American Rifleman 2018-05

ROUNDUP: NEW GUNS & GEAR

MAY 4-6

May 2018

The World’s Oldest And Largest Firearm Authority

Official Journal of the National Rifle Association AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

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Page 60

Millions of Dollars of Sunken Treasure

“SHIP OF GOLD” SS CENTRAL AMERICA

There is a sense of excitement whenever sunken treasure is discovered. In March 1992, Life Magazine called the SS Central America “The Greatest Treasure Ever Found.” Back in September of 1857, major New York banks, business and individuals were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the SS Central America with a large shipment of California Gold Rush bullion, ingots, nuggets, gold dust and San Francisco Mint gold coins.

When news came through the telegraph wires that the ship had sunk off the coast of North Carolina, the country went into a panic. It was a time when the country relied on gold to back its banking transactions. Banks closed, businesses went bankrupt and the financial Panic of 1857 deepened – all because the much-awaited Ship of Gold had disappeared with tons of needed gold on board.

This is the gripping story of the ill-fated sailing in 1857, beginning with one ship’s journey from San Francisco to the isthmus of Panama. Then the gold was unloaded and transported over a 30-mile jungle railroad route to the Atlantic side, to be reloaded into the SS Central America – a 280-foot side-wheeler that had made the Panama to New York run many times. This time, though, the crew had to fight a Category 2 hurricane for three days before abandoning ship.

While most women and children were saved, 425 of the 578 on board died. The captain of the SS Central America, former Naval officer William Lewis Herndon, is remembered as a great leader and hero, going down with the ship.

It is hard to describe the feeling of seeing this gold for the first time. When treasure hunters first spotted this gold with their long-distance cameras sitting in a mound of glistening gold over a mile below the ocean’s surface, they called it a “Garden of Gold.” Some initial gold was recovered and quickly sold in 2000, but many of us were wondering if we would ever lay eyes on more of this treasure again. Now, finally, more of the ship’s treasure was recovered in 2014 and is available to the public from us. This includes some of the gold coins, gold dust and silver coins recovered.

As the famous actor James Earl Jones says, owning money is like “holding history in your hands.” Holding 1850s gold from the California Gold Rush and America’s most famous sunken treasure is like holding a little time capsule of America’s numismatic history in your hands. This time, you and your family can be a part of that history by calling to rescue your piece of the SS Central America treasure before it is quickly gone again.

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• Holders are individually numbered.

• Gold pinch approximates the gold value of private mint 50¢ California fractional gold coins that were in use in 1857.

• Genuine California gold rush gold dust is rare as it was typically melted for ingot or coin production.

• Gold dust was discovered in hand-sewn sacks, known as pokes, in a SS Central America safe.

• Featured on CBS This Morning February 20, 2018

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Contents

NRA

MAY 2018 VOLUME 166, NO. 5

EXPERTS IN THE FIELD

features

Photo by Forrest MacCormack

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA 132nd Year of Publication

Gun Owners Framed To Take The Fall For A Crime They Did Not Commit ..18

Chris W. Cox

No matter how gun control advocates couch their agenda, the result is the same— innocent, upstanding people are scapegoated for the evil acts of others who broke the law.

There Can Be Only One: The NRA World Shooting Championship. .. .. 48 Justin Dyal

You may be able to run an IDPA stage in seconds flat or hit a 12" target at 400 yds. with a carbine or even run 100 straight in American trap—but all in one event?

To The Rescue: Springfield’s 911 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 62 Richard White

Small in stature but boasting full-size ergonomics, Springfield Armory’s new semiautomatic 911 .380 ACP may be the remedy to the micro-compact pistol’s maladies.

Breaking With Convention: NovX Ammunition .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 68 Aaron Carter

NovX’s forward-thinking approach to ammunition design not only challenges tradition, but threatens to rewrite the rules.

The Cavalry’s Last Charge: The 1921 M1903 Prototype Carbine .. .. .. 72 Bruce N. Canfield

Even though the last cavalry carbine of the U.S. Army was the M1899 Krag-Jorgensen, the U.S. Cavalry didn’t give up on fielding its own gun until the early 1920s.

Round Up: New Guns & Gear 2018. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 76 Staff Report

You can find all the latest firearms, optics, ammunition and accessories—corralled together—at this year’s NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Dallas.

The Evolution Of The Beanfield Rifle .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 88

MEMBER PROGRAMS: (800) 672-3888

72

88

Photo courtesy of Jarrett Rifles

62

Armor Plate Press photo

Photo by Jesse Snyder

48

Kenny Jarrett’s rifle tinkering led to the highest levels of benchrest competition and to ultra-accurate “Beanfield” rifles that are in a league of their own.

Photo by Forrest MacCormack

Layne Simpson

America Remembers® Presents

The Texas Jack Omohundro Tribute Revolver

A Classic Hand-Engraved Western Firear Firearm

For some men, the call of the wide open plains was too strong to resist. Adventure was in their blood. The Wild West was their way of life.

One of these men was “Texas Jack” Omohundro.

Texas Jack answered a call for adventure that led him from Civil War battlefields to cattle drives along the Chisholm Trail.

He was a cowpunch, an army scout and a hunting guide for international royalty. He rode the dusty badlands and charged into battle with legends such as Wild Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill Cody.

Now America Remembers is proud to honor this true pioneer of the American frontier with the Texas Jack Omohundro Tribute Revolver, an exclusive, hand-engraved edition issued on a legendary revolver of the Wild West.

The Classic Top-Break Revolver The revolver took its name from Major George W. Schofield of the 10th Cavalry. Around 1870 he wrote to Smith & Wesson requesting one of their then-new “Model No. 3” revolvers, in the hopes it would prove useful in combat. Schofield made his own modifications to the Model No. 3 to meet the Cavalry’s needs, and in 1875 Smith & Wesson incorporated these refinements into a design they named after the Major, hoping to obtain significant military contracts for their revolvers.

Note the handsome grips which perfectly complement the classic engraving.

As a “top-break” revolver, the Schofield could be loaded quicker than other sidearms of the day and could be operated one-handed. With the barrel latch released, the barrel could be pulled down and the spent cartridge would be ejected. Major Schofield’s design relocated the barrel latch from the barrel to the frame. As a result, a shooter could operate the latch with his thumb and open the gun for loading and unloading with just one hand. With practice, a shooter could refill all the chambers at once without looking. This was a major advantage for a mounted soldier, and provided the Schofield with an advantage over the Colt Peacemaker.

The Ordnance Board granted Smith & Wesson a contract to outfit the military with Schofields, providing they could make the revolvers work with the .45 Colt ammunition already in use.

Smith & Wesson instead developed their own, slightly shorter .45 caliber round. When it became obvious the two cartridges would not work interchangeably in the Schofield, although they both worked in the Colt, the U.S. Government dropped the Schofield and continued with the Colt.

Each Tribute Revolver features a stunning antique coin-nickel finish and decoration inspired by the original hand-engraved pattern on a similar revolver presented

by Jack to the Earl of Dunraven in 1874.

The Irish Lord graciously accepted the handsome firearm, which was similarly engraved in the elegant “New York style” employed by the master craftsmen of the day.

Based on the original hand-engraved Smith & Wesson American attributed to the legendary scout and showman, Texas Jack Omohundro, this very special, limited edition model has been created by the master engravers at Adams & Adams in the same pattern as the original revolver presented by Texas Jack to the Earl of Dunraven, in 1874.

As the story goes, the adventurous Irish Lord was Texas Jack’s most enthusiastic hunting patron, and in 1874, on their third hunt together on the American Frontier, it was decided that since Texas Jack had a S&W American, the Earl should have one as well. The gun was handsomely engraved in the elegant “New York style” employed by craftsmen, such as L.D. Nimschke, nickelplated and fitted with ivory stocks. A Southerner, Omohundro had a distinguished Civil War record serving under Generals Fitzhugh Lee and J.E.B. Stuart.

After the war he became a scout and befriended such western legends as Will Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill Cody, who he first met in 1871 when he hired on as a scout with a hunting party that included the Earl of Dunraven. Omohundro and Cody became fast friends and when Cody started his first Wild West performances in theaters, Texas Jack became a key player in the early troupe. He left the show in 1876 to write and perform on his own. Texas Jack died in Leadville, Colorado in 1880, at the young age of 34. His role in the American West, his friendship with Ned Buntline and Buffalo Bill Cody, among others, made his name legendary.

For this special issue we have chosen the fine quality No. 3 2nd Model Top-Break revolver manufactured by A. Uberti, to serve as the pallet for master engraver John Adams, Jr. of Adams & Adams. Limited to only 200 hand-engraved and unique nickelplated examples, each gun comes with Ultra Ivory grips. The Ultra Ivory grips are produced by Eagle Grips and are a substitute ivory offering durability with the classic look and feel of ivory. This Tribute has been designed in cooperation with noted western firearms author and photographer Dennis Adler.

Honor a True American Cowboy With This Exclusive Offer – Only 200 Available Only 200 Texas Jack Omohundro Tribute Revolvers will ever be produced and demand is expected to be very strong.

Reservations will be accepted in the order they are received. You can mail us your order form, or to prioritize your order and confirm availability, call us toll-free at 1-800-682-2291. We will arrange delivery of your working revolver through a licensed firearms dealer of your choice. And, of course, if you are not fully satisfied with your Tribute after your personal inspection, you may return it to us in original unfired condition within 30-days for a complete and courteous refund.

Don’t miss your opportunity to honor an authentic cowboy legend with a true museum-quality firearm of the Old West era.

It will surely take you back to a time when Texas Jack Omohundro and his legendary revolver carved a chapter for themselves in the history of the American West. Once you hold it in your hands, you’ll understand why The Texas Jack Omohundro Tribute Revolver is destined to become the centerpiece of your fine firearms collection.

Caliber: .44-40 Barrel Length: 7 Inches Edition Limit: 200 ©AHL, Inc.

Free Display Case In order to display and protect your Texas Jack Omohundro Tribute Revolver, you will receive a handsome, luxuriously lined custom made display case with each order.

I wish to reserve ___ of the Texas Jack Omohundro Tribute Revolver, a working Top-Break Model Revolver, at the current issue price of $3,495. My deposit of $195 per Tribute is enclosed. I wish to pay the balance at the rate of $150 per month, no interest or carrying charges. Thirty-day return privilege. *All orders are subject to acceptance and credit verification prior to shipment.

Shipping and handling will be added to each order.Virginia residents please add sales tax.

■ Check enclosed for $______________ .

■ Charge payment of $ ______________ to: ■ VISA ■ MasterCard ■ AMEX ■ Discover No.

Exp.

Name Address City/State/Zip Daytime Telephone No. (

)

America Remembers

®

10226 Timber Ridge Drive, Ashland, Virginia 23005 www.americaremembers.com To place your reservation toll-free call

1-800-682-2291

NRA PUBLICATIONS OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

Wayne R. LaPierre, Executive Vice President

official journal

correspondence

reports

technical

The Armed Citizen . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 Special Reports Standing Guard .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 President’s Column .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 Political Report .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 ILA Report .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 98 Regional Report/Member Info & Benefits .. . 100 Programs & Services .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 102 The Keefe Report .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 8 Readers Write .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 Favorite Firearms. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 42 News & Notes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 Products & Projects .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 32 Handloads: 12 Gauge Target Load . .. .. .. .. .. .. 40 Questions & Answers . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 44 Why Nickel Boron?

Mystery Miroku Open-Bolt Mechanics

Dope Bag .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 92 Walther Creed 9 mm Luger Pistol Nemesis Arms Valkyrie .308 Win. Rifle Alien Gear ShapeShift Starter Kit Holster System

I Have This Old Gun .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 120 Colt Model 1855 Revolving Carbine

THE COVER: A defensive firearm is a lot like a fire extinguisher—no one ever wants to have to use it in an emergency. But if you need one, you really need one. This is the idea behind the new micro-compact 911 from Springfield Armory. The diminutive .380 ACP pistol, made

by Springfield in Illinois, is designed to be carried all day, every day. But unlike a lot of other little guns, it is very shootable. For a full report, turn to p. 62. Photo by Forrest MacCormack. Illustration by David J. Labrozzi.

ROUNDUP: NEW GUNS & GEAR

Official Journal of the National Rifle Association AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

EDITORIAL John R. Zent Editorial Director Mark A. Keefe, IV Editor In Chief Brian C. Sheetz Senior Executive Editor Ann Y. Smith Senior Executive Editor, Digital Joe Kurtenbach Managing Editor Kelly Young Associate Editor Christopher Olsen Assistant Editor Kristen Voss Assistant Editor, Digital Maureen A. Denfeld Editorial Assistant Bruce N. Canfield, Aaron Carter, Wiley Clapp, Rick Hacker, B. Gil Horman, Jeff Johnston, Jeremiah Knupp, Jim Wilson Field Editors

ART

Susan K. Kilday Creative Director David J. Labrozzi Art Director Karen Haefs Assistant Art Director Peter Fountain Photography Director Forrest MacCormack Photographer Jesse Snyder Associate Photographer

American Rifleman (ISSN 0003-083X) is published monthly by the National Rifle Association of America, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400, (703) 267-1000, for the benefit of its members. Membership dues (U.S. and possessions) $40 a year, $100 for 3 years, $140 for 5 years. $3.75 per year is designated for a magazine subscription. For foreign postage add $5 a year in Canada and $10 elsewhere. For membership inquiries only, call (877) 672-2000. Copyright 2018, the National Rifle Association of America.

All rights reserved except where expressly waived. Periodicals Postage paid at Fairfax, VA, and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to American Rifleman, c/o National Rifle Association, P.O. Box 420648, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0648.

TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS or to report a damaged or undelivered magazine, write: American Rifleman, c/o National Rifle Association, P.O. Box 420648, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0648. Or to make changes to your account online go to: NRAmemberservices.org.

Do not return damaged copies. Change of address should include both new address and a mailing label bearing the old one. In case of duplication send both labels.

The World’s Oldest And Largest Firearm Authority

R1805_COVER2_NXTbook.indd 1

Printed in the United States of America

MAY 4-6

May 2018

Doug Hamlin Executive Director Evelyn Q. Kessler Deputy Executive Director Marshall J. Flemion Managing Director, Integrated Marketing Terri A. Wolfe Executive Assistant Rachel Carr Sales & Fiscal Assistant

Page 60 3/22/18 6:58 AM

KIMBER COVERT PISTOLS the new generation

Recently updated to include gr ay digital camouflage Crimson Tr ace Lasergrips® and a gr ay KimPro® II finish on the fr ame and slide, the newest gener ation of Covert pistols stands out in all the right ways.

Updated Finish & Grips Gray and black digital camouflage Crimson Trace Lasergrips® provide a positive grip and improve target acquisition.

Flush-fit Barrels Ultra Covert models feature a flush-fit, recessed crowned barrel and a Round Heel Frame.

Low-light Sight Picture Tactical Wedge tritium 3-dot night sights ensure performance in low light conditions.

MADE IN A MERIC A

WHAT ALL GUNS SHOULD BE

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(888) 243-4522 kimberamerica.com

©2017, Kimber Mfg., Inc. All rights reserved. Information and specifications are for reference only and subject to change without notice.

NRA PUBLICATIONS PUBLISHING OPERATIONS

Over There! Americans of World War I American Rifleman TV has devoted eight episodes to the American soldiers of the Great War, taking viewers to hallowed battle grounds like Verdun and Belleau Wood. If you missed the first four episodes, they will re-air this summer on Outdoor Channel.

Watch previews and exclusive outtakes at americanrifleman.org/artv.

Wiley Clapp On … The Colt Python The fascination with—and value of—the Colt Python continues to skyrocket. Wiley Clapp provides analysis of this phenomenon and tops it off by building some brand-new Pythons.

Start with part one of his series at americanrifleman.org/python1.

Ruger Precision Rimfire Rifle Do you really get “big gun” features in the moreaffordable rimfire version of Ruger’s Precision platform?

We find out at americanrifleman.org/precisionrimfire.

Tune in Wednesday nights to the Outdoor Channel for the best firearm show on television. Now in its 16th year, American Rifleman TV brings you a Feature, a “Rifleman Review” and an “I Have This Old Gun” segment in each show.

To preview upcoming episodes, visit americanrifleman.org.

Over There! Reloaded April 25

Michael J. Sanford Managing Director, Publishing Operations Michelle E. Kuntz Director, Production James C. Handlon Director, Marketing/Advertising Debra Oliveri Senior Production Coordinator Adam Wilson Production Coordinator Samantha Brown Senior Advertising Coordinator Cheryl Doden Advertising Coordinator Director, Eastern Sales Tony Morrison (860) 767-9801 NE Sales Office Manager Alycia Clemons 860-767-9801 Southeast Sales Executive Stan Yates (850) 619-8148 Eastern Sales Executive Rachelle Trout (910) 262-0913 Detroit Advertising Sales Ken Glowacki (703) 267-1300 Director, Western Sales Courtney Olson (703) 267-1300 Western Sales Executive James O’Neill (703) 267-1300 Midwest Sales Executive Tim Hamill (703) 267-1300 Western Direct Sales Executive Debbie O’Connell (703) 267-1300 www.nramediakit.com

U.S. Marine Corps painting

Over There! The Men & Guns Of World War I: Stalemate, Death & The Devil’s Paintbrush; Ruger SR1911 In 10 mm Auto; Beretta Model 1938 Submachine Gun

May 2 Over There! The Men & Guns Of World War I: An American Army; Mossberg Shockwave In 12 Gauge; Interarms FEG APK Pistol

May 9 Over There! The Men & Guns Of World War I: “Retreat Hell! We Just Got Here”; Remington R51 Pistol In 9 mm Luger; Colt Anaconda Revolver

May 16 Over There! The Men & Guns Of World War I: The Lost Battalion, “Come And Get Us”; Beretta APX Pistol In 9 mm Luger; Colt Detective Special Revolver

DIGITAL OPERATIONS Michael Pedersen Director, Digital Operations Tom Rickwalder Senior Digital Producer Steve Dulco Digital Producer Carolyn Raithel Digital Advertising Trafficker MEMBERSHIP INQUIRES: (877) 672-2000 WARNING: All technical data in this publication, especially for handloading, reflect the limited experience of individuals using specific tools, products, equipment and components under specific conditions and circumstances not necessarily reported in the article and over which the National Rifle Association (NRA) has no control. The data have not otherwise been tested or verified by the NRA. The NRA, its agents, officers and employees accept no responsibility for the results obtained by persons using such data and disclaim all liability for any consequential injuries or damages. See asterisked (*). * NO ADVERTISED ITEM IS INTENDED FOR SALE IN THOSE STATES, OR IN THOSE AREAS WHERE LOCAL RESTRICTIONS MAY LIMIT OR PROHIBIT THE PURCHASE, CARRYING OR USE OF CERTAIN ITEMS. CHECK LOCAL LAWS BEFORE PURCHASING. MENTION OF A PRODUCT OR SERVICE IN ADVERTISEMENTS OR TEXT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT IT HAS BEEN TESTED OR APPROVED BY THE NRA. OFFICIAL NRA POSITIONS ARE EXPRESSED ONLY IN STATEMENTS BYLINED

BY NRA OFFICERS OR IN ARTICLES IDENTIFIED AS SUCH. THE EDITORS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS OR PHOTOGRAPHS.

The New Audit Bureau of Circulations

FLIES IN THE FACE OF NO ONE Gone are days of bullpup casings ejecting into your line of sight. With patented downward shell ejection, the Kel-Tec® RDB™ is simply the bullpup done right. It’s completely ambidextrous, adjustable for a wide variety of ammunition and features the best factory bullpup trigger ever. In other words, the only thing the RDB flies in the face of is mediocrity.

Innovation. Performance. Kel-Tec. See more at KelTecWeapons.com. ©2018 Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc

the keefe report

M

any Americans have simply never handled a firearm, let alone been introduced to the shooting sports by a friend, family member or colleague. Getting more people to the range in a safe, comfortable and controlled environment is something a lot of gun owners talk about, but we here at NRA Publications are taking steps to help you do something about it.

Please read the letter below from NRA Publications Executive Director Doug Hamlin and then take the time to read “A Guide For New Shooters” and share it before you head out to the range.

Sincerely,

Dear Fellow Member: For the fourth year in a row, NRA Publications is leading the charge to promote safe shooting through our Mentor Initiative. And this year, it’s more important than ever, as our firearm freedoms have come under attack in light of national tragedies.

Despite the negative press in the wake of recent events, the NRA remains committed to preserving our Second Amendment rights. We all need to do our part to get more Americans to stand with us.

That’s why I’m urging you to be a Mentor.

To take part in the NRA Mentor Initiative, like 55,000 NRA members have done in the past, all you have to do is take a new shooter to the range during May 2018. This will give you the opportunity to enter the Mentor Sweepstakes, where you will have a chance to win one of dozens of prizes.

This year, the sweepstakes prizes are brought to you by donors Taurus USA, Winchester Ammunition, Walker’s and Davidson’s.

In the center of this issue you’ll find details about the Mentor Initiative and the sweepstakes.

And because we believe every new shooter can benefit from NRA membership, we encourage you to tell

8

May 2018

newcomers that they can join by calling (800) 977-4672 or by going online to nra.org/mentor2018.

With the upcoming mid-term elections, where it will be imperative for us to keep pro-gun majorities in the U.S. House and Senate, we need new mem-

bers who can expand our grassroots efforts to keep our right to bear arms.

By lending a hand and introducing new shooters to our ranks, we can show that NRA members are the good guys.

So join me in becoming an NRA Mentor!

—Doug Hamlin, Executive Director, NRA Publications aMerican rifleMan

Explore our digital network for at-a-glance access to Second Amendment news, gear, gun reviews, videos and more.

DIGITAL NETWORK

SHOOTING

SPORTS USA

.org FAMILY

THE ARMED CITIZEN

®

S IF YOU HAVE A FIRSTHAND “ARMED CITIZEN” EXPERIENCE, CALL NRA-ILA PR/ COMMUNICATIONS AT (703) 267-3820.

Studies indicate that firearms are used more than 2 million times a year for personal protection, and that the presence of a firearm, without a shot being fired, prevents crime in many instances.

Shooting usually can be justified only where crime constitutes an immediate, imminent threat to life, limb, or, in some cases, property.

Anyone is free to quote or reproduce these accounts.

Send clippings via e-mail to armedcitizen@nrahq.org, or by mail to “The Armed Citizen,” 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 220309400. For bonus features, visit “The Armed Citizen Blog” at americanrifleman.org.

Share this column online at nrapublications.org.

wansboro, N.C., lost a little of its small-town charm one day in February, when a law enforcement officer and someone he had pulled over for a traffic violation got into a tussle. Fortunately for officer Aaron Thompson, an armed citizen, who was not too far behind, prevented the situation from escalating. Thompson had been on patrol when he noticed a box truck being driven erratically. The vehicle pulled over when Thompson flashed his lights and siren, but when the police officer exited his car, the truck driver took off. Thompson caught up and the vehicle stopped again. This time, the police officer ordered the driver out of the truck and took him to the side of the road, where the culprit started “fighting or pulling away from the officer,” according to Swansboro Police Chief Ken Jackson. A passing armed citizen saw the two men wrestling in the roadside ditch. He stopped his car, grabbed his Smith & Wesson handgun and yelled at the scoundrel to stop resisting. Upon noticing the gun, the suspect complied.

(Jacksonville Daily News, Jacksonville, N.C., 2/19/18)

I

n a second recent case of an armed citizen helping out law enforcement, a Utah police officer was scuffling with someone near a clothing donation collection bin. A passerby who was carrying a concealed handgun did what a law-abiding gun owner would be expected to do. He stopped his car, got out, aimed at the assailant and yelled at him to stop. The man scurried off and was later arrested and charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer. The officer sustained a fractured eye socket and lacerations.

(Associated Press, Springville, Utah, 2/4/18)

L

aw-abiding citizens who have a firearm to protect themselves or their loved ones typically use the gun only as a last resort.

This was apparently the case in Tulsa, Okla., when the owners of a liquor store that was being robbed tried other options first, but eventually ended up shooting an armed thief. The man entered the store with a shotgun, and the owner’s daughter cooperated with his demands for money, giving him access to the cash register. Video surveillance showed that the thug began to leave but came back. While he was moving away, the owner joined her daughter behind the counter and grabbed a gun. They crouched behind the cover until the bad guy came back around to them and the owner then fired. The troublemaker backed off, but came back, grabbed the owner, pistol whipped her and tried to wrestle the gun from her. At that point, her adult daughter shot the intruder, ending the situation. (Tulsa World, Tulsa, Okla., 2/25/18)

A

n escaped convict is probably thinking twice about his decision to try carjacking someone while he was on the run from corrections officers. Turns out, the driver of the car he tried to take had a concealed-carry

10

MAY 2018

permit and was armed. The prisoner had stolen a truck and escaped from custody on Feb. 3, and several days later was in a Department of Corrections medical facility being treated for a gunshot wound. He was originally imprisoned in 2003 on a 30-year sentence for armed robbery. (Clarion Ledger, Jackson, Miss., 2/7/18)

D

uring a 911 call, a Georgia woman reported she had shot a man who tried to assault her after emerging from his hiding place in a closet. She said she initially tried to fight him off with a spoon, but he was relentless in his attack. She had to shoot to protect herself and her 12-year-old daughter. When police arrived, they found the wounded troublemaker lying outside the home. Investigators say he apparently stumbled out of the house before collapsing on the ground. The miscreant later was pronounced dead at a hospital. Police identified him as a one-time child molester who was listed on the state registry of sex offenders.

No charges were filed against the armed citizen. (wtvy.com, Dothan, Ga., 2/6/18)

A

n armed citizen in Maryland said he would have been content to “give [an intruder] a pass” if only the troublemaker had stayed away from the bedroom. But when the suspect crashed through the bedroom door, the retired teacher said he had no choice. He fired, hitting the burglar twice.

The resident had woken up around midnight to take some medicine when he heard noises and thought an animal was scuttling around outside. However, he then heard someone walking through the house. The homeowner holed up in his bedroom, but had his gun at the ready. The evildoer fled through the basement and was caught later by police. (wusa9.com, Washington, D.C., 1/31/18)

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standing guard

We Won't Waver Despite Media Attacks

I

By Wayne LaPierre

Executive Vice President

GUN OWNERS, AND THE FREEDOM WE FIGHT TO PRESERVE, HAVE NEVER BEEN AS SAVAGELY ATTACKED AS DURING THE PAST YEAR.

have long believed, and often said, that one of America’s greatest threats is a national news media that fails to tell the truth.

When members of the news media ignore truth and, instead, distort it to deceive Americans to fit their own agenda, the democratic principles upon which our nation was founded are threatened.

NRA members and gun owners have long witnessed the media’s deliberate distortion of the truth. Reporters who couldn’t tell the difference between a semi-automatic and a sharp stick rush to the cameras with calls for bans on all sorts of firearms and magazines and anything else they can think of. Media pundits mock the more than 100 million lawabiding American gun owners, and the media outlets waste no time in exploiting tragedy to blame and shame NRA members for the violent, criminal acts of deranged madmen.

In the nearly four decades I’ve been helping the NRA defend our freedom, I’ve never seen the national media consistently tell the truth about our Association and our Second Amendment. But gun owners—and the freedom we fight to preserve—have never been as savagely attacked as during the past year.

Think about it. Is there an evil, nasty name the media hasn’t called us? Killers. Crazy. Gun nuts. Whackos. Bullies. Insane. Cold-hearted.

Evil. Nut jobs. Murderers. Not to mention a lot of names most of us would never repeat.

For the national news media, it’s not about truth. It’s about destroying the NRA to destroy the Second Amendment. So they’ll go on any attack they can and tell any lie they conjure. It reminds me of the lyrics of that old Don Henley song, “Dirty Laundry.”

Dirty little secrets Dirty little lies We got our dirty little fingers In everybody’s pie We love to cut you down to size We love dirty laundry We can do “The Innuendo” We can dance and sing When it’s said and done We haven’t told you a thing We all know that Kraft is king Give us dirty laundry

Like us on Facebook at the National Rifle Association.

For related articles, go to nrapublications.org.

12

If it were just a matter of most of the media hating NRA members, that would be one thing. But it’s far more than that. We face a well-orchestrated, coordinated, deliberate effort to demean and diminish the NRA and regulate our freedom out of existence.

You see, the national news media have been taken over by a new wave of European-style May 2018

socialists who don’t believe in our constitutional freedom or free-market capitalism.

These are the principles that have made America the greatest nation on Earth.

The 5 million men and women of the NRA, and the millions of American gun owners who look to us for leadership, might be the only group capable of stopping these Europeanstyle socialists from achieving their dream state.

That is why the national media attacks against the NRA have become so aggressive.

Just this past February, NBC’s Chuck Todd said this about the NRA: “They [NRA] are showing no empathy. … They seem to stick their head in the sand. Not even wanting to pretend to offer answers or solutions or alternative ideas. … They have not presented themselves as part of the solution.”

Not part of the solution? We’ve offered the only solutions that work. So, one more time, I’ll remind all of the national news media about where the NRA stands.

• We remain steadfast in our commitment to individual freedom, and empowering law-abiding Americans to make their own decisions about the safety and security of themselves and their families.

• We are absolutely determined to pass the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. We have repeatedly offered real solutions that are proven to work: • Put trained, armed security in every school.

• Fix the broken mental health system.

• Enforce the federal gun laws against every drug dealer and criminal gang member on the street to stop them before they get to their next victim.

• Immediately prosecute dangerous people when they show up to buy a gun.

• And once and for all, heed our call that has gone unanswered for 25 years: force every state to submit the name of every last prohibited person into the background check system.

These are real solutions that respect the individual freedom that is the birthright of every law-abiding American citizen.

No matter how hard the national news media tries to bully and cow us into submission, NRA members will never, ever waver in defense of the individual liberty of every single law-abiding American.

Together, we will always stand as “Freedom’s Safest Place.”

aMerican rifleMan

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Mentor a New Shooter, Save the Second Amendment

M

By Pete R. Brownell President

NRA OFFICERS Pete R. Brownell President

Richard Childress First Vice President

Carolyn D. Meadows Second Vice President

Wayne LaPierre Executive Vice President John Frazer Secretary

Wilson H. Phillips Jr. Treasurer Josh Powell Executive Director, General Operations Christopher W. Cox Executive Director,

Institute For Legislative Action

For news about your NRA, visit: nra.org and nranews.com Share this column online at nrapublications.org.

14

ay has been designated NRA Mentor Initiative month. The NRA, with support from the firearm industry, has designed an initiative with a very simple objective; we are calling on each of our 5-million-and-growing NRA members— and everyone else in the firearm community—to find someone who has never fired a firearm before, take them to the range and help them put their first rounds on target.

There’s no better way to inform Americans on the Second Amendment than to provide a positive, first-hand experience. It’s been my experience that within minutes of the safety briefing, a lesson on marksmanship and the first pull of the trigger, all of the preconceived notions and media-fueled biases melt away, leaving only an excited smile and a desire for more.

Whether your newcomer ultimately joins the firearm community or simply walks away more informed, they’ve left learning some invaluable lessons—not the least of which is gun safety. I would also hope the next time they hear a discussion regarding firearms, gun rights or gun owners that doesn’t relate with their own, first-hand experience, they will be much more likely to see and call out bogus information for what it is. Perhaps more importantly, they will be inclined to speak up and set the record straight for those less informed.

It’s often said, “A lie will make its way around the globe before the truth can get its boots laced up.” Sadly, plenty of media outlets are happy to give globe-trotting untruths a free ride. Each and every person who knows the facts can serve as a stoplight long enough for the truth about firearms and gun owners to catch up.

The benefits of mentorship don’t end there. Serving as a mentor is also a great refresher course in gun safety and marksmanship for yourself. Plus, you’re doing your part to improve public safety. A more knowledgeable firearm owner in a community makes a positive overall difference to everyone’s safety.

This mentoring initiative is an extension of NRA’s founding principles—providing gun safety, training and education to all Americans. By becoming a mentor, you get to introduce the training process to a newcomer. While we advise all new shooters to train with NRA Certified Instructors, we recognize that many people are more comfortable getting started with a knowledgeable friend or loved one.

MAY 2018

This mentorship effort reminds me of a question I sometimes hear, “What is the NRA doing for me today?” I challenge you to ask yourself, “What am I doing for the Second Amendment and America?” I suggest you can do something for America, for our treasured Second Amendment today after you finish reading this. You can get up, make a phone call and take your niece, nephew, neighbor, grandson, granddaughter or friend to the shooting range.

