon.com test, and it would not cycle the action. IMPORTER: UMAREX USA, Inc. Remington’s Golden Bullet HP turned 7700 Chad Colley Blvd. in the best 25-yard grouping, placing Fort Smith, AR 72916 five rounds in 1-1/4" with CCI’s Mini- (479) 646-4210 www.gunsmagazine.com/umarexarms Mag and Quiet coming in second with a 1-3/4" groups. The best accuracy was obtained by using the smaller aperture ACTION TYPE: Blowback, semi- which brought the front post into sharp automatic, CALIBER: .22 Long Rifle Symbol of honest, competent, focus. High Velocity, CAPACITY: 20, BARREL Walther’s rimfire Uzi, imported by quality workmanship LENGTH: 16.1", OVERALL LENGTH: 26- UMAREX USA, is a faithful rendi- 1/4" (collapsed), 33-1/2" (extended), tion of the classic Uzi. Beautifully WEIGHT: 8-1/2 pounds, FINISH: Matte "LOOK FOR IT!" made and detailed, it’s a remarkable black, SIGHTS: Rear: “L” style aper- rimfire that promises many hours of Member list $2.00 ture, windage adjustable; Front: fun for the whole family. There’s even 1449 Blue Crest Ln. Post, elevation adjustable, STOCK: an Uzi pistol version as well. Let the Metal, PRICE: $645 San Antonio, TX 78232 fun begin!

10 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 PC_Ad_2012:Layout 1 9/20/12 3:47 PM Page 1

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smith-wesson.com/pc Forgotten Speed Demon The .264 Winchester Magnum has many attributes today’s shooters demand.

cases averaged 86-grain water capac- D ave Anderson ity, compared to an 87.5-grain aver- age for fired Weatherby/Norma .257 he .257 Weatherby Magnum cases, an insignificant difference. and .264 Winchester Magnum Bullet diameter difference is just Tare remarkable cartridges. .007", really not very much. Mind They deliver very high velocity with you—the same .007" difference ballistically efficient bullets, with between the .270 Win and .280 Rem tolerable recoil. has fueled many an argument. Many shooters were intrigued by Originally it appeared the .264 the .257’s ballistics, but not enough Mag would be a solid success. In addi- Here’s a memorable 1962 Winchester ad for the to lay out the bucks for a Mk V. tion to the Winchester 70, Remington, .264 Magnum Westerner. Dave doubts current ads would show a down-the-muzzle perspective When Weatherby began offering the Savage, Sako and Browning offered or use terms like “a man’s rifle.” Dave’s Model Vanguard in .257 Weatherby, demand rifles in .264 Mag. 70 was made the same year as the ad, though exceeded all expectations. The Weath- it took 50 years before it came his way. They erby Vanguard is one of the best Run Over aren’t kidding about the noise. sporting rifles available and, at current Then came 1962 and the new 7mm prices, a fantastic value. The popular- Rem Mag. While the .264 was consid- Westerner was nearly 45" long with a ity of the .257 is probably higher now ered a varmint/deer/antelope/sheep 26" barrel. “Field ready” (with scope, than it has ever been. cartridge the 7mm Rem was promoted mount and rings, cartridges, sling) Other factors include increased as a big-game round for everything weight pushes 10 pounds. Outstand- interest in long-range shooting; more from whitetails to moose. ing for long-range shooting, stable choices in slow-burning powders, slip- So popular was the 7mm Rem it and accurate, but not much fun to pery low-drag bullets, monometal even surpassed the .30-06 for a time, carry on long hikes. bullets which maintain their integ- and it just swatted the .264 aside. The The first Winchester ads touted rity even at high impact velocity. The .264 Mag wasn’t so much a failure as “.264 country” as “up where the high increased popularity of the .257 seems it was a victim. It was alive and well sheep grazing seem to flow in and to have renewed interest in the .264. right up to the moment the 7mm Mag out of the clouds.” Very lyrical, but They are about as alike as two ran over it. a 10-pound rifle over 44" long isn’t so cartridges can get. My fired W-W .264 The original Winchester 70 appealing to the hunter up among the clouds. Winchester then offered the .264 in the Featherweight model. Its 22" barrel didn’t seem well suited to Magnum performance. Moreover the original Featherweight barrel contour had a very short shank section. Cutting a magnum chamber in this barrel contour didn’t leave much steel surrounding the case. Initially two W-W loads for the .264 were offered, a 100-grain bullet at 3,700 feet per second and a 140-grain Power Point at 3,200 fps. Currently W-W offers just the 140-grain load rated at 3,030. Arti- cles I’ve read where some say W-W If you want ultra-flat trajectory, power, and tolerable recoil the Weatherby Mk V Ultra Lightweight .257 has cut back the load. I think the Weatherby (top) and Winchester 70 Westerner (1962 production) in .264 Win Mag (bottom) deliver. difference is they now report veloci- Both wear Leupold VX-III 4.5-14X scopes with B&C reticles. On big game you don’t even have to think about trajectory from zero to at least 350 yards. ties in 24" barrels (plus the original claim may have been enhanced a bit).

12 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM Factory-Claimed Chronographed Cartridge Load Velocity (FPS) Velocity (FPS) .264 Win Mag w-W 140-grain Power Point 3,030 3,107 .257 Weatherby 80-grain Barnes TTSX 3,870 3,932 .257 Weatherby 100-grain Hornady 3,500 3,557 .257 Weatherby 120-grain Nosler 3,305 3,330 Notes: Oehler 35P chronograph, center screen 10' from muzzle. Temperature 70F; Winchester 70 Westerner, 26" barrel, 1:9" twist; Weatherby Mk V Ultra Lightweight, 26" barrel, 1:10" twist.

Digging through my library of old with some loads showing 3,300 fps magazines, I found a .264 review by with a 140-grain bullet. It’s no myth Jack O’Connor (Outdoor Life, May, load recommendations have been cut 1960). On the chronograph at the back. Speer facility he found the 140-grain In my .264 Mag Westerner I’ve The .257 Weatherby and .264 Win Mag are bal- load actually produced 3,115 fps been loading 140-grain bullets to listic brothers (or at least first cousins) with muzzle velocity. 3,100 fps and 120-grain bullets to very similar case capacity and bullet diameter. The .257 (left) has the characteristic Weatherby Current production ammunition 3,300+ fps. This is in W-W cases double-radius shoulder, and the .264 (right) a in my Westerner averaged 3,107 fps. with Federal 215 primers, Hornady conventional shoulder. Both are descendants of (15-round average). Not much differ- A-Max and GMX bullets. Powders the classic .375 H&H belted magnum. ence considering the two batches used include Alliant RL-25, Hodg- of ammunition were loaded half a don H-1000, and Ramshot Magnum. century apart! Other powders similarly posi- Another .257/.264 myth is they tioned on burn rate charts include “need” a 26" barrel. Certainly a IMR-7828 and Hodgdon Retumbo. shorter barrel loses some velocity Currently Winchester is reintroduc- but in my experience not enough to ing the .264 Mag in two versions of lose sleep over. The .257 velocities the Model 70, one a Sporter with 26" in the chart are from my Mk. V with barrel. Since I already have my West- Dave’s 50-year-old Winchester 70 .264 Mag still 26" barrel. In my Vanguard with 24" erner, I’ve ordered a Featherweight shoots (as it should, since he doubts it had two barrel velocities are typically 60 or model. Unlike the original Feather- boxes of ammunition fired through when he bought it). This 100-yard group was handloaded 70 fps slower. We’re talking a differ- weight it has a 24" barrel and a differ- using W-W brass, Federal 215 primer, Ramshot ence in drop of around 1" to 1-1/2" ent barrel contour, with plenty of steel Magnum powder and the wonderfully accu- at 500 yards. surrounding the chamber. Now we rate Hornady 120-grain A-Max bullet. Glass is a Some ’60s-era load data for the need a few more factory ammunition Leupold 4.5-14 VX-III scope in Burris Z-rings. .264 Mag was rather exuberant, options.

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SIG_SAUER_FP_GUNS_JAN-2013.indd 1 9/18/12 12:55 PM BUGs! Some thoughts on choices of backup guns.

of built up towns as a true cowboy Clint Smith working stock had enough stuff to deal Photos: Heidi Smith with and documents record working cowboys often left their handguns in istory records people who the chuck wagon rather than having to carried two handguns for a deal with the handgun, a rope and an Hvariety of reasons. In the days ornery steer in thick brush. of mounted cavalry big “horse” pistols Bluntly in cap-and-ball handgun The S&W Model 327 loaded with eight shots were carried in scabbards mounted to times a second gun was a lot easier and of good .38 Special +P ammo makes it a good or attached to the saddle pommel. A faster than trying to load the empty backup gun. second or backup gun came in handy in first handgun. Even with the advent of mounted fights as loading the revolver the cartridge-firing Single Action Army quicker than a reload in a fight regard- of the day required some detail and or the break-top S&W loading was still less of the era or the type of gun. The often some time to charge with powder a time consuming process compared to backup gun may be a lifesaver in case and ball. Some gunmen of the era of the insertion of the magazine into the of a mechanical failure of the primary the American West carried two guns, well like so many of us do today. gun. In the case of physical “loss” Hickok, Hardin, Stoudenmire but Why a backup? As food for thought of the primary handgun to a threat a mostly these were gunmen or residents the drawing of a second gun may still be second gun gives the shooter the ability to respond. Here comes a firestorm: The backup gun must be used by a skilled person who understands the use of the BUG will most likely occur in a high stress application. Proper or normal shooting techniques might be impaired by injury so the skill and application must be applied without a hitch. Try to aquire the best proper grip and the best appli- cation of body weight behind the gun The Springfield Armory XDs .45 ACP pistol (above, left) is small but a controllable package with especially if you want to use a small practice. Limited rounds is a concern of interest but the Tyler T-grip (above, right) and greatly auto. I know it’s all the rage to carry improved large sights by Hamilton Bowen increase the effectiveness of the small S&W .38 Spe- cial Chiefs Special revolver. Good examples of proper BUGs include (below, left to right) the a small .380, but you can have it and Springfield XDs Single Stack in .45 ACP, the Smith & Wesson Model 327 and a Bowen-converted you’re welcome to it (I’ll get to that in S&W .38 Special Chiefs Special. a minute). Since the fight can and could be at short range and many gunfights start out as a fist fight, the chances of you being on the ground are high and if the threat is on top of you, consid- eration must be given to the fact that barrel-slide-muzzle contact to the threat may cause a failure of the auto pistol to operate correctly. The shooter must remember under duress to clear the muzzle of physical contact. Personally a revolver is much better for the muzzle contact appli- cations that can occur at short range because the revolver still works— fires—in the muzzle contact mode. You can train up to “hold” the back of an auto pistol so it fires while in physical contact but then as soon as the auto does fire the shooter must cycle the slide to clear the fired case from the chamber, but at least you

16 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 m

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savagearms.com get one round in the guy, so to speak. BUGs have always intrigued me because in my head the thought process is that my big, main, primary butt- kicking handgun is empty, broken or stolen… so now I’m going to reach inside my shorts and pull out this popgun? Yeah, yeah, the gun with you is better than the one at home in the safe, but the gig still remains “I was fighting with Ken (so to speak) until everything goes south in a fight I could honestly lose and my response is… I drag out Barbie to fight with?” So, puppies are cute, yet a BUG should be in reality the biggest gun you own—remember you’re in a dogfight, A Sierra GameKing your first choice of handgun fails—and bullet is the one out comes a poodle? Sorry, I think a bullet you need BUG should be the biggest gun you can carry. My BUG is a double-action-only for deer hunting 2" S&W 327 8-shot .357 Magnum with at long range. no hammer spur. I also am starting to GameKings’ boat train up and use the new Springfield tail design aids in XDs in .45 ACP… yes, an auto pistol, but a big-bore gun, in an ankle holster downrange accuracy and very reliable in every format I have and energy retention, trained in with the gun to date. providing trophy A BUG should be in a place where performance without a you can get as much access and the best access to the gun from as many odd premium price. When you get places or positions as humanly possi- ready for your next deer hunt, ble. Ankle holsters are a good choice in choose the only bullet you’ll my opinion, if I wind up on the ground need for that one trophy buck, in a fight, good access and access Sierra GameKing. while sitting in a car with either hand. Offside pocket holsters—yes the gun in a holster in your pocket—not floating around loose. The BUG location will also dictate that you’ll need to train up in offside or opposite-hand shooting— and you should anyways. History after a fashion will record your problems, and your resolutions. If you do well people will remember, if you do poorly even more people will remember. Your BUG, big, little, carried Contact your favorite dealer for the or not carried, it’s your call, it could also be your life in the balance. complete line of Sierra bullets or visit www.sierrabullets.com Springfield Armory 420 W. Main St., Geneseo, IL 61254 (309) 944-5631 1 400 West Henry Street | Sedalia, MO 65301 | Tech support: 1-800-223-8799 | Other calls: 1-888-223-3006 www.gunsmagazine.com/springfield-armory S&W 078.27306 One Trophy Buck_Guns Mag_4.625x7.5.indd 1 12/16/10 3:53 PM 2100 Roosevelt Ave., Springfield, MA 01104 (800) 331-0852 www.gunsmagazine.com/smith-wesson Bowen Classic Arms P.O. Box 67, Louisville, TN 37777 (865) 984-3583 www.gunsmagazine.com/ bowen-classic-arms Milt Sparks 115 E. 44th St., Boise, ID 83714 (208) 377-5577 www.gunsmagazine.com/miltsparksholsters Tyler Mfg. P.O. Box 94845, Oklahoma City, OK 73143 (405) 625-4992 www.gunsmagazine.com/tyler-mfg

18 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013

When Duke can steal some time for sin- gle-action revolver shooting at his home range, it’s most likely with one of his .44-40s.

Charles Askins once wrote that he saw no reason for Smith & Wesson to intro- The Best Old duce their .44 Special because the .44 WCF was already well established. West Handgun Ironically, for a cartridge, which I consider a most excellent one for revolvers the .44 WCF was actually Cartridge developed for rifles. Winchester did that in 1873 for the rifle and carbine named for the year. It was their first round The .44 Winchester Centerfire. using a brass case with external primer; meaning it was reloadable. From the Evidently, I wasn’t the only one to beginning standard factory loads used Mike “Duke” Venturino draw such a conclusion. Consider this: a 1.31" long, slightly bottlenecked case Photos: Yvonne Venturino during the time frame mentioned above with 40 grains of black powder under no other handgun manufacturer cata- a 200-grain, roundnose-flatpoint bullet. ver the past 30 years, I’ve loged .45 Colt revolvers. Virtually every From, a 24" rifle barrel velocity was tried to shoot every revolver maker of “belt revolvers” offered them supposed to be about 1,300 fps. Otype that someone would have as .44 WCF. (Belt revolvers were what Most sources give 1878 as the year packed in a holster during the last 50 we would call “holster guns” today.) Colt finally began chambering their years of the 19th century. Such shoot- Remington had the Models 1875 and Single Action Army revolver for .44 ing has encompassed handguns from 1890, Merwin & Hulbert had a couple WCF. (Some say 1877.) That would .36-caliber cap-and-ball “Navy” Colts versions of their unique twist-frame have been after about serial number to the big-bore double actions of the design, Smith & Wesson made both 41,000. By the time the First Gener- 1890s. In regards to metallic cartridges single- and double-action top-break ation of Colt Single Action Army I’ve handloaded tens of thousands of versions of their Model No. 3 in .44 production ended in 1941, .44 WCF rounds with both black powder and WCF and even Colt put the round in chambered ones were in distant smokeless powders ranging from .38 all of their big-frame revolvers intro- second place in regards numbers Colt up to .45 Colt. In between have duced after 1873. Another gun’riter made. Of course .45 Colt was first with been .38 WCF, .41 Colt, .44 S&W far more famous than me, the late Col. about 150,000 compared to the .44 American & Russian, .44 Colt, .44 WCF at approximately 64,000. One WCF, .45 Schofield and others. fact makes .44 WCF unique among In my humble but experience- Colt SAAs is the name the company based opinion, one of those many gave revolvers so chambered. They rounds stands above all the rest both were stamped “COLT FRONTIER in regards to its historical perspective SIX-SHOOTER.” Merwin & Hulbert and modern application. That is the bestowed an even odder moniker on .44 WCF (Winchester Centerfire) more their .44 WCF chambered sixguns. commonly known today as .44-40. When Winchester introduced their new .44 They were marked “CALIBRE Such an attitude might surprise some WCF round in 1873 it had a brass case and WINCHESTER 1873.” Although I’ve centerfire primer making it their first reload- readers because cartridges like the .45 able cartridge. shot Remington Model 1875 .44s and Colt are held in near reverence. even owned a Smith & Wesson single

20 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 Duke’s most recent .44-40 revolvers are these engraved ones from U.S. Firearms Company.

action Model No. 3 in this caliber, at and lodged in the 12th. A 200-grain WCF whether the ammunition will this late date I cannot remember how .44 WCF bullet over 38 grains of be fired in revolvers or lever guns and they were caliber stamped. Swiss FFFg made it through nine whether smokeless propellants or Back in the late 1800s ammu- planks and stuck in the 10th. A fact black powder will propel them. For nition companies often rated the worth mentioning was the .45 Colt many years my favored smokeless power of their loads by how many bullet was Lyman 454190, which was powder charge for COLT FRON- 1" thick white pine boards the bullets more pointed than flatnose. The .44 TIER SIX-SHOOTERS was 6.8 would penetrate. A few years ago I WCF bullet was cast in RCBS mould grains of Winchester 231 or Hodg- decided to try duplicating that with 44-200FN which has a rather wide don HP38. Depending on exact a baffle box holding 7/8" white pine flatnose. That likely slowed the .44 barrel length and barrel/cylinder gap planks. A 250-grain .45 Colt bullet bullet a bit. that load hit about 775 to 875 fps. powered by 35 grains of Swiss FFFg That RCBS .44 bullet design is my Since the advent of IMR’s Trail Boss black powder penetrated 11 planks all-time favorite for handloading .44 powder I’ve used it almost exclu- sively for this round with a charge of 6.5 grains. Velocity may average about 50 fps less, again depending on exact handgun being fired. I’ve also loaded thousands of .44 WCFs with black powder relying on the same RCBS bullet over 33 grains of either Goex FFg or FFFg. From a 7-1/2" barrel those granulations of black powder gave about 850 to 950 fps respectively. The FFFg load is a real boomer! Going back over my life-long records shows that I’ve owned about 30 revolvers chambered for this fine old cartridge with eight remaining with me at this time. Two of those are engraved U.S. Firearms’ single actions with 4-3/4" and 5-1/2" barrels and the rest are various generations and barrel lengths of COLT FRONTIER SIX- SHOOTERS. Being so well stocked I doubt if it will ever be necessary to own another. Some shooters hesitate to dive into .44 WCF handgun shooting because they have heard it’s a hard cartridge for which to handload. There can be some stumbling blocks in vintage revolvers but .44 WCFs are essentially trouble free in modern made ones. I’m glad that troublesome rumor didn’t put me off because .44 WCF revolvers have Duke tested many old West handgun cartridges by firing their black powder handloads into this baf- given me countless hours of shooting fle box (above). Only the .45 Colt beat the .44-40. pleasure.

