dope bag

The Browning ShortTrac com- bines the tried-and-true design SHOOTING RESULTS (100 YDS.) features of the nearly 40-year-old BAR sporting ri- .270 WSM Vel. @ 15' Energy Group Size In Inches fle with modern European styling and WSM chamberings. (f.p.s.) (ft.-lbs.) Smallest Largest Average Winchester Power 3003 Avg. 3004 1.78 3.42 2.78 The seven lugs of the bolt turn strikes a heavy inertia Point 150-gr. 35 Sd head rotate 60 degrees piece that, working through Winchester Ballistic 3103 Avg. 3208 1.86 5.58 3.28 to engage recesses in the the bars, unlocks the Silvertip 150-gr. 16 Sd barrel, providing steel-on- action. Gas is regulated by steel lock-up. The head a screw passing diagonally Federal Vital-Shok 3084 Avg. 2957 1.62 3.86 2.82 140-gr. TBBC 14 Sd is rotated by a cam pin in into the right side of the the bolt sleeve, or carrier, cylinder. Average Extreme Spread 2.96 after that part has moved The bolt-release lever Measured average velocity for 10 rounds from a 23" barrel. Range rearward about 3/16". The is at the right front of the temperature: 78° F. Humidity: 49%. Accuracy for five consecutive, spent cartridge case is receiver, and it has been five-shot groups at 100 yds. from a sandbag. Abbreviations: TBBC withdrawn by a hook ex- extended and recontoured (Trophy Bonded Bear Claw), Sd (standard deviation). BAR SHORTTRACK tractor on the right side of due to the lengthened fore- the bolt head and ejected end. After the last round The trigger assem- front of the trigger guard MANUFACTURER: Miroku by a plunger ejector on of a magazine is fired, the bly, riding in a polymer and inserting ammunition. Firearms Mfg. Co., 537-1 the left. magazine follower presses housing, is removed by The box may be separated Browning BAR Shinohara-Nangoku City, Kochu Pref., Japan The short-stroke piston the lever up into engage- driving out a pair of pins. from the floorplate by pull- IMPORTER: Browning Arms system operates much like ment with the right slide The floorplate and trigger ing up on its rear end. The Co. (Dept. AR), One that of the M1 . On bar, locking the bolt as- guard, too, are of molded safety is a trigger-blocking ShortTrac .270 WSM Browning Place, Morgan, firing, propellant gasses sembly open. Pressing the composite, and the three- crossbolt at the rear of the UT 84050; (800) 333-3288; www.browning.com pass through a hole in the lever down disengages it round-capacity magazine trigger guard. CALIBER: .243 Win., .270 WSM barrel and drive a captive from the slide, allowing the can be loaded simply by All ShortTrac barrels (tested), 7 mm WSM, piston rearward. This in bolt to slam home. pulling back on its catch in are produced by Fabrique .308 Win., .300 WSM Nationale in Belgium ACTION TYPE: gas-operated, semi-automatic, center- The magazine floorplate (r.) is (Browning’s parent com- ntroduced in 1967, the 7 mm WSM and .300 WSM, The buttstock has a full fire of molded composite, and the pany) and are of hammer- gas-operated Browning while the LongTrac handles grip, again with fine RECEIVER: matte anodized three-round-capacity maga- forged, blued steel with a BAR has proven to be a the longer .270 Win., .30-’06 checkering, and seemingly aluminum zine can be loaded simply high polish. This is in con- I BARREL: 23", hammer-forged, reliable and very success- Sprg. 7 mm Rem Mag. and arbitrary angular lines blued steel by pulling back on its catch trast to the attractive matte- ful semi-automatic sporting .300 Win. Mag. on its surface. A user- RIFLING: seven-groove, 1:10" (below, arrow) in front of the anodized finish of the rifle’s rifle. But, with development The European-style wal- adjustable shim system (as RH twist trigger guard and inserting receiver. No iron sights are of the Winchester Short nut fore-end and contoured is often found on shot- MAGAZINE: detachable box ammunition. The box may be supplied, but the receiver on hinged floorplate; Magnum family of cartridg- buttstock differentiate the guns) allows the shooter to separated from the floorplate is drilled and tapped for three-round capacity by pulling up on its rear end. es, Browning has made ShortTrac from more tradi- tailor the gun to his or her SIGHTS: none; receiver drilled scope mounting. some radical aesthetic and tional American-style BARs. dimensions. Each