It’s on all of us to be chief ambassadors for the Second Amendment and to ensure its viability for generations to come. It’s no secret, more and more young Americans grow up in urban environments void of family and friends to teach them about responsible firearm ownership. Frighteningly, more and more young Americans are learning about guns from television news stories, movies, video games or newspaper headlines. The best way to counteract misinformation gained from any of these sources is to help people learn the truth through first-hand experiences.

TO HELP YOU GET STARTED AS A MENTOR, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT NRAPUBLICATIONS. ORG/MENTOR TO DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY OF THE NRA’S “A GUIDE FOR NEW SHOOTERS.” We’ve all had mentors in life. Virtually all of us owe our successes to the critical guidance of at least a handful of people. We remember those people; we hold them in high regard, and in many ways we emulate them in our everyday lives. This is your opportunity to be that person for someone else.

Do your part to keep our communities safer, to keep our kids on the right track and to forever secure our precious Second Amendment.

Become a mentor.

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

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political report

Gun Control Supporters Are Counting on Appeasement

“T

By Chris W. Cox NRA-ILA Executive Director

YOUR MEMBERSHIP DUES ARE NOT ENOUGH. If you want to DEFEND your right to own and carry a firearm …

If your FREEDOM to hunt and shoot is important to you …

Then you need to SUPPORT the NRA Institute for Legislative Action.

We are the only arm of NRA specifically charged with defending your Second Amendment freedoms on Capitol Hill, and in state legislatures and courtrooms across America.

Visit nraila.org/donate to support NRA-ILA today!

NRA-ILA: (800) 392-8683 NRA-ILA website: nraila.org For related articles, go to nrapublications.org.

16

he notion that I, or Hillary, or Democrats, or whoever you want to choose, are hell-bent on taking away folks’ guns is just not true—and I don’t care how many times the NRA says it.”

—Barack Obama, June 1, 2016.

The former president’s statement was a lie when he said it. Less than a year earlier, the 44th president had lauded Great Britain and Australia’s confiscatory gun control policies.

Like Obama, the more clever anti-gun activists, eager to curry favor with moderate Americans, have sought to assure the public that they seek only minor, “reasonable” or “common-sense” changes to current policy.

According to these con artists, they only want to restrict a small subset of extremely dangerous firearms or keep firearms away from unpopular demographics.

What these gun controllers don’t tell you is that the guns they want to ban are yours, whether that is an AR-15, a pump-action shotgun or a .38 revolver. The unsavory demographic they want to prohibit from owning firearms is law-abiding Americans.

Aside from being bad policy on their own merits, each incremental step that Americans acquiesce to facilitates the next and brings gun control advocates closer to their ultimate goal of civilian disarmament.

The blueprint was laid out by National Council to Control Handguns (now Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence) Chairman Nelson T. “Pete” Shields in a 1976 interview with The New Yorker. Shields explained, “I’m convinced that we have to have federal legislation to build on. We’re going to have to take one step at a time, and the first step is necessarily—given the political realities—going to be very modest.” Elaborating, Shields went on to say, “So then we’ll have to start working again to strengthen that law, and then again to strengthen the next law, and maybe again and again. Right now, though, we’d be satisfied not with half a loaf but with a slice. Our ultimate goal—total control of handguns in the United States—is going to take time.”

In their more candid moments, gun controllers have confessed to this approach. In a 1996 piece for The Washington Post titled, “Disarm the Citizenry. But not yet,” columnist Charles Krauthammer wrote, “Passing a law like the assault weapons ban is a symbolic— purely symbolic—move in that direction. Its only real justification is not to reduce crime but to desensitize the public to the regulation of weapons in preparation for their ultimate confiscation.”

May 2018

Such brazen admissions used to be infrequent. If anything good can be said about the ugly tenor of recent anti-gun outbursts, it is that by embracing fanaticism our opponents have betrayed the terminal goals of the measured strategy pursued by more prudent gun control advocates.

Take The New York Times, which has long served as the chief propaganda arm of the gun control establishment. In 2015, a Times editorial declared that “large categories” of commonly owned firearms “must be outlawed.” Endorsing confiscation, the Times declared that a law must be enacted that “would require Americans who own those kinds of weapons to give them up.” In October and February, Times columnist Bret Stephens advocated for the U.S. to “Repeal the Second Amendment.”

Not to be outdone, in February, The Washington Post published a piece from commentator Max Boot which argued that the country should “rethink the Second Amendment.” The Boston Globe ran a piece in November in which writer David Scharfenberg contended that gun control supporters will “have to persuade more people of the need to confiscate millions of those firearms.” That same month, former Obama Senior Advisor Dan Pfeiffer called for Australian-style gun confiscation.

Like their friends in the media, more antigun politicians have revealed the full scope of their ambitions. In recent years, each session of the California State Assembly has degenerated into a perverse search for the most severe gun restrictions the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will sanction. In 2013, New York City officials sent permit holders letters ordering them to surrender registered semi-automatic rifles or remove them from the city. As of press time, the Illinois House has voted to confiscate commonly owned semi-automatic rifles held by the state’s 18- to 20-year-old Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) Card holders. If enacted, these young adults would have 90 days to turn in their guns.

We know where the gun control measures that our opposition markets as “common sense” lead, because our opponents have told us time and again. Law-abiding gun owners must recognize that the so-called “reasonable regulations” proposed by gun control proponents are nothing but a foothold for greater restrictions on our rights.

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ila story

GUN OWNERS

Framed TO TAKE THE FALL FOR A CRIME THEY DID NOT COMMIT

By Chris W. Cox NRA-ILA Executive Director

“Reasonable restrictions.”

■

“Gun violence prevention.”

■

“Gun safety measures.”

■

“Keeping firearms out of the wrong hands.”

■

“#gunsense.”

Illustration by David Labrozzi

H

owever gun control advocates couch their agenda these days, the end result is always the same: innocent, upstanding people are scapegoated for the evil acts of others who broke the law. Just ask the young adults in Illinois who are now facing the possible confiscation of their lawfully obtained firearms.

They did everything the law required of them. They kept their noses clean and passed background checks. They dutifully obtained their mandatory Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) Card. They patiently endured Illinois’ mandatory waiting period. They made sure the firearm of their choice was lawful in their local jurisdiction.

None of that matters under legislation that has already passed the House of the Illinois General Assembly and will likely be law by the time you are reading this. That bill, H.R. 1465, categorically bans adults ages 18 to 20 from possessing certain firearms otherwise available under state law. These include essentially all semi-automatic, magazine-fed, center-fire rifles and various other semi-automatic handguns and shotguns that have specified features.

The proponents of the bill refer to some of the newly regulated firearms with the epithet

americanrifleman.org

“assault weapon,” but that term is as malleable and unfixed in the gun control universe as other trendy “social justice” catchphrases that are used to express moral disapproval. Just as a restaurant can be accused of “cultural appropriation” for serving an inauthentic variant of regional cuisine, for example, a telescoping stock could turn an otherwise lawful rifle or shotgun into contraband under H.R. 1465, no matter what the firearm’s overall length or weight.

What is evil about being able to adjust the length of pull on a long gun to a person’s particular physical dimensions or outerwear as to merit criminal punishment?

Absolutely nothing.

And what is dangerous about FOID-carrying young adults in the Land of Lincoln that they must relinquish their guns or risk having them confiscated by force?

Absolutely nothing.

The Legislature hasn’t claimed the targeted firearms or population are suddenly at the center of an emergent violent crime wave in Illinois.

To the contrary, even as the bill was making its way through the General Assembly, newspapers were highlighting the welcome news that

may 2018

19

ILA STORY firearm-related violence in Chicago had fallen for the 12th straight month in a row, with shootings down nearly 30 percent compared to the first two months of 2017.

Instead, what anti-gun forces in Illinois were reacting to—or, more accurately, exploiting—was a single crime committed in Parkland, Fla., by a 19-year-old who legally purchased his murder weapon. As horrific as that crime was, it is hardly representative of the sorts of daily firearm-related crimes that criminals in Chicago and other places continue to commit on a much more regular and predictable basis, defying every law that would purport to stand in their way.

Indeed, mass shootings are so rare that James Alan Fox, a professor of

of at least two FBI tips warning of the potential for violence. And he had been examined—but ultimately not committed—by local mental health authorities.

Perhaps most shocking of all were reports that once the shooting at the school actually started, at least one— perhaps more—armed, uniformed deputies were present but did not immediately intervene, instead taking up a defensive posture outside the school as shots within could be heard.

No doubt a clear and accurate picture of just what happened on the scene is months away, if it ever emerges at all.

But despite all these missed opportunities for intervention to stop an obviously deranged individual, the national debate has focused neither on the confessed killer nor on the fact that

YOUNG ADULTS WHO OWN GUNS ARE BEING PORTRAYED AS MENACES TO PUBLIC SAFETY. criminology at Northeastern University who studies those types of crimes, noted in a USA Today opinion column that students are 10 times more likely to be accidentally killed while walking or biking to school.

Like Chicago’s typical gang-related homicides, these types of accidents rarely make the national news. But then, they’re not being used to push a long-standing national agenda that plays on fear, ignorance and misinformation, rather than on an honest and accurate assessment of the facts and a willingness to confront complex and multifaceted problems.

In the case of the Parkland accused murderer, one red flag after another was raised and ignored. This was not a case where the confessed killer escaped prior notice. He had extensive disciplinary problems in school. Police had responded to calls at his residence dozens of times. He even called the police to report himself, confessing to fighting and struggling with the recent death of his mother. He was the subject

20

every official mechanism that might have been able to make a difference somehow failed.

Instead, the debate has been centered squarely on the NRA and its 5 million members, as well as semiautomatic rifles that are statistically under-represented in firearm-related homicide. The takeaway promoted by the media, social justice activists and opportunistic corporate virtue-signalers is that you, the law-abiding American gun owner, are to blame. And you must accept curbs on your rights, if not necessarily to stop further crime, then at least as an act of civic penance for someone else’s misdeeds.

The national response, in other words, could hardly be more misdirected.

Well-meaning gun owners who want nothing more than for all young Americans to grow up free from fear of violent crime, some with kids of their own, were portrayed as the enemies of their countrymen by a media seized with the conviction that the tide had MAY 2018

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

finally turned against the Second Amendment. Their voices and their perspectives were shouted down or vilified, simply because they did not embrace the agenda.

In addition, young adults who happened to own guns were being categorically portrayed as menaces to public safety. And it didn’t matter who they were or how their own circumstances might deviate from caricatures of clueless teenagers. People who are 20-year-olds with children, jobs and residences of their own—who as much as anyone need to protect themselves and their families—were stereotyped as impulsive, irresponsible and ignorant. Americans at the prime age for military service—the demographic the nation literally depends on for national defense—were dismissed en masse as being incapable of safely and responsibly exercising their constitutional right to arms.

It remains to be seen how Illinois’ FOID card system might be used to enforce any new age restrictions in the state. That system is effectively a registry of gun owners—including their birth dates—but it doesn’t record the specific firearms they own. Still, it could precipitate visits from law enforcement personnel seeking “voluntary” cooperation with the new restrictions, much like the “knock and talk” system California uses to “request” cooperation from persons who lawfully obtained firearms that later became prohibited. The further irony, of course, is that exploiting the FOID system would promote enforcement action against those who originally obtained the newly banned guns lawfully but not against those who didn’t.

Which brings me back to my original point. Blameworthiness and moral agency are irrelevant to the modern gun control movement. If you have guns, they want them, whoever you are. And if they are willing to claim that young adults as a class are not safe enough to have them, who’s to say they won’t eventually paint the elderly and others with the same broad brush?

That’s why no gun owner, young or old, no matter what type of gun he or she owns, can afford to be complacent about their rights. We can’t know when the next high-profile firearm-related offense will make national news. But we certainly know who will be blamed for it.

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Because every family tradition NEEDS THE PERFECT STARTING POINT

READERS WRITE

“Over There” With Pvt. Laturco I have been an NRA Life member for more than 50 years. I have seen several articles about the 100th anniversary of World War I, but I have never read a story in your magazine quite like the one of my father during the “Great War.” So this story, as told to me and my brothers, and the photo I enclose, go all the way back to 1917.

He came to America, a young Italian immigrant at the age of 17. Soon after, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and found himself at war in France. He was involved in trench warfare, where he acquired some really cool war trophies—a C96 Mauser and a Luger pistol, both in 9 mm Luger.

My dad always liked to hunt. For a time, he was assigned to guard German prisoners of war, and in order to help feed those men he was allowed to hunt for game to add to the stew pot. He bagged quite a few deer and a wild boar. He continued to hunt as he grew older, and was still a good shot.

He never talked much about the war, unless we asked him about certain details, such as this picture. He passed away in 1970 at age 79. He taught me and my brothers how to shoot and handle guns. I thought the story and photo were worth sharing.

BENJAMIN LATURCO, ARIZONA

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22

I enjoyed the article by Tom Laemlein “Locally Made: The Vietnamese K-50M Submachine Gun” (February 2018, p. 56). It did indeed make it to the southern part of I Corps, as I was there with Charlie Co., 1st Btn., 52nd Infantry Regiment, 198th Light Infantry Brigade, 23rd “Americal” Infantry Division. I am enclosing pictures of a 105-gun weapons cache we found near Landing Zone Professional on Feb. 9, 1969.

This cache was 13½ miles southwest of Tam Ky, eight clicks southeast of the Tien Phuoc Special Forces Camp.

We thought the gun—being held by our third platoon, third squad machine gunner Philip “Flip” Feder in the photo—was Chinese-made.

Now we know its true origin. This was a Viet Cong cache with lots of MosinNagant Model 91/30s and Model 44s. Also, there were SKS Type 56s, M1 carbines and Browning Automatic Rifles. In the second photo, Flip is holding one of the BARs. At this time, our company was about 60-men-strong, and we were very excited to tag and take one of the semi-automatic or bolt-action rifles home as a souvenir. But, as usual, the brass retagged every one of them, and not even our battalion commander, Lt. Col. Stinson—who was killed in action about a month later near this area—nor Capt. Hall, our commanding officer, got home with one!

GARY FRANKLIN, TEXAS “Readers Write” affords members an opportunity to comment on material published in American Rifleman. Single-topic letters are preferred and may be edited for brevity. Send letters to: Readers Write, NRA Publications, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400 or e-mail us at publications@nrahq.org.

MAY 2018

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reports | opening shot

Harry Selby, Hunter And Rifleman, Dies At 92

J

ohn Henry (Harry) Selby, 92, died peacefully on Jan. 20, 2018, at his home in Maun, Botswana, following a year of declining health. Harry was born on July 22, 1925, in Frankfort, South Africa, the youngest of six children born to Arthur and Evelyn Selby. When he was 3, his family moved to a sprawling cattle ranch in Kenya that was rich with game. Growing up in the constant presence of game, Harry learned to stalk and shoot at an early age, hunting small game at the age of 8, and progressing to larger game, taking his first elephant at 14.

In 1945, Selby received his first professional hunter’s license, having completed an apprenticeship under Philip Percival, dean of the East African professional hunters, who guided Theodore Roosevelt in 1909 and, later, led Ernest Hemingway on his Green Hills of Africa safari.

Harry became a master at running an efficient and comfortable safari camp, taking many notable clients on safari, including writer Robert Ruark, who, beginning with Horn of the Hunter, wrote several books about Africa based on Harry’s life experiences. In a Reader’s Digest article from August 1954 entitled “The Most Unforgettable Character I’ve Met,” Ruark introduced the young professional hunter to the readers, “Harry Selby… is the most man I ever met … .”

Harry’s reputation was well-established by the age of 25, and a steady stream of safari clientele had to book five years in advance in order to hunt with him. Some of Harry’s clients included Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, oil-family scion John Mecom, Jr., baseball executive Walter O’Malley, opera singer Lauritz Melchior, the maharajah of Jaipur, Prince Stanislaw Radziwill of Poland and Miguel Alemán Valdés, a former president of Mexico.

In 1963, Harry moved to Botswana to explore new hunting grounds, and he would establish a thriving safari industry there. In 2009, Harry Selby, one of the most revered names in big-game hunting, was awarded the Presidential Certificate of Honor in recognition of his long and faithful service to Botswana.

I first met Harry back in December 1972 when he flew up to Kenya from Botswana to finalize some end-of-season safari business

24

May 2018

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opening shot at Ker, Downey & Selby Safaris headquarters in Nairobi. I remember it like it was yesterday. My brief but fateful meeting with Harry set the wheels in motion for me to begin my professional hunter’s apprenticeship several months later in Botswana. I was so awestruck by the legendary Selby that, in my mind, working under him would be the equivalent of a garage band opening for the Rolling Stones.

Among Harry’s many talents, he took great pride in his gunsmithing abilities and was considered something of a “gun nut,” a label he embraced. He was interested and knowledgeable in every aspect of firearms, ammunition and ballistics— all crucial elements to his trade. In many cases, it was his gun-handling expertise that kept his clients, trackers and himself safe and injury-free while pursuing dangerous game, often at close quarters in thick bush.

Like many of his contemporaries, Harry began his safari career using a double rifle, and Harry’s was a Rigby double chambered for the .470 Nitro Express.

At the end of a safari in 1949, Harry’s Rigby .470 was damaged beyond repair when a vehicle rode over the barrels.

He needed to buy another heavy rifle before the next safari began. Time was short and he couldn’t find a suitable double rifle anywhere in Nairobi. He eventually located a Rigby bolt-action rifle in .416 Rigby at the Nairobi gun dealer, May & Co. The rifle was virtually brand new, having been ordered by someone who didn’t take delivery of it.

Harry bought the .416 Rigby rifle on the spot for £100.

After two safaris with the Rigby

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bolt-gun, Harry said he would not have gone back to a double rifle under any circumstances. He found the boltaction Rigby to be inherently accurate from the very first shot, and the phenomenal penetration was to become evident as time went by.

In the .416 Rigby, Harry found the perfect professional hunter’s rifle—a beautifully balanced, fast-handling rifle pushing a 400-gr. bullet fast enough to reach out to 300 yds., or more, to bring down a wounded animal. And yet it could perform with devastating effect on large dangerous game at close range.

He also appreciated the four-round magazine, and on several occasions was glad that those four rounds were ready and waiting. So began a lifelong love affair between Harry, the .416 caliber and the Rigby rifle.

Even Harry’s Wakamba gunbearers developed great faith in Harry’s .416, which they called the “Skitini,” having trouble pronouncing .416. They were convinced that the rifle did most of the shooting by itself and that Harry merely pointed it in the general direction. They regarded Harry’s Rigby rifle as the one thing that stood between themselves and a messy follow-up.

When Harry moved to Botswana, he shipped all of his firearms to his new home in Maun, which included an impressive array of both big- and smallbore rifles and shotguns. During the next 40 years of conducting safaris in Botswana, among the many firearms he owned, the two guns that Harry never left home without were his .416 Rigby and a .22 Colt Woodsman pistol (more about Harry and his guns can be found at americanrifleman.org/selby). Both

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aMerican rifleMan

of those guns now reside in the United States, the .416 is with a long-time client and very good friend of Harry, and I’m honored to possess his Colt Woodsman, which Harry presented to me in 2016 as a token of our longstanding friendship.

Harry Selby was my mentor, boss, confidant and friend. He handed me the opportunity to live an absolutely incredible way of life. Over the years, I was very fortunate to have shared many a campfire with Harry while on safari together. As recently as August 2017, I visited Harry at his home overlooking the Thamalakane River. I remember the sparkle in his eye as he gazed out at the gentle flow of the river and reminisced about the good old days on safari. He was very pleased to have experienced them when he did, enjoying an illustrious and eventful career spanning more than five decades. He experienced the best of Africa at the best of times and with the very best people.

Harry is survived by Miki, his wife of 65 years, and his daughter, Gail—who both live in Maun—and three grandchildren, Reginah, Serena and Michael. His son, Mark, passed away in 2017.

—Joe Coogan

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REPORTS | NEWS & NOTES

Dallas NRA-ILA Dinner & Auction

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RA-ILA’s 12th Annual Dinner and Auction, presented by Kimber, will take place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on Friday, May 4, 2018, starting at 6 p.m. This highly anticipated event, which attracts celebrities, industry executives and a host of Second Amendment supporters from around the country, provides direct support for NRA’s legislative, legal and political efforts.

This year’s event will feature impressive, one-of-a-kind

items made and donated just for the auction, including engraved firearms, suppressors, knives, fine art, optics and hunts from around the globe. Tickets are $500 for an individual or $5,000 for a table. Tickets are limited, and the event is expected to sell out. For more information and to see many of the items available for auction, visit nraila.org/auction.

To purchase tickets, contact jcommerford@nrahq.org or call (703) 267-1384.

American Rifleman Special Presentations Set For Dallas

A

t the NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits in Dallas, American Rifleman will host six Special Presentations, with Maj. John L. Plaster headlining with “Snipers In World War II.” Field Editor Martin K.A. Morgan will

present “The Guns Of Vietnam,” “Inside The Civilian Marksmanship Program” and “The Long Shadow Of John Garand.”

Donna Worthy and Casey Jackson—a mother/daughter team who run a successful gun shop—will present “Women

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Mark Keefe will deliver “NRA, American Rifleman and the M1 Garand Rifle.” The two-hour presentations are free to NRA members. For times and room numbers, check americanrifleman.org.

reports | news & notes

Marines Send In The Leupolds

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he U.S. Marine Corps prides itself on marksmanship, and now Marine infantrymen will be able to put more accurate fire on our nation’s enemies—with a little help from Leupold. The Marines just adopted the Leupold Mark 4 MR/T to top its Designated Marksman Rifles (DMRs), and the combination of the HK416-based M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) with 2.5-8X 36 mm Leupold TS-30A2 Mark 4 MR/T riflescope will now be called the M38. The TS-30A2 Mark 4 MR/T has previously been fielded with the Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle.

“The TS-30A2 Mark 4 is the perfect optic for those looking to deliver fast, precise rifle fire,” said Sam Horstman, director of military sales for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “Further, like all Leupold optics, it’s been strenuously tested for

durability, and fully meets the rugged standards set by the Marine Corps.”

“We pride ourselves on building optics that deliver elite optical performance and unparalleled reliability,” Bruce Pettet, president and chief executive officer for Leupold & Stevens, Inc., said. “We’re ecstatic that the Marine Corps selected the TS-30A2 Mark 4 MR/T. The men and women of the U.S. armed forces deserve the very best, and we’re proud to deliver it.”

The M27 is chambered, of course, in 5.56x45 mm NATO, and it is built on an HK416, fires from a closed bolt and uses the German maker’s gas-piston system operation. Intended to replace the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW)—the open-bolt, belt-fed 5.56 mm light machine gun of the U.S. military—the Marines adopted the IAR in 2011 after extensive testing. The M249 didn’t go

away, it was just pulled out of Marine infantry squads and assigned at the company level. And the Marines like the M27 IAR, and plans are afoot to equip frontline Marines with the gun to the tune of up to 50,000 rifles. leupold.com

products & projects

Dedicated To Turkey Hunting

E

very spring of my adult life, I’ve gone afield to chase the elusive eastern wild turkey. And every year in the weeks leading up to the season opener, I find myself sorting through accessories to alter one of my pump-action shotguns—typically tuned for slugs and deer hunting—to better equip the gun for the pursuit of wild turkey. All of this is followed by a few hours of range time pattern testing brutish-to-shoot turkey loads. The process never seems very efficient, and the thought of using a dedicated turkey gun has crossed my mind more than once. That opportunity came last spring in Kansas where the successful and clean harvest of two beautiful Kansas-bred specimens was made possible by a Savage Model 212 bolt-action shotgun.

The Savage 212, available through the Custom Rifle Shop at Savage Arms (savage.com), offers hunters and shooters a 12 gauge optimized for turkey hunting. It has a typical Savage-style receiver that is drilled and tapped for optics and features the company’s AccuTrigger. A camouflage stock, detachable box magazine and a barrel threaded for chokes

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makes the shotgun an ideal platform for such pursuits—the gun is invisible to birds, quick to reload and can be tuned to improve patterns.

The example I used on the turkey hunt included a Weaver Kaspa 1-4X 24 mm optic (weaveroptics.com), which helped as the distances began to stretch in the fields of Kansas. The ammunition of choice was 3rd Degree from Federal Ammunition (federalpremium.com)—a mixed-load shotshell designed for targets both near and far. In fact, the second bird harvested was dead before it hit the dirt from nearly 50 yds.—pretty impressive stuff. Federal now includes Tungsten Super Shot within its 3rd Degree line, replacing its popular Heavyweight No. 7 shot, and making it even more effective at distance.

This hunt was also the first time I turkey hunted from within the confines of a ground blind, and I must say the Double Bull blind from Primos (primos.com) was very useful for the ambush tactic used. Both of the jaded old toms did require a bit of coercing with a diaphragm call to seal the deal, and thankfully a helping hand from the Primos Trigger Stick steadied the shot.

The combination of equipment was, without a doubt, effective, and the experience left me with a solid appreciation for dedicated equipment, not to mention a slight bit of jealousy toward Kansas and its mixed breed of turkeys.

—Christopher olsen, AssistAnt editor aMerican rifleMan

WING MAN. A5 Wicked Wing Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades

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reports | products & projects

BROG Tool Bag

Area 419 Scope Rail For CZ455

C

NC machined from a single piece of 7075 aluminum, the CZ455 Scope Base from Area 419 provides owners of CZ455 rimfire rifles with a long-range scope base option. The company offers its rails with built-in cant of 15 m.o.a. or 30 m.o.a. Each unit is hardcoat anodized and features a spirit level at its rear, a subtle but handy feature. Three 2.5-mm socket screws, when tightened to 22 in.-lbs., provide solid fixture to the 11 mm dovetail machined atop the CZ455 receiver. Price: $100.

Contact: Area 419; (419) 830-8353; area419.com.

WinClean 244 Gunpowder

W

inchester WinClean 244 is a new ball powder for precise metering, and is ideally suited to 9 mm Luger, .38 Spl. and .45 ACP standard loads. The powder is devised for consistency and clean burning, while featuring a low flash and utility across a broad range of applications. Additionally, WinClean powder reduces copper fouling and residue, extending accuracy and consistency for longer shooting periods. The powder is available from midwayusa.com in 1-lb. ($28), 4-lb. ($98) and 8-lb. ($177) canisters. Contact: Winchester Smokeless Propellants; (913) 362-9455; wwpowder.com.

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aMerican rifleMan

T

he Blue Ridge Overland Gear (BROG) Tool Bag was designed to keep tools at the ready to repair vehicles traveling off the beaten path. The U.S.-made 500D Cordura nylon bag measures 12"x12"x5.5" and features taped seams and bartacked seatbelt-webbing handles. The inside is lined with hook-and-loop material that secures six included 12"x4"x2" removable pouches used to organize wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers and more. Three rows of 1" MOLLE webbing and a 4" Velcro panel on the bag’s front pouches. The bag’s clamshell design allows it to be unzipped and spread out flat as a tray for loose tools or small parts.

Price: $126. Contact: Blue Ridge Overland Gear; (866) 855-5471; blueridgeoverlandgear.com.

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REPORTS | PRODUCTS & PROJECTS

Lucas Oil Products Extreme Duty CLP

T

he Extreme Duty CLP, from Lucas Oil Products Inc., is a lightweight, do-all gun oil designed to penetrate rust, free stuck parts, and dissolve fouling and contaminants while adding a layer of protection for preservation. The product is formulated to create a polymeric film when wiped clean and neutralize acidic residue left behind from fingerprints. Extreme Duty CLP contains wear additives to combat friction during hard use. Aerosol cans are available. Price: $7.50, 4-oz.; $10, 11-oz. aerosol. Contact: Lucas Oil Products Inc.; (800) 342-2512; lucasoil.com.

Propper Rifle Case 44"

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ith a main compartment measuring 12.5" tall and 44" long, Propper’s 100-percent polyester Rifle Case 44" is sized to accommodate nearly all tactical carbines and shotguns, as well as most hunting rifles with a barrel length of 22" or shorter. Padded on all sides to help protect the gun, the semi-rigid case also features internal straps and sleeves (cuffs) to secure the firearm for transportation. Available in black, coyote brown and olive green, the Rifle Case 44" has three front pockets

for additional storage, MOLLE-compatible webbing for customization, a removable shoulder strap and provisions for a lock. Price: $80. Contact: Propper Int’l.; (800) 296-9690; propper.com.

Aker Leather 170 FlatSider XR14

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vertical-draw, outside-the-waistband belt holster custom-formed from premium cowhide, the Aker Leather 170 FlatSider XR14 is designed for use with semi-automatic pistols, including those equipped with minireflex sights. A dehorned inner surface provides increased comfort, while rigid, curved belt slots sized for belts 1.5" in width supply stability. For security, the XR14 utilizes a thumb-break retention strap and an adjustable tension screw. Aker flatsider holsters are offered for 35 different handgun models in both left- and right-hand configurations. Available in two colors: black and tan. Price: $80. Contact: Aker Int’l.; (800) 645-2537; akerleather.com.

Ammo Inc. Streak

S

afe for use in environments where traditional tracers would be prohibited, Ammo Incorporated’s new Streak Visual Ammunition utilizes a non-flammable phosphor material applied to the base of its non-incendiary, metal-jacketed projectile in order to create a visible red glow on the way to its target. In range testing, we found Streak to be visible to the naked eye when fired on indoor ranges and outdoors in cloudy or low-light conditions, but not in broad daylight. Available in 20-count boxes of 9 mm Luger (147-gr.), .40 S&W (180-gr.) and .45 ACP (230-gr.). Price: $13-$18. Contact: Ammo Inc.; ammo-inc.com.

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AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

Real Avid 1911 Pro Pack

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good primer kit for those new to M1911s and their maintenance, the Real Avid 1911 Pro Pack provides the basic equipment and information needed to disassemble, clean, lubricate and reassemble the classic American pistol.

The Pro Pack includes: Real Avid’s Gun Boss Handgun Cleaning Kit, with rods, brushes, patches and jags from .22 to .45 cal.; the 1911 Smart Wrench, a two-sided tool to help remove Government- and Officer-size barrel bushings; and a 1911 Quick Reference Field Guide, featuring instructions and illustrations for user-level maintenance. Available exclusively from amazon.com. Price: $30. Contact: Real Avid; (800) 286-0567; realavid.com.

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REPORTS | PRODUCTS & PROJECTS

S&W M&P15T with Crimson Trace LiNQ

S

mith & Wesson purchased Crimson Trace back in 2016, and each year since then the gun manufacturer has taken advantage of that acquisition by introducing firearm models featuring Crimson Trace technology straight from the factory. A case in point, the new-for-2018 M&P15T with Crimson Trace LiNQ pairs a high-quality AR-15-style rifle with the wireless LiNQ light/laser system—packaging them at a price point below their combined retail prices.

The 5.56x45 mm NATO-chambered M&P15T features a 16" carbine barrel with 5R rifling and a 13" free-floating M-LOK-compatible handguard. LiNQ’s control unit serves as the gun’s pistol grip and activates the system’s green laser sight and/or 300-lumen white light when grasped by the firing hand. Price: $1,500.

Contact: Smith & Wesson; (800) 331-0852; smith-wesson.com.

Game Scout Hunting Stock

Cold Steel Frenzy II

L HUNT

McMillan Game Scout Stock on Browning .300 WSM rifle

ong but slender, the Frenzy II from Cold Steel is among the largest folding knives available that are still easy to carry. It boasts a 5.5" powder-steel blade—with a thick spine and straight cutting edge—Cold Steel’s reliable Tri-Ad Lock and trim, sculpted black-and-blue G10 grip panels. The Frenzy II is certainly a formidable back-lock folder. Yet, despite being nearly 7" long folded (12.25" open), the knife is still easy to pocket thanks to its trim design and sub-6-oz. weight. Price: $240. Contact: Cold Steel; (800) 255-4716; coldsteel.com.

Birchwood Casey Waxed Canvas Shell Bag

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PERFECT YOUR RIFLE AT MCMILLANUSA.COM

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hether shooting on the skeet and trap fields, or trudging through CRP land, a quality shell bag, like the Waxed Canvas Shell Bag from Birchwood Casey, will support a shooter’s ammunition and accessory needs by securely strapping, universally, to a shooters mid-section by way of nylon webbing and an adjustable, Fastex-style buckle.

Included is a zippered pouch for eye protection and a large zippered bottom to handle spent shells, rather than leaving them in the field. A 25-round box of shotshells fits easily into the main cavity of the bag. Price: $45. Contact: Birchwood Casey, LLC; (800) 746-6862; birchwoodcasey.com.

