1 TM 2018 Editors’ choice Issue Champion Steel Targets 6 Champion brings affordable-steel to the masses. Frank Melloni Remington 870 DM Predator 12-ga. 10 10 Giving hunters the added advantage of a detachable- box . Mike Dickerson 2018 Editors’ Choice Awards 18 The best of the best OT Staff Boyd’s At-One Adjustable Gunstock BLACKHAWK! STAX EDC Pack EOTech Vudu 5-25x50 FFP Riflescope 20 Federal Premium Hydra-Shok Deep ammunition SIG Sauer .300 BLK MCX Rattler PSB POF Gentleman’s Series Slides Hornady Frontier Ammunition Aero Precision M4E1 Set Nightforce ATACR 1-8x24 F1 Riflescope Cimarron .44 Magnum Bad Boy S/A TruGlo TRU-TEC Micro Sub-Compact Red-Dot Black Hills 100-gr. 9mm HoneyBadger Ammunition Dan Wesson .45 ACP Wraith 1911 24 28 Luth-AR PALM Kimber K6 CDP .357 Magnum Snub-Nosed Revolver Rock River Arms LAR-15 RRAGE 5.56mm Walther 9mm PPQ Subcompact Pistol SureFire Guardian Dual-Beam Rechargeable LED Light Secureit Agile Mo. 52 Ultralight Gun Cabinet S&W 9mm M&P 2.0 Compact Pistol Zeiss Conquest V4 6-24x50 Riflescope Thompson/Center TCR22 Semi-Auto .22LR 48 Taurus Raging Hunter .44 Magnum Revolver Trijicon AccuPower 5-50x56 Riflescope Savage MSR15 .224 Valkyrie Rifle Wilson Combat EDC X9 9mm Pistol SIG Sauer P365 9mm Sub-Compact Pistol Nighthawk Agent 2 9mm 1911 Pistol Howa HS Precision Rifle Springfield Armory 10mm XDM 5.25 Pistol

Gun & Gear Giveaway contest 70 58 62 Win a Savage Mo. 10 Stealth Evolution rifle and Zeiss Conquest V4 scope 70 worth $3,000. enter to win at... OT Staff ontargetmagazine.com On Our Cover: Springfield Armory’s new 5.25 10mm XDM wearing a SureFire XH30 over $3,000 in prizes! weaponlight. Photo by Ben Battles. 2 3 EDITOR Ben Battles Tel.: (603) 356-9762 [email protected]

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CONTRIBUTING Editors Massad Ayoob, David Bahde, Guy Coursey, Frank Melloni, Tatiana Whitlock, Wayne Van Zwoll, Mike Dickerson, Bill Battles 2xtreme

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On Target is a trademark of Phoenix Publishing, Inc. Entire contents copyright ©2019 by Phoenix Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. 4 5 Champion Steel Targets 1. Champion brings affordable-steel to the masses

When it comes to training with the AR-15 there is no denying its natural fast pace, and being able to deliver rapid follow up shots makes each session ac- tion packed. Utilizing steel targets allows one to keep shooting without having to stop and fix or change targets. Silhouettes have always been the standard and Champion Range and Target now has a size for every situation. Champion offers these in 33% IPSC, 66% IPSC and a full sized 100% IPSC. The 3/8” thick AR500 IPSC silhouettes are rated all the way up to centerfire rifle. We were fortunate enough to have a sample of each size for our testing and took them out to the range at distances from 15 yards all the way out to 1,000. The versatility of the AR-15 allows for a multitude of uses, particularly with these targets. We utilized a CMMG MK4 T .22LR Upper (www.cmmginc.com $529.95) for our CQB work, and a custom 6.5 Creedmoor built off a WMD AR-10 1—The full sized IPSC provides the most realistic training, as it is the closest in size to a human threat. Whenever lower. Champion has many methods of hanging training with steel be sure that you are using the appropri- these targets available and even recommend several ate caliber for the intended engagement distance. Here the safe, homebrew methods for those on a budget. We author installed the CMMG MK4T .22 LR upper onto his New decided to use the full sized IPSC for close range York compliant build and safely shot this steel at 15 yards. shooting in a fast paced 3-gun-style routine. This is also an ideal target for those looking to hone self-de- fense skills. We ran a tight chain across the back and frank melloni frank melloni hung it on a 2x4 with a simple cinder block as a base. 6 7 1—The mid-sized Center Mass Target from Champion’s new CHAMPION STEEL TARGETS line is 66% the size of a full IPSC target. It provided the author the balance between audible and visual hit indica- This gave us the 10-degree downward angle to ensure tion. One thousand yard shooting is tough; you need every we were safe. After just a few minutes of setup we possible avenue of identifying a hit at 3/5ths of a mile. sent close to 500 rounds of ammo downrange in the form of double taps, Mozambique drills, head shots 1. and just about every combination of each imaginable. We did this without ever having to stop to service the target as we would if we were using cardboard. Of course, the target held up under the light impact of the .22 LR. It was now time to test the new steel with centerfire ammo. Heading out to the Mifflin range we hung our 33% IPSC at 300 yards and the 66% IPSC at 1,040 yards. This time we used the rubber strap and chain mounts to keep them off the ground. We engaged both with hundreds of rounds of 6.5 Creedmoor and were able to hear a clear, audible hit all the way out to 1,040 yards. It’s also noteworthy to mention that the 33% IPSC target produced explosive reaction when struck. At the 2—The baby target is 1/3 end of our session both targets were retrieved with 2. zero pitting or damage. the size of a standard Steel targets enhance your training by allowing IPSC target. What small you to keep a pace without having to walk (or targets lose in sound drive) downrange at frequent intervals; however, they gain in reaction. The author and his spotter the investment aspect of a reusable, waterproof tar- had no trouble confirm- get isn’t often considered. The low price of $34.95 ing hits on this little guy for the 33%, $109.95 for the 66%, and $189.95 at 300 yards and beyond. for the full-sized target is quickly eclipsed by the Smaller targets also set price of even basic cardboard IPSC targets. Contact up and break down easi- Champion Champion Range & Target, Tel.: (800) 379- er, leaving more time on 1732; Web: www.championtarget.com the range to shoot.

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3—Champion offers several mounting solu- tions for their new line of steel targets. Both the rubber strap and the chain kit include all the hardware you need to hang the Center Mass targets, as well as extra hardware to hang nearly anything else. Here the author needed nothing more than a 3/4” wrench to get this target up and ready for .

8 9 Remington’s new 870 DM Predator lives up to its name in the field giving hunters the added advantage of using detachable magazines.

mike dickerson

mike dickerson

1010 1111 remington 870 dm predator Remington 870 DM Predator 12 gauge Gauge: 12 Action: Pump action It was my third day hunting the Spike Box Ranch, Barrel: 18.5 inch a 90,000-acre working cattle ranch north of Abilene, Capacity: 3-and 6-rounds detachable magazines Texas, and three Rio Grande turkeys had already hit the ground, leav- 2. : Synthetic Remington ShurShot ing me with one resident turkey tag to fill. I had never come close to tagging Sights: XS ghost ring, adjustable out on Rios before on a single hunt, and I was determined to use that last Finish: Kryptek Highlander camo tag on the last afternoon of my hunt. Length: 38.5 inches If there was anyone who could help me do it, I knew that my guide, Length of pull: 14 inches Ronnie Ainsworth, was the man for the job. Prior to becoming a guide, he Drop at comb: 1.5 inch had spent 30 years in the area as a game warden and knew the big ranch like 2—While the mag-fed design required some inter- Drop at heel: 2.5 inches the back of his hand. He could talk turkey, and had an uncanny sense for nal changes, the 870 DM Predator still has all the Weight: 7.5 pounds knowing where the gobblers were likely to be at any given time. positive attributes of any Remington 870 shot- Playing a hunch, Ronnie chose a spot that had MSRP: $799 gun, including rock-solid reliability. The not yet been hunted that season. We set up in shotgun comes with a sec- the brush in a pop-up blind, and Ronnie called 1—The 870 DM, or detachable tion already installed atop the receiver twice. For 20 minutes, we waited in silence until magazine, feeding system lets for mounting optical sights. Measuring I spotted a splash of red bobbing through the you change loads very quickly just 38.5 inches overall with an 18.5-inch brush, inbound. A few minutes later, when the if you need to. You simply drop barrel, the Predator is compact lone gobbler was in the clear and presented an the magazine, eject a shell if and handy. It’s a good choice for hunting from blinds opportunity, I touched off a 12 gauge Reming- one is chambered, insert a maga- ton Nitro Turkey load of no. 5 shot, completing zine loaded with shells of your or in tight cover. choice and close the action. a hat trick, plus one, on Rio gobblers. A ShurShot pistol grip stock 3—The shotgun ships I stared at the shotgun in my hands and smiled. makes it easier to control the with three- and six- The new Remington 870 DM Predator 12 gauge, gun with one hand while the round magazines. In with its detachable magazine, had proven itself in shotgun is resting on shooting 1. field testing, the feed- spades. All three other hunters on the trip man- sticks, leaving your other hand ing mechanism worked aged to take gobblers with it, and one used the free for other tasks. flawlessly. 3. shotgun to stalk within 35 yards of a hog and take

12 13 remington 870 dm predator it down with 00 buckshot. 2 3/4- or 3-inch shells. 1—The Predator ships The 870 DM predator is one of At first glance, the magazine with extended Tru- the newest of the new line of 870 release latch positioned at the bottom Lock XFull pred- DM using the detach- front edge of the magazine well, ator/turkey and 2. able-magazine feeding system. It is would appear to be easy to acciden- XFull hog chokes. designed, as its name implies, for tally trip. I quickly discovered that One of the author’s close work on predators and tur- this was not the case, because it takes fellow hunters stalked within 35 keys, but I would have no qualms a fair amount of pressure to activate yards of a hog and about using it as a home-defense the latch. When operating the slide took it down with weapon. Prior to the hunt, the with my hand positioned at the rear 00 buckshot. Pushing reliability of the mag-fed system of the forend, my hand would bump 12-gauge Remington was something of an open ques- up against the front of the magazine Nitro Turkey loads tion, but I’m pleased to report well and not the latch, so it wasn’t an with no. 4 and no. 5 2—The preda- that Remington got it right with issue at all. shot, the predator tor is equipped with a Super- this gun. The 870 DM Predator Although the mag-fed design patterned well on Pri- proved to be every bit as reliable required some internal changes, the mos turkey patterning Cell recoil pad, and you’ll as the time-proven, tubular-mag- gun still has all the positive attributes targets – and actual azine-fed 870, which is to say it is of any 870 shotgun. Like any other turkeys. be pleased to have it when very reliable, indeed. 870 model, it still has the non-bind- 1. shooting In the interest of full disclosure ing twin rails for reliability, and it full-power I have to admit that, going in I still has what would otherwise be 3-inch shells questioned why anyone would called a magazine tube, but it func- due to the mess with the basic design of one tions only as a guide for the slide to gun’s relatively of the most popular and success- ride back and forth on. light weight of ful shotguns ever produced. By Perhaps the most notable feature 7.5 pounds. the end of the hunt, however, the of the gun, apart from the detachable gun had won me over. magazine, is its appearance. It is fit- 3—The shotgun still It turns out there are a couple of ted with Remington’s synthetic Shur- has what would nor- mally be considered a very good reasons why Remington Shot pistol grip stock, which makes it tubular magazine, but would put a detachable-magazine much easier to control with one hand it serves only as a guide feeding mechanism on the 870. while it’s resting on shooting sticks, for the slide to ride First, there’s the simple fact that leaving the other hand free for other on. At the front of the many American shooters have be- tasks. The stock, action, tactical-style tube, you’ll find a sling come accustomed to and actually forend and barrel all wear a Kryptek attachment point. prefer detachable magazines on Highlander camo finish, which 3. long guns. More importantly, the blends well into just about any envi- system lets you change loads very ronment when hunting. The stock is quickly if you need to. You simply equipped with an effective SuperCell 4 AND 5— XS ghost 4. ring sights, adjust- drop the magazine (three- and six- recoil pad, but with a weight of just able for windage round mags come with the gun), 7.5 pounds, you’ll still notice the and elevation, are eject a shell if one is chambered, recoil a bit when shooting full-house standard on the 870 insert a magazine loaded with 3-inch loads. DM Predator. The buckshot or slugs or whatever you The top of the receiver has a front blade sight need, close the action and you’re Picatinny rail installed for mount- has bright white ready to rock. This is, in practice, ing optics, and the guns used on bead. The author infinitely faster than changing out my hunt came with a red dot sight forwent use of rounds in a tubular magazine. installed. That sight rode a bit high optical sights and One thing to keep in mind when for my liking, but others had no shot all four of his operating the DM guns is that the problem with it. Call me old-school, 5. turkeys using the XS ghost ring sights. magazines can be a bit difficult but I took the optic off my shotgun, to insert with the action closed. preferring to use the gun’s XS ghost They’re much easier to pop into ring sights with their highly visible place with the action open, and white bead in the front blade instead. that appears to be by design. The While the rear aperture is adjustable magazines have a metal upper con- for both windage and elevation, no struction and tough polymer lower adjustment was necessary. The sights portion, with a large orange follow- proved to be dead-on when checking er that positively positions shells for shot pattern and placement at 25 feeding. The gun is chambered for yards prior to the hunt. 14 15 remington 870 dm predator

1—The shotgun’s Kryptek Highlander camo finish blends well into most any hunting environment. Although it’s designed or close work on turkeys, predators, deer and hogs, the author sees value in the 870 DM Predator for home defense, as well.

1.

The DM Predator comes with and compact, making it a good 2. extended TruLock XFull predator/ choice for hunting from blinds turkey and XFull hog chokes. The or in tight cover. Length of pull turkey/predator choke produced is 14 inches, while drop at comb wonderfully effective patterns on is 1.5 inch and drop at heel is Primos turkey patterning targets at 2.5 inches. You likely won’t be 25 yards—not to mention actual tur- shooting upland game birds with keys—with Remington Nitro loads the Predator, but woe be unto using both No. 4 and No. 5 shot. the gobbler, coyote or hog that Shooters will find controls within finds itself centered in its XS easy reach of a finger. A ghost ring sights within effective simple crossbolt is located in shotgun range. As my four-bird the usual position at the rear of the hunt demonstrated, the Predator generously sized trigger guard, and fully lives up to its name. a right-hander need only slide the The shotgun comes with a hand forward and wrap the trigger limited lifetime warranty. MSRP finger around the front of the trig- is $799, but you should be able ger guard to reach and engage the to find it for a somewhat lower slide release latch. real-world price. See it at your 2—The author completely tagged out on Rio Grande turkeys with the With an overall length of just dealer or contact Remington Arms, 870 DM Predator, dropping four birds in three days of hunting on the 38.5 inches with an 18.5-inch Tel.: (800) 243-9700; Website: 90,000-acre Spike Box ranch in Texas. barrel, the gun is quite handy www.remington.com 16 17 blackhawk! stax edc pack 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards boyds at-one adjustable gun stock federal personal defense hydra-shock 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards vudu ffp riflescope