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 21 The .223 Remington One of America’s more accurate and easy-to-load for cartridges. The .223 is normally very accurate, especially in Some longer bullets had conventional heavy-barreled varmint rifles, and the AR-15 is John Barsness lead cores, while others were longer now just as accurate as many bolt actions. due to using “non-toxic” materials, he .223 Remington appeared in for the entire bullet or just the cores. Noveske Varmageddon AR-15s with 1964 as the civilian version of the a 5.56 chamber in an 18" match barrel T5.56mm NATO. The 5.56mm Five Test Rifles with a 1:8" twist. I hadn’t tried any itself was essentially a compromise The data listed was fired in five handloads in the Nosler rifle, but it between the .222 Remington (1950) different rifles, three bolt actions with averaged about .6" for five shots at and .222 Remington Magnum (1958) .223 chambers and two AR-15s with 100 yards with Nosler Varmageddon for use in the US military’s new M16 5.56 chambers. Barrel lengths varied ammo. It turned out to be tough to rifle. from 16" to 26", providing a general match that with handloads! The cases of the .223 and 5.56 are idea of how length affected muzzle The .223 is remarkably easy to essentially identical, but the cham- velocity. Several newer powders were handload, and usually very accurate. ber throat of 5.56 rifles is longer, and tested in the newest pair of the rifles, Until a decade ago, almost all the the pressures of military ammo are a Thompson/Center Icon .223 with varmint shooters I knew used Hodg- usually higher as well. Consequently a heavy 22" barrel and a 1:12" twist, don H335 ball powder, because it it’s generally considered safe to fire and one of the brand-new Nosler/ metered very precisely (handy when commercial .223 ammo in 5.56mm loading lots of ammo) and resulted chambers, but not the reverse. Also, in fine accuracy and top veloci- 5.56 rifles generally have faster rifling ties. However, it also burned some- twists, and some (though not all) mili- what dirty, back then considered a tary cases are heavier than commer- necessary evil of ball powders, due cial brass. Military primers also have to coatings that resisted burning just heavier cups, to withstand higher enough to slow burn rate. (In extruded pressure and the slam of automatic powders, granule size is also used to fire, especially in a hot rifle. slow burn rate, a technique obvi- ously not applicable to ball powder.) Ttwis As a result, it was considered manda- Until recently, the barrels on just tory to give bores at least a cursory about all commercial rifles had rifling field cleaning after 50 or 75 rounds, twists of 1-turn-in-12" (1:12"), the and to really scrub them each evening same as the original M16 adopted by after the day’s shooting was done, the the US military. This stabilizes lead- reason many older PD shooters asso- cored spitzers up to about 60 grains, ciate the smell of Hoppe’s No. 9 and and since most hunters used 40- to freshly opened Budweiser. 55-grain bullets in the .223, the twist In the early 1990s, Hodgdon ran worked fine—and still does, when out of the original military-surplus handloading conventional varmint powder they sold as H335, and bullets. replaced it with newly made powder. The military eventually increased If you still have a bunch of the older bullet weights in some 5.56mm ammu- powder, it will probably result in nition to increase effectiveness in vari- slower velocities. I used to use 28.0 ous combat situations. In a few M16 grains of old H335 with 50-grain variations the twist rate was changed bullets, but the new powder reached to 1:7", capable of stabilizing lead- the same velocity with 2 grains less cored spitzers up to 80+ grains in powder. weight. At the same time more American Clean Burning hunters wanted to use longer bullets, Several of today’s ball powders both for varmint shooting at longer The rifles used in testing recent powders were burn cleaner. A dozen years ago, I was ranges and for hunting smaller big a Nosler/Noveske Varmageddon AR-15 and a invited on a prairie dog shoot in east- game such as deer and feral pigs. Thompson/Center Icon Precision Hunter. ern Montana with a company called

22 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013

Ramshot, a new division of Western Powders, a long-time powder distrib- utor in Miles City. They said they’d have plenty of .223 ammo to shoot; so I brought one, and after the first 50 rounds got out my cleaning rod. “Uh, John, I don’t think you’ll find that necessary,” one of the Ramshot people said. I was a little startled but then looked down the muzzle. I could a light sheen of copper on the lands, instead of the all-black of powder fouling. I kept shooting, checking the bore once in a while, and never saw any difference. Ramshot TAC turned out to be very clean burning, and also contains a The .223 Remington is an de-coppering agent, typical of many easy-to-reload for cartridge military powders used in automatic and has proven quite accu- rate over the years in both weapons. It’s made in Belgium, where bolt and self-loading rifles. it was developed for military use in automatic weapons, including those chambered for the 5.56mm NATO. clean the bore down to bare metal. ago discovered a major bullet company A supply went home with me, and TAC doesn’t work quite that way in uses that exact combination for their I discovered TAC produced about the every rifle, but definitely reduces both accuracy testing. same velocities and accuracy as the powder and copper fouling. Powder Over the next decade quite a few newly produced H335 with the same fouling itself is abrasive, and with a lot shooters started using TAC, and more powder charges, but with quite a bit of powder fouling even a de-coppering recently Hodgdon introduced CFE less powder fouling. In fact in one .223, agent can only do so much good. I’ve .223, also a clean-burning ball powder the heavy-barreled Remington 700 probably fired more .223 ammo loaded with a de-coppering agent. (CFE my wife Eileen shoots on burrowing with 50-grain Nosler Ballistic Tips stands for Copper Fouling Eraser.) It rodents, 500 rounds can be fired with- bullets 26.0 grains of TAC in various also works very well. In fact the world out any deterioration in accuracy, and .223’s than all other loads combined is suddenly becoming crowded with afterward a few solvent-soaked patches over the past decade, and a few years new and improved powders for the

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24 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 .223 Remington Handloaded Ammo Performance Bullet Powder Charge Velocity Accuracy (brand,y st le, weight) (brand) (grains) (fps) (inches) Rifle: Remington 700, 26" heavy barrel, 1:12" twist Nosler 40 Ballistic Tip tAC 28.5 3,872 .63 Nosler 50 Ballistic Tip H335 26.0 3,351 .59 Nosler 50 Ballistic Tip tAC 26.0 3,476 .26 Rifle: Remington 788, 24" E.R. Shaw sporter barrel, 1:9" twist Nosler 50 Ballistic Tip tAC 26.0 3,364 .68 Barnes 53 Triple Shock Varget 25.0 3,057 .89 Nosler 60 Partition TAC 23.5 3,007 1.05 Hornady 68 BTHP Varget 25.0 2,940 .59 Rifle: Bushmaster AR-15, 16" light barrel, 1:9" twist Nosler 40 Ballistic Tip tAC 28.0 3,518 .62 Nosler 50 Ballistic Tip tAC 26.0 3,157 .93 Hornady 68 BTHP Varget 25.0 2,753 .74 Rifle: Thompson/Center Icon, 22" heavy fluted barrel, 1:12" twist Nosler 40 Varmageddon CFE223 29.0 3,492 .73 Nosler 40 Ballistic Tip Benchmark 28.0 3,778 .65 Calhoon 42 HP Benchmark 28.0 3,707 .76 Nosler 50 Ballistic Tip tAC 26.0 3,294 .60 Sierra 50 BlitzKing CFE223 28.5 3,540 .62 Speer 50 TNT Varmint 26.0 3,202 .73 Nosler 60 Partition TAC 24.5 3,173 1.30 Nosler/Noveske AR-15, 18" medium barrel, 1:8" twist Sierra 40 BlitzKing CFE223 29.0 3,253 .94 Speer 50 TNT Green cfe223 28.5 3,252 1.10 Barnes 53 Triple Shock cfe223 28.0 3,313 1.31 Hornady 68 BTHP CFE223 25.8 2,868 .56 Berger 70 VLD AR-Comp 23.0 2,775 .56 Berger 80 VLD Varget 25.0 2,759 1.01

.223, including Alliant’s AR-Comp Complete with spent primers my and Varmint. Today’s cleaner-burning Black Hills brass averaged 97.7 grains, powders also cut down on the cleaning Federal 99.2 grains, Nosler 94.6, interval necessary for AR-15 actions. Remington 94.2 and Winchester 95.7. Some of older powders also work I usually use CCI small rifle primers very well, of course. Varget has long when loading .223 ammo, either BR-4 been a favorite among shooters using benchrest or standard 400s, and have 68- to 75-grain bullets in faster-twist never had a problem in several ARs. barrels, and Benchmark produces very If you do, CCI also offers their No. high muzzle velocities with 40-grain 41 military primer, with a thicker cup bullets, for those who prefer warp to prevent primer piercing and slam- speeds. fires. CCI BR-4s were used in Nosler/ If using military brass you should Noveske and Thompson/Center weigh a few and compare their weight testing. to civilian cases. I don’t use much mili- The .223 Remington is the most- tary brass, since over the past 30 years reloaded centerfire rifle case in the my collection of commercial cases United States, and not just because it’s has grown to where it’s measured in economical. The cartridge works for pounds, not rounds, but have weighed everything from varmint shooting to enough mil-surp stuff to know there’s paper punching to light big game, and some overlap with commercial stuff. is usually extremely accurate.

Manufacturers:

Alliant Powder James Calhoon Manufacturing P.O. Box 6 4343 U.S. Hwy. 87, Havre, MT 59501 Radford, VA 24143 (406) 395-4079 (800) 276-9337 www.gunsmagazine.com/james-calhoon www.gunsmagazine.com/alliant-powder Nosler, Inc. Barnes Bullets P.O. Box 671, Bend, OR 97709 38 N. Frontage Rd., Mona, UT 84645 (800) 285-3701 (435) 856-1000 www.gunsmagazine.com/nosler www.gunsmagazine.com/barnes-bullets Ramshot Berger Bullets Western Powders 4275 N. Palm St., Fullerton, CA 92835 P.O. Box 158, Miles City, MT 59301 (714) 447-5456 (800) 497-1007 www.gunsmagazine.com/berger-bullets www.gunsmagazine.com/ western-powders-inc Hodgdon Powder Company 6231 Robinson, Shawnee Mission, KS 66202 Sierra Bullets (913) 362-9455 1400 W. Henry St., Sedalia, MO 65301 www.gunsmagazine.com/hodgdon (660) 827-6300 www.gunsmagazine.com/sierra-bullets Hornady Mfg. Co. 3625 W. Old Potash Hwy. Speer Ammo Grand Island, NE 68803 2299 Snake River Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501 (800) 338-3220 (800) 627-3640 www.gunsmagazine.com/hornady www.gunsmagazine.com/speer-ammo

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 25 Phoenix, Ariz. Draw was as fast as with a dedicated speed holster. The Holster Orthopedic Holsters Having occasionally sustained inju- Wardrobe ries on the road that got in the way of my usual carrying and shooting tech- niques, I try to have fallbacks in the suitcase. I tore out a shoulder once at Guys need more ball caps, the rotator cuff and deltoid, and for some time lost the range of movement gals need more shoes, and needed for a straight hip draw. The arm could come forward, though, making handguns need more holsters. crossdraw possible. My crossdraw rig for the trip was a neutral cant horse- Massad Ayoob hide scabbard by Derry Gallagher. If my dominant arm or hand became eing on the road a lot gives me a compromised—like when I busted my good sense of how few holsters trigger finger on another trip some 30 Byou can get away with when years ago—a “cavalry draw” done left- you’re wearing handguns every day. handed with the holster butt forward Airlines have weight limits, and suit- on my left hip will do in a pinch for cases have finite space. Let’s take a carry, though it won’t be allowed in moment to see if what works for me most competition. might work for you. Darn it again, I didn’t have a I’m writing this in the American concealable left-handed L-frame West, where a sixgun just seems natu- holster around when I packed for the ral… and besides, I was shooting Stock trip. I usually have a “mirror image” Service Revolver division at the Wash- holster for the guns I regularly travel ington State IDPA Championships with: Bianchi and High Noon south- (came in second, darn it). The gun is paw scabbards for the 1911s, port side a substantial one, a 4" S&W 686 .357 A shoulder rig (above) is ideal for a night of Don Hume belt slide and Bianchi Pistol Magnum expertly tuned by Bob Lloyd. pouring rain. This one, by Bianchi, carries Mas’ Pocket IWB for K-frame Smith revolv- 4" S&W 686. Mas draws the same 686 (below) Like many practical shooting sports, from a Safariland OWB holster at 2012 Washing- ers, and a southpaw Aker Flatsider for IDPA requires strong-side hip carry, ton State IDPA Championships. the Glocks. In the latter brand, Glock’s and that’s where I’m accustomed to own super-cheap plastic Sport Combat packing my primary sidearm anyway. holster is an excellent buy for a conceal- A Safariland Model 568 scab- able, ambidextrous holster. The same is bard worked well at the match, and true of Glock’s magazine pouches. proved handy on the training range. It A shoulder holster can also come carries the gun comfortably outside the in handy. Reaching through the front waistband. I had the optional paddle of a heavy winter coat can make it the attached: handy for when the holster most accessible option in really cold or has to often come off the belt and then torrentially wet weather. It also takes go back on. For concealment, though, the weight off the hips if you develop I prefer something inside the waistband a lumbar spine problem or a pelvic (IWB). A Ted Blocker Model 12 IWB ailment. Shoulder rigs (or cross draw) is with me, its snap-on belt attachment tend to work well if you end up in a loop giving me the same on-and-off wheelchair for a while, too. Bianchi and convenience as the paddle-style OWB. Galco make the shoulder rigs I most When the holster is going to be on often wear. all day, I use another IWB, the Mitch Another handy thing to have along Rosen ARG (originally Ayoob Rear Some holsters can be more multi- is an elastic bellyband holster; Gould Guard, now American Rear Guard). functional than others. Last year, & Goodrich makes a very nice one. It’s Its permanent belt loop is behind the carrying this same revolver in Arizona, ambidextrous if necessary, and allows body of the gun, locking it forward to I wore it in a Galco Yaqui Slide. Carry- you to hide even a substantial revolver prevent “printing” under the sport and ing the gun outside the belt, this skele- under a tucked-in shirt with no outer suit coats I’ve had to wear on part of tonized rig holds it tight enough to the garment. They’re slow to reholster, but this trip. When I’ve had to teach without body for good concealment, yet is fast they sure do pack easily in a suitcase. jacket but also without gun visible, the enough to compete with. Last year A DeSantis 2X2X2 cartridge carrier ARG has kept the big service revolver and the year before, the Galco and rides inconspicuously on my belt, and a out of sight beneath an un-tucked polo the S&W won me the Stock Service Bianchi Speed Strip in a cargo pocket, shirt that’s one size larger than what I’d Revolver Division Championships at with a Safariland Comp III speed- normally wear tucked in. the South Mountain IDPA match in loader in the cell phone pocket of my

26 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 ARG holster by Mitch Rosen conceals the big 686 inside the waistband of an average-size guy. cargo pants. For decades, a 6-shot revolver and two spare reloads were considered enough for a cop to guard society. It doesn’t leave me insecure carrying this “load-out” for personal self-defense today. Spare auto mags, of course, are even easier to carry and faster to deploy. This relatively small array of holsters covers a broad spectrum of needs. It works for the traveler living out of a suitcase, or the new shooter working with a limited holster budget. Even a few different carry options greatly extend the versatility of the handgun. Bianchi & Safariland 3120 E. Mission Blvd., Ontario, CA 91761 (800) 347-1200 www.gunsmagazine.com/bianchiintl Ted Blocker Holsters 9438 S.W. Tigard St., Tigard, OR 97223 (800) 650-9742 www.gunsmagazine.com/ted-blocker-holsters DeSantis Holster & Leather Goods 431 Bayview Ave., Amityville, NY 11701 (800) 424-1236 www.gunsmagazine.com/desantisholster Derry Gallagher Holsters P.O. Box 720536 , McAllen, TX 78504 (956) 686-5109 [email protected] www.gunsmagazine.com/derrry-gallagher Galco Gunleather 2019 W. Quail Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027 (800) 874-2526 www.gunsmagazine.com/galco Glock Inc. 6000 Highlands Pkwy., Smyrna, GA 30082 (770) 432-1202 www.gunsmagazine.com/glock Mitch Rosen 540 No. Commercial St. Manchester, NH 03101 (603) 647-2971 www.gunsmagazine.com/mitch-rosen Gould & Goodrich 709 E. McNeil St. Lillington, NC 27546 (800) 277-0732 www.gunsmagazine.com/gould-and-goodrich

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 27

Untitled-1 1 8/31/12 9:48 AM Much more than that (more than .005" difference) and then the bullet Let’s Look Inside may get its jacket damaged on seating, as well as having the bullet become an unwanted contribution to the sizing Case Sizing Part II operation. If there is excessive seating Most conventional sizing dies are resistance, the case shoulder may get Glen Zediker going to take the fired neck outside additional setback. diameter down a significant amount. Some, me included, are concerned ast time, we talked about resiz- These dies incorporate an expand- with the amount of down and up in ing a spent cartridge case for ing appliance, usually called a sizing the sizing operation. No doubt, more Lbest reuse in an AR-type fire- button (some, me too, call it an sizing “works” brass and shortens its arm. The focus was on the outside of “expander”) that comes back through life. There are sizing dies that feature the case. This time we’ll talk about the case neck when the case is with- changeable bushings to specify the the inside, the case neck area. Options drawn from the die. amount of outside matter more than you might imagine. This is affixed to the case neck sizing. It’s Before talking options, the first step is decapping rod. The Exaggerated, of possible, certainly, course, but because understanding the essence. button diameter deter- wall thicknesses to use this to reduce There are two diameters on a case mines the inside case vary there literally the amount the neck, both matter. Inside diameter neck diameter, and can be two different expander opens up and outside diameter. On firing, the also then the outside centers in a case the neck. neck with non- case neck will expand to fit the limits neck diameter. uniformed walls. I really don’t of that area in the rifle chamber. For It’s inside diam- Which influences recommend bush- safety’s sake, most factory chamber eter that’s impor- depends on whether ing dies for semi- neck areas are fairly generous in size tant. Inside diameter the case neck was autos. One of the last sized inside or (compared to what we might get away determines case neck outside. If you don’t main points against with in a custom chamber and consis- constriction, which neck-turn cases, it them is that they tent brass). That is done to accom- some call case neck should be inside. don’t size the full modate a wider variety of cartridge “tension,” and that height of the case case specifications. Not all case neck matters a whole lot. neck. Not sizing the walls are the same thickness, so not all It matters to safety and accuracy. full neck tube is a contributor to the neck diameters will be the same. There It’s the difference in diameters of the influence of the case neck “doughnut” has to be room for the case neck to bullet and the inside case neck. For a I talked about in the October 2008 expand to release the bullet. If there’s semi-auto it should be at least .003". issue. (In case you missed that, this not, then pressures can escalate. Less than that and retaining the bullet is narrow elevated ring of brass that In resizing, the case neck gets its against movement prior to firing can increases constriction by reducing the outside squeezed down and then its be a question. This movement can be inside neck diameter. It’s like rolling inside gets opened back up. induced through inertia or impact. an O-ring down into the case neck, stopping it right at the case neck, case shoulder juncture.) As I hope makes sense, it’s also for this reason I don’t recommend sizing a case without a sizing button in place. This is easily possible with a bushing die. Squeez- ing down the outside diameter of the neck without opening its inside back up will, I promise, form a doughnut. The sizing button reopens the neck inside and helps alleviate the effects of this condition. It can also influence accuracy, in a bad way, contrary to the intentions of following this procedure. Neck Centers In effect, there are two centers on a case neck, one outside and one inside. This WW-brand case has .012"-thick neck walls. Double that to get .024". Add that to the bullet The inside matters most because that’s diameter, .224", to get the outside case neck diameter of a loaded round. Of course you can always where the bullet is, and that’s what it just measure a loaded neck, but this progression of attaining numbers shows more. For example, take that figure, .248", and reduce it until you get the .003" recommended constriction amount. gets seated into. To see how literal this That means we need a ready-to-load outside diameter of .245", which would be an inside diameter is, sizing a case with no expanding of .221". If using a neck-bushing die, it would be a .244", or a sizing button diameter of .222", both appliance, such that only the outside account for the .001" spring-back. (Always either add or subtract .001" from any sizing appliance to wall is touched, and then running it arrive at an anticipated net result. Brass isn’t completely pliable, or plastic. It will rebound roughly this amount after any sizing operation.) on a concentricity fixture will almost always show zero to very little runout.

28 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 Take the same case and size it using the expander such that the inside neck wall is the last thing touched, and another check with the fixture will likely then show runout. Expanders get blamed but the bigger thing is that Scope Mount it’s only pointed out neck wall thick- ness inconsistency. SEE THRU ... SEE MORE. If case neck walls aren’t uniform in thickness, then whatever amount MODEL 730 of inconsistency there is displaces either center. If we want the inside wall center to be in the center, then an inside expanding appliance should be the last sizing tool used on the case neck. The only case necks that respond better to no inside sizing are those on uniformed brass, and specif- ically that means they’ve had their necks outside-turned so their wall diameters are consistent. When we’re using cases that exhibit neck wall Style# Description thickness differences, however slight, having something to final-size the 705 Browning inside of the neck actually produces 710 Marlin a more concentric case neck, from the bullet’s point of view (literally). Go 715 Remington 700 with that. 725 Remington 742 Make life easier on case necks. Many dies have a sizing button that 730 Remington 7400 can be chucked into a hand drill 740 Ruger 10/22 (chuck up the decapping stem). It’s way wise to run it against emery paper 741 Savage 110 to polish the fool out of the piece 750 Winchester 70 before even its first use. I use 320 grit. The difference in use, and its effect TOP MOUNT RINGS FOR on the case neck, is astounding. If needed, the button can be run on the USE ON STANDARD emery until it’s the right size (smaller) IRONSIGHTER, to get the bullet grip we want from the case neck. I’ve encountered a KWIK-SITE OR number of .223 Remington dies that WEAVER BASES. needed a smaller diameter button to net the recommended .003" constric- AVAILABLE IN 4 NEW tion. And lube the inside of the neck. Right. Some seem adamant about not HEIGHTS W32, W44, W52 & W64 doing this, but case necks ought not to MODEL 570 squeak. I use plain old case lube. Information in this article was adapted from The Competitive AR15: the Ultimate Technical Guide, published by Zediker Publishing. For more information, including many downloads, check www.zedikerpublish- ing.com or call (662) 473-6107.