MAY 2018

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

The Magpul PRO 700 Rifle Chassis.

We’ve combined innovative engineering, precision machining, and an extensive list of purposeful design features with precise individual adjustability.

The result provides demanding shooters with the most comprehensive precision rifle platform solution available and true out of the box performance.

Your Remington 700 will never be the same.

Arriving Spring 2018

w w w. m a g p u l . c o m ©2018 Magpul Industries Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Magpul holds a Trademark on all of its product names and logos. The following products are trademarks of Magpul Industries Corporation, registered in the U.S. and other countries: Magpul, PMAG

RL 550C The Most Versatile Reloading Machine

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REPORTS | PRODUCTS & PROJECTS

Where Can I Get … ?

A

lthough many modern pistols feature Picatinny rail sections molded or machined into their dustcovers, most do not have their slides’ tops machined for the mounting of red-dot sights. UM Tactical has addressed that situation with a universal machined aluminum mount that slides on and locks to a handgun’s accessory rail and cantilevers upward and backward to a section of Picatinny rail above the slide. Once an optic is attached and sighted in, the entire assembly can be removed and replaced with the press of a button—and without a loss of zero. The real genius with UM’s system, though, is a companion holster of molded Boltaron that engages the mount rather than the pistol. The design allows a single holster to work with a variety of pistol shapes and brands. The UM3 Combo Package includes the UM3 mount and UMH3 holster. Price: $135.

Contact: UM Tactical; (866) 979-4486; umtactical.com.

WSSM BRASS CASES FOR RELOADING HORNADY MFG.; (800) 338-3220; HORNADY.COM BELT-MOUNTED ELASTIC RETENTION MAGAZINE POUCH HIGH SPEED GEAR; (877) 301-2116; HIGHSPEEDGEAR.COM

NRA COUNTRY FIELD BLANKET NRA STORE; (888) 607-6007; NRASTORE.COM OVERSIZE MAGAZINE RELEASE FOR RUGER PRECISION RIFLES PARKER MOUNTAIN MACHINE; (603) 664-9606; PARKERMOUNTAINMACHINE.COM

HANDLOADS

12 Gauge Target Load NOTE: Pictured here with available options.

www.ar.dillonprecision.com FREE Catalog L32-14690, Call 800-762-3845

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ith spring gobbler season becoming just a memory and fall waterfowl seasons looming, now is the time to hone your wing-shooting skills—and nothing is better at doing so than time spent on a sporting clays course. Depending on the targets and their presentations, the load detailed below should serve well across the course. Featuring 1 oz. of magnum lead No. 8 shot (410 pellets) in a Federal 12S0 wad atop of 22.5 grs. of IMR’s new Green propellant, during testing the payload attained 1268 f.p.s. from the 25¾" barrel of a Benelli Super Black Eagle II shotgun. Though soft on the shoulder, the load is devastating to the target; in fact, even when using a factory modified choke, at 40 yds. 341 pellets (83 percent of the total shot) impacted fairly uniformly within a 30" circle surrounding the point of aim.

With such performance, the shell is a summertime solution to avert winter wing-shooting woes.

—AARON CARTER, FIELD EDITOR MAY 2018

RECIPE

12-GA., 2¾" PROPELLANT/CHARGE: IMR GREEN/ 22.5 GRS. SHOT TYPE/CHARGE: MAGNUM LEAD NO. 8 (OR 7½)/ 1 OZ. WAD: FEDERAL 12S0 HULL: FEDERAL GOLD MEDAL PAPER PRIMER: FED. 209A CRIMP: FOLD PRESSURE (P.S.I): 9,200 VELOCITY @ 5' (F.P.S.): 1268 PATTERN AT 40 YDS. (INSIDE A 30" CIRCLE): 341 PELLETS (83% OF TOTAL) USES: RECREATION, PRACTICE, COMPETITION, HUNTING (SMALL UPLAND GAME) NOTES: PATTERNED AT 40 YDS. USING A 253⁄4"-BARRELED BENELLI SUPER BLACK EAGLE II SEMI-AUTOMATIC SHOTGUN WITH A FLUSH-FITTING, FACTORY MODIFIED CHOKE. WARNING: Technical data and information contained herein are intended to provide information based upon the limited experience of individuals under specific conditions and circumstances. They do not detail the comprehensive training, procedures, techniques and safety precautions that are absolutely necessary to properly carry on similar activity.

READ THE NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER ON THE CONTENTS PAGE OF THIS MAGAZINE. ALWAYS CONSULT COMPREHENSIVE REFERENCE MANUALS AND BULLETINS OF PROPER TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, PROCEDURES, TECHNIQUES AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY SIMILAR ACTIVITIES.

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

The 911 .380 is the perfect pistol for your every ay carry. The lightweight aluminum frame an black Nitri e or stainless steel sli e measure 5.5 inches long an

less then 4 inches high, with a snag-free

1-inch profile that’s un etectable un er clothing. Springfiel ’s Octo-Grip™ front strap an mainspring housing texture ensure a secure grip. Designe

for life-saving

efensive use at close range, the 911

features an ambi extrous safety paire with tritium/luminescent sights.

When the Police are minutes away an the threat is secon s away…9-1-1…When you have to be your own first respon er.

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favorite firearms

Red Beach Beretta

M

NRA member photos

y father, John Cole, Sr., was assigned to the newly commissioned LST-310 tank landing ship in April of 1943. In early September of that year, the ship found its way into the Gulf of Salerno for its intended landing at a section of the Italian coastline that had been designated as Red Beach. After fulfilling its off-loading operations, the ship lay quiet while awaiting word whether it would be required to take on evacuating soldiers. It was during this lull that my father had the chance to walk the beach, where he found this Beretta Model 1934, chambered in 9 mm Corto (.380 ACP), washed up amidst the detritus.

The pistol made its way back to the States and was kept on a farm in rural New Hampshire for many years. Every year during our annual vacation to that farm I would ask my father whether I could shoot his gun this year, and each time he told me “no”—until I turned 15. When my father passed away, the gun passed to my mother and eventually to me. I have had it ever since, and I subsequently declared its existence as a war souvenir and duly registered it.

With the exception of the firing pin, the pistol and its holster are still in entirely original condition. Memories of those summer occasions, with my father teaching me about firearms, make this Beretta my favorite.

John Cole, Jr., new York

Nearly every shooter has a favorite firearm. If you would like to share the experience of owning yours with other American Rifleman readers, or on americanrifleman.org, send a sharp color photograph of the gun, accompanied by its story in fewer than 400 words, with your name, address and daytime telephone number to: Favorite Firearms, American Rifleman, National Rifle Association, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400. Photos and submissions cannot be returned and may be edited for clarity and brevity.

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We’re bringing real-world advancements to the industry like never before. This is our uncompromising vision.

This is what makes us Taurus USA. Always Bring It.™

TaurusUSA.com

380 Auto • Item Number 1007031101

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aMerican rifleMan

© 2017 O.F. Mossberg & Sons

MEET THE MODERN-DAY 6-SHOOTER. AVAILABLE IN 12 & 20 GAUGE ADD A LAYER OF PERSONAL PROTECTION with rugged tactical firearms from Mossberg.® As America’s oldest family-owned and operated firearms manufacturer, we’ve been building dependable, hardworking shotguns and rifles since 1919. American built. American strong.

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questions & answers

Why Nickel Boron?

Q

Nickel boron (NiB) bolt carrier groups (BCG) for AR-style rifles now seem to be available at affordable prices, although they are still more expensive than a standard mil-spec BCG. The NiB-coated BCGs seem to be often spoken of in awe. What are the advantages and disadvantages of installing a NiB-coated AR-15 BCG?

A

Unfortunately, this particular subject has become a source of warm debate, and, in my opinion, at least, should be re-evaluated.

There are a number of potential objectives when plating/treating/coating a metal surface. In my opinion, the two primary ones are: to protect/ preserve the substrate, or underlying surface, and, to provide some degree of additional or improved functional performance. Other objectives, such as

Brownells M16 5.56 Bolt Carrier Group Mp Brownells.CoM

appearance or dimensional alteration can be important, but don’t apply in this case.

Properly applied, any number of conversion coatings, such as bluing and browning, will protect and preserve the substrate to a limited degree.

Parkerizing is another conversion process that adds greater preservation plus a basis of lubrication retention.

Treatment processes such as casehardening (added carbon) are intended to provide smoother operation and extended life. Ferritic nitrocarburizing processes, such as Tenifer/Melonite, combine heat treatment with the

addition of carbon and nitrogen. In general, “hardened” surfaces have a lower coefficient of friction, which aids in functioning and other features.

Platings would include nickel boron, along with chrome, plain nickel, gold, silver, etc. Not all plating is “hard,” and may not provide much, if any, protection. Nickel boron is hard, tough, slick and smooth. Additive coatings like Teflon, and a variety of bake-on coatings, can and will offer

Mystery Miroku

functional advantages, but their longevity is sometimes questionable.

From my own perspective, any product or process that improves a firearm’s functionality and longevity, and reduces the time and materials required for maintenance, is a good thing. On the other hand, neglecting established and prudent maintenance practices by not providing lubrication to reciprocating components or delaying cleaning procedures just because you “can,” does not reflect rational thinking. The reduced effort to clean up NiB-plated parts is valid and wonderful, but tests indicating a firearm’s enhanced ability to fire without lubrication or cleaning should be viewed simply as an indication of improved technology, and not as a new standard operating procedure.

—JOHN W. TREAKLE, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

N A T I O N A L

Q

I have an old, like-new-condition revolver made in Japan by Miroku marked for “.38 Special Caliber” that looks like maybe a copy of an S&W, but the cylinder-release catch looks more like something from a Colt. The serial number is: XX090. The gun shoots great, and the trigger pull is very smooth. In single-action mode, the pull is very light. What model gun do I have, and when was it made?

A

Your revolver is the “Police Model” made by the B.C. Miroku Firearms Co. in Japan from 1960 to 1970. Your serial number places manufacture around 1961. A quick Internet search reveals a similar example for sale at $285.

—MICHAEL F. CARRICK, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

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questions & answers

Open-Bolt Mechanics

Q A

What does it mean when a firearm is fired from an open bolt?

46

From the thousands of questions and letters on guns, ammunition and their use that American Rifleman receives every year, it publishes the most interesting here. Receiving answers to technical and historical questions is a privilege reserved to NRA members.

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The term “open bolt” indicates a firearm mechanism where the bolt remains in the open position until the trigger is pulled. Most semi-automatic firearms are of the more familiar “closed bolt” type. In such guns, the bolt is pulled to the rear, released and then moves forward, chambering a round, and then locks into battery before the trigger is pulled. When an open-bolt firearm is operated, the bolt is pulled to the rear and remains in that position until the trigger is pulled. Once the trigger is pulled, the bolt moves forward, chambers a round and then the gun fires when the bolt moves into battery. Openbolt designs are generally used on full-automatic or selective-fire firearms, as the mechanism aids in cooling. The main downside is that the aim can be affected by the heavy bolt slamming forward at the moment of firing. However, this is not generally viewed as a significant problem when firing fully automatic firearms.

—Bruce N. caNfield, coNtriButiNg editor

Questions must be in the form of letters addressed to: Dope Bag, NRA Publications, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400; must contain the member’s code line from an American Rifleman or American Hunter mailing label or membership card; must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed, legal-size envelope; and must be limited to one specific question per letter. Non-members may submit a question with a membership application. We cannot answer technical or historical questions by telephone, e-mail or fax, and we cannot place even an approximate value on guns or other equipment.

Please allow eight to 10 weeks for replies.

“Questions & Answers” is compiled by staff and Contributing Editors: Bruce N. Canfield, Michael Carrick, Garry James, Charles Pate, Charles E. Petty, John M. Taylor and John Treakle.

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THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE

The NRA World Shooting Championship

So maybe you can run an IDPA stage in seconds flat or hit a 12" target at 400 yds. with a carbine from a wobbly barricade or even run 100 straight in American trap. But can you combine such performances into one event?

BY JUSTIN DYAL

At this match, competitors don’t get to use their own guns—they are supplied at each stage.

e want to find the undisputed world champion.”

This was NRA Competitions Division Director Cole McCulloch’s statement opening the shooter’s brief for the 2017 NRA World Shooting Championship. The ballroom of the match hotel was packed with nearly 300 competitors, and the gravity of McCulloch’s declaration was felt by all assembled. The singular, best-allaround shot in the world. That’s a heavy title, and the $250,000 prize purse to be split among the top shooters put a fine point on how

48

hard they were going to try and win.

The room was packed with Bianchi Cup winners, USPSA champs, 3 Gun Nation title holders, reality show contestants, a wide variety of armed professionals and a solid crowd of amateur shooting enthusiasts. All were ready to compete.

The World Shooting Championship (WSC) is a relatively new event, the 2017 match being only the fourth, so it is likely that the concept and format are unfamiliar to many.

Broadly, shooters compete across 12 stages, each drawn from a unique MAY 2018

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

competitive discipline that emphasizes an aspect of rifle, pistol or shotgun (or a combination of the three). Being a specialist in a certain discipline or two guarantees only that a shooter will have a leg up in a small portion of the championship. Wimbledon Cup holder? Great. How well do you shoot Bianchi-style action pistol and wobble trap? IPSC champion? Fantastic. How good are you with a precision rifle and an over-under shotgun? This event has much more in common with the old History Channel “Top Shot” program than it does Camp Perry.

Photos by Jesse Snyder

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Greg Jordan (c.) earned the 2017 world championship title. Top woman was Lena Miculek. Tim Yackley placed third.

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Shooters fired four events each day for three days at the magnificent Peacemaker National Training Center in Glengary, W.Va. The match has staked out an annual spot in September, so the rolling hills of the old farmlands were breathtaking Americana, with leaves just beginning to turn bright colors and drift in the wind. The listing on p. 54 gives a sense of the span of events—seven with rifles, six with pistols and three with shotguns.

Besides the broad swath of shooting skill required, the other wrinkle in the WSC is that all events are shot with sponsor-provided equipment. Across the match, shooters fired 16 different guns from nearly as many makers. This was a draw for some of the amateur shooters who admittedly participated mainly for the experience of shooting a huge pile of high-end firearms (with provided ammunition) that they may otherwise never handle in different settings. For the professionals, who were “in the hunt,” it was a source of not inconsiderable stress, having to walk into a stage and fire for score with a perhaps completely unfamiliar firearm. As an example, during a given year I teach with, the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo consultNestled on orinreview a pretty wide Mountains, the NRA Whittington Center is rangeAmerica’s of firearms—likely good bitoffering premier shootingadestination, more than theranges average bear.

Among state-of-the-art and fun for the entire family! the firearms used during the 2017 World Shooting Championship, I had experience with just eight of the 16 stage guns.

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Across the history of competitive shooting, different approaches have been taken to determine the winner and, hence, the “best” shooter. Going back to well before formal competitions, pioneers tried to fire their longrifles closest to the mark, which developed over time into scoring rings and numbered scores. Later, our very own NRA was formed in the 1870s as shooters began to stretch the potential of the then-new breechloading cartridge rifles, firing at ever-farther targets to determine who was best, and setting the basic framework of long-range matches in places such as Creedmoor, N.Y. A more recent development in competitive shooting was to factor in speed, with the fast-draw craze of the 1950s morphing into “combat” and practical matches we know today such as USPSA, IDPA, Steel Challenge, etc., where a shooter’s time plus penalties for poor hits is the basis for score. The World Shooting Championship takes cues from all of these traditions. There were scored events, timed events and long-range targets to contend with. The exact blend and emphasis is probably a never-solvable campfire debate topic, but there was something to touch every skillset within the championship.

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The NRA World Shooting Championship is more like History Channel’s “Top Shot” than Camp Perry. Speaking of “Top Shot,” All Star William Bethards was among those who fired the match.

There is an art to making 12 scored stages consistent and fair for several hundred competitors. They must be challenging enough to accurately discriminate “great” from merely “good” performance, yet simple enough to remain accessible for the amateur shooters and to keep the match running on time. For someone like me, who has run or been responsible for large military training events/ exercises, this was the hallmark of the WSC. Each stage represented its competitive discipline well, was at once challenging and straightforward, and was remarkably well-administered by the range officers.

The difficulty level was entirely appropriate for a match with “World

Championship” in the title, with stages that stretched a shooter across a range of skills and knowledge. A perfect example was the Designated Marksman Challenge on Stage 9. The shooter had a bank of three identical, roughly 12"-wide reduced silhouette steel targets placed a few strides short of 500 yds. After two rounds for impromptu sighter shots and a nervous deep breath followed by a head nod to the official, the buzzer sounded. Each shooter had but 13 rounds to engage the three targets from each of three separate positions.

The first position had the shooter firing a JP Enterprises .308 Win. semiautomatic rifle from a barricade, the second position engaged the three

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The 2018 NRA World Shooting Championship will be held Sept. 13-15 at the Peacemaker National Training Center in Glengary, W.Va. The competition, gathering the top shooters in the world to compete in virtually every type of major shooting sports discipline—including pistol, rifle, shotgun and combined firearm sports— will crown one competitor the undisputed “World Shooting Champion.” For more go to wsc.nra.org.

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Across the 12 challenging stages, competitors fired everything from wobble trap to NRA bullseye pistol to Precision Rifle Series-style stages. A challenging Cowboy Action stage was fired with supplied Ruger Vaqueros and Henry Big Boy lever-actions.

steel targets from over the top of a wobbly 55-gallon drum, and the final featured a small mound of sandbags that allowed an awkward prone position. Shooters had a maximum of 180 seconds to attempt to hit the nine targets from the improvised rests with the unfamiliar rifle and optic.

There was a full-value crosswind blowing while my squad fired the stage, so there was an included requirement to not only be able to shoot, but also to have a working knowledge of windholds and ballistics to apply the right aiming point inside of the supplied Nightforce optic.

Those who didn’t were frustrated as they broke well-centered shots only to see impacts kicking up dirt considerably off to the side. The difficulty level of this particular stage would be right at home at any of the specialized military advanced sniper courses.

The best performance on the stage was an impressive 66 seconds with all hits. I lost track of a couple of makeup shots and was incredibly relieved when I hit the final target with my 13th—and final—round as the bolt locked back on the empty magazine.

Another example of both skill and knowledge was the five-stand clays course. The different shooting stations had shooters facing doubles coming from multiple target throwers placed at all sorts of challenging angles around some natural rolling terrain.

This gave each competitor just a few seconds to think about the incoming/ outgoing targets and to select which

56

barrel (and resulting choke) to fire first on the Mossberg over-unders before calling “Pull!” More than a few shooters admitted sheepishly that they simply loaded two shells and hoped for the best, not being able to think through the problem meaningfully on the spot.

Other stages were deceptively simple. The Cowboy Action stage had relatively large steel targets placed between 7 and 15 yds. from the brace of Ruger Bisley Vaqueros and about 25 yds. from the Henry Big Boy leveraction rifle. The shooters provided his or her own difficulty by snatching up the (to many) unfamiliar firearms and attempting to race as quickly as possible—missing shots as a result.

The USPSA stage had shooters moving through a somewhat small shooting box engaging a mix of steel and silhouette targets around barricades with a Walther PPQ in 9 mm Luger, reloading once. Five of the nine silhouettes had “friendly” or “no shoot” targets covering large portions of them, requiring a level of accuracy that would be right at home on any special tactical team. The best performance on this stage came in at a blistering 15 seconds.

The broad array of disciplines and firearms represented ensured that most shooters were trying something new within the match. On my squad, most of the competitors had somewhat casual experience with a single or perhaps two or three disciplines. Even most of the pro-category shooters had true experience within only a May 2018

aMerican rifleMan

slice of the disciplines closest to their specialty. Looking through the scores you could see pretty easily where most of the top 20 shooters’ weak spots were, and it varied. Bullseye pistol is perhaps the most predictable event on the roster, yet many of the top hands struggled there, while the shotgun events dashed a large number of hopes, including mine.

The match makes use of what I think is perhaps the most brilliant conflict-resolution tool I’ve seen in the shooting sports: a “mulligan” card. Each shooter had a card for one free “re-do,” redeemable on any of the stages as long as the shooter called for his or her mulligan immediately upon finishing the scored run on the stage in question. Whether the shooter had issues with the provided equipment or was simply unhappy with the score, the mulligan was there to give a single chance to improve within the match. I found it to be a brilliant device, and when and where to use the mulligan became a source of great internal debate among the shooters. I used mine to re-shoot the Cowboy stage after letting my speed overtake my aim and slip a shot just off of a target. And in proving that there is such a thing as the “curse of the re-shoot,” I ironically repeated the same scratch miss on the mulligan run.

Many questions about the WSC format revolve around the provided stage guns/ammunition/optics. In most of the stages the shooters had at least some opportunity to handle the equipment and dry fire at a ready table while waiting their turn. In most of the stages where distance or precision was involved, the shooters were able to fire a quick sighter and compensate their holds accordingly. The stage guns undeniably provide an “X-factor” that the shooter must overcome, but it works out. For example, I had one rifle and one shotgun that fit me almost comically poorly, resulting in increased challenge. On the other hand, on one stage the rifle was an almost perfect replica of one I’d previously competed with—to include the same stock and optic—while another shotgun was a

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The stages were challenging yet fun. Many of the amateur shooters—and some of the professionals—had little experience with some of the 16 different guns used.

perfect duplicate of one I’ve shot for years. The match approach assumes that true champions overcome such challenges; I like the approach and concur with the sentiment.

The sponsorial support for the match was exceptional. Each of the stage guns/optics and a great many other prizes were set up on prize tables for both the professional and amateur brackets, with winners selecting from the table in order of their finish. Most of the biggest names in the business were represented, starting with Kimber as the title sponsor and quite a few specialty small businesses. I did notice a couple of huge gunmakers absent,

and I hope they correct that and support future championships.

This year’s winner was Greg Jordan, a law enforcement officer and sponsored shooter who has previously won numerous 3 Gun championships. The competition was incredibly stiff, but Jordan prevailed by a comfortable margin, finishing first in the precision rifle and USPSA stages, in the top five of five of the remaining events and top 10 of several others. With performance like that he earned the title as fair and thoroughly as one possibly can, and Jordan can now add “World Shooting Champion” to his resume; at least until next September.

The Shooters

T

he match is intended to move forward as a mix of professionals and amateurs, with the preponderance of the slots held back for amateurs. My squad of 11 shooters was perhaps a perfect cross section of the match and the broader membership of NRA. One other shooter and I were registered as pros, with the balance shooting in the amateur division. The ages of the shooters spanned from the early 20s to mid-60s, with representation from all over the country. One shooter was primarily a trap shooter who was there to try out the different disciplines. Another was a retail clerk in a state with oppressive gun laws, and was there to shoot all of the stage guns and try his luck. There was a Border Patrol agent, who inspired confidence with his abilities, and a couple of veterans. One shooter owned a tire store, another was a program manager for a major defense contractor, while two were engineers and another an electrician. Each tackled the challenges across the match with enthusiasm and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The shooters swapped stories and tips, compared thoughts on the different stage guns and clapped with genuine support when a member of the squad shot a stage well. Several surprised themselves with very solid runs on different stages, finding themselves on the leaderboard outside the food tent for at least a while, and several pulled nice prizes off of the table at the awards ceremony. All—myself included—are eager to return next year.

—Justin Dyal

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Take Someone To The Range This Month Along with encouraging budding shooters to enroll with local NRA Certified Instructors for expert training, mentors can provide actual places to shoot that are safe and welcoming, help new shooters understand firearm safety, handling and range protocol, and help them locate nearby ranges. By Jim Handlon, NRA Publications Director of Marketing

U

nder the NRA Mentor Initiative—organized

by NRA Publications and sponsored by Taurus, Winchester Ammunition, Davidson's and Walker’s— we’re encouraging every NRA member to take a new shooter to the range so we can grow the ranks of freedom-loving Americans.

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When you realize that over the past five years many Americans have purchased their first firearms, you know the ground is fertile for introducing newcomers to shooting and persuading them to join us in standing tall to protect our Second Amendment.

As part of the Mentor Initiative, the NRA offers a Guide for New Shooters— you can download a PDF copy by visiting the link in the shaded box below. The Guide for New Shooters provides useful information about range rules, gun safety, gear, shooting tips, gun cleaning and storage.

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Please identify new shooters and help them gain

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AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

confidence. Take the time to talk about how NRA protects our rights and works to support shooting sports and train new shooters.

Encourage them to become NRA members.

And if you commit to mentoring someone soon, there's something in it for you, too. The facing page explains the Mentor Sweepstakes, including official rules, entry guidelines and a list of prizes.

Mentoring can help thousands of new members learn in a safe and familiar environment with you on hand to help take the guesswork out of shooting.

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NO PURCHASE OR DONATION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR DONATION WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. The NRA Mentor Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and Washington, D.C., age 21 years or older at time of entry. Sweepstakes begins at 9:00 AM Eastern Time ("ET") on 4/16/18 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on 7/2/18. To enter and view complete Official Rules, which govern this Sweepstakes, visit www.nrapublications.org/mentor. Void where prohibited by law. Sponsor: National Rifle Association of America.

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MAY 2018

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To The Rescue

SPRINGFIELD’S 911

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Photos by Forrest MacCormack

cover story

Small in stature but boasting full-size ergonomics, Springfield Armory’s new 911 semi-automatic .380 ACP pistol possesses characteristics that, taken together, may spell the remedy to the micro-compact pistol’s maladies.

BY RICHARD WHITE

olks sometimes buy pocket pistols based on size alone, and too often find out that shooting them is difficult and unpleasant.

Their short barrels necessitate strong recoil springs that make slide manipulation a chore, and their petite size results in a compromised shooting grip that produces less than satisfactory results. Terrible sights and heavy triggers combined with an obnoxious bark and bite make for miserable range sessions, and the end result is a gun that is left at home instead of carried on the owner at all times so as to be ready when needed.

Springfield Armory’s new 911 semi-automatic .380 ACP pistol possesses so many “big-gun” features that it just may be the remedy to the microcompact pistol’s maladies. Built with a priority on size and weight, Springfield Armory’s engineers also placed an emphasis on ergonomics in an effort to make the 911 shoot like a much bigger gun.

“We wanted to make the new gun as comfortable as possible to shoot. We want people to go to the range and practice, and that meant the 911 had to resolve a number of common complaints peculiar to pocket pistols. We had to make the gun easy to rack, and we needed to have usable sights and a crisp trigger,” said Dennis Reese, owner and CEO of Springfield Armory. “We also made it impossible for the shooter to experience slide and hammer bite. We kept the comfortable 1911 grip angle and placed all the controls in the original Browning-inspired locations so it’s an intuitive gun to shoot if you’ve had 1911 experience.”

Springfield Armory’s 911 is a single-action, semi-automatic chambered for the .380 ACP cartridge that fires from a locked breech. Standing just 4" tall and with an overall length of 5.5", the 911’s diminutive dimensions make it a very concealable gun. It weighs just 12.6 ozs. empty, making it a gun that is effortless to carry. The pistol marks the company’s first .380 ACP-chambered offering, and Reese said the time was right for Springfield’s catalog to expand to include this small, but capable, chambering.

“The popularity of the .380 cartridge made me realize that it was time for Springfield Armory to

come out with one. The current .380 cartridges do not perform like those of 20 to 30 years ago; it’s now a real cartridge, and I think it appeals to folks who want a really small pocket gun,” he said.

Despite its size, Springfield engineers did a great job of making this tiny gun “shootable.” It possesses a comfortable grip angle, and the trigger guard is undercut where it meets the frame, allowing shooters to get as high a hold as possible. To prevent hammer bite, Springfield has incorporated a fixed beavertail that encompasses the rear of the hammer when at full-cock, making it impossible for even the fleshiest of hands to be bitten by the slide or hammer. The gun’s frontstrap is machined with what Springfield Armory calls Octo-Grip texture, and this pattern is repeated on the G10 mainspring housing made by Hogue. Its stock panels, also a Hogue G10 product, are grooved to provide the shooter with a secure firing grip. By the way, measured at the grips—the gun’s widest point— the 911 measures just 0.96" thick. Its slide, measured at its widest point, is just 0.80".

Although the 911 is modeled after the M1911 pistol, it is not a miniature replication; its barrel and internal lockwork are different. An example of this difference are the gun’s bilateral thumb safeties. Unlike the M1911, the 911 can be loaded and unloaded with the manual safety on. But the gun’s slide stop, magazine release and thumb safety are all in the familiar locations, and users with M1911 experience will have no problem running the 911. Like the M1911, the smaller

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Galco’s steerhide Stow-N-Go holster and Carry Lite Mag Carrier, along with Browning’s BXP X-Point Personal Defense ammunition (opposite), work in concert with Springfield’s 911 to provide the concealed carrier with a discreet yet effective package.

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SPRINGFIELD 911 The 911 has a full-featured sight set consisting of a rear unit with a cocking ledge and tritium lamps surrounded by luminescent rings on either side of a U-shaped notch (r., top) and a front Ameriglo Pro-Glo green tritium unit with a yellow luminescent ring (r., bottom).

Takedown of the 911 does not require tools, but reassembly requires that the ejector (arrow) be manually pushed down to allow reinstallation of the slide assembly. Note the full-length guide rod and flat-wire recoil spring.

gun can be carried “cocked and locked,” with the chamber loaded, hammer back and manual thumb safety applied.

Springfield Armory machines the 911’s frame from 7075-T6 aluminum, and this makes the little gun incredibly light. Its barrel and slide are machined from 416R stainless steel. The 911’s barrel measures just 2.7" in length, and uses its breechblock to lock into the slide’s ejection port. As the barrel recoils, a kidney-shaped cutout on the lower barrel lug impinges on the slide stop pin, pulling the rear of the barrel out of battery and allowing the slide to cycle after a shot is fired. Springfield uses an external extractor on the 911, and the handgun also has a loaded-chamber indicator at the top of the slide.

To prevent inertia-type discharges, a passive firing pin safety is incorporated into the 911’s slide. Deep chevron-style cocking serrations make charging the 911’s chamber easy. The gun uses a single, flat-wire recoil spring, and I found that very little effort was required to manually cycle the slide.

The fit and finish of the 911 is exemplary. Its slide-to-frame fit is wobble-free, and neither the frame nor slide exhibit any tooling marks. Parts

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such as the thumb safeties, magazine release, extractor and loaded-chamber indicator are well-fit and without slop. Even the sight dovetails are precise and showed no daylight between the cut and sight. All of the gun’s sharp edges have been removed, and there is nothing that might cut its user or an expensive leather holster.

One feature that makes the 911 such a great little shooter is its trigger. My test sample’s trigger broke at a very crisp 4 lbs., 8 ozs., and it has a very positive reset, which is critical for shooting quickly.

Unlike the M1911, the 911’s trigger pivots, and Hogue manufactures the trigger shoe for Springfield from lightweight, but tough, G10 material.

Another huge factor in the gun’s shootability is its sights. Though the sights are low-profile in design, they are large enough to shoot the little gun really well. The front sight is an Ameriglo Pro-Glo green tritium night sight with a bright yellow luminescent circle around it that draws the eye’s focus, even in bright light. The rear sight possesses two tritium lamps surrounded by white luminescent rings. This sight combination makes the 911 effective in both low-light and bright-light scenarios. A U-shaped notch is used for quick sight alignment, and the front surface

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

SPRINGFIELD 911

MANUFACTURER: SPRINGFIELD, INC. (DEPT. AR), 420 W. MAIN ST., GENESEO, IL 61254; (800) 680-6866; SPRINGFIELDARMORY.COM 5.5"

2.7" 3.9"

CHAMBERING: .380 ACP ACTION TYPE: RECOIL-OPERATED, SEMI-AUTOMATIC CENTER-FIRE PISTOL FRAME: 7075-T6 ALUMINUM SLIDE: 416 STAINLESS STEEL BARREL: 416 STAINLESS STEEL; 1:16" RH TWIST RIFLING MAGAZINE: SIX-ROUND STEEL DETACHABLE BOX SIGHTS: DRIFT-ADJUSTABLE; TRITIUM, THREE-DOT TRIGGER: SINGLE-ACTION; 4-LB., 8-OZ. PULL WIDTH: 0.96" WEIGHT: 12.6 OZS. ACCESSORIES: OWNER’S MANUAL, SOFT CASE, NYLON POCKET HOLSTER, LOCK, EXTENDED SEVEN-ROUND MAGAZINE MSRP: $599

of the rear sight has a ledge designed SHOOTING RESULTS (15 YDS.) for tactical one-handed charging of ENERGY GROUP SIZE (INCHES) .380 ACP VEL. @ 10' the chamber.