BLACKHAWK! STAX EDC Pack Constructed of rugged 500 Denier nylon, with a volumetric storage capacity of 1,400 cubic annual inches, the new highly-customizable STAX EDC Pack from BLACKHAWK! ($139.95) makes an excellent range pack, bug-out bag or ev- ery-day-carry pack for your essentials. The entire front portion of the pack unzips to allow quick access to the entire main compartment, which can be separated into two large spaces via a mid-section divider. If used divided, a lower port EOTech Vudu choice door is built into the front for easy access to gear 5-25x50 FFP Riflescope stored below the shelf. A padded compartment in Added magnification is seldom bad and can often best-of-the best in the back of the pack holds your choice of a large really help. Simply needing to “see” better is a huge ben- laptop, hydration system or anything else of sim- efit at any range. Low magnification levels and increased Federal Premium Personal Defense new guns, optics, Hydra-Shok Deep Ammunition gear & accessories ilar size. The STAX EDC Pack includes a large, field of view are also valuable when the ranges become fleece-lined valuables pocket that is deep enough shorter. The problem has always been size. Scopes in the Federal Premium Hydra-Shok ammunition has to hold even the largest smart phones. The top 24 to 30 power range are typically long with big ob- proven itself as a top-performing self-defense round since its awards half of the rear outer shell and the bottom halves jectives, all but impossible to mount on compact . introduction in 1989. Their new Hydra-Shok Deep builds by on target staff of the side shells are perforated with a total of 68 That is changing and EOTech’s Vudu 5-25x50mm FFP on this time-tested platform with design improvements that MOLLE cuts for attachment of ancillary pouches scope is an excellent example of what can be in a com- better meet modern performance measurements. The bullet and accessories. Loop-lined MOLLE attachments pact yet powerful scope. features a more robust center post and a core design that pene- are provided inside the main compartment for At 11.2 inches, the Vudu 5-25x50mm FFP is perfect trates to optimal depths through the barriers most commonly additional organizational accessories, and all for modern sporting rifles. Mounted on an AR-15, you encountered in self-defense situations. Hydra-Shok Deep is compartments utilize top-quality YKK zippers retain the appropriate eye relief. Longer barrels allow available in .45 ACP with a 210-gr. Hydra-Shok Deep Hol- with wide zipper pulls for reliable opening and room for clip-on night vision with ease. A 34mm tube low Point bullet at a sub-sonic of 980 f.p.s. closing. The STAX EDC Pack is available in provides ample elevation adjustment to reach signifi- ($33.95 per box of 20), .40 S&W with a 165-gr. Hydra-Shok black, black/gray and coyote tan, with padded, cant distance. A 50mm objective allows for typical AR Deep Hollow Point bullet at a muzzle velocity of 1,050 adjustable shoulder straps. It’s an outstanding mounts, and weighing in at 29.5 ounces with CR2032 f.p.s. ($31.95 per box of 20) and 9mm Luger with a 135-gr. pack for the money. See the 2018 On Target batteries installed, it keeps things light and balanced. Its Hydra-Shok Deep Hollow Point bullet at a muzzle velocity Editors’ Choice Award winning STAX pack at first focal plane reticle keeps measurements accurate no of 1,060 f.p.s. ($27.95 per box of 20). They all penetrate 15 your outdoor retailer, or for more information, matter the magnification. The Horus H59 reticle, cur- inches in bare ballistic gelatin, which is the ideal penetration contact BLACKHAWK!; Tel.: (406) 284-3840; Web: rently fielded by a number of Special Operations units, depth according to current FBI standards, and all are loaded www.blackhawk.com—Bill Battles is perfect for avoiding turret adjustments. The MD3 ret- with specially formulated propellants and extremely reliable icle is mil calibrated with a lighted center dot, excellent Federal primers. The original Hydra-Shok handgun loads for long range competition. The elevation turret locks have been standard issue for decades by more law enforcement in place, the windage turret is capped, and the EX check agencies than you can count, and have one of the best one- zero stop keeps you spot on after turning the knobs. Exit shot-stop records of any ammunition ever produced. Hy- Boyd’s At-One Adjustable Gunstock pupil diameter at 5x is 5.5 mm and at 25x is 2.1 mm. dra-Shok Deep only improves upon this round’s enviable per- Body’s Gunstocks’ new fully-customizable At-One laminated Eye Relief at 5x is 2.96 to 3.71 inches; at 25x it’s 3.27 to formance record. Pick up a box of Federal’s 2018 On Target hardwood adjustable gunstock lets you custom fit your rifle or shotgun 3.63 inches. Field of view at 100 yards ranges from 23.3 Editors’ Choice Award winning Hydra-Shok Deep at your gun with its BRING-IT adjustable comb and butt pad, interchangeable feet at 5x to 4.7 feet at 25x. shop, or contact Federal Premium Ammunition; E-mail through traditional or target pistol grips and traditional, flat beavetail target I have mounted this scope to rifles, precision AR- their website; Web: www.federalpremium.com —Bill Battles or Picatinny-railed forends. Made from Boyd’s laminated hardwood 10s, and a number of AR-15 rifles. The XC high-density maple veneers, it will maintain point of impact in any weather condi- glass is clear and crisp with excellent low light gathering, tions. It’s offered in Coyote, Applejack, Zombie Hunter, Sky, Pepper, and using the H59 reticle allows for fast ranging and Royal Jacaranda, Royal, Blaze, Blackjack, Forest and Nutmeg colors. multiple target engagements. It fits on rifles that Length of pull is adjustable from 12.5 to 14-inches, while comb travel scopes with similar magnification just won’t is 9/16 inch. Overall length is adjustable from 30.25” to 31.75”, and work on. And at right around $2,000 it rivals the butt pad is made from 1/2” thick overmolded rubber. Hard plastic scopes twice the size with much higher price components are made from super-tough, heat-stabilized nylon 66, tags. It has proven perfect for mid to long range formed from a single plastic substrate, while over-molded components varmint hunting and is incredibly well suited are made from plastic substrate with elastomer rubber over-molded to police sniper rifles. It is easily one of the most panels. Pricing is extremely reasonable, given the adjustment capability versatile high-magnification scopes on the market and craftsmanship, and using Boyd’s excellent website will allow you today, and since it works on most any rifle, it was to configure the stock exactly how you want. See the 2018Editors’ an easy pick for a 2018 Editor’s Choice Award. See it at Choice Award winning At-One stock system at your retailer, or for your dealer, or for more information contact EOTech, Tel.: more information contact Boyd’s Hardwood Gunstocks; Tel.: (605) 996- (888) 368-4656; E-mail: [email protected]; Web: 5011; Web: www.boydsgunstocks.com —Bill Battles www.eotechinc.com—Dave Bahde

18 19 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards mcx rattler psb 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards sig sauer mcx rattler psb 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

grip, and can be removed in seconds without tools. The MCX Rattler lower includes an ambidextrous safety and magazine release. Bolt release is oversized making it easy to lock the action to the rear using the ambidextrous charging handle. The pistol grip is a Sig Sauer, featuring a more vertical and slim profile than the standard SIG MCX grip, and the rear face of the lower receiver includes a Picatinny rail mount, making it simple and fast to change braces or stocks. Sling attachments are placed on either side of the hand guard and both sides of the receiver at the rear. A Sig Sauer Electro Optics sig sauer Romeo 4T was used for primary sighting during testing. Built to withstand just about anything, it uses solar as well as battery power, yield- ing a 100,000 hour battery life. MOTAC (Motion 4. mcx rattler psb Activated Illumination) turns on with movement saving battery life. top of the .300BLK “short” list 5. 4—Possibly the Accuracy with the Rattler has always been impres- most useful sive given its compact size. Zeroing the Romeo 4T at short-barreled My introduction to the MCX Rattler occurred during a media Introduced in 2015, the Sig Sauer MCX is 50 yards with supersonic ammunition, its accuracy .300 BLK platform event on the MCX Virtus. It was admittedly fun to shoot and it more rifle caliber MPX than AR. Using a short stroke piston system was tested using the Juliet 4-power magnifier. Typical available today, worked great using both super- and sub-sonic loads. Configured as and abandoning the buffer tube allows for folding stocks, no stock groups at this range were in the 1- to 1.5-inch range. the Rattler is an SBR, its stock made it as compact as anything chambered in 300 or a pistol brace. Completely modular it can be configured to your The best group, as one might expect, came from Sig easy to shoot BLK ever used, and even with a 5.5-inch barrel and 1:5 twist it was needs. Operating controls are M4-like, with an ambidextrous safety Sauer’s 125 grain Elite Match OTM at just under an well, and ours plenty accurate. Capable of firing while folded added versatility no and magazine release. If you were looking for the perfect platform inch. All match ammunition, most using 125-grain proved 100-per- other AR style rifle could match without adding weight. for an M4 “like” PDW, the MCX Rattler is it. bullets, produced similar accuracy. Moving to subson- cent reliable As one might expect, using super-sonic ammunition it was loud The Rattler’s specialized upper receiver is designed to be com- ics, Sig Sauer’s 220-grain took the day for accuracy with both suppressed with a tad more recoil. Sig Sauer’s SRD762-QD suppressor was pact, meeting SOCOM requirements. Barrel length is 5.5 inches a similar sized group at 25 yards. Reliability with this and unsup- already in house, making it easy to test the Rattler suppressed. Their using a 1:5 twist rate optimized for heavy bullets. The adjustable Rattler is excellent, with well over 2,000 rounds to date. pressed. SRD762 Taper-Lok Flash hider lets you attach the suppressor when gas block facilitates use with both super-and sub-sonic ammuni- As a pistol, the Rattler fits well into vehicle and needed and matches the factory tapered barrel. Called “Fast-Attach,” tion, and it runs flawlessly when suppressed. Configured as a pistol home defense applications, so much of my time was 5— The best 50-yard 5-shot group came from Sig Sauer’s own these suppressors are not really quick detach given the secondary latch. using the telescoping brace, the overall length is 19 inches collapsed spent in and around my Toyota FJ Cruiser. Adding 125-grain Elite Match OTM and measured out at an impressive On the other hand, it does not come loose under fire, which was a (unsuppressed) and 23 inches extended. The 5-inch M-Lok hand the suppressor makes it a tad more difficult to work sub-one-inch. primary request when they were developed. guard provides just enough space for needed accessories and a solid in tight spaces, but it remains manageable. Remove sig sauer mcx rattler psb Caliber/Gauge: 300 BLK 1. 3. Receiver Set: Sig Sauer MCX Virtus Barrel: 5.5 inches OA Length: 19 Inches (collapsed) 23 inches extended. Weight: 8 pounds, 13 ounces (with suppressor and RT4) Sights: Flat Top / Accepts rail mounted sights and optics. Stocks/Grips: Sig Sauer Rattler hand guard, Sig Sauer pistol grip Action: Semi-Automatic / / Short Stroke Piston Finish: Cerakote Capacity: AR-15 based 5.56mm or 300 BLK magazines Price: $2,727

the suppressor and things get really compact—the real sweet spot with this pistol. It handily fits in a brief cases 2. and non-tactical looking packs I own. All told Sig Sauer’s Rattler is one of the most useful 1— Available in both pistol (tested) with a collapsible brace, or SBR with a side-folding stock, like the rest of barrel, making it possibly the most compact/handy .300 BLK short-barreled 300 BLK firearms available today. De- the MCX platform, the Rattler is fitted with fully ambidextrous controls. The handgrip is unique to the Rat- platform in existence. A three-prong flash hider is standard, signed from the ground up to work in this exact config- tler and features a more-vertical and slim profile. A monolithic Picatinny rail runs the distance across the but shown attached to the muzzle is SIG’s QD Taper Lock brake uration it is not some conglomeration of parts. If you are top, and both sides of the lower-receiver and forend are machined for QD sling swivels. 2—At the heart of the (also available in a flash hider) suppressor mount, allowing looking for a compact 300 BLK pistol or SBR Sig’s 2018 Rattler operating system is this dual-captured recoil spring/bolt-carrier-group assembly, which is not only you to attach one of SIG’s own SRD762 QD suppressors to take On Target Editors’ Choice Award winning Rattler needs to largely responsible for the gun’s high-reliability and durability, but also the ability to run sans a buffer tube full advantage of subsonic loads. The gas block is easily be near the top of your list! Contact Sig Sauer; Tel.: (603) and be fitted with a side-folding or collapsible stock. 3—The Rattler is fitted with an ultra-short 5.5-inch changed between suppressed and unsuppressed settings. 610-3000; Web: www.sigsauer.com —Dave Bahde 20 21 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards patriot ordnance factory gentelman’s series glock slides

patriot ordnance factory gentleman’s series glock slides Distinctly-POF in every respect

one from the ground-up like we did. One of (www.wilson combat.com), a set of Trijicon the more difficult steps in building a Glock suppressor-height night sights (www.trijicon. With the same craftsmanship, slide from scratch is the insertion of the plastic com) and topped it off with a Trijicon RMR attention-to-detail, and in turn, reliability channel, and thankfully, this part RM06 Type 2 3.25 MOA mini red-dot sight. and attention-grabbing lines, found in their comes pre-installed in the G-Series slides. Ag- One of the benefits of building a Glock is you lineup of innovative AR-style rifles, POF’s new gressive, Chevron-shaped slide serrations—the end up with exactly the pistol you want/need. Glock replacement slides have us convinced front of which are ventilated—are paired with Such was the case here. they are a cut above most others. Glock a lightening cut up top and the POF star and Available for the Glock 43, 17, 19 and are some of the most durable, reliable and bars logo machined into the left side. The en- 34, you can count on these slides for not accurate on the market today, but tire slide is Nitride heat treated for maximum only tight tolerances and high reliability, but aesthetically they leave something to be desired. strength and corrosion resistance, and includes also to provide a distinctive look that will G-Series 17-4 heat-treated stainless-steel slides a Trijicon RMR red dot rear mounting plate turn heads wherever you take it. Check out are not only marginally more expensive than with cover and mounting hardware. the 2018 On Target Editors’ Choice Award an OEM replacement slide, they turn your For our own G-Series project, we built a winning G-Series Glock slides ($349.99 to Glock into a pistol suitable for any modern-day Glock 19 using a brand-new and complete $449.99) at your nearest retailer, or contact shooter who takes pride in quality, individ- Gen 3 RTF2 frame, a slide parts kit com- Patriot Ordnance Factory; Tele: (877) 561- uality and patriotism. These are “stripped” prised of genuine Glock parts from Brownell’s 9572; Web: www.pof-usa.com —Ben Battles slides, meaning they do not include sights or (www.brownells.com), an Apex Tactical slide internals, but are designed to accept those Action Enhancement Trigger Kit (www. Glock factory components, which you can apextactical.com), a threaded, match-grade swap in from your existing Glock, or build stainless-steel barrel from Wilson Combat

22 23 aero precision m4e1 receiver 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards hornady frontier ammunition 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards nightforce atacr riflescope

Aero Precision M4E1 Receiver Set Nightforce ATACR Aero Precision has become a 1-8x24 F1 Riflescope one-stop-shop, AR builder’s Nightforce’s ATACR (Advanced to illuminate either the center dream, offering literally everything Tactical Riflescope) scopes are circle or the entire reticle. Starting one would need to build their own among the best available on the with a segmented circle, mil lines top-quality, custom AR from the market today. These scopes are and dots provide automatic holds ground up. The new M4E1 AR built to withstand the rigors of for elevation and wind. Located receiver set ($242.98 in FDE, or deployment using the best pos- in the first focal plane, the reticle $199.99 in black), including both sible components, designed to is accurate for holds and ranging a threaded upper and stripped low- withstand the most adverse con- at any power. A true 1x magni- er receivers, is a prime example. ditions in existence. Built from fication allows it to be used as a You simply can’t beat the quality, the ground up to be ultimately red-dot sight for close quarters craftsmanship and features for the reliable, rugged, and repeatable, engagements, and adjusting mag- money, earning them a 2018 On they take the concept of nification is fast and easy using Target Editors’ Choice Award. The “overbuilt” to a new lev- the Power Throw Lever. upper includes a Picatinny flat-top Using the 1-8x24mm ATACR rail, and forward assist, while the F1 on a dozen different rifles it lower includes an integral, en- has proven to be the most versatile hanced trigger guard. No controls, short-to-medium range optic I’ve take-down pins or bolt carrier as- ever used. Glass is brilliantly clear sembly are included but are avail- and usable from dawn to dusk. At Hornady Frontier Ammunition able through Aero Precision. The FDE version is ten inches, it fits on everything from Hornady has recently introduced (actually reintroduced Magpul Cerakoted, while the black version is hard- my IWI X95 Tavor bullpup to the the name at least) line of affordable center-fire rifle ammuni- coat anodized. Other features include a threaded SCAR 20S .308 DMR rifle. Built tion under the Frontier brand. Think of it as economical AR bolt catch roll pin that allows for simple installa- to last, it’s been dragged through ammunition without the inconsistencies normally attached tion of the bolt catch and virtually eliminates the snow, over rocks, to lower-priced fodder. It’s manufactured from top-quality chance of finish damage during installation (pin in the rain, sleet brass cases with annealed necks and shoulders and loaded included), upper tension screw that allows users to and mud and with military grade boxer primers and propellants, making it fine tune the fit of the upper and lower receivers fully reloadable. For now, at least, it’s only available in two with a nylon-tipped, tensioning set-screw in the el. Housings are built like a chamberings: 5.56 NATO and .223 Rem. grip tang of the lower receiver providing a tight fit, tank, turrets are strong with As of press time, in .223 Rem. available bullets include threaded takedown pin detent recesses, increased large numbers and feature as 55-grain full metal jacket, 55-grain soft point, 55-grain magwell flare for quick and efficient magazine much as 35 mils (120 MOA) of hollow point match and 68-grain bobtail hollow point match changes, M4 feed ramps, .250 takedown pin holes elevation adjustment. Lenses are to cover varmint, target and competition applications. De- and lazer engraved T-marks. For more information ED (Extra Low Dispersion), fully pending on the bullet type, Frontier .223 Rem. cartridges are contact Aero Precision; Tel.: (253) 272-8188; Web: multicoated and brilliantly bright available in boxes of 20, 150, 500 or 1,000 rounds. www.aeroprecisionusa.com—Ben Battles with excellent light transmis- On the 5.56 NATO side, available bullets sion at the extremes of dusk and include 55-grain FMJ (very close to the U.S. dawn. One of the best examples military’s M193 load), 55-grain hollow and the most versatile is the new point match, 62-grain FMJ, 62-grain 1-8x24mm ATACR F1. never failed. If boattail hollow point match, Measuring ten inches long, it you want a scope 62-grain soft point, 62-grain FMJ, fits on everything from a carbine that meets most needs 68-grain boattail hollow point to , and with 30 mils from self-defense to either match and 75-grain boattail hollow of adjustment it can be used with the field of battle or competition, point match. As with the .223 Rem., just about any caliber. Extended and one you can bet your life and depending on the bullet type, Fron- eye relief makes for a quick sight on, this is it. It has proven to be tier 5.56 NATO cartridges are also avail- picture no matter your position. my first choice for its intended able in the same round-count boxes. Low-profile turrets can be used mission and the perfect choice for At the end of the day, Hornady has effectively exposed or covered no matter the a 2018 Editors’ Choice Award. See brought economical, quality ammunition to the weather conditions. Adjustments one in person at your local dealer, masses. See the 2018 On Target Editors’ Choice Award are in .10 mil increments for both or for more information contact winning Frontier line at your nearest dealer, or for more elevation and windage and match Nightforce Optics; Tel.: (208) 476- information, contact Hornady ; Tel.: (800) the FC-DM mil reticle, which fea- 9814; Website: nightforceoptics.com 338-3220; Web: www.hornady.com—Bill Battles tures a multi-position adjustment —Dave Bahde 24 25 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards cimarron .44 magnum bad boy 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards cimarron .44 magnum bad boy 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

1. 2.

