American Rifleman 2018-08 by Manuel Adrian Galindo Yañez

70 YEARS OF THE NOSLER PARTITION August 2018

The World’s Oldest And Largest Firearm Authority

OVER THERE!

THE U.S. MODEL OF 1917 Official Journal of the National Rifle Association AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

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EXPERTS IN THE FIELD

The NRA, the foremost guardian of the traditional American right to “keep and bear arms,” believes every law-abiding citizen is entitled to the ownership and legal use of firearms, and that every reputable gun owner should be an NRA Member.

Contents AUGUST 2018 VOLUME 166, NO. 8

features

Photo by Forrest MacCormack

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

Lend A Hand To The Fight .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..18 Chris W. Cox

Our many battles during the past 147 years have taught us that every election is important. Your involvement is key to victory in November.

CMP M1911s: The Inside Story.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..36 Martin K.A. Morgan Yes, it’s true. The Civilian Marksmanship Program will offer 8,000 surplus U.S. M1911 and M1911A1 pistols this year. We’ve seen them. Here’s how to get yours.

Smith & Wesson’s M2.0s Go Compact . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..38 Joe Kurtenbach

Smith & Wesson earned accolades for the M2.0 upgrade to its M&P family of pistols. Now, the downsized M2.0 Compact takes aim at the duty/carry crossover market.

“One Of The Great Decisions”: The U.S. Model Of 1917 Rifle .. .. .. .. .. ..42 Bruce N. Canfield When America entered the Great War, there was a dire shortage of rifles. The solution was found in three American factories and what is now known as the “U.S. Enfield.”

Oliver North Takes The Helm . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..48 NRA Staff

A battle-hardened Marine has been chosen to lead the National Rifle Association’s efforts to save the Second Amendment.

70 Years Of The Nosler Partition . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..50 Layne Simpson

It all started with one moose. Hit right, it didn’t go down—which sent John A. Nosler on a journey to make a better bullet. We know it today as the Nosler Partition.

Nine Lives Of The 10 mm Auto .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..56

MEMBER PROGRAMS: (800) 672-3888

Counted out more than once, the 10 mm Auto simply refuses to give up—and the latest crop of guns chambered for it proves that the 10 is more than just a survivor.

Photo by Holly Marcus

Photo courtesy of Nosler

56 Photo by NRA Staff

Photo by Martin K.A. Morgan

Jeremiah Knupp

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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 . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Special Reports Standing Guard .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. President’s Column .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Political Report .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ILA Report .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Regional Report/Member Info & Benefits .. .. Programs & Services .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

EDITORIAL

12 14 16 76 78 80

The Keefe Report .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 8 Readers Write .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 Favorite Firearms. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 35

News & Notes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 Products & Projects .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 Handloads: 9 mm Luger .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33

Questions & Answers . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 34 What In The World Is G10?

Dope Bag .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 64 Springfield M1A Loaded 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle Sauer 100 Classic XT .270 Win. Rifle Glock 19X 9 mm Luger Pistol

I Have This Old Gun .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 84 Smith & Wesson “Wolf & Klar” .44 Hand Ejector, Third Model

THE COVER: About three-quarters of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in France during World War I was issued the U.S. Model Of 1917 Rifle. ”Men of Iron,” by renowned military artist and NRA Life member Don Troiani, depicts men of the 109th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division—armed with M1917s—fighting the Germans to a standstill during the Champagne-Marne Offensive. For more on the M1917, turn to Field Editor Bruce N. Canfield’s story beginning on p. 42. Design by David J. Labrozzi.

70 YEARS OF THE NOSLER PARTITION August 2018

The World’s Oldest And Largest Firearm Authority

Official Journal of the National Rifle Association AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

Printed in the United States of America

OVER THERE!

THE U.S. MODEL OF 1917 R1808_COVER_noZ.indd 2

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

6/6/18 10:11 AM

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 Executive Editor Kelly Young Managing 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 Larry Quandahl Firearms Inventory Manager

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) $45 a year, $100 for 3 years, $150 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.

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NRA PUBLICATIONS PUBLISHING OPERATIONS

New On The Singles Scene Ruger’s new EC9s subcompact pistol economizes its successful LC9, while taking on current market leaders in the single-stack CCW class. Read more at americanrifleman.org/rugerec9s. Return Of A Classic Once the hands-down favorite duty handgun for law enforcement, the Model 19 has returned to the Smith & Wesson lineup under its Classic series. Learn the revolver’s history at americanrifleman.org/model19. A Turkish Delight Sarsilmaz—SAR, for short—has been producing sporting and military firearms since 1880. Now the Turkish gunmaker has built the SAR9 polymer pistol, designed to compete with popular brands from Austria, Germany, Belgium and the United States. Learn more at americanrifleman.org/sar9.

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.

The Springfield Armory Story July 25 The European American Armory Story; Ruger Precision Rimfire in .22 Long Rifle; British Model 1856 Enfield Carbine

August 1 Making Heritage Revolvers; European American Armory SP Over-Under in 12 Gauge; American Lewis Light Machine Gun

August 8 Inside the Civilian Marksmanship Program; Springfield M1A Loaded Rifle in 6.5 mm Creedmoor; Astra Model 1300 Pistol

August 15 The Springfield Armory Story; Springfield 911 Pistol in .380 ACP; Seecamp LWS Pistol

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 Senior Accounts Receivable 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 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.

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the keefe report

century ago, the United States of America was no longer sitting on the sidelines. President Woodrow Wilson, who had struggled to keep the country out of the military cataclysm of the Great War, asked the U.S. Congress for a declaration of war, and he got it on April 6, 1917. The war had turned into a bloody stalemate in the trenches on the Western Front, stretching from the English Channel to the Swiss border. And it was into those trenches that an American army would be sent—one that, at the time, was woefully inadequate to the task. The small American regular Army and National Guard— numbering around 308,000 in April 1917—needed to be expanded, trained and equipped. The French and British needed men, and they sought to use American Doughboys as replacements for the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, already lost. General John J. Pershing, commanding the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), was not going to let that happen. Not only would he not allow American lives to be thrown away piecemeal by the French and British, Pershing insisted that the men be trained—and not just in marching and close-order drill. The French and British wanted men to wield bayonets and throw grenades, but Pershing wanted riflemen—trained riflemen. In October 1917 he cabled Secretary of War Newton N. Baker urging, “You must not forget the rifle is a distinctly American weapon. I want to see it employed … . Long experience with conditions in France confirms my opinion that it is highly important that infantry soldiers be excellent shots. I, therefore, strongly renew my previous recommendations that all troops be given a complete course in rifle practice prescribed in our firing manual before leaving the United States.” Eventually about 1 million Americans would serve in France— including a brigade of Marines. In the trenches late in 1917 (the first elements of the 1st Infantry Division arrived at St. Nazaire on June 26, 1917, but headed to the front in late October 1917) and more so in the open warfare that developed in 1918, American marksmanship August 2018

U.S. Army photo courtesy of Armor Plate Press

UpLULA

mattered. American riflemen did things that the enemy didn’t expect, such as using precision rifle fire to overcome machine guns and strong points. In one case, Marine Pvt. Roland Fisher was recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross after striking “six Germans at a distance of approximately 1,400 yards” on June 11, 1918, presumably with a telescopically sighted ’03 Springfield. While the U.S. Army was undermanned in 1917, the small arms it used—particularly the Springfield M1903 rifle—were state-of-the-art. The problem was there were simply not enough of them. The adoption of the U.S. Model of 1917 Rifle, ably described by Field Editor Bruce N. Canfield starting on p. 42, was one of the best decisions made in equipping the Americans sent to France. It wasn’t until the late spring and summer of 1918 that the full weight of American divisions, most of them armed with M1917 rifles, began to tell in the conflict, stopping the German offensives of 1918 at well-known places like Cantigny, the Marne and Belleau Wood. And at lesser known places such as Couthiezy on July 5, 1918, an action fought by the 28th Division’s 109th Infantry Regiment and depicted on this month’s cover by artist Don Troiani. During “The War to End All Wars” 116,708 Americans died—53,402 of whom were combat deaths or listed as “missing”—and 100 years after their war was at its height, we must remember their courage and sacrifice “over there.” Through the articles printed this year and on “American Rifleman Television,” we honor their sacrifice, their memory and their marksmanship. Sincerely,

american rifleman

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THE ARMED CITIZEN

ather-daughter bonding time came to an abrupt end during an assault in Memphis, Tenn., but the would-be victim had a gun in his car and saved his child from further harm. The dad was carrying his infant out of a fast-food restaurant to his vehicle after lunch. Along the way, four men attacked him, despite the fact that he had the child in his arms. During the scuffle, the father dropped the baby. At one point, someone in the gang had the young father in a chokehold, according to reports to a 911 dispatcher. The dad reached into his car, retrieved a handgun and shot one of the culprits. The troublemakers fled in a car, driving to a nearby fire station to get help for the wounded party. The injured man was taken to a hospital for medical care, and all four aggressors have since been charged. (Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn., 5/15/18)

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

hen three armed young men tried to force a convenience mart worker into the store so they could rob it, the clerk fought back—and came out on top. The employee, a Marine veteran, was taking a break from his duties behind the register at the Tennessee business, when three strangers approached. When one pointed a shotgun at him, the veteran drew his every-daycarry handgun and fired, hitting the culprit in the stomach. The other two suspects ran off. The wounded man was charged, and the police were seeking his accomplices. (wsmv.com, Nashville, Tenn., 5/11/18)

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.

n armed thief got a surprise when his intended target turned the tables on him. The young troublemaker apparently thought a man in his 60s, who was withdrawing cash from an ATM, would be easy prey. The miscreant got a surprise when he found out his would-be victim was carrying. The armed citizen, though held at gunpoint himself, drew his handgun and fired. The suspect later died. (fox35orlando.com, Orlando, Fla., 5/8/18) ne Texas case illustrates the value of a handgun when it comes to personal protection, even if the gun isn’t fired. A woman and her daughter were home one day when a shovel-wielding man kicked in the front door. She grabbed her gun, aimed and said, “If you take one more step, I’ll kill you.” The intruder apparently thought she meant business, because he turned and ran. The woman’s daughter, meanwhile, had called 911. The police quickly arrested the man, charging him with burglary. (kwtx.com, Waco, Texas, 4/27/18)

alling 911 when someone breaks into your home is the right thing to do, but sometimes help doesn’t arrive soon enough. That’s when a gun for personal defense can help, as a case involving a home invasion near Decatur, Ala., shows. An intruder

AUGUST 2018

forced his way into a home and grabbed a knife that he found there. He later fought with two people inside the home. He injured both, but one of them grabbed a gun and shot him. Police dispatchers had received a call about the burglary, but the residents had to defend themselves before the officers arrived. The suspect was found dead at the scene. (The Gadsden Times, Gadsden, Ala., 5/14/18)

aving a security system didn’t protect a Florida woman against a break-in by her ex-boyfriend, but having an armed son did. The man approached his ex-girlfriend’s house one day around 1 a.m. The woman received a security alert and called police, but her ex fled before the police arrived. A few hours later, the man returned and, disregarding the security system, broke into the home. The woman’s adult son shot the intruder as he made his way toward the bedroom of a younger sibling. The woman’s ex-boyfriend jumped from a second-floor window and ran, but the police soon tracked him down. He was taken to a hospital and charges were pending. Police ruled it a justifiable shooting. (mycbs4.com, Ocala, Fla., 5/20/18)

eing 70 and home alone during a breakin might spell trouble, but a woman in Pennsylvania had one thing working in her favor: She owns a gun. When a man broke a window and climbed into her house early one morning, she was prepared. As she heard the intruder coming up the stairs, she grabbed the gun—one she had inherited from her mother. After he opened the door to her room, she fired multiple times, striking him at least once. Though the bullet only grazed his arm, it was enough to send him scurrying off. The suspect ran to a nearby car wash and called 911 to report being shot. He was taken for medical treatment and faces charges. (Associated Press, Philadelphia, Pa., 5/5/18)

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standing guard

Summer Break Doesn’t Mean School Safety is on Recess

By Wayne LaPierre

Executive Vice President

WHEN WE STAND AND FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM, WE STAND AND FIGHT FOR ALL AMERICANS, WHETHER THEY AGREE WITH US OR NOT.

Like us on Facebook at the National Rifle Association. For related articles, go to nrapublications.org.

ith summer now in full swing, the last thing kids are thinking about is going back to school. But it ought to be the first thing parents are thinking about, especially when it comes to school security. Think about it. Our NFL games, our NBA games, our office buildings, our politicians and movie stars are all protected better than our children at school. There are 132,800 public and private kindergartens through high schools in the U.S. According to survey information, 65 percent of those schools have recorded one or more incidents of violent crime. Yes, it’s summer. But yes, every parent, teacher, administrator, law enforcement officer and community leader needs to think— right now—about protecting our children when they return to the classroom. Nothing can be more important than protecting our innocent children at school. That is why the NRA launched its National School Shield program in 2012. Its singular mission is to protect our children in their learning environment. Any American school that needs immediate professional consultation and help with organizing and defining its own security solutions should call the NRA National School Shield program, and we will provide immediate assistance absolutely free of charge. That is more than anybody at the Democratic National Committee or The Washington Post or The New York Times has ever offered. NRA members believe in the right to keep and bear arms. We will never waver from our fight to defend our constitutional freedom and we will never waver from our fight to defend the safety of our children at school. Evil walks among us. That is our reality, and God help us if we don’t take steps to protect our children from lurking evil. The NRA’s National School Shield seeks to engage communities and empower local leaders to make our schools more secure and our children safer. Our resources, free of charge and funded through grants generously donated by NRA members and supporters, help local schools in major ways. National School Shield provides a comprehensive vulnerability assessment of each specific school that requests our help. This includes a school climate evaluation, physical security, communications systems, overall preparedness and more. We also facilitate critical partnerships between school officials, law enforcement and local leadership to recognize strengths August 2018

and vulnerabilities, and to help institute the very best practices to protect our children. As so many schools report inadequate funding as the top reason for not enhancing security, the NRA Foundation is stepping up and raising vital funds to help schools all over this country increase security measures, harden their schools and better keep our kids safe. The national news media don’t report it and the anti-freedom crowd will never admit it, but no one cares more about the safety of our children at school than the 6 million women and men of the National Rifle Association of America. Our children must be protected at least as much as we protect our banks, sports stadiums and Hollywood celebrities. That is why NRA members are outraged that, in this country, we surround our money and celebrities and wealthy elites with so much armed security, even while we drop our kids off at “Gun-Free Zone” schools without so much as a prayer for their safety. In every community—right now, during the heart of summer vacation—school districts, PTAs, teachers, unions, local law enforcement and moms and dads must come together to discuss and implement the very best strategy to harden their schools. There is no onesize-fits-all strategy, and the NRA’s National School Shield is here to help every individual district design its own safety strategy. To anyone who says armed security can never be part of the solution, then let’s take armed security from the White House, from Congress, from our banks, office buildings and sports stadiums. If those great institutions deserve our best protection, don’t our own children deserve at least that much safety? Of course they do. That is why NRA members support the Second Amendment, our great freedom that not only preserves our individual rights but also extends to freedom of our children to go to school and learn and grow in a safe environment. When we stand and fight for our freedom, we stand and fight for all Americans, whether they agree with us or not, because our fight is for American freedom for all. That absolutely includes the freedom and safety of our schoolchildren. That is why, in the hearts of every one of the nearly 6 million members of the NRA, we are truly America’s Safest Place.

american rifleman

president’s column

Bring It On: Defeating the Repeal of the Second Amendment Editor’s Note: This month, we’re pleased to feature a guest column by Second Vice President—and soon to be NRA’s new president—LtCol Oliver L. North, USMC (Ret.)