CARTRIDGE (FT.-LBS.) LARGEST AVERAGE (F.P.S.) SMALLEST “It’s a pocket pistol, so it doesn’t 1105 AVG. DOUBLETAP CE 258 0.87 1.60 1.28 appeal to just women or seniors; 95-GR. JHP 23 SD it is basically attractive to anyone 1035 AVG. FEDERAL HST MICRO 235 0.94 1.55 1.32 who wants an extremely reliable 99-GR. JHP 14 SD and accurate, pleasant to shoot and 997 AVG. HORNADY 199 1.13 1.34 1.21 pleasant to pack .380,” Reese said.

CRITICAL DEFENSE 15 SD “The fact that you have something 90-GR. FTX so small yet so easy to shoot and A VERAGE EXTREME SPREAD 1.27 a joy to train with, gives the 911 very broad desirability. It’s a serious NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 SHOTS OVER A PACT PROFESSIONAL XP handgun for all demographics.”

CHRONOGRAPH AT 10 FT. ACCURACY RESULTS FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 15 YDS. FROM A MILLETT BENCHMASTER. TEMPERATURE: 73° F. HUMIDITY: 31%.

Disassembly of the 911 is easy BBREVIATIONS: CE (CONTROLLED EXPANSION), FTX (FLEX TIP EXPANDING), A and doesn’t require any special tools.

JHP (JACKETED HOLLOW POINT), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION).

Start by removing the magazine and clearing the chamber. Manually lock The full-length recoil spring guide rod and spring the slide to the rear, using the slide stop, and can now be removed from the slide, followed by visually inspect the chamber to ensure the gun the barrel. This is as far as you should ever need is completely unloaded. Lower the slide to its “in battery” position and then retract it until the half- to disassemble the 911 for routine cleaning and moon disassembly slide cut-out is directly over the lubrication. Reassembly is a little trickier because of the 911’s frame-mounted pivoting ejector. When slide stop tab, and then push the slide stop out placing the slide and barrel assembly back onto the of the frame from right to left. Now ease the slide frame’s rails, the ejector must be manually pushed and barrel assembly forward and off the frame.

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springfield 911

Hogue provides Springfield with the 911’s trigger, mainspring housing and stock panels (below and r.), all of which are machined from G10 phenolic material. The author found that the OctoGrip-textured frontstrap and seven-round magazine with extended floorplate provided enhanced control during recoil.

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down for the slide to go into place. Those who don’t read the instructions and try to force the slide back onto the frame will likely be returning their gun to the factory for repair. With the slide back on the frame, the slide stop can be re-inserted, and reassembly is complete.

Given the gun’s excellent trigger, and despite its short barrel and sight radius, we decided to test its accuracy at 15 yds.—even though 7 yds. is the standard protocol for such small pistols.

Shooting from a stable bench and utilizing a Millett BenchMaster for support, my average group size for all of the loads tested was just 1.27" which is phenomenal for a micro-compact at this range. There’s no doubt the 911 possesses a great deal of mechanical accuracy, but its crisp trigger and excellent sights made shooting the little gun to its potential much easier.

Springfield Armory ships the 911 with a sixround, flush-fit magazine and a seven-round, extended magazine. Of course, the flush-fit magazine will offer the user the best concealability, and, using it, I was able to get two fingers on the short frontstrap with my little finger curling under the bottom of the grip. But using the extended magazine made the gun feel completely different and allowed me to get all three fingers on the frontstrap and magazine extension, giving me far better control.

With a USPSA target set up at 7 yds., I used a PACT electronic timer to measure my splits, or time between shots, to see just how controllable the 911 was during rapid fire. Using American Eagle 95-gr. FMJ ammunition, I fired controlled pairs at the target’s “A” zone and found that my time between shots averaged just 0.18 of a second. I thought that was an incredibly fast time for a pocket pistol, and was extremely impressed. I credit the 911’s crisp trigger and firm reset for its ability to place solid hits so rapidly. I preferred using the extended magazine for this exercise, finding that when I switched to the flush-fit magazine I lost some controllability and added time to my splits.

“People ask why we didn’t just downsize our popular XD platform for the .380 cartridge, and it’s because Springfield Armory’s heritage is really with the 1911, and there’s a kindred spirit between that gun and the May 2018

new 911. A lot of people prefer the styling, and a hammer-fired .380 just seemed like a more natural path for us to follow—and it allows us to produce the 911 here in Geneseo, Illinois.”

That choice appears to have paid off. “Our initial market response to the 911 has been very promising; we’ve had to add on to the facility in order to handle all the demand for the new 911, and have added some new people on as well. It’s been a bonus to the community in terms of hiring more people,” Reese said. “Illinois is pretty much run by Chicago, and there are quite a few folks who don’t care for firearms. But we’re very important to our county, as we’re the largest employers. There are a lot of states who would love to have us, but we’re going to continue to fight and stay in the state of Illinois. This is where we’re from, and we’re very proud of it.”

In my opinion, Springfield Armory has every right to be proud of its newest pistol, having met its goal of building a micro-compact that is comfortable to shoot and pleasant to carry. The new 911 has the reliability and accuracy required to meet the needs of those who have to act as their own first responder.

aMerican rifleMan

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ammunition

From component materials to design and appearance, little about NovX cartridges is conventional.

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NovX Ammunition

NovX’s forward-thinking approach to ammunition design not only challenges tradition, but threatens to rewrite the rules.

BY AARON CARTER, Field Editor

ew” ideas in ammunition are typically incremental, as the metals utilized in its construction— lead, copper and brass—have been employed since at least the late 19th century. In fact, most bullets are still of the jacketed, lead-core design and the majority of cases are brass.

Clearly, little has changed with time.

Breaking with convention, though, can lead to brilliant design breakthroughs.

Case in point: NovX Ammunition.

A holding of Timberghost Tactical, LLC, based in Calhoun, Ga., NovX Ammunition was founded on the premise of supplying military, law enforcement and civilian consumers “the most innovative, powerful, effective and deadly [ammunition] ever.”

That’s no easy feat. In an effort to meet that rather lofty goal, NovX brought together two emerging technologies: Polycase’s ARX and RNP bullets and Shell Shock Technologies’ (SST) cartridge case.

“The Polycase [now Quantum Ammunition] ARX design is the bestkept secret in the industry,” confided NovX Ammunition President/CEO Scott Schultz. “As a personal-defense round, it’s beyond compare.”

Manufactured via the efficient, high-pressure injection molding process, the fluted ARX and its round-nose RNP stablemate are comprised of blended copper powder (about 80 percent), epoxy and polymer. Since the composition lacks lead, the ballistically matching projectiles can be used on ranges requiring leadfree loads. Moreover, they’re sufficiently tough to traverse a bore unaffected, yet they fragment—into particles less than five percent of the total weight—upon Photos by Forrest MacCormack

WITH

BREAKING CONVENTION

Inseparable: Polycase And SST

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impact with especially hard objects, such as concrete and hardened steel. The nonexpanding bullets easily defeat intermediate barriers, such as clothing, wood and thin sheet metal.

As can be expected, ARX/RNP bullets are lightweight. For example, whereas most standard 9 mm (0.355"-diameter) bullets weigh at least 115 grs., the copper/poly projectiles are only 65 grs.

This enables them to be propelled extremely quickly, thereby increasing the foot-pounds of energy delivered on target through speed. The latest iteration of the NovX 9 mm Luger is labeled “Engagement: Extreme Self-Defense” and achieves 1672 f.p.s., resulting in 403 ft.-lbs. of energy. Meanwhile, the +P version hits 1710 f.p.s. for 422 ft.-lbs. of energy. That’s more energy than typical 230-gr. .45 ACP loads.

Beyond increasing on-target energy, the additional velocity greatly enhances the ARX’s terminal effect. “The fluted design of the ARX bullet is quite amazing, as it operates on the principle of fluid dynamics rather than hydrostatic shock,” explained Schultz. Molded into the projectile are three distinct flutes that, as the bullet penetrates soft tissue (and fluid), transfer the forward energy laterally. The fluids, spinning at around 120,000 rotations per minute (r.p.m.), are forced in an outward direction at upward of two times the speed of the bullet itself. “A new phenomenon has been realized,” Shultz said. “NovX can achieve breaking the liquid sound barrier, actually causing a sonic boom inside whatever water-based material it may encounter— water, clay, gel, flesh, blood, et cetera.”

Direction of rifling is inconsequential, too. Despite being a non-expanding bullet, the cavitation the ARX produces is immense. Until it’s seen firsthand, it’s almost unbelievable; however, there is no

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NOVX smoke, and there are no mirrors.

The increased velocities achieved through the projectiles’ light weight also flattens trajectories and, since bullet weight is a factor in recoil, perceived recoil is reduced. The result is less discomfort and faster follow-up shots.

In another display of eschewing tradition, NovX selected an atypical case for its Engagement: Extreme SelfDefense (ARX) loads and Cross Trainer/ Competition (RNP). Manufactured in the United States by Shell Shock Technologies (SST), the bi-metal cases are upward of 50 percent lighter than those of brass, and twice as strong.

Purportedly, the cases have a pressure rating of 65,000 p.s.i. and can be reloaded—which should not be taken as an open invitation for dangerous loading practices—however, that requires special sizing/de-priming and expanding/flaring dies available from SST. According to SST’s website, the primer base is made from nickelplated aircraft-grade aluminum, while the cylinder of the cartridge case is nickel-alloy stainless steel. The

benefits of the design are many. For example, the base is easy on extractors and ejectors, while the cylinder is corrosion-resistant, exhibits excellent thermal characteristics and is magnetic. The latter eases clean-up at the range. Further, the cases won’t chip or crack, have higher tensile strength (twice that of brass, so less crimp is required), work well in unsupported chambers, and, reportedly, generate faster, smoother cycling. Ejected cases are also cooler to the touch than brass. Lastly, the cases’ natural sheen makes them easy to see through a magazine witness hole or during a low-light press-check.

Concerning propellants, Schultz said, “At first we loaded the NovX stainless steel case with similar powders and loads as brass. We experienced superior velocities and performance to brass, and we assumed that was that. However, as we continued to experiment with other powders, we were able to push velocities well over 1700 f.p.s., while staying within SAAMI pressures.” The company just finalized a new 9 mm Luger +P load that achieved more than 1800 f.p.s. (and 467 ft.-lbs.) of energy from a 4" universal receiver with cut rifling.

To this Schultz added, “This amazing performance is only possible because of the superior characteristics of our nickel-alloy stainless steel case. I never realized how much shot energy was absorbed by the brass case.”

At The Range My evaluation of first-generation NovX ammunition began with the requisite accuracy testing followed by chronograph recording. Using a 4"-barreled SIG P250 from a sandbag rest at 25 yds., I fired five consecutive, five-shot groups with NovX 9 mm Luger +P Engagement: Extreme Self-Defense, averaging 1.93". The single best group was 1.52". Similarly, 25 shots with 9 mm Luger +P, Cross Trainer/ Competition produced a mean of 2.28", and the best single group was 1.77".

Since the two loads are described as being ballistically matched, I then shot five ARXs, followed by five RNPs—all on the same target, then repeated that string. The two groups measured 2.21" and 3.46", respectively. There was no apparent separation between the two loads.

According to a Competition Electronics Pro Chrono digital chronograph, the Engagement: Extreme SelfDefense load averaged 1659 f.p.s. for 10 shots at 10 ft., producing 397 ft.-lbs. of energy. The standard deviation was 14. This early iteration had a published velocity of 1655 f.p.s.—only a 4-f.p.s. difference! The Cross Trainer/ Competition load was a tad slower, averaging 1613 f.p.s. It’s standard deviation was 16. Its reported velocity was 1635 f.p.s.

Next, I transitioned to function testing. The P250’s magazines were filled to capacity with both NovX loads in random order and then fired in rapid succession at an AR500 plate rack and dueling tree. Despite the ARX’s unusual nose profile, feeding was flawless, and both rounds hit the hard steel with authority. As they were designed to do, the bullets fragmented immediately upon hitting the targets, eliminating bounce-back.

With more than 200 rounds of NovX sent downrange, the gun was disassembled and cleaned, and there was virtually no fouling in the bore.

In fact, a single patch soaked with Montana Xtreme Bore Solvent followed by two dry ones were all that was needed to shine the bore. With cleaning completed, testing resumed.

For comparison sake, I also alternated firing standard 115- and 124-gr. defensive 9 mm Luger loads with those from NovX. Immediately noticeable was the lighter recoil, as was the weight of the loaded magazine (and gun). Back at home, I learned that, with an average loadedcartridge weight of 105.8 grs., 10 rounds of 65-gr. Engagement: Extreme Self-Defense 9 mm Luger +P cartridges

The NovX’s aluminum primer base, nickel-alloy stainless steel case, blended copper/polymer bullet and specially formulated propellants (l.) lend themselves to easy clean-up (opposite, top).

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AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

Photo by Forrest MacCormack

weigh 2.42 ozs. With an average weight of 178.5 grs., 10 rounds of 115-gr. Hornady Critical Defense FTX add up to 4.08 ozs. Lastly, with an average weight of 188.3 grs, 10 rounds of 124-gr. Federal Premium HST loads weigh in at 4.30 ozs. The latter is approaching nearly double the weight of the NovX. For the owner of a lightweight pocket pistol, such as the 12.7-oz. Kel-Tec PF-9 or 14-oz. Kahr CM9, that difference in weight could make a noticeable difference in comfort after a long day carrying concealed, and more so in semi-automatic pistols with largercapacity magazines.

Having shot ample reactive steel targets, I was able to substantiate NovX’s claim that the bullets disintegrate upon impact with hard targets.

How about intermediate barriers?

B. Gil Horman, a field editor for this magazine, had an opportunity in the past to shoot the then-new ARX bullets from a 9 mm Luger into ballistic gelatin through denim. It easily defeated the light barrier and penetrated 13". To further test, I fired ARX rounds through a suspended, remnant steel hood from a junker car, and they zipped through it easily. The same occurred when pitting the rounds against 5" (give or take) saplings and a 2"x4" stud. Talk about an intelligent design. It easily defeats intermediate barriers, yet breaks up when striking a hard material that could otherwise cause a ricochet.

In an effort to evaluate the terminal performance of the ARX versus a popular self-defense bullet, I shot

Photos by author

one round each into 25-lb. blocks of soft ceramic clay at 7 yds. As will be evident in the accompanying images, the difference is tremendous. The ARX bullet literally blew the block apart before exiting. Of the material remaining, at its widest, the cavity measured an impressive 43⁄8". The spirals caused by the lateral displacement were especially evident near the exit.

In comparison, the 124-gr. Federal Premium HST bullet—one of the top self-defense and duty rounds on the market—produced a small entrance and exit, with the block bulging (but not rupturing) near its center. Splitting the block, the cavity measured 4½" at its widest. In terms of absolute damage, the ARX won on clay blocks, though the HST is made to defeat all FBI barriers— the ARX is not. Both, however, would stop a threat.

Currently, NovX is offered only in those 9 mm Luger loads identified in this article, though that should be changing soon. Schultz has informed me that .223 Rem. will be on the market soon, followed by .308 Win., .300 Blackout, .45 ACP, .40 S&W,

.380 ACP and .38 Spl. The .223 Rem., in particular, has astounding specifications; it will propel a 35-gr. poly/ copper bullet to 4150 f.p.s.! At some point later this year there’ll be a mini ARX bullet loaded in .22 Long Rifle with a muzzle velocity of 2050 f.p.s.

Talk about perfect for small-game hunting in lead-free areas.

Sold in 26-round boxes, Engagement: Extreme Self-Defense is priced similarly to other premium defensive loads. Cross Trainer/ Competition comes in 51-count packages and is about half the price of the self-defense offering.

“NovX’s technology and high performance could forever change the world of ammunition,” proclaimed Schultz.

From what I’ve encountered during testing, that’s a claim that is difficult to counter. It’s also indicative of what’s possible when forward-thinking individuals deviate from the norm.

For more information on NovX Ammunition, go to novxammo.com.

NovX is currently available through online retailers MidwayUSA (midwayusa.com) and Natchez Shooters Supply (natchezss.com).

Results of the author’s tests using 9 mm Luger cartridges carrying the ARX bullet revealed respectable accuracy on targets (l.) and remarkable terminal effectiveness in blocks of soft ceramic clay compared (below) with another popular self-defense load.

HISTORICAL

The Cavalry’s Last Charge The 1921 M1903 Prototype Carbine

Even though the last cavalry carbine of the U.S. Army was the M1899 Krag-Jorgensen, the U.S. Cavalry didn’t give up on fielding its own gun until the early 1920s.

BY BRUCE N. CANFIELD, Field Editor After the adoption of the U.S. Model of 1903 rifle, the U.S. Cavalry, like these troopers in Mexico in 1916, had to give up their short-barreled carbines. They tried the 20"-barreled cavalry carbine concept out again in 1921—but it never went beyond the prototype phase.

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rior to the 20th century, the “horse cavalry” was an integral part of the U.S. Army and played a role in every armed conflict from the American Revolution through the Spanish-American War. Traditionally, in addition to a saber and handgun, cavalry troopers were typically armed with a short-barreled carbine, which was better suited for use on horseback than the longer infantry rifle or musket. During the American Civil War, there were numerous types of cavalry carbines issued that were unique in their own right and, with the exception of the Spencer, did not necessarily have an infantry rifle counterpart. Beginning with the .50-70 Gov’t Model 1871 WardBurton, the Army issued several types of infantry rifles AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

Rifle photos courtesy of James D. Julia Auctioneers; jamesjulia.com

and cavalry carbines that had the same basic action and differed only in barrel length and stock configuration. The Army’s policy of issuing separate infantry rifle and cavalry carbine versions of the standardized service rifle continued with the various .45-70 Gov’t “Trapdoor Springfields,” the .45-70 Hotchkiss and through the tenure of the .30-40 Krag-Jorgensen. The last official U.S. military cavalry carbine was the Model 1899 .30-40 Krag, which had a 22" barrel as compared to the Model 1898 Krag rifle’s 30" barrel.

After the conclusion of the Spanish-American War of 1898, the U.S. Ordnance Dept. sought to develop an improved rifle to correct the deficiencies found to be inherent to the Krag. While the rifle that was eventually Cavalry photo courtesy of Armor Plate Press

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

adopted as the Model 1903 Springfield was in development, both long-barrel and short-barrel prototypes were fabricated for testing. It was eventually decided that, if the new rifle was fitted with a 24" barrel, it could be an acceptable compromise between the Krag carbine’s 22" barrel and the Krag rifle’s 30" barrel. It would render moot the necessity of having to manufacture two separate models. For the most part, both the infantry and cavalry were satisfied with the new ’03, and the concept of separate rifles and carbines for the two branches of the Army seemed to be a thing of the past.

Nonetheless, despite this new policy of a single longarm for infantry and cavalry use, there was still a fondness in MAY 2018

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1921 M1903 CARBINE U.S. MODEL 1898 KRAG-JORGENSEN RIFLE

U.S. MODEL 1899 KRAG-JORGENSEN CARBINE

Photos by author

the minds of some of the former cavalrymen for the light weight and handiness of a carbine. In 1920, the Cavalry Board decided to revisit the concept of a carbine version of the Model 1903 rifle for evaluation and testing. A number of the veteran cavalry troopers were not enthusiastic about having to use a saddle scabbard for the rifle, and they thought that the old concept of carrying the rifle (or carbine) by means of a sling slung across the back would be preferable. It was also believed that the typically shorter ranges at which carbines were employed did not require a 24" barrel, thus a shorter barrel would suffice. Also, the fact that the cavalry did not require bayonets would reduce the weight due to the shorter stock and the elimination of the upper band. To this end, Springfield Armory records for 1921 reflected: “Springfield Armory has completed an experimental cavalry carbine and shipped it to the President of the Cavalry Board at Fort Riley for test. The carbine has a 20-inch barrel with a short stock. It is fitted with special sling swivels on the left side in order that it may be carried slung across the cavalryman’s back in such a position that the bolt handle will be away from the man’s back.

“The carbine is fitted with a Lyman No. 48 sight modified so as to show graduations in yards instead of minutes. Each turn of the elevation screw equals five minutes. The knurled head on top of the elevation screw is divided into five divisions, each of which is equivalent to one minute. One turn of the windage screw is equivalent to four minutes or approximately one point of windage. Both the windage and elevation screws click for each minute of adjustment.

“It is found that the reduction in length of the barrel to 20 inches, instead of 24, reduces the muzzle velocity approximately 100 feet. The standard muzzle velocity is 2,700 feet per second while the muzzle velocity of the new weapon is 2,600 feet per second.

“Shortening the barrel had the effect of noticeably increasing the muzzle flash, especially when firing the rifle in a dim light.

“It is found that the rifle handled very easily and is exceptionally well balanced. The recoil is not noticeable [sic] greater than that of the service rifle. The accuracy of the sample was found to be excellent.”

It appears that only two prototype ’03 carbines were fabricated in 1921. The authorization to build them came from Col. T.L. Ames, as the floorplate of one of the prototype rifles is engraved “By Order Of/Col. T.L. Ames/May 1921.”

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Born Sept, 19, 1869, Thales Lucius Ames graduated the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1895, entering the Army as a second lieutenant and rising through the ranks until his retirement in 1933 as a colonel. Ames was the commanding officer of Springfield Armory from April 1920 to August 1923, during which time the two M1903 cavalry carbines were fabricated.

A standard Model 1903 rifle stock with a shortened fore-end was used to fabricate the prototype carbine as evidenced by a neatly fitted metal plate that covered the recess for the rear sling swivel. The 20" barrel was dated “6-21” and stamped “SA” (Springfield Armory) but did not have the Ordnance Dept. “flaming bomb” insignia as was the case with the standardized ’03 rifles. The barrel band was fitted with a special side-mounted sling swivel. The rear sling swivel was attached to the left side of the stock. This arrangement permitted the carbine to be slung across the trooper’s back with the bolt positioned away from the body.

The carbine was fitted with a specially made wooden handguard. The only marking on the receiver ring was the serial number; “No. 2.” As with all Springfield Armory-made arms, the prototype ’03 carbine exhibited flawless workmanship.

Although the prototype ’03 carbines performed reasonably well in the testing, there wasn’t an overwhelming demand for them. Funding in the immediate post-World War I period was very tight, and the Ordnance Dept. was conserving all available funds for the development of a semi-automatic service rifle that was deemed to be a higher priority than a limited-issue cavalry carbine. While there was little chance that the 1921 ’03 carbine would have been adopted by the U.S. Army, it nevertheless was a most fascinating arm and marked the end of any further attempts to resurrect a cavalry carbine for the Army.

The M1921 carbine was fabricated at the direction of Col. T.L. Ames, and engraving on the magazine floorplate reflected it. The M1921 carbine had a 20" barrel dated June 1921, and the rear sight was a Lyman No. 48 mounted on the receiver’s rear.

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

Photos courtesy of James D. Julia Auctioneers

NOw AVaIlAbLe — THe eThOS SPoRt.

OfFeReD In 12-, 20- aNd 28-GaUgEs.

BEnElLiUsa.CoM

guns & gear

Gun owners all across our land are excited about the firearm industry's latest guns, optics, ammunition and accessories. And you can see them all, corralled into one giant hall, at this year’s NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Dallas, Texas.

BY NRA STAFF

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aMerican rifleMan

BRoWnellS BRn-10

Remington model 870 dm

Smith & WeSSon m&P380 Shield eZ

ome ideas are just too great to ignore—America, the Constitution and the Second Amendment come to mind. The National Rifle Association wholeheartedly supports all three, and nowhere will that enthusiasm be on greater display than at this year’s 147th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits set for May 4-6 in Dallas, Texas. It’s sure to be a celebration of freedom like no other, and NRA members will have a unique opportunity to get their hands on the firearm industry’s newest guns, optics, ammunition and related products all under one roof.

As a preview, we’ve put together this report of our individual top picks from among a host of recent introductions. (Videos of American Rifleman editors with some of the featured guns and gear are available at americanrifleman.org/shotshow2018.)

Remember, though, that this is just a sampling of products. A much bigger herd will all be rounded up and put on display in Dallas. And we’ll cover those, and many others, more fully in future issues of this magazine.

The upcoming show’s venue, the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, is scheduled to host more than 800 exhibitors with wares covering 630,000 square feet of exhibit Photos by Forrest MacCormack

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

hall space. There’ll be something for everyone, from the newest shooters to the most experienced, including: educational seminars, celebrities, auctions (p. 30), shooting galleries, NRA Store merchandise sales, special sessions, concerts and more. So whether you like precision rifles for competition, classic shotguns for waterfowling or subcompact pistols for carry, you’ll find all those and much more from the familiar names, and some newcomers, in Dallas.

Admission to the exhibit hall is free to all NRA members and their families. So be sure to mark your calendar now, and plan to bring the whole family and spend a day, or more, exploring the aisles of the convention center. You’ll be able to shoot at the airgun range, talk with hunting outfitters and gun collector groups, and shop at the NRA Store for a wide variety of knives, books, wildlife art, shooting accessories, hunting equipment and more. And with the Dallas area’s restaurants, museums and other entertainment venues, you’ll be sure to have a memorable time.

For more information on the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, visit nraam.org.

We’ll see you there!

MAY 2018

77

new for 2018

LEUPOLD VX-FREEDOM 3-9X 40 MM

MAUSER M18

JOHN ZENT, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR BERGARA has upgraded its most popular B-14-series rifle with a Premier action to create the Premier HMR Pro, an extreme-range tackdriver containing a full-length mini-chassis embedded in a tactical-style stock that is customizable for length of pull and comb height. The result is rock-solid bedding and a free-floated 416 stainless barrel, stress-relieved, button-rifled, honed and muzzlethreaded at Bergara’s state-of-the-art barrelworks in Spain. The firm’s Premier action combines a nitridetreated, floating-head bolt with a match-grade TriggerTech trigger. Assembled by skilled gunsmiths at the company’s U.S. shop in Georgia, the HMR Pro can be had in 20", 24" or 26" barrel lengths, and in five high-performance chamberings—.223 Rem., .22-250 Rem., 6 mm Creedmoor, 6.5 mm Creedmoor and .308 Win. bergarausa.com LEICA pioneered rangefinding binoculars, and 26 years later its groundbreaking Geovid HD-B 3000 leads the category in effective range—now extended to a whopping 3,000 yds. And the innovation doesn’t stop with that benchmark. The Geovid 3000’s LED display self-adjusts its brightness to match the ambient light and boasts a Fast Scan mode that can provide fresh readings every

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half-second. What’s more, the optic contains a fully programmable ballistics calculator that not only spits out point-of-aim corrections almost instantly, but also inputs environmental factors such as temperature, barometric pressure and shot angle. Built around Leica’s unique, compact Perger prisms, these binos deliver stunning optical clarity and wide fields of view from an ergo-friendly tool that eases prolonged glassing stints. The new glasses come in two sizes—8X 42 mm and 10X 42 mm. leica-sportoptics.com LEUPOLD can be counted on to supply quality riflescopes at every price point, and such is the case with 2018’s VX-Freedom line. Freedom scopes inherit the firm’s high-performing Twilight Management System, which combines various lens coatings and design elements to maximize lowlight imaging and limit distracting glare. Though MSRPs run from $235 to $390, Freedom models are subjected to the same endurance standards and testing that have long made ruggedness a Leupold hallmark, including abrasion-resistant top coatings on the lenses. The new series includes popular options in zoom range and reticles, and, like so many Gold Ring scopes before, Freedom scopes

aMerican rifleMan

BERGARA PREMIER HMR PRO

WEATHERBY MARK V CARBONMARK

KIMBER introduced its Aegis Elite Custom (OI) as part of a brand-new 1911 family for 2018. Along with a factory-installed Vortex Venom 6-m.o.a. red-dot sight, this capable carry gun—offered in both 9 mm Luger with a nine-round magazine and .45 ACP with an eight-round capacity—boasts a round-heel frame, 24-l.p.i. frontstrap checkering and a skeletonized aluminum trigger. Holster-friendly at 8.7"×5.25", and weighing in at 38 ozs., it has a profile that balances concealability with shooting comfort. The Aegis Elite’s distinctively serrated, matte KimPro II-finished slide contrasts with a satin-silver stainless frame to create a striking look, complemented by G10 Cyclone patterned grips. kimberamerica.com MAUSER is showing that it, too, can master 21st-century efficiency by way of the new M18 turnbolt, machined at the firm’s present-day waffenfabrik in Isny, Germany. Its basic design features a cylindrical receiver bearing a full-diameter, push-feed bolt with three locking lugs. The setup promotes smooth, quick bolt travel, and is further enhanced by a useradjustable trigger plus a three-position safety whose middle setting allows unloading while the firing pin remains locked. At an MSRP of $699, it is the most affordable new-production Mauser since the height of the Cold War, and while rifles in that price class

WEATHERBY ups its accuracy quotient by pairing carbon-fiber barrels with America’s most famous magnum bolt-gun platform in its newly introduced Mark V Carbonmark. The California (soon to be Wyoming) maker is equipping it flagship Mark V magnum action with 26" hand-lapped barrels made by Proof Research.

Reportedly, the carbon-fiber wrap affords superior stiffness and harmonic consistency compared to traditional steel barrels of the same contour, but at 64 percent less weight. The result, when paired with a hand-laid composite stock fitted with an aluminum bedding block, is a precisionshooting, full-size magnum that tips the scale at just 7 lbs., 12 ozs. First-run Carbonmarks will be produced in three proprietary long-range chamberings—.257 Wby. Mag., 6.5-300 Wby. Mag. and .300 Wby. Mag. weatherby.com

LEICA GEOVID HD-B 3000

prove a prepared rifleman can meet just about any marksmanship challenge with a 1", second-focalplane optic. leupold.com

are typically spartan, the M18 offers notable extras.

Though lacking the iconic full-length extractor, the bolt is equipped with twin plunger-type ejectors, and the synthetic stock accommodates a five-shot detachable box magazine, soft-inlay grip panels and a quickrelease buttpad that gives way to an onboard storage compartment. Early production has been limited to .308 Win., but soon to come are .243 Win., 6.5 mm Creedmoor, .270 Win., .30-’06 Sprg., 7 mm Rem. Mag. and .300 Win. Mag. mauser.com

KIMBER AEGIS ELITE CUSTOM (OI)

MARK A. KEEFE, IV, EDITOR IN CHIEF AUTO-ORDNANCE, maker of the semi-automatic Thompson and other vintage American designs such as the M1 and M1A1 carbines and M1911A1 pistol, has a surprise for you. When was the last time the Tommy gun got a serious update?

Well, here’s a clue, Franklin Roosevelt was still president. Auto-Ordnance has produced a concept gun with a new streamlined upper receiver, a 16" barrel with a muzzle brake and a rounded aluminum fore-end—and, yes, it’s M-LOK-compatible. Built on a semi-automatic M1927 lower with an all-new side-cocking upper, this Tactical Tommy gun takes

AUTO-ORDNANCE TACTICAL THOMPSON

your favorite AR pistol grip and has an M4-style adjustable buttstock. The final design hasn’t entered production, but judging by the response so far, it’s coming. Although it will take the excellent Thompson stick magazine, Auto-Ordnance advises it may take a different drum than the one designed

by John Taliaferro Thompson and his crew back in 1919. auto-ordnance.com

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

MAY 2018

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BROWNING BXC AMMUNITION

NEW FOR 2018

little extra room for the pinky give shooters more to hold onto while firing. While not going full Fitz Special with a cut out trigger guard, the Night Cobra will no doubt interest those in the market for a concealed-carry sixgun. colt.com

COLT NIGHT COBRA

BROWNING AMMUNITION notched a win with an NRA Golden Bullseye last year—the best ammunition line launch I’ve seen—and now it is expanding its offerings for hunters with the BXC Controlled Expansion series. Designed for deep penetration in big game, such as elk, bear and moose, the BXC has a thick jacket bonded to a lead core in heavy-for-caliber bullets. Topping the bullet is an anodized aluminum Terminal Tip— that’s not melting on its way downrange. Initial offerings are: 135 gr., 6.5 mm Creedmoor; 145 gr., .270 Win.; 145 gr., .270 WSM; 155 gr., 7 mm Rem. Mag.; 168 gr., .308 Win.; 185 gr., .30-’06 Sprg.; 185 gr., .300 WSM; and 185 gr., .300 Win. Mag. browningammo.com COLT was one of the biggest stories last year when, for the first time in decades, it got back in the double-action revolver business with the six-shot, 2"-barreled .38 Spl. Cobra. Now the West Hartford, Conn., maker has upgraded its modern snubbie with the Night Cobra. The gun’s stainless steel parts are covered with a black DLC coating, while the hammer is bobbed, making this a double-action-only revolver. The Cobra’s method of front sight attachment—via an Allen screw at the front—allowed for a tritium front sight on the Night Cobra, while the rear remains a notch cut into the topstrap. Upgraded G10 stocks with a

FEDERAL’S .224 Valkyrie is, no doubt, the biggest ammunition introduction of 2018. The new cartridge, based on the 6.8 mm SPC case necked down, nips at the heels of the 6.5 mm Creedmoor in terms of ballistic performance, but in a cartridge case that will fit inside a .223/5.56 mm platform. The .224 Valkyrie, from a 24" barrel, propels a 90-gr.