2—At just under an inch and a quarter for five shots, Hornady’s 240-gr. XTP load gave the best performance at 25-yards, although the other loads tested gave performance that was right in the same ballpark. 1—The bulked-up Bad Boy weighs nearly three pounds, but that bulk is necessary Cimarron Bad Boy .44 Rem. Mag. because Old West SAAs were never chambered for potent, high-pressure rounds like the .44 Rem. Mag. Recoil may be a bit heavy for beginning shooters, but anyone Caliber: .44 Rem. Mag. experienced in shooting single-action should find the Bad Boy’s recoil Action: Single-Action Revolver tolerable. The trigger on the gun broke crisply at an average and consistent Barrel: 8-inch Octogonal pull weight of 3 lbs., 9 oz. Frame: Pre-War Capacity: 6 no faults with the fit and finish. a somewhat narrow curved blade, but I any other animal, for that matter). It’s the by shooting Sights: Adjustable The Bad Boy has something else that liked the feel of it. One added touch I very damage caused by the bullet on the ter- them offhand, Finish: Polished Blue most Old West guns didn’t have: adjustable much favor is a knurled top surface of the minal end that counts, and history clearly because that’s Length: 13.75 in. Cimarron .44 Magnum Bad Boy sights. The rear sight has a rectangular notch hammer, which greatly aids in maintaining demonstrates that proper bullets in .44 how they’re Weight: 2.75 lbs. and is adjustable for windage and elevation. positive control when cocking or lowering Rem. Mag. at these velocities will handle used in the MSRP: $687.70 Cimarron combines Old West styling with modern power and accuracy. The front sight has a large blade situated the hammer. most North American game animals at real world, within a serrated ramp to reduce glare. The gun’s nearly three-pound weight rational handgun-hunting distances. and the Bad Boy shot quite well for me If you’ve seen one Colt Single-Action marron Firearms’ president, Mike Harvey, Paired with a long sight radius, the sights helps mitigate the recoil impulse, and the At the range I found the Bad Boy to when shooting from a standing position at Army clone, you’ve seen them all, right? and is built by the Italian firm of Uberti, promised fine accuracy, and I quickly dis- gun rolls back in the hand nicely. And be wonderfully accurate. Testing from the a variety of distances. That was more or less my thinking until which is very well known for building covered that the gun delivers on that score. whether it’s punching holes in paper or bench with five different loads shot at 25 The revolver comes with a “five years I got my first look at the new Cimarron quality replica guns of the Old West. One thing traditionalists will love is the pigs, or tagging along as a backup in bear yards produced average groups ranging to life” warranty, meaning factory defects Bad Boy. It looked very much like an 1860 Attention to detail and quality is evident absence of a transfer bar system. While this country, the Bad Boy is definitely capable from 1.75 inches to a bit over two inches, found on new guns will be repaired for a Army revolver, alright—but on steroids. upon even a cursory examination of the is true to the original design of Old West of getting the job done when it’s pushing with the best performance coming with period of five years from the purchase date, Make no mistake about it: the Bad Bad Boy. Old West elements include the single-action revolvers, it mandates that you proper bullets for the intended purpose. Federal Premium 240-gr. Hydra Shok and defects in the barrel, cylinder and Boy, with its beefy eight-inch octagonal so-called Pre-War frame, “Army” walnut must carry the gun with only five rounds in Using Federal’s hot (1,452 f.p.s. out load at an inch and a quarter for five shots. frame are covered for the life of the orig- barrel, is one big hunk of powder-burnin’ grips, non-fluted cylinder and octagonal the cylinder and the firing pin resting on an of the Bad Boy) 240-grain Fusion round I’m certain the gun is capable of even bet- inal purchaser. MSRP is $687.70, which handgun, but that bulk is necessary barrel. In another nod to the past, the gun empty chamber. Otherwise, there’s a real risk as an example, that’s roughly 1,125 foot ter accuracy in the hands of someone who we thought was a respective bargain. For because the revolver is chambered for the retains a case-hardened hammer, while the that the gun could discharge if it’s dropped or pounds of energy at the muzzle and more shoots handguns from the bench better more information on the 2018 On Target .44 Rem. Mag. , and Old West chambering and polished blued steel finish the hammer is struck accidentally. than 900 foot pounds of energy at 50 than I do with my less-than-youthful eyes. Editors’ Choice Award winning Bad Boy, SAAs were never chambered for such a add versatility, good looks and corrosion The gun’s single-action trigger broke yards. I don’t subscribe to the school of That has never been my favorite way to contact Cimarron Firearms, Tel.: (877) 749- potent, high-pressure round. protection. The bluing, deep and lustrous, crisply and consistently at an average pull thought that dictates you need, say, 1,000 test or spend time with handguns, anyway. 4861; Web: www.cimarron-firearms.com The gun was actually designed by Ci- is particularly well done and I could find weight of 3 lbs., 9 oz. The trigger itself has foot pounds of energy to kill a deer (or I infinitely prefer to see how they perform —Mike Dickerson

1—The Bad Boy sports a beefy 8-inch octagonal barrel (also available 1. 3. in a 6-inch model) which, in testing, delivered more velocity than factory-stated numbers for most tested loads. The revolver’s name is proudly engraved on its side. A full-length ejector pushes spent cas- ings out without issue and a traditional base pin and latch allow re- moval of the cylinder. 2— Traditionalists will likely love the fact that the Bad Boy does not employ a transfer bar system, but this means it should be carried with only five rounds loaded and the firing pin rest- ing on an empty chamber. 3— While the frame, cylinder and barrel have a polished blued finish, the revolver retains a case-hardened hammer. Old West elements include the so-called Pre-War frame, “Army” walnut grips and non-fluted cylinder. In a departure from the traditional old west SAA the Bad Boy was designed to resemble, a fully-adjustable rectangular-notch rear sight sits atop the gun’s flattop receiver. 2. 26 27 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards truglo tru-tec micro 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards black hills honeybadger ammo 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

TruGlo TRU•TEC Micro Sub-Compact Red-Dot Sight Black Hills 100-gr. 9mm HoneyBadger Ammo 9mm load! See the On Target Editors’ Choice Award Mini red-dot sights—especially in a handgun size—have Black hills has been on a roll lately with its winning HoneyBadger 100-gr. 9mm, as well as the rest grown exponentially in popularity of the past few years. innovative line of solid-copper HoneyBadger loads, of the HoneyBadger offerings at your nearest dealer, or The problem is, they oftentimes cost more than the and one of their newest is this hot 100-gr. 9mm of- for more information contact Black Hills Ammunition; Tel.: they’re mounted to. Whether riding the slide of an op- fering. HoneyBadger, if you were wondering, refers to (605) 348-5150; Web: www.black-hills.com —Ben Battles tic–ready handgun, or mounted on a rifle or shotgun with the bullet. Co-developed with Lehigh Defense, these an eye towards weight savings, the affordable ($246) new non-deforming, non-fragmenting bullets have wide, TRU•TEC Micro incorporates the favorite features of the sharp flutes that cut through barriers that defeat stan- TRU•TEC line in an ultra–lightweight and versatile package dard hollow-point designs. Upon penetrating the target, size. With unlimited eye relief, its 3–MOA red-dot reticle these bullets reliably penetrate to uniform depths while is perfectly sized for a precise yet fast sight picture. The also outperforming hollow points in depth and width of 23mm x 17mm multi–coated objective lens provides a clear, wound cavity. The design works by accelerating and bright, non-magnified sight picture edge to edge. Other redirecting the focused fluid stream radially from features include digital push–button brightness controls the flutes into the surrounding tissue. There’s no with 10 brightness settings, an auto–off feature to preserve chance of bullet failure through over-penetration, battery life (one 3VCR2032 battery is included), locking fragmentation or plugging of a hollow-point windage and elevation adjustments and shock-and fog–re- cavity. The 100-grain 9mm HoneyBadger 9mm sistance. It is compatible with optic–ready pistol mounts load utilizes a newly developed (Eotech, Docter, Insight, Meopta, etc.) and weighs only 1.0 projectile that exits the muz- oz. CNC–machined from aircraft–grade aluminum, it has a zle at 1,300 f.p.s., developing water–resistant, sealed o–ring design, and includes a Picatin- 375 ft. lbs. of kinetic energy. ny rail mount and ABS hardshell cover. All told, this optic’s In ballistic gelatin it creates a overall value wins it a 2018 On Target Editors’ Choice Award. wound cavity over three inches See it at your dealer, or for more info contact TruGlo; Tel.: in diameter and over 15 inches (888) 8-TRUGLO; Web: www.truglo.com —Ben Battles in length. This is one kick-butt

28 29 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards dan wesson wraith 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards dan wesson wraith 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

ance. The Wraith’s trigger is solid aluminum and mid length to fit most hands. Chambered 1. in .45 ACP it retails for $2,077. Also available in 9mm the price is the same, while the 10mm version costs an extra $300. Testing Silencerco’s Osprey (www.silencerco.com) was used for suppressed shooting. The Osprey is very light so your handgun does not become barrel heavy. Available in 9mm, 45, and a short version (45) K, it is capable of handling 9mm, 45ACP, 40 SW, and even 300 BLK subsonic using available pistons. It’s one of the quietest on the market and its unique shape and operation often eliminate the need for higher sights.

Range Time 1— Testing with multiple brands of 2. Built entirely from forged stainless steel, ammunition, a bunch of different mag- the Wraith is very strong, making hot loads azines and running both suppressed like Doubletap Ammunition’s 450 SM and un-suppressed, the Dan Wesson (short magnum) a perfect match (www. Wraith ran with 100-percent reliability doubletapammo.net.) Accuracy with these throughout testing. The SilencerCo loads was in the sub two-inch range at 25 Osprey can perform equally as well, yards, mostly due to some stiffer recoil. Us- producing minimal , excel- ing a 20-pound recoil spring tamed it a bit, lent sound suppression, a negligible but these are pretty snappy. My best group point-of-impact shift and no degrada- Built from forged stainless steel the slide is came from Doubletap’s 230-grain Match tion of downrange precision. 2—With adorned with Clark-Style ribs along the top. Ammunition loaded for Colt Defense. It put four shots nearly on top of each Ball end mill cuts at the front provide a really four rounds into a cluster at 25 yards with other and one just north, the Wraith nice look, as does a distressed version of their one opening the group up to a bit over an proved capable of one-inch groups us- Dan Wesson Wraith Duty finish. The slide has rear cocking serra- inch. Soft shooting in this all steel 1911, it ing Colt Defense 230-grain Match. For a tions that also look and enhance the carry bev- The latest in precision-production, threaded-barrel 1911s from was a pleasure to shoot and very accurate. production 1911—let alone a custom el. AmeriGlo tall sights using a tritium front Everything else was in the 1.5- to 2-inch gun from one of the boutique manu- Dan Wesson backs up its name with scary-good performance and single dot rear facilitate suppressor use. range using a bag as a rest on a pretty windy, facturers—it’s hard to ask for better A pronounced ledge on the rear sight makes rainy, and cold day. Sharp checkering kept Dan Wesson firearms has been quietly suppressed pistols is kind of fun and can be unconventional reloads and stoppage drills things solid, even in the rain. It was like a performance than this. building some of the best 1911 pistols you advantageous if you are handgun hunting. possible. The frame includes sharp 25 LPI vice with gloves on, a bit sharp bare handed, can buy for years now. Any doubt as to their They can also be useful for dedicated home checkering on the front strap and mainspring but solid as a rock. shooter. Accuracy was unaffected by the Os- ation was flawless using several different mag- quality or desirability is quickly dispelled defense handguns. One of the best platforms housing. Extended grip and thumb safeties are Reliability was excellent with a consistent prey and it did little to change the handling azines. The Distressed look is nice, looks worn when you find and try one. High demand can for suppressed shooting is the 1911 pistol and easy to operate with gloved hands. Its beveled and predictable ejection pattern. Most of of the Wraith other than adding length. without having to carry it for a few years. While make them scarce, but those willing to wait Dan Wesson Firearms has introduced a new magwell is matched to the frame, and stippled the self-defense ammunition ran okay with not truly dull, it is not too shiny for tactical use are seldom disappointed. When the chance to 1911 this year to do just that, the Wraith. G10 grips make for a firm grip in inclement the heavy spring but switching back to an Bottom Line or personal carry. If you have decided you need test their new Wraith came up I jumped on it. weather. The slightly extended and checkered 18-pound spring brought it back to more Dan Wesson’s Wraith is typical of their a full-sized stainless steel 1911 with a threaded Suppressed pistols are gaining in popu- Dan Wesson Wraith 45 ACP magazine release is accessed using a moderate normal patterns. There were no stoppages or higher end 1911s, excellent in almost every barrel, the 2018 On Target Editors’ Choice Award larity, mostly for entertainment, even some The Wraith is a Government model 1911 “scoop” in the grip. The slide stop is recessed, failures with any of the ammunition using respect. Fit and finish is superb, parts are high winning Wraith may be just about perfect. Con- hunting applications, but threaded barrels and using a 5.75-inch threaded barrel. Match checkered and slightly extended. The hammer either spring. It worked well suppressed, as quality, accuracy is stellar, about as good as it tact Dan Wesson Firearms, Tel.: (607) 336-1174; taller sights are becoming the norm. Shooting grade, it is capable of some serious accuracy. and butt are squared for a nice edgy appear- good as any with moderate powder at the gets on a hunting or working hand gun. Oper- Web: www.danwessonfirearms.com—Dave Bahde

1—Available in 9mm, 45 ACP and 10mm, the Wraith’s forged stainless-steel slide 1. 3. and frame are treated to Dan Wesson’s Distressed Duty finish. Running between the extra-tall Ameriglo night sights—sufficiently high to clear most any pis- tol suppressor—a serrated top-rib helps kill sight-picture glare. The Wraith’s 5.75-inch match-grade barrel is threaded to the common .45 ACP thread pitch of 0.578x28. 2—Paired with extended baseplates on the two-included 8-round mag- azines, a sizeable magazine funnel makes for lightning-quick and fumble-free reloads. The front strap and flat mainspring housing are both cut with sharp 25-LPI checkering, and combined with grippy G10 grip panels and traction is nev- er at a deficit. 3—Extended grip and thumb safety’s nearly guarantee your abil- ity to get this pistol off-safe in a hurry—even if you happen to get a poor grip while drawing. An extended slide-stop, checkered magazine-release button with carved out access in the grip panel, and a black medium-length trigger round out the controls. Stronger tool-steel components are used in place of the more common and weaker MIM (metal injection molding) parts. 2. 30 31 luth-ar palm handguards 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards revolution torso frame target