T LtCol Oliver L. North USMC (Ret.) Second Vice President

NRA OFFICERS

Carolyn D. Meadows Interim President Richard Childress First Vice President

Oliver L. North 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.

his is one of the most critical times in the 147-year history of the National Rifle Association. That’s not an exaggeration. In fact, it might understate the challenging reality we face today. The all-out assault against the NRA is unprecedented. Financial, digital and physical attacks over the past several months have been vicious. So too are the extralegal coercion and a mounting flood of legislative and media threats from adversaries who seek to destroy the NRA and obliterate our Second Amendment freedom. Despite these affronts, you and our fellow NRA members have been unflinching in the support of our honorable organization. For that, you have my gratitude. When my friend, NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre, approached me about becoming the next President of the NRA, I was truly humbled by the unexpected honor. I discussed it with our NRA leadership, with my wife and family, and after prayerful consideration, accepted this new call to duty. In 1961, I raised my right hand to become a U.S. Marine and took an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.” That pledge ends with the solemn words, “So help me God.” When NRA’s leadership asked me to serve, I turned to the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord say, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then said I, ‘Here am I; send me.’” I am a U.S. Marine. I have always answered the call to duty. When asked to serve this association, I made an unwavering commitment to help lead the NRA through the grave challenges we face. The malicious attacks against us are immoral and unjust. We also know our adversaries’ goal: Eradication of the Second Amendment. To achieve that, they intend to elect members of Congress who support that abysmal objective. The enemies of our freedom lust for control of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives so they can set their sights squarely on the White House in the 2020 presidential election. Standing in their way is one organization August 2018

whose members have always made a critical difference in preserving our precious liberties. That’s why NRA is enduring vicious personal attacks and media slurs. Our opponents seek to demonize us, divide us and overwhelm us in the November elections. Well, I say, “Bring it on!” There is no better defender of American freedoms than the NRA. No other organization has taken a tougher stand against violent criminals, done more to support our military and law enforcement personnel or to protect this nation’s most precious resources: our families, homes and children. NRA members tell the truth about what we believe and we never surrender. We vote and work and contribute and stand and fight for liberty. The NRA really is “Freedom’s Safest Place!” Our countrymen are responding like never before, ignoring the hollow cries from the political class and the media elites. That’s why membership is at an all-time high, as nearly 6 million Americans are now enrolled as active NRA members. But I also know from other desperate fights, once the battle has been joined, reinforcements will be needed. Here’s how you can help defeat the political and media elites who hate our stand for freedom: Recruit Another NRA Member Think about it. If each of our 6 million members recruits just one person, we’d be at almost 12 million by Election Day (Nov. 6). I am personally committed to doubling our membership and need your help in recruiting at least one member of your family, friends, co-workers or neighbors to join us. Our mission is clear: Defend the U.S. Constitution. Protect the Second Amendment and our precious Bill of Rights. Preserve the freedoms that have made America the greatest nation on Earth. I am proud to stand strong beside you in this fight for our association and our great nation. Now, go out and recruit another NRA member!

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political report

Trump’s Export Reforms Will Benefit Industry, Security and Gun Owners

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.

he Trump administration is launching a major effort to reform America’s complicated system of rules governing the export of firearms, firearm parts, components, accessories and ammunition. While the initiative is good news for the country’s firearm industry, ordinary gun owners also have much to gain from the executive action. The traps the current export regime can set for the unwary are a case study in the perils of Big Government bureaucracy, and the costs of becoming ensnared are extremely high. Each individual violation of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) or the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Act’s implementing rules, carries civil penalties of up to $500,000, as well as criminal sanctions of up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $1 million. The federal government obviously has a legitimate role to play in ensuring that American military technology does not fall into the hands of foreign dictators, terrorists or tyrants. But is a recoil spring for a 9 mm pistol really as militarily sensitive as the propulsion system for a nuclear missile? Should the government subject an online discussion of handloads for the .45 ACP cartridge to the same protocols that apply to the release of schematics for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft? It is wrong to characterize a neighborhood gunsmith, who threads the barrel of an existing firearm to fit a flash hider or sound suppressor, as the “manufacturer” of a “defense article,” thereby triggering a $2,250 annual registration fee with the U.S. State Department. In addition, if a hunter wants to go on a once-ina-lifetime Tanzanian safari, he or she should not have to register the temporary “export” of his or her personally owned firearm in the same government database used by military contractors selling heavy artillery to America’s allies. This is why it is crucial to change the rules for firearm and ammunition exports. Situations like the ones described above represent the very types of minefields that ordinary gun owners or small businesses can stumble into under the current rules. In a piercing critique of the irrational nature of the current export regime, one official quipped, “If you guard your toothbrushes and diamonds with equal zeal, you’ll probably lose fewer toothbrushes and more diamonds.” The current system is also stifling to the well-being of the industry. When hobbyists, inventors, entrepreneurs or businesspeople discover how America’s intricate firearm and ammunition “export” regime can reach August 2018

into benign domestic activity, many turn their attention to other pursuits. Not only does this unnecessarily suppress legitimate firearm-related commerce, it also results in a less competitive and innovative market of firearms, ammunition and related products. However, the situation is now poised to change for the better. Thanks to two Trump administration rulemakings designed to enhance the competitiveness of American companies in the firearm and ammunition sectors, burdens on small businesses will be removed and export controls will be modernized, improving security. The rulemakings are part of a larger, longstanding project to modernize America’s export regime for military and “dual-use” equipment and technology. Dual-use items are those considered to have both military and civilian applications. The governing philosophy of the project is to “build a taller fence around a smaller yard” by strengthening controls on the most militarily significant items, while allowing less sensitive material, with well-established civilian uses and markets, to exist in a more business-friendly regulatory climate. The current rulemakings seek to transfer export control of most non-automatic firearms of .50 caliber or less, as well as their parts, components, accessories and magazines of up to 50-round capacity, from the jurisdiction of the State Department under ITAR to Commerce Department oversight. The Commerce Department already regulates exports of certain shotguns, related parts, components, accessories and ammunition. Additionally, within the past several years, that department has assumed growing responsibility for dual-use items that were formerly subject to ITAR. No one has suggested that Commerce is not up to the task of overseeing highly sophisticated items in such categories of spacecraft/satellites, nuclear technology and submersible vessels. The Obama administration, however, for purely political reasons, withheld the same treatment for firearms and ammunition that can be legally purchased from any number of big box retailers. With these new export reforms, President Donald Trump is improving the system to benefit America’s law-abiding gun owners. He has consistently promised to stand up for our Second Amendment freedoms, and through these proposals he is doing just that.

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ila story

LEND A HAND TO THE FIGHT Your involvement is key to victory in November!

August 2018

american rifleman

By Chris W. Cox

NRA-ILA Executive Director

Photo by iStockPhogo/crossstudio

ur many battles over the past 147 years have taught us that every election is important. Every decision made by you, the American voter, can have consequences for our country. Perhaps nothing exemplifies that more than Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016. There is no doubt that a Clinton victory would have been a grave threat to our fundamental freedoms. President Trump, on the other hand, has proven time and again that he is a true champion of our constitutional rights. His election was a great victory for all true believers in the Second Amendment.

This November, we face a vicious attack on those freedoms. The events of the past two years have emboldened those who would take away our right to keep and bear arms, to the point that many are openly admitting that they want to repeal the Second Amendment. To that end, they continue to press for dramatic restrictions on our liberties, including banning common rifles and imposing other harsh restrictions on our rights, such as firearm and ammunition registration. The good news is that we, as NRA members, have the power to stop them by voting to protect our allies americanrifleman.org

August 2018

in both the U.S. Congress and state legislatures, so that the opponents of freedom are denied the opportunity to vote our liberties out of existence. Overcoming this threat requires all of us to unite with determination and dedication. We need more widespread voter activism than ever before. For most Americans, this time of year means barbecue, baseball and the beach. NRA members know, on the other hand, that summer also calls for door knocking, phone calling and working events in support of pro-gun candidates. Our opponents are more emboldened and well-funded than ever, and

ILA STORY

they are ready to pounce on any opportunity to promote their gun control agenda. The opposition is working as we speak to install candidates who will eliminate our rights. We must do everything we can to make sure they don’t succeed. Election Day—Nov. 6, 2018— might seem like a long way off, but the battle must begin today. What NRA members and gun owners do or don’t do right now will have a major impact on the outcome of this year’s elections. Below are some things you can do now to help NRA-ILA’s ongoing efforts in this year’s campaigns. Use these resources to enhance your own level of activism, and make sure you share with your family, friends and fellow firearm-owning patriots so they can do the same. NRA-ILA APP: Information is Power As the use of technology in our daily lives continues to grow, it is imperative that we embrace new ways of communicating with our members and activists. In the summer of 2016, NRA-ILA launched its own app. Since that time, activists have used it to take hundreds of thousands of actions that helped defend our gun rights. After downloading the free NRAILA app on any smart phone, you can use it to contact your lawmakers, share articles on social media and even test your firearm knowledge with just a few simple clicks. We also encourage you to communicate with fellow app users both outside the app and through the community newsfeed. The NRA-ILA app is a one-stop shop for any activist looking to learn more about what we at NRA-ILA are doing in your home state and across the nation. To download the app, simply visit the Apple store or Google play store and search “NRA-ILA.” NRA-ILA Campaign Field Representatives (CFRs): Boots on the Ground Michael Bloomberg has pledged to spend tens of millions of dollars to

help elect anti-gun politicians to office all over the country. Your NRA-ILA is fighting back to ensure that doesn’t happen. While we may not be able to match his spending dollar for dollar, the good news is we have something great that he doesn’t—you! Once again, we are investing in our human resources this election cycle by deploying Campaign Field Representatives (CFRs) in key battleground states ahead of the elections. ILA’s CFRs are full-time employees who are working on the ground through Election Day to build and bolster our volunteer networks so the millions of gun owners across the nation turn out to vote in force. In 2016, our Campaign Field Representatives contacted more than 1.5 million pro-gun voters in key areas to urge them to get out and vote on behalf of Donald Trump, and our efforts paid off! This year, there are a number of key U.S. House and Senate races that we absolutely must win in order to ensure we keep our pro-gun majorities in Congress. Luckily, our CFRs are up to the challenge—they are already in the trenches attending local events, making phone calls and knocking on doors to educate voters on the important choices they face this November. We have a tough battle ahead and we will only be successful if we stand and fight together. If you are ready to join in the fight for your Second Amendment rights, call NRA-ILA at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) to find out if there is a Campaign Field Representative near you. Make Sure You Are With Us on the FrontLines™ Our efforts will only succeed if we have active volunteers who are willing to commit their efforts to this incredibly important cause. Our FrontLines™ volunteers work vigorously at the local, state and federal levels to defend our Second Amendment rights, and the time is now for YOU to join the ranks. FrontLines™ volunteers work with the AUGUST 2018

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

NRA to advance ILA’s legislative and political agenda. Becoming an effective FrontLines™ volunteer will require mere hours of your time, but this small contribution from all our members will pay off in a big way! To enroll in NRA-ILA’s FrontLines™ program—visit nraila.org/grassroots/ volunteer/ today. Our FrontLines™ volunteers are organized and led by local leaders to ensure our efforts are concentrated in the most effective manner possible. Known as NRA-ILA FrontLines™ Activist Leaders (FAL), these NRA leaders coordinate and implement NRA-ILA’s grassroots programs in their areas. FALs work with NRA staff, NRA members and gunrights supporters to provide groundlevel support for NRA-ILA election and legislative efforts all year round. During this campaign season, FALs are working directly with their NRA-ILA Campaign Field Representatives to organize volunteers for voter contact and “Get Out The Vote” efforts. In the absence of a CFR in their area, FALs will organize volunteers directly to support the grassroots efforts of the NRA-Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) endorsed campaigns. If your area currently has an FAL vacancy and you are interested in serving in this leadership capacity, please call NRA-ILA’s Grassroots Division at 800-392-VOTE (8683) and ask to speak with your state’s Grassroots Coordinator. To find contact information for your existing area FAL so you can begin working with him or her, visit nraila.org/grassroots/ find-your-frontlines-activist-leader/. We know we have a long, tough fight ahead of us. We need every NRA member across the country to contribute their hard work and passion to our shared cause. If preserving the Second Amendment for future generations isn’t worth a few hours of your time, what is? We need you to take action right now and motivate your family, friends and fellow firearm owners to do the same! Together, we can win this battle.

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READERS WRITE historical

Not So Fast

“Come And Get Us!”

A century ago, the American Expeditionary Force entered heavy combat in France, and the Doughboys’ most-used heavy machine gun during the Great War was the French Hotchkiss Model of 1914. BY TOM LAEMLEIN

The Hotchkiss Model Of 1914 Heavy Machine Gun

century ago, American troops faced Germans in the trenches and fields of France. The United States had entered the war a year before, in April 1917, as a fresh-faced member of the Allied cause—full of energy but lacking many of the essential tools of war. Later in 1917, elements of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) arrived in France, but they did so without machine guns. Sufficient guns were not yet available in the United States, and, to complete their equipment as a modern fighting force, it was decided the Doughboys would be equipped with American-made rifles, but light and heavy machine guns would be purchased from the French or British, depending on where the units were sent. Most American troops received French automatic arms. Through no fault of their own, the Doughboys were issued the French Fusil Mitrailleur Modele 1915 CSRG (Automatic Rifle, Model 1915) or “Chauchat”—the most widely manufactured automatic arm of the Great War. How American troops made the flawed Chauchat work for them is a story that has already been told (October 2012, p. 70). The flip side to that story was the issue of the excellent French Model of 1914 Hotchkiss heavy machine gun, which served as the AEF’s primary heavy machine gun. Chambered in the 8x50 mm R Lebel cartridge, the

Mitrailleuse Automatique Hotchkiss Modele 1914 proved to be accurate, reliable and adaptable. Its design was based on principles set out by an Austrian cavalry officer, Baron Adolf Odkolek von Ujezda, and it was acquired and then refined by a Paris firm founded by an American, Benjamin Hotchkiss. An account from Co. D, 109th Machine Gun Btn., 28th Division, describes the training: “June 16—Got off train at Esbly [France] and hiked to trucks. Rode to Trembly and hiked back five kilo, to Roissy … . Here Hotchkiss Machine Guns were issued, and … many of the companies at this time received a severe training under French instructors.” The way of the machine gun is both art and science. The Doughboys had a lot of catching up to do in order to be competitive with the Kaiser’s experienced men, and that was described in the History of the 101st Machine Gun Battalion: “By the end of December practically every man was thoroughly familiar with the handling of the Hotchkiss gun. Before the month of January was over, it might be said that the Battalion was well trained. They were far from veteran troops, but at least each man understood his gun, which is the essential for a machine-gunner. “Every effort was made to find a place where indirect fire could be carried on, but it was impossible to locate a range near Mont where there was no danger of ricochets landing in some nearby village. “At last, towards the end of January, all the machine guns of the Division were assembled at an old French artillery range on the outskirts of the Divisional area, and a chance was given to fire an overhead barrage. The machine guns of the Division, 168 in number, were put into action with an interval of five yards between each gun. Each Company Commander was given a map showing his gun position and the target assigned to his company, and told to calculate the necessary data. “At a given signal all guns opened fire at once. Observers gave reports for the proper adjustment of the fire. It was a remarkable sight.

I enjoyed Tom Laemlein’s article “‘Come And Get Us!’: The Hotchkiss Model Of 1914 Heavy Machine Gun” (June 2018, p. 66). I was unaware of the large number of Hotchkiss Model 1914s used by our troops in World War I. The article indicated that Hotchkiss 1914s were not retained after the war. I suspect some may still have been in service a little later. In 1971, a detail I was part of at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, loaded half a box car with ammunition for the Hotchkiss. It was in olive-drab, brown, dovetailed boxes, with a single nail holding the inletted lid. The boxes swayed at the joints when carried. I tried to get a box as a souvenir, but the officer in charge was having none of it. By the way, the other half of the car had M14 ammunition in it. I was told there was plenty more for the Hotchkiss at the ammunition dump, but no one was sure about any Hotchkiss machine guns. JOHN HOBDELL, ALABAMA The most commonly issued machine gun to the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) was the gasoperated French Model of 1914 Hotchkiss in 8x50 mm R Lebel. The height of the “Omnibus” tripod (above) was one of the Doughboys’ few complaints. The other was weight—111 lbs.

June 2018

Photos courtesy of Armor Plate Press

american rifleman

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EZ Impressed

I agree with Editor In Chief Mark Keefe’s assessment in “The Easy Road: The S&W M&P380 Shield EZ” (June 2018, p. 56) that Smith & Wesson has hit the mark with its new Shield EZ .380 ACP pistol. My wife recently purchased one for defensive use after having increased difficulty operating 9 mm Luger pistols and .38 Spl. revolvers due to arthritis. We experienced several failures to feed with the first few magazines, but, thereafter, it ran fine with full-metal-jacket and hollow-point ammunition. It was easy to rack the slide, easy to load the magazines, easy to take down, accurate, has low recoil and holds nine rounds versus the five in a J-frame revolver. I was very impressed. MARK HOWARD, VIA EMAIL

Onto Something

F E D E R A L’ S N E W . 2 2 4 V A L K Y R I E June 2018

The World’s Oldest And Largest Firearm Authority

Official Journal of the National Rifle Association AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

Washington’s Pistols R1806_COVER.indd 1

Mark Keefe struck the mark with this one, and not just on the gun. I’m a disabled Vietnam vet in my mid-70s, and arthritis has become a progressively severe problem with my hands the last few years. I’ve reached the point that racking an M1911 feels like squeezing broken glass. My wife of 50 years has become far more recoil-sensitive. She had been shooting a snubnose .38 Spl. and compact 9 mm Luger for many years, but in the last few years, they’ve become so painful that she has avoided going to the range. A few years back, we ran her through numerous lighter handguns, and she found the Walther PK380 was perfect for her, ergonomically. Now she happily runs through a couple hundred rounds a visit without pain. Last fall, I bought a Remington RM380 (the old Rohrbaugh), and find it’s easy to rack, fits my big hands pretty well and is quite accurate. Modern .380 ACP ammunition is every bit as effective as the old 158-gr. lead .38 Spls. I packed as a cop, so I don’t feel under-gunned. BILL DIETRICK, NRA INSTRUCTOR, COLORADO

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continued on p. 81

June 2018

“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.

