dope bag data & comment Ruger New Model Single-Six .17 HMR .17 HMR SINGLE-SIX MANUFACTURER: Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. (Dept. AR), One Lacey Place, Southport, CT s a counterpoint 06890; (520) 541-8820; to its bolt-action www.ruger.com and lever-action CALIBER: .17 HMR A ACTION TYPE: single- rifles chambered for the action, rimfire revolver new .17 HMR cartridge, FRAME: blued, investment Ruger now offers its clas- cast, carbon steel sic New Model Single-Six BARREL: 6” blued carbon steel single-action revolver in RIFLING: six grooves, this popular new caliber. 1:9” RH Initially available only CYLINDER: six-shot in blued carbon steel capacity, carbon steel SIGHTS: front fixed blade with a 6” barrel, walnut on ramp, rear click- grips and an adjustable adjustable for windage rear sight, stainless steel and elevation models can be expected TRIGGER: single-stage, 1 to follow. 4⁄2 lbs. pull 13 OVERALL LENGTH: 11 ⁄16” Ruger Single-Six 1 WIDTH: 1 ⁄2” revolvers are manufac- 1 HEIGHT: 5 ⁄4” WEIGHT: 36 oz. ACCESSORIES: gun lock, By chambering the new .17 HMR lockable plastic cartridge in its New Model Single-Six carry case revolver, Ruger has raised plinking, SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: pest control and varmint hunting to a $389 higher performance level while main- taining the appeal of a classic design. The American Rifleman has used the phrase “Dope Bag” at least since WARNING: Technical data and information contained herein are intended to provide information 1921, when Col. Townsend Whelen first titled his column with it. Even then, based on the limited experience of individuals under specific conditions and circumstances. They it had been in use for years, referring to a sack used by target shooters do not detail the comprehensive training procedures, techniques and safety precautions absolutely to hold ammunition and accessories on the firing line. “Sight dope” also necessary to properly carry on similar activity. Read the notice and disclaimer on the contents page. was a traditional marksman’s term for sight adjustment information, while Always consult comprehensive reference manuals and bulletins for details of proper training require- judging wind speed and direction was called “doping the wind.” ments, procedures, techniques and safety precautions before attempting any similar activity. 90 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN September 2003 SHOOTING RESULTS .17 HMR Vel. @ 15’ Energy Group Size In Inches Cartridge (f.p.s.) (ft.-lbs.) Smallest Largest Average Hornady No. 83170 1925 Avg. 140 1.64 2.07 1.80 17 gr. V-Max 16 Sd Measured average velocity for 10 rounds from a 6” barrel. Range temperature: 81o F. Humidity: 50%. Accuracy for five consecutive, five-shot groups at 25 yds. from a sandbag. Abbreviations: Sd (standard deviation). tured entirely in the United .22 WMR and .32 H&R Mag. States from traditional In 2002, when the new materials, such as steel and .17 HMR cartridge burst on walnut with Old Western the scene, the Single-Six Some years back, Ruger engineers redesigned the DNA readily apparent in became a natural for it. Single-Six to incorporate a transfer bar safety system their features, styling and But, would the new (above), which prevents the hammer from striking the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled. The transfer-bar operation. Over the years, .17 HMR cartridge prove gun is called the “New Model Single-Six.” Ruger contin- the rimfire Single-Six has compatible with revolvers? ues to offer a free upgrade of older models. We fired transcended its image as Two potential problems several hundred rounds of Hornady .17 HMR ammuni- “little brother” to the cen- came to mind: First, what tion through the revolver without cleaning to see if fired ter-fire Ruger Blackhawk effect would the short cases would stick back in dirty chambers, causing drag and developed a solid fol- revolver barrel have on on the cylinder. We experienced no problems in that lowing in its own right. ballistics of the high- per- regard. The Single-Six revolver formance .17 HMR car- remains a popular, best- tridge? Would velocity seller today in .22 LR, drop off to the point of bal- listic uselessness? Second, necked Perceived recoil of the .17 HMR New Model Single-Six was nomi- cartridge cases have nal. Bullet trajectory of the a history of causing .17 HMR was noticeably flatter problems in revolv- than .22 rimfire ammunition, ers. When fired, such challenging shooters to test their cases set back in the plinking skills at longer rimfire chambers against the handgun ranges. Ruger’s Single- recoil shield, causing Six proved equal to such enter- the cylinder to drag taining and instructive exercises. or lock up. When the NRA Technical Staff Six at 1925 f.p.s. with 140 .17-cal. guns have proven received a Single- ft.