Revolution Targets Portable Long-Range Torso Frame Target We use our stock pile of steel targets all the time during reliability testing because of their ability to give us instant feedback, and one company that’s building some really stand-out, fun and well-built designs today is Revolution Targets. For 2018 Revolution Targets, a subsidiary of Pendleton Safes, has introduced a new Portable Long-Range Torso Frame Target designed for precision rifle shooting at extended ranges. This portable counterpart to the company’s Heavy Duty line, the Long-Range Torso Frame Target features a revolving, 10-inch-diameter reactive hit zone that automatically resets, with a bright red, long-range hit indicator that guarantees positive identification of your shots at extended distances. This red long-range Indicator spins with the target’s hit zone and comes into view whenever the hit zone is struck. The Portable Long-Range Torso Target, frame and all components are made from your choice of AR500 steel thickness; 3/8” (tested) or 1/2”. A replaceable 2x4 wood section serves as the upright, and one pre-cut section is included with each target. We’ve been testing our target for about three-months now, with an estimated 1,000-plus-rounds of .308 Winchester sent downrange at it, and other than a fresh coat of paint before each range session, it’s no worse for the wear. See the 2018 On Tar- get Editors’ Choice Award winning Portable Long-Range Torso Frame Target ($680 in 3/8” or $820 for 1/2” thick plates), or for more information contact Revolution Targets; Tel.: (770) 466-6181; Web: www.revolutiontargets.com—Ben Battles

Luth-AR PALM Handguards Putting their quality of construction and excellent feel aside, as far as value per dollar ratio is concerned, the Palm line of handguards from Luth-AR wins…hands down. These new handguards are free float tubes featuring a triangular profile that conforms to the palm of your hand, giving you a secure and comfortable grip. The vented version provides a Picatinny top rail and KeyMod or MLOK slots along both upper sides, as well as a row of KeyMod or MLOK slots along the bottom to accommodate all manner of accessories, including bipods. The low- er sides are adorned with the Luth-AR “Double L”, and Cartridge lightening/cooling cuts to further reduce weight and provide heat dissipation with a distinctive good look. The Palm is a 6061-T6 Aluminum extrusion that is hard anodized in black. It comes with a barrel nut made from heat treated alloy steel with a manganese phosphate finish. Currently available in 15, 9 and 7-inch variants, weights vary by length and the extent of slots and ventilation cuts (the 15-inch is a very reasonable 13.80 oz.) In total, they are available in seven different lengths and styles, priced from a tough-to-beat $53.95 to $89.95. See the 2018 On Target Editors’ Choice Award winning Palm handguards at your nearest dealer, or for more information contact Luth-AR; Tel.: (763)-263-0166; Web: www.luth-ar.com—Ben Battles 32 33 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards kimber k6s cdp .357 mag. snub 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards kimber k6s cdp .357 mag. snub 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

1. 2.

1— While still not a whole lot of fun shooting full-power .357 Magnum loads, the heft of the all-steel K6s did contribute to a reduction in recoil discomfort and muzzle jump. The Kimber ran flawlessly with a wide assortment of .38 Special and .357 Magnum ammo. 2—If you’re under the impression that all snub-nosed revolvers are inaccurate, difficult to shoot, knife-fighting-distance handguns, chances are you have not fired a Kimber K6s yet. Our CDP shot this awesome 25-yard bench rest group with Black Hills .38 wadcutters.

furnished on a small carry revolver today the hands when rapid firing Magnums if with virgin Match 148-grain wadcutter .38 (though the ones on the S&W 340 M&P you aren’t really on your game. Special from Black Hills. This load cut a are a “tie”), and the Kimber’s action contin- C-shaped one-hole group that measured ues to be excellent as Grant predicted. Accuracy 65/100ths of an inch center to center, too tight I know it is in vogue for gun writers to to accurately measure the best three within it! I Trigger test these pocket size guns at fifteen, ten, wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it. kimber k6s cdp .357 mag. snub The double-action-only pull is smooth! or even seven yards on the theory that Roll the trigger back slowly, and you’ll they’re short range weapons, but I still use Reliability The most accurate small-frame revolver in existence? feel two little clicks before the final stage. the 25-yard line for two reasons. One, it Reliability was excellent throughout It happens early, what revolver-smiths call is standard now for service handguns, and testing with multiple brands of .38 Special Are you up for a six-shot pocket size of intensive research that showed, contrary available, good “pre-timing,” and it’s an indication that two, the pocket gun may have to be used and .357 Magnum. Spent casings never stuck to common wisdom, the revolver was far sights, a concealed hammer, and fit small in the chambers. The K6S series offers a po- revolver, capable of firing .357 Magnum? this gun will take a helluva lot of wear and for a service gun’s job in self-defense. from obsolete and was, in fact, remarkably hands well. From there we spent the next 3 tentially life-saving advantage that Kimber, The Kimber K6S pretty much has the cor- tear before it goes out of time. Now comes Remington-UMC .357 Magnum popular for concealed carry. Kimber had years getting the details ironed out, shoot- strangely, does not advertise: the elongated ner on that market. K6S prices start at $919 the final stage of the pull, a short roll until 125-grain semi-jacketed hollow point is reached out to one of the gurus of the ing prototypes, etc.” trigger guard of the Kimber K6S allowed full for the NS version, and run up to $1,155 the internal hammer drops and sends a rated for 1,450 feet per second from a compact defense revolver, Grant Cun- Grant continued, “As you might imag- trigger-return every time when I tried it with for the CDP (Custom Defense Package). bullet on its way. Averaged pull weight four-inch service revolver. Recoil and blast ningham. Here’s what Grant told me ine, there was a lot of attention paid to winter gloves. Here we test the CDP, with brushed stain- measured 9.61-pounds. are nasty, but so is destruction on the other happened next: getting the action right. The first produc- Bottom line? The Kimber K6S CDP and less barrel, cylinder, and cylinder latch and end. The five shots went into 2.75” center “It started when a representative from tion test run was remarkably good, and I its combined features and craftsmanship DLC finish elsewhere, Tritium night sights, Shooting the K6S to center, and the best three were in 1.35”. Kimber contacted me and said ‘We want to hope that level of quality continues as they make it worth the buy-in cost, as well as a and rosewood stocks in the “boot grip” style Recoil is nothing to worry about with A whole lot of folks carry these baby make a revolver. Would you like to help?’ ramp up production. I have to give it to 2018 . And pioneered by Craig Spegel. standard pressure .38 Special loads, but Magnums with lighter-kicking .38 Spe- On Target Editors’ Choice Award Naturally I said yes! They wanted to know Kimber: they really stepped up to the plate requires a firm grasp and some skill and cial +P, and for that we used the Speer when I see a pocket-size snub that can put what my ‘ideal concealed carry revolver’ to bring this product to reality. Their en- experience with .38 Special +P, and is 135-grain Gold Dot +P. Its group was five shots in 0.65” at 25 yards, as our test A Brief History would look like. I told them it should gineering and product development people controllable but no fun at all with full wider, 6.05” for five shots. The “best three” Kimber K6S did, well I’m sold. Contact Kimber’s surprise entry into the revolver be the size of a Detective Special, have a were top notch and great to work with.” power .357 “Mangle-‘em” ammo. As noted cluster hit that with 2.75”. Kimber America; Tel.: (888) 243-4522; Web: market a few short years ago was the result 6-round cylinder, the best factory trigger There are simply no better sights factory above, “kick” is sharp enough to separate The surprise—the shock, really—came www.kimberamerica.com—Massad Ayoob

1— The trigger on the K6S was smooth and controllable, and the author 1. 3. found the elongated trigger guard worked reliably with thickly gloved hands; most small framed revolvers don’t. Trigger reach is short, ideal for smaller hands but allowing too much finger if a shooter with larger hands isn’t careful. The CDP model comes fitted with a set of very attractive, checkered rosewood grips. 2—Similar in footprint to a 5-shot snub-nosed revolver—like the S&W J-frame and Ruger SP101—but different in round- count, the Kimber K6s platform lays claim to the lightest 6-shot .357 Magnum in the world. The gun’s large, checkered and extremely smooth operating cylinder-release button all but guaranteed expedient and fumble-free cylinder opening. 3—Offering a classy-looking contrast, the stainless-steel 2-inch barrel and 6-shot cylinder of the CDP model remain in an attractive, low-luster brushed finish, while the frame is treated to a tough, black DLC. 2. 34 35 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards rock river arms lar-15 RRAge 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards rock river arms lar-15 RRAge 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

rock river arms lar-15 RRAGE carbine MSRP: Starting at $759.95 Caliber/Gauge: 5.56x45mm NATO Barrel: 16-inch chrome moly, 1:9 Twist OA Length: 36 inches extended Weight: 5.7-pounds Sights: Flat top rail Stocks/Grips: RRA 6-position, A2 grip Action: Rotating bolt, direct gas impingement 1-Despite the heavy Mil-Spec trigger—having its own distinctly-different Finish: Hard anodized pull characteristics to master during bench testing—our test rifle proved Capacity: AR-15 .223/5.56 compatible you’re not giving up anything in the precision department with this 0.74- inch, 100-yard five-shot group. Top honors went to Federal Premium 69-gr. Matchking BTHP, but most other top-shelf ammo also went 1-MOA or better. 2-The RRAGE ate everything we fed it during reliability- and bench-testing without hiccup, and holds up the level of performance we’ve come to expect from Rock Riv- er Arms after testing these rifles for the past 16-years. If your budget falls within the $700 range this is an AR you can’t go wrong with. The RRAGE ships with one 30-round Rock River Arms polymer magazine. rock river arms 1. 2. lar-15 rrage carbine How much AR-15 can you get for around $700? Rock River Arms says, “a lot”

I don’t know whether you’ve noticed clean and trim monolithic-style upper receiver/ slots for accessory attachment. or not, but we have—budget-priced rifles slim-profile handguard (they are not, in fact, Other features of the RRAGE include a and are proliferating in the AR-15 monolithic, but appear so at first glance). The 16-inch medium-profile chrome moly barrel segment. Not to be left out of the stampede RRAGE is based on Rock River Arms’ new rifled at a twist rate of 1:9 inches, A2 flash for cost-effective ARs, Rock River Arms has extruded flat-top upper receiver, with a forged hider threaded at 1/2” x 28 TPI, carbine just introduced what we believe to be their and machined lower receiver. This 6061T length gas system with low-profile gas block desired. At only $120, and with a proven specific Mil-Spec trigger, however (every one was seen with top-shelf loads from other lowest-priced-ever 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem. aluminum upper receiver exhibits the crisp sitting directly ahead of the short handguard, track record, Rock River’s own two-stage seems to have a different pull-weight and manufacturers. Like most every-other Rock AR-15—the new LAR-15 RRAGE Carbine. lines and defined angles commonly associated an abbreviated shell deflector, Rock River trigger would make a great replacement. stacking sequence to master when preci- River Arms rifle we’ve tested over the years, The RRAGE is designed to appeal to the with more expensive machined billet uppers, Arms 6-position CAR buttstock, an A2 hand For testing we mounted an EOTech sion shot placement is the task at hand), this one’s a shooter. AR-15 buyer who is looking for a no-frills while delivering comparable strength and grip and 100% Mil-Spec controls, including ESPX2 holographic sight with the brand the RRAGE gave us great performance at If you’re in the market for a top-pick carbine for self and home defense that is precision dimensions. Matched to the receiver a single-stage trigger. Empty weight with new green illuminated dot-in-circle reticle 100-yards from the bench. With our trusted AR in the $700 price range, you don’t need short, light and easy to maneuver in con- is a 7-inch, similarly constructed, 6061T 30-round polymer magazine is an exceeding- onto the rifle’s top rail. For reliability testing Nightforce (nightforce.com) 4-15x56 SHV to look a whole lot further than the 2018 fined spaces, and that carries the pedigree of aluminum free-floated handguard that blends ly-light 5.7 pounds. at 25 and 100 yards we fired a variety of riflescope mounted, our best group of the On Target Editors’ Choice Award winning quality and reliability that Rock River Arms almost seamlessly with the upper to provide One notable absence it the typical RRA 5.56 NATO and .223 Rem. ammunition at day measured 0.74-inches using Federal RRAGE. See this new carbine at your has so justifiably earned. a unitized profile and balanced strength and two-stage trigger, replaced with a Mil-Spec steel-plate targets, all without any fanfare or Premium 69-grain Matchking BTHP firearms retailer, or for more information With a suggested retail price of only rigidity across the optics platform. The CAR- single-stage unit on the RRAGE. Again, failures of any type. The trigger, however, did ammo. That’s great performance from any contact Rock River Arms; Tel.: (866) 980- $759.95 (street prices are bound to be even length handguard features a full-length 1913 however, it’s a fair tradeoff, and something present a challenge at 100 yards. AR-carbine, let alone a “budget priced” one. Rock; Web: www.rockriverarms.com lower) the RRAGE breaks new ground with its Picatinny top rail and three sets of M-LOK rail the owner can easily add down the road if Once we learned the peculiarities of this Similar one-MOA or better performance —Bill Battles

1-Paired with a forged-aluminum lower, the RRAGE is based on the 3. company’s new extruded, 6061T aluminum upper receiver. With clean, chiseled lines and a monolithic appearance, it mimics a billet receiv- er in look and strength, yet at a much-reduced cost—a savings that gets passed directly to the buyer. 2-The upper receiver of the RRAGE flows cleanly into its carbine length free-floating handguard, giv- ing them an integral look. Providing accessory mounting locations are a full-length 1913 Picatinny top rail and three sets of M-LOK rail slots. Under the handguard, a 5.56 NATO chambered, 1:9 twist, light- weight 16-inch chrome-moly barrel gets an A2 flash hider, and its carbine-length gas system and low-profile gas block. 3-Controls are standard Mil-Spec, including the single-stage trigger, and an A2 handgrip and six-position-adjustable buttstock round out the furniture. We tested the RRAGE with EOTech’s brand new EXPS2 Green holographic weapon sight, which provides a noticeably-brighter/ faster reticle as compared to the standard red offerings. 1. 2. 36 37 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards walther ppq subcompact 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

walther ppq subcompact 1. An 11- to 16-round capacity concealment 9mm…reliable…and 1—The missing-link in Walther’s PPQ line to- date has been a sub-compact model to fill the puts five JHPs into one inch at 25 yards! Read more if interested. concealed-carry void. For the growing legion of PPQ fans, the wait is now over. Shown next to Walther seems to be neck and neck with Heckler and Koch as the fullsize PPQ Q5 TAC model, the SC is truncat- the leading producer of German pistols for the American mar- ed accordingly at both grip-and barrel-ends ket, given that most of the SIGs you see in an American gun to aid in concealment and every-day-carry shop are made in On Target’s “Live Free or Die” home state of comfort. With each PPQ SC comes one 10-round New Hampshire, and that aren’t manufactured in Smyr- flush-fitting magazine, and one 15-round na, Georgia come from Austria. extended magazine with a grip sleeve to fill the gap. 2—Controls are fully ambidextrous, In the striker-fired pistol market, Walther’s PPQ has amassed including the elongated/serrated slide stop a very loyal and growing fan base. The ergonomics are very and large-serrated magazine release button good and the light, crisp trigger pull has endeared the PPQ that can be swapped to either side. Interchange- to many shooters. Now comes a subcompact version geared able backstraps tailor the grip size to the hand expressly for concealed carry, with a short ten-round magazine size; overall ergonomics are excellent. The SC that minimizes height for concealment and also with a longer, also features the famously-light Quick-Defense fifteen-round mag with sleeve for a full-length grasp in the striker-fired trigger of its larger PPQ coun- shooter’s hand. terparts. As is the case with the other PPQ’s, a Tenifer coating on the slide and barrel creates At First Glance a durable, corrosion-resistant surface finish. This smallest PPQ presents as a subcompact, double-stack 2. 9mm, a tiny bit longer front-to-back than the hugely popular Glock 26 against which it is apparently designed to compete. Features include slide grasping grooves fore and aft, and an accessory rail for light/laser attachment. Walther pioneered the concept of interchangeable grip inserts to adjust the pistol for hand fit, and that feature lives on in this littlest PPQ. The gun comes with a rearward-extended ambidextrous slide stop/slide release lever. Stippling is minimal but proved very functional in the hands of our various testers. 38 39 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards walther ppq subcompact 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

Accuracy 1. Anyone who tells you all a concealed carry handgun needs in terms of accuracy is “six inches at six feet” hasn’t talked to as many people as I have who’ve had to fight for their lives with a pistol at much longer distances. Accordingly, current gun lore pro- tocols notwithstanding, I still test all handguns at 75 feet, includ- ing the PPQ SC. The three most popular bullet weights in 9mm were represented, in as many different brands of ammunition Way back when, I found the full-size Walther PPQ didn’t much like 147-grain subsonic 9mm, and it shot tighter with the 124-grain and sometimes 115-grain loads. This proved true with our test sample PPQ SC. Winchester 147-grain FMJ training loads, which I’ve seen win matches in other guns, did only 3.20” for all five, and 1.85” for best three. Now, that’s nothing to sneeze at from what most would consider a close-range “.” However… 1—Not all sub-compact pistol’s come with an Federal’s 115-grain JHP from their Classic line, bettered that accessory rail. The PPQ SC does. Shown is the with a 2.70” group for all five shots, and 1.00” even for the best new, compact Streamlight TLR-8 weaponlight/ three. The triumphant load, though was SIG brand 124-grain laser combo. V-Crown jacketed hollow point. The five hits nested in exactly one inch center to center, with the best three 0.40” apart! That, my friends, is nothing less than phenomenal for a pistol of this size.