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An Ammunition Achievement

hen the United States entered the Great War in April 1917, the War Dept. had 200,000,000 rounds of .30-cal. rifle ammunition on hand. In the following 19 months, Frankford Arsenal, Dominion Arsenal, National Brass & Copper Tube Co., Peters Cartridge Co., Remington Arms-Union Metallic Cartridge Co., United States Cartridge Co., Western Cartridge Co. and Winchester Repeating Arms Co. together produced 2,870,148,000 rounds. For more on America in the Great War, see “‘One Of The Great Decisions’: The U.S. Model Of 1917 Rifle” starting on p. 42.

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reports | news & notes

George Montgomery/NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest Winners

he National Rifle Association and American Rifleman would like to congratulate the winners of the George Montgomery/NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest. Best In Show recipient Larissa Weber, grade 11, of Anderson, Ind., was awarded an NRA gift package and $1,000 for her submission titled “Red Fox.” The George Montgomery/ NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest encourages youth to nurture their interest in the visual arts, hunting and wildlife by providing an outlet for their creative talent,

Larissa Weber Red Fox

Hunter Pearson The Seeker

practiced artistic techniques and wildlife identification skills through the creation of original works. Students grades one through 12 (including home-schooled children) are eligible to enter, and all entries must portray North American game birds or animals that can be legally hunted or trapped. This year’s contest begins Sept. 1, 2018, and entries must be postmarked by Oct. 31 to be eligible. Visit artcontest.nra.org for more information and to download the entry form.

Emma Vande Vort Face Off

Janice Lee Prince Raccoon

Edun Yuen Portrait of a Mountain Bighorn

Army Picks SIG Tango6

he U.S. Army has announced its request for 6,069 SIG Sauer Tango6 1-6X 24 mm riflescopes for use with Squad Designated Marksman Rifles (SDMR). The optic is the final component to be selected for the complete SDMR system, which is intended to improve the long-range firepower for our soldiers at the tactical level. The Tango6 1-6X 24 mm SDMR riflescope features a Flat Dark Earth anodized aluminum maintube and an illuminated 7.62x51 mm NATO Extended Range Bullet Drop Compensation first-focal-plane reticle. A locking illumination dial and throw lever, for fast magnification adjustments, are included along with a laser-marked scope-level indicator. Commercial versions of the Tango6 riflescope are also available. sigsauer.com

Clay Target Program Flourishes

Gunmakers Sever Ties With Dick’s

he USA High School Clay Target League (USAHSCTL) provides student athletes from grades six through 12 with a coed, firearmfriendly, extracurricular activity centered around clay target shooting. Nearly 26,000 students from 804 high schools enrolled to form teams of five or more students for the 2017/18 school year. The 501(c)(3) non-profit USAHSCTL utilizes nearly 6,200 volunteers to provide fun and safe firearm experiences for today’s youth. The sport is the safest recorded high school sport, with zero reported injuries since its start. League President Jim Sable commented, “The record-setting growth we’ve seen shows the demand for alternative high school activities related to America’s longstanding outdoor traditions.” Visit usaclaytarget.com to learn more and to enroll.

ick’s Sporting Goods continued its attacks on the Second Amendment by hiring anti-gun lobbyists from the Glover Park Group, and by attempting to restrict the right of U.S. citizens, 18 to 21 years of age, to purchase firearms. A storewide ban, including the company’s Field & Stream locations, on “highcapacity” magazine sales was also implemented, and all inventoried MSRs were ordered to be destroyed. Gunmakers quickly responded by severing ties with the outdoor retailer—Springfield Armory set the pace, followed by MKS Supply, distributor of Inland Mfg. and Hi-Point Firearms, and O.F. Mossberg & Sons. Springfield Armory mentioned in a press release, “It is clear where Dick’s Sporting Goods and its subsidiary, Field & Stream, stand on the Second Amendment . . . we believe in the right and principles fought for and secured by American patriots and our founding forefathers, without question. We will not accept Dick’s Sporting Goods’ continued attempts to deny Second Amendment freedoms to our fellow Americans.” Iver Mossberg, chief executive officer of Mossberg, went on record stating, “Make no mistake, Mossberg is a staunch supporter of the U.S. Constitution and our Second Amendment rights, and we fully disagree with Dick’s Sporting Goods’ recent anti-Second Amendment actions.”

August 2018

american rifleman

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reports | products & projects

Slim Line Stocks

cales and stocks made from G10 have become very popular options for knives and firearms, proving strong enough to retain their shape and structure even when pared down to slim dimensions. Trimming width from the grip frame area can change the feel and handling qualities of even the enduring M1911, and VZ Grips (vzgrips.com) takes full advantage through its Slim Line series of 1911 stocks. The panels measure only about 0.20" thick, whereas the standard width for a single wood panel is around 0.27". I first tried VZ’s Slim Line Stocks at a media shoot that included Springfield Armory’s RO Elite M1911s. The Illinois gunmaker chose to outfit that entire family of upgraded 9 mm Luger and .45 ACP pistols with blue/black slantpattern Slims, and I quickly understood why. I have medium-size hands, and

definitely noticed that the slim stocks shrank the overall frame circumference on the Springfields and allowed me to get a better purchase on the gun. This led to better recoil control and generally better shooting. Other attendees, male and female with various hand sizes, also commented on the improved performance. I decided right then to refit my go-to project pistol—a muchloved Kimber Super Carry Pro—with a set of Slim Lines. I selected VZ’s Operator II Black Cherry G10 stocks with a round heel ($70) to match the Super Carry Pro’s frame profile. And while installation is

August 2018

american rifleman

very straightforward—two screws per side—there are certainly a few considerations to keep in mind. First, you need to have the correct bushings for the slim stocks. Some manufacturers already use trim or universal bushings, but the taller, standard-width components are far more common, and these will not secure Slim Line stocks. VZ Grips sells packs of four universal bushings, good for standardwidth or slim stocks, for $12. In addition to the correct-size bushings, VZ recommends adding O-rings ($2 for four) between the screw head and the stock panel for the best fit. I’d wager

the O-rings also protect the thin G10 panels from being marred or cracked by the metal screws in the event of over-tightening. For most, VZ’s Slim Lines can be installed with just a few turns of the wrench, however, the Kimber held one more surprising twist to overcome. You see, it was an evaluation sample that had been tested by several other gunwriters before I acquired it. And, along the way, the original stock panels must have come loose or exhibited some undesirable movement. The common cause of such a symptom is worn or stripped threading in the frame—particularly with “softer”

aluminum alloy frames. The remedy is to remove all four bushings, for consistency, and have a gunsmith or service center enlarge and re-thread the frame to accept oversize bushings. In so doing, standard stocks and screws are still viable, the only component that is changed are the bushings themselves. This process had indeed been carried out on my Kimber, and prevented the use of VZ’s universal bushings. Luckily, though, a quick call to Kimber’s customer service resulted in a set of oversize slim bushings being sent, posthaste. Had Kimber not had the appropriate part on hand, my next stop would have been Brownells (brownells.com), which carries a good assortment of M1911 stock bushings. Once all the parts arrived, installation was quick and simple, and the results on the range were satisfying. So

for those who feel a standard M1911 is a bit large in hand, or who just want to get a bit more grip, VZ’s Slim Line stocks provide an affordable user-level modification—which feature nearly the full range of color and texture options from VZ’s catalog—that make a big difference by trimming just a little width. —Joe Kurtenbach, Executive Editor

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REPORTS | PRODUCTS & PROJECTS

Danner Mountain 600 Enduroweave

ood hiking boots are essential for sportsmen who venture afield, and those who range farther put a premium on lightweight and durable construction. Danner’s Mountain 600 hiking boots enjoy a great reputation for comfort and support, whether in town or on the trail, and combine proven components such as OrthoLite footbeds, Vibram’s SPE midsoles, Fuga outsoles and Danner’s breathable, moisturewicking linings. The new Enduroweave 4.5" boots evolve the design and shave ounces by utilizing a tough, tightly woven, carbon-washed textile upper (Enduroweave) in place of leather, and pair it with an Air Mesh liner to maximize comfort and air flow. The boots are available in black or brown, in men’s sizes 8 through 14, with half sizes available up to 11.5, and each pair weighs approximately 34 ozs. Price: $160. Contact: Danner; (877) 432-6637; danner.com.

Blade-Tech Ultimate Carry Belt

sing reinforced polymer teeth to engage a ratchetlike mechanism in the buckle, Blade-Tech’s Ultimate Carry Belt allows wearers to change and fine-tune

their fit throughout the day in 1/4" increments, without having to undo their buckle. Tightening requires that the wearer simply pull the tongue, and a discreet bucklemounted release disengages the lock and allows the belt to loosen. The belt will fit waists from 25" to 50" (excess length can be removed by the user), and a reinforced polymer core ensures the belt won’t sag when bearing the weight of a firearm or gear. Available in black or brown leather with a stainless buckle, or black or coyote nylon webbing with a black buckle. Price: $50 (nylon), $60 (leather). Contact: Blade-Tech; (877) 331-5793; blade-tech.com.

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Lyman 140th Anniversary Sharps Carbine

he No. 1 Tang Sight paved the way for William Lyman and the Lyman Gun Sight Co. in 1878. This patented and innovative aperture sight design provides fast, accurate and consistent sighting, even in adverse lighting conditions. Now, 140 years on, Lyman is celebrating its anniversary with a commemorative 1878 Sharps Carbine. Built by Pedersoli of Italy, the 140th Anniversary model reproduces the Sharps’ falling-block action and is chambered for the .30-30 Win. cartridge. The carbine features a 24" barrel, weighs 7 lbs. and, of course, is fitted with a Lyman No. 2 tang sight and two-position, globe-style front sight. The receiver’s sides also feature commemorative engraving. A limited run of 140 guns will be available starting on Aug. 1. Price: $2,000. Contact: Lyman Products; (800) 225-9626; lymanproducts.com.

N82 Tactical HERS Holster

ate Squared Tactical (N82) has offered its tuckable holster since 2009 and has continually improved and expanded the model’s offerings. The latest variation, the HERS line of holsters, is specifically designed to accommodate the contours of the female body. The HERS series is a tuckable holster designed to comfortably ride on skin, and is available for a wide range of firearms, from micro-size pistols such as the Beretta 3032 Tomcat, to J-frame revolvers or full-size M1911s. The holster is black with a tan suede backing. Price: $50. Contact: N82 Tactical, Inc.; (336) 237-1943; n82tactical.com.

Plano Sportsman’s Trunk Small

olded from high-impact plastic, Plano Moldings’ Sportsman’s Trunk Small is a lockable, 56-qt. storage tote. Plano incorporates structural grooves to improve its strength and stacking ability, and tie-down extensions on the main compartment facilitate secure transportation, yet allow access to its contents. Heavy-duty latches are also included to better protect valuables. The box measures 24" by 15", and 13" tall, and is available in black or OD Green. Price: $25. Contact: Plano Molding; (800) 226-9868; planomolding.com.

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REPORTS | PRODUCTS & PROJECTS

Dan Wesson 50th Anniversary Pistol

an Wesson Firearms is celebrating its golden jubilee with a commemorative M1911 pistol. Tastefully embellished, the Dan Wesson 50th Anniversary pistol features a polished nitride finish—in a rich blue color—with scroll engraving along the steel slide and frame. Ivory-colored G10 stocks are inlaid with gold “DW” medallions. The recoil spring plug and grip safety also feature gold “50th” and “DW” inlays, respectively. The .45 ACP-chambered gun features a 5" match-grade barrel, tacticalstyle rear sight and a front post with a brass bead for aiming. Magazine capacity is eight rounds, and overall weight is 40.4 ozs. Price: $2,999. Contact: Dan Wesson Firearms; (607) 336-1174; danwessonfirearms.com.

Game Scout Hunting Stock

Galco Gunleather Holster Care Kit

eather goods, like the firearms they holster and protect, also require maintenance in order to provide a lifetime of use. Galco Gunleather takes leather seriously, and as such offers a kit specifically developed for the protection and maintenance of gun leather. Included is a 4-oz. bottle of Leather Lotion, a 1/2-oz. bottle of Draw-EZ for holster break-in, and applicators made of synthetic wool and foam. Price: $30. Contact: Galco Int’l, Ltd.; (800) 874-2526; galcogunleather.com.

Outdoor Vision Ridgetop Bino Harness

P HUNT

McMillan Game Scout Stock on Browning .300 WSM rifle

roviding protection and easy, one-handed access to binoculars, the Outdoor Vision (OV) Ridgetop Bino Harness secures sporting optics and holds them snugly against the body—distributing weight evenly across the shoulders. Comprised of SilentHyde material and available in Coyote Brown, Ranger Green and MultiCam, the Ridgetop Harness utilizes YKK zippers, ITW slides and buckles, and interior foam reinforcement to improve optic protection. Two mesh side pockets and a zippered front compartment provide space for necessities—an included Mini Field Aid Kit, packed with basic medical products, comes standard with each unit—a zippered underside compartment houses the waterproof rain cover, and a binocular tether is included for additional security. Price: $96. Contact: Outdoor Vision, LLC; (888) 553-0073; outdoorvisiongear.com.

AR-15 7.62x39 mm LULA Loader & Unloader

PERFECT YOUR RIFLE AT MCMILLANUSA.COM

finger- and time-saving product designed for 7.62x39 mmchambered AR-15-style rifles that utilize metal magazines, the LULA Loader & Unloader from Maglula is a polymer loading device that simply slides over the top of a magazine. The finger-operated cam lever, once depressed, enables users to easily drop in subsequent rounds. To unload, simply rotate the magazine with the LULA attached and cam the lever forward and back—the action uses gravity as an aid to dispense cartridges from the magazine. Price: $32. Contact: Maglula Ltd.; maglula.com. AUGUST 2018

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

REPORTS | HANDLOADS

9 mm Luger

ecoming an accomplished, defensive-minded pistol shooter requires significant trigger time. Forget infrequent forays to the range and expending a single, 50-count box of ammunition during each visit, you need to shoot—a lot! But, when expended in volume, even inexpensive, full-metal-jacket 9 mm Luger ammunition gets costly. “Stretch your dollar” by handloading non-jacketed, copper-plated lead bullets, such as the U.S.-made Rainier LeadSafe 115-gr. hollow point. Because the projectile sells for $0.08 to $0.10 each (midwayusa.com)—about half the cost of most jacketed hollow points—ammunition loaded to the recipe nearby will cost you around $0.13 per round— provided that you already have the cases. That’s about $0.08 less per round than imported, steel-cased loads with bi-metal bullets, or around $6.50 per 50-count box. Now, F C what’s your excuse not to practice? M —AARON CARTER, LU G FIELD EDITOR RECIPE

F C

BULLET: RAINIER LEADSAFE 115-GR. PLATED HP PROPELLANT/CHARGE: M LUG HODGDON LONGSHOT /5.4 GRS. PRIMER: CCI-500 CASE: FEDERAL CASE TRIM-TO LENGTH: 0.749" CARTRIDGE OVERALL LENGTH: 1.100"* VELOCITY @ 5' (F.P.S.): 1027 ENERGY (FT.-LBS.): 269 ACCURACY: 1.63"** USES: DEFENSE, COMPETITION, PLINKING, PRACTICE

NOTES: 31⁄2"-BARRELED SIG P250 PISTOL. *TAPER CRIMP REQUIRED. **AVERAGE OF FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 15 YDS. 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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AUGUST 2018

questions & answers

What In The World Is G10?

I have repeatedly seen the descriptor “G10” used in the magazine in reference to the stock panels on modern pistols. Obviously it has nothing to do with the group of countries involved in the Int’l Monetary Fund, so what, exactly, is G10?