Sierra MatchKing at 2700 f.p.s from the muzzle and stays supersonic out to 1,300 yds. After firing a few magazines of .224 Valkyrie, the 6.5 mm Creedmoor feels like a cannon. The .224 is soft-shooting and hardly discernible from a .223 Rem. What makes the .224 Valkyrie shine, though, is not just its performance, but its price. Federal will be able to produce ammunition at a fairly low cost. How inexpensive?

How about less than $14 a box in the American Eagle line? federalpremium.com REMINGTON introduced its pump-action Model 870 in 1950, and with more than 11 million made, it is hands-down the most popular shotgun of all time. The Model 870 DM (p. 76) does something other 870s don’t; it feeds from a detachable box magazine. Gone is the underbarrel tubular magazine (it still supports the fore-end, though), a new assembly added to the underside’s loading port allows the gun to accept either three- or six-round polymer detachable magazines (thus, the “DM”). The gun comes with an 18½" cylinder-bore barrel topped with a brass bead. You can get it in basic black, with a Magpul stock and fore-end, in camouflage with thumbhole stock, in TAC-14 guise with a Shockwave bird’s head grip and Magpul foreend, or, my favorite, with an old-school hardwood stock and corncob fore-end. remington.com SPRINGFIELD ARMORY has been making the M1A, the semi-automatic-only successor to the M14, since 1974. For years, the .308 Win. M1A,

SPRINGFIELD M1A LOADED 6.5 CREEDMOOR

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AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

especially in its National Match configuration, ruled the 1,000-yd. line at Camp Perry. Not that anyone needs a reason to want an M1A, but chambering it in 6.5 mm Creedmoor?

Oh, yeah. The company announced three variations in the popular chambering. The M1A Loaded 6.5 Creedmoor is offered with a choice of a solid black composite stock, or a precision-adjustable stock in black or FDE. It features a National Match Grade, stainless

steel, 22" medium-weight barrel with fourgroove, 1:8", right-hand twist rifling and a muzzle brake. A NM 0.062" post front sight is paired with a NM non-hooded 0.052" aperture rear sight, an arrangement ideal for distant targets and capable of half-m.o.a. windage adjustments and 1-m.o.a. elevation shifts. The two-stage National Match trigger is tuned for a 4-lb., 8-oz. to 5-lb. pull. springfield-armory.com FEDERAL .224 VALKYRIE

BRIAN C. SHEETZ, SENIOR EXECUTIVE EDITOR HEIZER’S PKO 45 is a compact, all-metal, internal-hammer-fired, semi-automatic .45 ACP pistol that measures only eight-tenths of an inch wide. Manufactured by aerospace fabricator Heizer Defense, makers of the similarly slim PAK1, PAR1 and PS1 single-shots, the PKO 45 is unconventional, with a fixed, ported, 2.75" barrel whose axis lies below that of the guide rod assembly and below much of the slide’s mass to enhance accuracy and reduce muzzle flip, respectively. Magazine capacity is five rounds in the flush-fit style or seven for the extended style. The PKO 45 features a manual, bilateral, frame-mounted safety and frontstrap-mounted grip safety along with slidestop and magazine buttons. Both front and rear sights are dovetailed to the slide. The aluminumframe PKO 45 weighs approximately 25 ozs. and is available in Ghost Grey, Copperhead and Tactical Black. A titanium-frame variant is in the works. heizerdefense.com

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

RUGER RIMFIRE PRECISION

HENRY has brought back one of the simplest ideas in long arms with its line of Single Shot Rifles. Models are available with matte-finish steel frames chambered in .223 Rem., 243 Win., .308 Win., .44 Mag. and .45-70 Gov’t, and in high-polish brass frames chambered in .44 Mag. and .45-70 Gov’t. Barrels measure 22" and feature fully adjustable folding-leaf rear and brassbead front sights and are drilled and tapped for optional scope use. Walnut furniture complements the curved pistol grip wrist and solid rubber recoil pad on steel models and the straight English wrist and brass buttplate on brass models. The non-ejecting extractor and top lever, which can be pressed left or right to open the action, make for simple operation. Safety is by way of an external hammer spur, a rebounding hammer that can’t contact the firing pin unless the trigger is deliberately pulled, and an interlock system that prevents the barrel from opening if the hammer is cocked or closing if the hammer is cocked while the action is open. henryusa.com

MAY 2018

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NEW FOR 2018

HENRY SINGLE SHOT RIFLE

INLAND M30-C

IWI US TAVOR TS12

SAR USA SAR9

HEIZER PKO 45

INLAND, the maker of period-faithful M1 carbines, has introduced modern variations built on a chassis-style stock made by Sage. The stock, machined from billet aluminum then hardcoat anodized, provides bilateral sling points and multiple rail-mounting options for accessories.

The M30-C carbine model features a 16.25" barrel—chambered, of course, for the .30 Carbine cartridge—and has a 1/2x28 TPI threaded muzzle capped with a birdcage-style flash suppressor.

Other features include a Picatinny rear sight base and Picatinny-topped fore-end, a push-button safety, a round bolt and one included straight 10-round magazine. The magazine catch also accommodates curved, 30-round examples. The M30-C’s furniture is made by Ergo and includes that company’s Suregrip pistol grip and MSR multi-position buttstock assembly. inlanddepot.com IWI US has expanded its Tavor family of

bullpups with the addition of a shotgun. The TS12 is a 28.34"-long, gas-operated semi-automatic that feeds from one of three magazine tubes—each of which holds four 3" or five 2¾" shells, for a total on-board capacity of 12 to 15. The tubes’ triangular arrangement allows each of the two not aligned with the barrel to be loaded or unloaded from its respective side of the gun. After the center magazine is emptied, the next tube is manually rotated into position and the gun automatically feeds the first shell into the chamber. The ejection port, too, can be easily changed to either side to accommodate right- or left-hand users. Other features include: four sling cups, M-LOK-compatible rails, an expansive topside Picatinny rail to accommodate optics and Benelli/Beretta-compatible choke tube threading on the 18.5" barrel. iwius.com

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RUGER now has a rimfire understudy to its trendsetting center-fire Precision Rifle. Just like its big brother, the Rimfire Precision is based on its counterpart American bolt-action receiver, but it differs by way of a chassis-style stock molded of glass-filled Nylon. The rifle’s buttstock features quick-change adjustments for length of pull and comb height, and the 15" free-float aluminum handguard features M-LOK slots on multiple sides for the mounting of accessories. The cold-hammerforged 18" barrel has a threaded muzzle and can be replaced easily using AR-type wrenches. Other features that make the Rimfire Precision perfect for long-range rimfire competition or PRS practice include: a receiver-mounted scope rail with a 30-m.o.a. elevation cant; an oversize bolt handle; bolt travel that can be changed from a rimfirelike 1½" to a center-fire-like 3"; and, of course, compatibility with the full range of rotary 10/22 magazines. ruger.com SAR USA, which carries firearms manufactured

by Sarsilmaz of Turkey, has released its SAR9, a 17-plus-one-capacity 9 mm Luger pistol with a polymer frame and advanced features similar to those found on more expensive European brands.

The company claims to have torture-tested the pistol to extreme limits in its state-of-the-art factory by subjecting it to: temperature ranges from -50° F to 130° F, salt, rain, solar radiation, high altitude, fouling, drop tests and 150,000 rounds of live fire.

The 27-oz., 4.4"-barreled pistol has bilateral safety levers, a reversible magazine release and a trigger blade safety, making it usable by either right- or left-handed shooters. Three sizes of interchangeable backstraps and side panels adapt its grip to a wide variety of hand sizes, while front and rear cocking serrations and a pull-down slide release facilitate easy loading/press-checks and maintenance, respectively. sarusa.com

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

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JOE KURTENBACH, MANAGING EDITOR AXIL is probably best known for its crowdfunded innovation in hearing protection, and particularly for its GhostStryke earbuds that feature “smart” digital sound suppression and amplification technology. Now Axil is venturing a step further by incorporating its hearing protection into a personal sound system for everyday use. GhostStryke Bluetooth is a tethered pair of earbuds that will include not only digital hearing protection and sound enhancement, it will also feature Bluetooth technology, improved speakers, a microphone and a mini-USB-rechargeable lithium battery. So whether you’re shooting at the range, talking on the phone or listening to music, the portable and affordable GhostStryke Bluetooth is intended to provide a one-stop solution for your everyday audio needs. goaxil.com

AXIL GHOSTSTRYKE BLUETOOTH

FRANCHI may be best known for its Italianmade, yet reasonably priced, sporting shotguns, but the company is forging a new path by entering the bolt-action rifle market, and doing so in style.

The new Momentum rifle was designed with an emphasis on ergonomic excellence, and its graceful ROCK ISLAND ARMORY TRADITIONAL SINGLE SHOT 12 GAUGE

MARLIN MODEL 1894 CSBL

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NEW FOR 2018 lines belie not only the stock’s synthetic construction, but also the rifle’s price tag—suggested retail is right around $600. Initial chamberings for the Momentum will be .243 Win., 6.5 mm Creedmoor, .270 Win., .308 Win., .30-’06 Sprg. and .300 Win. Mag. The rifles feature a fluted bolt, an adjustable, single-stage trigger and a free-float 22" or 24" barrel, depending on chambering.

Models with threaded and non-threaded barrels will be available, as will a scope/rifle package that includes a Burris Fullfield II 3-9X 40 mm riflescope. franchiusa.com MARLIN has expanded its Model 1894 leveraction line to include models chambered for .357 Mag./.38 Spl. The Model 1894 CSBL is particularly interesting as a modern and durable rendition of the classic carbine. It features stainless steel construction paired with a laminate stock for a high degree of weather resistance. The CSBL also comes standard with an optics rail and ghost ring sight from XS Sights, an enlarged lever loop, and a compact 16.5" barrel and six-round magazine tube.

Given the popularity of the .357 Mag./.38 Spl. chamberings, and the range of production ammunition for both cartridges, the 1894 CBSL stands out as a very versatile rifle. marlinfirearms.com NIGHTHAWK CUSTOM has doubled down on its partnership with Agency Arms, Railscales and Hillbilly 223—custom-grade purveyors of machined slides, stock panels and Cerakote finishes, respectively—by introducing the Nighthawk Custom Agent2. Despite being a budget buster, the Agent2 is well worth seeing as it exemplifies some of the highest-quality craftsmanship and high-end feature sets available in any pistol today. Built in Nighthawk’s traditional fashion—one gun, one gunsmith—the Agency-machined slide is hand-fit to the frame and barrel, Railscales G10 stocks provide purchase and personality, and the whole assembly

is finished in Hillbilly 223’s Nighthawk Smoke Cerakote. The full-size 1911 can be had in either .45 ACP or 9 mm Luger, and it also features a Heinie Ledge rear sight paired with a fiber-optic front, a lightened Recon-style accessory rail on the dustcover, and a one-piece mainspring housing/extended magazine well assembly. nighthawkcustom.com ROCK ISLAND ARMORY is now offering an entire catalog of shotguns, ranging in operation from single-shots and pump-actions to autoloaders and over-unders, and running the gamut from defensive, tactical-style platforms to sporting and competition configurations. The shotguns are being manufactured in Turkey to Rock Island’s specifications, and are designed to match the company’s ethos of affordable accuracy. And lest one think price is the only consideration, Rock Island is also guaranteeing the guns’ quality with the same lifetime warranty provided with its M1911s and other Rock Island-manufactured firearms. One model that caught my eye was the Traditional Single Shot 12 gauge, which sports a 20" barrel, 3" chamber, a muzzle brake and a suggested price of less than $150. rockislandarmory.com TAURUS has gone back to the basics with some of its 2018 introductions by fleshing out its M1911 family of pistols to include Commander and Officer models. As one might expect, the Commander has a shortened slide assembly paired with a full-size frame.

The slide features broad cocking serrations fore and aft, is topped by Novak drift-adjustable sights and accommodates the gun’s 4.2" barrel. Smaller still, the Taurus 1911 Officer is built around a 3.5" barrel and a shortened grip frame, and is the company’s smallest and lightest M1911 rendition. Both guns are chambered for .45 ACP, utilize left-side-only manual safeties and are possessed of a very business-like appearance due to their matte-black finish and black checkered stocks. taurususa.com

NIGHTHAWK CUSTOM AGENT2

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continued on p. 112

TAURUS 1911 OFFICER

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RIFLE

arming was Kenny Jarrett’s ambition as a youngster, and, while he went on to great success as a man of the soil, he is better-known around the world as a builder of big-game rifles capable of uncommon levels of accuracy.

That part of the story begins during a time when hunters in the Southeast spent most of their hours seeking deer in heavily wooded areas. When it was discovered that more could be spotted by watching over vast cultivated fields from tree stands and other elevated positions, the typical shot suddenly grew from inside 100 short paces to several hundred yards away. The Winchester 94s and Marlin 336s that had long served as faithful venison harvesters suddenly became short on both accuracy and reach.

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At the time, Jarrett was working on a farm owned by an uncle, and, in order to supplement income needed for a growing family, he began a second career in general gunsmithing. Repair work out of an old building in his backyard used up most of what little spare time there was to devote to the business, but he eventually got around to seeking ways to improve the accuracy of factory rifles.

That led to a desire to build even more accurate rifles from scratch, and benchrest competition held the answers he was looking for.

The technical information needed might have been acquired by simply asking a lot of questions of gunsmiths who were specializing in building super-accurate rifles for AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

Photos by author

Photo courtesy of Jarrett Rifles

Kenny Jarrett’s rifle tinkering led to the highest levels of benchrest competition. His ultra-accurate “Beanfield” rifles on other makers’ actions soon followed. Now, Jarrett has taken his game to a new level with an action and barrels all his own.

BY LAYNE SIMPSON The wide variety of Jarrett rifles include this Beanfield model in 7 mm STW in a McMillan wood-grain fiberglass stock (top) and the .300 Win. Mag. Wind Walker evaluated by the author and built on Jarrett’s proprietary Tri-Lock action. Jarrett (r.) is still active in the business that bears his name.

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JARRETT RIFLES BEANFIELD/REMINGTON MODEL SEVEN

In 1979, he began to apply what he had learned by replacing the barrel of a Remington Model 600 rifle with a benchrest-grade barrel made by Clyde Hart. That was several years before the fiberglass stock became popular outside of benchrest shooting circles, so the barreled action benchrest shooting, and several are credited with being was glass-bedded in the factory stock. The barrel, chamquite helpful along the way. But Jarrett learned by becombered to .243 Ackley Improved, consistently shot the 85-gr. ing one of the top competitors in the country, first while Nosler Partition inside one-half minute-of-angle. The first using rifles built by others and later with rifles he built deer taken just happened to be standing on the far side of himself in his own shop. A walking encyclopedia on the a soybean field, and so was born the Beanfield Rifle.

American Civil War, his museum on the Cowden Plantation Jarrett Rifles is still in the original building, but growth houses an impressive collection of artifacts from that conhas required several expansions over the years. The old flict. In another room you will find a couple of walls filled test range is still in use, but running alongside it now is with awards from his benchrest shooting days. a 100-yd. indoor range. Take a few steps back and you Among other important things, Jarrett learned that the enter a spacious reloading room where ammunition is keys to building a rifle capable of setting new records and made. Another range a couple of miles down the road has a winning matches were absolute dimensional uniformity smaller reloading room along with several covered shooting combined with perfect alignment and concentricity among benches. A wheeled target board pulled by a golf cart is component parts. By utilizing the materials and technical easily positioned at 100-yd. increments out to 1,000 yds. skills required in putting together a heavy benchrest rifle, The original lathe used for re-barreling rifles a lighter rifle more suitable for hunting use, yet capable is still in the shop, but it is now accompanied by of closely approaching its accuracy, could be built. And it several CNC machining centers. Barrels, as well as could be accomplished on a consistent basis.

Jarrett’s own action, are made in-house. Same goes for Kevlar-reinforced, fiberglass SHOOTING RESULTS (100 YDS.): BEANFIELD/REMINGTON MODEL SEVEN stocks—although stocks made by GROUP SIZE (INCHES) 7 MM-08 REM. VEL. @ 12' ENERGY McMillan are used on special-order (FT.-LBS.) SMALLEST LARGEST AVERAGE HANDLOAD (F.P.S.) guns, such as those in .450 Rigby 3024 AVG. BARNES 120-GR. TSX BT 2,434 0.25 0.35 0.32 and .50 BMG. 43 GRS. VIHTAVUORI N140* 18 SD Of the operations observed there, the making of receivers for the 2972 AVG. SPEER 130-GR. BTSP 2,547 0.32 0.47 0.43 50 GRS. WINCHESTER 760* 20 SD Tri-Lock action may be the most interesting. Made in short and long 2630 AVG. SIERRA 140-GR. 2,150 0.31 0.36 0.33 versions, as well as a left-hand verPRO-HUNTER 11 SD 49 GRS. ALLIANT RL-19* sion of the latter, it starts with a bar of 15-5 stainless steel. After all AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD 0.36 exterior machining is completed, wire N OTES : ACCURACY RESULTS FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE -SHOT GROUPS AT 100 YDS. EDM machining is used to precisely FROM A 21" BARREL USING A BENCH REST . V ELOCITIES AVERAGED FROM 10 SHOTS WITH bring the inside of the receiver to the AN O EHLER M ODEL 33 CHRONOGRAPH AT 12 FT . T EMPERATURE : 81° F. R EMINGTON CASES AND CCI 200 PRIMERS USED IN ALL LOADS . *M AXIMUM CHARGE / DO NOT EXCEED . desired dimensions and shape. That ABBREVIATIONS: BTSP (BOTTAIL, SOFT -POINT), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION ), TSX BT includes raceways for the bolt’s three (T RIPLE-SHOCK X-BULLET WITH BOATTAIL). locking lugs.

SPECIAL FEATURE

JARRETT BEANFIELD/REMINGTON MODEL SEVEN

MANUFACTURER: JARRETT RIFLES, INC. (DEPT AR), 383 BROWN ROAD, JACKSON, SC 29831; (803) 471-3616; JARRETTRIFLES.COM 40" 1.25"

1"

21"

13.25" FINISH: BLUED RECEIVER, STAINLESS STEEL BARREL WITH MATTE FINISH

MAGAZINE: FOUR-ROUND INTERNAL BOX, HINGED FLOORPLATE

CHAMBERING: 7 MM-08 REM. ACTION TYPE: BOLT-ACTION, CENTER-FIRE REPEATING RIFLE

RECEIVER: BLUED STEEL

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BARREL: STAINLESS STEEL, JARRETT VARMINT TAPER RIFLING: SIX-GROOVE; 1:9" RH TWIST WEIGHT: 7 LBS., 4 OZS. SIGHTS: NONE; DRILLED AND TAPPED MAY 2018

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

TRIGGER PULL: ADJUSTABLE, SINGLE-STAGE; 2-LB., 8-OZ. PULL STOCK: MCMILLAN KEVLAR/CARBON FIBER WITH RUBBER BUTTPAD

ACCESSORIES: BARREL CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS, LAST THREE TEST GROUPS FIRED, 20 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION, BALLISTICS PRINTOUT OUT TO 500 YDS., LOAD DATA MSRP: $2,818

The interior profile of the receiver ends up matching that of the bolt head, so the next step is to form the locking lug seats inside the receiver ring by line-boring from the front with CNC machining. It is not unusual for the locking lugs on a factory rifle to make only partial contact with their seats in the receiver. The worst-case scenario will have only one of a pair making any contact at all. Due to more precise machining, all three locking lugs of the Tri-Lock action make 100 percent contact. That is in lieu of squaring and lapping the locking lugs as is commonly done when gunsmiths perform so-called blueprinting jobs on mass-produced actions.

The bolt has an AR-15/M16-style extractor and a plunger-style ejector, the latter with a big difference. The commonly seen ejector of this type tries to push a chambered round out of alignment with the bore by exerting pressure on one side of the cartridge head. The ejector in the Tri-Lock bolt is not spring-loaded and exerts no pressure on a cartridge or fired case until it is out of the chamber and in the final stage of ejection. Jarrett describes it as “controlled ejection.” Wobble during bolt travel is virtually eliminated by a close fit between the locking lugs and their continued on p. 104

Shooting Three Great Beanfield Rifles

U

pon receiving an invitation to hunt deer on Kenny Jarrett’s farm in October 2014, I immediately knew that I would take along the Beanfield Rifle he built for me on a Remington Model 700 action in 1987. The first rifle chambered for the 7 mm STW cartridge, it still has its original barrel. I have not kept an accurate record of the number of rounds fired in the rifle during the past 27 years, but I can say it has accounted for a lot of game, including a record-book interior grizzly in Alaska in 2010. No handloads for the rifle were on the shelf, so I took along a box of custom ammunition loaded by Nosler with the 140-gr.

AccuBond bullet.

During my visit I also hunted with the first Beanfield Rifle built by Jarrett in 1979. As mentioned earlier, it is

chambered in .243 Ackley Imp. and on a Remington Model 600 action. Judging by its appearance, it has to be the most-used rifle I have ever taken to the field. Fresh from its third re-barrel job, the latest barrel had been installed several weeks prior to my arrival. It suddenly dawned on me that I had a rare opportunity to shoot groups on paper with three great Jarrett rifles built over the past 35 years.

To round out the trio, I shot a recently completed rifle in .300 Jarrett built around his Tri-Lock action.

Two of the rifles belonged to him, so, for the moment at least, I strayed from the standard five-shots-per-group protocol at American Rifleman by shooting three-shot groups at 100 yds.

In order to become familiar with the triggers of his two rifles, I dry-fired

americanrifleman.org

may 2018

them several times prior to punching paper. A single group fired with each of the rifles measured 0.287" (.243 Ackley Imp.), 0.367" (.300 Jarrett) and 0.438" (7 mm STW). Daylight was rapidly draining from the day, and the deer had started moving, so additional shots at paper targets would have to wait.

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dope bag

WALTHER CREED O

wing to more than a century of pistolcraft, Walther Arms of Ulm, Germany, has garnered a reputation for producing top-quality semi-automatic handguns, such as those in its PPQ series. However, with suggested retail prices starting at $649, said full-size pistols are beyond the reach of many shooters and personal-protection practitioners.

Those clamoring for the PPQ M2—but without the purse strings to make the purchase—will find the ergonomically and aesthetically similar Creed to be a lower-cost path to Walther ownership.

Also in 9 mm Luger, outwardly the recoil-operated Creed isn’t too unlike its PPQ sibling; however, beneath the surface are some noteworthy differences. Foremost, whereas the PPQ M2 is a striker-fired pistol, the hammerfired Creed employs a pre-cocked, double-action-only trigger system featuring a snag-free bobbed hammer.

Among the benefits of the latter is a consistent trigger pull weight.

Similar to a two-stage trigger, the shoe travels rearward approximately 3/16"—all the while the hammer is being cocked—before hitting a wall, after which a very short pull releases

92

the hammer and fires the pistol.

According to Walther’s promotional literature, the trigger pull is reported to be 6 lbs, 8 ozs. Using a Lyman Digital Trigger Pull Gauge, it averaged 4 lbs., 2 ozs., confirming our suspicions that the pull weight on our sample was indeed lighter than advertised. Overtravel was nonexistent, and the reset distance was about 1/4".

Unlike its PPQ M2 sibling, there’s no articulating blade safety projecting from the Creed’s trigger shoe.

Southpaws will surely bemoan the absence of bilateral controls; of the rotary takedown lever, smallish slide stop (when compared to that of the PPQ) and oversize magazinerelease button, only the latter can be reversed for lefties. The Creed has three internal safeties: two drop safeties and a firing pin block. A nice attribute of the Creed’s design is that the slide can be removed without pulling the trigger.

Par for the course, the frame is made from reinforced polymer. Notable, however, is a prominent swell on the backstrap that may be a problematic for some shooters. Exacerbating the problem is the deeply recessed May 2018

aMerican rifleMan

beavertail. Some with slight hands found the Walther’s grip too large and/ or uncomfortable. This was confirmed on the range. In an effort to keep the price down, the Creed doesn’t have interchangeable backstraps.

The sides of the grip, frontstrap and backstrap are adorned with a raised, cross-directional stippling pattern to enhance purchase. Grip is further improved by a series of finger grooves. As we range tested the Creed in sub-freezing temperatures, we can attest to the trigger guard being sized sufficiently for a gloved finger. The dustcover has an underside rail for the addition of accessories.

To protect against corrosion, the slide is treated with Tenifer, while pairs of deep cocking serrations fore and aft of the ejection port ease the cocking process. The slide’s beveled edges not only aid in drawing and re-holstering, but also reduce printing. Topping the slide are low-profile sights in the three-dot configuration. While the 0.145"-wide post front is fixed, the rear is driftadjustable for windage. Measuring 0.185" wide, the notch in the rear sight is conducive to rapid target

WALTHER CREED

IMPORTER: WALTHER ARMS (DEPT. AR), 7700 CHAD COLLEY BLVD., FORT SMITH, AR 72916; (479) 242-8500; WALTHERARMS.COM 7.3" 9mm x 19 CIP N

CIP N

Warning Read Safety Manual

The Creed’s barrel assembly is comprised of three separate components: a locking block, a feed ramp and the barrel itself.

acquisition, but not so much for accurate grouping from the bench.

More on that later.

Like the slide, the 4" barrel is Tenifer-treated, and a cutout in the rear permits visual confirmation as to the condition of the gun (i.e. loaded or not) without retracting the slide. To ease the manufacturing process, the Creed’s barrel is comprised of three separate components: a locking block, a feed ramp and the barrel itself.

Extraction is via an oversize extractor mounted alongside the breechface, while ejection is by way of an ejector projecting upward from the frame.

Lastly, feeding the Creed are Italian-made, 16-round magazines with steel bodies and polymer floorplates. The floorplate works in conjunction with cutouts in the magazine well to allow the shooter to grasp and pull the magazine out if need be. Witness holes on both sides give quick visual confirmation of the rounds remaining.

Range work began with accuracy testing from a sandbag rest at 25 yds. using one practice and two defensive loads: SIG Sauer 115-gr. FMJ; Hornady Critical Defense 115-gr. FTX; and Federal Premium Personal Defense 124-gr. HST JHP. Averages were tallied for five consecutive, five-shot groups.

None of the loads stood out accuracy-wise during the test, as the average for each load was slightly more than 3½", and at least one fiveshot string exceeded the 4" mark with each. That is by no means Bullseye pistol accuracy, but it is certainly adequate for personal protection at practical distances.

With accuracy testing completed, we next transitioned to rapid-fire drills on paper and reactive steel, such as dueling tree and plate-rack targets.

Walther Arms Fort Smith, AR

4"

5.6"

CHAMBERING: 9 MM LUGER ACTION TYPE: RECOIL-OPERATED, SEMI-AUTOMATIC CENTER-FIRE PISTOL FRAME: REINFORCED POLYMER SLIDE: STEEL, TENIFER-TREATED RIFLING: SIX-GROOVE, 1:10" RH MAGAZINE: 16-ROUND DETACHABLE BOX SIGHTS: THREE DOT; POST FRONT, WINDAGE-ADJUSTABLE REAR TRIGGER: DOUBLE-ACTION-ONLY; 4-LB., 2-OZ. PULL WIDTH: 1.3" WEIGHT: 27 OZS. ACCESSORIES: OWNER’S MANUAL, LOCK, HARD CASE, EXTRA MAGAZINE

MSRP: $399 SHOOTING RESULTS (25 YDS.)

9 MM LUGER CARTRIDGE

VEL. @ 5' (F.P.S.)

ENERGY (FT.-LBS.)

FEDERAL PREMIUM HST 124-GR. JHP

1132 AVG. 12 SD

353

2.90

4.27

3.57

HORNADY CRITICAL DEFENSE 115-GR. FTX

1139 AVG. 13 SD

331

3.02

4.40

3.60

SIG SAUER 115-GR. FMJ

1127 AVG. 19 SD

324

2.65

4.15

3.67

AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD

GROUP SIZE (INCHES) LARGEST AVERAGE SMALLEST

3.61

NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 SHOTS OVER A COMPETITION ELECTRONICS CHRONOGRAPH AT 5 FT. ACCURACY RESULTS FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 25 YDS. FROM A BAG REST. TEMPERATURE: 17° F. HUMIDITY: 48%. ABBREVIATIONS: FMJ (FULL METAL JACKET), FTX (FLEX TIP EXPANDING), JHP (JACKETED HOLLOW POINT), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION).

We found hitting targets in rapid succession to be relatively easy, which is desirable in a defensive pistol, though discomfort in the palm/web area of the hand increased with each subsequent box of ammunition expended.

Again, hand-to-grip fit is critical.

From the factory, the gun consistently shot high and left.

During testing, there were no failures to feed, fire, extract or eject.

Pressing the magazine-release button quickly cleared the well for the next one, though one magazine wouldn’t lock into place without being forcefully inserted. The other magazine had no such issues. Magazine problems aren’t AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

MAY 2018

altogether uncommon, regardless of the firearm manufacturer. The lightweight trigger pull was a nice touch, though we found the reset to be a tad too long for those who are reset-style shooters (as opposed to those who let the trigger fully out).

Realistically, the Walther Arms Creed is as capable a personaldefense handgun as its PPQ M2 siblings, but can be had at a significant savings. The only difference is the loss of a few features that aren’t necessarily required—especially by right-handed shooters. That’s money that can be used for a holster, ammunition and more range time.

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DOPE BAG

NEMESIS ARMS VALKYRIE E

rroneous assumptions abound regarding specific firearm designs. Takedown rifles, for example, are often panned as being inherently inconsistent, and thus deemed inaccurate. The subject of this review, the U.S.-made Nemesis Arms Valkyrie, vehemently ends inaccurate suppositions about said rifle type and exemplifies the term “versatility.”

The Valkyrie’s foundation lies in its predecessor, the multi-caliber, bolt-action-operated Vanquish. Unlike the latter, however, the Valkyrie’s PVD-treated, 8620 steel upper receiver is machined to accept both rightand left-handed bolts—and one of each type accompanies the rifle. The ejection port is traditionally located.

Tight tolerances are achieved by using precise electrical-discharge machining for the bolt raceway, assuring smooth, unbinding operation of the bolt.

The Valkyrie comes standard from the factory with both a leftand a righthanded bolt (r.), and the gun’s 8620 steel upper receiver (l.) is machined to accept either.

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The bolt has dual, opposed locking lugs, a sliding-plate extractor, a plunger-type ejector and an oversize knob. In addition to fluting, the bolt body is nitrided for enhanced durability, and the knob receives the same treatment. Extending from the front of the receiver is a series of threads with a cutout that mates to one on the barrel.

Once the nitrided barrel is in place, a checkered, indexing barrel nut is handtightened to secure the barrel to the receiver. No tools are needed.

Meanwhile, a spring-loaded plunger on the receiver’s front prevents the nut from loosening during transport or recoil. The unique design assures proper headspacing and consistency, the latter of which is critical for repeatability (and, thus, accuracy) and guaranteed return to zero.

Topping the receiver is a 65⁄8"-long section of Picatinny rail.

The dual steel bars of the standard stock assembly pass through a steel housing on each side of the receiver’s rear. Pressing the “push” button permits rapid adjustment of the stock for shooting or storage—sans barrel, the Valkyrie

MAY 2018

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

collapses to a scant 16½". Five cutouts in the left bar enable several options for the length-of-pull setting, allowing the rifle to fit a range of shooters and situations. The buttstock also has an adjustable comb for proper eye-tooptic alignment and a slip-on recoil pad. Nemesis Arms has an adapter (sold separately) to which any AR-style buffer-tube stock can be added.