Winchester-Western 427 N. Shamrock East Alton, IL 62024 (618) 258-2000 SEE-THRU MOUNTS FOR www.gunsmagazine.com/winchester-western IRONSIGHTER® OR Forster Products ® 310 E. Lanark Ave. WEAVER STYLE BASES Lanark, IL 61046 (815) 493-6360 P.O. Box 85070 www.gunsmagazine.com/forster Westland, MI 48185 Sinclair International 2330 Wayne Haven St. (734) 326-8731 Fort Wayne, IN 46803 (800) 717-8211 Fax # (734) 326-3378 GUNSMAGAZINE.COM www.gunsmagazine.com/sinclair E-mail: [email protected] WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 29 Surplus, Classic and Tactical FirearmS What A Rimfire! GSGA / TI’s Sturmgewehr 44 .22 Long Rifle. n the spring of 1943, 2,000 42 (Parachutist rifle) and the Stur- HOLT BODINSON HOLT Maschinenkarabiner 42s were mgewehr 42/43/44 series. Idelivered to Germany’s belea- We may not have the opportunity guered troops of Army Group North to own any of them, but their history on the Russian Front. The impact of is interesting, and through the efforts the sudden appearance on the front of German Sport Guns (GSG) and line of a 30-round, selective-fire rifle, American Tactical Imports, we now later to be named the Sturmgewehr 44 have a rimfire version of the StG44 (StG44), had to have been a startling that, from all outside appearances, event to the Russians. To the German dimensions and weight, is as close to troops, their MKb42s were judged so the real item as you’ll find. The story superior to their bolt-action Maus- of the original StG44 begins with a ers and MP 40s that Hitler, who had cartridge. The functioning dust cover (above) snaps opens specifically terminated (or thought when the bolt slams home. An ersatz push but- The Beginning ton above the safety (below) was the selective fire he had!) the development of the rifle, control switch on an original StG44. was forced to embrace it and order WWI was one of the seminal its mass production. moments in military history with By the end of WWII, Germany developments like aerial and gas had fielded the most advanced small warfare, the tank and the machine arms the world had ever seen. Given gun for suppressive and indirect the complex and often strained fire. One of the lessons learned was relationship between the profes- that most engagements occurred at sional military and the Fuhrer, the less than 400 yards, generating the competing priorities of the vari- conclusion that you didn’t need a ous services and the destruction of full-powered rifle cartridge to get the the Third Reich’s production and job done. supply systems, it’s astonishing that The American solution was the any of the important advancements secretly developed Pedersen device in small arms ever saw the light of that replaced the bolt in a ’03 Spring- day. The leading models that come field, transforming the Springfield to mind are the MG42 machine- into a magazine-fed, 40-shot semi- gun, the Fallschirmjaegergewehr automatic, firing a pistol-sized,

The StG44 arrives in an attractive, vintage- looking, pine chest made by the Amish.

30 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 Remove one pushpin and the GSG-StG44 disassem- bles just like the original.

.30-caliber cartridge sporting an design a new rifle for an intermedi- ready by 1942. The Haenel model 80-grain bullet at 1,300 fps. Given ate round. One of the specifications was designated MKb42(H) and the the deceptive designation of “Auto- called for using formed sheet metal Walther model MKb42(W). Both matic Pistol, Caliber .30, 1918,” wherever possible. models at this point in time carried 500,000 Pedersen devices were on Haenel, under the direction of the Maschinenkarabiner (MKb) order for a planned mass attack on Hugo Schmeisser, had 50 prototypes code. The models were shown to the German lines scheduled for the Hitler. Like McArthur, the Fuhrer spring of 1919. The war ended in reminded his commanders that they the fall of 1918, consequently only were sitting on 8 billion rounds of 65,000 Pedersen devices were ever 7.92x57. He insisted on the termina- produced. tion of the program with the focus to Pedersen then went on to develop be on the production of the Walther the more powerful, but very compact, G43, MG42, MP40 and sniper .276 Pedersen cartridge initially scopes. chambered in the M1 Garand until In a moment of inspired disobe- Army Chief of Staff, General McAr- dience, the Army Ordnance Depart- thur, stepped in and ordered the ment continued the development .276 out and the .30-06 in, given the of both models, but to confuse the millions of rounds of. 30-06 stock- Fuhrer’s staff and Allied intelli- piled around the country. gence, they changed the designa- The 400-yard engagement window tions to Maschinenpistole or MP42 was not lost on the Germans who and MP43. It’s the Pedersen story all pursued their own development over again! of an intermediate-powered, rifle After field tests and exposure cartridge. It was the famous ammu- to combat conditions on the East- nition firm, Polte of Magdeburg, ern Front, the Walther model was that designed a reduced-length dropped and the Haenel model 8mm cartridge based on the brass adopted as the MP43. The perfor- and much of the tooling used for mance of the stamped sheet metal the production of the standard MP43 was so good that in October 7.9x57 round. The 7.9x33 cartridge, 1943, Hitler relented and ordered often referred to as the 8mm Kurz, the production of 30,000 MP43s received its final form in 1941. From per month with the objective of the 16.5" barrel of the Sturmgewehr, rearming every division on the it propelled a 125-grain bullet at Eastern Front with it. A year later, 2,100 to 2,200 fps. the MP43 was renamed the “Stur- On a parallel line of development, mgewehr 44” (literally, the “storm the Army Ordnance Department, rifle” akin to “stormtrooper”) the Heereswaffenamt, contracted The GSG-StG44 rimfire magazine is the exact and stamped “StG44.” By 1945, with the Haenel and Walther firms to size of the original 7.92x33 model. Schmeisser had refined the model for

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 31 Weighing in at the same 10 pounds as the origi- nal, the StG44 is a comfortable .22 rimfire to shoot. The ventilated handguard is slim and trim.

easier production as the StG45, but GSG-StG44 production was very limited in 1945. MAKER: Accessories designed for the German Sport Guns GmbH www.gunsmagazine.com/ StG44 included the “Vampir” infra- german-sporting-guns red night sight, scope sights, cup grenade launchers and the really wild IMPORTER: “Vorsatz” 30- and 90-degree, curved American Tactical Imports, Inc. barrel extensions with prism sights 100 Airpark Dr. Rochester, NY 14624 that permitted the firer to shoot (585) 328-2212 around corners or down from the www.gunsmagazine.com/ turret of a tank. Total production american-tactical-imports of the StG44 family of assault rifles is estimated to have been around MECHANISM: Blowback, CALIBER: .22 440,000 units but surviving records Long Rifle Standard & High-Velocity, are incomplete. CAPACITY: 25, BARREL LENGTH: 16-1/4", The StG44 was a heavy rifle, OVERALL LENGTH: 37", SIGHTS: 0-100 weighing in at 10 pounds unloaded meterS, fully adjustable, tangent and 11 pounds loaded. With its rear; hooded blade front, WEIGHT: 9 sheet metal handguard, it was prob- pounds, 13 ounces, PRICE: $595 ably “hotter than a $2 pistol” after a couple of magazines were fired full home of the US importer and distrib- The hinged compartment on the butt (above) auto. I suspect it did make a nice utor, American Tactical Imports. originally carried a magazine-loading tool. The hand warmer on the Eastern Front. The detailing of this ersatz Stur- rear sight (below) is fully adjustable for windage and elevation. On the other hand, if it weren’t being mgewehr is remarkable. First, it’s fired, it would be a cold komrade a handful, weighing just shy of 10 indeed. pounds with an unloaded, poly- Roy Dunlap in his classic book, mer magazine; yet, it is a very well Ordnance Went Up Front, greatly balanced rifle and feels good in your admires the StG44’s advanced design hands. The stamped, sheet metal but reports its sheet metal receiver body of the rifle has the folds, ribs was so thin that if the rifle ever fell and ventilation ports of the origi- over by itself and the receiver was nal. All the controls and essential dented, the StG44 could very well be features are in the proper places, put out of commission. specifically the complete fire control There must be quite a few Stur- system and pistol grip, the magazine mgewehrs still chugging around and magazine release catch, an auto- because Graf & Sons carry 7.92x33 matic opening dust cover, the fully ammunition currently loaded for adjustable tangent/ barleycorn sights them by Hornady with 125-grain and the cocking lever. The buttstock hollowpoints at $20.99 a box. is properly made out of wood and With that background, the intro- even features the trapdoor compart- duction of the StG44 semi-auto- ment on top of the heel, which held a matic rimfire by German Sport Guns magazine loading device in the origi- is simply sensational. It is one, cool nal Sturmgewehr. looking clone from its rakish profile The overall length of the GSG to the wooden chest it comes packed clone is correct at 37" with a 16-1/4" in—a pine chest, hand-crafted by barrel terminating inside a 1-1/2" the Amish in upstate New York, the ersatz muzzle nut. The rimfire even

32 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 For plinking purposes, the StG44 will handle a wide variety of standard and high-velocity rounds.

disassembles like the original with the fading away into the black bulls, so removal of one pushpin that holds I changed to paper targets in which the stock, receiver and fire control the bull was predominantly white. system together. Once broken down, The groups improved immediately. the entire breechblock and main- Actually, it would not be hard to spring assembly can be removed as a design a clamp-on scope mount that single unit for cleaning and lubrica- makes use of the ribs of the receiver. tion purposes. This simplified disas- (GSG: that’s a hint.) sembly procedure and ease of main- Like the whole rimfire tribe, the tenance had to be great assets to the StG44 had a hearty appetite for some StG44-toting trooper in the field. particular .22 Long Rifle loads— How does the ersatz Sturmgewehr namely, Winchester Power Point and shoot? The slim, U-shaped hand- Remington’s Gold HP. Wolf’s Super guard is exceedingly comfortable. Match was favored as well, but it’s The pistol grip places your hand in expensive fare for a plinker. I shot it the right position for manipulating just to see how well the StG44 would the safety (reversed from the original) handle a low-velocity target round. and trigger. The straight stock mini- It did, without a hiccup. mizes movement at the moment of In the world of ersatz, military, discharge. The double-stage trigger is rimfire clones, it doesn’t get any smooth and releases at +/-6 pounds. more exotic than the GSG/ATI Stur- As I’ve mentioned before the weight mgewehr 44. Well, maybe that’s an distribution and balance of the rifle exaggeration. It sure would be nice between your hands is outstanding. to see a Fallschirmjaegergewehr 42 in It’s a fine offhand rifle. The blow- rimfire mode. back action is adjusted specifically for high-speed and high-quality standard The World’s Assault Rifles, by Gary Paul Johnston and Thomas B. Nelson, hardcover, velocity ammunition, and I had no 1,216 pages, ©2010, Ironside International malfunctions with the brands or the Publishers, $69.95, From: A&J Arms 25-round magazine I tested. Book Sellers, 2449 N. Orchard Ave., The open sights are a challenge Tucson, AZ 85712, (520) 512-1065, www. though. The hooded front blade ajarmsbooksellers.com is set up as a thin pointed pyramid Thompson Target while the rear tangent sight features 4804 Sherman Church Ave. S.W. a wide U-notch. With a sight radius Canton, OH 44706 (330) 484-6480 of 17", I found it somewhat difficult www.gunsmagazine.com/ to work with the thin, pointy, front thompson-target blade, which kept blending into and

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 33 OUT OF THE BOX™

sights. Self-defense situations most often occur in low light making a laser a most valuable add-on. The answer in this case is the LaserLyte Rear Sight. I have several laser-equipped semi- automatics and double-action revolv- ers. For most of them the laser is in

JOHN TAFFIN a replacement grip or attaches to the factory grip, or in one case replaces the guide rod on a 1911. The LaserLyte is none of these. It is in fact an extremely compact replacement rear sight. The Rear Sight Laser from Laser- The LaserLyte Rear Sight laser works very Lyte is designed to fit all Glocks simply well as a standard rear sight in bright light. by tapping out the factory rear sight in its dovetail and replacing it with the LaserLyte combination rear sight and laser. The replacement rear sight is a white outlined square blade, which LaserLyte’s Rear matches up perfectly with the factory front sight and works as well or better Sight Laser than the original rear sight. On both sides of the rear sight blade we find two cylinders approximately 1/4" in diam- eter and 3/4" in length. The left cylin- This small, compact unit der contains the battery and activation switch while the right cylinder is the combines a fixed rear sight laser. The latter is adjusted by an eleva- tion screw on top, and a windage screw with an adjustable laser. on the side. It is extremely compact and does not interfere with holstering nor John Taffin only useful tools but works of art. The does it change the grip in any way. classic lines of the Colt Single Action, Most lasers have an off/on the Ruger Flat-Top, Smith & Wesson’s .44 switch which must be turned to the he fact that I am even writing Magnum and Combat Magnum, and “on” position and then the laser itself this attests to my willingness to the 1911 are all highly efficient and— is activated by hand contact with the Tchange even though I normally just as important to me—eye pleas- laser grip; the LaserLyte is different. dig in both heels and resist dramatically ing and worthy of custom stocks; even When the activation button is pressed to anything affecting my preconceived engraving. notions. It was not too many years It was not until I attended a Glock ago any “real sixgunner” would look Seminar divided between classroom down his nose at anything so lowly as and actual shooting conditions that I a 9mm, let alone a 9mm Glock. I made really appreciated the Glock for what it much of what little reputation I have was. Over a 3-day period I fired 1,000 now shooting big-bore, really big-bore rounds of .45 ACP ammunition and sixguns and reporting about them. the Glock never hesitated, never failed Long before I started writing and over to feed, and I never missed a target. My many decades virtually every writer did anti-Glock armor was cracked wide the standard .45 ACP vs. 9mm argu- open. Glocks in .45 ACP, .45 GAP, and ment with the latter always losing. By 10mm were soon added to my shoot- the 1980s, that was about to change. ing battery and although they worked Two things happened and those perfectly I normally went with some- two things were Glock and the intro- thing smaller for concealed carry. This The white outlined LaserLyte Rear Sight (above) duction of ammunition, which was past year found me looking through the mates up nicely with the white-dot front sight of the Glock 9mm. The gray button on the left is certainly well above the standard 9mm Glock Annual where I discovered the the activating switch. A top view of the Laser- hardball. Many concluded the high- 15-shot Model 19C (“C” for compen- Lyte (below) reveals the windage locking screw quality 9mm loads being offered were sated) 9mm. To me this looked like as well as laser adjustment screws. Note how at least on par with the legendary stop- the perfect answer for a high-capacity, compact the unit is. ping power of .45 hardball. I accepted easy-to-carry 9mm with a compensator the ammunition long before the Glock making it even easier to control in rapid and one of my favorite concealed carry fire. It came with excellent sights with guns was the Smith & Wesson Model the rear sight in a dovetail and adjust- 3913 loaded with 9mm hollowpoints. able for windage. It was not high capacity, however it It shoots extremely well with very tucked in behind my belt and stayed little recoil making follow-up shots, if there. It is still always loaded and necessary, very easy; it was just about always close at hand. Slowly but surely perfect. Only one thing remained I began to accept the Glock for what to finish up this highly efficient self- it was. I mostly look at firearms as not defense tool and that was to add laser

34 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 John fired these five shots rapid fire at 10 yards with the LaserLyte Rear Sight Laser equipped Glock 19C 9mm. once a solid red laser light comes on while twice gives a pulsating feature and then pushing the button the third time turns off the unit. To activate the LaserLyte you simply draw the pistol from holster or waistband, bring it up to the normal 2-handed position where the offhand thumb presses the activation switch on the left side of the rear sight. If one hand or arm is out of commission in an emergency I find I can use the thumb of my shooting hand to reach the activation switch by propping the pistol against my other arm or any solid surface. RSL-RTB-GL Maker: LaserLyte 30 N. Alamos Dr. Cottonwood, AZ 86326 (928) 649-3201 www.gunsmagazine.com/laserlyte Cmpatibilityo : Fits all Glock pistols, Power Output: Class IIIA, 5mw, Laser module: 650nm, Bat- teries: 4 No. 377, Battery Life: 5 hours constant on, 10 hours pulse mode (normal usage), Weight: 1.2 ounces, Length: .85”, Width: 1.05”, Height: .35”, PRICE: $153.95

The LaserLyte Rear Sight weighs just over 1 ounce and uses four very small 4x377 batteries. In constant use these batteries will last 5 hours in regular mode and double that when using the pulsating mode. The Laser- Lyte Rear Sight comes with one of the best sets of easy-to-follow and excep- tionally well illustrated directions available, as well as batteries, two Allen wrenches for adjusting the laser as well as tightening the locking screw of the rear sight, and a brass punch to tap in the rear sight without having to worry about scratching it. The sight is also available for the Springfield Armory XD. Glock 6000 Highlands Pkwy. Smyrna, GA 30082 (770) 432-1202 www.gunsmagazine.com/glock

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 35 QT UES IONS and ANSWERS

Got a burning question to ask the editor? Contact him at: E-mail: [email protected] or postal at: GUNS Q&A, 12345 World Trade Dr., San Diego, CA 92128. Due to the volume of mail received, GUNS cannot offer a personal reply.

1911 .38 Special less recoil than the .45 are the Premium Fast Twist .22-250 In your September issue, I Bullseye 1911 in 9mm or .38 Super for I’ve noticed several loading JEFF JOHN Q:found John Taffin’s “Camp- the same price as a .45. In addition, the Q:manuals show loads for 70- to fire Tales” on Jim Clark quite fasci- 5-shot .38 Special magazines are pricey 75-grain bullets in the .22-250. Most nating; more especially, converting and difficult to acquire. rifles in this caliber have a twist rate of the .38 Super to a .38 Special (if my 1:14". Will this slow twist stabilize 70- memory serves me). If I indeed do Clark Custom Guns, Inc., or 75-grain bullets? 336 Shootout Ln., Princeton, LA 71067 have my facts correct, is this conver- (318) 949-9884 Dan Bastion sion to be performed by an extraordi- www.gunsmagazine.com/ via e-mail nary gunsmith or one with reasonably clark-custom-guns-inc good talents? In other words, would No, the 1:14" or 1:12" twist won’t it be an expensive or difficult task A:stabilize heavy .223" bullets. Most to have performed? GUNS is a great .22-250 rifles are meant for varmint magazine and second to none. shooting, yet if you look at the ballis- tics in the manual, the heavy bullet Glenn Siciliano load would make a great, mild recoil- via e-mail ing long-range target round if you had a .22-250 rebarreled with 1:7" or 1:8" The market for pistols shoot- twist barrel. One factory rifle, with a A:ing the .38 Special flush-mouth compromise twist of 1:9", which should wadcutter bullet has almost vanished, allow you to shoot both varmint weight since super accurate 9mm, .38 Super and heavier bullets, is available in the and .45 ACP pistols are now possi- Savage Model 12 VLP DBM. ble. Clark Custom still offers the 1911 PB-38 .38 Special Premium Bullseye Savage Arms 100 Springdale Rd. but it is pricey and about twice what the Clark Custom still builds a 1911 in .38 Special, but Westfield, MA 01085 firm’s .45 ACP Premium Bullseye costs. developments in accurizing 9mm Luger, .38 Super and .45 ACP have progressed so far the 1911 in (413) 568-7001 Clark will still build one if they can’t .38 Special is now obsolete. Photo: Clark Custom www.gunsmagazine.com/savage-arms talk you out it, and better options for

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MSRP: $675 Visit Our Website For Other Available Models Hawk Polished 45acp • Hawk Polished is a commander size 1911 with a high grade polished blue fi nish on the sides of the gun. Top and underside of the gun are in a matte fi nish, which is a great contrast to the polished sides • Novak® style LoMount rear sight with dove- tail front sight • Lowered & fl ared ejection port • Finger relief cut near trigger • Front and rear angled serrations • 3 hole trigger & skeleton hammer • Double border, double diamond Rosewood grips with logo • Government and Offi cer models also come See in polished fi nish Us Guns available through Zanders, Big Rock Sports, Hicks and dealer direct. Online www.iverjohnsonarms.com AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 321-636-3377 36 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013

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BoltBolt RifleRifle MeetsMeets ARAR MMaaggaazineszines Mossberg’s Sensational MVP Varminter Holt Bodinson

here’s an advantage being a family owned and managed firearms business. If your financing is in T place, you can turn on a dime, design and produce some of the most contemporary, stylistic and appealing A models in the business. Alan Mossberg and his son, Iver Mossberg, are doing just that. This year, the company produced its 10-millionth Model 500 Series shotgun, a feat accomplished 9 years earlier than Remington’s 10-millionth Model 870. Even more impressive is the recent rollout of their hunting and tactical AR platform—the Mossberg Modern Rifle—new hunting and tactical lever actions and three new families of centerfire bolt-action rifles, including the striking Mossberg Varmint- Predator (MVP) line that accepts standard AR magazines.

From muzzle to butt, Mossberg’s MVP A) The MVP Varmint buttstock features a straight comb, bespeaks of exceptional design, quality and radical pistol grip and shadow cheekpieces. The long, deep pistol grip of the MVP stock positions the shooters hand features normally associated with only custom perfectly for rapid manipulation of the bolt. B) The LBA guns. The MVP pictured here is a dedicated trigger is user-adjustable from 2 to 7 pounds. The instruc- varmint rifle. With its benchrest-style stock, tions are clear and precise. C) The wide, flat forearm is 24" medium bull barrel and mounted with stylistically textured to provide a firm, non-slip grip. D) Mossberg’s MVP bolts are fluted to reduce weight, handle Nikon’s ballistic compensating P-223 scope and dirt and deliver smooth cycling. E) Mossberg’s MVP Var- my Limbsaver sling, it weighs in at 9 pounds, 4 mint fed flawlessly with 10-, 20-, or 30-round magazines. ounces. It’s not a walkabout varmint rifle, but it The button-rifled, medium-weight bull barrel is both fluted is the perfect style rifle for prairie dog hunting and given an 11-degree target crown. Mossberg lets you know their LBA adjustable trigger is something very spe- or for spotting and potting woodchucks along cial—and, yes, it peels off easily (left). country back roads. That’s why I like to team it up with Caldwell’s lightweight, portable, DeadShot FieldPod for a deliberate style of shooting in the field.