Trigger Pull It is the famously easy trigger pull of the PPQ that seems to be the top selling point of these pistols. The release felt crisp. Re-set of the trigger was reasonably short and very palpable, at least in conditions of calmness. In reality, when you are shooting as fast as you can, you’ll rarely even feel the re-set on any trigger. Pull weight, on a Lyman digital gauge from Brownell’s, averaged 4.87 pounds, although it certainly felt like less.That’s still not a lot. 2. Other Handling and Shooting Characteristics Trigger reach is roughly the same as on a Glock. I for one 2—Shown at the height of recoil, Mas found was very fond of the HK-like ambidextrous paddle release at the the PPQ SC extremely controllable—especial- bottom of the trigger guard of the original Walther PPQ, but most ly for a pistol of sub-compact dimensions. of the American market disagreed so Walther went with a conven- Through several shooters and several-hun- dred round of assorted ammunition the tional push-button mag release for the PPQ M2, and that carries Walther proved 100-percent reliable. into this new little subcompact. The pistol comes with an addi- tional “left handed” magazine release that goes on the right side 3. of the frame, and the owner’s manual explains in detail how to install it yourself. This allows even a “righty” to switch the button to the starboard side to allow the index finger, which will probably have more leverage, to dump a spent magazine. It will also keep the right-handed shooter’s trigger finger out of the trigger guard during that process, which is always A Good Thing.

Bottom Line At $649, the Walther PPQ SC is a tad toward the high side of the subcompact polymer pistol price range, but it also gave me a one-inch group for five shots from 25 yards, and in this review- er’s eye that adds a lot to its value for the dollar. Several shooters put several hundred rounds of assorted ammo through it and couldn’t make it jam. Put together, that earns a 2018 On Target 3—A one-inch, five-shot hole the PPQ SC Editors’ Choice Award for the Walther PPQ SC 9mm pistol. For drilled at 25 yards using SIG’s V-Crown more information contact Walther Arms, Tel.: (479) 242-8500; 124-grain JHP load—awesome accuracy from Web: www.waltherarms.com—Massad Ayoob a pistol of any size, let alone this size! 40 41 securit model 52 gun cabinet 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards surefire guardian flashlight

SecureIt Agile Model 52 Ultralight Gun Cabinet Some shooters don’t need or want $6,000, 2,000- pound, fireproof gun safes to store their firearms. If you fall into that category, take a hard look at the new modular Agile Model 52 Ultralight Gun Cabinet from SecureIt. Priced at an affordable $599, and weighing only 105 pounds empty, the Agile Model 52 can be placed anywhere in your house without having to hire a crane. The Agile Model 52 is a premium, heavy-duty firearm storage system that can do everything a traditional gun safe can do, but in a much more adaptable manner. With SecureIt’s patent-pending KnockDown Technology, the Model 52 is delivered disassembled for easy transporta- tion and can be assembled in minutes. All assembly is internal, and because of this, inaccessible when locked. One of our favorite aspects of the Agile Model 52 is its standard with CradleGrid system, which allows on the fly adjustment to store any firearm without tools, and option bins, pistol posts and trays for organized and adaptable storage. The cabinet measures 52” H x 20” W x 15” deep, and will hold six scoped long guns up to 50-inches in length, plus up to 24 handguns. A keypad control panel gains you access, along with a key override. See the 2018 On Target Editors’ Choice Award winning Model 52 at your local firearms retailer, or for more information contact SecureIt; Tel.: (800) 651-8835; email: [email protected]; Website: www.secureitgunstorage.com—Bill Battles

Surefire Guardian Dual-Beam Rechargeable Ultra-High LED Flashlight At first glance, we really weren’t sure what to think of the new-for-2018 SureFire Guardian flashlight, but after putting a very short amount of time behind it, it’s now become our new go-to for a handheld. The Guardian rechargeable flash- light ($179) features both 12mm diameter and 19mm diame- ter beams, with low, medium and high settings for each. The 12mm beam puts out 15 Lumens for 62 hours on low, 300 Lumens for 4.25 hours on medium and 1,000 Lumens for 2.5 hours on high, with a maximum range of 105 meters. The 19mm beam outputs 15 Lumens for 60 hours on low, 250 Lu- mens for 4.25 hours on medium and 800 Lumens for 2.5 hours on high, with a maximum range of 227 meters. An ultrasonical- ly welded body and charging port cover keeps out the elements no matter how nasty the weather gets. Other features include five pre-programmed profiles that offer various output configu- rations (including the auto-adjusting output IntelliBeam mode), a rechargeable lithium polymer battery that powers both beams and includes a USB-C connector for taking a charge and also to charge small devices at 5 Volts with a current range of 1.5-2A (0.5A from a USB 2.0 source). It’s one of the most convenient, light weight, bulletproof and eminently adaptable lights we’ve used to date. See the 2018 On Target Editors’ Choice Award winning Guardian at your outdoor retailer, or contact SureFire; Tel.: (800) 828-8809; Web: www.surefire.com—Ben Battles 42 43 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards smith & wesson m&p 2.0 compact 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards smith & wesson m&p 2.0 compact 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

1—Full-coverage texturing in noticeably more aggressive than Gen. 1 pistols, though still comfort- able for extended range sessions sans gloves. Four different-size replaceable palm swells are in- cluded to fine-tune the grip circumference. The steel, white-dot sights are both dovetailed into the slide. The M&P 2.0 Compact ships with two flush-fit 15-round magazines—both of which gave flawless performance during testing. 2—A revised ambidextrous slide stop and magazine release can be found on the 2.0, and just like the gen. 1, the 2.0 can be had either with or without an ambidextrous manual thumb safety. The new 2.0 trigger offers a measurable improvement in pull weight, and—even more noticeably—in its short, crisp reset. 3—Roughly Glock-19 size, the M&P 2.0 Compact pairs smart updates with concealability and capacity to create what may be the best every-day-carry pistol to come out of S&W’s Springfield, Massachusetts plant to date. Forward slide grasping scales are one of several revi- sions. Both slide and barrel are stainless steel in construction and treated to S&Ws tough Armornite finish. Revised slide rails are also added to the list of improvements.

The compact retains every feature of the 2.0 including the trigger. It shortens the barrel to 4 inches, while the grip is about 0.5 inches shorter, lowering capacity to 15 rounds. A spacer for use with 17-round magazines provides a flush fit if needed. Listed weight is about the same, the compact being 0.8 ounces lighter. Measured weight fully loaded (15+1 rounds), the compact weighed 32.2 ounces. By comparison, my M&P Pro Series weighs 32.4 ounces loaded (17+1). While the .25-inch shorter barrel will likely go unnoticed, the shorter grip can make 1. a difference in concealment. Combined they provide what most consider the best compromise for ballistics, reliability, ease of smith & wesson M&P 2.0 compact operation and concealment. The best out-of-the-box M&P for concealed carry Range Time that Smith & Wesson has offered to date Accuracy was as good as any aftermarket barrels used in my other M&P 9 pistols. My best group at 25 yards was close to 1.5 Handling the new Smith & Wesson M&P Front cocking serrations are included at the inches using Hornady 135-grain +P ammunition. Proven several 2.0 pistol is clearly different. I have been us- bottom of the slide. Standard models hold times during real world engagements, it’s becoming a favorite for ing M&P’s since they came out, still one of 17 rounds using either a 4.25 or 5.0 inch agencies and concealed carriers alike. Soft shooting, it is accurate my favorites. Many features previously dealt barrel. After testing a few it wasn’t quite and reliable and designed from the ground up for carry. Very with using aftermarket parts were included enough to warrant replacing my M&P9 or close in accuracy was the opposite end of the scale, Doubletap’s in the 2.0. The trigger is lighter and in- 45. That all changed with the addition of 115-grain Barnes TAC-XP at 1,300 FPS. It remained soft shooting cludes the tactile and audible reset so many the Compact 2.0. and is excellent for off-duty or plain-clothes duty carry. Barnes prefer. Take up remains a bit long, but for to get a full grip. With the difference in bar- TAC-XP bullets are some of the best you can use for just about any 2. a factory trigger it was much improved. Compact 2.0 rel length meaningless, it’s just not worth threat. Everything else was around 2 inches. More aggressive texturing is featured on the I understand how enamored people have it. That remained my mindset, that is until The Compact 2.0 is very comfortable to shoot during long frame and interchangeable grip straps are become with the “compact” pistol, generally I actually used the new Compact 2.0. Two sessions with higher round counts. Using mostly Remington included. Accuracy with the 9mm is much a 4-inch barrel and a grip slightly shorter rounds remain lost using the compact mag- 115-grain FNEB Leadless ammunition it was downright comfy to improved. The 18-degree grip angle is than a full-sized version. Given large hands azine, but it’s accuracy, smooth operation, shoot. I would not hesitate a second to use this in a 5-day pistol retained, along with a shorter (compared to I trade two rounds (generally) for a margin- lack of recoil with hot loads and overall fit class. Texturing is aggressive enough to maintain solid control, but my Pro Series) beavertail for concealability. al increase in concealability and the inability changed my mind. will not tear you up. Over the course of a couple thousand rounds it never missed a beat. Reliability is not an issue with the compact smith & wesson M&P 2.0 Compact magazine, a newer factory 17 rounder with the extension, and even 1—The M&P 2.0 Compact 1. 2. my years-old magazines with 10-8 performance base pads. Having Weight 24 Ounces backed up its excellent down- the spacer is nice but not necessary. Overall Length 7.3 Inches range-precision with great Barrel Length 4 Inches shoot-ability and recoil Bottom Line Frame Polymer mitigation, and anvil-like This is the best out-of-the box M&P Smith & Wesson has Sights White dot standard/Trijicon HD XR tested reliability. The author fitted offered for concealed carry, off duty or duty use to date. Magazine Capacity 15+1 standard,17+1 with Spacer his pistol with the excellent Accuracy is as good as these pistols get, reliability is excellent, Retail Price $569.00 Apex Action Enhancement and the 2.0 upgrades are noticeable. Carry a full-sized maga- trigger kit and Trijicon’s day/ zine with a spacer for duty, swap out the shorter magazine for night HD XR sights. 2—The M&P off duty or concealed carry. It fit in my duty holsters using the 2.0 Compact produced sub- TLR-1 or Surefire X300. It’s about perfect for concealed two-inch five-shot groups carry, no loss in ballistic efficiency, a bit easier to conceal at 25-yards with every load with 15+1 rounds of ammunition. For those using one 3. used during testing, but the pistol for most needs this is a fantastic choice. Use a light, best performance came with or not, but either way if you are looking for a carry pistol Hornady’s 135-grain FlexLock you can fight with if needed the 2018On Target Editors’ Critical Duty +P load, print- Choice Award winning M&P 2.0 Compact needs to be at ing this 1.50-inch group. the top of your list. Contact Smith & Wesson; Tel.: (800) 331- 0852; Web: www.smith-wesson.com—Dave Bahde 44 45 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards zeiss conquest v4 riflescope 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards zeiss conquest v4 riflescope 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

Zeiss Conquest Nitrogen purging prevents lenses from fogging and icle. We tested it at ranges from 100 to 500 yards, 6-24x50mm V4 Riflesscope the scope is waterproof to 4 meters for two hours. and I’d be delighted to mount it on any prairie-dog, Field of view at 100 yards elk rifle or precision rifle where long-range is the The new Zeiss Conquest V4 family of riflescopes is 19 feet at 6X and 4.8 feet name of the game. Clarity, light transmission and is based on a 4x zoom ratio, incorporates a at 24x. Exit pupil diame- color fidelity were all as good as they get. This is a 30mm main tube, and consists of 1-4x24mm, ter ranges from 7.5mm to lot of optic for the money. See the 2018 On Target 3-12x56mm, 4-16x44mm, and 6-24x50mm vari- 2.1mm, and eye relief is Editors’ Choice Award winning 6-24x50mm Con- ations. Each scope delivers 90% to-the-eye light 3.5 inches. An adjust- quest V4 at your firearms retailer, or for more in- transmission, and offers 1/4-MOA click adjust- formation contact Carl Zeiss Sports Optics; Tel.: (800) ments for windage and elevation, second focal 441-3005; Web: www.zeiss.com —Bill Battles plane reticle designs, and 60-to 100-MOA of total elevation and windage adjustment (depending upon model). The 1-4x24mm model is available with ei- 44.9mm ocular lens and a 50mm objective lens. ther capped or external elevation turrets, while the The ocular lens has a padded, rotating diopter 3-12x56mm version comes standard with capped adjustment ring with an adjustment range of -3 elevation and windage turrets. The 4-16x44mm to +2 diopter. Magnification range is 6x to 24x, and 6-24x50mm models have external elevation and a magnification power throw lever is available turrets which also include Zeiss’ Ballistic Stop as an option. Several reticle options are available, feature to ensure an absolute and positive return to including a traditional plex-style, and Zeiss’ new- able side dial provides parallax-free viewing zero under any conditions. est ZMOA and ZBR MOA-based smart reticles. from 50 yards to infinity. Elevation adjust- Our evaluation model—and the winner of this llluminated reticles are offered optionally, and all ment range is 80 MOA, while windage adjustment 2018 On Target Editors’ Choice Award—was the reticles are set in the second focal plane. T* 6-layer range is 60 MOA. The 6-24x50mm Conquest V4 6-24x50mm Conquest V4 ($1,099 to $1,199). It’s multi coatings are applied to all internal lens sur- is 14.5 inches long overall and weighs 24.4 oz. built on a one-piece, 30mm, machined aluminum faces, while the exterior lens surfaces get the Zeiss During testing we were mightily impressed main tube hard anodized in matte black, with a Lotu-Tec hydrophobic (water shedding) coating. with our sample scope’s ZMOA1 illuminated ret-

46 47 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards thompson/center t/c r22 .22lr semi-auto 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards thompson/center t/c r22 .22lr semi-auto 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

4—We had a blast testing the TCR22, as it’s accu- rate, reliable (we had zero malfunctions) and a rifle you can shoot all day long with minimal am- munition investment. It’s also backed by T/C’s lifetime warranty and is, handily, compatible with most aftermarket 10/22 accessories.