gun in- and tapped for scope Our sample .270 WSM ergonomic changes to the The .270 WSM we received cludes six spacers that in- bases was rifled with a 1:10" TRIGGER PULL: single-stage; right-hand twist and fea- venerable BAR. has a more angular fore- stall between the buttstock 4 lbs. The standard Safari and end that extends farther to and receiver, allowing STOCK: European walnut: The ShortTrac’s bolt-release tured a slight recess at the Lightweight Stalker BARs the rear, covering the front adjustments to the drop of length of pull, 131⁄4"; drop lever (below) is at the right front muzzle crown to protect the are still offered, but the new of the lower receiver. There comb, drop at heel and cast at heel, 11⁄8"; drop at of the receiver, and it has been rifling. It was function-fired 5 LongTrac and ShortTrac are pronounced ascending on or off. The 1" soft rubber comb, 1 ⁄8" extended and recontoured due and shot for accuracy with OVERALL LENGTH: 427⁄16" bring modern European thumb grooves on either recoil pad is radiused at its WEIGHT: 7 lbs., 5 ozs. to the lengthened fore-end. results shown in the accom- styling to the design. The side of the fore-end, and top to aid in rapid mount- ACCESSORIES: six shims for panying table. There were ShortTrac (designed for the belly is checkered in ing and is contoured to the adjusting stock dimen- no failures of any kind. short-action length car- an angular pattern. A sling lines of the butt. sions, trigger lock The ShortTrac is a SUGGESTED RETAIL tridges) is offered in .243 swivel stud protrudes from The BAR’s basic opera- PRICE: $965 handsome, if non- Win., .308 Win., .270 WSM, the front of the fore-end. tion remains unchanged. The trigger assembly (above), is traditional looking, ad- contained in a polymer housing dition to the BAR line. It The American Rifleman has used the phrase “Dope Bag” at least since 1921, when Col. Townsend Whelen first titled his column with it. Even then, it had been in that may be removed by driving brings clever features use for years, referring to a sack used by target shooters to hold ammunition and accessories on the firing line. “Sight dope” also was a traditional marksman’s term out a pair of pins, much like with from the company’s for sight adjustment information, while judging wind speed and direction was called “doping the wind.” many semi-automatic . side into a The safety is a trigger-blocking lightweight, handy— WARNING: Technical data and information contained herein are intended to provide information based on the limited experience of individuals under specific condi- crossbolt at the rear of the trig- and thanks to its WSM tions and circumstances. They do not detail the comprehensive training procedures, techniques and safety precautions absolutely necessary to properly carry on ger guard. Like the lines of the chamberings—powerful similar activity. Read the notice and disclaimer on the contents page. Always consult comprehensive reference manuals and bulletins for details of proper training fore-end, the shape of the trigger requirements, procedures, techniques and safety precautions before attempting any similar activity. guard is futuristic. rifle that we would take afield anytime. 74 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN AMERICAN RIFLEMAN 75 August 2005 August 2005 dope bag Walther G22 Rifle

SHOOTING RESULTS (50 YDS.) .22 Long Rifle Vel. @ 15' Energy Group Size In Inches Cartridge (f.p.s.) (ft.-lbs.) Smallest Largest Average CCI Green Tag 1006 Avg. 90 0.78 1.23 1.02 40-gr. lead solid 12 Sd Federal No. 711 GM 1105 Avg. 108 0.66 1.02 0.79 40-gr. lead solid 13 Sd Rem. No. 6122 1116 Avg. 110 0.97 1.32 1.14 40-gr. lead solid 22 Sd Average Extreme Spread 0.99 The G22 can be thoroughly disassembled for cleaning Measured average velocity for 10 rounds from a 20" barrel. and maintenance, although the procedure is a bit compli- Range temperature: 71° F. Humidity: 44%. Accuracy for five con- secutive, 10-shot groups at 50 yds. from a sandbag. cated. Although only 28.4" long, its design incorpo- Abbreviations: GM (Gold Medal), Sd (standard deviation). rates a 20" barrel. concentrated the gun’s mass Sighting is ac- between the hands, which complished by enabled quick aiming and way of a front post rapid target-to-target