Unlike the upper receiver, the nonstressed lower receiver is made from 6061 aluminum. In addition to the magazine well, bilateral fire controls and a Hogue overmolded rubber grip with a palm swell and finger grooves are located on the lower receiver.

Custom-made by Timney, the proprietary, Model 700-compatible trigger has a flat, 3/8"-wide shoe, and broke at an average pull weight of 3 lbs., 11 ozs., with no discernible creep or overtravel.

Placement of the Valkyrie’s bilateral safety is anything but typical: it is located inside the top of the trigger guard. When the safety is in the rear position the trigger is locked, though the bolt can still be manipulated for loading and unloading. Pressing it forward readies the rifle to fire.

Reliefs machined into both sides of the lower receiver enhance access to the safety for fingers clad in bulky, cold-weather gloves.

A dual-purpose stud at the front of the lower receiver serves as an attachment point for the included Versa-Pod bipod, and the stud pulls double-duty as a means for securing the aluminum, free-floating handguard (shown),

NEMESIS ARMS VALKYRIE

MANUFACTURER: NEMESIS ARMS (DEPT. AR), 102 REED DRIVE, PARK CITY, KY 42160; (270) 749-2180; NEMESISARMS.COM 0.75"

39.75" TO 41"

0.75"

20.25" 13.75" TO 15"

CHAMBERING: .308 WIN. ACTION TYPE: BOLT-ACTION, CENTER-FIRE REPEATING RIFLE

RECEIVER: PVD-TREATED 8620 STEEL UPPER; 6061 ALUMINUM LOWER STOCK: COLLAPSIBLE WITH ADJUSTABLE CHEEK PIECE, HOGUE OVERMOLDED PISTOL GRIP BARREL: FLUTED, SIX-GROOVE; 1:10" RH TWIST MAGAZINE: 10-ROUND DETACHABLE BOX

SIGHTS: NONE; PICATINNY RAIL TRIGGER: TIMNEY, SINGLE-STAGE; 3-LB., 11-OZ. PULL WEIGHT: 11 LBS., 6 OZS. ACCESSORIES: OWNER’S MANUAL, LEFT-HAND BOLT, VERSA-POD BIPOD MSRP: $5,800 (AS SHOWN)

SHOOTING RESULTS (100 YDS.)

The quick-detach barrel mates with threads extending from the front of the receiver, and is secured by a hand-tightened barrel nut.

which can be purchased separately for $450. Should the latter be selected, the Versa-Pod mount can be attached to a section of Picatinny rail beneath the handguard. Mimicking that on the bottom, the top of the handguard has two 41⁄8"-long sections of Picatinny rail. Rails can be attached at the 3-o’clock and 9-o’clock positions, too.

The Valkyrie’s 20¼" barrel is designed for quick, easy, tool-free removal and replacement with unwavering consistency. It’s the heart of the multi-caliber system.

Since .243 Win., 6.5 mm Creedmoor, .260 Rem. and .308 Win. all utilize the same bolt face, changing chamberings requires only a barrel swap.

Doing so takes less than a minute.

Additional barrels from the company cost $950. Residing outside the abovementioned group of cartridges, the .300 WSM is available as an option, but requires a separate bolt.

Barrels for the Valkyrie measure 1" in diameter at the receiver and 7/8" behind the muzzle threads. The threads are cut at a standard 5/8x24 pitch, making the addition of a suppressor or aftermarket muzzle brake a cinch. The chamber is cut using Pacific Tool & Gauge (PTG)

.308 WIN. CARTRIDGE

VEL. @ 10' (F.P.S.)

ENERGY (FT.-LBS.)

FEDERAL GOLD MEDAL 185-GR. BJ OTM

2562 AVG. 19 SD

2,696

0.67

0.94

0.81

HORNADY BLACK 168-GR. A-MAX

2636 AVG. 14 SD

2,592

0.44

0.82

0.55

NOSLER CC 155-GR. HPBT

2732 AVG. 16 SD

2,569

0.57

0.82

0.71

AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD

GROUP SIZE (INCHES) LARGEST AVERAGE SMALLEST

0.69

NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 SHOTS OVER A COMPETITION ELECTRONICS CHRONOGRAPH AT 10 FT. ACCURACY RESULTS FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 100 YDS. FROM A SANDBAG REST AND BIPOD. TEMPERATURE: 83° F. HUMIDITY: 64%.

ABBREVIATIONS: BJ (BERGER JUGGERNAUT), CC (CUSTOM COMPETITION), HPBT (HOLLOW-POINT BOATTAIL), OTM (OPEN TIP MATCH), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION).

match-grade reamers, and the barrel ends with an 11-degree crown.

Eight 123⁄16"-long flutes enhance the Valkyrie’s appearance, slightly reduce heft and aid cooling. Feeding the Valkyrie are U.S.-made, 10-round detachable box magazines.

To test the Valkyrie, we first mounted a Weaver Grand Slam 4-16X 44 mm scope and gathered three match-grade loads. Formal accuracy testing of the Valkyrie took place at 100 yds.; however, several groups were subsequently fired at 300 yds. to evaluate the rifle’s performance at distance. The 100-yd. results are tabulated nearby.

As is evidenced in the table, the Valkyrie is capable of superb accuracy.

Of the loads tested, the standout was Hornady Black 168-gr. A-Max, which averaged an impressive 0.55" for five consecutive, five-shot groups at 100 yds. No group with any of the loads exceeded one m.o.a. Despite an inconsistent, half-value wind across the 300-yd. range, groups at that distance ranged from 1.80" to 3.32".

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

MAY 2018

During testing, we were cognizant not to torque the stock, which can be easily done in the outermost positions. Should you dislike the design, other options are available; given the level of accuracy that we attained, we found no reason to deviate from the standard collapsible stock. Operation of the rifle was flawless, with no failures to feed, fire, extract or eject. Besides the bolt-release button’s somewhat indistinct feel, there’s little we’d change about the Valkyrie. We found it easy to shoot, and, with a full magazine and optic aboard for a heft of more than 12 lbs., recoil was minimal.

Assuredly, price is the biggest constraint for prospective purchasers of the Nemesis Arms Valkyrie. Simple economy dictates that, given its cost, the Valkyrie isn’t an everyman’s rifle.

It’s not meant to be. But the rifle offers many innovative features— extreme compactness, fully bilateral operation, tool-less takedown and multi-caliber capability—and what it does, it does very well.

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DOPE BAG

ALIEN GEAR SHAPESHIFT STARTER KIT

F

inding a comfortable, reliable holster for daily carry can be a frustrating and costly process. Which position on the body is the best fit for your needs? Should the pistol ride inside or outside of the waistband? Is it preferable for it to have a thumb release or a tension adjustment?

The only way to know for sure is to purchase a holster and wear it for a few days to find out. Unfortunately, a quality holster can cost between $50 and $100, or more, and—much like undergarments and swimwear—holsters usually can’t be returned if they prove to be uncomfortable or a poor fit for the concealed carrier’s needs.

Alien Gear Holsters recently introduced the unique ShapeShift modular holster system Starter Kit as a solution to this problem. Like previous Alien Gear holster models, the ShapeShift incorporates interchangeable polymer shells that allow a particular holster to support different pistol models. ShapeShift takes this modularity a step further by allowing a shell to be converted into several different types of holsters. The new Starter Kit is advertised as providing four different holsters for the price of two, but, in actuality, the components in the kit provide customers

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with five holster configurations plus a mounting system.

The ShapeShift system revolves around a two-piece polymer shell that has two primary functions. The outer shell can be separated from the inner shell and mounted to a flexible synthetic backing to form an insidethe-waistband (IWB) holster. Sliding the two halves together forms a complete outside-the-waistband (OWB) holster with the inner shell featuring a toothed extension compatible with the quick-release plates provided in the kit. As of this writing, shells are available for a variety of Glock, Ruger LC9s, Smith & Wesson Shield, Springfield XD Mod.2 and Taurus Millennium G2 models in left- and right-hand configurations. The kit provided for this evaluation included a shell for the Glock 19.

At first glance, the system may seem complicated because of all the small parts involved, but it proved to be easy to use. Converting the shell from one holster configuration to another requires just a few minutes thanks to the clear instructions provided in the user manual and quick-start guide. Most of the polymer components simply snap together and are secured in place using Twist Lock

MAY 2018

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

knobs. Those few components secured by metal screws can all be adjusted or removed using a single Allen key (hex wrench) shipped in the kit.

The shell arrives with a factoryinstalled adjustable tension unit to keep the pistol firmly secured in the holster until drawn. It can be loosened or tightened using one of the Twist Lock knobs as a wrench.

This tension unit can be traded out for a provided thumb-release lever if preferred. The thumb release is compatible with all of the holster configurations.

The version 4.0 IWB holster is the next evolution of the Cloak Tuck series. The multi-layer, flexible backing incorporates a durable thermo elastomer surface directly behind the holster, a patent-protected steel core for extra support and a soft, breathable layer of sweatwicking CoolVent neoprene that rests against the body. The result is a holster backing that’s comfortable to wear right out of the box. The shell mount features two adjustment screws that allow the holster’s cant to be set forward or back.

Previous Alien Gear IWB holsters required screws and rubber gaskets to mount the belt clips to the flexible

Twist Lock knobs serve to fasten the ShapeShift’s polymer parts together, but can also be used to adjust the tension level.

backing. The ShapeShift IWB is fitted with clips that can be adjusted without tools. They just twist in and out of the three polymer-backed heightadjustment holes. Sets of C-, J- and O-type belt clips are sold separately for this holster.

Appendix carry continues to gain in popularity thanks to the quick pistol access it provides along with a natural draw stroke—at least for those who are doing sit-ups on a regular basis. The Appendix Carry IWB configuration uses a trimmeddown version of the 4.0 IWB holster’s layered backing with the same screws for cant adjustment. A single belt clip rests directly in front of the shell.

Although this configuration is called the Appendix model, it can comfortably ride at a variety of positions along the belt line, including strongside hip, behind-the-hip and crossdraw locations.

For carry outside the waistband, the soft Appendix Carry backing can be outfitted with a set of sturdy belt loops to form a low-profile OWB holster that fits belts up to 2.25" wide.

This configuration holds the pistol high up on the belt and flush against the side. The soft backing provides an effective cushion between the pistol and the soft tissue above the hip.

The remaining holster configurations employ both halves of the shell in conjunction with a quick-release support plate. The cog-like extension of the inner shell locks into the support plate and allows for 360-degree rotation. The kit arrives with two plates, both of which are drilled at all four corners. The hardware provided allows the plates to be mounted to a compact paddle for use as a paddle holster or a soft, rubber belt slide (rigid polymer belt slide also available). It can also be mounted to a rigid surface such as the interior of an automobile, the underside of a counter or to a wall.

This is one of the most flexible configurations in the kit because the shell can be released from the belt mount and immediately snapped back into the automotive or wall mount without having to remove the pistol from the shell. When configured as a paddle or belt-slide holster, the shell stands out away from the belt line about 0.70". This provides plenty of room to form a secure shooting grip before drawing the pistol, but does require a cover garment such as a suit jacket or winter coat to conceal.

Purchasing additional shells allows customers to convert the holsters in the kit to fit different pistol models or to keep more of the holsters completely assembled and ready to use for the same pistol.

The company plans to provide more carry options in the future including shoulder, ankle and tactical thigh rigs.

Individual ShapeShift holsters and components will also be available.

SHAPESHIFT STARTER KIT

MANUFACTURER: ALIEN GEAR HOLSTERS (DEPT. AR), 4301 W. RIVERBEND AVE., POST FALLS, ID 83854; (208) 215-2046; ALIENGEARHOLSTERS.COM KIT INCLUDES: • ONE MODEL-SPECIFIC MODULAR PISTOL SHELL

• VERSION 4.0 INSIDE-THE-WAISTBAND HOLSTER (IWB) WITH ADJUSTABLE BELT CLIPS, NEOPRENE BACKED • APPENDIX CARRY INSIDE-THE-WAISTBAND HOLSTER (AIWB), NEOPRENE BACKED • OUTSIDE-THE-WAISTBAND BELT SLIDE (OWB), NEOPRENE BACKED • PADDLE HOLSTER, QUICK RELEASE/ ROTATING HARD SHELL

• RIGID POLYMER OR SOFT RUBBER COMFORT BELT SLIDE HOLSTER, QUICK RELEASE/ROTATING HARD SHELL • HOLSTER MOUNT, WALL OR AUTOMOTIVE MSRP: $100 ($34 FOR ADDITIONAL SHELLS)

The ShapeShift Starter Kit ships with the same 30-Day Test Drive and Forever Warranty as other Alien Gear products, making it a low-risk option; if you wear the holsters for a month and decide you don’t want them, the company will buy the kit back from you with no questions asked. If any part of the set breaks for any reason, it will be repaired or replaced free of charge.

For first-time gun owners, or those who are dissatisfied with their current holster, the new American-made Alien Gear ShapeShift holster system offers a carry solution that is greater than the sum of its parts. The Starter Kit provides an impressive set of options at an exceptionally fair price.

All five holsters proved to be easy to configure, provided reliable pistol retention and were comfortable for all-day wear.

The American Rifleman has used the phrase “Dope Bag” since at least 1921, when Col. Townsend Whelen first titled his column with it. Even then, it had been in use for years, referring to a sack used by target shooters to hold ammunition and accessories on the firing line. “Sight dope” also was a traditional marksman’s term for sight-adjustment information, while judging wind speed and direction was called “doping the wind.”

WARNING: Technical data and information contained herein are intended to provide information based on the limited experience of individuals under specific conditions and circumstances. They do not detail the comprehensive training procedures, techniques and safety precautions absolutely necessary to properly carry on similar activity. Read the notice and disclaimer on the contents page. Always consult comprehensive reference manuals and bulletins for details of proper training requirements, procedures, techniques and safety precautions before attempting any similar activity.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

MAY 2018

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inside nra | ila report

LATEST LEGISLATIVE NEWS FROM INSIDE THE NRA INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION

NRA Files Suit Challenging Florida Gun Control Law

W

ithin an hour of its enactment, the National Rifle Association announced that it had filed a lawsuit challenging the State of Florida’s newly enacted ban on the purchase of firearms by young adults between the ages of 18 and 21.

Florida’s ban is an affront to the Second Amendment, as it totally eviscerates the right of law-abiding adults between the ages of 18 and 21 to keep and bear arms. The ban is particularly offensive with respect to young women, as women between the ages of 18 and 21 are much less likely to engage in violent crime than older members of the general population who are unaffected by the ban. Despite this fact, the State of

Florida has enacted a sweeping law banning all young adults between the ages of 18 and 21 from purchasing any firearm from any source. Chris Cox, the executive director of the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, stated, “Swift action is needed to prevent young adults in Florida from being treated as second-class citizens when it comes to the right to keep and bear arms.”

“We are confident that the courts will vindicate our view that Florida’s ban is a blatant violation of the Second Amendment.”

The case is National Rifle Association of America, Inc. v. Bondi, and it has been filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

Photo by iStock/Denis Tangney Jr.

The National Rifle Association took recent action to file a lawsuit challenging a ban on firearm purchases by young adults between 18 to 21 years of age in Florida. Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Act March 9, 2018.

IN MEMORY NRA-ILA CONTRIBUTIONS

February 1, 2018—February 28, 2018 Reuben Ledra, Schenectady, NY (from: Judith Ledra); C. B. Robertson III, Richmond, VA (from: H. L. Clay); Michael F. Dowdell, San Antonio, TX (from: Lawrence P. Martin

ILA CONTRIBUTIONS

ILA Grassroots: (800) 392-8683 NRA-ILA: (703) 267-1170 NRA-ILA website: nraila.org

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(The following have contributed $1,000.00 or more to the NRA Institute for Legislative Action: February 1, 2018— February 28, 2018) Jeff Adams, Boise, ID; Jimmy Plunkett, East Bend, NC; E. L. Kotas, Fremont, NE; Eric Nicholas, Fremont, WI; M. P. Reese, Canton, MI; Ervin A. Baumann, Midland, TX; Bernard A. Fiedeldey, Cincinnati, OH; Richard B. Hoke, Mount Vernon, IA; Joseph J. Scott, Casper, WY; Billy B. Hopper, Mentone, TX; Barbara B. Cowan, Havre, MT; Anthony L. Richards, Calabasas, CA; W. Webber, Chesterfield, MI; Ralph J. Erb, Mooresville, NC; Leo Riley, Naples, FL; Kent McCue, Wasilla, AK; Michael Stone, Thompsons, TX; Alan Mossberg, Tierra Verde, FL; Penni Ivy, Albany, GA; Bud’s Gun Shop, Lexington, KY; David Geyer, Merrimack, NH; Leo A. Holt, Gloucester City, NJ; Turner’s Outdoorsman, Cucamonga, CA; Robert E. Renaud, PA; Kenny Tietz, Bozeman, MT; Terry Cacek, Greeley, CO; Mars Bonfire, Reno, NV; Umarex USA, Inc., Fort Smith, AR; Jack Corgan, Dallas, TX; Jeff Adams, Boise, ID; Steve Keh, Glendale, CA; Michael E. Stone, Thompsons, TX; Sandusky Co Sportsmen’s Club, Gibsonburg, OH; David Waters, Las Vegas, NV; Roger L. Brotman, North Kingstown, RI; David C. Olds, Bakersfield, CA; Mark Groves, Tulsa, OK; Frank E. Miller, Pittsburgh, PA; Ray Gannon, Nashville, TN; Frank Byrne, Philadelphia, PA; Ross Jernigan, Palmetto, FL; James Warner, Rohrersville, MD; Ralph Buschbacher, Carmel, IN; William Cowan, Havre, MT; William Ragan, Leesburg, GA; James Galbraith, Piffard, NY; Gary S. Cook, Braham, MN; Robert Blessin, Center Harbor, NH; Renee Snider, Elk Grove, CA; John Buchman, Cape Coral, FL; James O. Young, Ardmore, OK; Sven G. Johnson, Belvidere, NJ; Denny Hallett, Bloomington, IN; Charles T. Clasen, New Orleans, LA; Catherine A. Haggett, Arlington, VA; Joe Boland, Atlanta, GA; Michael Friedman, Stamford, CT; Donald Hyatt, Adkins, TX; Mike Cimprich, Kirkland, WA; Jon Moog, Anna, TX; Dennis Dorn, North Wales, PA; Jerry L. Watts, Kathleen, GA; Richard Mumford, Middletown, DE; Philip T. Cagle, Houston, TX; Julie Kell Stacy, San Antonio, TX; Bob Garthwait, Jr., Waterbury, CT; Michael B. Kidd, Johnson City, TN; James J. Milano, Longboat Key, FL; James Shoureas, Boca Raton, FL; Carol A. Hudak, Trumball, CT; Philip L. Anderson, Fredericksburg, TX; Marvin Schoepf, Lorenzo, TX; J. Jerome Moiso, McArthur, CA; Michael Ayers, Westerlo, NY; Brad Rohdenburg, Meredith, NH; Dick Goergen, North Bend, OR; Dave Dargo, Scottsdale, AZ; Richard Clouse, Rancho Cucamonga, CA; Karloff Jerry, West Point, NE; G. S. Bruder, Jr., San Diego, CA; Michael Grant, Minot, ND; Josef J. Priller, Melbourne, FL; Tom Richards, Lafayette, CO; Chillicothe Sportsmens Club, Chillicothe, IL; Cape Radiology Group, Cape Girardeau, MO; North South Gun Club, Huntsville, AL; Kent Distributors, Inc., Midland, TX

May 2018

aMerican rifleMan

H

ave you heard the latest breaking news?

“A study pokes holes in the idea that experienced firearm users are less likely to injure themselves.”

“To see gun injury drop, hold an NRA Meeting.”

“Gun injuries fall during NRA conventions.”

A Harvard doctor and a Columbia grad student published a letter in the New England Journal of Medicine in March that found gun injuries drop 20 percent during the NRA’s Annual Meetings & Exhibits.

If guns were perfectly safe in the hands of trained NRA members, Anupam Jena and Andrew Olenski reasoned, they should have found no differences between gun injury rates on convention days versus other days. Yet injury rates were, on average, 20 percent lower on meeting days. “We believe this is due to brief reductions in gun use during the dates of these meetings,” Jena says.

In other words, the researchers are using NRA’s focus on safety and training as part of a natural experiment. They believe that Annual Meetings attendees—all of them NRA members committed to safety, training and responsible firearm ownership—abstaining from using firearms reduces the number of firearms-related injuries.

Start with their premise: that firearm injuries would decline during a period of firearm abstinence—the Annual Meetings. The researchers obviously have not attended or read much about the event; if they had, they would know there is no prohibition on carrying firearms at the Annual Meetings. NRA actively schedules the event in cities and venues that respect the right to bear arms.

So, we’ve established that the people at Annual Meetings might be armed. What about the magnitude of the crowd size? About 80,000 people attend in a given year. There are about 100 million or so gun owners in the country, so the researchers are claiming that less than one-tenth of 1 percent of firearm owners are responsible for a 20 percent drop in the firearm-related injury rate nationwide. Whatever nonsense they conducted with the data and their methods, this finding flies in the face of common sense and logic. It would be laughable if not so completely absurd.

The authors suggest that there is a trickle-down effect of sorts. They believe that going to a shooting range, hunting, plinking or carrying a firearm for self-defense doesn’t occur during the Annual Meetings. Again, this is absurd.

But even beyond common sense, the methodology used by these researchers is very unusual. Instead of publicly available injury data from reliable government sources, they use a proprietary database of emergency department visits and hospitalizations among private insured patients. Guess what? This means not everyone in the country. Not even close.

Oh, and one last point. Which “injuries” counted for these researchers? You’d think that true firearm-related accidents, but you’d be wrong. In addition to accidents, they included legal intervention and terrorism. If legal intervention sounds like selfdefense to you, it does to us, too, as that phrase is commonly used in this way. It is hard to tell because the authors are not forthcoming about why they included these injury codes in the analysis, so we can only guess. And why injuries from terrorism were included, again, is anyone’s guess.

Travis Tritt is

Photo Courtesy of Travis Tritt

Limited Data, the NRA Annual Meeting and Ignoring Intent: The Latest Study

T

he entertainment at NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits is always a highlight, and this year’s Saturday evening celebration promises to be a memorable night, as NRA honors a great American patriot, Charlie Daniels.

Country Superstar and Grammy award-winner Travis Tritt will co-headline the event. With millions in album sales and 19 Top 10 hits, he’ll bring fans to their feet with favorites including “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde,” “Here’s a Quarter” and “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive.” NRA Country’s Vanessa Shahidi asked Tritt a few questions ahead of his May 5 performance.

VS: Who taught you about the great outdoors growing up?

TT: My dad and all my uncles loved to hunt. They took me hunting when I was a kid and instilled in me a love for the outdoors. They also taught me about gun safety and respect for the land. Great life lessons that I’ve passed on to my kids.

VS: What was your most memorable hunt?

TT: My wife, Theresa, and I went to South Africa in 2006 to hunt plains game. She was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and her father and uncle hunted all over Africa when she was young. We took them with us on our South Africa trip. It was one of the most amazing and memorable hunting trips that I’ve ever experienced.

VS: You’ve recorded lots of huge hits but your new music is great, too. Tell us about your current album.

TT: I play 130+ shows each year with my talented band, but I also do a few solo acoustic dates. My latest album and DVD is “A Man and His Guitar,” a live solo acoustic show recorded at the historic Franklin Theater near Nashville, Tenn. Even after 30 years, I still love to perform and I am looking forward to playing for the fans in Dallas.

Tickets are on sale now for this special event: An Evening Honoring Charlie Daniels with Very Special Guest Travis Tritt. Visit nraam.org for more information and to purchase tickets, starting at $25. They are going fast so get yours now!

NRA Country is a lifestyle and a bond between the country music community and hard-working Americans everywhere.

It’s powered by pride, freedom, love of country, respect for the military and the responsibilities of protecting the great American life. For more information visit nracountry.com, follow on Twitter @NRACountry, and NRA_Country on Instagram.

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INSIDE NRA | REGIONAL REPORT CENTRAL 2018 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • MAY 4-6 • DALLAS, TX

For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org

LAW ENFORCEMENT

F

riends of NRA events celebrate American values with fun, fellowship and fundraising for The NRA Foundation. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in games, raffles, live and silent auctions and more. Your attendance contributes to grants that promote firearm education, safety and marksmanship. To learn more about events in your area, visit friendsofnra.org, contact your local field representative or send an email to friends@nrahq.org.

Central Regional Director—Chad Franklin

cfranklin@nrahq.org

IA, NE—Tim Bacon

tbacon@nrahq.org

Northern IL—Mike Huber

mhuber@nrahq.org

Southern IL—Donald Higgs

dhiggs@nrahq.org

IN—Craig Haggard

chaggard@nrahq.org

KY—John LaRowe

jlarowe@nrahq.org

MI—Allan Herman

aherman@nrahq.org

Northern MO—Travis Scott

tscott@nrahq.org

Southern MO—Tim Besancenez

tbesancenez@nrahq.org

WI—Scott Taetsch

staetsch@nrahq.org

P

ublic and private officers interested in becoming firearm instructors should attend one of NRA’s Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Development Schools.

MAY 7-11—KIMBALL, MI

(Tactical Shooting) Contact Rudis Amaya at (703) 267-1636 or ramaya@nrahq.org.

AREA SHOOTS

F

or more information, send an email to Shelly Kramer at mkramer@nrahq.org or call (703) 267-1459. For a complete listing, see shootingsportsusa.com.

PISTOL

Chandler, IN Waterman, IL Weeping Water, NE Barnhart, MO

SMALLBORE RIFLE

Louisville, KY

HIGH POWER RIFLE

Kangley, IL Cadillac, MI Freedom, IN Lodi, WI Paducah, KY Alliance, NE

SILHOUETTE

Ithaca, MI Bennet, NE Wright City, MO Danville, IN Ashland, KY

MAY 6 MAY 12 MAY 19 MAY 25-26 MAY 19-20 MAY 5 MAY 5 MAY 5 MAY 5-6 MAY 19 MAY 27 MAY 5-6 MAY 12 MAY 20 MAY 26 MAY 26

TRAINING

Crime Prevention

T

he NRA’s Refuse To Be A Victim® program provides information on crime prevention and personal safety.

To learn more about the program, visit refuse.nra.org. The most up-to-date schedule is available on the internet by visiting nrainstructors.org, by sending an email to refuse@nrahq.org or by calling (800) 861-1166.

MAY 13—APPLETON, WI

(Seminar) Gail Feher (920) 202-3080

MAY 15—JACKSONVILLE, IL

(Seminar) Loren Hamilton (217) 786-2432

MAY 22—ST. LOUIS, MO

(Instructor Development Workshop) Kevin Cummins (636) 207-1900

GUN SHOWS

D

ates and locations of gun shows are subject to change, so please contact the show before traveling.

Discounted NRA membership are sold through NRA recruiters. *Some shows may offer free admission to people who sign up for new memberships or renewals. To become an NRA Recruiter call (800) 672-0004.

MAY 4-5

RICE LAKE, WI

MAY 4-6

CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI

MAY 4-6

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA

MAY 5-6

BELLEVILLE, IL

MAY 5-6

BIRCH RUN, MI

MAY 5-6

MUNCIE, IN

Barron County Fairgrounds— Commercial Building, Bearing Arms Gun Shows (715) 308-8772

Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds—Building C, Indianhead Firearms (715) 828-2867 Mall of Bluffs, Pioneer Gun Shows (712) 388-8520

Belle-Clair Expo Center, ECA Hunting & Trade Shows (618) 495-2572

The Gun of the Year embodies Kimber’s commitment to crafting firearms of unequaled quality. Chambered in .45 ACP, the Kimber NRA Custom II “Defending Freedom” is a full-size 1911 with a 5-inch barrel. A specially engraved slide features the NRA logo and the words “Defending Freedom.” The slide also wears a self-lubricating Desert Tan KimPro® II finish that offers outstanding additional resistance to chemicals, moisture, salt and UV light. This is complemented by a matte black frame, which is paired to the slide early in production to help ensure optimal fitting. The “Defending Freedom,” proudly made in America, is available only at Friends of NRA events.

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MAY 2018

Birch Run Expo Center, Sport Shows Promotions (517) 676-4160

Delaware County Fairgrounds, Central Indiana Gun Shows (765) 993-8942

MAY 11-12

MONROE, WI

Slice Ice Arena, Green County Conservation League (608) 897-4481

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

MAY 11-13

NIXA, MO

MAY 25-26

LAKE OZARK, MO

MAY 12-13

EVANSVILLE, IN

MAY 25-27

EAGLE RIVER, WI

MAY 13

ST. CHARLES, IL

MAY 25-27

MOUNT PLEASANT, IA

MAY 18-19

EVANSVILLE, IN

MAY 26-27

HARRISON, MI

MAY 18-20

UNION GROVE, WI

MAY 26-27

MADISON, IN

MAY 18-20

HANNIBAL, MO

MAY 26-27

TERRE HAUTE, IN

MAY 19-20

PEOTONE, IL

MAY 19-20

NEW BERLIN, IL

Holiday Inn—Evansville Airport, Central Indiana Gun Shows (765) 855-3836

Kane County Fairgrounds, Kane County Sportsman’s Show (815) 758-2773 Evansville National Guard Armory, Irish HitMan Productions (812) 483-3064 Racine County Fairgrounds, Bob & Rocco’s Gun Shows (608) 752-6677

Admiral Coontz Armory, Militia Armaments Gun Club (636) 295-0624 Will County Fairgrounds, The Cloe Group LLC (815) 263-2810

Sangamon County Fairgrounds, Central Illinois Gun Collectors (217) 416-0618

MAY 19-20

SPRINGFIELD, MO

Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, R.K. Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176

MAY 19-20

CHEBOYGAN, MI

Cheboygan Ice Arena, Sport Shows Promotions (517) 676-4160

MAY 19-20

FORT WAYNE, IN

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, CPI Shows (260) 483-6144

MAY 19-20

GREENFIELD, IN

Hancock County Fairgrounds, Central Indiana Gun Shows (765) 855-3836

MAY 20

WOODSTOCK, IL

McHenry County Fairgrounds, D&J Guns (815) 385-1982

Lodge of Four Seasons, R.K. Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176

Eagle River Ice Arena, Bob & Rocco’s Gun Shows (608) 752-6677 Midwest Old Threshers, Marv Kraus Promotions (563) 608-4401 Clare County Fairgrounds, Sport Shows Promotions (517) 676-4160

Indiana National Guard, Straight Shooters Enterprises (812) 498-3833 Wabash Valley Fairgrounds, Central Indiana Gun Shows (765) 855-3836

STATE ASSOCIATIONS

J

oining NRA-affiliated state associations supports NRA’s mission in your state. See stateassociations.nra.org/ for more information.

Illinois State Rifle Ass’n. Inc.

isra.org

Indiana State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n. Inc.

isrpa.org

Iowa State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

iasrpa.org

League of Kentucky Sportsmen Inc.

kentuckysportsmen.com

Michigan Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

michrpa.org

Missouri Sport Shooting Ass’n.

missourisportshooting.org

Nebraska Marksmanship Ass’n.

nemarksmanship.org

Wisconsin Firearm Owners, Ranges, Clubs & Educators

wisconsinforce.org

MEMBER INFORMATION & BENEFITS

MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000 NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000 • INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org MEMBER SERVICE

(800) 672-3888

NRASTORE.COM

(888) 607-6007

5-STAR MEMBER BENEFITS NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs

(877) 672-3006

LifeLock

(800) 978-1725

NRA Wine Club

(800) 331-5578

NRA Hearing Benefits

(866) 619-5889

North American Moving Services

(800) 699-0590

NRA Endorsed Check Program

(888) 331-6767

INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683

OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/ GIFT PLANNING (877) NRA-GIVE THE NRA FOUNDATION (800) 423-6894 NRA INSTRUCTOR/ COACH FIREARM TRAINING (703) 267-1500 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM (800) 231-0752 REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM (800) 861-1166 RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS (703) 267-1511 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS (800) NRA-CLUB RANGE SERVICES (877) 672-7264 COMPETITIVE SHOOTING (877) 672-6282 LAW ENFORCEMENT (703) 267-1640 FRIENDS OF NRA (703) 267-1342 NRA MUSEUMS/ GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS (703) 267-1600 SHOWS & EXHIBITS (866) 343-1805 MEDIA RELATIONS (703) 267-1595

h-s precision howausa.com

CY Sports Center, Militia Armaments Gun Club (636) 295-0624

The “NRA Regional Report,” a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter, Shooting Illustrated and America’s 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or sponsored events scheduled in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling.

americanrifleman.org

May 2018

101

inside nra | regional report east 2018 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • MAY 4-6 • DALLAS, TX

For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org MAY 6—ASHAWAY, RI

F

(Seminar) Lyd Neugent (401) 377-8184

riends of NRA events celebrate American values with fun, fellowship and fundraising for The NRA Foundation. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in games, raffles, live and silent auctions and more. Your attendance contributes to grants that promote firearm education, safety and marksmanship. To learn more about events in your area, visit friendsofnra.org, contact your local field representative or send an email to friends@nrahq.org.