process. Not a match trigger, but definite- 4. ly more than adequate for hunting and recreational plinking. We tend to be pretty damned picky about triggers, so don’t let what I just said discourage you. Objective- ly, the trigger is better than those of most production .22 rifles. The Magpul-produced, one-piece, olive drab composite stock has a perfectly flat Sights consist of a ramp-mounted forearm, which makes it conducive to green fiber-optic front and a ghost-ring shooting off a rest. It features a horizon- rear, which is adjustable for windage and tally serrated and textured, ergonomically elevation. A groove machined into the Pi- pleasing pistol grip, horizontally serrated Thompson/Center catinny top rail provides straight-through black butt plate, sling swivel attachment visual access for the open sights, whether points front and rear, and M-LOK cuts on or not an optic is mounted. Optics with the underside of the forearm for mounting unusually large ocular or objective lenses a bi-pod or other accessories. We felt that may block access to the open sights, but the height of the comb was about perfect T/C R22 .22 LR Semi-Auto such scopes are not typically mounted on for a mounted optic, but a tad high for 5—Even with the Giving its competition reason for worry .22 rifles. Even so, a set of high rings will use with the open sights. You can’t have it handicap of no magni- solve the problem. both ways without an adjustable comb, so fication, we had little The 17-inch barrel is of medium we figure the comb height is about right, trouble holding 1.5- The new T/C R22 .22 LR semi-auto from on the T/C R22’s integrally machined, 11- profile, rifled at a 1:15” twist rate, fully as most people will mount a red-dot or inch and below 5-shot Thompson/Center ($399) establishes a slot, Picatinny top rail. free floated and the muzzle is threaded magnifying optic on the Picatinny top rail. groups at 50-yards with new genre for T/C, as it is both their only While this rifle is reminiscent in some for installation of a suppressor or oth- With a lightweight, non-magnifying the lightweight TCR22. semi- and their only rifle ways of the Ruger 10/22, the T/C R22 is er muzzle device. All metal is finished Burris FastFire red-dot optic, 200-plus of any type chambered for the ubiquitous no clone. It’s feature set appeals to both in matte black, except for the bolt and rounds of reliability testing was conduct- The best performance and ever-popular .22 LR cartridge. The recreational shooters and small game bolt handle, which are finished in silver ed at 25 to 100 yards on .22-class steel from the 50-yard line T/C R22 represents an entirely new design hunters, with the most obvious similarity to nitride. Controls consist of a push-forward plate targets, with no malfunctions of any came with Federal in .22 autoloaders, and has proven to be a the 10/22 being its Ruger-style 10-round, magazine release lever mounted forward of type encountered. Accuracy testing was Premium 40-gr. match hollow point, deliver- winner from the get go. detachable rotary magazine. The T/C R22’s the trigger guard, a bolt hold-open lever conducte from a sand bag rest at 50 yards 5. This is a crossover-sized rifle with a 17- magazine, however, comes with an im- in the trigger guard housing, a cross-bolt using multiple brands/grain weights of ing this 0.90-inch group. inch barrel and a 13.5-inch length of pull. portant and innovative twist: a depressible safety mounted in the trigger guard with a ammunition and with a Gemtech light- It’s comfortable to shoot for full grown lever mounted on the left rear side of the red off-safe indicator and a wide, vertically weight and ultra-quiet Gemtech GM-22 0.90-inch 5-shot group. We consider this should be at the top of your list. See the adult males, but also works well for small- magazine housing that permits you to un- serrated trigger. The trigger is good, but sound suppressor threaded to the muzzle. excellent performance from a lightweight new 2018 On Target Editors’ Choice Award er statured humans. The length of pull is load the magazine manually without having not great. It exhibited about 1/16th inch The TCR22 showed no real preference rimfire rifle and no magnification. winning T/C R22 at your local firearms a bit too long for the little folks, but it can to chamber and eject every round into the of slack take-up to a semi-hard wall, then in the ammo department, but did do its If you’re in the market for a top-quality, dealer, or for more information contact work for them with a little stretching or a dirt. This lever also must be depressed to another roughly 1/8 inch of travel to the best work with Federal Premium match accurate, reliable, lightweight and stream- Thompson/Center Arms; Tel.: (866) 730-1614; medium to long eye relief scope mounted load the first round into the magazine. break, with some minimal creep in the hollow point Small Game load, printing a lined semi-auto .22 rifle, the T/C R22 Web: www.tcarms.com—Bill Battles

1. 1—The new TCR22 is not short on factory 3. features. Milled direct- ly into the top of its lightweight aluminum receiver is a Picatinny optics rail, and sitting just behind that is a 2. windage and elevation adjustable peep sight. 2—The TCR’s medium-contour 17-inch fiber-optic ramp front sight is standard equipment. Below is a polymer trig- barrel is threaded at the muzzle, allow- 3—One of our favorite aspects of the TCR22 has to ger module and a stan- ing attachment of sound suppressors be its olive-drab, Magpul-made polymer stock. It’s dard cross-bolt safety. or other muzzle devices. We completed light, has a great feeling, textured vertical palm The rifle’s flush-fit the majority of our testing with Gem- swell, front and rear sling swivel attachment 10-round rotary maga- tech’s impressively quiet and light GM-22 points and M-LOK slots cut into the forend for zine is easy to load and suppressor, which proved to have zero accessory mounting. In short, most everything you gave us zero trouble. effect on downrange precision. A green could wish for in a semi-auto rimfire buttstock. 48 49 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards taurus raging hunter .44 mag. 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

taurus raging hunter .44 mag. Angry at the muzzle, tame at the grip, this could be Taurus’ most competent hunting revolver yet 1.

Taurus USA has been producing large frame hunting revolvers under the trade name “Raging something” for around 20 years or so. The first guns in the Raging series we’re named Raging Bulls, and the most recent adaptations bear the Raging Hunter moni- ker. The Raging Hunters are a significant upgrade of the Raging Bulls in a wide variety of respects. I owned an early Raging Bull chambered in .454 Casull, and used it for bear defense on countless fishing trips to Alaska. I never had to fire at an Alaska coastal brown bear, but I did have to draw on several of them as I retreated and surren- dered the fish I had on the line. 2. Our evaluation Raging Hunter was chambered in .44 Rem. Mag. with a 6-round cylinder. Front and rear cylinder locking latches insure a positive cylin- der lock-up and perfect alignment of every chamber with the forcing cone. Cheapo revolvers sometimes have one or more cylinders that don’t align perfectly with the forcing cone, which causes copper jacket material to shave off, pass through the cylinder gap and blow back into the shooter’s face. I have a work- ing left eye today because of our company policy 3. 1—An optics-ready Picatinny rail, machined directly into the aluminum barrel shroud, takes the hassle out of mounting a red-dot or magnifying optic. For testing we used Trijicon’s proven and durable RM06 RMR LED reflex sight. The steel barrel sleeve rides within the light- weight barrel shroud, effectively taking weight off the front end and creating a very-well bal- anced revolver. Barrel porting did its job, with a noticeable reduction in felt recoil and muzzle rise. 2—The Raging Hunter employs dual locking latches to ensure positive lockup. The latches must be depressed in tandem to release the cylinder, and with practice, can be done just as quickly as a single-latch cylinder. Cylinder lockup was tight and cylinder-rotation trouble free. The trigger impressed, in both single- and double-action pull. 3—What the barrel porting doesn’t kill in felt recoil, the Raging Hunter’s “cushioned insert” grips—with they’re thicker, raised-red backstrap—do a very good job of soaking up. Wet or dry, gloved hands or non, the rubber compound is about as tacky as it gets, and perfect for all-weather hunting. 50 51 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards taurus raging hunter .44 mag. 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

requiring that polycar- long revolver. The barrel and shroud the firing pin, permitting a full load bonate shooting glasses feature a factory-tuned porting system of six rounds at all times. be worn during all testing sessions. with gas expansion chamber. For testing we mounted a Trijicon No such problem was encountered Machined into the flat top of the RMR RM06 reflex sight and thumb- in hundreds of rounds fired while barrel shroud is a 13-slot Picatinny rail screw mount on the top rail, and went testing the Raging Hunter. ready for mounting a red-dot sight or a to work on steel plates at distances The Raging Hunter is a big gun. long-eye-relief magnifying optic. Open ranging from 25-100 yards for reliabil- With a 8.375-inch barrel, 14.1-inch sights consist of a rearward sloped, ity testing. We needn’t have bothered, overall length, 1.8-inch width, 6.4- windage and elevation adjustable rear as we experienced no malfunctions of inch height and an empty weight of sight with U-notch, and a pinned front any type in over 100 rounds fired, and 55 oz., it tames .44 Mag. recoil to a blade sight, both of which are finished hitting a 6-inch steel plate at 100-yards large degree. Its rubber grips with a in plain matte blue. became relatively unchallenging after soft-rubber cushioned insert in the Since this is a double-action a short amount of “get to know each heel no doubt contributed to that revolver, you have your choice of a other” time. Moving to the bench phenomenon. Available in stainless long but smooth double-action pull at at 25-yards, we tested the Raging steel and matte blue, or all matte an average pull weight of 8-pounds, Hunter with the following brands of blue, it is priced at a reasonable $919 7-ounces, or cocking the deeply ammunition in the following bullet in either configuration. serrated hammer and firing single-ac- weights: Black Hills’ solid-copper One of the most unique features of tion. With the latter you get a “zero 160-gr. Honey Badger Badger, SIG’s the Raging Hunter is its barrel system. length” trigger pull at an average pull 240-gr. Elite Performance V-Crown A steel barrel tube is inserted into weight of 3-pounds, 6-ounces. In sin- JHP, Federal’s 240-gr. Fusion JHP what appears to be a slab-sided barrel, gle-action mode, the trigger pull is as and Hornady’s Custom 240-gr. XTP. but is really a barrel shroud machined good as it gets—not a hint of take-up, All loads performed very well, with from aircraft-grade aluminum alloy. creep or stacking, and no perceptible very close performance across the The external aluminum barrel shroud trigger travel before the break. The spread, but SIG’s Elite Performance significantly reduces weight in the trigger shoe is wide, slightly round- load edged out an accuracy win with a forward part of the gun, making it bal- ed and unless you have midget- or 1.10-inch five-shot group. Overall, an ance surprisingly well for a 14.1-inch giant-length fingers, properly placed extremely-solid showing for Taurus’ for distal phalanx contact in both newest hunting revolver. Taurus raging hunter .44 magnum single- and double-action modes. The See the 2018 On Target Editors’ Weight: 55-oz. Raging Hunter is also equipped with Choice Award winning Taurus Raging Overall Length: 14.1 inches a safety bar that rises into place in the Hunter .44 Mag. at your local Length: 8.375-inches relieved trigger face when the hammer shop, or for more information contact Sights: Fully Adjustable/Picatinny Optic Rail is cocked to fill the gap between the Taurus International Manufacturing, Tel.: Finish: Matte Blue hammer and firing pin. As a result, a (800) 327-3776; Web: taurususa.com Capacity: 6 live round can be safely carried under —Bill Battles Retail Price: $919 1—Between the muzzle porting, cushioned-insert grips, the gun’s overall weight and its excellent balance, this .44 Magnum acted much like a full-size .357 Magnum under recoil when firing full-power 240-grain hunting loads. 2—SIG’s Elite Performance line of ammunition has a growing reputation for being some of the best-performing, most-precise ammo available, and although others performed nearly as well during testing, their 240-gr. 44 Magnum load keeps that mo- mentum going, scoring the best 5-shot, 25-yard group of the day, measuring 1.10-inches. 1. 2.

52 53 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards trijicon accupower riflescope 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards trijicon accupower riflescope 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

Trijicon AccuPower Magnification is adjusted via a repositionable mag- piece, and a parallax adjustment ring offers parallax 5-50x56mm riflescope nification lever that accommodates multiple platforms adjustment from 10 yards to infinity. The AccuPower The shear size of the the all-new Trijicon AccuPower and firing positions. Turning the lever to change 5-50x56mm comes with the aforementioned sun- 5-50x56mm extreme long-range riflescope is a sight magnification settings requires minimal effort, and the shade, ocular and objective lens Flip Cap set, Trijicon to behold. Measuring 19.25 inches in overall length magnification ring turns Logo Sticker, LENSPEN, manual and Trijicon’s Life- with its detachable 3-inch sunshade installed, its smoothly and easily. time Warranty (electronic components are warranted 34mm main tube and 1.5-inch diameter windage and for five years). Check out theOn Target Editors’ Choice elevation turrets only add to the effect. Its unprece- Award winning AccuPower 5-50x56mm riflescope at dented 10x zoom gives long-range hunters, precision your local firearms retailer, or for more information rifle shooters and benchrest shooters the flexibility to contact Trijicon; Telephone: (800) 338-0563; Web- acquire, identify and engage targets at any range. site: www.trijicon.com —Bill Battles It features extra low dispersion glass lenses for true colors and exceptional target definition, a massive that provide quick target ranging. The stadia lines are 56mm objective lens for outstanding light transmission only 1/32 MOA in width to enhance target visualiza- even in low-light conditions, and fully multi-coated, tion at high magnification. An upgraded illumination broadband, anti-reflective optics that virtually elimi- control permits the reticle to be illuminated in red or nate glare and loss of light. green, with five user-selectable brightness settings in Crisp 0.125 MOA per click adjustments provide each color and an off position between each setting. precise tracking, and its big capped turrets provide Reticle illumination is provided by a single CR2032 The one-piece 34mm 100 MOA of elevation and 50 MOA of windage lithium battery. This precision machined and hold- tube is machined from rugged, adjustment with a Return to Zero feature. The un- over illuminated, second focal plane reticle is spe- aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, hard-anodized for cluttered MOA reticle we tested (also available in an cifically designed for extreme long-range precision. all-weather protection. It is shockproof, fog proof MRAD version) offers maximum field of view with Reticle-etched FOV magnification ratios help keep and waterproof to a depth of ten feet. Ample diop- alternating 0.5 MOA and 1.0 MOA stadia heights the shooter’s eyes on target. ter adjustment is provided by the fast-focus eye-

54 55 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards savage msr15 224 valkyrie 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards savage msr15 224 valkyrie 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

at twist rate of 1:7”, it features direct gas impingement operation, mid-length gas system, over-sized, 4-port, tunable muzzle brake 3—Being capable of impressive downrange preci- threaded at 1/2 x 28 TPI and adjustable gas block that can be sion, and with almost-unbelievably-soft recoil im- dialed in to accommodate a variety of bullet weights. pulse allowing the rifle to stay planted, shooting The barrel and muzzle brake are finished in matte black, the MSR15 Valkyrie felt like a no-miss proposition while the upper and lower receivers and handguard are finished each time the trigger was pulled. With a varied se- in FDE Cerakote for lection of Federal .224 Valkyrie ammo, ranging from inexpensive “range” ammunition to match grade, and the ability to reach out well past effective .223 Rem/5.56mm NATO distances, this rifle/ammunition pairing left us with literally nothing to complain about. 4—Not having Federal’s Premium loads on hand for testing due optimum corrosion resistance. The controls are to time constraints, their American Eagle brand standard AR-15 fare found in their usual locations, 75-gr. TMJ load went nearly half-MOA for 5-shots at and all except the trigger are finished in matte black. 100-yards. In fact, if you wanted to open the group The smooth trigger shoe, and all internal trigger size up to over an inch, it took deliberately doing components, are finished in silver nitride to reduce so. Not bad for inexpensive “range” ammunition! friction and wear. A 12-slot Picatinny top rail above the upper receiver mates perfectly with a 33-slot 3. Piciatinny top rail above the handguard. The hand- guard also features seven rows of seven M-Lok slots aroundits circumference, providing ample space for mounting any accessories you can think of. No iron sight are provided. Furniture consists of a grippy Hogue textured rubber pistol grip and the excellent 8-position Mag- savage msr15 224 valkyrie pul UBR Gen 2 buttstock. It comes with one PRI American Eagle with a 75-grain TMJ, Fusion with a 90-grain 6.8 SPC steel magazine which holds 25 rounds of A great looking, reliable and superbly-accurate platform Bonded Soft Point and Premium with either a Nosler 60-grain for launching the hot new .224 Valkyrie cartridge 224 Valkyrie ammo. Internet chatter indicates that Ballistic Tip or 90-grain Sierra Matchking. A Gold Medal offering 30-round 5.56 NATO STANAG magazines work is in development and will be available shortly. fine, but we did no testing to confirm that. Think of the new 224 Valkyrie cartridge as a 6.8 SPC case The 224 Valkyrie has caught on with a number of AR manufac- The rifle’s trigger deserves a paragraph of its own. We com- (or .30 Rem. which uses the same case body) necked down to turers which are now chambering it—the Savage MSR 15 being one mend Savage for dispensing with a Mil-Spec, single-stage trigger .224” diameter. It’s the first AR-15 cartridge that remains super- of the nicest and most affordable among them. It also happens to be in favor of their own 2-stage design. This trigger is about as good sonic out to 1,300 yards. Federal’s 75-gr. American Eagle TMJ a great looking, easy handling, reliable and superbly accurate rifle. as AR-15 triggers get, and you won’t be needing to replace it with exits the muzzle at 3,000 f.p.s., generating 1,494 ft. lbs. of ener- Dubbed the MSR 15 Valkyrie ($1,499), it’s an MSR 15 Recon plat- an aftermarket trigger. There’s a very consistent 1/8 inch of slack gy. It’s a much flatter shooting round, with more retained energy form rechambered for the 224 Valkyrie cartridge and all jazzed up. take-up to a hard wall, followed by an almost imperceptible and downrange than the .223 Rem./5.56 NATO or 6.8 SPC. Federal It weighs 7.88 lbs. empty with magazine installed, but feels lighter. very short take-up to the break. At no point in the pull is any Premium loads the .224 Valkyrie in three ammunition lines: Fitted with an 18-inch, medium-heavy profile barrel with 5R stacking or creep detectable. Total trigger pull weight measured a consistent 3.75 pounds on our Lyman digital trigger pull gauge— 1—The MSR15 Valkyrie is fitted with an 18-inch barrel cut with 5R rifling and topped with a tuneable light enough for accurate, long-range target shooting, but not too 4-port muzzle brake. An adjustable gas port feeds a mid-length gas system beneath the rifle’s 15-inch, light for hunting. M-LOK/Picatinny equipped handguard. Both handguard and receivers are finish in an FDE Cerakote. Shown All testing of the MSR15 .224 Valkyrie was done using a attached is the new Magpul M-LOK Bipod. 2—With its enhanced cheek weld, flip-open storage compart- Bushnell Elite Tactical 3.5-21x50 DMR II scope (bushnell. ment, molded-in sling attachment and QD sling mounts on both sides, the Magpul UBR reigns as our top com) mounted in a an ADM 34mm QD one-piece mount pick for an AR precision rifle. Outside of the enhanced 2-stage trigger and Hogue grip, controls are (americandefensemanufacturing.com.) Function and reliability Mil-Spec. One PRI 25-round 6.8 SPC magazine is provided. Bushnell’s rugged and crystal-clear Elite Tactical testing was conducted at ranges of 25 to 450 yards on steel 3.5-21x50 DMR II scope was used throughout testing. plate targets, using Federal’s American Eagle 75-gr. TMJ— what’s considered Federal’s “range ammunition” offering—and 4. 1. 2. Federal’s 90-gr. Fusion MSR load, which is their medium-game hunting option. With either of the two loads used, the recoil the performance of Federal’s least-expensive load, however. The impulse of this rifle is something that needs to be experienced American Eagle printed a best-of-the-day 5-shot group measur- to be believed. One might think recoil would emulate a 6.8 ing an impressive 0.60-inches. If this is what the rifle is capable SPC platform, since this is the cartridge the .224 Valkyrie was of using “range” ammunition, we can’t wait to put it to the test derived from, but when the firing pin meets the primer, it’s using the Premium offerings. tough to remember you’re not shooting a heavy, compensated If you’re looking for a precision, flatter shooting, more powerful .223 Rem. chambered AR; surely thanks in large part to the AR-15 that can extend your reach considerably over a .223 Rem/5.56 rifle’s ultra-effective muzzle brake. NATO chambered rifle, the is an option you simply cannot go wrong Accuracy testing was performed from the bench at 100 yards with. See the 2018 On Target Editors’ Choice Award winning Savage using a sandbag rest. Both loads performed very well—each .224 Valkyrie MSR at your gun shop, or contact Savage Arms; Tel.: giving sub-MOA performance. The real surprise of the day was (800) 370-0708; Web: www.savagearms.com —Ben Battles 56 57 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards wilson combat edc x9 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