en- WALTHER G22 drift-adjustable for MANUFACTURER: Carl windage, and a gagement. Sight height in Walther GmbH Sport- retractable rear relation to the stock comb waffen, Postfach 2740, D- sight housing (r.) was also judged to be 59717 Arnsberg, Germany, with a rotating disk very good. www.carl-walther.de We had only a few IMPORTER: Smith & Wesson allowing six notch (Dept. AR), 2100 Roosevelt heights. When the complaints about the G22: Ave., Springfield, MA bilateral safety the trigger was a little 01104; (800) 331-0852; levers (above) are spongy because of the www.smith-wesson.com slid rearward to fire the gun, a red dot is visible bullpup’s trigger linkage, CALIBER: .22 Long Rifle on the side of the gun and orange indicator and the “carry handle” ACTION TYPE: - tabs protrude upward from the stock. ong recognized for visible metal parts, such ers and different-length operated, semi- was too far forward of the world-class military, as the barrel, bolt and bolt buttpad screws supplied automatic, rimfire rifle rifle’s balance point to be police and target handle, screw heads, and with the rifle. RECEIVER: aluminum alloy tegral key-operated trigger high post supplied with Inc.), and fired the gun at truly useful for carrying the L BARREL: 20" arms, Carl Walther GmbH, sling attachment bushings The G22’s magazine RIFLING: eight-groove, 1:16" lock and a cocking indica- the rifle. Windage changes 50 yds. off sandbags using gun. Most significantly, the in 2004, made a radical on the fore-end and butt- fits into a recess in the right-hand twist tor visible in the cocking can be effected by drifting CCI Green Tag, Federal bolt catch lever sometimes departure from this tradi- stock, are of blued steel. underside of the stock, and MAGAZINE: detachable lever window. the front sight laterally in Gold Medal and Reming- failed to disengage and tion with the introduc- The G22 can perhaps be is released by depress- 10-round steel box Sighting is by way of a its dovetail mount. The slid- ton Target ammunition. allowed the bolt to go for- SIGHTS: post front, inter- tion of the G22, a rimfire thought of as a companion ing a curved button inside changeable notch rear; 0.1"-wide front post dove- ing rear sight housing not According to Walther, ward on a fresh magazine rifle designed from the gun for Walther’s P22 the stock’s thumbhole. A Picatinny rails on carrying tail-mounted in a skel- only protects the gun’s rear best functioning is usually when the cocking lever was ground up solely as a .22 LR pistol, as both share supplementary recess near handle, front sight hous- etonized polymer housing, sight, but also allows the achieved with high-velocity retracted and released. The recreational plinker. the same pistol-grip con- the stock toe affords stor- ing and fore-end allow and a rear notch in a hous- mounting of a riflescope .22 LR ammunition, at least company is aware of the mounting of optical/red- problem, and Walther has The Walther G22 is a figuration and use the same age of a spare magazine. dot/laser sights ing that slides vertically in on the carry handle’s during an initial break-in semi-automatic rifle in .22 10-round magazines. Both Directly above the trig- TRIGGER PULL: two-stage; the carrying handle. In the Picatinny-style rail. period of 100 rounds or so. taken steps to rectify it. Long Rifle with a modernis- right- and left-hand versions ger are bilateral serrated 3 lbs., 2 ozs. housing is a rotating disk Thanks to its bullpup de- Nonetheless, our new test It is said that beauty is tic polymer bullpup stock. are offered, and each may levers that are slid forward STOCK: length of pull, 141⁄8" with six numbered notches sign, the G22 is slightly more rifle functioned flawlessly in the eye of the beholder. Available in both black and be converted to the other by to put the gun on safe and to to 151⁄4"; drop at heel, 1"; of different heights. Going complex to disassemble for with all three brands of Undeniably, there will be drop at comb, 1" olive drab, the stock affords a Walther armorer. Because the rear to fire. The levers, OVERALL LENGTH: 28.4" to 29.5" from the lowest (No. 1) to cleaning and maintenance target ammunition. Ac- those who will find the an overall length of only the bullpup design places which are almost flush