38 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 Two features of the MVP immediately grab your hunting or for tactical and target shooting purposes. attention as a hunter. The first is its use of AR-15 In use, the MVP action fed flawlessly from 10-, 20- magazines. Removable magazines of any type are a and 30-round magazines due to the design of the bolt real plus in my experience. They enhance the safety of head which features a hinged lip at the 6 o’clock posi- a rifle since you can remove all the unfired cartridges, tion that drops down and pushes the rounds forward except the one in the chamber, with a quick, simple from the magazine lips. Mossberg calls it a “Drop motion of detaching the magazine from the rifle. Push” bolt design, and it’s patent-pending. Along the same line, your rifle can be kept completely unloaded until you need it and then readied by slap- Lightning Trigger ping a magazine into the action. In addition, having a The other feature you can’t miss and fail to appreci- spare, loaded magazine on your person makes reload- ate, since there’s a big Mossberg sticker on the forearm ing a quick, effortless task. announcing it’s there, is Mossberg’s fully adjustable The MVP comes factory furnished with a trigger. Called the “Lightning Bolt Action Adjustable 10-round magazine, and depending upon your state’s Trigger” or “LBA” for short, the new trigger is safely game laws, you may want to supplement that with adjustable in a weight range from 2 to 7 pounds. To a 5-round magazine or two. In my mind, fitting the set the desired poundage, you must first separate the MVP with standard AR-15 magazines holding 20 barreled action from the stock, and then all it takes to 30 rounds makes the most sense for prairie dog is to turn a single screw on the front of the trigger

B C D E

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 39 Caldwell’s DeadShot FieldPod is an ideal, portable fieldrest for the MVP and easily accommodates even long 30-round AR mags.

housing to make the adjustment. Believe me, a crisp, 2-pound trigger on a factory varmint rifle is a dream come true. Following all trigger adjustments, the owner is advised in the owner’s manual to conduct a thorough function testing of the safety and the trigger systems according to series of explicit procedures outlined in the manual. Indeed, the whole MVP manual is very thorough, readable and well illustrated. More than any other feature, its benchrest-style, pillar-bedded stock defines the MVP Varmint model. Carved from a gray-black, laminate blank, the design features a broad, flat, 2" wide forearm that snuggles The MVP Varmint or Preda- down firmly on sand bags, packs, rests and bipods. tor will produce its best The deep pistol grip is texture-checkered and sports a accuracy with bullets in the 50- and 55-grain range.

MVP VARMINT MAKER: O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc. Wundhammer palm swell on the right side and some- 7 Grasso Ave., North Haven, CT 06473 what less on the left. The straight-combed butt has a (800) 363-3555 shadow cheekpiece on both the right and left sides and www.gunsmagazine.com/mossberg is finished off with a durable rubber, recoil pad. It’s a handsome stock and perfect for shooting off a rest. AC Tion TYPE: Bolt-action repeater, CALIBER: 5.56 NATO/.223, The other varminter quality indicative of the MVP’s CAPACITY: 5- to 30-round AR magazines, BARREL TYPE: lineage is its fluted, 24" bull barrel with an 11-degree Medium weight, fluted, bull barrel, BARREL LENGTH: 24", target crown. Mossberg uses a threaded collar to lock OVERALL LENGTH: 43", WEIGHT: 7-3/4 to 9-1/4 pounds scoped, the barrel in place so headspace is dead on. FINISH: Matte blue, SIGHTS: Weaver-style scope bases, How does it shoot? The barrel is button-rifled with STOCK: Gray-black laminate, benchrest-style, Price: $668 a 1:9" twist which is an ideal compromise for hunt- (rifle only), $695 with factory 4-15x50 scope & bipod ing-weight bullets, and, as such, the barrel performed in a very consistent manner. The MVP produced its P-223 3-9x40mm smallest, 100-yard, 3-shot groups with the Black Hills Maker: Nikon Sport Optics 52-grain match load (+/-1/2" at 3,096 fps), the second 1300 Walt Whitman Rd., Melville, NY 11747 smallest with Federal’s Premium 55-grain Nosler (800) 247-3464 Ballistic Tip (+/- 3/4" at 3,180 fps), and third, with www.gunsmagazine.com/nikon Black Hills tactical 77-grain OTM loading (+/-1" at 2,937 fps). The MVP will simply hammer varmints M agnification: 3X-9X, Objective Diameter: 40mm, Eye with bullets in the 50- to 55-grain range. Relief: 3.6", Internal Adj. Range: 80-MOA elevation & wind- The MVP story doesn’t end there. The MVP Varmint age @ 100 yards, Click Value: 1/4 MOA, Tube Diameter: 1", also comes as a factory package with a 4-16x50mm Weight: 15 ounces, Overall Length: 12.4", Reticles: BDC scope and bipod. In addition, Mossberg offers an MVP 600-yard ranging, Price: $270.95 Predator model with a conventional, laminate stock and either an 18.5" or 20" fluted bull barrel, scoped or DEADSHOT FIELDPOD unscoped. The Predator is a walkabout varmint rifle Maker: Caldwell Shooting Supplies with a scoped weight of only 8 pounds. In short, there 5885 W. Van Horn Tavern Rd., Columbia, MO 65203 are five different MVP models from which to choose. (573) 445-9200 With a retail of $668 or $695 with scope and bipod, www.gunsmagazine.com/caldwell Mossberg’s MVP Varmint is a red-blooded, American- made best buy. Prie c : $130

40 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 PRODUCT WARNING AND RECALL NOTICE FIOCCHI 22-250 REM AND 243 WIN AMMUNITION

Effective September 17, 2012, Fiocchi of America is recalling various lots of 22-250 Rem. and 243 Win. centerfire rifle ammunition. No other Fiocchi products are included in this recall and only the following items and lot numbers are affected. The following ammunition products are affected by this recall:

Fiocchi Item Number Caliber Bullet Weight/Type Lot Ending Numbers

22250B 22-250 Rem. 55 Pointed Soft Point 001, 002, 003, 004

22250HVD 22-250 Rem. 55 V Max Polymer Tip 001, 002, 003, 004

243SPB 243 Win. 70 Pointed Soft Point 006, 007, 008

243HSB 243 Win. 95 SST Polymer Tip Boat Tail 004, 005

243SPD 243 Win. 100 Interlock Boat Tail 001, 002, 003, 004

Through extensive evaluation Fiocchi has determined that the above lots of 22-250 and 243 may have been loaded with multiple bullets that can cause excessive pressure. This ammunition with multiple bullets may cause firearm damage rendering the firearm inoperable, and subject the shooter or bystanders to a risk of personal injury when fired. DO NOT USE THE ABOVE LISTED FIOCCHI 22-250 REM. OR 243 WIN. AMMUNITION OF SPECIFIED LOT NUMBERS. The ammunition lot number is black ink stamped inside one of the box end tuck flaps that you would open to remove the 20-round carrier.

To determine if your ammunition is subject to this notice, review the ITEM and LOT NUMBER. If the item number AND last three digits of the lot number match the above listed products, please return the ammunition to FIOCCHI of America via United Parcel Service (UPS) or FedEx Ground. Securely pack the ammo in a strong fiberboard box with packing materials to make it “snug” in the box. You will need an “LQ” label to ship the ammunition. To get the “LQ” label, visit this web address (http://www.fiocchiusa.com/foa/CMS/images/LQ LABEL 4X4.gif) or you can call the factory customer service directly at 417-449-1039 or email [email protected] prior to shipping. Affix the LQ“ ” label to the package with packing tape ensuring that all sides are adhered to the carton and ship to:

FIOCCHI OF AMERICA, INC. ATTN: Recall 6930 N. FREMONT RD. OZARK, MO 65721

Fiocchi will provide replacement product upon receipt of your return. Please include your name, street address, phone number (required for return shipping), and email address with your return. Ammunition cannot be shipped to post office boxes.

This notice only applies to above listed Fiocchi 22-250 Rem. and 243 Win. ammunition with the above lot num- bers. Other products or lot numbers are not subject to this recall and should not be returned to Fiocchi.

If you have any questions concerning this ammunition recall, please call customer service directly at 417-449-1039, write to the above address, email [email protected] or visit our website.

www.fiocchiusa.com

Fiocchi_Recall.indd 1 9/20/12 1:50 PM BigBig GGreenreen GGoesoes 19111911 Mike “DUKE” Venturino Photos: Robbie Barrkman

hen I heard Remington was that year, notwithstanding that America’s military forces bringing out a 1911 pistol, I were totally unprepared. The US Army possessed no machine guns, no tanks, no fighter planes, few rifles, and actually did have this thought, fewer handguns. John M. Browning designed his self-loading, W“Well if any of the modern 1911 .45-caliber pistol for Colt. That company submit- manufacturers besides Colt has a legitimate ted it to the US Army’s Ordnance Board for trials. It was accepted in the spring of 1911 as the US claim to seeing their name on 1911 pistols it Model 1911, chambered for the .45 Automatic Colt is Remington.” Now understand this: I’m not Pistol (ACP). Colt was aware they could not produce referring to World War II US Model 1911A1s made by and marked “Remington Rand.” That was a typewriter company. The 1911s I’m referring to were those contracted for by the US Government in 1917 with Remington-UMC, the arms manufacturer. President Woodrow Wilson had the United States declare war on Germany in April of

42 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 A standard 1911 magazine well (above) is provided for the 7-shot magazine. The aluminum trigger on the black R1 (below) came from the factory with a crisp pull between 4 and 5 pounds.

Standard 1911 con- trols are evident including the more popular 1911 flat mainspring hous- ing rather than the arched 1911A1. One other improvement is the addition of high profile, 3-dot sights set into dovetails. Nice double-diamond checkered walnut grips are provided. RReemmington’sington’s RR11 BigBig GGreenreen GGoesoes 19111911 andand RR11SS ppistols.istols. enough handguns to satisfy demand, so early on they Over nine decades later Remington’s current hier- agreed to license the government-owned Springfield archy saw that 1911 pistol popularity was a continu- Armory to also produce them, which happened to ing phenomenon and decided to enter the market a limited degree. Then with the war emergency of again. Interestingly, where many current makers of 1917 Springfield Armory’s entire production capabil- basic 1911 designs have seen fit to reproduce the US ity was consumed in making US Model 1903 rifles. Model 1911A1 version with its arched mainspring So a licensing arrangement was again formulated housing, Remington’s new Model R1 sticks with for Remington-UMC to produce US Model 1911 the older US Model 1911’s flat mainspring hous- pistols. However, World War I’s hostilities ceased on ing. Remington did concede to modern tastes with a Nov. 11, 1918; much sooner than expected. There- Model R1S. The “S” stands for stainless steel. fore Remington-UMC’s contract for .45 pistols was Usually when I hear about the introduction of a new cancelled after only 21,677 were produced (Source: 1911-style pistol I start to feel drowsy. It’s not that I don’t Remington’s own website). like 1911s—I own about a half-dozen at this writing. It’s just that there are so many 1911 clones, copies, and repli- cas in today’s marketplace. I couldn’t begin to list them all. Actually, I’m sure I don’t even know of all of them. When Editor JJ asked if I’d be interested in trying the new Remington .45 autos I said sure, so he decided to double my work and have me shoot both the Model

Duke also shot the Remington 1911 R1 at 25 yards on his steel plate range (left). No malfunctions occurred during the test, except with a handload using a .452" bullet in the more tightly chambered R1S.

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 43 Big Green Goes 1911 Remington’s R1 and R1S pistols.

44 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 45 Remington offers a full line of knives in addition to firearms, such as the Reming- ton Sportsman Series Insignia edition. With blades of 440 stainless steel, the Large Clip Folder has a 3" blade and is 4" long closed.

R1 and R1S. Anyone already familiar with 1911s is Here are a couple of features the new Remingtons certainly going to feel at home with Remington’s new have that were not on original 1911s. One is that you had pistols. They are just about dead-nuts copies. Here are better be ready to catch the magazine when its release some specs. Barrel length is 5" with a left-hand twist rate button is pressed because it comes popping clear all on of 1:16". Overall length is 8.5", height is 5.5" and weight its own. Even better, though, are the modern sights. If is 38.5 ounces. Remington bills the finish on the carbon there is anything about original 1911s I find distaste- steel R1 as “black oxide” instead of bluing. The stain- ful is their almost useless sights consisting of a tiny less R1S version has a brushed instead of polished finish. nub staked onto the slide at the front and a likewise Grips on both models are walnut with very nicely done tiny notch in a dovetailed blade for the rear. Reming- checkering. Remington advertises out of the box trigger ton wisely made both front and rear sights dovetailed. pulls as 3.5 to 5 pounds. My samples’ triggers were both Both are high profile using the 3-dot system for low- between 4 and 5 pounds with no creep. light conditions. Here’s something else different with the new Remington .45s. Upon first taking one of them from its plastic container I found a barrel-bushing wrench rest- ing beneath it. Now, of the dozens of various vintage 1911s I’ve fieldstripped none had a bushing so tight it didn’t easily remove with my fingers. Remington has tightened up tolerances with their new 1911s in order to have them deliver good precision without custom tuning. I quickly found the bushing wrench was neces- sary to dismantle the pistol for examination and clean- Duke shot both Remington 1911s (here the R1S stainless steel) from ing. Otherwise it comes apart just as John M. Brown- a solid rest in his shooting house for the 25-yard accuracy trials. The ing intended them to 100 years ago. Remington 1911 R1S delivered this group at 25 yards (below, left) impacting slightly above point-of-aim. Duke shot both Remington For shooting these two .45s I gathered up three 1911s with these three factory loads (below, middle) plus handloads current factory loads and two handloads. The current with 230-grain FMJs (second from right) and 225-grain cast round- factory loads were Black Hills’ with 230-grain jack- noses at far right. The Remington 1911 R1 delivered this fine group eted hollowpoint (JHP) bullet, Winchester’s with (below, right) at 25 yards impacting lower than point of aim.

46 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 The R1 and R1S are fieldstripped just like any 1911 with the exception of a tight bush- ing, which requires the use of the supplied bushing wrench to turn. Remington also pro- vides a full line of gun care products to keep your R1 clean and running.

Model 1911 R1 & R1S front sight. Since these guns were loaners I didn’t bother Maker: Remington Arms to attempt sighting them perfectly for the next shooter. 870 Remington Dr. There was one minor glitch worth reporting. All P.O. Box 700, Madison, NC 27025 jacketed bullet factory loads and handloads functioned (800) 243-9700 perfectly from both pistols to the tune of a couple www.gunsmagazine.com/remington-arms hundred rounds fired total. The same was true of my jacketed bullet handload. The cast bullet handloads A ction type: Locked breech, semi-auto, Caliber: also fired perfectly from the carbon steel R1 but gave .45 ACP, Capacity: 7+1, Barrel length: 5", Overall some chambering troubles in the R1S. This was caused length: 8.5", Weight: 38.5 ounces, Finish: Satin black by the .452" diameter of the cast bullets coupled with oxide or brushed stainless steel, Sights: Fixed the case wall thickness of some brands of brass being 3-dot, Grips: Double-diamond walnut, too fat for the R1S chamber. Remington has rightly Price: $729 (black), $789 (stainless steel) seen fit to build these commercial 1911s with closer tolerances than used in military 1911s in order to make 230-grain JHP and Remington’s 230-grain JHP them accurate. Bullets of .451" are fine, fatter ones may named “Golden Sabre.” give troubles. The handloads were those I use commonly in my From what I’ve seen Remington’s R1 and R1S are World War II vintage M1 Thompson and M3 “grease perfectly adequate 1911 .45s at a very reasonable price. gun” submachine guns and also in my US Model 1911 It’s good to see such a major name in American arms- and US Model 1911A1. Both use 5.4 grains of Hodg- making on 1911s again. don’s HP38 powder with bullets being 230-grain full metal jacket (FMJ) by Zero Bullet Company and Black Hills Ammunition 3050 Eglin St., Rapid City, SD 57703 225-grain cast roundnoses (RN) by Oregon Trail (605) 348-5150 Bullet Company. Chronographing all six of these loads www.gunsmagazine.com/black-hills-ammunition from both Remington .45s would have been redundant because I’ve clocked them from all my .45s previously. Hodgdon Powder 6430 Vista Dr., Shawnee, KS 66218 They all give from 775 to 850 feet per second depend- (913) 362-9455 ing on the exact gun being fired. www.gunsmagazine.com/hodgdon The Remingtons were fired from sandbag rest at 25 yards and groups ran in the 2-1/8" to 3.0" range for Oregon Trail Bullet Company P.O. Box 529, Baker City, OR 97814 the most part. I admit to not being the best sandbag- (800) 811-0548 rest handgun shooter around so such groups are about www.gunsmagazine.com/oregon what I expected. There were some interesting turns of events, however. The Model R1 shot about 1' low at Winchester Ammunition 600 Powder Mill Rd., East Alton, IL 62024 25 yards, meaning it needs a much shorter front sight. (618) 258-2000 Out of curiosity I also shot it 1- and 2-handed at steel www.gunsmagazine.com/winchester-ammunition targets at ranges from 10 to 30 yards and it likewise impacted low below my point-of-aim. Zero Ammunition Co. P.O. Box 1188, Cullman, AL 35056 The Model R1S hit a couple inches above point of (800) 545-9376 aim at 25 yards, which means it could use a slightly higher www.gunsmagazine.com/zero-ammo

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 47 RRifleifle stockstock mmaterialsaterials hahavvee eevvololvveded oovverer thethe lastlast 88 centuries.centuries. John Barsness John’s had a number of High-Tech lay-up stocks on his hunt- ing rifles, partly because their classic buttstock fits him quite well—this .300 Winchester Magnum was built by Texas gun- smith Charlie Sisk. Two-piece wood stocks (below) aren’t as big a disadvantage on hunting rifles, since the short pieces tock” comes from Germanic can’t warp as much overall as single-piece stocks. words meaning stick or tree trunk. The term first “Sappeared in the 1500s, not long after rifled barrels were developed in central Europe, but firearm handles had already been around for several hundred years. The earliest were spears called fire- lances, fitted with a tube full of gunpowder rather than a sharp point, and used primarily as flame-throwers, though sometimes a little shrapnel was mixed with the powder. The earliest bronze “hand-cannons” were also often mounted on poles, though some were simply carried in the shooter’s hands. The developments of the matchlock in the early 1400s made actual stocks possible, since all the shooter “The development of rifle stock materials from had to do was aim and pull the early form of trigger called a serpentine. Hardwoods worked best, since they sticks to synthetics were better able to withstand the battering of recoil. Walnut became the wood of choice in Europe, and has come a long way over the past 8 centuries. then again in America after Europeans moved here, though other woods were frequently used, especially What will the next step be?” 48 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 the sugar maple of New England. Inexpensive rifles often have stocks made of beech or birch, and in America custom stocks are still often made of maple, or fruitwoods such as cherry and apple. Other hard- woods have characteristics useful for specialized rifles. Mahogany and some varieties of maple are quite light in weight, so are occasionally used to stock “mountain” rifles, and mesquite and various African hardwoods are extremely dense and hard so work well on rifles cham- bered for hard-recoiling cartridges. I’ve even seen a complete ebony stock blank weighing 80 pounds, but don’t know what it would be good for. (Evidently its owner, a custom stockmaker, didn’t either, since he’d Synthetic had it for a long time.) stocks come in many forms Juglans Regia and colors. Walnut, however, remains the king of stock woods, This Benelli R1 has a especially the species called Juglans regia (royal 2-piece camo walnut). Commonly known as European or English stock. walnut, it was originally found primarily in Asia. Alexander the Great brought walnuts to Europe from Persia (modern Iran), the basis for the less frequently used name Persian walnut. Today Juglans regia is grown both for nuts and prefer not to use Claro again because it can be kind wood on every continent except Antarctica. Blanks of mushy, not taking inletting or, especially, checker- are advertised as being English, French, Turkish or ing as well as regia or nigra. Really dense eastern black New Zealand, depending on where they’re grown, but walnut can be worked as precisely as regia, but is typi- they’re all the same species. Most Juglans regia grown cally heavier. Most of the walnut found on inexpen- in the United States comes from California, stock- sive factory rifles is black walnut grown where there’s makers usually referring to it as California English, an lots of rainfall, resulting in softer, plainer wood. Aside interesting oxymoron. from sheer demand, highly figured, dense walnut of Around 20 other species of walnut tree grow in vari- any species is more expensive because it takes longer ous parts of the world, some also producing good stock to grow. wood, most notably a couple native to North America, Even the best walnut, however, is still wood, and the eastern black walnut Juglans nigra, and the western wood can warp or even crack when atmospheric mois- black walnut more commonly known as Claro (Juglans ture increases or decreases. Proper curing of blanks hindsii). Juglans regia, however, is generally considered reduces this tendency, especially cracking, but doesn’t the very best all-around wood for stockmaking, since it’s completely eliminate warping, the reason for lami- easier to work precisely, especially compared to Claro. nated stocks. All three varieties can have spectacular figure, though Claro is often considered the prettiest, the Laminates primary reason it’s used despite poorer workability. Gluing layers of wood together makes the result- I’ve made stocks out of all three species, but would ing wood more stable, because the opposing layers “The development of rifle stock materials from sticks to synthetics has come a long way over the past 8 centuries. What will the next step be?” WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 49 resist warping, and using epoxy as the glue supposedly waterproofs the wood. I haven’t found either claim to be strictly true, having seen more than one laminated stock warp enough to require correction, though on average, laminated stocks are more stable than plain wood. I also tend to doubt epoxy is totally waterproof, due to Brown- ing’s experience with salt-cured walnut around 40 years ago. At one point they tried to keep salt from migrating out of the wood by epoxy-bedding all the inlet- ting, but actions and barrels still rusted. Many believe laminated wood is heavier than plain wood, due to the glue holding it together. Hmm. Once I weighed identically contoured 98 Mauser stocks from Boyds’, one of the largest suppliers of gunstocks in the US. One was laminated and one very plain, straight-grained walnut, and they weighed within an ounce of each other, perhaps due to some of the laminated layers being sliced from lighter hard- woods. (This is common, one reason for Many companies make injection-molded stocks for 98 Mauser rifles, like the FN- their striped appearance.) actioned .338 Winchester Magnum. The stock is a Butler Creek. A couple of my rifles have laminated stocks made by Kilimanjaro’s Stealth process, where Kilimanjaro stocks do tend to be more stable than a thin layer of wood is sliced from the middle of the plain walnut, though they’re still made of wood. In blank, then reversed and glued between the thick outer 2011, I hunted in Tanzania for over two weeks, and layers. The Stealth stock on my CZ 550 9.3x62 weighs the first week of the hunt was very hot and dry. The a mere 26 ounces, even though it’s made from a very stock shrank slightly and the action screws had to be fancy piece of Juglans regia. retightened—and the stock had traveled directly from a drier part of Montana. During the last several days Laminated stocks aren’t totally waterproof, but they’re pretty good. of the hunt it started to rain now and then, and the Dave Henderson’s Remington 700 (below) was rained on heavily for screws had to be backed off again. Kilimanjaro uses a couple of hours not long before the sky cleared so he could see and stalk this Quebec caribou. One of the strongest yet lightest syn- modern spar varnish as a finish (as do a number of thetics stocks made comes on New Ultra Light Arms rifles (below, custom stockmakers), a combination of natural oil right), and now on the less-expensive Forbes Rifle as well. John’s and urethane. Spar varnish certainly slows how fast NULA .30-06 rifle stayed sighted-in during a 10-day hunt involving walnut takes on atmospheric moisture, but like epoxy 150 miles of bouncing over tundra in ATVs.