1. wilson combat edc x9 This pistol blends 1911 design with “wonder-nine” capacity and prestige-level quality to earn it a 2018 Editors’ Choice Award. 2. Picture the 1911 pistol in one of its most classic formats, the shortened-barrel, lightweight configuration defined by the Colt Com- mander in 1950. Picture it with a grip-frame that feels more like a Beretta 92 Compact, housing a 15-round 9mm magazine much like that of the Walther PPQ, and G10 stocks from VZ in the grippy, distinctive pattern Wilson calls “starburst.” Visualize a slide cross-hatched with high traction grasping grooves, and a fluted and deeply crowned barrel. That, my friends, is the EDC (Every-Day Carry) X9 pistol from Wilson Combat.

Trigger 3. Ask seasoned 1911 fans why they cling to this ancient design and the most common answer you’ll get is, “The trigger.” Short and crisp, with

1—Two 15-round magazines—designed in conjunction with Mec Gar—come with each pistol, and gave flawless functioning during testing. The VZ/Wilson Combat G10 grip panels do not rely on grip screws and bushings to be held in place, which effectively reduces the grip cir- cumference. 2—At the business end is a deeply-crowned muzzle and fiber-optic front sight. The slide assembly is the same as Wilson’s single-stack EDC 9 pistol, and features the same deeply-cut X-TAC grasping grooves. The pistol is available either with or without a Picatinny accessory rail, and Wilson carries a large selection of high-end leather-holster options to accommodate both. 3—Compared to a standard 1911, the trigger guard is extended forward by one- tenth of an inch for additional clearance with gloved hands. Extended slide stop and magazine re- lease are standard, and either a left side, right side or ambi thumb safety can be spec’d when you order. Both the rear of the slide and adjustable, U-notch rear sight are cut with 40-LPI checkering. 58 59 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards wilson combat edc x9 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards wilson combat edc x9 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

rapid re-set, a 1911’s trigger lends itself to good shoot- sured half an inch from outer edge to outer edge and wasn’t ing. Bill Wilson is famous for the quality of his triggers, confirmed as a three-shot group until the exit side of the target 1. and the EDC X9 lives up to the expectation. There’s a revealed three distinct radii. Center to center, near as I could very short, light take-up followed by a very short “roll,” and then a tell, that trio of hits were barely more than a quarter inch crisp, clean “break” of the shot. Bill likes the Series 70 style triggers, apart. There are a lot of rifles that can’t stack three hits like and to make it drop safe, he fits the EDC with a lightweight firing that at 25 yards. Needless to say, I was impressed with both pin and a Wolff XXP firing pin spring. He finds this combination the accuracy of those 124-grain Hornady bullets loaded under lights off the toughest primers and still passes a 48” drop test. the Wilson brand, and that of the pistol from which they were fired. My compliments to the chefs. Off the Bench In keeping with my usual theme of testing the three most And in the Field popular bullet weights in the given caliber, I chose Wilson Com- G10 grips with a unique and ingenious attachment design bat’s own brand for 115- and 124-grain, and plain vanilla Amer- are a signature feature of the EDC pistol. Trust me, they do ican Eagle for 147-grain subsonic. At 25-yards the 147-grain not allow movement inside your grasp no matter how fast you American Eagle full metal jacket truncated cone bullets delivered are shooting. These grips are rough against bare skin in deep a 5-shot group measuring 3.70”, with the best three in 2.05”. concealment, though. If you’re carrying inside the waistband be- (All measurements were to the nearest 0.05”.) neath a tails-out shirt, wear an undershirt. Ask me how I know. Our Wilson pistol was true to its brand and shot better with Another Wilson Combat signature feature is the Battle- 2. ammo that wore the same stamp as its own. 115-grain Wilson Sights with a big U-notch rear and bright green fiber optic Combat TAC XP +P comprises an all-copper hollow point rated front. Loved ‘em. So did everyone else on the test team. Our 1—Yes, this is five hits with Wilson Combat 124 grain +P XTP ammo at 25 yards. To see it better, this photo for 1,200 feet per second from a five-inch service pistol barrel. It testers liked the gun overall. For my part, I’ve found that the was shot of the exit holes on opposite side of target to reveal the 3 distinct radii in the 3-shot cluster. 2— punched five holes into a group of 1.95”, and the best three in EDC points low for me. This, I have to add, is highly sub- Shot-recovery time with the EDC X9 is nothing short of impressive. Reliability was also 100-percent through three-quarters of an inch. That’s darn good for a compact pistol jective. As a purchaser of Wilson Combat 1911s and Wilson hundreds of rounds of the author’s testing, as well as an equal amount back at On Target headquarters. with a 3.8-inch barrel. Combat Berettas, both of which I’ve been eminently satisfied The piece de resistance in the accuracy test turned out to be an- with, the EDC X9 feels to me like a cross between the two. students, with all sixty shots in a sub-five-inch group, shooting Comfortable carry, accuracy and reliability, and the cachet of its other Wilson Combat round, the 124-grain XTP +P, also rated This is my second Wilson EDC test gun, the first having under time and including one-hand-only strings with each hand. famous name—it’s no wonder that Wilson Combat is selling all for 1,200 foot-seconds from a five-inch tube. All five hits were in been run at a class I taught for Karl Rehn (krtraining.com) It’s hard to ask for better performance than that under pressure. of these they can make, despite their $2,895 MSRP. For more 1.85”, but the best-three cluster was simply awesome. The target in Texas. That first gun gave me a perfect 300 out of 300 With several hundred rounds through this particular specimen information contact Wilson Combat; Tel.: (800) 955-4856; Web: presented with two 9mm holes and one misshapen one that mea- score shooting a demonstration qualification in front of our of the EDC X9, it has yet to experience its first malfunction. www.wilsoncombat.com—Massad Ayoob

60 61 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards 9mm 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards sig sauer p365 9mm 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

excellent X-Ray 3 tritium night sights, the rear of which features a ledge for unconventional slide manipulation. Two 4. magazines are provided, one flush fit and the other with a lip to provide a rest for the little finger. The stainless-steel slide is coated in Nitron, and the 3.10-inch barrel is coated stainless and rated for 9mm +P ammunition. The grip is moderately stippled. Overall length is 5.8 inches, width is an inch. Listed weight is 17.8 ounces. With all the chatter about issues with the first guns, I ran this pistol pretty hard. If my life is going to depend on a pistol it must work, and this one surely did. Day one was close to 500 rounds of three different types of FMJ ammu- nition using the 12-round magazines. Shooting 115-grain practice ammunition was downright pleasant, nothing like any micro-compact pistol tested to date. I would not hesitate to take the P365 and a few 12-round magazines to most any pistol class, and it was possible to run the same drills with the P365 as with any of my current carry pis- 4— The P365 was snappy 5. tols. The P365 never missed a beat throughout testing—no with the hotter defen- malfunctions or failures to go into battery no matter how sive ammunition, yet fast the trigger was pulled. never uncontrolla- Every duty load in inventory was thrown at the P365 ble or painful under for function and practical accuracy. Everything ran, no recoil. In over 1,000 problems, even the Doubletap 115-grain Barnes with a rounds of testing, the listed velocity from a 4-inch barrel of 1,240 f.p.s. With the 3” barrel it was still making over 1,200 f.p.s. These loads pistol never missed a were a handful but controllable with a firm grip. Standard beat—no malfunctions +P loads started in the 1,050 to 1,100 f.p.s. range and were or failures to go into noticeably softer to shoot, and factory 115-grain loads, like battery no matter how the Hornady FTX, were almost comfy. fast the trigger was Accuracy was excellent given a firm grip. Group testing was pulled. performed at 15 yards using a bag as a rest from a bench. The 5—At 15-yards, the pistol produced this impressive, 1.25- best group came from Doubletap 77-grain DT, measuring an sig sauer p365 9mm inch 5-shot group using Doubletap’s 77-grain DT load. impressive 1.25-inches. Nothing exceeded 2.5 inches at that in a class of its own range. Hitting the 6-inch steel at 25 yards proved pretty easy, Takeaways? The P365 is about as accurate as a sub-com- so it is plenty accurate at range. From 10 yards and closer pact pistol can be made. My battle with small, sights, affixed into actual dovetails. There were no oddly placed it kept everything inside a fist sized group while performing light, and concealable pistols controls, the slide stop, take-down lever and magazine release were both controlled pairs and hammers. In short, it’s about as accuracy has been excellent and reliability flawless— has been a long one. Early in my the same as most compacts. Capacity was 10+1, extremely impres- accurate as you can make a three-inch barreled pistol this size. even with powerful ammunition. It’s just hard to feel police career smaller handguns were relegated to a secondary role, sive for its size, and the grip was not blockish, too thin or square. Carrying the P365 loaded with 13 rounds of 77-grain under gunned with 13 rounds of 9mm making as much mostly due to their proven ineffectiveness, spotty performance and Using the 10-round magazines left my pinky finger dangled DT it weighed 27 ounces. By comparison my Republic as 1,200 fps using modern expanding bullets. Retail is lack of capacity. Over the last few years, however, small handguns below the grip, but moving to the 12-round magazine was a game Forge LW Commander 1911 loaded with 11 rounds of $599.00—about the same as most competitors with and evolving ammunition have emerged to narrow the gap, but pay- changer. My entire hand had a home on a micro-compact pistol. 115-grain ammunition, weighs 48 ounces—huge difference. 10+1 out of the box and night sights. We can’t think of load capacity still remained an issue…that is until now. It was snappy with the hotter ammunition, but neither painful or Similar small pistols have seen the same results but none of a better micro-compact pistol to slap the Editors’ Choice My initial introduction to the P365 occurred at one of Sig Sauer’s uncontrollable. Intrigued, it was time to get one and test it. them carried 13 rounds of full boat ammunition. Award label on for 2018. Contact Sig Sauer; Tel.: (603) media events. To my surprise it was equipped with real steel night My test pistol was the current model equipped with Sig Sauer’s With over 1,000 rounds through the P365 as of writing this, 610-3000; Web: www.sigsauer.com—Dave Bahde

1—The 365’s slide- and magazine-releases are 3—The P365’s slide mea- very well placed/sized for hands large and 1. 2. sures approximately 9/10ths 3. small, and its trigger guard is significantly of an inch wide…about the larger than that of the similarly-sized Glock 43 same as its direct, but low- to accommodate a gloved and/or large trigger er-capacity, competition— finger. Grip texturing lands in all the right the single-stack Glock 43. places, and the grip’s next-to-ideal shape makes The SIG’s slide is also over a you forget you’re firing a sub-compact. 2— quarter-inch shorter and Magazine options include two 10-rounders its grip less than a tenth (included)—one flush-fit and one with of an inch wider…all with an extended base plate to catch the capability of carrying the pinky of an average-sized twice the payload capaci- hand—and an extended capaci- ty. Real, dovetailed night ty 12-round. A payload capacity sights—much like you’d of this level, for a pistol this expect to see on the 365’s size, was and still is unprecedent- full-size brethren—are a ed before the P365 hit the scene. definite win as well. 62 63 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards nighthawk agent 2 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards nighthawk agent 2 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

Agent 1, its Commander-sized brother. Both are chambered in 9mm, though the Agent 2 3. can also be had in .45 ACP. The success of the now discontinued Agent 1 led to the same collaboration with Agency Arms, Hillbilly 223 and Railscales to create the Agent 2. Your first glance at the Agent 2, like most other Nighthawk offerings, will tell you that this is not your average 1911, or even one a few grades above. My initial impression was that it looked futuristic, sort of like some- thing the evil alien hunter from Predator may have carried if they couldn’t find a good blaster in the 1000 mega-watt range. It is very sleek and all business in a grey Night- hawk Smoke Cerakote finish. Starting at the top, the Agent 2 has a 6.51-inch long slide, faceted top and bottom, with aggressive diagonal slide serrations carved fore and aft. These wrap around the sides just over the 3—With two empties in the air and sights that are squarely back top edges, and complement half-hexagonal on target, the Agent 2 ranks as possibly the most shootable, window cuts about an inch long on either softest recoiling 9mm pistol to ever pass through the testing side. The chamber end of the barrel likewise procedures of On Target. Our test pistol digested everything has shallow longitudinal cuts, and the muzzle it was fed without hiccup. 4—When an investment is made in a is faceted. The sights are a Heine Black Ledge Nighthawk 1911, customers expect not only expert craftsman- payment or two on a pistol that will do virtually the same thing ship and artistic aesthetic cues, but downrange precision is as a similar one for less than a quarter the money? The same rear with fiber-optic front, which are fast, functional and seemed perfect on this plat- also pretty high on the list of required attributes, could be asked of every Ferrari driver who could get to all the and bench-testing the Agent 2 didn’t dissapoint. same places in a Hyundai. A reasonable question, with an answer form. Meanwhile, the frame is sculpted with an Agency accelerator cut flashlight rail, and nighthawk agent 2 usually along the lines of: “I have the money, this thing is the 5. 4. best, and I want it.” One of Nighthawk Custom’s latest pistols, has two unique G10 scaled, shallow half-hex, The most-custom of custom 1911’s, the new the Agent 2, is bound to elicit more of this debate. Trust me slim grips. The beavertail and flat main- Agent 2 performs as good as it looks when I tell you that the Agent 2 is more special than any stock or spring housing all have light horizontal cuts lightly modified utilitarian pistol ever will be. to improve grip, while the magazine well is If you want to start a lively, emotional debate among pistol For those not already aware, Nighthawk Custom makes some single piece and beveled. All this cutting and enthusiasts, there are a lot of subjects that can be used as a catalyst. of the best 1911-style pistols in the world, along with a few faceting saves weight, which is still a hefty 9mm vs .45, or DA/SA vs striker-fired for example. One of my shotguns, revolvers and knives as well. Their firearms are truly 2.5 pounds empty. Even the mag release is favorites is what I call “expensive versus utilitarian”. We often see functional works of art, each handmade by a single gunsmith. unique, with an oval shape and length long this when discussing very high-end pistols from custom, boutique Introduced in January 2018 at the SHOT Show, the enough with the integrated thumb indent to manufacturers. Why, some will ask, would you spend a house Agent 2 is a full- sized version of the ensure positive ejection each time without risking accidental release. Last, but not least, the all-important trigger is a variation of 2. the Agency Arms flat-faced serrated model, which for me broke uber-consistently at 3.75 pounds with the minimal reset of a 1911. The single-stack Agent 2 comes with two 10-round 9mm mags, a nylon Nighthawk 5—Angular cuts leading to a thin flat on the top Custom pistol case and assorted literature. of the slide not only look great but help focus One would expect a pistol like the Agent your eyes on the sight picture—the rear of which 2 to shoot rather well, and this indeed would be a Heinie black ledge with a serrated proved to be the case. Heading to the face, and the front a bright-red fiber-optic. range, I scraped up a half-dozen different brands of inexpensive ball and more costly from a bench at 25 yards, the Agent 2 averaged spreads of 9mm defensive loads of various weights to 2- to 2.5-inches, with the best cluster turned in by Blazer 1—With extended and heavily serrated controls, and sharp, deep cuts try. The Agent 2 digested everything with- 124-gr. at 1.25 inches. A few drills, including some 5-yard nearly everywhere on the frame, slide and grips, traction was never out a hiccup, which is more than I can say roundups, which averaged a score of 95, proved the Agent an issue with the Agent 2. One might think this would turn into a meat for some other 9mm 1911-style pistols out 2 performs. For the discriminating few who want the grinder after 50 rounds or so, but that simply wasn’t the case. The Agent there. Given the small round, big gun, and distinct pleasure of carrying and shooting the most-custom 2 remains planted but also comfortable to shoot under recoil…two light recoil spring, the Agent 2 was very eas- of custom pistols, and can afford the $4,495 price tag, things that normally don’t occur in unison. 2—The finish on the Agent ily controlled, with the red fiber optic front the Agent 2 may be for you. It’s an easy nomination for a 2 is Nighthawk Smoke Cerakote, which takes on a subdued, slightly-worn sight quick to pick up in daylight. Grip 2018 Editor’s Choice Award. See it at you gun shop, or for looking appearance. Seeing it in person is the only way to do it justice. A was solid even in my miniature hands. The more information contact Nighthawk Custom; Tel.: (870) Picatinny light rail is standard and the pistol ships with two 10-round trigger on the Agent 2 is about as good as I 423-4867; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: 1. magazines. For those 1911 purists, the Agent 2 is also available in 45 ACP. have encountered. Firing five-shot groups www.nighthawkcustom.com—Guy Coursey 64 65 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards howa hs precision rifle 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards howa hs precision rifle 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