-lbs. of energy. From sensitive to fouled or dirty Six in .17 HMR for earlier tests in rifles, we bores, thus requiring fre- test and evaluation, measured muzzle veloc- quent cleaning. To test this, answering those ity of the .17 HMR at 2550 we purposely allowed the questions occupied f.p.s. with 246 ft.-lbs. of bore of the Single-Six to a major part of our energy. Although these fig- become quite dirty, how- testing. ures indicate a 23 percent ever, we noted no signifi- After an initial decrease in velocity, the cant decrease in accuracy. inspection, pre- reduction remains consis- Bullet trajectory of the liminary cleaning tent with .22 WMR ammuni- .17 HMR was noticeably and lubricating, we tion fired from handguns flatter than .22 rimfire began by firing the (1910 f.p.s. from rifles ammunition, challeng- New Model Single- dropping to 1480 f.p.s. ing shooters to test their Six from a sandbag from handguns). plinking skills at longer rest at 25 yds. for We then fired sev- handgun ranges. Ruger’s accuracy. Group eral hundred rounds of Single-Six proved equal sizes averaged Hornady ammunition to such entertaining and 1.80”, which we through the Single-Six instructive exercises judged very good for without cleaning to see if By chambering the a sporting revolver fired cases would stick in new .17 HMR cartridge in of this type. dirty chambers, causing its New Model Single-Six, Our Oehler chro- drag on the cylinder. We Ruger has raised plinking, nograph measured experienced no prob- pest control and varmint muzzle velocity of lems in that regard. We hunting to a higher perfor- the 17-gr. V-Max also noted that extraction mance level while main- bullets from the of fired cases remained taining the appeal of 6”- barreled Single- fast and easy. In the past, a classic design. AMERICAN RIFLEMAN 91 September 2003 dope bag data & comment The Interstate Arms Model 97 “Trench Gun” is a faithful remake of the classic military-issue Winchester. Operation is identical, and there is even a U.S. Ordnance marking on the receiver’s right side (below r.). Interstate Arms Model 97 Trench Gun by the Shandong No. 1 externally resembled its MODEL 97 TRENCH Machinery Factory in predecessor, corrected MANUFACTURER: the People’s Republic of these problems and made Shandong No. 1 Machinery Factory, China. The guns became the repeater a product. Rizhao, Shandong an immediate success, Originally intended Province, PRC he 12-ga. “Trench and now the company has as a sporting arm, soon IMPORTER: Interstate Arms, Gun” was one of the followed up with a trench riot guns with 20” barrels (Dept. AR) 6 Dunham most controversial gun version for the military were offered. In pretty Road, Billerica, MA T 01821; (978) 667-7060; arms of the First World arms enthusiast. short order the U.S. mili- [email protected] War. While several dif- Pump-action shotguns tary recog nized the gun’s MECHANISM TYPE: pump- ferent makes and models were manufactured prior to attributes, and, as early as action, repeating shotgun were used in that conflict, the Model 97, such as the 1916, purchased some for 3 GAUGE: 12, 2 ⁄4” the Winchester Model 97 Spencer and the Burgess, use on the Mexican Border. FINISH: blued was undoubtedly the most but the Winchester entry When America entered MAGAZINE: tubular, common. In recent years was really the first gun World War I, thousands five-round capacity 1 the Model 97 has been of its type to adequately went to France for use OVERALL LENGTH: 39 ⁄2” BARREL LENGTH: 20” a hot item with Cowboy handle smokeless powder behind the lines and in the WEIGHT: 8 lbs. Action shooters—so popu- shells. Actually the basic trenches. The guns were so TRIGGER: single stage: lar, in fact, that demand premise of the gun came effective in close combat, 7 lbs. pull far exceeds the supply of out a few years earlier with the Germans complained SIGHTS: bead front and threatened to execute STOCK: American wal- shootable originals. the Model 93, but despite nut: length of pull, 14”; To answer that demand, being designed by John any Yank found with one. drop at heel, 3”; drop a few years ago Interstate Browning, it was plagued The Americans countered at comb, 2” Arms had copies of this with mechanical difficul- the threat by warning SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: famous pump gun made ties. The Model 97, which that for every American $425 92 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN September 2003 One of the biggest criticisms of many Chinese-made arms has been the use unattractive locally grown hardwood. The new Model 97 “Trench Gun” sports a stock and fore-end of attractive American walnut. Sling swivels of the right pattern are included, although the plastic buttplate does not bear the Winchester logo as do the original military-issue Model 97s.