Your instinct is, of course, correct with regard to G10—it is indeed a material rather than a body of state financial backers—and its use in the manufacture of knife scales and handgun stocks seems to be increasing. Described generically, G10 is a layered laminate composite material formed when sheets of epoxy-soaked cloth are stacked, compressed, heated and cured to form a solid sheet or block. It was first used to manufacture printed circuit boards. Not entirely dissimilar to Micarta and carbon-fiber laminates, G10 is, nonetheless, likely the toughest of the lot. It is non-conductive, resistant to impacts and chemicals,

N A T I O N A L

and easily-machined. Recent uses in firearms include the aforementioned stock panels—in fact, the design of the Techwell (techwearusa.com), a machined-aluminum magazine well for M1911-style pistols, relies on G10’s strength to hold the metal component in position against the pistol’s frame. Also, VZ (vzgrips.com), a prominent supplier of factory and aftermarket G10 handgun stocks, has made a line of spear-point daggers from the material. Finally, our recent coverage of Springfield Armory’s 911 pistol in .380 ACP (May 2018, p. 62) noted that three of its components,

the mainspring housing, trigger and stock set, are all machined from G10. Because of its layered nature, G10 can be manufactured using multiple colors and, when machined into various shapes and/or textured by way of bead- or sand-blasting or polishing, will display a distinct variegated appearance that many users find appealing. Fabricators of the material are forewarned, however, that a respirator and proper ventilation should be employed to keep G10 dust out of the lungs when it is being ground, sanded or blasted. —Brian C. Sheetz, Senior Executive Editor

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. 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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american rifleman

A Fair Trade

he story of this Mauser-built “S/42” Luger pistol, manufactured in 1937, was told to me by the son of the serviceman who picked it up, and begins in July 1943 in Sicily. The serviceman, George W. Longworth, was a Machinist’s Mate Second Class in the U.S. Navy. He enlisted in April 1942 and was honorably discharged in November 1945, serving on Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) No. 75, for 21 months. He fought in the North African, Middle East, Italian and European theaters, and earned the right to wear campaign ribbons with five bronze engagement stars. George saw action in Tunisia, Sicily, Salerno, Anzio and during the June 6 French coast engagements. A book titled, A Boy, A Girl, And The LCI 75 was written by George’s shipmate, Gregory R. Bierck. Occasionally, after discharging troops, the seamen would leave the ship and spend time ashore on the beach or in the nearest town. On one

of these excursions, George came upon an MP guarding the body of a German lieutenant with his Luger still belted on. George was not a smoker and he saved all the cigarette rations he was issued, so he bargained with the MP to trade his cigarettes for the Luger. Upon discharge, George brought the pistol home with him. He eventually sold the Luger to his brother for money so he could marry his sweetheart. His brother, Hobert, cared for the gun until he passed away, at which time his son—and my good friend— Jim Longworth inherited it. Jim, a decorated Vietnam helicopter pilot, unfortunately suffered an untimely death several years ago, and his widow passed the Luger to another close friend of mine, and then it came to me. I’ve since obtained the military

records of Seaman Longworth, which offers proof of service, theaters and dates of action. This rig has the German lieutenant’s name embroidered on a tag inside the holster flap, and I’m attempting to learn more about this individual through German military records and contacts. I’m honored to have this pistol, and I intend to make sure it has a safe home in honor of Seaman Longworth’s service to our country. Michael Rabstoff, Arizona

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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CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM

This Ithaca M1911A1 was rebuilt at Anniston Army Depot in June 1978 (denoted by “ANAD” on the frame) and exemplifies the overall condition buyers can expect of the CMP’s Service Grade M1911A1s. The interior of the pistol vault at CMP South (r.) houses crates containing 25 individually packaged ANAD-rebuilt M1911A1 pistols with their serial numbers listed on the crates’ exteriors.

AUGUST 2018

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

Photos by author

BY MARTIN K.A. MORGAN

his is the story of 8,000 pieces of American history—8,000 artifacts that speak to the American experience during the 20th century. They were born of the World Wars, and they remind us of the era when imperial dynasties crumbled, when fascism threatened the international balance of power and when the United States sent men to war with .45 Automatics. The 8,000 pistols being reported on here fought on battlefields from Europe to Southeast Asia, only to then be consigned to long-term storage in a government warehouse. Although at one time it looked like they might be destroyed, the story of these pistols has a happy ending. In 2015, U.S. Congressman Mike Rogers (R), representing Alabama’s 3rd congressional district, proposed an amendment to authorize the U.S. Army to turn over M1911 pistols, spare parts and accessories designated “surplus to the requirements of the Department of the Army” to the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) for sale to qualified buyers. As a gun owner and a believer in the Second Amendment, Rep. Rogers proposed the amendment as a means of eliminating unnecessary storage costs to the federal government while simultaneously promoting marksmanship activity and serving the interests of law-abiding collectors. Rogers recognized that the possible sale of these pistols would harmonize perfectly with the CMP’s mission, and he described the measure as a “win–win” for the taxpayer. continued on p. 72

HE INSIDE STOR

Yes, it’s true. The Civilian Marksmanship Program will offer 8,000 surplus U.S. M1911 and M1911A1 pistols to qualified buyers this year. How do we know? We’ve seen them. Here’s how to get yours.

CMP M1911s

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

AUGUST 2018

handgun

August 2018

american rifleman

Smith & Wesson’s M2.0s GO COMPACT Smith & Wesson rightly earned accolades for the M2.0 upgrade to its polymer-frame, striker-fired M&P family of pistols. Now, the downsized M2.0 Compact—featuring a 4" barrel and 15-round magazine in its 9 mm Luger configuration—takes aim at the duty/carry crossover market. JOE KURTENBACH, Executive Editor n the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit that this is one I’ve been waiting for—and I know I’m not alone. Smith & Wesson’s M&P M2.0 Compact downsizes the striker-fired, self-loading M2.0 platform to use a 4" barrel and a 15-round magazine in its 9 mm Luger configuration (a 13-round .40 S&W model is also available). It’s not a major overhaul considering the full-size models’ 4.25" or 5" tube and 17-round capacity, but the changes put an M&P model in direct competition with the Glock 19 for the first time, and that is exciting. While Glocks aren’t for everybody, the G19 has long been considered a near-perfect duty/carry crossover pistol, finding favor with gun-toting professionals and armed citizens alike thanks to its excellent shooting and concealment qualities, and the fact that it has plenty of ammunition on board. Through the years, Smith & Wesson and other manufacturers have certainly developed “competitive” models, but there has been a scarcity of 4"-barreled, 15-round 9 mm platforms, despite the merits and popularity of such a configuration. I, for one, am glad to see a serious alternative enter the category, especially one made in America by a firm that has a very long history of producing service sidearms and self-protection handguns. Iron sharpens iron—and, when it comes to fighting irons, I think competition is a boon to consumers. Giving the gun a once-over, the M&P lineage is obvious— there are no major departures from S&W’s first generation of polymer-frame striker-fired semi-automatics, but there are some serious enhancements. The M2.0’s most prominent upgrades are the aggressive pebbled texturing pattern on the frame and the much-improved trigger system—more on those later. In terms of controls, the M2.0 retains the M&P’s bilateral slide stop/release—though the frame’s Photos by Forrest MacCormack

americanrifleman.org

molded fencing is improved—and the reversible magazine release. And, as with all M&Ps, models are available with or without a bilateral, manual thumb safety—probably the biggest differentiating factor between the M&P and Glock platforms. Similar in appearance and function to an extended M1911 safety, the M2.0’s control has a very clear tactile and audible click when manipulated—up for safe, down for fire—and, unlike an M1911, the M&P’s slide can still be cycled with the safety on. Prior to the M2.0 upgrades, the M&P series had some well-regarded features that have been carried on in the newer designs. The 18-degree grip angle, for one, has served Smith & Wesson well, with many shooters preferring the feel and natural pointing characteristics it provides. Likewise, Smith & Wesson was early to the game with regard to fitting the handgun to the user by providing interchangeable backstraps to adjust the grip frame’s dimensions. Its palmswell grip inserts—labeled S, M and L for small, medium and large—are easy to exchange and can noticeably improve the interface between a shooter’s hand and the firearm. Another change in the M2.0 iterations is the addition of a fourth palmswell which is labeled “ML” and splits the difference between the medium and large inserts. The process for exchanging the palmswells is unchanged: A frame tool—that also provides a lanyard loop—is housed in the bottom rear of the grip frame. Rotating the tool 90 degrees in either direction allows it to be retracted from the bottom of the gun. The frame tool serves as the locking pin for the palmswell inserts, so once it is removed the insert can be lifted up and off the frame. Then simply replace the insert with the desired size and re-install the frame tool to secure it. August 2018

SMITH & WESSON M2.0 COMPACT

The Compact disassembles in typical M&P fashion, and changes to its components constitute a refinement of the platform, not an overhaul. (Inset, clockwise from top) Models of the M2.0 Compact are available with or without a bilateral manual safety. In 9 mm Luger, the Compact feeds from 15-round magazines, and can accept the 17-round magazines used by full-size M&P pistols—two grip-extending magazine collars are included for this purpose. The four palmswell inserts allow shooters to “fit” the gun to their hand.

The Compact model differs from the full-size M2.0s (June 2017, p. 46) in three key dimensions. First, the frame is unchanged in size and configuration from front to back, even retaining the three-slot accessory rail on the dustcover, but the grip has been chopped by about 1/2", reducing the gun’s height from 5½" to right about 5". This is a critical change for two reasons: first, it enhances the concealment qualities of the gun—the butt of a pistol is often the most difficult feature to conceal beneath a cover garment. Secondly, the change necessitates the use of likewise-reduced magazines, in this case translating into two 9 mm Luger cartridges, reducing total capacity from 17 rounds down to 15 in the Compact. While looking at the magazines, it’s worth mentioning that the frames of all M2.0s feature bilateral finger scallops just above the magazine well to allow for better access and improved purchase when manual removal is necessary, particularly in the case of a malfunction. Also specific to the Compact model, Smith & Wesson includes two grip-extending magazine

18°

This illustration compares the 4"-barreled, reduced-grip-frame Compact to the full-size M&P M2.0 with a 5" barrel. AUGUST 2018

collars for use with full-size magazines of the appropriate chambering. It’s a thoughtful addition that allows for added-capacity reloads and a full-size grip area. The final dimensional difference is in the barrel and slide, both of which are trimmed down compared to the full-size models to 4" and about 7", respectively (overall length is about 7¼", depending on the selected backstrap). The contours of the slide have been modified just a touch, but retain the same general profile as the original: scalloped cocking serrations at the rear, slimming/lightening bilateral contour cuts moving forward and angled, bilateral relief cuts at the muzzle to ease re-holstering. The M2.0’s slide features softer, beveled cuts and corners compared to earlier M&Ps, and small sections of scalloped cuts have been added near the muzzle to serve as forward cocking serrations (though a semi-circular window in the barrel shroud serves as a loaded-chamber check and provides an alternative to presschecking). The slide of the M2.0 Compact is topped by steel sights in a white, three-dot configuration. Despite being shortened, the pistol’s slide still provides for approximately 6¼" of sight radius. Disassembly is unchanged from the typical M&P procedure: Remove the magazine and lock the slide to the rear, ensuring the chamber is empty. Use the frame tool to tip the sear-release lever—inside the magazine well, just below the breech face—downward. With the sear released, rotate the takedown lever clockwise and release the slide forward and off the frame. Once the slide is off the frame, the barrel and recoil spring can be removed from the slide. With the slide removed, we can get a good look at the internal mechanisms housed within the Compact’s molded polymer frame. Two sets of steel rails guide and retain the slide—a 1" track atop the trigger housing block and a 3/8" section integral to the sear block at the rear of the frame. In terms of safeties, the M&P’s articulated trigger features a safety tab that engages the frame, stopping rearward movement of the trigger. Therefore, an intentional, AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

SMITH & WESSON M&P9 M2.0 COMPACT

MANUFACTURER: SMITH & WESSON (DEPT. AR), 2100 ROOSEVELT AVE., SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104; (800) 331-0852; SMITH-WESSON.COM 7.25" SMITH & WESSON

SPRINGFIELD, MA U.S.A. CAUTION-CAPABLE OF FIRING WITH MAGAZINE REMOVED

NBN5 000

4" 5"

ACTION TYPE: RECOILOPERATED, CENTER-FIRE SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL CHAMBERING: 9 MM LUGER BARREL: STAINLESS STEEL; ARMORNITE FINISH RIFLING: SIX-GROOVE, 1:10" RH TWIST TRIGGER: DOUBLE-ACTION; 5-LB., 13-OZ. PULL SLIDE: STAINLESS STEEL; ARMORNITE FINISH

FRAME: POLYMER WIDTH: 1.31" (1.53" WITH MANUAL SAFETY) WEIGHT: 24 OZS. SIGHTS: THREE WHITE DOTS, STEEL; DRIFT-ADJUSTABLE FRONT AND REAR

MAGAZINE: 15-ROUND DETACHABLE BOX

ACCESSORIES: OWNER’S MANUAL, SPARE MAGAZINE, TWO MAGAZINE COLLARS, THREE EXTRA PALMSWELL

INSERTS, LOCK MSRP: $569

SHOOTING RESULTS (15 YDS.)

9 MM LUGER CARTRIDGE

VEL. @ 15' (F.P.S.)

ENERGY (FT.-LBS.)

GROUP SIZE (INCHES) LARGEST AVERAGE SMALLEST

AGUILA 115-GR. FMJ

1152 AVG. 3 SD

339

1.35

2.48

1.99

NOVX ARX 65-GR. +P PCF

1702 AVG. 17 SD

418

2.10

2.79

2.35

SIG SAUER 147-GR. JHP

989 AVG. 10 SD

319

1.96

2.88

2.31 2.22

AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD

NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 SHOTS OVER AN OEHLER MODEL 36 CHRONOGRAPH AT 15 FT. ACCURACY RESULTS FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 15 YDS. FROM A SANDBAG REST. TEMPERATURE: 78° F. HUMIDITY: 10%. ABBREVIATIONS: FMJ (FULL METAL JACKET), JHP (JACKETED HOLLOW POINT), PCF (POLY/COPPER FLUTED), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION).

full-finger press is required, and will cause the lower portion of the trigger face to hinge back, pivoting the tab upward and allowing the trigger to be pulled fully to the rear. A slide-mounted, spring-tensioned striker block retains the firing pin until it is deactivated by upward pressure from a lug that extends up from the transfer bar, and engages the block during its rearward travel. As well, guns with the manual thumb safety feature a metal blocking bar that rises into the path of the transfer bar when the safety lever is in the up position. Returning to the trigger, the M2.0 family features a mechanism that is vastly improved over the original M&P series semi-automatics. Fans of the S&Ws often lamented the unrefined qualities and pull characteristics of the mechanism, particularly its lack of a discernible reset. When the M&P family expanded to include the Shield pistol, I noted in our review of that gun (July 2012, p. 42) that a lot of work had been done to improve the trigger, and indeed the reset was addressed and accompanied by a tactile and audible cue. The system was further refined in Performance Center models, and the results of continuous evolution are apparent in M2.0 pistols which possess, by far, the best stock M&P triggers to date. My evaluation gun exhibited less than 1/2" of effortless takeup, then just 1/16" of resistance before a crisp break. Reset comes after continued on p. 74 AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

AUGUST 2018

COVER STORY

Although the U.S. Model of 1903 Springfield was standard-issue before World War I, it is estimated that three-quarters of the “doughboys” carried the U.S. Model of 1917 rifle in France.

AUGUST 2018

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

U.S. Army photo courtesy of Armor Plate Press

“One Of The Great Decisions” The U.S. Model Of 1917 Rifle When America entered the Great War, there was a dire shortage of rifles for the Doughboys headed “over there.” The solution was found in three American factories and what is now known as the “U.S. Enfield.” BY BRUCE N. CANFIELD, Field Editor n April 1917, when the United States was faced with active involvement in the war raging in Europe, our military lacked many of the essential arms necessary to fight the determined and experienced enemy. One of the most pressing deficiencies in Uncle Sam’s arsenal was service rifles. While the standard U.S. military rifle at the time was the excellent Springfield Model of 1903 (July 2018, p. 48), there were only some 600,000 on hand, far short of the number necessary to arm the rapidly expanding American military. Springfield Armory immediately took steps to increase manufacture as rapidly as possible. Rock Island Arsenal had manufactured the Model 1903 rifle from 1903 until 1913, when its rifle production program was discontinued. Rock Island began preparations to revitalize its moribund ’03 rifle assembly line, but the shortage of experienced personnel and the lack of raw materials hampered efforts in this regard. It was painfully obvious our armed forces would NRA Museums photos

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

soon be facing a crippling shortage of modern service rifles unless other steps were taken. Some 160,000 obsolete U.S. .30-40 Krag rifles were taken out of mothballs, primarily for use as training rifles for the flood of recruits and draftees inundating training camps across the country, but this was only a stopgap measure. Clearly, another source of rifles needed to be found, and time was of the essence. The War Dept. had two basic options for the procurement of additional rifles. One was to seek commercial manufacturers that could produce Model 1903 rifles under government contract. It was soon determined, however, that the lag time required to find suitable manufacturers, negotiate production contracts, train new workforces from scratch, and acquire the necessary production machinery and raw materials would be too great. The second option would be to adopt another type of rifle that was already in production to augment the Model 1903. Ultimately, the government had little choice but to pursue the second option. AUGUST 2018

U.S. MODEL 1917

Armor Plate Press photo

The U.S. Model of 1917 rifle was based on the British Pattern 1914 rifle in .303 British. Changes were necessary to chamber the rifle in the U.S. service cartridge, .30-’06 Sprg. The M1917 had an aperture rear sight (above), adjustable for elevation. Unlike the ’03 Springfield, the M1917 cocked on closing.