50 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 Many shooters believe a stock must be pillar-bedded for the finest accuracy, but most benchrest rifles don’t have pillars. Instead the action is epoxied to the stock.

Some rifle stocks are even made of metal. The stock Injection-molded stocks are stan- on this Noreen ULR .338 Lapua is mostly steel. dard on AR-15s like this SIG 556.

Synthetic stocks can be painted or molded in any color, even to look like wood—includ- ing the urethane foam inside this lay-up stock. Kilimanjaro’s laminated Stealth stocks (above) have a thin slice Very hard wood, like this piece of eastern black cut from the middle of a beautiful blank. The slice is reversed and walnut, can be carved very precisely. This one’s glued inside the outer halves of the blank, leaving the wood’s being inletted for a 98 Mauser. natural beauty intact, and giving the stock the stiffness of a lami- nate. The slice (below) is barely visible in this rifle’s fore-end.

doesn’t prevent it completely. customers, since all the early synthetic stocks were also Perhaps laminated stocks should be termed water- custom-made. resistant rather than waterproof, but they seem to more Eventually many if not most of us accepted effectively dampen the vibrations created when rifles synthetic stocks, even custom stockmakers, who real- are fired than other stocks, often resulting in finer accu- ized each plastic stock meant another walnut blank racy. This is the opinion of a number of experienced available for their work. If anything, there’s even more shooters and gunsmiths, and my personal experience demand for fine handmade walnut stocks today. tends to back it up. Certainly my E.R. Shaw custom Two processes are used in making synthetic stocks: 6.5-06 is one of my most accurate big game rifles, and injection molding, where molten thermoplastic is it came with a Boyds’ stock. injected into a metal mold; and lay-up, where various kinds of synthetic cloth are layered with epoxy inside a Synthetics form. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Today, of course, a lot of rifle stocks are made from Remington used injection-molded (IM) stocks on synthetic materials. It’s hard for some younger shooters their Nylon 66 .22 rimfire autoloaders in the 1960s. to imagine the controversy over synthetic stocks when Traditionalists hated them, but today Nylon 66s are they first started to become popular in the 1970s and collector’s items. Modern injection molding really got ’80s. Traditionalists sneered, calling them plastic or going in the 1980s, when several companies intro- “boat hull” stocks. Custom stockmakers were among duced “drop-in” stocks for more popular and abun- the most vicious, probably because they feared losing dant rifles such as the Remington 700 and 98 Mauser.

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 51 ® • The two big problems are making Handgun Grips Long Gun Stocks the stocks stiff but not brittle, Holsters• Knives and start-up costs. Some early IM stocks were prone to cracking in cold weather; while others were so floppy shooters started calling them Tupperware. As recently as a decade ago I tested a new American rifle with a Tupperware stock so soft the fore-end could be twisted from side-to-side by hand. Theoretically the rifle’s barrel was free-floated but just placing the fore-end on a typi- cal benchrest resulted in contact between barrel and stock. I could only get the rifle to shoot reasonably well by unscrewing the front sling swivel stud and replacing it with a longer screw to put upward pressure on the barrel. Today, however, most IM stocks are stiff enough to work quite well, probably due to the addition of fibers added to the thermoplastic. In recent years I’ve tested Remington, Ruger, Sako, Savage and Winchester rifles (to name a few brands off the top of my head) that shot extremely www.getgrip.com well with their factory Tupperware. Back in the late 1980s I visited Call for the location of your nearest dealer and free catalog the original Butler Creek factory in HOGUE INC • 1-800-Get-Grip (438-4747) Belgrade, Mont., and talked quite a bit with owner Bill Heckerman about P.O. BOX 1138 • PASO ROBLES, CA 93447 his IM stocks. Bill said each mold cost around a quarter of a million dollars. In the mid-1990s a guy from one of the major rifle companies told me each of their IM stocks cost about $7 each, partly because they can be cranked out very rapidly, and partly because they can be made of recycled plastic. The profit margin is high—if you can be sure of selling enough stocks to amortize the cost of a mold reasonably quickly. (By the way, I used Butler Creek stocks extensively on several 98 Mausers during the 1990s, in fact had one on my Mark X .375 H&H during my first safari in South Africa. They always worked fine, and though that .375 has a custom walnut stock now, the original Butler Creek is still avail- able for nasty hunting conditions.) The stocks of “black guns” such as AR-15s are of course made of injection-molded plastic, and have become remarkably sophisticated. The popular Magpul stocks, for instance, can be quickly adjusted for length-of-pull and cheek support, one reason they’re seen on so many ARs, both factory and “custom.” Epoxy & Fiberglass FOR A FREE CATALOG Lay-up (LU) stocks don’t require : CONNECT WITH US! the high start-up costs of IM stocks. EMAIL CATALOG@ Anybody with some time can make a mold relatively cheaply by wrapping a pattern stock (usually wood) in epoxy

52 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 This SAUER 303’s 2-piece walnut stock is designed to be easily removed to take the rifle down for trav- eling.

and fiberglass cloth. After it cures, of, whereupon accuracy disappears. 20 ounces, and exactly the same the inside of the mold is then used to High Tech stocks are only made in stocks are used on the new Forbes make more, identical stocks, though one style, basically an American clas- Rifle, a mass-produced version of the exterior can be changed somewhat sic, but fit a lot of shooters (includ- the NULA. Unlike High Tech and by using methods similar to modern ing me) quite well, and anybody McMillan stocks, Melvin’s stocks are auto-body repair. Various other kinds handy with epoxy bedding material only available on his rifles. of synthetic cloth are often used, and paint can fit one pretty easily to The development of rifle stock sometimes in combination with fiber- their own rifle. materials from sticks to synthetics glass. The hollow parts of the stock has come a long way over the past are then filled with fiberglass-rein- S trength eight centuries. What will the next forced epoxy or urethane foam. The structural integrity of LU step be? Interestingly, the now common stocks depends on several factors. pillar-bedding originated primar- One is the cloth used, since carbon Boyds’ Gunstock Industries, Inc. 25376 403rd Ave. ily with LU stocks, though of course (graphite), fiberglass and Kevlar all Mitchell, SD 57301 some military rifles (especially 98 have different characteristics, but (605) 996-5011 Mausers) also used metal tubes inside the direction and extent of the cloth www.gunsmagazine.com/boyds the action-screw holes so the screws also make a difference. The popular Butler Creek Corp. could be tightened firmly even in and excellent McMillan stocks, for Bushnell Outdoor Accessories wood softened by weather or oil. In instance, are mostly made with fiber- 9200 Cody LU stocks, pillars kept the thin outer glass cloth, but their lightweight Edge Overland Park, KS 66214 shell from collapsing when the action stock uses lighter graphite cloth. Stan- (800) 548-0446 screws were tightened, and it was even- dard McMillan stocks feature solid www.gunsmagazine.com/butlercreek tually discovered this often resulted in fiberglass construction from the rear High Tech Specialties, Inc. finer accuracy. of the action through the fore-end, P.O. Box 839 Many of today’s LU stocks, providing plenty of support to the Adamstown, PA 19501 (717) 484-0405 however, have solid, cured epoxy barreled action. McMillan makes the www.gunsmagazine.com/hightech-spl in the action-screw areas, able to widest variety of LU stocks, offering support the screws. The excellent something for everybody, including Kilimanjaro Rifles High Tech stocks made by accu- finishes. 707 Richards St., Ste. 201 Honolulu, HI 96813 racy gunsmith Mark Bansner use Probably the strongest lightweight (877) 351-4440 this method, though Mark tells me LU stocks I’ve used are on the New www.gunsmagazine.com/kilimanjaro many of his customers insist on Ultra Light Arms rifles produced by pillar-bedding as well. He’s happy to Melvin Forbes. Many LU stocks use McMillan Fiberglass Stocks, Inc. 1638 W. Knudsen Dr., Ste. 101 oblige, but claims it isn’t necessary. relatively small pieces of cloth laid in Phoenix, AZ 85027 (I’ve fitted a number of High Tech all directions, but the NULA stock (623) 582-9635 stocks to my own rifles and have uses Kevlar and carbon fibers running www.gunsmagazine.com/ yet to install pillars, and every rifle the entire length of the stock, includ- mcmillan-group-international has shot very well without them.) ing the barrel channel. The rear of New Ultra Light Arms Mark also says one of the down- the action is pillar-bedded, but the P.O. Box 340 sides of pillar-bedding occurs when recoil lug area is solid reinforced Granville, WV 26534 one of the pillars breaks loose from epoxy. Even with a full 1" recoil pad (304) 292-0600 www.gunsmagazine.com/ the stock, something not unheard NULA stocks usually weigh around new-ultra-light

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 53 Of A

The Sturmtruppen’s Companion, The Kar 98 JOHN SHEEHAN

ogether!… Wait… Now! Franz, The blasts reverberated in their ear drums, the sudden overpressure intensifying their rapidly developing head- Dieter and Karl jerked the aches. With parched mouth, adrenaline pumping, Hans cords in unison, the friction raced around the intervening stretch of trench, bent on catching any of the surviving Frenchmen in a blast- fuses ignited, smoke induced stupor before they could regain their wits and “T put up any resistance. He rounded the corner into a scene streamed from the wooden handles as they of carnage. Two men were down, lifeless in the bottom of the trench below the fire-step, another staggered forward let fly with the barrage of stick grenades. In just in time to catch the blade of the S98/05 square in the sternum. The man groaned, his eyes bulging out of slow motion, the end over end summersault their sockets, the sucking sound of the withdrawal of the of explosives scribed an arch over the blade followed quickly by a scream. intervening section of ground and into the fire- This display from John’s collection (right) depicts a German stor- mtrooper circa 1918. Sewn together with a strap and hung over the neck and shoulders, are two burlap sandbags slung under each bay on the other side of the traverse. Hans, armpit. The bags are full of stick grenades, the primary offensive weapon of the infantry by late 1916. The Kar 98 was carried slung with bayonet fixed, waited for the blasts, his over the shoulder during the assault to keep both hands free for rapid employment of the stick grenades. To help consolidate cap- hands gripping the stock of his carbine so tured enemy positions against counterattacks, the Kar 98 provided defensive firepower alongside the light machineguns employed tight he left impressions in the wood with his in large number by Sturmtruppen formations. A pioneer’s shovel, encased in a special carrier, was employed to rapidly improve defen- dirt-filled fingernails. sive positions during any lull in the action.

54 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 55 To the right, a French officer with most of his left The standard issue infantry rifle of the German arm missing struggled to raise his pistol. Crack! The Army, the Gew 98, was ill suited for this purpose. report of Dieters’s Kar 98a resounded in his ears as Developed at a time when smokeless powder burn- the Frenchman reeled backward at the impact of ing rates relative to bullet design and barrel length the 154-grain .323" spitzer bullet, falling into the were not fully understood, the great Gew 98 action entrance of a nearby dugout. was mated to a 29.13" barrel. This was a carryover “Quickly!” Franz motioned from the age of infantry rifles and cavalry carbines, German to Karl, pointing toward the the former designed to maximize the velocity and Nomenclature entrance of the dugout into trajectory of the bullet’s potential while the later was which the officer’s body lay geared toward carry and use while on horseback. quick note in terms of motionless as he reached Any soldier whose primary function was anything proper German WWI into his sack and pulled out other than fighting as infantry were generally issued A nomenclature; I’m sure another grenade, instinc- carbines, which were considered short-range second- some of you have noticed that tively unscrewing the fuse ary weapons. cap and unwinding the cord. However, by the time the German ordnance I have referred to the carbine Dieter fired another round department began to consider a replacement for the introduced into German service through the doorway into Gew 88 carbine and the Gew 91 rifle, which was in in 1908 as the “Kar 98” in this the darkness as Franz jerked reality simply a Gew 88 carbine with a stacking hook the cord of the stick grenade, added underneath the muzzle, the landscape had article. This was the correct the friction primer lighting completely changed. Enter the British No.1 Mk III terminology as applied by the the fuse as he tossed it into Short Magazine Lee Enfield and the US Model 1903 Imperial German Army. The oft the dugout. The smoking Springfield. As the internal and external ballistics of grenades disappeared down small caliber, smokeless powder cartridges loaded repeated Kar 98AZ, “Aufpflanz the stairwell of the shelter, with jacketed lead-core bullets began to be better und Zusammensetzvorrichtung” the blasts initiating another understood, the concept of the universal short rifle denoting the presence of an round of screams. “Come on! had gained a toe hold in the normally conservative attachment point for a bayo- Leave them! On to the next ranks of military ordnance boards. bay!” Dieter slung his carbine The slow burning rate of black powder had net along with a stacking hook, and reached into his sack dictated the length of the rifle barrels of late 19th was never applied to the Kar 98 for another stick grenade as century rifles. To maximize the velocity potential of as introduced in 1908. It was they scrambled into posi- any black powder cartridge, the best way to wring tion for another round of the however, applied to one of the Great War’s deadliest game. early 98 pattern trials carbines “Bombing the traverses” was that did indeed include these their specialty! The successful develop- features. Some of you will now ment of Stormtrooper tactics put forth the case for the Kar by General Oskar von Hutier 98a designation. Once again, on the Eastern Front ushered the Kar 98 was only identified in the first real breakthrough in infantry tactics since the as the “a” model after WWI war had settled into stalemate with the introduction of the in the trenches before the end reworked Gew 98s that became of 1914. Hutier’s new infil- tration tactics were to push officially titled the Kar 98b. The the Allies to the brink during “a” designation was added to the Spring Offensive of 1918. the carbine after WWI in order While the hand grenade had become the primary offen- to differentiate it from the Kar sive weapon of the infantry 98b model, which was not really by late 1916, once a position a carbine at all! was captured, it still had to be German regulation pattern bayonets (from top to bottom) include the held. For this purpose, light S98/05 “sawback” bayonet without flashguard, S98/05 bayonet with flashguard, S98 “sawback” bayonet without flashguard, S98 “pipe machineguns and rifles were backed” or “quill-backed” bayonet with flashguard, S84/98 “sawback” critical when it came to holding a captured strong bayonet with flashguard, S84/98 “sawback removed” bayonet with point or section of trench against enemy counter- flashguard. This group photo represents the more prolific models attacks. With bags of grenades slung under each of the myriad bayonets issued to German troops during the Great War. Examples with flashguards were either upgraded from existing armpit, the rifle had become a secondary weapon in stocks beginning in September 1915 or manufactured thereafter. Col- the assault. Rifles and carbines were generally slung lectors commonly refer to the S98/05 as the “butcher blade” bayonet across the back during the rapid advance across based on the shape of the blade. It was the most widely produced No-Man’s-Land. pattern during WWI.

56 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 The early variation of the Kar 98 (opposite) more smoothly. Beginning in 1917, grasping the Kar 88 (below, top gun) and Gew 91 (below, is easily identified by its lack of grasping grooves were added to the forearm of the Kar bottom gun), both of which were carbine grooves on the forestock or a bolt disas- 98 (above) and a special disc to aid in the dis- versions of the Gew 88 “Commission” rifle, sembly disc in the buttstock. This 1910 dated assembly of the bolt was incorporated in the which was the first small-bore, smokeless car- example was produced at the Government buttstock. Accompanying the 1918-dated Erfurt tridge, repeating rifle adopted by the German arsenal in Danzig. The bayonet is the S98/05, manufactured carbine is a S98 “pipe-backed” Army. The advantages of the Mauser design, the most widely issued bayonet of WWI. The bayonet. The S98 was generally issued with staggered-box magazine and the patented Kar 98 featured a turned-down bolt handle the Gew 98, however a small percentage of “charger” loading system were already proven and staggered box magazine with the floor- surviving examples feature the sheet metal superior to the en-bloc clip loading system of plate flush with the bottom line of the stock, flashguard on the back of the grips, a sure the Mannlicher designs used by both arms. both features that allowed the Kar 98 to be sign this bayonet was at one time issued with Both saw extensive use with reserve units dur- withdrawn from a cavalry saddle scabbard the Kar 98. The Kar 98 was designed to replace ing the Great War.

every last additional foot per second out of any Feedback from field trials conducted in 1903 was round was to exert the force of the expanding gas on laced with consistent complaints regarding excessive the base of the bullet for as long as possible, hence recoil, muzzleblast and muzzleflash. The short carbine the extremely long barrels of 19th Century infan- barrels did not allow for the complete combustion of try rifles. However, as any avid handloader can tell the smokeless powder charge as loaded in the stan- you today, with smokeless propellants and jacketed dard infantry cartridge, the 8x57mmS. During the bullets the optimum barrel length falls somewhere black powder cartridge era, many countries adopted between 24" and 26". Both the SMLE and the ’03 identical cartridges for both infantry rifles and Springfield represented leading edge technology in cavalry carbines. While these rounds were dimension- their day as the dynamics of the capabilities of the ally identical, the carbine rounds frequently featured smokeless cartridge began to be understood by fire- lighter bullet and smaller charges of powder. The arms designers. same approach could have been taken with the new The German Army had been working on a replace- smokeless powder cartridges, however this invariably ment carbine since 1898 following on the heels of would have complicated the supply of ammunition in the introduction of the Gew 98 infantry rifle. The the field and increased manufacturing and inventory early prototypes of the Mauser 98 carbine had been costs as well. produced with traditionally short 17.3" barrels. Since The unsuitability of the new carbine presented a the majority of the new carbines were destined for the serious problem, and with the adoption of the then cavalry, who already carried sabers and lances, there new “S” cartridge in full swing, it was back to the was originally no provision for mounting a bayonet on drawing board. The challenge now was to develop a the initial prototypes. During the early phase of devel- new pattern with a long enough barrel to resolve the opment, a separate carbine was envisioned for the artil- problems inherent in the earlier prototypes, but with- lery and specialty troops, which, like the Gew 91, incor- out sacrificing the handiness desired in a carbine. porated a stacking hook. All of the early prototypes Various options were considered and tested includ- featured “spatula”-style bolt handles. ing reducing the length of the buttstock, reducing

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 57 the diameter of the receiver ring by 3mm to help The new carbine was gradually perfected and offset the additional weight gained in lengthening finally in January of 1908, after 10 years of develop- the barrel and relocating the trigger assembly and ment, Kaiser Wilhelm II approved the final pattern triggerguard one centimeter farther forward than on for full-scale production. The final pattern was issued the Gew 98 rifle. The “spatula”-type bolt handle was universally to the cavalry and every other troop type abandoned and replaced with a bent handled version for whom the carbine was intended to be a second- with a round knob with checkered flat on the under- ary weapon. This included the cavalry, foot artillery, side of the knob. While versions both with and with- machinegun units, select rifle units, cyclists, pioneers, out a bayonet lug were tested, a final compromise communications units, motor transport units, airship resulting in the addition of both a bayonet stud as units and balloonists. well as a stacking hook on the final version. The Final Design The sealed pattern was 43.3" long, with a 23.62" barrel. It weighed 9 pounds unloaded without a bayonet. The stock featured a pistol grip and, in its early pattern, lacked grasping grooves and a bolt disassembly disc. A full-length top handguard extended from the front of the receiver ring to the top barrel band. The Kar 98 featured a tangent-leaf rear sight with range markings from 300 meters to 2,000 meters. The front sight consists of a simple post with substantial sight wing protectors flank- ing the post on either side. While the Kar 98 was offi- cially adopted in 1908, due to production conflicts with the Gew 98 at the government arsenals, it was not widely issued until 1910. A full charger (above) of five rounds of 8x57mmS cartridges are The Kar 98 action was a slightly smaller version shown here inserted into the charger guides of the Kar 98. The pat- of its big brother, the Gew 98. Like the full-length ented Mauser charger system was as fast to load as the Mannlicher en bloc clip. One of the defining differences that saw the Mauser infantry rifle, the Kar 98 had a rear-mounted, turned- system rise to prominence was ability to load individual cartridges, down bolt handle, a closed, solid receiver bridge, and whether filling up or topping off the magazine. Without the en bloc two forward locking lugs that sealed the action when clip, Mannlicher rifles became slow to load, poor single shots! the bolt was closed. The carbine featured the Mauser third safety lug, located just ahead of the bolt handle, which locked in the bottom of the bolt way beneath the receiver bridge when the action was closed. The bolt design incorporates a full-length guide rib contribut- ing to the smooth action for which the 98 Mausers are famous. The bolt has two large holes milled in the bottom of the body, which are designed to help chan- nel hot gas away from the shooters face in the event of a blown primer or case head failure. In addition, a gas shield was added to the bolt shroud to further protect the shooter by deflecting any residual hot gas not chan- neled down into the magazine by the gas escape holes. A standard Mauser 3-position flag safety was mounted on top of the bolt shroud. Like the rifle, the Kar 98 action cocked upon opening. The carbine featured a standard 2-stage trigger with considerable take-up After stripping the cartridges into the magazine (above), the Maus- before the trigger engaged the sear. This feature was er charger was ejected from the clip guides when the bolt was intended to prevent premature firing during the stress closed. Unlike the Mannlicher clip, the charger was not an integral part of the magazine. Without this feature, the staggered-box mag- of combat, when a soldier was pumped up on fear and azine with a floorplate flush with the bottom line of the stock would adrenaline. not have been possible. Most of the traditional Mauser features are The Kar 98 featured charger guides cut into the visible in this photo (below), including the solid receiver bridge, forward portion of the solid receiver bridge to accom- charger guides, turned down bolt handle, full length guide rib, gas deflection shield, flag safety and tangent rear sight. The 3-position modate the patented Mauser charger more commonly flag safety can be seen in the “off” position on the top of the bolt referred to in the US as a “stripper clip.” A deep recess shroud. The name of the manufacturer was stamped on top of the was cut into the left side of the receiver sidewall to allow receiver ring on all Kar 98s. The government arsenal at Danzig pro- room for the thumb to easily strip the final round from duced this example in 1910.