MAY 19—ROCKVILLE, MD

East Regional Director—Bryan Hoover

LAW ENFORCEMENT

bhoover@nrahq.org

ME, VT, NH—Brian Smith

bsmith@nrahq.org

NJ, MA, RI, CT & Southern NY— Craig Decker

cdecker@nrahq.org

New York—Bruce McGowan

bmcgowan@nrahq.org

Northern OH—Marc Peugeot

mpeugeot@nrahq.org

Southern OH—David Graham

dgraham@nrahq.org

Eastern PA, DE—Kory Enck

kenck@nrahq.org

Western PA—Tom Baldrige

tbaldrige@nrahq.org

Eastern VA, Eastern MD, Washington, DC—David Wells

dwells@nrahq.org

Western VA, Western MD, WV— Jim Kilgore

jkilgore@nrahq.org

(Seminar) Ronald David (301) 828-5879

MAY 19—BRISTOL, CT

(Seminar) Michael Ptaszynski (860) 582-4388

MAY 19—NEW KENSINGTON, PA

(Seminar) Klint Macro (724) 212-7006

MAY 20—CANTON, PA

(Seminar) Clinton Walters (570) 529-1191

P

ublic and private officers interested in becoming firearm instructors should attend one of NRA’s Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Development Schools, designed to enhance the instructors’ firearm knowledge and handling skills, as well as prepare them to develop effective training programs, instruct in a professional manner, and conduct practical training exercises. Restricted to law enforcement officers only..

MAY 14-18—OLD FIELD, WV

(Tactical Shooting)

Connecticut State Rifle & Revolver Ass’n.

csrra.com

Delaware State Sportsmen’s Ass’n.

dssa.us

Maine Rifle & Pistol Ass’n. Inc.

mainerpa.org

Maryland State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

msrpa.org

Goal (Massachusetts)

goal.org

Gun Owners Of New Hampshire Inc.

gonh.org

Ass’n Of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs Inc.

anjrpc.org

New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n. Inc.

nysrpa.org

Ohio Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

orpa.net

Pennsylvania Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

pennarifleandpistol.org

Rhode Island 2nd Amendment Coalition

ri2nd.org

MAY 14-18—COATSVILLE, PA

Virginia Shooting Sports Ass’n.

MAY 21-15—LEWISBURG, PA

West Virginia State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

(Patrol Rifle)

(Handgun/Shotgun)

(Patrol Rifle) Contact Timothy Cole at (703) 267-1626 or tcole@nrahq.org.

T

MAY 2—FAIRFAX, VA

he NRA’s Refuse To Be A Victim® program provides information on crime prevention and personal safety.

To learn more about the program, visit refuse.nra.org. The most up-to-date schedule is available on the internet by visiting nrainstructors.org, by sending an email to refuse@nrahq.org or by calling (800) 861-1166.

N

MAY 5—BOYERS, PA

MAY 12—LEBANON, PA (Approved)

100

oining NRA-affiliated state associations supports NRA’s mission in your state. See stateassociations.nra.org/ for more information.

MAY 14-18—SANDSTON, VA

TUITION-FREE ARMORER CLASSES** (Register at: le.nra.org)

(Seminar) Raymond Henderson (724) 525-0496

J

Vermont Federation Of Sportsmen’s Clubs Inc.

TRAINING

Crime Prevention

STATE ASSOCIATIONS

(Walther PPQ M2 Armorer)

Police Competition

RA Police Pistol Combat competition is intended to be used as an extension of an officer’s training.

See PPC Rulebook (Rule 2.4) for eligibility requirements.

Contact Tiffany King at (703) 267-1621 or tking@nrahq.org.

May 2018

american rifleman

vtfsc.org

myvssa.org

wvasrpa.org

GUN SHOWS

D

ates and locations of gun shows are subject to change, so please contact the show before traveling.

Discounted NRA membership are sold through NRA recruiters. *Some shows may offer free admission to people who sign up for new memberships or renewals. To become an NRA Recruiter call (800) 672-0004.

MAY 4-6

EDGEWOOD, MD

MAY 5-6

DOSWELL, VA

Edgewood American Legion, American Legion Post 17 (410) 937-3421 Meadow Event Park, Southeastern Guns & Knives (757) 483-5385

MAY 5-6

NORFOLK, VA

MAY 26-27

GETTYSBURG, PA

MAY 5-6

BIDDEFORD, ME

MAY 26-27

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY

MAY 5-6

MIDDLETOWN, NY

Biddeford Ice Arena, New England Events (603) 230-9014 Orange County Fairgrounds, New Mart Promotions (914) 248-1000

MAY 5-6

BLOOMSBURG, PA

MAY 5-6

LIMA, OH

Bloomsburg Fairgrounds, Eagle Arms Productions (610) 393-3047 Allen County Fairgrounds, Tri-State Gun Collectors (419) 647-0067

MAY 11-12

PERRYSBURG, OH

MAY 12-13

ALLENTOWN, PA

Graystone Knights of Columbus Hall, Michigan Military History (248) 543-3087 Allentown Fairgrounds, Forks of the Delaware Historical Arms Society (610) 438-9006

MAY 19-20

RICHMOND, VA

MAY 19-20

DOVER, NH

MAY 19-20

SHARONVILLE, OH

MAY 19-20

OXFORD, ME

MAY 19-20

OAKS, PA

Old Kmart on Midlothian, Showmasters Gun Shows (540) 951-1344 Dover Ice Arena, New England Events LLC (603) 230-9014

Sharonville Convention Center, Bill Goodman’s Gun & Knife Shows (502) 538-3900 Oxford Fairgrounds, Norway-Paris Fish & Game (207) 890-4573

Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Eagle Arms Productions (610) 393-3047

AllStar Events Complex, Eagle Arms Productions (610) 393-3047 Saratoga Springs City Center, NEACA Inc. (518) 664-9743

AREA SHOOTS

F

or more information, send an email to Shelly Kramer at mkramer@nrahq.org or call (703) 267-1459. For a complete listing, see shootingsportsusa.com.

PISTOL

Carteret, NJ Eleanor, WV Lancaster, OH New York, NY Manassas, VA Jericho, VT

MAY 5-6 MAY 6 MAY 12 MAY 13 MAY 20 MAY 26-27

SMALLBORE RIFLE

Millville, NJ

MAY 27

HIGH POWER RIFLE

Charlottesville, VA East Aurora, NY Scarborough, ME New Tripoli, PA Greenville, PA Highland Lakes, NJ

MAY 5 MAY 12 MAY 20 MAY 20 MAY 26 MAY 26

SILHOUETTE

Manassas, VA New Freedom, PA Montpelier, VA Ridgway, PA Montoursville, PA

MAY 6 MAY 6 MAY 12 MAY 19 MAY 26

MEMBER INFORMATION & BENEFITS

MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000 NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000 • INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org MEMBER SERVICE

(800) 672-3888

NRASTORE.COM

(888) 607-6007

5-STAR MEMBER BENEFITS NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs

(877) 672-3006

LifeLock

(800) 978-1725

NRA Wine Club

(800) 331-5578

NRA Hearing Benefits

(866) 619-5889

North American Moving Services

(800) 699-0590

NRA Endorsed Check Program

(888) 331-6767

INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683

OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/ GIFT PLANNING (877) NRA-GIVE THE NRA FOUNDATION (800) 423-6894 NRA INSTRUCTOR/ COACH FIREARM TRAINING (703) 267-1500 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM (800) 231-0752 REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM (800) 861-1166 RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS (703) 267-1511 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS (800) NRA-CLUB RANGE SERVICES (877) 672-7264 COMPETITIVE SHOOTING (877) 672-6282 LAW ENFORCEMENT (703) 267-1640 FRIENDS OF NRA (703) 267-1342 NRA MUSEUMS/ GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS (703) 267-1600 SHOWS & EXHIBITS (866) 343-1805 MEDIA RELATIONS (703) 267-1595

h-s precision howausa.com

Norfolk Scope, Showmasters Gun Shows (540) 951-1344

The “NRA Regional Report,” a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter, Shooting Illustrated and America’s 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or sponsored events scheduled in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling.

americanrifleman.org

May 2018

101

INSIDE NRA | REGIONAL REPORT MIDWEST 2018 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • MAY 4-6 • DALLAS, TX

For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org

TRAINING

F

riends of NRA events celebrate American values with fun, fellowship and fundraising for The NRA Foundation. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in games, raffles, live and silent auctions and more. Your attendance contributes to grants that promote firearm education, safety and marksmanship. To learn more about events in your area, visit friendsofnra.org, contact your local field representative or send an email to friends@nrahq.org.

Midwest Regional Director—Tom Ulik

tulik@nrahq.org

AR—Erica Willard

ewillard@nrahq.org

CO—Brad Dreier

bdreier@nrahq.org

KS—Tom Ulik

tulik@nrahq.org

NM—Michael Guilliams

mguilliams@nrahq.org

OK—Darren DeLong

ddelong@nrahq.org

Northern TX—Kevin Post

kpost@nrahq.org

Southern TX—Tyler Ward

tward@nrahq.org

Eastern TX—Liz Foley

efoley@nrahq.org

Western TX—Jack Cannon

jcannon@nrahq.org

MAY 7-11—GARDEN PLAIN, KS

(Handgun)

Crime Prevention

T

he NRA’s Refuse To Be A Victim® program provides information on crime prevention and personal safety.

To learn more about the program, visit refuse.nra.org. The most up-to-date schedule is available on the internet by visiting nrainstructors.org, by sending an email to refuse@nrahq.org or by calling (800) 861-1166.

MAY 9—MONTROSE, CO

(Seminar) Larry McWhirter (970) 249-2771

MAY 15—MONTROSE, CO

(Seminar) Larry McWhirter (970) 249-2771

MAY 17—AUGUSTA, KS

(Seminar) Gregory Rupp (316) 651-7877

MAY 19—ALVA, OK

(Seminar) Patrick Hawley (580) 327-0344

LAW ENFORCEMENT

P

ublic and private officers interested in becoming firearm instructors should attend one of NRA’s Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Development Schools, designed to enhance the instructors’ firearm knowledge and handling skills, as well as prepare them to develop effective training programs, instruct in a professional manner, and conduct practical training exercises. Restricted to law enforcement officers only.

MAY 14-18—GUNNISON, CO

(Tactical Shooting)

MAY 14-18—LITTLETON, CO

(Handgun)

MAY 21-25—SAN ANTONIO, TX

(Select-Fire) Contact Mary Shine at (703) 2671628 or mshine@nrahq.org.

Police Competition

N

RA Police Pistol Combat competition is intended to be used as an extension of an officer’s training.

See PPC Rulebook (Rule 2.4) for eligibility requirements.

MAY 12—ALBUQUERQUE, NM

(Registered) Contact Tiffany King at (703) 267-1621 or tking@nrahq.org.

AREA SHOOTS

F

or more information, send an email to Shelly Kramer at mkramer@nrahq.org or call (703) 267-1459. For a complete listing, see shootingsportsusa.com.

PISTOL

Whitewater, KS Arcadia, OK Midland, TX Byers, CO

SMALLBORE RIFLE

Pine Bluff, AR China Spring, TX Houston, TX Whitewater, KS Atascosa, TX

HIGH POWER RIFLE

Wichita Falls, TX Mansfield, TX North Little Rock, AR Galena, KS Ramah, CO Arcadia, OK

The Gun of the Year embodies Kimber’s commitment to crafting firearms of unequaled quality. Chambered in .45 ACP, the Kimber NRA Custom II “Defending Freedom” is a full-size 1911 with a 5-inch barrel. A specially engraved slide features the NRA logo and the words “Defending Freedom.” The slide also wears a self-lubricating Desert Tan KimPro® II finish that offers outstanding additional resistance to chemicals, moisture, salt and UV light. This is complemented by a matte black frame, which is paired to the slide early in production to help ensure optimal fitting. The “Defending Freedom,” proudly made in America, is available only at Friends of NRA events.

100

MAY 2018

SILHOUETTE

Haltom City, TX Arcadia, OK Garden City, KS Bronte, TX Erie, CO Bauxite, AR Raton, NM

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

MAY 5 MAY 19 MAY 19-20 MAY 20 MAY 5 MAY 5 MAY 5 MAY 12 MAY 12 MAY 5 MAY 13 MAY 19 MAY 20 MAY 20 MAY 26 MAY 12 MAY 13 MAY 13 MAY 20 MAY 20 MAY 27 MAY 27

MAY 19-20

GLEN ROSE, TX

MAY 19-20

HOUSTON, TX

MAY 19-20

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

MAY 19-20

TULSA, OK

MAY 26-27

KINGSLAND, TX

LOVELAND, CO

MAY 26-27

PASADENA, TX

MAY 12-13

CROSBY, TX

MAY 26-27

LOVELAND, CO

MAY 12-13

KERRVILLE, TX

D

ates and locations of gun shows are subject to change, so please contact the show before traveling.

Discounted NRA membership are sold through NRA recruiters. *Some shows may offer free admission to people who sign up for new memberships or renewals. To become an NRA Recruiter call (800) 672-0004.

MAY 5-6

SAN ANTONIO, TX

San Antonio Events Center, Saxet Trade Shows (361) 289-2256*

MAY 5-6

CLEBURNE, TX

Johnson County Sheriff’s Posse Building, Whipp Farm Productions (817) 929-1816

MAY 5-6

Outlets at Loveland, PE Gun Shows (970) 779-0360 American Legion, Real Texas Gun Shows (713) 724-8881 Hill Country Veterans Center, Hill Country Veterans (830) 315-3101

MAY 19-20

SAN ANTONIO, TX

MAY 19-20

MESQUITE, TX

Austin Highway Event Center, Austin Highway Gun Shows (210) 878-4053

Big Town Event Center—Exhibition Hall, Premier Gun Shows (817) 732-1194

MAY 19-20

ABILENE, TX

Abilene Civic Center, Texas Gun & Knife Ass’n. (830) 285-0575

MAY 19-20

AMARILLO, TX

Amarillo Civic Center, Pioneer Gun Collectors (806) 567-8700

MAY 19-20

BELTON, TX

Bell County Expo Center, Lone Star Gun Shows (214) 635-2009

Somervell County Expo, Whipp Farm Productions (817) 929-1816

George R. Brown Convention Center, High Caliber Gun & Knife Show (281) 489-1741 Oklahoma State Fair Park— Expo Hall #2, OKC Gun Show Inc. (800) 333-4867

Tulsa Fairgrounds—Exchange Center, R.K. Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176 Kingsland Community Center, Wild Weasel Productions (830) 992-5291 Pasadena Convention Center, Premier Gun Shows (817) 732-1194

Outlets at Loveland, P.E. Gun Shows (970) 779-0360

STATE ASSOCIATIONS

J

oining NRA-affiliated state associations supports NRA’s mission in your state. See stateassociations.nra.org/ for more information.

Arkansas Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

arpa-online.org

Colorado State Shooting Ass’n.

cssa.org

Kansas State Rifle Ass’n.

ksraweb.org

New Mexico Shooting Sports Ass’n. Inc.

nmssa.org

Oklahoma Rifle Ass’n. Inc.

oklarifle.com

Texas State Rifle Ass’n.

tsra.com

MEMBER INFORMATION & BENEFITS

MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000 NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000 • INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org MEMBER SERVICE

(800) 672-3888

NRASTORE.COM

(888) 607-6007

5-STAR MEMBER BENEFITS NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs

(877) 672-3006

LifeLock

(800) 978-1725

NRA Wine Club

(800) 331-5578

NRA Hearing Benefits

(866) 619-5889

North American Moving Services

(800) 699-0590

NRA Endorsed Check Program

(888) 331-6767

INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683

OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/ GIFT PLANNING (877) NRA-GIVE THE NRA FOUNDATION (800) 423-6894 NRA INSTRUCTOR/ COACH FIREARM TRAINING (703) 267-1500 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM (800) 231-0752 REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM (800) 861-1166 RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS (703) 267-1511 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS (800) NRA-CLUB RANGE SERVICES (877) 672-7264 COMPETITIVE SHOOTING (877) 672-6282 LAW ENFORCEMENT (703) 267-1640 FRIENDS OF NRA (703) 267-1342 NRA MUSEUMS/ GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS (703) 267-1600 SHOWS & EXHIBITS (866) 343-1805 MEDIA RELATIONS (703) 267-1595

h-s precision howausa.com

GUN SHOWS

The “NRA Regional Report,” a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter, Shooting Illustrated and America’s 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or sponsored events scheduled in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling.

americanrifleman.org

May 2018

101

INSIDE NRA | REGIONAL REPORT SOUTH 2018 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • MAY 4-6 • DALLAS, TX

For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org

TRAINING

F

riends of NRA events celebrate American values with fun, fellowship and fundraising for The NRA Foundation. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in games, raffles, live and silent auctions and more. Your attendance contributes to grants that promote firearm education, safety and marksmanship. To learn more about events in your area, visit friendsofnra.org, contact your local field representative or send an email to friends@nrahq.org.

South Regional Director—Al Hammond

ahammond@nrahq.org

AL, MS—Gene Newman

gnewman@nrahq.org

Northern FL—Bret Eldridge

peldridge@nrahq.org

Southern FL—Tom Knight

tknight@nrahq.org

GA—Neely Raper

nraper@nrahq.org

LA—Chad Bowen

cbowen@nrahq.org

Eastern NC—Garland “Tra” Storey

gstorey@nrahq.org

MAY 7-11—TUPELO, MS

(Handgun/Shotgun)

Crime Prevention

T

he NRA’s Refuse To Be A Victim® program provides information on crime prevention and personal safety.

To learn more about the program, visit refuse.nra.org. The most up-to-date schedule is available on the internet at nrainstructors.org.

MAY 5—STONE MOUNTAIN, GA

(Instructor Development Workshop) Matthew Schwab (678) 260-8318

MAY 18—NEW PORT RICHEY, FL

(Seminar) Nicholas Di Guiseppi (727) 804-9516

MAY 19—BLUE RIDGE, GA

(Seminar) Dawn Dolpp (434) 770-1972

MAY 19—BLUE RIDGE, GA

(Instructor Development Workshop) Dawn Dolpp (434) 770-1972

MAY 19—LILBURN, GA

(Seminar) Greg Schreffler (770) 367-3525

LAW ENFORCEMENT

P

ublic and private officers interested in becoming firearm instructors should attend one of NRA’s Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Development Schools.

Western NC—Doug Merrill

MAY 7-11—FLORENCE, AL

TN—Mike Webb

MAY 7-11—AVONDALE, LA

SC—Freeman Coleman

MAY 7-11—FLORENCE (UNA), AL

rmerrill@nrahq.org

mwebb@nrahq.org fcoleman@nrahq.org

(Precision Rifle)

(Handgun/Shotgun) (Tactical Shooting)

MAY 14-18—TUSCALOOSA, AL

(Handgun/Shotgun)

MAY 14-18—NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL

(Patrol Rifle)

MAY 21-25—FLORENCE, AL

(Handgun/Shotgun)

MAY 21-25—SHREVEPORT, LA

(Patrol Rifle)

MAY 21-25—PEARL, MS

(Patrol Rifle) Contact Rudis Amaya at (703) 267-1636 or ramaya@nrahq.org.

STATE ASSOCIATIONS

J

oining NRA-affiliated state associations supports NRA’s mission in your state. See stateassociations.nra.org/ for more information.

Alabama Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

jmoses1936@gmail.com

Florida Sport Shooting Ass’n.

fssaf.wildapricot.org

Georgia Sport Shooting Ass’n.

gssainc.org

Louisiana Shooting Ass’n.

louisianashooting.com

Mississippi Gun Owners Ass’n.

msgo.com

North Carolina Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

ncrpa.org

Gun Owners of South Carolina

gosc.org

Tennessee Shooting Sports Ass’n. Inc.

tennesseeshootingsportsassociation.org

AREA SHOOTS

F

or more information, send an email to Shelly Kramer at mkramer@nrahq.org or call (703) 267-1459. For a complete listing, see shootingsportsusa.com.

PISTOL

The Gun of the Year embodies Kimber’s commitment to crafting firearms of unequaled quality. Chambered in .45 ACP, the Kimber NRA Custom II “Defending Freedom” is a full-size 1911 with a 5-inch barrel. A specially engraved slide features the NRA logo and the words “Defending Freedom.” The slide also wears a self-lubricating Desert Tan KimPro® II finish that offers outstanding additional resistance to chemicals, moisture, salt and UV light. This is complemented by a matte black frame, which is paired to the slide early in production to help ensure optimal fitting. The “Defending Freedom,” proudly made in America, is available only at Friends of NRA events.

Dawsonville, GA Orlando, FL Holmwood, LA South Congaree, SC Pinson, AL Cookeville, TN Creedmoor, NC

SMALLBORE RIFLE

Gaston, SC

100

MAY 2018

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

MAY 6 MAY 6 MAY 12 MAY 19 MAY 19 MAY 20 MAY 26 MAY 5

MAY 5 MAY 6 MAY 19

HIGH POWER RIFLE

Oak Ridge, TN Sunrise, FL Belton, SC Columbus, NC Donaldsonville, LA Augusta, GA Hoover, AL

MAY 5 MAY 5 MAY 6 MAY 19 MAY 19 MAY 26 MAY 27

SILHOUETTE

Rutherfordton, NC Hoover, AL Batesburg, SC Brunswick, GA Pearlington, MS Quitman, LA Jackson, TN Orlando, FL

MAY 5 MAY 5 MAY 12 MAY 19 MAY 19 MAY 19 MAY 20 MAY 26

GUN SHOWS

D

ates and locations of gun shows are subject to change, so please contact the show before traveling.

Discounted NRA membership are sold through NRA recruiters. *Some shows may offer free admission to people who sign up for new memberships or renewals. To become an NRA Recruiter call (800) 672-0004.

MAY 5-6

JACKSON, MS

Mississippi Trade Mart—State Fairgrounds, New South Gun Shows (601) 922-8138

MAY 12-13

VERO BEACH, FL

MAY 12-13

SARASOTA, FL

MAY 12-13

FLETCHER, NC

MAY 19-20

BIRMINGHAM, AL

MAY 19-20

ORLANDO, FL

MAY 19-20

OKEECHOBEE, FL

MAY 19-20

GONZALES, LA

MAY 26-27

HUNTSVILLE, AL

Indian River County Fairgrounds, Patriot Productions (866) 611-0442

Robarts Sports Arena, 2 Guys Shows (727) 776-3442 Western North Carolina Agricultural Center, Mike Kent Shows (770) 630-7296 Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, Great Southern Gun & Knife Shows (865) 671-4757

Central Florida Fairgrounds, Florida Gun Shows (407) 410-6870

KOA Convention Center, Great American Promotions (865) 453-0074 Lamar-Dixon Expo Hall, Classic Arms Productions (985) 624-8577 Von Braun Civic Center, Collectors & Shooters Co. (334) 322-8818

MAY 5-6

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL

MAY 26-27

MIAMI, FL

MAY 5-6

DELAND, FL*

MAY 26-27

WEST PALM BEACH, FL*

MAY 5-6

JACKSONVILLE, FL

MAY 26-27

WINSTON-SALEM, NC

MAY 5-6

ATLANTA, GA

MAY 26-27

EAST RIDGE, TN

War Memorial Auditorium, Florida Gun Shows (407) 410-6870

Volusia County Fairgrounds, Sport Show Specialists (321) 777-7455 The Morocco Shrine, Cliffhangers Gun Shows (386) 325-6114

Atlanta Expo Center, R.K. Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176

Miami-Dade Fairgrounds, Florida Gun Shows (407) 410-6870 South Florida Fairgrounds, Sport Show Specialists (321) 777-7455

Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, C&E Gun Shows (540) 953-0016

Camp Jordan Arena, R.K. Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176

MEMBER INFORMATION & BENEFITS

MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000 NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000 • INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org MEMBER SERVICE

(800) 672-3888

NRASTORE.COM

(888) 607-6007

5-STAR MEMBER BENEFITS NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs

(877) 672-3006

LifeLock

(800) 978-1725

NRA Wine Club

(800) 331-5578

NRA Hearing Benefits

(866) 619-5889

North American Moving Services

(800) 699-0590

NRA Endorsed Check Program

(888) 331-6767

INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683

OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/ GIFT PLANNING (877) NRA-GIVE THE NRA FOUNDATION (800) 423-6894 NRA INSTRUCTOR/ COACH FIREARM TRAINING (703) 267-1500 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM (800) 231-0752 REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM (800) 861-1166 RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS (703) 267-1511 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS (800) NRA-CLUB RANGE SERVICES (877) 672-7264 COMPETITIVE SHOOTING (877) 672-6282 LAW ENFORCEMENT (703) 267-1640 FRIENDS OF NRA (703) 267-1342 NRA MUSEUMS/ GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS (703) 267-1600 SHOWS & EXHIBITS (866) 343-1805 MEDIA RELATIONS (703) 267-1595

h-s precision howausa.com

Orlando, FL Cusseta, GA Brunswick, TN

The “NRA Regional Report,” a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter, Shooting Illustrated and America’s 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or sponsored events scheduled in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling.

americanrifleman.org

May 2018

101

INSIDE NRA | REGIONAL REPORT SOUTHWEST 2018 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • MAY 4-6 • DALLAS, TX

For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org MAY 12—PARADISE, CA

(Seminar) Ricky Gabler (530) 518-9881

F

MAY 18—MOHAVE VALLEY, AZ

riends of NRA events celebrate American values with fun, fellowship and fundraising for The NRA Foundation. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in games, raffles, live and silent auctions and more. Your attendance contributes to grants that promote firearm education, safety and marksmanship. To learn more about events in your area, visit friendsofnra.org, contact your local field representative or send an email to friends@nrahq.org.

(Instructor Development Workshop) Gerard Violette (480) 244-6315

MAY 23—VICTORVILLE, CA

(Seminar) Timothy Smith (909) 374-8878

LAW ENFORCEMENT

P

Southwest Regional Director— Jason Quick

jquick@nrahq.org

AZ—Winston Pendleton

wpendleton@nrahq.org

Mid CA—Sheila Boer

sboer@nrahq.org

Central CA—Paul Rodarmel

prodarmel@nrahq.org

Northern CA—Dan Wilhelm

dwilhelm@nrahq.org

Southern CA—Mike Davis

mdavis@nrahq.org

Eastern CA—Cole Beverly

cbeverly@nrahq.org

NV—Steve Wilson

swilson@nrahq.org

UT—Jim Reardon

jreardon@nrahq.org

TRAINING

Crime Prevention

T

he NRA’s Refuse To Be A Victim® program provides information on crime prevention and personal safety.

To learn more about the program, visit refuse.nra.org. The most up-to-date schedule is available on the internet by visiting nrainstructors.org, by sending an email to refuse@nrahq.org or by calling (800) 861-1166.

MAY 10—MESA, AZ

(Seminar) Gerard Violette (480) 244-6315

MAY 11—TUCSON, AZ

(Instructor Development Workshop) Gerard Violette (480) 244-6315

ublic and private officers interested in becoming firearm instructors should attend one of NRA’s Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Development Schools, designed to enhance the instructors’ firearm knowledge and handling skills, as well as prepare them to develop effective training programs, instruct in a professional manner, and conduct practical training exercises. Restricted to law enforcement officers only.

MAY 21-25—REDDING, CA

(Tactical Shooting) Contact Mary Shine at (703) 267-1628 or mshine@nrahq.org.

STATE ASSOCIATIONS

J

oining NRA-affiliated state associations supports NRA’s mission in your state. See stateassociations.nra.org/ for more information.

Arizona State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

asrpa.com

California Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

crpa.org

Nevada Firearms Coalition

nvfac.org

Utah State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

usrpa.org

AREA SHOOTS

F

or more information, send an email to Shelly Kramer at mkramer@nrahq.org or call (703) 267-1459. For a complete listing, see shootingsportsusa.com.

The Gun of the Year embodies Kimber’s commitment to crafting firearms of unequaled quality. Chambered in .45 ACP, the Kimber NRA Custom II “Defending Freedom” is a full-size 1911 with a 5-inch barrel. A specially engraved slide features the NRA logo and the words “Defending Freedom.” The slide also wears a self-lubricating Desert Tan KimPro® II finish that offers outstanding additional resistance to chemicals, moisture, salt and UV light. This is complemented by a matte black frame, which is paired to the slide early in production to help ensure optimal fitting. The “Defending Freedom,” proudly made in America, is available only at Friends of NRA events.

100

MAY 2018

SMALLBORE RIFLE

South El Monte, CA Lincoln, CA

HIGH POWER RIFLE

Seeley, CA Lakeport, CA

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

MAY 19-20 MAY 19-20 MAY 6 MAY 6

SILHOUETTE

Tucson, AZ Avenal, CA Bishop, CA Mesa, AZ Cupertino, CA Phoenix, AZ

MAY 13 MAY 19 MAY 26 MAY 6 MAY 13 MAY 19 MAY 19 MAY 24 MAY 26

GUN SHOWS

D

ates and locations of gun shows are subject to change, so please contact the show before traveling.

Discounted NRA membership are sold through NRA recruiters. *Some shows may offer free admission to people who sign up for new memberships or renewals. To become an NRA Recruiter call (800) 672-0004.

MAY 5-6

TUCSON, AZ

MAY 5-6

ONTARIO, CA

MAY 5-6

ELKO, NV

Tucson Expo, AZ Gun Radio (650) 520-6002

Ontario Convention Center, Crossroads of the West Gun Shows (801) 544-9125 Elko Red Lion Casino/Hotel, American Dream Gun Show (775) 835-9677

MAY 12-13

PASO ROBLES, CA

MAY 19-20

DEL MAR, CA

MAY 19-20

RENO, NV

Paso Robles Event Center, Central Coast Gun Shows (805) 481-6726

Del Mar Fairgrounds, Crossroads of the West Gun Shows (801) 544-9125 Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Crossroads of the West Shows (801) 544-9125

MEMBER INFORMATION & BENEFITS

MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000 NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000 • INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org MEMBER SERVICE

(800) 672-3888

NRASTORE.COM

(888) 607-6007

5-STAR MEMBER BENEFITS NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs

(877) 672-3006

LifeLock

(800) 978-1725

NRA Wine Club

(800) 331-5578

NRA Hearing Benefits

(866) 619-5889

North American Moving Services

(800) 699-0590

NRA Endorsed Check Program

(888) 331-6767

INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683

OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/ GIFT PLANNING (877) NRA-GIVE THE NRA FOUNDATION (800) 423-6894 NRA INSTRUCTOR/ COACH FIREARM TRAINING (703) 267-1500 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM (800) 231-0752 REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM (800) 861-1166 RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS (703) 267-1511 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS (800) NRA-CLUB RANGE SERVICES (877) 672-7264 COMPETITIVE SHOOTING (877) 672-6282 LAW ENFORCEMENT (703) 267-1640 FRIENDS OF NRA (703) 267-1342 NRA MUSEUMS/ GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS (703) 267-1600 SHOWS & EXHIBITS (866) 343-1805 MEDIA RELATIONS (703) 267-1595

h-s precision howausa.com

Boulder City, NV Dulzura, CA Wendover, UT

The “NRA Regional Report,” a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter, Shooting Illustrated and America’s 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or sponsored events scheduled in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

MAY 2018

101

INSIDE NRA | REGIONAL REPORT WEST 2018 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • MAY 4-6 • DALLAS, TX

For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org

AREA SHOOTS

F

riends of NRA events celebrate American values with fun, fellowship and fundraising for The NRA Foundation. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in games, raffles, live and silent auctions and more. Your attendance contributes to grants that promote firearm education, safety and marksmanship. To learn more about events in your area, visit friendsofnra.org, contact your local field representative or send an email to friends@nrahq.org.