AUGUST 2018

The fates of war smiled on the United States at that time, as there was an available source of rifles. Three American firms—Winchester, Remington and Eddystone (an affiliate of Remington)—were completing the manufacture of large numbers of Pattern 1914 .303 British bolt-action rifles for the British government. The machinery and trained workforces were still largely intact, and the three firms could resume production of the Pattern 1914 rifle for the United States with little delay. Despite this fortuitous situation, the War Dept. was immediately faced with another conundrum. In order to put the maximum number of rifles into the hands of our armed forces in the minimum amount of time, the government initially considered adopting the .303 British Pattern 1914 rifle “as is.” That course of action, though, would have resulted in logistical headaches, as it would have required two types of ammunition to be produced and issued. Also, it was widely believed that the British .303 cartridge was inferior to the American .30-’06 Sprg. Those considerations resulted in a decision to modify the British rifle to be chambered for the standard American .30-cal. cartridge. The modified rifle was adopted as the “U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, Model of 1917,” sometimes referred to today as the “Pattern 1917” or “P17” rifle. This nomenclature is factually and historically incorrect, as the U.S. military never used the term “Pattern” or “P” to designate arms. The official nomenclature was either “Model of 1917,” “Model 1917” or “M1917.” The rifle is also widely called the “U.S. Enfield” or, sometimes, just the “Enfield.” It is interesting to note that a 1942 field manual (FM 23-6) was titled “U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1917 (Enfield).” The Model 1917 rifle weighed 9 lbs., 3 ozs., with a 26" barrel, and it had an overall length of 46¼". The rear sight AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

was a folding leaf, adjustable for elevation, but not windage. The magazine capacity was six rounds, although it was typically loaded with the same five-round stripper clip as the Model 1903 Springfield rifle. The Pattern 1914 bayonet was also adopted by the United States as the “Bayonet, Model of 1917.” The bayonets were manufactured by Winchester and Remington, but, for whatever reason, none were made by Eddystone. Some of the Pattern 1914 bayonets made for the British were procured by the U.S. military and over-stamped with American martial markings. When it was announced that the new rifle had been adopted, the War Dept. received some criticism due to the delay in procuring the badly needed rifles because of the time it would take to finalize the engineering procedures involved in the change from .303 British to .30-’06 Sprg. In retrospect, this was unquestionably the correct decision. In 1919, Assistant Secretary of War Benedict Crowell stated, “The decision to modify the Enfield was one of the great decisions of the executive prosecution of the war—all honor to the men who made it.” Immediately after its adoption, the three manufacturers began preparations to convert from Pattern 1914 production to manufacture of the Model 1917 as expeditiously as possible. On May 10, 1917, each manufacturer submitted a prototype sample of the modified rifle to Springfield Markings on the receiver ring indicate which of the factories— Winchester, Remington or Eddystone—made the rifle. The earliest Winchester-made rifles, about 5,000, only bore a “W” (below, r.), as was specified on the British-contract Pattern 1914 rifles.

americanrifleman.org

Armory for evaluation. Even though, from an engineering and technical aspect, converting from .303 to .30-’06 wasn’t particularly difficult, it was determined there were problems with each of the rifles. One of main issues was lack of interchangeability of components due to the fact that some of the parts on the prototype rifles were hand-fitted. Even with the pressing need for rifles, the Ordnance Dept., understandably, insisted that the parts be interchangeable and instructed each maker to improve their manufacturing techniques before going into mass production. On July 12, 1917, the manufacturers submitted a second sample rifle to Springfield. Each sample reflected some degree of improvement, but it was determined that more refinement was needed. The Ordnance Dept. gave each company the option of proceeding with quantity production while working on the interchangeability issues or delay manufacture until the problems could be rectified. Remington and Eddystone elected to delay production, but Winchester chose to proceed without delay. As events transpired, Winchester should have been a bit more judicious. Assistant Secretary of War Benedict Crowell later remarked: “It would have been well if the same course of action [wait for final specifications] had been followed at the Winchester plant, for word came later from Europe not to send over any rifles of Winchester manufacture during that period.” It should not be inferred that the Winchester-made rifles were not functional, but, rather, the interchangeability issues caused logistical problems for Ordnance units in France. Even though the troublesome interchangeability problems were never completely resolved, once the standardized engineering drawings and specifications were

August 2018

U.S. MODEL 1917 completed, an acceptable rate of 95 percent interchangeability of parts was achieved by all the manufacturers. The later Winchester Model 1917 rifles were equal in quality and interchangeability to those made by the other two makers. It is interesting to note that unlike Remington and Eddystone, very-early-production Winchester Model 1917 rifles (approximately the first 5,000) were marked on the receiver ring with just the initial of the maker—“W”—as was the case with the British Pattern 1914 rifles, but that was soon changed to the full name “Winchester.” There was a perception by some that the newly adopted rifle was not suitable for use by our military. As an example of that mindset, there was an article published in the New York Times titled, “Why our forces in France must use an inferior rifle.” The article stated a number of misleading, if not outright false, “facts” regarding the Enfield. The magazine Arms And The Man, predecessor to The American Rifleman, subsequently published an article that refuted the New York Times’ flawed piece and detailed the valid reasons for the adoption of the Model 1917 rifle. While both the Model 1917 and Model 1903 rifles were bolt-actions, there were several differences in the design and operation of each. One of the most apparent was the Model 1917’s aperture rear sight, which was mounted above the receiver and located closer to the eye than the ’03’s barrel-mounted, folding-leaf Model 1905 sight. Another obvious difference was the U.S. Enfield’s distinctive “crooked” bolt handle, which was designed for faster manipulation of the action. While it may have had some slight advantage in this regard, it is amusing to note that an Ordnance Dept. report vastly overstated rapid-fire advantages of the configuration of the bolt and stated “by bending the bolt, we placed two men on the firing line where there was only one before.” In addition to the design of the rear sight and the shape of the bolt handle, another difference was the fact that the British rifle had a “cock-on-closing” bolt-action mechanism

unlike the ‘03’s “cock-on-opening” design. While it didn’t have any definitive impact on the operation of the rifle, many of the American troops who had become accustomed to the ’03 found this feature of the Model 1917 to be somewhat annoying. Another less noticeable difference was the fact that, unlike the ’03, the Model 1917 lacked a magazine cut-off. Again, this wasn’t a serious drawback, as magazine cut-offs were rarely used in combat. The lack of the feature meant that the follower had to be manually depressed in order to close the bolt on an empty magazine, which could prove a bit awkward during close-order drill. In order to be able to close the bolt without having to manually depress the follower, some Doughboys would insert a dime to keep the follower depressed. While obviously a makeshift measure, it worked. Later, stamped sheet metal magazine-follower depressors were introduced. Some of the complaints were due to lack of familiarity with the rifle, but the Model 1917 was indeed heavier and bulkier than the trim ’03, and this resulted in a majority of infantrymen of the American Expeditionary Force preferring the Springfield although they were issued 1917s. On the other hand, the Model 1917 was strong and reliable, and while its accuracy may not have been equal to the ’03s pinpoint target capability, it was more than adequate for most combat applications. In addition to its role as an infantry rifle, as was the case with the Model 1903, a number of Model 1917 rifles were fitted with French-designed Vivien-Bessiére rifle grenade launchers which proved to be handy devices for trench warfare. As the war progressed, the combined output of Model 1917 rifles produced by the three commercial firms greatly exceeded Springfield Armory’s and Rock Island Arsenal’s Model 1903 production. It is estimated that about three-quarters of continued on p. 70

AUGUST 2018

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

Armor Plate Press photo

Along with the rifle, the War Dept. adopted the M1917 bayonet, which had a 17"-long blade. The bayonets were made by Remington and Winchester. The same bayonet could also be used on trench shotguns.

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August 2018

american rifleman

SPECIAL REPORT

A battle-hardened Marine has been chosen to lead the National Rifle Association’s efforts to save the Second Amendment. by America’s 1st Freedom Staff

N R A

L E A D E R S H I P

t a time when the National Rifle Association and the Second Amendment are being maliciously attacked by gun-ban advocates and their media co-conspirators at every turn, the Association has tapped American war hero LtCol Oliver L. North, USMC (Ret.), as the new nra president.

Photo By Michael Ives

orth, a Purple Heart and Silver Star recipient, was elected by the NRA Board to replace Pete R. Brownell, who stepped down after one year at the helm. Much loved by NRA members throughout the country, North is a dogged combatant and respected leader who is expected to elevate the NRA in its battle to save the Second Amendment from those who would see it repealed or gutted. “This is the most exciting news for our members since Charlton Heston became president of our Association,” said NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. “Oliver North is a legendary warrior for American freedom, a gifted communicator and skilled leader. In these times, I can think of no one better suited to serve as our president.” Upon announcement of his presidency, North immediately retired from Fox News, where he acted as a political analyst. “I am honored to have been selected by the NRA Board to soon serve as this great organization’s president,” North said. “I am eager to hit the ground running as the new NRA president.” Because of the celebrity status of both North and Heston—one of NRA’s most beloved leaders—the comparison has been raised. Despite being a household name, North shrugs it off. “I’m ... quite frankly humbled by the challenge,” North said. “Someone just asked me if I thought I was Charlton Heston. I told him, ‘No, he was Moses. I’m a United States Marine.’ And now is the time when you need a Marine at the top of the pyramid at the National Rifle Association.” AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

Indeed, this is such a time. Since the horrible mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., in February, many who oppose freedom and the Second Amendment have focused their hatred on the NRA, rather than on the violent criminals who perpetrate such carnage. “Discussing this with Wayne LaPierre,” former President Brownell said, “he suggested we reach out to a warrior amongst our Board members, LtCol Oliver North, to succeed me. Wayne and I feel that in these extraordinary times, a leader with his history as a communicator and resolute defender of the Second Amendment is precisely what the NRA needs. After consulting with NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox, First Vice President (Richard) Childress and Second Vice President (Carolyn) Meadows, I can report there is extraordinary support for LtCol North.” LaPierre is quick to reiterate North’s importance to the Association at this critical moment in history. “The board acted quickly and with great vision,” LaPierre said. “Oliver North is, hands down, the absolute best choice to lead our NRA Board, to fully engage with our members, and to unflinchingly stand and fight for the great freedoms he has defended his entire life. “Oliver North is a true hero and warrior for freedom, and NRA members are proud to stand with him.” Upon his election, North quickly got to work, appearing on television news programs and granting newspapers interviews to get the word out. His resounding theme is that the NRA is being attacked like never before, so we must fight back like never before. continued on p. 79

AUGUST 2018

ammunition

Just as necessity is the mother of invention, John Amos Nosler became the father of the Partition bullet and the company and legacy that bear his name. In 2007, Nosler’s work earned him the first-ever NRA Publications Golden Bullseye Pioneer Award. He died in 2010 at 97. Through an advertisement in the November 1949 issue of The American Rifleman (r.), the inventor thanked his growing cadre of loyal customers.

August 2018

american rifleman

Images courtesy of Nosler

SWWWWWWWWWWWa YEARS OF THE NOSLER PARTITION

It all started with one moose. Hit right, it didn’t go down— which sent John A. Nosler on a journey to make a better bullet. We know it today as the Nosler Partition. BY LAYNE SIMPSON

was no exception. Only after taking seven bullets did the great animal decide to give up the ghost. An excellent marksman with a drawer full of competitive shooting awards back home to prove it, the hunter felt confident that his bullets had been placed where they should have gone. And they were. Bullets recovered while field dressing the animal showed excessive expansion at close-distance impact velocity, which resulted in inadequate penetration on such a large animal.

[November 1949]

f not for a British Columbia moose wearing a thick coat of mud from his favorite wallow, we probably would not have the Nosler Partition bullet today. All but the tips of the animal’s antlers were concealed by dense willows, so the hunter—armed with a Winchester Model 70 in .300 H&H Mag.—had to sneak “uncomfortably close” in order to thread his bullet through a screen of brush. Even with perfect bullet placement, it often takes a moose quite some time to discover it is dead, and this one

americanrifleman.org

August 2018

NOSLER

But that was only half of the story. Another moose shot with that same brand of bullet during the previous season almost got away. A straight-on shot at several hundred yards, the bullet was placed dead center of the chest and, failing to expand at all, it traveled the full length of the animal while leaving behind a very narrow wound channel. Only after four hours of tracking was the bull located and finished off. At that point, the hunter had thoughts of returning to his old .30-40 Krag, but he had grown quite fond of the greater reach of the .300 H&H Mag. and decided an improvement in bullet performance was the answer. The hunter in this story was John Amos Nosler, and his search for a better big-game bullet began soon after he returned to his Ashland, Ore., home in 1946. His goal was a bullet capable of consistently expanding to a larger frontal diameter at long range where impact velocity has dropped off, while retaining enough weight and sectional density to penetrate deeply at close range where

impact velocity is high, even when heavy bone is struck. In other words, a bullet that would reliably expand when striking soft game, such as deer and pronghorn antelope at great distances, while also being capable of driving deep on heavy game, such as moose and elk. The solution to the problem came in the form of a jacket with an integral partition separating front and rear lead cores. Using a lathe in a corner of his small shop, Nosler turned sections of copper rod to a diameter of 0.308" and, after it was cut to the desired lengths, cavities drilled into both ends were stopped short enough to leave a solid partition between them. Serving as an expansion arrestor, the partition would retain a high percentage of a bullet’s original weight. To aid expansion of the front section, a tapered reamer was used to thin the front end of its wall while leaving it thicker back toward the partition. The front and rear cavities of the first batch of bullets were filled by hand with molten lead, and after the cores had cooled, dies in a hand-operated press were used to swage the bullets to their final shape. Those first bullets were hollowpoints.

The Partition’s soft point, tapered jacket, cannelure and, of course, integral barrier between its forward and rearward lead cores proved undeniably effective on big game in the field and became the hallmarks on which the entire Nosler company was founded. While manufacturing methods and packaging have changed through the years (above and opposite, r.) the Partition’s basic design has endured.

AUGUST 2018

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

Expanded 200-gr. Partitions fired from a .300 Win. Mag. into controlled media at (l. to r.) 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 yds. illustrate how the bullet performs at various impact velocities. Average frontal diameter for all distances is 0.524" and retained weight ranges from around 60 percent at 50 yds. to 80 percent at 500 yds.

bullets with high weight retention recovered from those animals served as proof that Nosler was on the right track. Filling the front and rear cavities of the jacket with molten lead was replaced by the insertion of lead slugs, followed by swaging them in place. Considerable hardness of the jacket, along with its solid midsection, caused pressure issues, and several different styles of bullets were tried before the problem was eliminated. One was a two-diameter design with the rear section matching barrel groove diameter (0.308") while the forward section was bore diameter (0.300"). The final solution was to cut a relief groove into the jacket over its partitioned area. Additional field tests by Nosler and several of his friends on other hunts served as further proof that his design was sound. At the time, John Nosler owned a successful trucking company, and he had no desire to get into the bullet-making business. But he did want to see his idea go to market, and he expected to be paid for it. Frank Snow, Jim Spivey and Loren Harbor had only recently started a new shop in Whittier, Calif., called Sierra Bullets, so John went calling on them. While they were impressed enough to ask him to become a partner in their company, it did not work out. Vernon Speer—who

Illustration by David Labrozzi

In 1947, John Nosler headed back to British Columbia for moose, this time with handloads containing his own bullets. He was accompanied by friend Clarence Purdie, developer of various handloading items including the Bonanza Co-Ax press, which is still available today from Forster Products. The plan was to give the bullets the ultimate test by placing them into the shoulder area where they would likely encounter heavy bone. Using a rifle in .30-’06 Sprg., Purdie dropped his moose with a single shot and, in doing so, became the first person to bag an animal with the new bullet. When John Nosler’s chance at a moose came, he managed to get inside 25 yds. for maximum impact velocity from his .300 H&H Mag. If anything would defeat his new bullet, that would. Perfectly expanded

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

AUGUST 2018

nosler had started making bullets bearing his name in the basement of his Lewiston, Idaho, home in 1944—was also interested, but his machinery was incapable of making the partitioned jacket. After applying for a patent on his design, Nosler visited with a Winchester executive who considered his bullet too complicated to make at a profit. Convinced his design would sell, Nosler made the decision to sell his trucking company and invest the money in making bullets. But he first had to learn how to make them faster than by hand. While he considered himself a good machinist, design engineering skills that he did not have would be equally important. In addition to hiring an engineer, he spent enough midnight oil on books to eventually become one himself. The Nosler Partition Bullet Co. was founded in 1948, and its first advertisement ran in The American Rifleman during that year. Those first bullets, 150- and 180-gr. .30-cal. hollow points, were packed 50 to the box by John’s wife Louise, who along with their son Ron also handled shipping, bookkeeping and other chores. A price of 10 cents per bullet made them about twice as costly as bullets available from other companies, but it did not take hunters across the country and around the world long to learn they were worth every penny. Up until 1952, the jackets of all Partition bullets had been made from copper rod, and during that year a switch was made to tubing consisting of 90 percent copper and 10 percent zinc. An automatic screw machine cut the tubing to the required length and tapered the wall at the end that would become the front of the bullet. Then, opposing punches in a hydraulic press simultaneously reached inside each jacket from both ends to displace enough material to form a partition where they met. This forming method left a small hole in the center of the partition. Another machine cut a relief groove into the jacket at the partition. The hollow-point style was replaced by a soft point with the front core exposed at the nose as seen on the Partition bullet today.