58 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 The bayonet lug was mounted so far forward on the Kar 98 that the grip panels of the bayonet were subjected to severe muzzleblast. Sustained fire burned and damaged the grip panels when the bayonet was mounted on the rifle. Surprisingly, this problem was not discovered until the outbreak of war in 1914, six years after the Kar 98 was adopted! The problem was resolved with the addition of a sheet-metal flashguard on all bayonets that were issued with the Kar 98. Also of note in this photo are the front sight protector wings and the stacking hook. the charger into the staggered 5-round magazine. With grooves and later bolt disassembly discs were added to the advent of the staggered-box magazine, the floorplate the stocks of both the Gew 98 and the Kar 98. The year was flush with the bottom line of the stock. 1917 also saw the introduction of kiln-dried stocks made A 20-round detachable extended magazine was intro- from beech. All German prewar stocks were produced duced during the war and could be mounted in place from walnut and were aged for an average of three years of the standard floorplate. The extended magazine to allow the wood to stabilize. Beginning in early 1917, was loaded with four 5-round chargers in succession. shortages of walnut, aged or otherwise, necessitated the While providing an improved rate of sustained fire, the use of alternate materials. Beech, birch and elm were extended magazine was ungainly and very unpopular all approved as substitutes for the dwindling supply of with the sturmtruppen since it defeated the purpose of walnut. Birch and elm stocks are rarely encountered having a light, handy rifle. today, however Kar 98s with beech stocks turn up quite Other accessories were introduced for the carbine frequently. To increase production, the green stocks were based on the experience gained during the long years kiln cured. While beech was a suitable wood if processed of static siege warfare long the norm on the West- properly, when green and kiln dried it presented prob- ern Front. Action covers were introduced (but never lems in the field. It was heavier than the original walnut universally issued) in an attempt to keep mud out of the stocks due to the finer grain of the wood. In addition, action in the deplorable conditions in the trenches. The beech did not hold up as well under heavy use as did pronounced muzzleflash issue had never been completely walnut stocks. Beech was prone to cracking and had a resolved in spite of the lengthening of the carbine barrel nasty habit of swelling when wet, with predictably disas- to 23.62", and resulted in the introduction of a long flash trous effects on accuracy. suppressor. To address these problems, it was decided beech- While a variety of different bayonets were originally stocked rifles and carbines were to be issued to replace- issued with the Kar 98, eventually the S98/05 became ment and training units behind the lines for at least six the most common model encountered during the Great weeks before they were approved for use in the front War. Many collectors commonly refer to this robust line trenches. It was hoped the wood would stabilize bayonet today as the “butcher blade bayonet.” Surpris- or at least that the worst examples could be weeded ingly, in spite of the years of development and the large out prior to front line issue! At a time when normal scale issue of Kar 98s beginning in 1910, it was not raw materials were in short supply due to the success discovered until 1914 that the wooden grip panels on of the Allied blockade, 2-piece stocks spliced together the issue bayonets were damaged by the muzzleblast through the butt were approved for use with both Gew and flash of the 8x57mm “S” cartridge. This was not 98s and Kar 98s. Late-war beech stocks are marked an issue with the Gew 98 since the bayonet lug on the with a large capitol B on the right side of the butt while rifle was set back far enough from the muzzle to avoid stocks produced from elm were similarly marked with any issues. However, on the Kar 98, the bayonet lug a capitol R. was so close to the muzzle that 2-3/4" of the wooden The Kar 98 had become so popular with the troops grip panels extended beyond the muzzle of the carbine. through the course of the war, that by the time of the By September 1915, the War Ministry issued orders to Armistice it was estimated that approximately a third of retrofit all existing bayonets in service with the Kar 98 all of the rifles in the hands of the German field army with a sheetmetal flashguard to protect the grip panels were Kar 98s. It’s not surprising that this rugged, durable from the muzzleblast. All new bayonets produced short rifle in its evolutionary form became the backbone would include flashguards while existing bayonets were of the Wehrmacht in round two of the Great War. to be altered by company armorers. For more views and a more complete description of the As the war progressed minor modifications were uniform, go to www.gunsmagazine.com and click on Web made to the Kar 98. Beginning in 1917, first grasping Blast.

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WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 61 the “Gun Used by Shooter Is Known for Its Deadly Power,” and that it “was NEWS the standard sidearm for the Ameri- can armed forces for much of the 20th century,” all the while bemoaning “the Firearms firearm, powerful as it may be, is not Industry Jobs the subject of much of the debate RIGHTS WATCH about gun control.” In an unrelated isit www.nssf.org/jobs for but ironic development, the Times’ current employment oppor- , executive editor publicly disputed an Vtunities in the shooting, hunt- VIEWS NEWS accusation of liberal bias made by a ing and outdoor industry. Employers: retiring subordinate editor. Log in to post a job opening.—Cour- Perhaps the most hysterical, but tesy NSSF & REVIEWS not unexpected, handwringing came from The Boston Globe’s warning that DAVID CODREA “The best-trained police officers can More Firearms Laws be in error when actually facing an emington Arms has been enraged gunman. If even these profes- making firearms in the A New York sionals end up shooting and injuring RMohawk Valley town of bystanders outside the Empire State Ilion, N.Y., for almost 200 years. It State Of Mind Building, how can private citizens be is one of the few thriving compa- e are not immune to expected to discern an attacker from nies left in what once was a regional the national problem innocent people inside a darkened beehive of manufacturing activity “Wof gun violence,” New theater?” as a recent New York Times article York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg This of course, makes assump- points out. Gov. Andrew Cuomo admitted in a press conference follow- tions that aren’t borne out. A 2008 has said he would urge adoption of ing a shooting incident outside the study commissioned with the Rand additional regulation when lawmak- Empire State Building in late August, Corporation concluded, among other ers return to Albany for the 2013 where police killed an armed man findings, that NYPD training stan- legislative session. Residents and the who had shot a former co-worker. dards are inadequate, that requali- legislators who represent them have “An additional nine individuals fication standards are minimal, and expressed concern that more state were either wounded or grazed during that “Recruits should be required to laws regulating firearms, includ- the exchange,” Police Commissioner pass proficiency standards in real life ing microstamping, could drive jobs Ray Kelly advised the assembled and scenario-based tests of complex and possibly Remington itself out of media. decision making before they gradu- New York.—Courtesy NSSF What would soon come out: It ate from the police academy [and] was gunfire from NYPD that the seasoned officers should be required nine bystanders were caught up to demonstrate their continued profi- ATK’s New in. Neither of the responding offi- ciency on the most demanding real- cers had ever fired their guns in the life scenarios.” Montana Facility line of duty before. That’s not to say In short, police aren’t the only ones TK hosted a grand open- Monday morning quarterbacking competent to keep and bear arms, no ing celebration and ribbon- their response is fair, but then, neither matter how much those who would Acutting ceremony for its is the typical response from the prefer a Bloomberg-style monopoly new Manhattan, Mont. BLACK- anti-gunners, which puts the blame of violence try to put us all in a New HAWK! facility on last August. The squarely on the “gun lobby.” York state of mind. recently built facility will be used to It wasn’t long before compari- produce products such as injection- sons were being made to the shoot- molded holsters, buttstocks and ings in Aurora, Colo., or to the Sikh Visit David Codrea’s online journal shooting-sport accessories. “The Temple shootings in Wisconsin. The “The War on Guns” at direct impact BLACKHAWK! has usual media suspects were calling for waronguns.com, had on the community of Manhat- “a national conversation to prevent visit DavidCodrea.com to read tan and surrounding areas is tremen- gun deaths,” meaning for more citizen his Examiner column. dous,” said Montana Gov. Brian disarmament, and blaming everything Schweitzer. “The original economic from private sales to expiration of the impact calculated for this project federal “assault weapons” ban, even exceeded $120 million over a 5-year though the gun used by the murderer Due to the importance of this col- period.”—Courtesy NSSF was a .45-caliber handgun. umn, GUNS will begin That, of course, suited the Violence posting “Rights Watch” Policy Center just fine, which issued a at www.gunsmagazine.com on the Huge Government statement condemning the “45-cali- 1st of the month—long before it Ammo Purchases ber handgun… offering yet another appears here.—Editor example of how the ready availabil- umors about the federal ity of semi-automatic handguns that government purchasing large can be equipped with high-capacity Rquantities of ammunition, ammunition magazines destroy lives Follow us on Twitter www.twitter. possibly for use against the Ameri- and make everyone less safe.” com/fmgpubs so you’ll be among can populace in case of civil unrest, Quick to take those talking points the first to know when “Right’s have made their inevitable journey and run with them, The New York Watch” is posted online! from postings and blogs on vari- Times couldn’t wait to tell its readers ous Internet sites to phone calls to

62 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 conservative talk radio programs Homeland Security for its array of qualification requirements. more recently. agencies, added to lesser amounts And you don’t just have to take Because rumors are usually based sought by smaller agencies with law our word for it. The NRA Institute on a kernel of truth that is miscon- enforcement responsibilities, it seems for Legislative Action took on this strued, exaggerated and then prop- to some that something nefarious rumor last September in a well-done agated, let’s be very clear: There is must be brewing. As NSSF, the trade post. To its credit, the office of US nothing out of the ordinary going on. association for the firearms and Representative Lynn Westmoreland, US government procurement ammunition industry, we want to get who is well respected for his support practices are baffling to begin with, the facts out. of the Second Amemdment, looked as any federal contractor will tell Our members confirm what we into the issue and posted helpful you. All of them employ experi- are seeing is the normal function- research at www.nraila.org. enced specialists who spend count- ing of the Feds’ procurement appa- “It behooves you to be watchful in less hours just to do business with ratus. When you do the math in the your States as well as in the Federal Uncle Sam. case of the DHS purchase, even the Government,” President Andrew So, when complex purchasing maximum purchase would add up Jackson said in his farewell address. process is combined with an eye- to less than 1,400 rounds per year We agree, but some perspective is popping number of up to 450 million for all 65,000 DHS law enforce- also required. This particular rumor rounds of .40 caliber to be purchased ment personnel. That doesn’t seem should be put to rest.—Courtesy over five years by the Department of outrageous considering training and Larry Keane NSSF

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 63 The turret of the Tiger 1 is secured to be moved to Royal Air Force Lakenheath by members of the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Alconbury, England, last July 9, 15 Employers 2012. The Tiger 1, one of six left in the world, will be shipped to the US Army Armor and Cavalry Museum at Fort Benning, Ga., for repair and full restora- Honored By DoD tion. USAF photo: Airman 1st Class Cory D. Payne mployer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Depart- Ement of Defense agency, announced the 15 recipients of the 2012 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Free- dom Award is the DoD’s highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of Guard and Reserve employees. These employ- ers distinguished themselves from the 3,236 nominations received from Guardsmen and Reservists or family members acting on their behalf. Freedom Award recipients stand out by going above and beyond what the law requires of Guard and Reserve employers. They go to extraordinary lengths to support their military employees through both formal and informal initiatives. The 2012 recipi- ents have provided such outstanding support as special hiring and career Airmen Relocate development programs for Guard and Reserve members; maintaining WWII Tank an open door policy for deployed employees’ family members in need ne of the most feared and of assistance; and forming internal powerful tanks of its time is veterans’ networks that maintain Omaking its way to the United contact with deployed colleagues, States courtesy of the 48th Logistics organize care package drives, and Readiness Squadron from Royal Air advise managers on issues related to Force Lakenheath, England. employing members of the military. The squadron is shipping a World A selection board comprised of War II-era German Tiger 1 tank from senior DoD officials, business lead- Royal Air Force Alconbury, England, One of the six remaining Tiger 1s, a World War ers and prior awardees selected the to the US Army Armor and Cavalry II era German tank, sits incapacitated. Another 15 recipients. Since 1996, only 160 Tiger 1, one of the six, will be shipped to the US Museum at Fort Benning, Georgia, Army Armor and Cavalry Museum at Fort Ben- employers have received the Free- for repair and full restoration. ning, Georgia, for repair and full restoration. dom Award. The 2012 honorees The Tiger 1 is a German heavy (File photo) were recognized at the 17th annual tank that was one of the most Secretary of Defense Employer advanced weapons during its time. scars that have since been patched Support Freedom Award Ceremony Armed with an 88mm gun on the can still be seen on several parts of in Washington, D.C. last Septem- turret and protected by a thick layer the tank. The unique task of moving ber 20th. For more information of armor on all sides, the Tiger 1 was this battle-hardened tank came about the Freedom Award and this considered a formidable force by the down from the US Army to the 48th year’s recipients, visit www.Freedo- Allies. Although proven to be effec- LRS. Specifically, the Secretary of mAward.mil.—Courtesy Victoria tive in both offensive and defensive the Army, John McHugh, sent the Shapiro, Susan Davis Int. combat, the tank was expensive and request to Bill Pratt, the 48th LRS time consuming to build. Production Transportation Management Office The 2012 Freedom Award Recipients Basin Electric Power Cooperative, was limited to little more than 1,300 chief of cargo movement. Bismarck, N.D. built between 1942 and 1944. Although the 48th TMO is Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Ill. Due to the relatively low number more commonly known for moving Citi, New York, N.Y. built, finding a Tiger 1 in good condi- Airmen’s personal property when Crystal Springs United Methodist Church, Crystal Springs, Miss. tion after more than 60 years is rare. changing duty stations, the office Delta Air Lines, Atlanta, Ga. “There are only six known Tiger 1s also is in charge of moving impor- Gary Jet Center, Gary, Ind. that are still in one piece left in the tant military property. “Part of Iostudio, Nashville, Tenn. world,” said Len Dyer, the direc- TMO moves personal property and Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, Kalamazoo, Mich. tor of the Army Armor and Cavalry personal goods, but there is a big part L-3 Communications, New York, N.Y. museum. “This particular one was of TMO that never gets noticed,” Nyemaster Goode, Des Moines, Iowa captured by the British in Tunis, said Pratt. “Everything that comes Port of Seattle, Seattle, Wash. North Africa, in 1943. She has plenty in and out of Lakenheath—doesn’t Siemens Corporation, Washington, D.C. Tennessee Valley Authority, of combat action and a few combat matter if it’s a boat or bomb—comes Knoxville, Tenn. scars that have had repair work done.” through TMO.”—Airman 1st Class Uniform Color Company, Holland, Mich. Although the tank is now disas- Cory D. Payne 48th Fighter Wing Verizon Wireless, Basking Ridge, N.J. sembled for relocation, the battle Public Affairs

64 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 KWIK-SITE has taken Weaver® style rings to new heights and new lengths Our Caps Will NOT Scratch Your Scope Or Rust

Trainee Gunners from the Afghan National Army (above) fire the Soviet-era 122mm D-30 Howit- Aussies Mentor zer during a live fire exercise at Kabul Military Training Centre. The Afghanistan National Army Afghan Artillery School School of Artillery exercise at the Kabul Mili- tary Training Centre range was Afghan planned tudents at the Afghanistan and led, while Australian mentors from Artillery Training Advisory Team (ATAT) observed the National Army School of Artil- conduct. Lance Bombardier Dan Cooke (below) Slery have prepared for the next from the Artillery Training Advisory Team Four phase of their careers with a live fire at the Kabul Military Training Centre during a exercise at the Kabul Military Train- live fire exercise. Note the Lance Bombardier’s 5.56mm F88 Austeyr, an Australian-made ver- ing Centre range. sion of the Steyr AUG. Photo: Sergeant Mick The exercise was Afghan planned Davis 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit. and led, while Australian mentors from Artillery Training Advisory Team (ATAT) observed the activity. The live fire exercise was conducted as part of the Squad Leaders Course, which runs for 8 weeks, and is the qualification exercise for the new junior leaders of the Afghanistan National Army (ANA) Artillery. Each member of the course fired the 122mm D30 howitzer in order to qualify on the equipment. Qualifica- tion on the D30 is critical to a squad leader, as he will command a gun within a battery upon completion of the course. The live fire also allows the ANA Forward Observers and Command Post personnel to hone their skills in a field environment. The live fire is the culminating activity for one of the many ongoing Bombardier Tim Dibben, a gun courses conducted at the school, and team mentor with ATAT said that with the next Squad Leader’s course in their time they had noticed a big only days away from commencing, difference in the relationship between the tempo of training remains high. the Commissioned and Non-Commis- Lance Bombardier Dan Cooke, sioned Officers. the course manager, has been “As the skill level of the Non- mentoring the course instructors to Commissioned Officer has increased, develop, refine and present training the Officers are now able to step back at the School, as well as observing and fulfill command roles instead of the conduct of the live fire activities. directly supervising the Bridmals.”The “Throughout the conduct of this Squad Leader’s Course is the train- course we have observed an improve- ing ground for the next generation ment of both the instructors and the of junior leaders, with those graduat- trainees and I’m confident the next ing from the course now qualified as course will be even stronger,” Lance junior Non-Commissioned Officers Bombardier Cooke said. within the ANA artillery. Leading U.S. Manufacturer Since taking on the mentoring At the completion of the course, of Scope Mounts Since 1967 role, the members of ATAT have graduates will be posted to ANA battal- recognized a marked improvement ions or “Kandaks,” and will be serving in the capability of their Afghan in active roles throughout Afghanistan. counterparts. —Courtesy ADoD

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 65

KwikSite#3.indd 1 3/11/10 2:09:40 PM Clint on Vehicle Defense: to the chief petty officer transition. I’m USS Constitution Sails extremely honored to be a part of the SS Constitution departed group that can say they sailed the USS her berth from Charlestown, Constitution.” UMass., last August 19, to set sail The ship got underway at 9:57 a.m. for the first time since 1997, during an with tugs attached to her sides and underway demonstration commemo- 285 people on board, including special rating Guerriere Day. guests. At 10:27 a.m., guest Dr. Phil The underway honored the 200th Budden, Britain’s Consul General to anniversary of Constitution’s decisive New England and Cmdr. Matt Bonner, victory over the HMS Guerriere during Constitution’s 72nd commanding offi- the War of 1812, marking the first time cer, tossed a wreath into the ocean to a United States frigate defeated a Royal honor and remember Constitution’s Navy frigate at or nearly equal size. battle with the HMS Guerriere. It’s also the battle in which Constitu- When the ship arrived at President tion earned her famous nickname “Old Roads, a body of water of Boston Ironsides.” Harbor, the crew then set three sails “I cannot think of a better way to from Constitution’s main, mizzen honor those who fought in the war and fore masts, and at 12:25 p.m., she as well as celebrate Constitution’s detached from her tugs and sailed west successes during the War of 1812 under her own power for 17 minutes. than for the ship to be under sail,” She sailed at a maximum speed of 3.1 said Cmdr. Matt Bonner, Constitu- knots, at an average of two knots over tion’s 72nd commanding officer. “The 1,100 yards. event also ties our past and present by After tugs reattached to Constitu- having the ship not only crewed by the tion’s sides, the ship headed to Fort outstanding young men and women Independence on Castle Island, where who make up her crew, but also the 150 thousands of spectators waited to chief petty officer [CPO] selectees who watch Constitution fire a 21-gun salute join us for their Heritage Week.” toward the fort at 1:14 p.m. Fort Inde- More than 150 CPO selectees and pendence is a state park that served as a CPO mentor chiefs assisted Constitu- defense post for Boston Harbor at one tion’s crew in setting sails. CPO selectees time. participated in Constitution’s annual Finally, the ship returned to her pier CPO Heritage Weeks, a weeklong at 2:05 p.m. and everyone departed training cycle divided by two weeks that once the brow was safely set and the teaches selectees time-honored mari- ship was clean. Constitution reopened time evolutions, such as gun drills, line to the public for tours of the ship’s handling and setting sails. The training history at 4 p.m. is also designed to instill pride in naval “For me, this underway is repre- heritage in the Navy’s senior enlisted sentative of an incredible amount of leadership. work and dedication by not only the “I’m a boatswain’s mate,” said crew, but Maintenance and Repair “Either Drive Chief (Select) Boatswain’s Mate (SW) Facility, Naval History and Heritage Michael Zgoda, assigned to USS Command, and all of the partners Or Draw Ingraham (FFG 61). “This is the foun- coming together to make this happen,” dation of my rate. Being able to learn said Aircrew Survival Equipmentman ... not BOTH!” from a variety of genuine chiefs and 1st Class (AW/SW) Jason Keith, who Learn how to defend yourself their different perspectives on leader- is the longest serving crew member ship is overwhelming and important currently assigned to Constitution. from inside the car with help from Clint Smith’s Thunder The world’s oldest commissioned warship, USS Constitution sailed Ranch DVD course. west under her own power for 17 minutes last August. She sailed at a maximum speed of 3.1 knots, Three Course at an average of two knots, for 1,100 yards. (USN photo: Mass BONUS Communication Specialist 1st Includes: Class Andrew Meyers/ Released Concealed Carry Options Home Defense VehicleV Defense

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66 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 Visit one of our three traveling showrooms at a dealer near you and get your hands on the hottest new products from today’s top manufacturers.