with WEIGHT: 5 lbs., 13 ozs. the highest (No. 6) notch, compared to many other curacy was surprisingly G22’s appearance ap- 28.4" with the 20" barrel. Its the action and ejection port the stock surface, are best ACCESSORIES: hard plastic each successive step semi-automatic . Only good, with the aggregate pealing, and those who features include an ergo- far back on the buttstock, activated by the trigger fin- case, extra front sight, changes point of impact ordinary tools are required, accuracy of all loads may not. However, another gun lock key, stock axiom also comes to mind: nomic pistol grip, recurved the rifle is not suitable for ger. When the gun is in the spacer and screws, approximately 2" at 50 yds. however, and the process is tested being just under 1" serrated trigger guard, ambidextrous use. “fire” mode, bright orange owner’s manual; optional: The notch number is seen thoroughly explained in the at 50 yds. beauty is as beauty does. textured rubber gripping The stock terminates in indicator tabs protrude telescopic sights; red-dot in a window in the sight owner’s manual. Using the G22 to plink at Given the G22’s combina- inserts on the fore-end, a curved, serrated rubber from the stock on both sights; laser sight; sling housing. Additional eleva- We mounted a Burris paper targets, clay pigeons tion of accuracy, reliability, and Picatinny-style rails buttpad about 3/8" thick. sides, and orange dots are and sling swivels; ballistic tion adjustment can be Compact 3-9X scope on and tin cans, we found han- versatility and just plain nylon carrying case on the carry handle and Its length of pull can be visible on the stock. Other SUGGESTED RETAIL achieved by replacing the the G22 using Tactical dling to be one of the little fun, there will likely be underside of the fore-end adjusted over a range of safety features include a PRICE: $420 0.225"-high standard front Precision Systems rings rifle’s strong points. The many who find the gun and front sight housing. The 1.1" using a series of spac- magazine disconnect, an in- post with the optional 0.2"- (available from Brownells, G22’s abbreviated length beautiful indeed. 76 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN AMERICAN RIFLEMAN 77 August 2005 August 2005 dope bag Steyr-Sportwaffen LP50 Air Pistol

SHOOTING RESULTS (10 METERS) The LP50 is a semi-automatic air pistol .177 Caliber Vel. @ 15' Energy Group Size In Inches with a five-round-capacity magazine. Pellet (f.p.s.) (ft.-lbs.) Smallest Largest Average It is powered by compressed air and proved extremely accurate in our tests. Vogel Match 462 Avg. 3 0.05 0.21 0.13 Diablo 6 Sd RWS Dynamit 456 Avg. 2.4 0.12 0.39 0.22 to run dry, and an adapter dius may be extended via a Nobel R10 3 Sd. is supplied with this pistol rear sight rail or by placing RWS 451 Avg. 2.4 0.13 0.23 0.18 for filling it from a tank. Re- the 3.4, 4.5 or 5 mm front Meisterkugein 3 Sd cently, Steyr released two sight to one of the counter- Average Extreme Spread 0.18 new colored air cylinders, sunk screw holes placed Measured average velocity for 10 rounds from a 9.25" barrel. blue and yellow, allowing a along the top of the barrel Range temperature: 68° F. Humidity: 59%. Accuracy for five con- level of personalization to shroud, which also accepts secutive, five-shot groups at 10 meters from a sandbag. Abbrevia- the airgun. various optical sights. tions: Sd (Standard deviation). The rear sight notch is The trigger system can adjustable for width from be adjusted to break be- for slack, overtravel and trigger assembly screws. 0 to 5 mm. The notch’s tween 7 to 21 ozs. An option- pull weight. The trigger Our pistol never failed depth can be adjusted from al adjustable trigger system shoe may also be adjusted to feed or function. It 1.8 to 2.6 mm. Adjustment that will break between 21 fore and aft along a rail to accepted a variety of of the rear sight moves the and 49 ozs. is also available, customize length of pull. pellets and shot each ac- point of impact by 1.2 mm something that may appeal The trigger assembly curately—average groups with each click at a 10- to Bullseye shooters. Each is easily replaced after with one type of pellet meter target. The sight ra- trigger can be adjusted removing the grip and two measured just 0.13". The