The change in process sped production, and while all went well for awhile, obtaining tubing that met Nosler’s high-quality standards eventually became impossible. Bullets with jackets made the old way from copper rod would curl back to the partition during expansion while retaining a large frontal area. But due to excessive hardness of some lots of jackets made from tubing, the front section would occasionally shear off at the partition during expansion, resulting in a small frontal diameter. There had to be a better way. In 1974, the impact-extrusion method of jacket forming was adopted. In a nutshell, gilding metal wire is fed into machines that chop it to the required length and then form the cylindrical slug into specified dimensions. After the slug is annealed to the desired hardness, it is fed into a series of dies that exert tremendous pressure in forming the front and rear cavities while leaving a solid partition between them. The new process eliminates the hole in the center of the partition. After a second annealing, the jacket is trimmed at both ends and redrawn close to its final diameter. The rear core is crimped in place and, after insertion of the front core, the bullet is swaged to its final form and diameter (there are more than 20 steps in the process of going from gilding metal wire to finished bullet). The more easily compressed jacket allowed elimination of the relief groove. Polishing, washing, inspecting and packaging are the final steps. When word got out that the old Partition was being phased out, a buying frenzy spread rapidly throughout the hunting world. After all, some suggested, there was no way the new bullet could be as good as the old one. Adding to the panic was Nosler’s decision to delay production of the larger calibers; it was not long before some hunters who had rifles in .375 H&H Mag. were willing to pay $5 each for 300-gr. Partitions. There were minor production issues early on, but once they were history the new bullet proved to be a big improvement over the old bullet, and it mostly had to do with differences in the grain structures of the two jacket materials being used. In addition to being harder, the grain of the old material ran at right angles to the axis of the bullet, and that encouraged the wall of the front cavity to shear off when expansion reached the partition. When that happened, none of the front lead core was retained. In addition to being softer and more ductile, the grain structure of the new Had John Nosler (second from l.) not experienced bullet failure on a moose hunt in British Columbia, generations of shooters might never have benefitted from the design of his Partition bullet.

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american rifleman

material ran parallel to the axis of the bullet, and that enabled it to curl back against the partition without shearing off. The result was a larger frontal diameter along with higher retained weight due to partial retention of the front core. During the years following 1974, a number of tweaks and improvements were made in both the design and the manufacturing process—one of the more important was that the jacket had to be made thicker back near the partition on bullets of larger calibers. Weight retention of Partition bullets in smaller calibers will usually range in the neighborhood of 60 percent at close-distance impact velocities to about 80 percent out at 500 yds. The large-caliber Partitions I have the most experience with are 225 gr. and 250 gr. in the .358 STA, 210 gr. and 250 gr. in the .338 Win. Mag., 300 gr. in the .375 H&H Mag. and .375 Ruger and 400 gr. in the .416 Rigby and .416 Rem. Mag. Even at close-range impact velocities, the bullets I have recovered managed to retain 85 percent or more of their original weight. This is important to note since those bullets are often used on large and potentially dangerous game where plenty of penetration is needed. While John Nosler designed his bullet for optimum performance on game of various sizes rather than precision target shooting, the Partition can be surprisingly accurate. It rarely carves out groups as small as those made by match-grade bullets, but when fired from accurate rifles, it seldom fails to shoot inside minute-of-angle, and that includes those in .338, .358, .375 and .416 calibers. Several years after the current version was introduced, I shot the .270 Win. loaded with 130- and 150gr. Partitions in my return-to-battery rest. That cartridge was chosen because it was developed specifically for big-game hunting and has never been considered an accuracy cartridge. Maximum charges of H4831 pushed those bullets to 3133 and 2994 f.p.s., respectively, from the 24" barrel. Averages for five, five-shot groups at 100 yds. were 0.419" for the 130-gr. bullet and 0.468" for the 150-gr. bullet. The smallest group fired with the 130-gr. bullet measured just 0.334". Through the years, John Nosler hunted with rifles in .30-30 Win., .30-40 Krag, .30-’06 Sprg., .300 Win. Mag., .270 Win., .243 Win., .348 Win. and a 7 mm Mag. of his own design, but a Pre-’64 Model 70 in .300 H&H Mag. used to take more than 30 moose, and an assortment of other game, remained his favorite. John retired in 1988 and, while his son Bob purchased Nosler, Inc., during that year, he remained quite active in the company until shortly before his death in 2010. John Nosler was the unanimous choice for the first NRA Golden Bullseye Pioneer Award in 2007. In March

2018, Bob’s son John was promoted to president and chief operating officer, while Bob became chairman of the board and chief executive officer. The Nosler Partition is now offered in 14 calibers and 35 different weights, ranging from 0.224"/60 grs. to 0.458"/500 grs. Unlike in the old days, there is plenty of competition, not only from Nosler’s AccuBond and E-Tip, but from the Swift A-Frame, as well as expanding bullets of monolithic construction from Barnes, Hornady and others. Even so, no small number of hunters around the world still consider John Nosler’s Partition to be the big-game bullet by which all others are measured. Final Notes: I began using Nosler Partition bullets in 1965, and during the past 50-plus hunting seasons have used them to take various game ranging in size from southern whitetails to brown bear in Alaska to Cape buffalo in several African countries. I never had the opportunity to sit around a campfire with John Nosler, but I have shared several hunts with his son Bob. Great hunts are not always all about hunting, so among many interesting things I learned from Bob was quite a bit of company history. Much of the knowledge gained during those memorable days afield was recalled while writing this article. But there were still a few gaps remaining and they were filled when Bob sent a copy of Gary Lewis’ excellent book, Going Ballistic, The Life and Adventures of John Nosler. A web search will turn up plenty of copies.

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AMMUNITION

NINE LIVES OF THE 10 mm AUTO

Counted out more than once, the 10 mm Auto cartridge simply refuses to give up—and the latest crop of guns chambered for it proves that the 10 is more than just a survivor. BY JEREMIAH KNUPP, FIELD EDITOR

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AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

Photos by Holly Marcus

nyone in search of a candidate for the title “Comeback Kid of the Cartridge World” should take a serious look at the 10 mm Auto. Though ballistically the 10 mm is known for its flat trajectory, its arc through history has seemed more like the peaks and troughs of a heart monitor readout. Touted as the “ultimate,” lampooned as a “dud,” ensnared in problems and mired in controversy not of its own making, no other cartridge in the modern era has teetered on the brink of obscurity and clawed its way back as many times as this proverbial cat. Along the way, the 10 mm Auto has acquired its own mythology, including a healthy dose of downright falsehood: the power of a .41 Magnum; a destroyer of firearms; a recoil monster waiting to gobble up weak and timid shooters. The 10 mm is not really any of these things. Those who have taken the time to get to know the 10 mm have discovered what it really is—a powerful and versatile handgun cartridge that favors the performance-oriented aficionado of semi-automatics. Lately, the 10 mm has experienced a renaissance of sorts that has resulted in its greatest popularity since it was introduced. To understand the 10 mm Auto’s new-found success I took a look at some contemporary 10 mm firearms. But to understand how the 10 mm got to where it is today, I also needed to understand its history. So, first, a little truth.

The History

The 10 mm Auto was born from an attempt to get maximum performance out of a 9 mm Luger-size handgun. Gun writers such as Jeff Cooper had been kicking around the idea of a .40-cal. cartridge that would offer more power than a 9 mm and more capacity than a .45 ACP. In the early 1970s, Guns & Ammo editor Whit Collins experimented with the concept using a Browning Hi Power. The result was the .40 G&A, a cartridge based on the .30 Remington case with the 180-gr., .40-cal. bullet from the old .38-40 Winchester launched at around 1000 f.p.s. Cooper envisioned an evenhigher-performing “.40 Super” that would fit in a .45 ACP frame. At the time, he was particularly enamored with the then-new CZ 75, stating that the Czech pistol produced in a “serious caliber” would be “the great leap forward.” From its origin in 1976, the Int’l Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC)

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did much to advance both shooting techniques and handgun design. By the late 1970s, two IPSC competitors, Pachmyr gunsmith Tom Dornaus and police officer Michael Dixon, decided to join forces to develop the ultimate law enforcement and military service handgun. Though both were M1911 shooters, they felt that an entirely new handgun and cartridge design was necessary, a combination that would be “the heir to the Colt .45 Auto.” Forming Dornaus & Dixon Enterprises, the pair sought to pull together the best elements of contemporary service handguns into one design, taking their inspiration from the M1911, the High Power, the SIG P210 and the CZ 75. When you’re trying to best the M1911, who better to consult than Mr. 1911 himself? Dornaus and Dixon approached Cooper through their IPSC connections, and he happily joined the project as a consultant.

10 MM AUTO Dixon, who had a background in the aerospace industry, took the lead, designing the new pistol’s cartridge. The .45 ACP-size pistol they worked on had more room than Collins’ Hi Power. Using .41-cal. bullets swaged down by Sierra and cut-down rifle cartridge cases, a new cartridge was created. Sweden’s Norma would perform final testing and development on the cartridge. The initial Norma loading was a 200-gr., jacketed, truncated-cone bullet that achieved 1200 f.p.s. out of a 5" barrel. Though conceived in America, the new cartridge would eschew a caliber designation. Cooper insisted it be called the “10 mm,” a title that he felt had a modern ring to it. Dixon added “Auto” to the end, and the 10 mm Auto was born. Cooper also gave the new pistol its name. The CZ 75, which had inspired much of the gun’s external form and internal mechanics, had been designed at the same CZ factory as the light machine gun that would become the ZB-26 and later the famous British Bren gun. So it was “Bren” for the pistol’s Czech influence and “Ten” for its metric diameter. Cooper reviewed an early Bren Ten prototype in 1982, noting that the 10 mm bullet retained more energy at 100 yds. than the .45 ACP had at the muzzle and stated “the trajectory of the 10 is quite a bit flatter than that of the 45, and its superior projectile mass retains its long-range power better than that of any minor-power cartridge.” The article ended with Cooper’s highest endorsement: “[T]he Bren Ten is a bright light on the horizon. It could be the dawn of a new era, and I do not say that carelessly.” In 1984, Dornaus & Dixon introduced the Bren Ten to the market. It was a 10-shot, double-action/single-action that weighed 38 ozs. Early reviews were ecstatic about both the handgun and its new cartridge, with headlines such as “The Gun of the Future” and “Powerhouse.” The pistol was quickly snapped up by Hollywood, too, appearing in Sonny Crockett’s shoulder holster in the television series “Miami Vice.” With a standout, modern cartridge and an innovative, high-capacity handgun to chamber it—all endorsed by the godfather of American handgunning and featured on the most popular show on television—what could possibly go wrong? In a word, everything. Dornaus & Dixon was attempting the impossible: to establish a brand-new firearm manufacturer that would use the latest technology to build a brand-new handgun design in a brand-new chambering. That’s not an easy task in the best of times, and the challenge was compounded by the lack of available 10 MM AUTO

0.423"

0.425"

0.992"

1.260"

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The 10 mm Auto stands out among its contemporaries in the field of semi-automatic pistol cartridges. Examples shown here include (l. to r.): 9 mm Luger, .40 S&W, 10 mm Auto and .45 ACP.

capital in the stagnant economy of the early 1980s. Also, like any new design, the Bren Ten was not without its teething problems. Issues with overseas magazine production led to a delay in shipping out pistols. Quality control problems caused some pistols to be returned to the factory. Finally, under tremendous financial strain, Dornaus & Dixon was forced to close. About 1,500 Bren Tens were produced before manufacturing ceased in 1986. It seemed the newest “Most Likely To Succeed” cartridge had washed out while still a rookie. With the demise of the Bren Ten, Dixon sought to make sure the 10 mm Auto cartridge wouldn’t fade into obscurity. He sent out the engineering drawings and sample cartridges to all major American ammunition manufacturers. The first resurrection of the 10 mm Auto was just over the horizon. In 1984 Colt had considered licensing the Bren Ten in 9 mm Luger to be produced for the Army’s XM-9 pistol trials (it ended up submitting its own design, the SSP, to the competition). In preparation for a possible collaboration, representatives from Colt visited Dornaus & Dixon’s Huntington Beach facilities. A seed had been planted. One year after Dornaus & Dixon closed its doors, Colt released its iconic M1911 design in 10 mm, calling it the Delta Elite. By chambering America’s handgun in 10 mm Auto, the cartridge gained wider acceptance and jump-started domestic production of 10 mm ammunition. The Delta Elite made limited inroads into the law enforcement community, but during an era in which the world of police sidearms was still dominated by the wheelgun, a single-stack, single-action semi-automatic made little headway. When law enforcement agencies did transition to semi-automatics, their firearm of choice was the latest double-stack “wonder nine.” For the following three years, the 10 mm Auto was once again spinning its wheels. Enter 10 mm Auto Revival, Part II, courtesy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Incidents such as the 1986 Miami shootout had the FBI questioning the effectiveness of the .38 Spl. and 9 mm Luger handguns its agents carried. In 1987, it decided to extensively test the then-available semiautomatic pistols in 9 mm Luger and .45 ACP. The agent in charge of the testing, John C. Hall, decided to throw his personal handgun into the mix. That pistol was a Delta Elite. In the resulting landmark study, which established the protocol for testing law enforcement ammunition, the FBI AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

Loaded For Bear—And Musk Ox: 10 mm Glocks Of The Danish Sirius Dog Sled Patrol

f you were expecting to encounter the largest land carnivore in the world, what would your sidearm of choice be? For members of Denmark’s Sirius Dog Sled Patrol the answer is the 10 mm Glock 20. Greenland is a country within the Kingdom of Denmark, and the Danish military is responsible for providing for its defense. The Sirius Patrol (their name in Danish is “Slædepatruljen Sirius”) is a unit of the Danish navy that operates in the uninhabited area of northeast Greenland. Originating from a group of volunteers formed during World War II that fought off German incursions into Greenland, the modern Sirius Patrol asserts Danish sovereignty along nearly 9,000 miles of coastline. Arctic Greenland is one of the most physically demanding environments in the world, with 24-hour darkness and temperatures that reach 50° F below zero in the winter. Those dangers also include the native wildlife. The two largest animals in Greenland, the musk ox and the polar bear, are often encountered by the Sirius patrollers. The polar bear is an alpha predator whose adult males can reach a length of 10 ft. and weigh up to 1,500 lbs. The musk ox is about half the weight of an American bison, but its head is capped with a pair of Cape buffalo-like horns. The Glock 20 was adopted by the Sirius Patrol around 2000 as a replacement for the 9 mm Luger m/49, the Danish designation for the country’s SIG P210 service pistol, after it experienced problems using the 9 mm Luger cartridge against large mammals. Although 10 mm Auto is not a common chambering in Europe, ammunition is sourced from Serbian manufacturer Prvi Partizan. Issued ammunition features a jacketed flat-point bullet. The Glock 20 is paired with another gun unique for a 21st century elite military force. The rifle the Sirius Patrol carries is the century-old Pattern 1917 Enfield, known in Danish service as the Gevær M/53 (17), in .30-’06 Sprg. These rifles, along with M1 Garands, were sent to Denmark as part of NATO Cold War armament cooperation. The rugged bolt-action guarantees function in Artic conditions, and the .30-’06 Sprg. cartridge is more powerful than the 5.56x45 mm NATO Karabin M/96 (a version of the Canadian C8 M16 variant) that Danish forces currently issue. Sirius members carry their Glock 20s constantly, in a Safariland Universal Military holster and attached to the

belt by lanyard. It is always on their side when operating at their Daneborg headquarters and is the backup to their Enfield rifles while on patrol. As an arm of last resort, the 10 mm Glock has proved successful in several close-range encounters with both polar bear and musk ox, most involving multiple rounds fired rapidly at extremely close range. New Sirius recruits are given 28 hours of basic pistol training, followed by CQB and night-shooting courses in which they will fire a total of 3,000 to 4,000 rounds. The only complaint the Sirius patrol has with its Glock pistols is adapting to its trigger after using the “match-grade” single-action P210. Since the adoption of the Glock, the Danish military has considered alternatives, including .357 Mag. and .44 Mag. revolvers that were tested by firing them into ballistic gelatin covered in polar bear hide. The result was that the capacity and shootability of the 10 mm Glock won out over the revolvers—the Danes have discovered what many in the civilian world also know. For magnum performance from a service-size, semi-automatic handgun, the 10 mm is hard to beat.

quickly took a shine to the flat-shooting, hard-hitting 10 mm, but as Hall noted in a 1989 FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin announcing the bureau’s adoption of the 10 mm, “The high chamber pressures generated by the commercial loadings, with the resultant heavy recoil and muzzle blast, tended to offset the otherwise excellent performance of the round.” The FBI realized that a 10 mm Auto with about 25 percent less velocity would still give the performance it desired. So it decided to have the ammunition down-loaded to propel a 180-gr. bullet at 950 f.p.s. In 1989, it adopted the cartridge and put out a Request For Proposal for a pistol to chamber it. In January 1990, it was announced that the winning design came from Smith & Wesson. Adapting its large frame, double-action .45 ACP platform, Smith & Wesson produced the nine-shot, stainless steel Model 1076. The FBI would go on to order 12,000 of the pistols.