The world’s oldest commissioned warship, USS Constitution, sailed under her own power Aug. 19, 2012. This is only the second time in 131 years she traveled without help. The last time Constitution sailed was 1997. This exercise commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Constitution’s victory over the British frigate Guerriere during the War of 1812. (USN pho- See our 2013 show dates online at www.elitesportsexpress.com to: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class To book the ESE or get your products Andrew Meyers/ Released on board, call Don at 702-528-6771

Keith reported to the ship April 13, 2009 and will depart August 31. “I’ve given tours to thousands of people, shined brass for hundreds of hours, SIZE MATTERS and I’ve climbed the rigging to set and furl these sails over and over again. But FOR CLASSIC™ OWB (OUTSIDE THE WAISTBAND) sailing USS Constitution on Aug. 19, RUGER® LCR® 2012 is one of the greatest honors I’ve CLASSIC™ IWB had in my naval career, and I’m truly (INSIDE THE WAISTBAND) proud to be a part of this history.” S&W® AIRWEIGHT™ The last time Constitution sailed A under her own power was July 21, 1997 to honor the ship’s 200th birthday. It CUSTOM was the first time the ship sailed in 116 years. “When we sailed the ship, it became clear it was a different experience you can’t have in port,” said Lance Beebe, a crewmember aboard Constitution’s REINFORCED GUN BELT 1997 sail. “The ship comes alive, and 1.5” BLACK you truly understand what she is all about.” FIT Constitution is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat and welcomes more than 500,000 visitors per year. She defended the sea-lanes HOLSTER against threat from 1797 to 1855, much like the mission of today’s Navy. Ameri- ca’s Navy: Keeping the sea free for more than 200 years. For more information, CLASSIC™ OWB visit www.history.navy.mil/ussconstitu- (OUTSIDE THE WAISTBAND) WITH ASR™ tion.—Mass Communication Specialist S&W 500™ 2nd Class Kathryn E. Macdonald, USS Constitution Public Affairs

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aggressively checkered aluminum that puts out an amazing 214 lumens from S! a single 123A lithium battery. The tail-

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ALL low at 40-percent light, and disorient- ing strobe mode. Runtime is 80 minutes on high, and 180 on low, and retail is a reasonable $105 for this tough little GUNS blinder.

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F series of tactical flashlights is the ProTac HL, or “High Lumen Output” From 28 to 2,000 lumens, these flash- model, and it sure delivers on that, lights all shine with fine features. wringing 600 blazing lumens out of two 123A lithium batteries. All the usual Streamlight features are there, light levels and a strobe function, with like power-regulating C4 technology, its consistent power assured by a micro- aircraft-quality aluminum construc- The Best & processor controlled regulator. And the tion with a hard-anodized finish, shock price? About the same as that 80-lumen suppression, waterproofing to IPX7 light of yesterday. standard, and an anti-roll facecap, plus Brightest Every season brings surprises in this: The default mode as shipped gives flashlights, and sometimes a game- you momentary or constant-on high Mini-Blinkers to changing leap in technology. Here’s an power at 600 lumens, strobe mode, then array of lights from mini to mighty, to low power at 35 lumens, all activated Mega-Blasters. fit one or more niches in your illumina- with rapid taps on the tailcap and push- tion needs. to-click for constant-on. But with their new Ten-Tap program- John Connor Streamlight ming built into the switch, you can Microstream program it to change from Hi-Strobe- bout a decade ago, when lith- I carried an original Streamlight Lo to high power only, or low to high. ium batteries and LEDs were Microstream clipped to my T-shirt It’s easy; even I can do it. That’s a lot Athe new wave in illumination collar or in a shirt pocket daily for tools, you could squeeze 80 lumens of several years. Although it was my least light out of two 123A lithium batteries, expensive light, it was by far the one and it would run for around an hour I used most—and would least want with erratic performance as the batter- to be without. Finally, the pocket clip ies lost power. Today that same size broke, but Streamlight must have seen little tactical light powered by two iden- me coming, because the new C4 model tical batteries can deliver 600 lumens has an unbreakable clip, with another almost twice as long, offering multiple advantage too: The clip is a “double- folded” design, so you can pocket-clip the Microstream lens down, or reverse- The tiny Streamlight Microstream is always clip it to a cap brim for an instant there when you need it. hands-free light. And, C4 technol- ogy has bumped power from 20 to 28 lumens from the single AAA battery and nearly doubled the runtime. It’s 3.5" long and only weighs an ounce, yet it’s O-ring sealed for water resistance, virtually shockproof and The Dark Energy DE-01 from SOG Knives pro- Designed for law enforcement, the “dual-fuel” has an unbreakable polycarbonate duces 214 lumens from a single 123A lithium R1 Lawman by SureFire is a rechargeable, lens. I typically use mine for five to 30 battery. which also runs on standard lithium batteries. seconds at a time, and at that rate you’ll get a lot of service out of its 2.25-hour runtime. Listing at $28, it’s often on sale for less, making it a best buy in feather- weight lights. SOG Dark Energy At just 3.8" long and 3 ounces in If you need maximum range and power, weight, the “Dark Energy” DE-01 Streamlight’s ProTac HL produces an incred- Sightmark’s versatile H2000 delivers paint- flashlight by SOG Knives is a stout, ible 600 lumens from two lithium batteries, plus blistering light. stubby chunk of hard-anodized, user-programmability.

68 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 of smarts and a ton of power out of a The two rechargeable lithium Clint on Concealed Carry: 5.6-ounce, 5.4" package! Shop around, batteries must be removed and because although the HL lists for $130, charged in the supplied cradle, and it’s often on sale. the light will run at maximum power for 1 hour on a full charge. The SureFire R1 Lawman H2000 is relatively light and agile at Designed for law enforcement, 20.5 ounces, and the grip is enhanced SureFire’s R1 Lawman carries a with checkering and knurling. It is hefty price tag, but it also packs hefty built shock-resistant for use as a features in a virtually bombproof weapon-mounted light, and comes package that’s a versatile, multi-func- with a rail mount, a pressure switch, tion, long-term performer. Recharge- and three color filters: red for night able flashlights save lots of money varmint hunting and vision preserva- on batteries, but owners also run tion, green for use in heavy foliage, the risk of running out of juice in a and blue for illuminating blood trails. “juice-free environment.” That’s not a The unit is waterproof, with Type II problem with the dual-fuel Lawman: Mil-Spec anodizing, and comes with it will also run on two disposable or a limited lifetime warranty. Retail is rechargeable lithium 123A batteries. only $179.99. With a little planning, you’ll never be left in the dark. Streamlight Inc. 30 Eagleville Rd., Eagleville, PA 19403 Charging is as simple as plugging (800) 523-7488 a pin-type connector into the R1’s www.gunsmagazine.com/streamlight body, and both AC—with interna- tional adaptors—and a DC vehicle SOG Specialty Knives & Tools LLC 6521 212th St. S.W., Lynwood, WA 98036 charger are provided. The precision (888) 405-6433 micro-textured reflector maximizes www.gunsmagazine.com/sog-knives the unit’s peak output of 750 lumens with a piercing spot and wide-beam SureFire LLC 18300 Mount Baldy Cir. combination. There are two control Fountain Valley, CA 92708 switches: The tailcap switch activates (800) 828-8809 the 750-lumen output, with a press for www.gunsmagazine.com/surefire momentary and twist for constant- Sellmark Corporation on, while the head-mounted switch 2203 Heritage Pkwy., Mansfield, TX 76063 lets you cycle from high to 150 lumens (817) 225-0310 medium and 15 lumens at low power. www.gunsmagazine.com/sellmark A rapid triple-tap on the tailcap acti- vates a dazzling strobe function. Both switches are user-programmable so you can select your own menu of Brit e- modes. Runtimes at all light levels are “It’s a BIG gun generous, and power is microproces- Strike sor managed. when I put it on The Lawman is 8.1" long and weighs 10.2 ounces. It is, of course, Jacob Gottfredson and it’s a BIG gun Mil-Spec hard anodized and both O-ring and gasket sealed against dust actical gear for police officers when I pull it out.” and moisture, retailing for $455. is often of very high quality if Tnot a bit on the expensive side. Learn how to choose a gun, Sightmark Triple Brite-Strike lights are among them. Duty H2000 The company offers intruder detec- carry concealed and draw Two thousand lumens… Yup; you tion and alarms, protective systems, carefully. Get Clint Smith’s read that right: 2,000 paint-blister- helmet lights, observation cameras, ing lumens that’ll reach deep into that and a plethora of tactical flashlights Thunder Ranch DVD course. ravine, across the river or down the to fit every conceivable need. highway. Sightmark’s latest addition One of the most useful, small Three Course to their Triple Duty (tactical, hunting lights is the BD-198-HLS made in and competition) series is the H2000, a several configurations. The flashlight BONUS rechargeable unit using three powerful is dubbed the Tactical Blue-Dot to Includes: Cree T-6 LEDs in its oversized reflec- highlight the blue activation button Concealed tor. It features three selectable light at its rear. The flashlight shown in the Carry Options levels of 2,000 lumens on high, 1,150 on photo is the BD-198-HLS-2C, the C Home medium and 270 on low power, though meaning that is has 2, CR-123A Lith- Defense “low” and “270 lumens” don’t seem to ium batteries (included). It sports a belong in the same phrase. There are 210-lumen high beam, 90-lumen low VehicleV three modes—steady beam, strobe and beam, and a 210-lumen strobe, each Defense SOS, all controlled from the same tail- activated by pressing the blue button cap switch, and available in momen- in the rear. It is made from a single Two-disc set only $49.95 — Order Today: tary and constant-on. Strobe and SOS billet of CNC machined high-grade (800) 628-9818 (M-F 8am-3pm PST) modes always run at 2,000 lumens. aerospace aluminum, black anodized, www.americanhandgunner.com/TRvids

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and the front and rear has crenelated the others. To avoid such a potentially strike crowns. The light features a clip dangerous situation, we would pick up as well. bits of rotting, phosphorescent foliage In my late 20s, I had a job that from the jungle floor and place it in entailed wandering around Southeast the back of our floppy hats. Follow- Asia at night. It was often overcast and ing the guy in front of you was made hidden by a 3-canopy jungle. I would much easier. I have no idea if that situ- sometimes place my hand in front of ation prompted Brite-Strike’s design my face and marvel at the fact that I of APALS, but they are certainly could not see it. It was often the black- advantageous in tactical or even some The little APALS (All Purpose Adhesive Light est black you can image. As the small civilian venues. They are sold in packs Strip, below) lights come in various colors and can be seen 1/4-mile away. Runtime is about team of men moved silently through of 10 and include several colors. 35 hours. it, you could easily wander away from Written on the pack: “The All Purpose Adhesive Light Strip (APALS), new from Brite-Strike, surface, and are activated my press- was designed by military operators ing a button. One press gives you a searching for a low cost, ultra reli- fast strobe, twice a slow strobe, and able, long lasting combat identifier. three times a constant light. They can APALS enhance your battlefield situ- be seen 1/4-mile away and last for 35+ ational awareness, giving you the abil- hours. Included as well are two infra- ity to safely monitor the movement of red stripes that can only be seen using friendly forces in a dynamic environ- an appropriate light source. These ment. Completely submersible and would be great safety items as well for shockproof, the hermetically sealed kayakers, joggers, bikers, or anyone APALS are intended for use in the who needs to be seen before impend- worst possible conditions.” ing disaster strikes. But in my estimation, they would The Brite-Stike Blue Dot flashlight (left) offers 210 also suit some needs of the police as Brite-Strike Technologies Inc. lumens, 210-lumen strobe, and a battery-saving well as civilian hunters, hikers, and 11 Raffaele Rd. 90 lumens of light. The light is very high quality, Camelot Industrial Park and has crenelated strike crowns top and bottom. anyone who ventures into environ- Plymouth, MA 02360 The little APALS come in packs of 10 and can be ments where either identification or (508) 746-8701 worth their weight in gold in a dynamic environ- observation becomes important. The www.gunsmagazine.com/brite-strike ment where identification is paramount. little lights attach using an adhesive

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GUNS MAGAZINE CLASSIFIED Classified ads $2.00 per-word insertion. ($1.50 per-word insertion for 3 or more) including name, address INSTRUCTION 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. Former CIA Officer 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 reveals how to make Drive, San Diego, California 92128. NOTE: WE NOW HAVE DISPLAY CLASSIFIEDS IN BOTH GUNS MAGA- ZINE AND AMERICAN HANDGUNNER. ASK FOR OUR NEW RATE CARD. (858) 605-0235. $10,800 a month as a firearms instructor. To get his special report, call his free recorded ACCESSORIES APPAREL message today at FREE CATALOG! Make your own kydex THE BELTMAN makes sturdy, top gun holster or knife sheath. Over 1200 quality, DUAL LAYER bull hide 801-438-6746. ID#405 belts (not cow), for dress wear, S&K SCOUT-MOUNT concealed carry or competition from $69.95. HANDMADE in the No Drilling or Tapping! USA in three widths and five col- KNIVES & SWORDS The absolute best scope mount made for the Chil- ors. Any length! Options include: ean 1895. Easy installation without modifica- Horse, Elephant, Velcro, taper- LEATHERCRAFT tions to your gun. Machined from solid bar stock ing, stiffeners, etc. 919-387-1997 & made in the USA. See www.thebeltman.net MILITARIA www.scopemounts.com for a list of our other mounts & scopes. AUCTIONS/SHOWS MILITARY SURPLUS Chilean 1895 Scope Mount BOOKS MISCELLANEOUS S&K Scope Mounts BUSINESS Try a Real Machine Gun at THE 70 Swede Hollow Rd OPPORTUNITIES GUN STORE. Individual Rentals Sugar Grove, PA 16350 and Gun Packages available at our 800-578-9862 COLLECTORS indoor range. Check out www.scopemounts.com www.thegunstorelasvegas.com EMBLEMS & INSIGNIA OPTICS FOR SALE POLICE EQUIPMENT TOP QUALITY! Unbelievably great tasting freeze dried food! GMO free. REAL ESTATE Plus emergency supplies! Contact Independent Consultant Shelf Reliance at gracewilson.shelfreliance.com Maxarmory.com movie revolvers, CUSTOM autos, machine guns, stunguns, blank ammo, ID’s, bodyarmor, CWP CORNER badges, spy cameras. Catalog $3 MAX PO 970057 Coconut Creek, FL 33097 1-877-332-2343 GUN PARTS Straight sided Untitled-2.indd 1 GUNS FOR SALE bits perfectly sized 9/4/12 1:44 PM GUNSMITHING for straight sided items. Visit www.knifekits.com or call GUNSMITHING AT PIEDMONT gun screws! 1-877-255-6433 today. COMMUNITY COLLEGE. Two- year, hands-on program; finan- Gun Kit #5589 is $59 AMMUNITION cial aid available; approved for GI All American made precision Bill benefits; P.O. Box 1197, Rox- rachet and bit tool kit Quinetics Corporation! Reloading boro, NC 27573; (336)599-1181; supplies. Made in USA. www.piedmontcc.edu 860-349-9228 www.quineticscorp.com www.chapmanmfg.com

72 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013

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NEW PRODUCTS ACC .300 Blackout Reticle Pattern chokes in F, M, IM, IC and Skeet. It comes with Turkish walnut Browe Inc. stocks finished in high gloss and a raised, ventilated rib with a U he 4x32 BCO .300 Blackout fiber optic front sight for quick target acquisition. For more info: reticle is based on the popular (800) 553-4229 or www.gunsmagazine.com/legacy-sports-int

REA T

O horseshoe- and dot-style reticle and

M provides a bullet drop compensated

N (BDC) reticle for both the subsonic and supersonic ammunition. The SO

A 7-MOA horseshoe has a 5-MOA J inner dimension and provides an illuminated 2-MOA wide ring for quick target acquisition. The center 1 MOA dot gives the operator that precision shot and can be zeroed at 100 meters with the supersonic round or 25 meters with the subsonic round. For long-range precision, the reticle features a BDC reticle that ranges out to 900 meters for the supersonic and out to 400 meters for the subsonic. It is available Ferox in four color options including amber, blue, green, or red. For Folding Knife more info: (800) 407-3150 or www.gunsmagazine.com/browe Maxpedition he first knife from 1556TICRYO II TMaxpedition features a Kershaw Knives sleek jet-black blade with he new Kershaw Cryo optimal point and edge geometries to provide a high degree of TII is significantly larger control during precise cutting tasks. Combine an ergonomic than the original Cryo. fiber-reinforced nylon handle with a fast-action opening flipper With its 3-1/4" blade, this classic Rick Hinderer design was built and you have a trusted quality tool that will perform in any for those who demand more from a pocketknife—more size, situation or environment. Available in a plain or serrated edge more features, and a more streamlined style. The Cryo II is pure and in three different colors—black, green and khaki. For more stainless steel with matte grey titanium carbo-nitride (TiCN) info: (310) 768-0098 or www.gunsmagazine.com/maxpedition coating. Three times as hard as chrome, TiCN offers excellent abrasion resistance and reduces friction on moving parts. The LoPro Green Laser SpeedSafe assisted opening guarantees the Cryo II opens quickly Sightmark and easily. Though this is a larger knife, it’s remarkably slim and he LoPro Green Laser is rides comfortably deep in the pocket thanks to Kershaw’s deep- TSightmark’s first low-profile carry clip. For more info: (503) 682-1966 or www.gunsmagazine. laser, allowing it to be mounted com/kershaw-knives in front of a riflescope without blocking the field of view. Expanded Eliminator Scope Line Designed to be mounted on a picatinny or weaver rail, the Burris LoPro can also be mounted on the side of a quad rail. Featuring he family of Eliminator 1 MOA click value adjustments, the hand-adjustable windage Tscopes now includes and elevation turrets allow the user to zero in the laser dot for three new models: close range shooting. Visibility ranges over 50 yards in the 4X-16X-50mm Eliminator daytime to over 600 yards at night. It takes one CR123 battery, III, 4X-12X-42mm which provides 27 hours of continued use, and comes with Eliminator II and Eliminator 3.5X-10X-40mm. The Eliminator Velcro strips so the pressure pad can be mounted anywhere for III is for centerfire rifles, and features enhanced ballistic convenient activation. For more info: (817) 225-0310 or programming where the shooter enters not only the amount of www.gunsmagazine.com/sightmark bullet drop at 750 yards, but also the ballistic coefficient (BC) for his specific cartridge. The new Eliminator II accurately calculates Accessory the distance out to 999 yards at any magnification, and can also Travel Cases be programmed for any gun and any load. The new Eliminator Negrini/ 3.5X-10X-40mm provides accurate ranging out to 800 yards, International Case Co. and also can be programmed to work with any gun and any load. egrini has announced full The 3.5X-10X-40mm must be set to 10X magnification when Ndistribution of their patented ranging targets or trophies. For more info: (970) 356-1670 or lightweight firearm, bow, www.gunsmagazine.com/burris ammunition and accessory travel cases in the US through a partnership with International Case Co. The patented design Escort Supreme 20 Gauge Left- and utilizes double-wall construction of thermoformed, high rubber Right-Handed Semi-Auto Shotgun content ABS and yields the lightest and most durable case Legacy Sports International approved for air transport. The benefits of ABS include its high he Escort Supreme 20 is a semi-auto for upland game or shock resistance and strength-to-weight ratio, and the lack of Tclay bird shooting. With a cycle rate of three shots in .43 corrosive materials such as water. The inner upholstery utilizes a seconds using 7/8-ounce loads, this is a super fast shotgun! The special cotton/acrylic fabric that is laminated with technical poly left-handed model is a true lefty, with a left-handed receiver and foam. At present there are four styles of locks/latches for Negrini action. Features include a 26" nickel chrome moly-lined barrel cases: the traditional keyed buckle style, the 3-number dial that is proofed for steel shot, SMART valve cycling system that combination lock system, the push-pull safety latch and the new cycles all types of loads, Legacy’s new FAST Loading System, International TSA lock system. For more info: (585) 905-3161 or magazine cut-off for single-round loading and five standard www.gunsmagazine.com/intl-case-co