The HS Precision rifle is available in a number of different configurations. With 22-inch sporter No. 2 contour barrels, the 1. rifle is chambered for nine popular calibers from .223 Rem. to .30-06 Springfield. Rifles chambered in 7mm Rem. Mag. and

.300 Win Mag. are offered with 24-inch barrels in the same contour. For those looking for maximum velocity from long-legged cartridges, you can get the rifle with 26-inch semi- heavy No. 4 contour barrels chambered in 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 mm Creedmoor, .308 Win., 7mm Rem. Mag. and .300 Win. Mag. Threaded barrel options are available for guns with the 26-inch barrels. You can also select from three different stock color patterns, including tan, green or gray base colors with black 1—The Howa HS made good on its sub-MOA accuracy spiderweb. Weight of the rifles varies from 7.6 lbs. to 9.2 lbs. guarantee with a couple of loads the author test- depending on barrel contour and length. ed—the best of it being a 168-gr Winchester Match For testing, I mounted a Trijicon AccuPoint 4-16x50mm load, printing this 0.81-inch three-shot group at scope on the rifle using lightweight Talley rings. The rifle comes 100-yards. 2— For testing, the author opted for the with a sub-MOA accuracy guarantee, and I was anxious to see higher magnification provided by a Trijicon Accu- if it could deliver on that promise. Experience told me to expect Point 4-16x50 scope. Anchored with Talley light- howa hs precision rifle the rifle to show a preference for one bullet weight over another, weight rings, this made for an ideal setup for both Time proven ingredients combine to create look no further than the U.S. Army M24 . but I was pleasantly surprised when the best-performing loads hunting and range work. Putting the rifle to the The Howa 1500 action is a beefy, two-lug, push-feed design that turned out to be a couple using bullet weights of 168 gr. and test, the author found that the rifle shot sub-MOA a sub-MOA hunting rifle recipe has stood the test of time. Based on a Sako design with some Maus- 150 gr., respectively. The best 100-yard performance was with groups with three of five tested factory loads on a er features, it is essentially the same action used in the well-regarded Winchester’s 168-gr. Match load at 0.81 inches for three shots, day when the wind made things challenging. What’s not to like about a time-proven action mated to an Weatherby Vanguard rifle. It uses the Howa Actuator Controlled but a hunting round, the Hornady American Whitetail load with attractive, high-quality rifle stock? As it turns out, there’s very little to Trigger (HACT) system, which has a very light initial takeup be- a 150-gr. Interlock bullet, was nipping at its heels at 0.88 inches, complain about with the new Howa HS Precision rifle from Legacy fore meeting resistance and breaking crisply, with no hint of creep. underscoring the rifle’s versatility. Both loads produced one-inch 2. Sports International, which imports Howa actions and barrels and The trigger on my test rifle—a 22-inch barreled version chambered or better average groups and sub-MOA best groups. Another turns them into accurate, reliable and affordable finished rifles in a in 308 Win.—broke consistently and cleanly at an average pull good hunting load, the Barnes Vor-TX 168-gr. round, averaged wide variety of configurations. weight of 2 lbs., 9 oz. I consider that to be just about perfect for a just slightly over an inch with a sub-MOA best group. I consid- One of the newest offerings in the Howa lineup, the Howa HS Pre- hunting rifle, and you will be hard-pressed to find a better trigger er that to be very good accuracy on a day when the wind often cision rifle, employs a stock from H-S Precision that is a definite step on a production rifle in this price range. The trigger design incor- changed direction and gusted to 12 mph, and I would happily go up from the synthetic stocks offered on many production rifles. Built porates a 3-position safety with the lever situated within easy reach hunting with any of the three hunting loads tested. one at a time, the stock uses a CNC-machined aluminum bedding of the thumb atop the right rear of the action, just behind the top Functionally, the rifle was flawless. I experienced no issues with block that precisely matches the specifications of the 1500 action. The of the bolt handle. feeding, extraction or ejection. Pricing for the HS Precision rifle rang- bedding block is placed in a mold and the stock is hand-laminated Bucking the contemporary trend of slapping polymer detachable es from $1,099 to $1,299 depending on configuration and caliber. with a mixture of Kevlar, carbon fiber and fiberglass which is hand fin- magazines on virtually everything that launches a bullet, the HS For more information on the 2018 Editors’ Choice Award winning ished after and a dense polyurethane foam is injected into the hollow Precision rifle uses an internal box magazine and a hinged floorplate Howa HS Precision Rifle, contact Legacy Sports International, Tel.: core. Should you need further introduction to HS Precision stocks, that is, happily, actually made of metal. (800) 5-LEGACY; Web: www.legacyspsorts.com—Mike Dickerson

1— A 3-position safety is standard on the rifle. The safety is engaged in the middle position, but Win.-chambered rifle tested. 3— The H-S Precision stock came with a substantial recoil pad that did the bolt is not locked down until the safety is moved fully to the rear. The Howa HACT trigger a decent job of mitigating felt recoil. The H-S Precision stock incorporates an aluminum bedding broke crisply at an average pull weight of just 2 lbs., 9 oz., with no creep. The Howa 1500 action is a block and is hand-laminated with a mixture of Kevlar, carbon fiber and fiberglass. 4— The bolt is time-proven design that has served as the basis for many a custom rifle. 2— The HS Precision rifle a beefy, two-lug design that cycled smoothly and without issue. Feeding, extraction and ejection employs an internal box magazine with a hinged metal floorplate. Capacity is five rounds in the 308 were flawless with the Howa 1500 action. 1. 3.

2. 4.

66 67 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards springfield armory xdm 10mm 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards springfield armory xdm 10mm 17th annual Editors’ Choice Awards

4.

5.

4—On Target’s test gun preferred the hot, 200-gr. Buffalo Bore Heavy load during testing, printing the 2.65-inch, 5-shot group at 25-yards. 5—Since its inception, we’ve found the XDM platform to have excellent ergonomics and a competent ability to control recoil and muzzle flip—especially important in its new, hotter 10mm chambering. Petite Courtney Gunter agrees.

to deliver for all five. Appreciating the 10mm’s Bear Protection: Buffalo Bore “Heavy” left-handed husband, Josiah, who found power range, we tested with four loads. 200-grain Full Metal Jacket. There are the XDM-10 southpaw-friendly. Josiah did Self Defense: Speer Gold Dot. This new heavier bullets of hard cast lead with wide feel a bit of pinch in his palm at the bottom offering delivers a 200-grain bullet of modern, noses available for 10mm, but there have of the grip safety when firing. Springfield proven design at nominal 1,100 feet per sec- been reports of some of them failing to feed Armory says it ran 10,000 rounds of Fed- ond. It’s hotter than .40 S&W, but delivers in polymer 10mms, so erring on the side of eral Hydra-Shok 10mm without a bobble. springfield armory xdm 10mm relatively mild recoil from this big pistol. Five caution I went with this reliably-feeding FMJ That’s a light, .40 S&W-level round, but shots went into 3.10”, while the best three load for those who might need to ruin a bru- still shows good feed reliability. At a sug- A new reason for 10mm fans to celebrate clustered in a much more promising 1.25”, in. The 5-shot group was a best of test 2.65”, gested retail of $779, center to center. and the best three formed the second best this light (32.8 oz. before the break. In use, it is somewhat like actually make contact during shooting, pull Self Defense: Hornady Critical Duty. The 1.70” group of the day: ample for the brain unloaded), high-capac- a light, multi-stage, double-action pull over weight was exactly one pound greater due to FlexLock bullet, designed for great feeding and area of a charging brown bear, with fifteen ity 10mm auto is easy a short distance when fired slowly, followed reduced leverage: 6.69 pounds. to meet FBI protocols, weighs 175 grains in make-up shots on tap (if you have time). for all-day carry, very by a fairly long re-set. With a bit of practice, this full-power 10mm load, rated at 1,150 foot controllable and ergo- it is easier to manage than it sounds. Re-set On the Firing Line seconds, and proved quite controllable. It gave Overall Impressions nomic, and definitely a is fairly long, minimizing the chance of an Testing was done from a Caldwell Matrix me 3.65” for all five and 1.70” for best three. Though the XDM-10 is available in a very good value, hence Obsoleted in police work by the .40 S&W unnecessary second shot being fired uninten- Rest on a concrete bench at 25 yards. Five General Hunting: Federal 180-grain Jack- shorter barrel, fixed-sight version, I would its justified claim to a quarter century or so ago, the 10mm Auto tionally under stress. shot groups were measured for an idea of what eted Soft Point. Rated at 1,275 foot-seconds definitely go with the adjustable sight 5.25- a 2018 On Target round has achieved new popularity as an On our Lyman digital scale, pull weight a stable position would offer for accuracy in and marked “Medium Game” on the box, this inch barreled variation like ours: maximum Editors’ Choice Award. outdoorsman’s pistol. Springfield Armory’s was very consistent. Measured from the toe calm conditions, and the best three measured load is geared toward deer and hogs, the 10mm velocity advantage and sight adjustment Contact Springfield enhanced XD pistol, the XDM, has proven (bottom tip) of the trigger as seems to be in- again to factor out enough human error to having become increasingly popular for the for the wide variety of loads available. I Armory; Tel.: (800) itself accurate, reliable, and ergonomic. The dustry standard, average pull weight was 5.69 roughly duplicate what a machine rest is likely latter quarry. It delivered 3.25” for all five and really liked the ergonomics, and didn’t 680-6866; Web: two are a natural fit in the new XDM-10. pounds. Measured from the center of the the tightest best-three group of the test, find the recoil objectionable. Neither did springfieldarmory.com With its 5.3-inch barreled, long-slide pivoting trigger, where the finger is likely to 85/100ths of an inch. slender ballerina Courtney Gunter, nor her configuration, the XDM-10 affords a 7.5” —Massad Ayoob sight radius, and the pistol comes with an adjustable rear sight and fiber optic front. 1. 1—The XDM-10 ships with three easy-loading 3. The longer barrel enhances the velocity and and reliable stainless-steel 15-round maga- power that are the 10mm cartridge’s real zines. The magazine well is moderately beveled raison d’etre, and the adjustable sight allows to help facilitate expedient reloads. 2—Manip- the shooter to dial in point of aim/point ulating the XDM’s large, serrated magazine of impact for the very broad power range release, slide stop and takedown lever has which today’s array of available 10mm loads always been exceedingly intuitive, and that affords. A 15-round magazine and one in the hasn’t changed on the new 10mm version. The chamber gives you 16 chances instead of a pistol’s tactile cocking indicator can be seen revolver’s six if you have to defend against a here protruding out of the striker plate at the wild animal attack. rear of the slide. 3—In the 5.3-inch barreled The XDM comes standard with one of long-slide configuration (also available in the better “street triggers” in the field of a fixed-sight, 4.5-inch barreled version), the striker-fired polymer frame semiautomatic XDM-10 has a lengthy 7.5-inch sight radius. pistols. The Glock-ish safety lever on the Out back is a fully-adjustable, serrated-face trigger face does not punish or pinch the rear sight, paired with a bright-red fiber-optic trigger finger. A very short, light initial take- front. A tactile loaded-chamber indicator is up is followed by a short space of lighter 2. positioned at the rear of the ejection port. resistance and then a long, rolling “wall” 68 69 GUN & Gear GIVEAWAY contest

Zeiss Conquest V4 6-24x50mm Riflescope The new 2018 Editors’ Choice Award-winning Zeiss Conquest V4 6-24x50mm riflescope ($1,099 to $1,199), which you can read about elsewhere in this issue, is the perfect choice for the Model 10 Stealth Evolution rifle, whether hunting, target shoot- ing or any other precision-rifle task. It’s built on a one-piece, 30mm, machined aluminum main tube and hard anodized in matte black. Several reticle options are available, including a traditional plex-style, and Zeiss’ newest ZMOA and ZBR MOA- The prize is this issue’s Gun Giveaway Contest is a Savage based smart reticles, all of which are set in the second focal Model 10 Stealth Evolution Rifle and a Zeiss Conquest V4 plane. T* 6-layer multi coatings are applied to all internal lens 6-24x50mm riflescope, with a combined retail value of $3,000! Savage Model 10 Stealth Evolution Rifle The new Savage Model 10 Stealth Evolution rifle combines pinpoint precision with torture-tested toughness and a host of custom features to beat the most challenging targets and conditions. It pairs a heavy fluted barrel with a monolithic aluminum chassis and is finished in rugged bronze Cerakote. Its factory-blueprinted 10/110 action, matched with Savage’s zero-tolerance headspacing, user-adjustable AccuTrigger and 5R button rifling produces sub-MOA accuracy at extreme ranges, right out of the box. Other features include a full- length, bronze Cerakoted Picatinny top-rail, black Magpul PRS Gen 3 adjustable buttstock, user-adjustable AccuTrigger, 20-inch heavy magnum fluted barrel with muzzle brake, detachable box magazine, a serious empty weight of 11.25 pounds and matte black action and barrel finish. Available chambered in .223 Rem., 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5mm Creed- moor or .308 Win. (all priced at $1,799), the winner can choose the caliber he or she wants. Contact Savage Arms, surfaces, while the exterior lens surfaces get the Zeiss Lotu-Tec Tel.: (800) 370-0708; Web: www.savagearms.com hydrophobic coating. Nitrogen purged to prevent fogging, it’s waterproof to 4 meters. Field of view at 100 yards is 19 feet at Enter for free at... 6X and 4.8 feet at 24x. Exit pupil diameter ranges from 7.5mm to 2.1mm, and eye relief is 3.5 inches. An adjustable side dial provides parallax-free viewing from 50 yards to infinity. Eleva- tion adjustment range is 80 MOA, with a windage adjustment range of 60 mm. Overall length is 14.5 inches and it weighs 24.4 oz. Contact Carl Zeiss Sports Optics; Tel.: (800) 441-3005; ONTARGETMAGAZINE.COM Web: www.zeiss.com/sports-optics/en_us/home 7070 71 72 73 74