West Regional Director—Brad Kruger

bkruger@nrahq.org

Northern AK—Josh Toennessen

jtoennessen@nrahq.org

Southern AK—Greg Stephens

gstephens@nrahq.org

ID—Steve Vreeland

svreeland@nrahq.org

MN—Eric Linder

elinder@nrahq.org

MT—Joe Crismore

jcrismore@nrahq.org

ND, SD—Doug DeLaRoi

F

or more information, send an email to Shelly Kramer at mkramer@nrahq.org or call (703) 267-1459. For a complete listing, see shootingsportsusa.com.

PISTOL

Lake Elmo, MN Bismarck, ND Honolulu, HI Springfield, OR Palmer, AK

SMALLBORE RIFLE

East Wenatchee, WA

HIGH POWER RIFLE

Billings, MT Bothell, WA Puyallup, WA Rexburg, ID Sherwood, OR Red Wing, MN

SILHOUETTE

Sherwood, OR Missoula, MT Timber Lake, SD Custer, WA Blackfoot, ID Lander, WY

WA—Michael Herrera

Alaska Outdoor Council Inc.

mcarey@nrahq.org mherrera@nrahq.org

WY—Logan Duff

lduff@nrahq.org

Minnesota Rifle & Revolver Ass’n. Inc.

mrra.org

Montana Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

mtrpa.org

North Dakota Shooting Sports Ass’n.

MAY 12-13

Washington State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n. Inc.

MAY 5-6 MAY 6 MAY 6 MAY 12 MAY 19 MAY 26-27

Wyoming State Shooting Ass’n. Inc.

STATE ASSOCIATIONS

OR, HI—Mike Carey

idahosrpa.org

MAY 6 MAY 19 MAY 20 MAY 20-21 MAY 26

MAY 5 MAY 5 MAY 6 MAY 12 MAY 19 MAY 20

J

ddelaroi@nrahq.org

Idaho State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

oining NRA-affiliated state associations supports NRA’s mission in your state. See stateassociations.nra.org/ for more information. alaskaoutdoorcouncil.org

Hawaii Rifle Ass’n.

hawaiirifleassociation.org

ndssa.org

Oregon State Shooting Ass’n.

ossa.org

South Dakota Shooting Sports Ass’n.

sdshootingsports.org wsrpa.org

wyossa.com

GUN SHOWS

D

ates and locations of gun shows are subject to change, so please contact the show before traveling.

Discounted NRA membership are sold through NRA recruiters. *Some shows may offer free admission to people who sign up for new memberships or renewals. To become an NRA Recruiter call (800) 672-0004.

MAY 5-6

ALBANY, OR

MAY 5-6

HILLSBORO, OR

MAY 5-6

MONROE, WA

MAY 5-6

CHAMPLIN, MN

MAY 5-6

MORA, MN

Linn County Expo Center, Wes Knodel Gun Shows (503) 363-9564 Washington County Fair Complex, Collectors West (800) 659-3440 Evergreen State Fairgrounds, Washington Arms Collectors (425) 255-8410

Champlin Ice Arena, Crocodile Productions (763) 754-7140 Mora Ice Arena, A.C. Expos (218) 290-0274

The Gun of the Year embodies Kimber’s commitment to crafting firearms of unequaled quality. Chambered in .45 ACP, the Kimber NRA Custom II “Defending Freedom” is a full-size 1911 with a 5-inch barrel. A specially engraved slide features the NRA logo and the words “Defending Freedom.” The slide also wears a self-lubricating Desert Tan KimPro® II finish that offers outstanding additional resistance to chemicals, moisture, salt and UV light. This is complemented by a matte black frame, which is paired to the slide early in production to help ensure optimal fitting. The “Defending Freedom,” proudly made in America, is available only at Friends of NRA events.

100

MAY 2018

MAY 11-13

CASPER, WY

MAY 18-20

BUTTE, MT

MAY 19-20

PORTLAND, OR

Central Wyoming Fairgrounds, Up In Arms Gun Shows (208) 420-2295 Star Lanes, Up In Arms Gun Shows (208) 420-2295 Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center, Wes Knodel Gun Shows (503) 363-9564

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

CENTRALIA, WA

MAY 19-20

PUYALLUP, WA

SouthWest Washington Fairgrounds, Wes Knodel Gun Shows (503) 363-9564 Western Washington Fairgrounds, Washington Arms Collectors (425) 255-8410

MAY. 19-20

MOOSE LAKE, MN

Riverside Arena—Arrowhead Lane, A.C. Expos (218) 290-0274

MAY 27

PORTLAND, OR

Jackson Armory, Oregon Arms Collectors (503) 698-5986

LAW ENFORCEMENT

P

ublic and private officers interested in becoming firearm instructors should attend one of NRA’s Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Development Schools, designed to enhance the instructors’ firearm

knowledge and handling skills, as well as prepare them to develop effective training programs, instruct in a professional manner, and conduct practical training exercises. Restricted to law enforcement officers only.

MAY 7-11—EMMETT, ID

(Tactical Shooting)

MAY 21-25—ISSAQUAH, WA

(Handgun) Contact Mary Shine at (703) 267-1628 or mshine@nrahq.org.

Police Competition

N

RA Police Pistol Combat competition is intended to be used as an extension of an officer’s training.

See PPC Rulebook (Rule 2.4) for eligibility requirements.

MAY 19—MARYSVILLE, WA (Approved)

Contact Tiffany King at (703) 267-1621 or tking@nrahq.org.

MEMBER INFORMATION & BENEFITS

MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000 NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000 • INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org MEMBER SERVICE

(800) 672-3888

NRASTORE.COM

(888) 607-6007

5-STAR MEMBER BENEFITS NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs

(877) 672-3006

LifeLock

(800) 978-1725

NRA Wine Club

(800) 331-5578

NRA Hearing Benefits

(866) 619-5889

North American Moving Services

(800) 699-0590

NRA Endorsed Check Program

(888) 331-6767

INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683

OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/ GIFT PLANNING (877) NRA-GIVE THE NRA FOUNDATION (800) 423-6894 NRA INSTRUCTOR/ COACH FIREARM TRAINING (703) 267-1500 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM (800) 231-0752 REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM (800) 861-1166 RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS (703) 267-1511 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS (800) NRA-CLUB RANGE SERVICES (877) 672-7264 COMPETITIVE SHOOTING (877) 672-6282 LAW ENFORCEMENT (703) 267-1640 FRIENDS OF NRA (703) 267-1342 NRA MUSEUMS/ GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS (703) 267-1600 SHOWS & EXHIBITS (866) 343-1805 MEDIA RELATIONS (703) 267-1595

h-s precision howausa.com

MAY 19-20

The “NRA Regional Report,” a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter, Shooting Illustrated and America’s 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or sponsored events scheduled in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

MAY 2018

101

inside nra | programs & services IN MEMORIAM

Warren L. Cheek

Photo Courtesy of the Cheek family

W

HE WAS DEDICATED TO THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND WROTE GUIDES ON GUN SAFETY.

arren L. Cheek, a longtime NRA employee who served 17 years as the Association’s Secretary before being elected to the Executive Council, passed away Feb. 20. He was 86.

During the 19 years he worked for the NRA before he was elected Secretary, Cheek was assigned to two divisions. As part of the Education & Training Division, he wrote or contributed to the NRA's basic instructor training manuals on rifle and pistol marksmanship, firearm safety and law enforcement.

He lived by the words he wrote in those manuals, often teaching instructors across the country in such areas as strategies for law enforcement officers, along with rifle, pistol and hunter safety. He also worked in the Competitions Divsion.

Cheek was dedicated to the Second Amendment and was involved in many arenas that allowed him to promote safe gun handling and marksmanship. His work with hunters contributed to his induction into the

North American Association of Hunter Safety Coordinators Hall of Fame.

He was also involved with the Boy Scouts of America, where he frequently was a member of the Inspection Team at the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, N.M., and he once chaired the Home Safety Division of the National Safety Council.

Cheek was first elected Secretary of the NRA in 1977 and was re-elected every year thereafter until he retired in 1994. In retirement, Cheek was elected to the Executive Council for life, and he continued to serve as match director of the National Pistol Championships at Camp Perry, Ohio.

Cheek was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving his country during the Korean War. He was preceded in death by his wife, Genesta Brown Cheek, and a son, Leland Cheek. He is survived by two sons, Brian Cheek and Bradley Cheek; one daughter, Cynthia Sizemore; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

YHEC National Championship Coming to Mansfield, Pa., in July

T

he NRA’s Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) program is gearing up for the 2018 National Championship, slated for July 22-27 in Mansfield, Pa. The National Championship offers an opportunity for top-ranked individuals to come together for the most advanced of all YHEC courses.

Prospective attendees must have completed a hunter safety course and

must have participated in a state-level YHEC event.

The YHEC program is designed to pass the hunting heritage along to the next generation, and to ensure the future of hunting in America. Many of its offerings are made possible through grants from the NRA Foundation.

At local- and state-level events, youngsters learn such things as orienteering, wildlife identification

and hunter responsibility. They also get acquainted with various guns and archery equipment.

Local events are open to those with no experience and offer a basic introduction to the sport. As a teenager moves up to the state-level events, prerequisites need to be met.

For more information about YHEC programs, call (800) 492-2868, option 3, or email yhec@nrahq.org.

NRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Joe M. Allbaugh, Oklahoma; William H. Allen, Tennessee; Thomas P. Arvas, New Mexico; Scott L. Bach, New Jersey; William A. Bachenberg, Pennsylvania; Bob Barr, Georgia; Ronnie G. Barrett, Tennessee; Clel Baudler, Iowa; J. Kenneth Blackwell, Ohio; Matt Blunt, Virginia; Dan Boren, Oklahoma; Robert K. Brown, Colorado; Pete R. Brownell, Iowa; Dave Butz, Illinois; Ted W. Carter, Florida; Richard R. Childress, North Carolina; Patricia A. Clark, Connecticut; Allan D. Cors, Florida; Charles L. Cotton, Texas; David G. Coy, Michigan; Larry E. Craig, Idaho; John L. Cushman, New York; R. Lee Ermey, California; Edie P. Fleeman, North Carolina; M. Carol (Bambery) Frampton, South Carolina; Joel Friedman, Nevada; Sandra S. Froman, Arizona; James S. Gilmore III, Virginia; Marion P. Hammer, Florida; Maria Heil, Pennsylvania; Graham Hill, Virginia; Steve Hornady, Nebraska; Susan Howard, Texas; Curtis S. Jenkins, Georgia; David A. Keene, Maryland; Tom King, New York; Timothy Knight, Tennessee; Herbert A. Lanford Jr., South Carolina; Willes K. Lee, Hawaii; Karl A. Malone, Louisiana; Sean Maloney, Ohio; Robert E. Mansell, Arizona; Carolyn D. Meadows, Georgia; Bill Miller, West Virginia; Owen Buz Mills, Arizona; Craig Morgan, Tennessee; Grover G. Norquist, Washington, D.C.; Oliver L. North, Virginia; Robert Nosler, Oregon; Johnny Nugent, Indiana; Ted Nugent, Texas; Lance Olson, Iowa; Melanie Pepper, Texas; James W. Porter II, Alabama; Peter J. Printz, Montana; Todd J. Rathner, Arizona; Kim Rhode, California; Wayne Anthony Ross, Alaska; Carl T. Rowan Jr., Washington, D.C.; Don Saba, Arizona; William H. Satterfield, Alabama; Ronald L. Schmeits, New Mexico; Esther Q. Schneider, Texas; Steven C. Schreiner, Colorado; Tom Selleck, California; John C. Sigler, Delaware; Leroy Sisco, Texas; Bart Skelton, New Mexico; Dwight D. Van Horn, Idaho; Blaine Wade, Tennessee; Linda L. Walker, Ohio; Howard J. Walter, North Carolina; Heidi E. Washington, Michigan; Allen B. West, Texas; Robert J. Wos, Florida; Donald E. Young, Alaska.

Communications intended for any member of the NRA Board of Directors should be addressed to: (Name of Board member), NRA Office of the Secretary, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030; or nrabod@nrahq.org; or (703) 267-1021. Please include your name, contact information and NRA membership I.D. number, as only communications from NRA members will be forwarded.

102

May 2018

aMerican rifleMan

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JARRETT RIFLES continued from p. 91

raceways in the receiver, and by attaching a close-fitting steel sleeve to the body of the bolt. As the bolt is inserted into the receiver, the sleeve is retained by a shoulder inside the receiver bridge.

Another interesting feature of the Tri-Lock receiver is its interchangeable feed rail system. Machined separately and then attached to the receiver, the feed rails are sized specifically for various families of cartridges and, in some cases, for a specific cartridge.

The same 15-5 stainless steel used in manufacturing actions is also used in making barrels. Purchased from a foundry in Germany, the cost is considerably more than the same type of steel available domestically, but according to Jarrett, lot-to-lot hardness is more consistent.

After a barrel blank is trued on the outside it is drilled, reamed twice for smoothness and then rifled by the button process. From there it undergoes heat treatment and is then hand-lapped.

JARRETT WIND WALKER/ TRI-LOCK ACTION

MANUFACTURER: JARRETT RIFLES, INC. (DEPT AR), 383 BROWN ROAD, JACKSON, SC 29831; (803) 471-3616; JARRETTRIFLES.COM 1.25"

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26" (WITH BRAKE) 13.25"

MAGAZINE: THREE-ROUND INTERNAL BOX, HINGED FLOORPLATE

CHAMBERING: .300 WIN. MAG. ACTION TYPE: BOLT-ACTION, CENTER-FIRE REPEATING RIFLE

RECEIVER: 15-5 STAINLESS STEEL FINISH: PROPRIETARY PHENOLIC

104

BARREL: STAINLESS STEEL, JARRETT NO. 3 TAPER RIFLING: SIX-GROOVE; 1:10" RH TWIST WEIGHT: 7 LBS., 8 OZS. SIGHTS: NONE; DRILLED AND TAPPED TRIGGER PULL: ADJUSTABLE, SINGLE-STAGE; 2-LB., 1-OZ. PULL

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HORNADY 165-GR. GMX 77.0 GRS. AM*

3162 AVG. 19 SD

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The benefit of hand-lapping the 3046 AVG. BARNES 175-GR. LRX BT 3,605 0.22 0.39 0.33 bore of a barrel is often misunder72.5 GRS. ALLIANT RL-22* 22 SD stood. Heat-treating a barrel upsets its 2930 AVG. SIERRA 200-GR. SBT 3,812 0.38 0.50 0.45 bore and groove diameter uniformity.

GAMEKING 10 SD Not by much and not enough to matter 72.5 GRS. IMR 7828* in mass-produced factory barrels, but AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD 0.40 it is enough to make a big difference in barrels expected to consistently NOTES: ACCURACY RESULTS FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 100 YDS. FROM A 24" BARREL USING A BENCH REST. VELOCITIES AVERAGED FROM 10 SHOTS WITH AN OEHLER deliver less than half-minute-of-angle MODEL 33 CHRONOGRAPH AT 12 FT. TEMPERATURE: 72° F. HORNADY CASES AND FEDERAL (m.o.a) accuracy. Rifling a barrel with GM215M PRIMERS USED IN ALL LOADS. *MAXIMUM CHARGE/DO NOT EXCEED. ABBREVIATIONS: its bore and groove diameters a bit AM (ACCURATE MAGPRO), GMX (GILDING METAL EXPANDING), LRX BT (LONG-RANGE X undersized and then hand-lapping BOATTAIL), SBT (SPITZER BOATTAIL), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION). to the desired diameters improves uniformity from one end of the barrel to the other. Jarrett guarantees a deviation no greater than 0.50" for three shots at 100 yds. for .30 caliber and smaller, and 0.70" for larger calibers. Based on my experience with 0.0001" from chamber to muzzle. To put that into perspeca number of rifles in various calibers through the years, tive, the cover page of American Rifleman is 0.003" thick, those figures are quite conservative. and if you sliced it into 30 layers of equal thickness, one Jarrett is located only a few hours away from my home, layer would measure the same as the maximum end-toand during the 1980s and 1990s I hunted deer on his end bore and groove diameter variation of a Jarrett barrel. farm several times each year. Hunting over soybean fields Another important benefit of properly hand-lapping a baris best done during the afternoon, and since the shop is rel is the almost total elimination of copper fouling. conveniently located at the edge of the farm, I often spent Making precision barrels is quite labor-intensive (the the morning hours accuracy-testing rifles prior to their lapping alone can take up to four hours), but it pays off. continued on p. 108 The accuracy guarantee of a Jarrett rifle has long been

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jarrett rifles continued from p. 105

shipment to customers all over the country. As was and still is customary, groups fired with the rifle, data for the load used and 20 loaded rounds were included in the package.

Some rifles required a bit more load development than others, but, of all the rifles I tested, I can recall only one that absolutely refused to consistently shoot three bullets inside half-an-inch at 100 yds. Built on a Remington 700 action, after its barrel had been replaced twice to no avail, Jarrett calmly clamped the rifle into a band saw and sawed it in half, right down through its action.

The rifles I have shot were not limited to small calibers.

Those chambered for cartridges such as the .338 Win. Mag.

and .375 H&H Mag. also averaged less than half an inch.

Perhaps the biggest surprise came while shooting a rifle in .416 Rem. Mag.; it averaged 0.42" for five, three-shot groups with the Swift 400-gr. A-Frame. The most accurate rifle chambered for a big cartridge was in .338 Lapua Mag. Its average, for the few groups fired at 100 yds., was 0.25" with the smallest and largest groups measuring 0.15" and 0.38", respectively. At 500 yds., the best five-group averages with the Barnes 280-gr. LRX and Sierra 250-gr. GameKing were 2.03" and 2.17". That from a big-game rifle weighing 8 lbs., 8 ozs., without scope. The difference in three-shot and five-shot accuracy with a Jarrett rifle will vary depending on barrel weight and

Jarrett’s proprietary Tri-Lock action is available in two action lengths with interchangeable feed rails (arrow) to handle most cartridges (l.). It features a three-lug bolt that precisely fits raceways in the receiver (above, l.) and a sleeve to minimize play in the bolt’s travel (arrow), along with a non-spring-loaded, plunger-style ejector and M16-style extractor (above, r.).

108

May 2018

aMerican rifleMan

tractor ATTACHMENTS

The Jarrett Rifles operation takes full advantage of a range of techniques and technologies, including modern CNC centers, to manufacture its rifles. Here, Kenny’s son Cain is shown handlapping a barrel—a process that can take up to four hours.

fairly light, 24" barrel. Like all models, it comes with or without a muzzle brake and with Talley scope rings and bases attached.

Add a hinged magazine floorplate and a slightly heavier 24" barrel with a No. 3 contour and you have the Ridge Walker at 8 lbs. Stock composition is 60 percent Kevlar and 40 percent fiberglass, and it has the same trim lines as the Wind Walker stock. The Signature version of this model has a stock of fancy English walnut and is built to customer specifications. The stock can be in classical or California styling with the grade of wood and checkering patterns to suit. Metal engraving ranges from elaborate to nothing continued on p. 110

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the cartridge being fired, but I usually find it to be less than 20 percent. Quite often it is considerably less.

Do we actually need big-game rifles capable of such high levels of accuracy? The answer from a practical point of view is no. I shot my first deer back when many hunters considered a rifle capable of 2" accuracy at 100 yds. plenty accurate, and I don’t recall missing the target because my rifle was not accurate enough to hit it. But I do believe an accurate rifle instills confidence in a hunter, and that can result in more clean kills on big game.

The original Beanfield Rifle built on a customer-furnished action is still available. My 1980s version in 7 mm STW on a Model 700 action is fairly typical of those built through the years. Its medium-weight, 25" barrel measures 0.700" at the muzzle. Overall weight with a Zeiss 3-9X Diavari V scope in a Talley mount is a couple ounces over 9 lbs. The factory trigger was tuned to a smooth 33 ozs. with no detectable creep or overtravel. Several barrel contours are available today, as are a dozen or so stock colors. The Remington 700 continues to be the most commonly used action, although quite a few are built on Jarrett’s Tri-Lock action as well as Remington’s Model Seven and Model 600 actions, and the Winchester Model 70. Many factory and wildcat chamberings are offered.

Other models, all built around Jarrett’s Tri-Lock action, start with the Wind Walker. At a weight of 7 lbs., ounces are trimmed away by the use of a blind magazine and a

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109

jarrett rifles continued from p. 109

more than the owner’s initials on the floorplate. All rifles built on the Tri-Lock action have a Jewell or Shilen trigger.

The Long Ranger does not come with ammunition loaded with silver bullets, but it is available in two versions. Both are on single-shot versions of the Tri-Lock action. The target version weighs around 10 lbs. without scope and has a 27" barrel with a varmint taper. Rifling twist rate depends on the chambering. The 1:9" twist of a barrel in .300 Jarrett is quick enough to stabilize the longest available bullets of its caliber. Weight of the hunting version is reduced to 8 lbs. or so by the use of a lighter 26" barrel with a No. 4 contour, and by utilizing the same stock as used on the Ridge Walker. The quick rifling twist rate just begs for the use of the new crop of long-for-caliber bullets such as the Barnes LRX and Nosler AccuBond LR. As its name implies, the Professional Hunter was designed with Africa in mind, although it is equally suited for a brown bear hunt in Alaska’s rain forests. Its quick-detachable Talley scope mount makes for easy access to open sights consisting of a quarter rib-attached leaf at the rear and a large ramped white- or gold-colored bead up front. The rifle comes with its sight regulated at 50 yds. with whatever load the customer prefers. Like all models, the metal has Jarrett’s proprietary phenolic metal finish which is available in several colorations (black and gray are the most popular). The

most frequently requested chamberings are .375 H&H Mag. and .416 Rem. Mag. The Professional Hunter is also available with a stock of American or English walnut.

Those are standard offerings available on fairly short delivery but one-of-kind custom jobs limited only by the imagination of a customer are also available. All Jarrett rifles come with a simple guarantee. Try one for 30 days and if not completely satisfied, return it for a full refund.

Whereas Jarrett Rifles began as a one-man operation it is now a family affair. Son Jay is in charge of production while another son, Cain, heads up the barrel operation. Daughter Rissa handles everything from keeping everyone straight to shipping rifles to customers all over the world. But Kenny Jarrett is still involved on a daily basis, and no rifle departs the shop before receiving his personal stamp of approval.

And, as far as I know, he hasn’t had to put an action through the band saw in quite some time.

WARNING: Technical data and information contained herein are intended to provide information based upon the limited experience of individuals under specific conditions and circumstances. They do not detail the comprehensive training, procedures, techniques and safety precautions that are absolutely necessary to properly carry on similar activity. READ THE NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER ON THE CONTENTS PAGE OF THIS MAGAZINE. ALWAYS CONSULT COMPREHENSIVE REFERENCE MANUALS AND BULLETINS OF PROPER TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, PROCEDURES, TECHNIQUES AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY SIMILAR ACTIVITIES.

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KELLY YOUNG, ASSOCIATE EDITOR HORNADY created the most successful new cartridge of the last few decades in 2007 with its thoughtfully designed 6.5 mm Creedmoor, and the Nebraska-based manufacturer is tweaking the .264 caliber even further with the introduction of its newest chambering—the 6.5 mm PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge). Slightly longer and significantly fatter than its older brother, the 6.5 mm PRC offers a 28 percent larger case capacity than the Creedmoor while utilizing the same projectiles and fitting within the same short actions. The result is a cartridge that offers flatter downrange trajectories and higher on-target energies than its predecessor, yet doesn’t batter the shooter’s shoulder—making it a promising addition for competition shooters and hunters alike. hornady.com MOSSBERG’S Model 590 is a quintessential American pump-action shotgun, and the new 590M introduces the benefits of detachable box magazines to what has previously been a strictly

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Utilizing a series of spacers and risers held in place by the rifle’s soft rubber buttpad, AccuFit allows shooters to customize the gun’s length of pull and comb height quickly and easily with only a Phillips head screwdriver.

The company’s AccuFit-clad offerings run the gamut from compact Scout (shown) and Wolverine variants to long-barreled Varmint and Long Range Hunter models—all of which benefit from the company’s AccuTrigger and AccuStock upgrades. savagearms.com

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continued from p. 113

best of all, for the first time in its history, the P210 is being built on this side of the Atlantic, resulting in gun-store prices that are a fraction of the cost of the Swiss-built original. sigsauer.com SMITH & WESSON’S M&P Shield line of single-stack semi-automatics first stormed the concealed carry market at the 2012 NRA Annual

WALTHER PPQ SC

B. GIL HORMAN, FIELD EDITOR

SAVAGE ACCUFIT 110 SCOUT

ARCHON FIREARMS’ polymer-frame Type B

striker-fired 9 mm Luger semi-automatic pistol (formerly known as the Arsenal Firearms Stryk B) has an internal configuration which is quite different from the oft-copied Glock design. Developed in Italy and manufactured in the European Union, the Type B’s barrel is supported by a removable U-shaped cradle pinned to the frame to minimize barrel movement during recoil while allowing for an exceptionally low bore axis. Fresh rounds feed almost directly into the chamber in order to eliminate most of the upand-over travel of the cartridge as it’s pressed into battery, resulting in improved feed reliability. Other

Meetings, but the relatively difficult-to-manipulate slide and snappy recoil of these little powerhouses wasn’t for everyone. The company’s newly released M&P380 Shield EZ (p. 76), on the other hand, was specifically created from the ground up to be easy and safe for virtually anyone to carry, use and maintain. The locked-breech, .380 ACP pistol’s slide is impressively easy to rack, a passive grip safety pivots from the lower portion of the backstrap and a load-assist button on the gun’s eightround magazine follower eases cartridge insertion.

Lastly, at 6.7" long and 18.5 ozs., the newest Shield’s size makes it concealable while also being pleasant to shoot. smith-wesson.com WALTHER fans will be pleased to learn that the long-awaited subcompact version of the company’s double-stack PPQ semi-automatic pistol has finally

features include a flat-faced trigger, grip mapping frame texture, an integrated beavertail and Glockcompatible sights. archonfirearms.com BROWNELLS has launched its own line of inhouse “retro” reproductions of historically significant AR-15 and AR-10 rifles. The two BRN-10 variants, based on the AR-10 platform, are chambered in .308 Win./7.62 mm NATO. These models have the “trigger”-style charging handle located on the top of the receiver inside the carry handle along with the same lines and contours as the first production AR-10s from the 1950s. With receiver sets designed in conjunction with FM-Products, these rifles are compatible

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with standard DPMS/SR25 components including triggers, magazines, barrels, bolt carrier groups and furniture sets. The new BRN-10A (p. 76) has the same brown furniture found on early rifles, like the models issued by the Netherlands, while the BRN-10B is based on later models adopted

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arrived. A striker-fired, single-action handgun like its full-size brother, the PPQ SC measures 5.4" long with a 3.5" barrel, and has an empty weight of only 21.2 ozs. Available initially chambered only in 9 mm Luger, the handgun comes with two magazines, one flush-fitting 10-round box and one 15-rounder with a polymer sleeve that extends the SC’s grip for increased control. Making use of the reversible push-button magazine release of Walther’s M2 configuration, the new PPQ SC also features bilateral slide releases, interchangeable backstrap inserts, a two-slot accessory rail molded into the dustcover and low-profile, three-dot sights. waltherarms.com

GLOCK has introduced its first Crossover pistol, a gun that blends components that have, until now, been strictly divided along the Standard, continued on p. 116

americanrifleman.org

may 2018

115

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Compact and Sub-Compact model lines.

The new 9 mm Luger Glock 19X features the Compact slide assembly of the G19 paired with the Standard dutysize frame of the G17. It has the same features as the pistol submitted for the U.S. XM17 modular handgun trial including the bilateral slide stops and lanyard loop, but not the thumb safety.

Available with standard or night sight systems, the slide has been treated with an improved coyote tan PVD coating that matches the frame. The pistol ships with one 17-round magazine, two 19-round magazines, four interchangeable backstraps and a hard storage case. glock.us RUGER has, at long last, answered customers’ requests to increase the number of chambers in the standard

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GP100 .357 Mag./.38 Spl. revolver’s cylinder from six to seven. This new version of the company’s cornerstone double-action platform will be available with 2.5", 4.2" and 6" barrels. The barrel, cylinder, frame and appointments are constructed of satin finished stainless steel. All three barrel lengths feature an adjustable white-outline rear sight paired with a fiber-optic front sight. The Hogue finger-grooved Monogrip, common to most models these days, has been replaced with the original “old school” wood-paneled synthetic stocks. Other features include a triple-locking cylinder and a no-tools-required takedown procedure of integrated subassemblies for easy cleaning and maintenance. ruger.com continued on p. 118

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WINCHESTER AMMUNITION’S new Hybrid X 124-gr. 9 mm Luger +P load blends new bullet materials and design elements with features in use for well over a century. The fluted polymer/ copper tip provides the same fluiddisplacement design as the Inceptor ARX bullet launched in 2015. The tip is seated into the four sections of a pre-fragmented lead core, which provides the mass needed to increase the bullet’s weight to 124 grs. The core is then pressed into a copper jacket for reliable feeding and accuracy at a listed velocity of 1225 f.p.s. for a nominal muzzle energy of 413 ft.-lbs.

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i have this old gun …

COLT MODEL 1855 REVOLVING CARBINE Gun: Colt Model 1855 Revolving CaRbine Caliber: .56 ManufaCtured: 1856-59 Serial nuMber: 1079* Condition: 60 peRCent—nRa veRy good (antique gun StandaRdS) Value: $9,500-$12,000 *gunS weRe nuMbeRed aCCoRding to CalibeR and Model, and aCCuRate ReCoRdS aRe SCaRCe; but thiS gun doeS not have the loCking SCRew on the uppeR left-hand poRtion of the ReCeiveR, aS Seen on lateR ModelS, ConfiRMing itS eaRly ManufaCtuRe date.

A

lthough we think of Colt percussion revolvers as being an opentop design, there was one exception with a topstrap—the Colt 1855 Sidehammer Pocket Revolver. Also known as the Colt Root Revolver, after Elisha King Root, who developed the gun with Samuel Colt, the small, graceful 1855 Sidehammer was offered in .28 and .31 calibers. And true to its name, the 1855 featured a side-mounted hammer, much in the style of percussion rifles.

This feature, plus a ratchet-style, Root-patented loading rammer (later incorporated into the Model 1860 Army) and a cylinder base pin that screwed into the frame from the rear, evolved into Colt’s Model 1855 Revolving Rifle.

The initial version, the “First Model” Sporting Rifle, was introduced in 1856 and featured a walnut stock, color-casehardened hammer and loading rammer, and barrels of varying calibers and lengths. Available with six-shot unfluted cylinders in .36 and .40 calibers (both rare) as well as in .44 caliber, it was also produced in more readily encountered .50- and .56-cal. versions with five-shot cylinders. A very few .64-cal. rifles are also known to exist, along with 20- and 10-ga. shotgun variants.

The outbreak of the Civil War spurred production of Model 1855 longarms, with barrel lengths from 21" to 37". Revolving Carbines, which normally did not feature wooden fore-ends and sometimes sported saddle rings, were chambered in .44 and .56 calibers, and they had barrel lengths from 15" to 24".

While the multi-shot capabilities of Model 1855 Revolving Rifles and Carbines were a battlefield “plus,” they were offset by the frequency of multiple discharges, which could severely injure a shooter’s supporting hand unless it was positioned underneath the trigger guard, away from the cylinder. Approximately 18,300 Colt Revolving Rifles of all types were produced between 1856 and 1864, when production stopped.

At first glance, this 21"-barreled Model 1855 Carbine, with its two-banded wooden fore-end, could be mistaken for a Sporting Rifle. However, the saber bayonet lug on the barrel, the sling swivels, the three-leaf sight graduated for 100, 300 and 500 yds. and the “U.S.” tang stamping identify it as a rare governmentpurchased military carbine. It could also be one of the even scarcer artillery models ordered by the Army in 1859, although those came standard with 24" barrels.

Unfortunately, records are incomplete. Nonetheless, as discovered on the used gun rack of American Gun Works in Glendale, Calif. (americangunworks.net), this carbine is easily worth between $9,500 and $12,000.

—Rick HackeR, Field editoR American Rifleman does NOT accept submissions for the I Have This Old Gun column. Topics are assigned to Field Editors in advance. Due to the volume of mail received, our writers are not able to answer individual questions. Please consider instead sending your correspondence and questions through our Dope Bag/Q&A service, which is available to all NRA members in good standing. Details appear in the Q&A section.

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