best groups at 10 meters came from the Vogel Match STEYR LP50 Designed for competition Diablo pellets supplied MANUFACTURER: Steyr shooting in the new ISSF with the gun. Other pellets Sportwaffen GmbH, rapid-fire event or for NRA shot extremely well with an Hauptstrasse 40, A-4432 Bullseye pistol practice, the extreme spread measuring Ernsthofen, Austria, www. LP50 comes with both the 0.18". Velocities were very steyr-sportwaffen.com free-pistol-style wood Morini he new five-shot .177- To charge it, simply a supplied Allen wrench. consistent among all pel- IMPORTER: Pilkington grip with a target palm shelf Competition Equipment lets tested, but they were cal. LP50 air pistol cock the action by pushing Without any weights, the and with a one that replicates from Steyr reinforces the left or right charging LP50 checks in at a well- LLC (Dept. AR), P.O. Box especially consistent with T 97, No. 2, Little Trees the feel of an M1911 (r.). the company’s reputation handle forward until an au- balanced 2 lbs., 5 ozs. Ramble, Monteagle, TN, both RWS samples. The for accuracy and features dible click is heard. At this The fully adjustable 37356, (931) 924-3400; extreme spread in veloci- many qualities associated point the pistol is ready to standard Morini wooden www.pilkguns.com ties from a 10-shot group with its predecessor, the fire. As each pellet is fired, stock can be swiveled in CALIBER: .177 for the Meisterkugeln ACTION TYPE: semi- varied by just 8 f.p.s., while LP5. A new ISSF rapid- the magazine slides right to nearly any direction in rela- automatic, compressed fire air-pistol event and left to bring another loaded tion to the action. Its palm air, air pistol the R10 varied by just 9 demand from NRA Bullseye chamber in alignment with shelf may also be quickly FRAME: aluminum f.p.s. The highest velocities pistol shooters led Steyr to the bore until all five shots and easily adjusted for BARREL: 91⁄2" came from the Vogel Match MAGAZINE: five Diablo, clocking in on aver- develop the new LP50. are fired. If the trigger is elevation. The ability to set SIGHTS: adjustable front The Steyr LP50 is semi- pulled a sixth time, the a grip in this manner allows blade and rear notch age at 462 f.p.s. automatic air pistol pow- action must be cocked the shooter to tune the pis- TRIGGER PULL: 7 to 21 ozs. There was little felt ered by compressed air. before the magazine can tol for a relaxed and natural adjustable for length, recoil, and rapid follow-up Filling the aluminum maga- be removed. fit. An M1911-style grip is overtravel, slack, pull shots were easy, thanks in weight large part to the pistol’s zine is achieved by placing The LP50 features a also available to simulate OVERALL LENGTH: 155⁄8" one match .177-cal. pellet functional compensator the feel of a Government WIDTH: 115⁄16" balance and its compensa- in each of the magazine’s that provides stability Model pistol. HEIGHT: 57⁄8" tor. Accurate shots could five holes. The pellets can and significantly controls The LP50 comes with WEIGHT: 2 lbs., 5 ozs. easily be had as the light- ACCESSORIES: M1911 grip, go in only one way as there muzzle rise while firing. two 200-bar compressed Placement of the front sight may weight magazine moved compressed air tank be determined by the shooter is a milled bevel for the There is also a rail system air cylinders that gave us smoothly to chamber the adapter, adjustment tools (above). There is a rail in the pellet’s skirt. The magazine on both the left and right approximately 100 shots SUGGESTED RETAIL next round. Many active PRICE: $1,500 barrel top with countersunk holes is inserted into its well sides of the barrel shroud each before a noticeable for the blade front sight. Power is bullseye shooters who shot *Other Options Available: our sample LP50 had the from the left, and it may be that permits any shooter drop in velocity. An integral single-shot magazine, supplied by a compressed air cyl- inserted or removed only to add one to four 10- pressure gauge shows dummy magazine inder under the pistol’s barrel (r.). same question about it: when the pistol is charged. gram weights secured by when a cylinder is about “Where do I get one?” 78 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN AMERICAN RIFLEMAN 79 August 2005 August 2005