Law enforcement agencies around the country followed the FBI’s lead in adopting the 10 mm in a Smith & Wesson handgun. The cartridge took off in the civilian world, too. By late 1990, Auto-Ordnance, Colt, Smith & Wesson, Glock, Ruger and Springfield were all offering 10 mm pistols. “The 10 mm Auto is the greatest handgun success story of the last 50 years,” one gun magazine declared. But just when it was being lauded as the king of handgun cartridges, the 10 mm Auto hit road block number three. Manufacturers had a mere 50 days from the release of the RFP to submit their design. The FBI was very specific as to its requirements, dictating features such as the reset of the trigger down to 1/16 of an inch. Another specification was that the pistol must be equipped with a frame-mounted decocker, a feature many agents had developed an appreciation for with their SIG Sauer P226 pistols. To meet these requirements, Smith & Wesson

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10 MM AUTO

GRAND POWER P40L

COLT DELTA ELITE RAIL GUN

GLOCK 29 GEN4

EAA WITNESS HUNTER

altered its traditional slide-mounted decocker to a SIGstyle frame-mounted one. (Colt’s official entry for the FBI’s new handgun eventually evolved into its Double Eagle, a double-action M1911-style pistol that also featured a framemounted decocker). The changes altered Smith & Wesson’s time-proven double-action design, and, as a result, problems ensued. It was quickly discovered that sometimes a round in the magazine would contact the trigger drawbar and jam the 1076’s mechanism. In a hammer-fired gun this meant that the pistol was locked up tight. There were also problems with magazines, extractors and trigger springs. By May 1991, with less than 1,000 of the new pistols in the field, the FBI announced that it was recalling its 1076s. FBI Director William S. Sessions called the move “extraordinary, but necessary, until the weapon’s reliability can be determined.” The national press, through which the FBI had widely publicized its adoption of a new handgun, was merciless. “Red-Faced FBI’s New Superguns are Super Duds,” the headline of one major newspaper read. Many law enforcement agencies, which had followed the FBI’s lead, were also experiencing problems. Smith & Wesson scrambled to find solutions. While their 10 mm Auto-chambered handguns were heading back to the factory, FBI agents were allowed to use bureau-approved 9 mm Luger handguns. When the updated 1076s were returned, many weren’t interested. The remainder of the 1076 order was cancelled, and Smith & Wesson’s production of all its 10-series handguns ended in 1993. Instead of cementing the 10 mm’s place in the market, the FBI’s adoption of a down-loaded version of the cartridge would deal another blow. Smith & Wesson soon realized it could pack “10 mm Lite” (as the FBI loading was known) performance into a 3-mm shorter case that would fit into a 9 mm-sized frame. The .40 S&W, a cartridge very close to the concept that Whit Collins had experimented with nearly two decades earlier, was developed. It was introduced in 1990, just as law enforcement agencies were beginning to take interest in the 10 mm Auto. Offering the performance of the FBI load in a smaller package, the “Forty” quickly eclipsed the Ten and took the law enforcement market by storm. The 10 mm Auto once again found itself watching from the sidelines.

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The late 1990s were the 10 mm Auto’s darkest days. Several proposed 10 mm handgun and rifle designs were shelved or became .40 S&Ws. Production of the Delta Elite ended in 1996. The FBI officially adopted the .40 S&W cartridge and the Glock handgun in 1997, though the S&W 1076 soldiered on with the few agents who preferred it. By 2000, only Glock and European American Armory (EAA) were offering 10 mm pistols. A few law enforcement agencies hung onto a 10 mm service pistol into the early 2000s, but the cartridge was kept alive by a hardcore fan base, who still believed the 10 mm was the ultimate, semi-automatic handgun cartridge. By the time the Great Recession was getting started a strange thing happened. There was a waxing interest in the 10 mm Auto again—driven by a rising popularity of semi-automatic hunting handguns with electronic sights, pistol-caliber carbines and an interest in magnum-power self-protection. It seemed as if everything old about the 10 mm has been made new again. Fourth time’s the charm, right? In each of the 10 mm Auto’s previous three ages there were never more than 20 different models of firearms chambered for it at any one time. Now, almost 50 manufacturers can boast more than 80 different firearms in the resurging cartridge, with new models seeming to appear about once a week. From out-of-vogue to flavor-of-the-week, the 10 mm Auto has found the firmest ground on which it’s ever stood. To survey the 10 mm market these days, I took a look at five firearms that represent both the chambering’s history and its contemporary diversity. While the 10 mm Auto has been chambered in every type of firearm, from the singleshot Thompson/Center Contender to Smith & Wesson N-frame revolvers to custom lever-action rifles, it was designed as a cartridge for self-loading firearms. Within those parameters I tested the following semi-automatic 10 mms:

The M1911—Colt Delta Elite Rail Gun

In John Browning’s classic, the 10 mm Auto found the platform where it continues to thrive. The M1911 outlasted the Bren Ten that was intended to replace it, and its AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

adoption of the Bren Ten’s cartridge has kept the chambering alive. The all-American M1911 remains the most popular type of 10 mm firearm, with almost every M1911 manufacturer offering the chambering as an option. An M1911-based 10 mm is the ideal way to move into the cartridge for those who are already invested in the platform. The external dimensions of 10 mm M1911s are virtually identical to those of their .45 ACP grandparents, so holsters, magazine pouches and stocks are usually interchangeable. Also, non-cartridge-specific parts, such as triggers, hammers and grip safeties, are usually the same as well, meaning an extensive aftermarket supply is available to 10 mm Auto M1911 shooters who can set up their 10s just like their favorite .45s. An M1911 is also the most affordable way to get into the 10 mm Auto, with some of the base models selling for around $400. Colt re-introduced the Delta Elite in 2009. The original Delta Elite kept a standard “government” profile, and the new pistol followed suit. In 2016, Colt upgraded the Delta line with Novak sights, beavertail safety, enhanced hammer and trigger, flat mainspring housing, lowered ejection port and flared magazine well. For the purist, there’s still the triangular “delta” logo on the stocks. Inside, it’s your basic Series 80 Colt 1911, with the exception of the dual recoil spring and buffer system used to handle the extra power of the 10 mm Auto. I tested the Rail Gun version of the Delta Elite, with a full Picatinny rail on the frame’s dustcover. This, along with Colt’s other upgrades to the Delta line, have brought the pistol into the 21st century. The rail adds an extra 3 ozs. to the standard Delta Elite, putting that weight out front, where it helps with recoil and muzzle flip. Shooters who have spent time with an M1911 will find the Delta Elite familiar territory. Firing the 10 mm Auto in an M1911 isn’t much different than firing a stout .45 ACP or .38 Super load. For those wanting a classic and familiar sidearm chambered in a faster and harder-hitting cartridge than the .45 ACP, an M1911 in 10 mm Auto is the way to go.

The Carry Gun—Glock 29 Gen4

From the beginning, the 10 mm Auto was considered a self-defense round that would be used in carry pistols. Dornaus & Dixon developed a smaller “Pocket Model” of the Bren Ten, a single-stack, subcompact pistol which never made it beyond the prototype stage. It would be another decade before the concept was revisited. In 1990 Glock jumped into the 10 mm Auto market with its G20, a full-size pistol that matched the 15-round capacity of the “Wonder Nines.” The Glock 20 has survived to be the oldest 10 mm in continuous production. Seven years later, during the pocketpistol craze of the ’90s, Glock introduced its subcompact G29. Ironically, the overall dimensions of the Glock 29 are strikingly similar to those of the proposed Bren Ten Pocket Model. The G29 is a Glock “pocket rocket” in the truest sense. In the midst of the 1994 crime bill, the 29’s magazine held the maximum allowed capacity of 10 rounds. If you could only have 10, they might as well be 10 mm Autos. americanrifleman.org

In another 10 years, the rest of the market caught up. Today, the 10 mm is available in a variety of carry packages. The smallest is the Bond Arms Defender, a two-shot, over-under, Remington-style derringer that weighs in at 20 ozs. and is 5.5" overall. EAA offers its Witness line in a compact size, with abbreviated barrel and grip in both steel and polymer frames. Rock Island makes “Commander”-size 1911 models with 4.25". barrels. But for the 10 mm that does the best job of combining compactness with capacity, the Glock 29 still rules the roost. Though considered a “subcompact” model, the Glock 29 comes closer in size to the company’s “compact” models, like the ubiquitous Glock 19. As a large-frame Glock, the G29 can be a bit much for those with small hands. To remedy this the pistol is currently offered in both Generation 3 “short frame” (SF) and Generation 4 (interchangeable backstrap) configurations. The SF model has a reach of about 2.8" from backstrap to trigger. On the Gen4 model I tested, the interchangeable backstraps changed this length from 2.9" to 3.1". Despite the G29’s compact size, its polymer frame, low bore axis and heavy slide make the recoil of the 10 mm Auto surprisingly easy to manage. The Glock 29 carries easily for those who are used to toting a mid-sized handgun around. It weighs exactly 2 lbs. with a full magazine of 10 mm Buffalo Bore 155-gr. JHPs. During the months of my 10 mm Auto tests, it spent most of its time stashed inside my waistband in a CrossBreed SuperTuck holster. With that setup, the G29 was comfortable for all-day carry. Though some may consider the 10 mm Auto overkill for carry, there are plenty of options for those who disagree.

The Double-Action Service Pistol—Grand Power P40L

When the 10 mm Auto was introduced, the platform where it made its debut was the DA/SA semi-automatic service pistol, starting out in the Bren Ten and revived in the FBI’s S&W 1076. The DA/SA platform has seen some of the most interesting 10 mm offerings, from Colt’s short-lived Double Eagle to the Star Megastar, a 52-oz. Spanish-made behemoth. While the popularity of double-action semi-automatic pistols is waning, you can still get a double-action 10 mm, including variants of SIG’s P220 and EAA’s Witness. A newcomer to the double-action 10 mm field hails from Slovakia; Grand Power offers its P40 model in the chambering. The Grand Power is unique in that it is the only 10 mm ever offered that locks with a rotating barrel. A design that is as old as semi-automatic pistols themselves (the first widely distributed rotary-barrel pistol was the 1907 Roth-Steyr), the system has been used more recently in the Beretta Cougar and PX4 Storm series of handguns. In the polymer-frame Grand Power, a spiral notch in the bottom of the barrel works against a camming surface in the frame to rotate the barrel clockwise around its bore axis. When the pistol is fired, the locked barrel and slide recoil together. As the barrel rotates, its Browning-style locking lug is disengaged from the slide, unlocking the August 2018

10 MM AUTO

KRISS VECTOR CRB

pistol. Unique among the pistols I tested, the P40 has a feed ramp integral to the frame, meaning the chamber is fully supported. The P40’s action has a unique safety/decocker mechanism that allows it to be carried Condition One “cocked and locked,” decocked for a traditional DA/SA operation (double-action on the first shot and single-action on subsequent shots) or in double-action-only mode. Unlike other models from Grand Power, the P40 does not have interchangeable backstraps. Utilizing what it calls the “Universal Ergonomic Grip” the P40’s grip size belies the fact that it’s concealing a double-stack 14-round magazine. The width of the grip and the length of pull in single-action mode is the about the same as the Delta Elite. The Grand Power’s controls are fully bilateral, with a decocker/safety, slide release and magazine release mirrored on each side. The standard P40 has a 4.25" barrel, the same length as the FBI’s S&W 1076. I tested the L (long slide) model with a 5" barrel. The double-action autoloader is a heritage platform for the 10 mm, and for those who prefer it, there are more viable options available today than ever before.

The Hunter—EAA Witness Hunter

With ballistic performance between the .357 Mag. and .41 Mag. revolver cartridges, the 10 mm Auto is a flatshooting cartridge that is powerful enough for hunting. By 1990, manufacturers were starting to make long-barreled pistols to give hunters the maximum performance out of the 10 mm Auto, with guns such as the 7"-barreled IAI/ AMT Javelina and the Wyoming Arms Parker. Today, most of the 10 mms aimed toward the hunting market are based on the M1911, usually long-slide models with 6" barrels to satisfy pistol hunting requirements in some states. Three hunting 10 mms stand out from the M1911 crowd. Glock makes its model G40, a 6"-barreled pistol with its Miniature Optics System (MOS) for mounting electronic sights to its slide. SIG Sauer offers a Hunter model of its P220, with a single-action trigger, 5" barrel and snakeskin camouflage finish. And EAA has a Hunter model in its Witness line. The Witness carries on the Bren Ten heritage, with its CZ 75-inspired aesthetics and mechanics. EAA offers an extensive line of 10 mm Auto firearms, with 16 distinct models, from a polymer-frame compact to the top-of-theline Match Extreme. The Witness Hunter combines a single-action trigger system from the Witness Match with a 6" barrel. It has many extra features over a base-model Witness, including a fully adjustable rear sight with fiber-optic front, extended controls, factory-tuned trigger with take-up and over-travel adjustment, 20 l.p.i. checkering on the front and back of

AUGUST 2018

the grip frame, and an extended and beveled magazine well. The Hunter’s dustcover is extended and, unlike the other pistols represented here, does not feature a rail. But unique among hunting 10 mms, its receiver is drilled and tapped for a scope mount. This means that optics mount solidly to the frame instead of the slide. For both accuracy testing and hunting I fitted the EAA with a Weaver Classic 2.5-8X 28 mm handgun scope mounted on EAA’s factory mount. This setup, combined with HSM’s Pro Pistol Hunter load—with its 180-gr. Sierra Sports Master JHP averaging around 1100 f.p.s. from the Hunter’s 6" barrel— proved successful on western Virginia whitetail. At a range of just under 50 yds. the Sierra bullet broke ribs on both sides of the buck before lodging under the hide. The deer was recovered about 50 yds. from where it was shot. By combining the capacity and familiarity of a semiautomatic handgun with a cartridge that is effective on mid-sized game from hogs to whitetails, 10 mm firearms are a viable choice for handgun hunters.