74 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 If you would like your product featured in GUNS Magazine’s New Products, Contact: Jason Moreau (866) 903-1199. For more New Products visit us online at www.gunsmagazine.com

contact they experience under heavy load and Expanded RX Compact during the repeated firings of hunting season, Digital Laser Line while the built-in solvent lightly cleans firearms so Leupold owners can use one product as opposed to buying eupold has expanded its RX line of separate cleaners and lubricants. Royal Purple’s Lcompact digital laser rangefinders with product actually leaves a long-lasting film that four new models: RX-800i, RX-800i TBR, protects metal parts from water and air, thereby RX-600i and, designed specifically for archers, RX-FullDraw. At reducing the chances of fouling and improving just over 4" length and weighing 7 ounces or less, each model performance. The Gun Oil is so effective it works fits in a shirt pocket, yet is packed with features that can help in a variety of climates and temperatures and will users confirm desired targets, shoot with confidence and boost not thicken in cold weather. For more info: (888) their effective range. Each new model has a multicoated lens 382-6300 or www.gunsmagazine.com/royal- system and a new LCD that produces an image up to three purple times brighter than competitive rangefinders. Other key features common to all models include actual 6X magnification (5X for Stealth Fighter FullDraw), fast-focus eyepiece with precision clicks and fold- Crawford Knives down rubber eyecups that can accommodate users with or esigned with the fast without eyeglasses. For more info: (800) 538-7653 or www. Dsleek lines of the Stealth gunsmagazine.com/leupold-stevens Fighter Jet in mind, this utility fighting folder is a Zombie Reloader great fit in your hand. The MEC Shotshell Reloaders flipper extension on the EC Shotshell Reloaders is offering bottom of the blade makes Ma limited supply of Zombie for a fast, effortless opening. reloaders to ensure public safety. MEC The reverse curve blade is 3-7/8" long and 5/32" thick, made Reloaders have been through many of s35v steel. It has an overall length of 5-1/4" closed, and is small Zombie incidents through the fitted with a titanium pocket clip to keep it in place. There are years and to this day we are still on decorative holes and slots in the blade. The liners are titanium. top. The Zombie Reloader is offered Shown with carved micarta handles, great for gripping and in 12 and 20 gauges only. You can carbon fiber bolsters. Many different handle materials and customize your zombie load to get the several different blade shapes available. Starting at $575. most bang for your buck while taking For more info: (870) 732-2452 or www.gunsmagazine.com/ down the walking dead. When you crawford-knives run out of your pistol and rifle ammo you can count on MEC to be there. We Hybrid Tuck expect to see you on the other side; if The Holster Store not, you probably didn’t buy a MEC. he Hybrid Tuck is one of the most For more info: (800) 797-4632 or Tcomfortable inside-the-waistband www.gunsmagazine.com/mec holsters you’ll own. Instead of Kydex clips (which can break), The Hybrid Game Spy M-80 Black Tuck comes with durable metal clips Moultrie Feeders that will never break. This holster ith Black Flash Technology, the and all of its components are made WM-80 Black emits no visible LED in the United States. The holster light, providing ultimate concealment in can take up to a week to build. We the woods. This covert mini-cam easily offer a lifetime warranty on all of our doubles as a security camera for your products. For more info: (866) 998-7254 or www.gunsmagazine. cabin, home or hunting property. The com/holster-store M-80 Black provides clear, crisp images both day and night. Even with concealed Thin Blue Line LEDs, the 5.0 megapixel camera doesn’t TUFF1 compromise nighttime range lighting up the field out to 50'. UFF1 announced a partnership Plus, the M-80 Black features Moultrie’s new Motion Freeze Twith Concerns of Police Survivors, blur-reduction technology, greatly reducing the nighttime blur Inc. (C.O.P.S) to offer the TUFF1 caused by an infrared flash. Other new features include new Thin Blue Line to law enforcement FastFire Continuous Shooting Mode, which will capture up to personnel, their families and friends three images per second! Plot Stalker Hybrid Mode captures throughout the US TUFF1 will donate images at preset intervals, plus images triggered by game! a $1 of each sale of the Thin Blue Line Fore more info: (800) 653-3334 or www.gunsmagazine.com/ to C.O.P.S in support of the families moultriefeeder of fallen officers. TUFF1 provides the shooter with a more stable grip in any environment that Gun Oil maintains the unique geometry of each firearm on either front Royal Purple or rear grips. Backed by a limited-lifetime warranty, TUFF1 gun oyal Purple’s Gun Oil contains a unique, proprietary additive grip covers were engineered using an elastomer that is durable, Rtechnology called Synerlec and a blend of light solvents. The resistant to chemicals and flexible. The Thin Blue Line has all of addition of Synerlec to the synthetic base oil gives the product the durability, function and performance of TUFF1 products with the special ability to protect weapons against the metal-to-metal a horizontal, thin, blue line on black. For more info: (888) 998- 8331 or www.gunsmagazine.com/tuff1

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 75 Custom 1911 Pistol To tal Maker: Volkmann Precision 11160 S. Deer Creek Rd. Littleton, CO 80127 package (303) 884-8654 www.gunsmagazine.com/ value: volkmann-custom-guns-inc Aciy t on t pe: Locked breech, semi- auto, Caliber: .45 ACP, Finish: $5,375 2-tone, Sights: Battlehook set, Grips: Wicked Grips exotic iron wood panels, Value: $4,295 WIN! FOR WEB LINKS, GO TO WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM/PRODUCT-INDEX

Volkmann Custom 1911, Andrews Wilson 1 Holster And More! uke Volkmann handcrafted Carry your new 1911 in the TI Survival’s Leviathan LTS (Long this custom 1911 for just one Andrews Wilson 1 Holster (Wrapid Term Storage) Capsule, which is 12" of you lucky readers! Luke is Deployment). This holster has the long. It has an outside diameter of a 1-man shop and produces slick pebbly surface of ray skin, with 2.4", an inside diameter of 2" with aL limited quantity of 1911s annually. the accent of the disks of bone where 2" thick walls. There are two remov- This 2-tone signature series pistol is the larger spines have been ground off. able caps on each end, which are protected with a coating of ion bond What gun prize package is complete threaded and features a heat anod- on the slide and hard chrome on the without a knife to go with it? Win ized finish. It will keep anything from frame and lower parts. The pistol is the Grayman Suenami 7, featuring a money to matches dry, no matter what constructed of all match parts. It has stout and compact blade ideal for law conditions! the Volkmann Battlehook sight set, enforcement, or as a military backup. Win this package now! Send in 25-LPI checkering on the frame, and It features a black GunKote finish and those postcards pronto, or take the the forged slide features flattened, 1095 high carbon steel. Each knife survey and enter online at www. angled serrations. The match-qual- is hand ground by Mike Grayman, gunsmagazine.com/giveaway. ity barrel has Volkmann’s Perfection and 100-percent made in the USA. It Crown, and is fit to his heavy-duty comes with a “toothy” working edge, Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ monogram bushing-and-plug set. A and slight variations occur, making fmgpubs and receive a tweet so you’ll be set of exotic iron wood grip panels each knife unique. among the first to know when the Gun of from Wicked Grips tops off the build. Finally, rounding off the lineup is the Month contest is updated!

76 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 Wilson 1 Holster Maker: Andrews Custom Leather 22610 N.W. 102 Ave., Alachua, FL 32615 TO ENTER CONTEST: (386) 462-0576 PLEASE Use YOUR OWN postcard www.gunsmagazine.com/andrews (no envelopes, please) $450 Follow sample card below. Mail postcard to: Value: GUNS Magazine, GOM JANUARY P.O. BOX 502795, San Diego, CA 92150-2795. Entries must be received before FEBRUARY 1, 2013. Limit one entry per household. QUESTION OF THE MONTH: How often do you purchase a holster? (A) every time I buy a new pistol. (B) only when my old holster is worn out. (C) Both A & B. (D) i don’t use/buy holsters.

Name Address City, State, Zip Email Address CIRCLE ANSWER(S) TO QUESTION OF THE MONTH JANUARY 2012: (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! instinstantant accessaccess!! Leviathan LTS Capsule WINNERS CHOSEN BY RANDOM DRAWING. Maker: TI Survival Limit one entry per household. To protect the privacy 1801 S.W. 18th Ave. and security of winners, their names will NOT be made Miami, FL 33145 public. (786) 417-4909 Lockdown Large Contest void where prohibited by law. Winners must www.gunsmagazine.com/ undergo a background check and comply with all other ti-survival Handgun Vault, federal, state and local laws. Taxes and fees will be the re- Combo Lock sponsibility of the winner. Contest open to U.S. residents Length: 12", Value: $375 only. Employees and agents of Publishers’ Development Maker:t Bat enfeld Technologies, Inc. Corp. are not elegible. No purchase necessary. Winners 5885 W. Van Horn Tavern Rd. will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. At- Columbia, MO 65203 tention deployed military: Use stateside address! Give- (877) 509-9160 away guns and accessories may have evidence of being www.gunsmagazine.com/ test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Factory war- battenfeld-technologies-inc ranties may apply in some cases. The Gun of the Month package is awarded only to I nterior dimensions: 1.5" wide the entrant drawn and will not be awarded if the firearm x 6.125" tall x 9.75" long, presented is illegal in the jurisdiction of the winner. An Value: $20 alternate, authorized winner will be selected. No substitu- tions or transfers to a third party are allowed.

Suenami 7 Maker: Grayman Knives P.O. Box 50 Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352 www.gunsmagazine.com/ grayman-knives

Blade material: 1095 high carbon steeL, Handle: Black textured G10, Sheath: Cordura, Value: $255

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 77 stories and articles tell only part of his tale. Throughout his life, he would take When the North a world map, blindly stick a pin in it— and go there, by whatever means. Irreg- Wind Blows ular Gentleman forms those chronicles, written by a master wordsmith whose scene-setting and character depictions Pu t another log on the fire rival the best work of Joseph Conrad. and a book in your lap…. Find it! The River War John Connor If you recognize the author’s name, Gordon of Khartoum. Kitchener it is probably as the man whose short at Omdurman. Dongola, Kordofan, stories became iconic John Ford movies Darfur and Berber; the confluence of unning his pen over the 2013 including Fort Apache, She Wore a the Blue Nile and the White, and the schedule, Big Cheese Editor Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande, and fabled cataracts beyond which lie its RJeff John paused—I thought, as co-writer of the screenplay for The mysterious headwaters, running from dramatically—tapped the paper and Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. But the darkest, most impenetrable jungles intoned, “So, you’re doing these book there’s a lot more. to parched and forbiddingly desolate reviews kinda annually, huh?” Ever the Born in New York in 1899, young deserts. The names, the words alone stir articulate orator, I replied, “Yup.” His James Warner Bellah couldn’t wait for the imagination and set a vast stage for eyebrows arched, signaling, “Some- the US to enter World War I, running death and glory. thing epic this way comes.” off to enlist in the Canadian Army. He The Sudan of the 1880s and ’90s, “So,” sez he, “Why don’tcha do ’em, wound up flying against the Boche as impoverished by and ravaged under like, mid-winter, when people actually a pilot in Britain’s Royal Flying Corps. brutal Ottoman and Egyptian over- have more time to read books?” Not Fast forward to WWII, James kicks off lords, boils up and rises around the wishing to appear less than intellectual, as a lieutenant in the infantry, leaps to failed and shoeless cleric Muhammad I tried to look thoughtful, quickly gave the General Staff Corps, then to the Ahmad, who declares himself to be that up, and finally responded with, inner circle of Admiral Lord Mount- the prophesied Mahdi, the redeemer “Umm… Duh…” And here we are, batten in Southeast Asia; fights in of the Islamic world. Hunger and hate snowbound bibliophiles! Burma with the legendary Orde Wing- form a powerful fuel, and the hordes of This one’s going to be a little differ- ate and his Chindits, then serves with no the sword and spear-wielding Dervish ent, because first, I’m not gonna tell less than General “Vinegar Joe” Still- Army appear unstoppable, killing all in you what’s in the book. Second, you’ll well and Phillip Cochran, the daring their path. have to hunt for it, because it was last CO of the 1st Air Commando. James If you read Churchill’s Story of the printed in 1948. (Hint: I found copies ended the war as a colonel and one Malakand Field Force, you know at the available on Amazon and bought two of the most colorfully and eclectically conclusion of the Afghanistan moun- for $4.95 and $9, one for a gift and one experienced officers of any army. tain campaign, young Winston dashed to keep.) Fourteen novels, innumerable short off to England, having heard of an

Irregular Gentleman, by James Warner Bellah The River War, by Sir Winston S. Churchill One Second After, by William R. Forstchen

78 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 operation being mounted against the Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack. peak power several times faster than Dervishes, and to forge up the Nile. We They didn’t want people to read it, and the shock from a lightning bolt, frying find him on horseback in the sands of they haven’t. devices before a suppressor’s switch the Sudan as a young leftenant of the Most people have heard of EMP can close. The only effective shielding 21st Lancers, armed with a pen, a note- but few really understand it, or appre- consists of tons of hard earth or yards book, and a lance, which is anything ciate the gravity of its threat. It is what of concrete. but decorative. nuclear scientists refer to as a “conti- EMP is the most cost-effective way From the machinations of major nent killer.” It does not require a to plunge a modern nation back into world powers to the tracking of an sophisticated thermonuclear device or the Dark Ages, but without the skills, army-issue box of biscuits from Cairo an advanced intercontinental ballis- tools or knowledge to survive in that to the Upper Nile, the depth and tic missile delivery system. All it takes environment. What would the effect be, breadth of Churchill’s research and is the detonation of what you might let’s say, on a small mountain commu- the dispassionately objective eye with call a garden-variety atomic bomb in nity in North Carolina? One Second which he views allies and enemies alike the upper atmosphere over your target After answers that question. And may astound you. If you want to under- nation, lobbed skyward by a crude but while you’re turning the pages, bear stand Darfur and the Sudan today, you sufficiently powerful rocket, and virtu- in mind these words from retired Air must read this tale of its yesterdays ally every electronic device in line-of- Force General Eugene Habiger, former titled The River War. sight from the detonation is perma- Commander-in-Chief of the US Stra- On the same day in 2004 that the nently, irrevocably fried. tegic Command: “It is not a matter of 9/11 Commission delivered its report The more advanced and industri- if, it is a matter of when.” on the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, alized the targeted nation, the more My thanks to the Big Cheese Editor another report, far more important, cataclysmic the effect. Whose soci- Jeff John for loaning me his copy of was released. It was a masterpiece of ety does that sound like? Power grids Irregular Gentleman. Within 20 pages I timing, and it worked: the full focus go down, in effect, permanently. All knew I’d have to buy copies myself—it’s of the press and the attention of the modern aircraft, locomotives, vehi- that good. Stay warm, friends! Connor world was riveted on the 9/11 Commis- cles made after the 1960s, genera- OUT sion’s glance into the rear-view mirror tors, phones and other communica- Editor’s note: John Connor, Garry of history. Many, if not most members tions systems, medical devices, GPS, James and I have formed the loose of Congress and the hierarchy of the everything with microcircuitry or a association of “Those Who Read federal government heaved huge sighs microchip dies instantly. Bellah” and you can join by finding one of relief. That other document was the No, your expensive shock suppres- of his books, reading it, and passing it Report of the Commission to Assess sor won’t work. EMP doesn’t pack to a friend. Our goal is to see his work the Threat to the United States from the power of lightning, but it achieves reprinted and disseminated.

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 79

Untitled-1.indd 1 10/1/12 10:26 AM The companies listed have featured advertisements in this issue. Look ADVERTISER’S INDEX to them first when you are ready to make a purchase.

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80 WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 2013 continued from page 82 Chloe does. Nothing gets by her, and she is so smart she has a different way boyfriends soon disappeared, however of warning me about everything going the dogs remained. Both dogs were on. When the mailman arrives it is just little females, Chloe a Pomeranian, a little yip, when someone goes by the and Molly, a Shih’tzu. Both girls house, the yip becomes a little more married and moved away, however serious, and when someone steps on the dogs remained with my daugh- the porch the barking begins in earnest. ter and her husband and all was well. When Diamond Dot arrives home the Then my grandson decided he needed barking is also serious, however it is a dog of his own so he came up with easy to discern, as it is a happy bark- a little female Pit Bull he named Mia. ing. Meanwhile Molly just lays back Contrary to what you hear about Pit and waits for serious barking before Bulls, she is a gentle loving dog; must she joins in. have something to do with the way they are raised. Now there are three Both dogs, just as Red dogs under one roof and all is still well. and Wolf always were, That was about to change! Thanks to become totally protec- the recession (which was over) grand- tive of Diamond DOT . daughter number two and her husband moved back home bringing with them two more dogs, Marley, another female While Chloe is on guard in the Pit Bull, and Tucker, a male German front room Molly spends her day with shorthair/black lab cross. All being well me. Wherever I am, reading, work- had come to an end. ing, watching TV, she is right beside me. It’s almost comical to me to real- D ust Up ize 250 pounds of malamutes have Four of the dogs were fine, however been replaced by a couple of pounds the smallest one, the nine pound bundle of fluffy females. At night every- of black and white fur, Chloe the thing changes. Both dogs, just as Red Pomeranian, turned out to be a feisty and Wolf always were, become totally little troublemaker. I don’t believe she protective of Diamond Dot. As she is afraid of anything smaller than an sleeps she can hardly move, as there is elephant, an African elephant at that. one up on the bed on each side of her. She was constantly stirring up trouble That’s one thing Red and Wolf could until my desperate daughter called me not do; the bed just wasn’t that big! to ask if I would consider taking Chloe. When I first started shooting back I had been without dogs for two years in the ’50s I never gave a thought and just didn’t know if I could handle it to security. All my guns were hang- as I still missed Red and Wolf so much. ing on pegs in my bedroom. When I However, Chloe always searched out married we bought a big old house my lap whenever I visited my daugh- and the third floor was my hideaway, ter’s house and she was a very loving Dot’s also, and my guns were hang- dog, so I said OK. Everything was well ing up there with no concern. That again, almost. world is long gone and if one has It wasn’t long before my daughter firearms security is a big concern. I called again. “Dad we have another use a 4-layered system. First come problem. No one is here all day and the dogs. No one gets near the house Molly is terrified of the three bigger without them letting me know. Then dogs and spends all her time hiding comes a double alarm system backed in the bedroom. Could you possibly up by safes. Finally, I never leave my consider taking Molly also?” My first house unoccupied overnight. Some- thought was could I actually replace one is always here. Of all of these my two manly-man Malamutes with a to me, especially due to my hear- couple of girly-girl dogs? When Chloe ing, or rather the lack thereof, the and Molly were young they used to dogs are the most important. With come and visit Red and Wolf and chase their vigilance I always know what’s them around the backyard until the big going on. Dogs are so important boys were worn out. That was no prob- Federal Premium has just introduced lem, however Molly also liked to chase new minimum penetration hand- the cat. “I’ll consider Molly if I can gun ammunition labeled Guard Dog teach her to leave the cat alone.” That Home Defense. took about three days and all was well. I never would have dreamed these Chloe has turned out to be an excel- two little dogs could ever take the lent watchdog. She spends the day place of Red and Wolf. And they really in the living room perched upon the haven’t, they’ve just found their own back of the couch and doesn’t miss a spot in my heart. Like any dogs all thing. I don’t hear doorbells, I don’t they ask is a place to stay, something to hear anyone knocking at the door, I eat, and to love and be loved. Actually don’t hear anyone close to the house; that’s what we all need.

WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 81 A Dog That was then… Story Big and small. John Taffin

hose who are in the know, or at least pretend to be, told us the Trecession ended in June 2009. They obviously haven’t seen all the empty storefronts in my town and I would be willing to bet sight-unseen yours is in the same situation. Old-line businesses have disappeared, my two favorite Mexican restaurants are gone, and the last one I discovered is about to go. If the recession is over I certainly haven’t seen much evidence of it. grew out of the former state, however the other was under the table. When On a more personal note there seems it took a 6' wooden fence with an elec- she was sick they were beside her bed. to be a mass migration of kids back trical wire to keep them in. Without the When she had a hip operation she was home. Of my five local grandkids, one wire they simply dug out underneath worried about coming home, as they has been transferred to a job 300 miles the fence. were always so exuberant in their greet- away, another is off at school, and the They grew to be large, wonder- ing. Somehow they knew and as she other three, two of which are married, ful, beautiful, loving and protective entered the house, they never jumped have moved back home. Economically companions. They were especially up and were careful not to bump into speaking it is rough out there and by good with the grandkids who were very her. Whoever said dogs were dumb? moving back home things are much young at the time and totally protec- All good things come to an end in simpler and they can actually save tive of Diamond Dot, who, if you this life. First Wolf died and two years money every month instead of going are new to these pages, is my wife and later Red followed. For the last three further in debt. Two of them have large shooting companion of more than 50 years of his life Red was blind; he had college bills to pay on top of everything years. If she was in a chair reading one a little trouble in the house but he knew else. was on each side of her; when she was where everything was outside. By the Both sets of parents who have at the table one was behind her chair, time he passed I was devastated. For received the prodigal children have several years I caught myself going to plenty of room so that is no problem the sliding door on the deck to let them but while people get along fine the in every morning. Every time I pulled affected dogs don’t always do so. This is in the driveway I expected them to be a good place to back up and trace what waiting for me at the gate. I didn’t think has transpired. Back in 1995 a long I could ever replace them; I couldn’t time wish of mine came true when I even bring myself to think about bought two 6-week-old purebred Mala- getting another dog. But it’s strange mute puppies, littermates. My grand- how things happen. son, who was 2 years old at the time, When two of my granddaughters named them Red and Wolf. As they were in high school they both received grew I soon found it was tough keeping puppies as gifts from boyfriends. The them from fighting each other and also … this is now. keeping them in the yard. They soon continued on page 81

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