The Carbine—Kriss Vector CRB

Popular pistol calibers always get adapted to companion carbines, and the 10 mm Auto is no exception. When the FBI adopted the 10 mm cartridge, the agency decided it also needed a submachine gun in the same chambering. Heckler and Koch responded with an MP5 in 10 mm exclusively for the American market. For the rest of us who can only dream of a 6-lb., 30", 10 mm Auto submachine gun with burst-fire capability, we have to settle for a semiautomatic 10 mm Auto rifle. Rifle designs chambered in 10 mm Auto have, historically, been limited. The early D-Max carbine and Auto Ordnance 1927A1 didn’t last long. Starting in the early 1990s, Olympic Arms offered a 10 mm AR-15, either as a complete rifle or as a conversion that allows for the use of a standard AR lower. In recent years the popularity of pistol-caliber carbines has combined with the rising tide of the 10 mm to result in many new rifles chambered for the cartridge. There are now several 10 mm AR-15s, most of which use the ubiquitous Glock 20 magazine, along with non-AR designs including the TNW Aero Survival, the Just Right Carbine and the recently introduced Hi-Point 10 mm. The Kriss Vector CRB stands out as one of the most interesting 10 mm carbines currently offered, with its Super V delayed-blowback system of operation. That, combined with the CRB’s inline design and low bore axis, makes for controllable shooting. My test CRB was the newest Gen II format featuring an M4-style telescoping buttstock and updated trigger continued on p. 71 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

1-866-NRA-4671 Learn about our Scenario Training at nracarryguard.com/scenariotraining

DOPE BAG

SPRINGFIELD M1A LOADED 6.5 CREEDMOOR T

he Springfield Armory M1A is an iconic rifle in the minds of many American shooters. Based on the M14, this semi-automatic rifle is known for its robust construction, long-range performance and its 7.62x51 mm NATO chambering. Though the 7.62 mm NATO cartridge has served the M1A faithfully for nearly five decades, the rifle has been chambered for other cartridges in that family, such as the .243 Win. and 7 mm-08 Rem. In 2018, Springfield Armory announced yet another chambering for its M1A Loaded model: the 6.5 mm Creedmoor. This new combination of the M1A’s time-tested attributes and the 6.5 mm Creedmoor’s ballistic capabilities promise to offer strong commercial appeal. The M1A Loaded 6.5 Creedmoor is available in three different configurations; our test sample was set in the black Archangel Precision Adjustable Stock and had a 22" stainless steel barrel. Like all M1As, it is a gasoperated semi-automatic that feeds from a detachable box magazine. With the exception of the military rifle’s

select-fire capability, the M1A’s internals mimic those of the M14 and are very similar to those of the M1 Garand: A gas piston located inside the cylinder below the barrel moves the reciprocating operating rod that, in turn, cycles the rotating bolt inside the receiver. The system is simple, proven and robust. The M1A’s beefy receiver and nearly all of its working parts are made from steel, which makes for a rifle that is both strong and somewhat heavy. Apart from the new chambering, the most significant feature of our test rifle is the adjustable, black synthetic Archangel stock. Unlike traditional M1A stocks, the Archangel has a nearly vertical pistol grip that is well-suited for prone or bipod-supported shooting. Using thumbwheels, the stock’s length of pull is adjustable by 1.25" to accommodate different body and clothing types, and, similarly, the comb height is adjustable by 2", which allows shooters to achieve proper position and cheek weld, whether they are using the iron sights or an optic. A Picatinny rail, ideal for mounting a bipod or light, is integrated into the 6-o’clock

The Archangel Precision Adjustable Stock allows for the rifle’s length of pull and comb height to be fine-tuned by the shooter via a pair of thumbwheels (arrows).

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AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

position of the stock’s fore-end and comes with a polymer cover. The stock also allows for some flexibility when it comes to sling mounting: in addition to four flush-cup sockets, two on each side, traditional sling swivel studs are located under the fore-end and at the butt. Overall, this stock is both comfortable and functional. As part of the Loaded series of M1As, this rifle is equipped with a medium-weight, 22", stainless-steel National Match barrel. The barrel’s 1:8" rifling twist should stabilize virtually any 0.264"-diameter bullet on the market—certainly any that would fit into the rifle’s magazine. A multiport muzzle brake also serves as the dovetailed base for the rifle’s 0.062"wide National Match front sight, which is protected by a pair of steel ears. The 0.052"-diameter rear aperture is click-adjustable for both windage and

SPRINGFIELD M1A LOADED 6.5 CREEDMOOR

MANUFACTURER: SPRINGFIELD ARMORY (DEPT. AR), 420 W. MAIN ST., GENESEO, IL 61254; (800) 680-6866; SPRINGFIELDARMORY.COM 45" TO 46.25" 2"

1.88" TO -0.13" 22"

13.70" TO 14.95"

CHAMBERING: 6.5 MM CREEDMOOR ACTION TYPE: GAS-PISTON-OPERATED, SEMI-AUTOMATIC CENTER-FIRE RIFLE

RECEIVER: INVESTMENT CAST STEEL ALLOY RIFLING: FOUR-GROOVE, 1:8" RH TWIST MAGAZINE: 10-ROUND DETACHABLE BOX SIGHTS: NATIONAL MATCH, ADJUSTABLE; 0.052" APERTURE REAR, 0.062" POST FRONT (OPTIONAL SCOPE MOUNT AVAILABLE)

TRIGGER: TWO-STAGE; 4-LB., 7-OZ. PULL STOCK: ARCHANGEL PRECISION; POLYMER, ADJUSTABLE

WEIGHT: 11 LBS., 7 OZS. ACCESSORIES: OWNER’S MANUAL, SOFT CASE MSRP: $2,045

SHOOTING RESULTS (100 YDS.)

An optional optics mount, available from Springfield, secures to the left side of the receiver and dovetails into the action.

elevation in half-m.o.a. and one-m.o.a. increments, respectively, using the turrets on either side of the receiver. Not only are the sights on the M1A of excellent quality, they can be used even when a scope is mounted. Operation of this, or any, M1A is relatively straightforward. The steel detachable box magazine is seated into position in the underside of the receiver using a rearward rocking motion. The charging handle, when pulled fully to the rear and released, loads a round into the chamber. A Garand-type safety is located at the front of the trigger guard: The “safe” position is back toward the trigger, and the “fire” position is forward. The bolt locks to the rear on an empty magazine, and a bolt stop on the left side of the receiver can be used to lock the bolt to the rear in other circumstances. The rifle’s two-stage trigger broke at 4 lbs., 7 ozs., with no discernible creep. Fieldstripping the rifle is a straightforward process, but the manufacturer recommends against disassembly unless it is absolutely necessary so that the relationship between the receiver and stock does not loosen excessively, particularly in the glassbedded National Match and Super Match rifles. The gas system can be

6.5 MM CREEDMOOR CARTRIDGE

VEL. @ MUZZLE (F.P.S.)

ENERGY (FT.-LBS.)

BROWNING BXR 129-GR. MATRIX TIP

2851 AVG. 18 SD

2,328

1.34

2.15

1.58

HORNADY 140-GR. ELD-MATCH

2678 AVG. 13 SD

2,229

1.24

1.53

1.37

PRIME MATCH+ 130-GR. HPBT

2832 AVG. 16 SD

2,315

0.82

1.17

1.04

AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD

GROUP SIZE (INCHES) LARGEST AVERAGE SMALLEST

1.33

NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 SHOTS USING A LABRADAR DOPPLER CHRONOGRAPH AT THE MUZZLE. ACCURACY FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 100 YDS. FROM A BENCH REST. TEMPERATURE: 82° F. HUMIDITY: 55%. ABBREVIATIONS: ELD (EXTREMELY LOW DRAG), HPBT (HOLLOW POINT BOATTAIL), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION).

cleaned as part of normal maintenance procedures by removing the gas cylinder plug and piston, and doing so does not require fieldstripping the rifle. The task of mounting a scope onto an M1A is more challenging than doing so on an AR-style rifle, but far simpler than a top-loading Garand. We used a Springfield Armory scope mount, which is available as an accessory, to secure a 16X test scope to the rifle for our accuracy evaluation. This mount secures to the left side of the receiver using a bolt, and also dovetails into the action just forward of the rear sight. We fired the rifle extensively with three different types and brands of ammunition. Accuracy was good and generally consistent, with Prime Ammunition’s 130-gr. HPBT Match load printing the best five-shot groups with an average of just over 1" at 100 yds. The adjustable stock made finding a comfortable and stable shooting position an easy task, and, thanks to the rifle’s weight and gas operating system, recoil was very mild. We found the two-stage trigger on this rifle to be very conducive to making hits both on paper and steel targets. We experienced two malfunctions AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

AUGUST 2018

during the course of our testing. The first was a failure to fire caused by a light primer strike (the cartridge in question fired when it was re-cycled through the rifle). The second malfunction was a bit of a mystery, but was most likely caused by an ejecting case impacting the large windage turret on the scope and bouncing back into the receiver, interrupting the bolt as it returned to battery. Both malfunctions cleared easily, and neither appeared specifically related to the 6.5 mm Creedmoor cartridge’s design. Though the 7.62x51 mm NATO has served shooters and soldiers well for decades, it has its limitations. The 6.5 mm Creedmoor offers superior performance in terms of both wind drift and trajectory, and affords a noticeable reduction in recoil. At extended ranges, its long bullets with high ballistic coefficients have a clear advantage over the 7.62x51 mm NATO. The M1A Loaded 6.5 Creedmoor combines all of the attributes that have kept this enduring design relevant while offering increased ballistic performance. This additional chambering should be a welcome update for fans of the M1A, particularly those who shoot at longer distances.

dope bag

SAUER 100 CLASSIC XT J

.P. Sauer and Sohn is a Germanbased company best known for producing guns with finely figured walnut and polished steel. However, in following the current market trend of budget-driven boltaction rifles, one of Germany’s oldest gunmakers has delivered a detachablebox-magazine-fed rifle with a polymer stock to American consumers—the Sauer 100 Classic XT. Three action lengths are available for the Sauer 100 line of rifles—mini, medium and magnum. Our test rifle for this review, chambered for the .270 Win. cartridge, utilizes the medium-length receiver. The medium receiver can also accommodate several other cartridges: .243 Win., 6.5 mm Creedmoor, .308 Win., .30-’06 Sprg., 6.5x55 mm (Swedish), 8x57 mm Mauser (IS) and 9.3x62 mm. The mini-length receiver is reserved for .222 Rem. and .223 Rem., and the magnum for 7 mm Rem. Mag. and .300 Win. Mag. A 22", sporter-contour, coldhammer-forged barrel is press-fit to the rifle’s round receiver, a method that differs from the typical threading

process seen on most bolt-action rifles. The muzzle is not threaded and features a target-style crown. Like many popular rifles today, the Sauer 100 Classic XT has a polymer stock with a detachable box magazine. A one-piece, full-diameter bolt with three lugs locks within the barrel extension. The bolt release on the receiver’s left side engages a raceway machined into the bolt to provide stability and guidance during travel. At the face of the bolt are two plunger-style ejectors and a sliding-plate extractor, while a red cocking indicator protrudes from the bolt’s rear. The bolt handle is capped with a round, polymer knob that bears lateral grooves in order to enhance purchase. The company’s black Ergo Max polymer stock blends the styling of classic American and European designs. The fore-end shows its German heritage with a schnabelstyle tip, and the grip area is a nod toward American appeal with a classic, near-straight wrist and an open-radius grip sweeping downward with a slight flare at the end near its grip cap. There is minimal palm swell on each side of the grip, despite

the right-hand-driven bolt. Swooshshaped texturing is provided within the bilateral panels at the gun’s grip and fore-end. American-pattern sling swivel studs are installed fore and aft. Upon examining the rifle’s marriage of barreled action to stock, we found a unique, piggy-backed fastener system. A 10-mm, six-point nut provides an attachment point for the forward-most bottom metal fastener. Once removed, users can separate the barreled action from the stock. The fit of the stock is snug to the receiver, and separating them may require light tapping. Many polymer-stocked boltaction rifles incorporate an internal chassis that connects with a recoil lug affixed to the receiver or barrel; on the Sauer 100, the company employs

A one-piece, full-diameter bolt (r.) locks into the barrel with three locking lugs. Within the bolt face are dual, plungerstyle ejectors and a sliding-plate extractor. A lateral relief cut is added for bolt stability, and the bolt’s knob is polymer.

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american rifleman

SAUER 100 CLASSIC XT

IMPORTER: BLASER USA, INC. (DEPT. AR), 403 E. RAMSEY, SUITE 301, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78216; (210) 377-2527; SAUER.DE/US 42" 0.88"

1.25"

22" 14.25"

MAGAZINE: FIVE-ROUND DETACHABLE BOX SIGHTS: NONE; DRILLED AND TAPPED FOR

ACTION TYPE: BOLT-ACTION, CENTER-FIRE

OPTIC MOUNTS

TRIGGER: USER-ADJUSTABLE, SINGLE-STAGE; 2-LB., 5-OZ. PULL WEIGHT: 6 LBS., 11 OZS. ACCESSORIES: OWNER’S MANUAL, LOCK MSRP: $799

REPEATING RIFLE

MANUFACTURER: J.P. SAUER & SOHN GMBH (GERMANY) CHAMBERING: .270 WIN.

RECEIVER: STEEL BARREL: COLD-HAMMER-FORGED STEEL; FIVE-GROOVE, 1:10" RH TWIST STOCK: POLYMER SHOOTING RESULTS (100 YDS.)

.270 WIN. CARTRIDGE

VEL. @ 15' (F.P.S.)

ENERGY (FT.-LBS.)

FEDERAL PREMIUM 130-GR. TBT

2840 AVG. 19 SD

2,328

0.70

1.20

0.90

HORNADY CUSTOM LITE 120-GR. SST

2442 AVG. 20 SD

1,589

0.66

0.95

0.81

NOSLER 140-GR. BALLISTIC TIP

2614 AVG. 24 SD

2,124

0.61

0.87

0.72

AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD

GROUP SIZE (INCHES) LARGEST AVERAGE SMALLEST

0.81

NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 SHOTS OVER A CALDWELL G2 CHRONOGRAPH AT 15 FT. ACCURACY RESULTS FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 100 YDS. FROM A SANDBAG REST. TEMPERATURE: 83° F. HUMIDITY: 76%. ABBREVIATIONS: SD (STANDARD DEVIATION), SST (SUPER SHOCK TIP), TBT (TROPHY BONDED TIP).

a receiver recess to which a bedded, aluminum pillar block is mated. In addition to supporting the receiver, the pillar block supports the first 1/2" of the barrel—the rest of the barrel floats freely within the stock. The tang is supported by a series of glued and stacked metal washers—the assembly is likely adjustable at the factory, and used to improve fit. Cartridges are held in the rifle by a flush-fitting, five-round, staggered-feed magazine that can be topped off during use. The action is of push-feed design. Dual feed ramps inside the barrel extension help guide cartridges to the chamber. Removal of the magazine requires depressing a spring-loaded button located forward of the magazine well within a circular recess in the bottom metal. There is a threeposition safety on the right rear of the receiver. One reviewer felt that the force required to disengage the safety was lighter than preferred, but also mentioned that the bolt throw of the Sauer was fast and exceptionally smooth.

A nut located beneath the rifle’s bottom metal draws the press-fit barreled action into an aluminum pillar block (above l.) bedded within the stock.

The rifle’s receiver is drilled and tapped to accept Remington Model 700-pattern bases, so users should have no trouble finding optic mounts for the Sauer 100 Classic XT. For our testing, we installed a Minox ZX5 5-25X 56 mm riflescope. Range testing followed our standard protocol of firing five consecutive, five-shot groups. Groups were consistent, with incremental growth noted throughout the shot string as the barrel heated . Testing proved the rifle to be a capable contender within its class. The average extreme spread measured 0.81", and AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

AUGUST 2018

Nosler’s 140-gr. Ballistic Tip ammunition provided the best five-group average (0.72"). All cartridges fired, chambered and extracted without fail. One tester noted the 14¼" length of pull was too long to comfortably reach for the bolt when shooting from the bench. The combination of stock design and rubber recoil pad provided sufficient recoil mitigation. A sub-m.o.a., German-made rifle with utilitarian features and an MSRP of less than $800, the Sauer 100 Classic XT offers fine design and performance for its price point.

dope bag

GLOCK 19X

eleased early in 2018, Glock’s new G19X 9 mm pistol is the civilian model of the company’s submission to the U.S. Army’s Modular Handgun System (MHS) trial. It features a Gen5 G19 slide assembly, a Gen5 G17 frame and—with the exception of lacking a bilateral thumb safety present on the MHS model— features most of the unique design and finish changes intended to meet the military’s requirements. The G19X is a striker-fired semiautomatic pistol with the same internal and external safety systems as its Safe Action predecessors. Coyote Tan coloring is found on the slide, polymer frame, interchangeable backstraps, magazine bodies and the hard-sided pistol case. The sights, slide plate, barrel, controls and magazine followers are black. This model is available with factory-standard polymer sights or steel night sights. The pistol’s G19 slide profile reduces its length compared to full-size models

like the G17, making concealment easier for daily carry. The slide features a beveled nose for easy re-holstering, rear cocking serrations and the proprietary nPVD finish that Glock touts as tougher and more durable than previous finishes. The barrel is also treated with nPVD, which is currently available only on Gen5 models. One of the noteworthy upgrades made to the G19X is the inclusion of Glock’s new Marksman Barrel, which features enhanced hexagonal rifling and an improved barrel crown. It should be noted that despite the rifling pattern update, consumers should not fire non-jacketed, soft-lead bullets through these barrels. Removing the slide reveals a captured, dual-recoil-spring assembly with a mix of polymer and steel supports. The slide-mounted safety plunger (the component that makes the Glock drop-safe) has been changed from a round shape to a more angled profile, which improves the feel of the trigger

As with the rest of the Gen5 Glocks, the G19X features bilateral slide releases (r.) that allow for both right- and left-handed operation. The magazine well (above, inset) has also been beveled for easier magazine insertion, and incorporates a lanyard loop.

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american rifleman

pull. The striker’s tip and firing pin hole are now teardrop-shaped, instead of round, to decrease the chances of a light primer strike due to dirt or grime. The takedown lever is now supported by a more robust coil spring instead of a leaf spring. The grip frame has returned to a two-pin configuration instead of the three pins found in Gen4 models. The Gen5 trigger group has been modified, resulting in a cleaner trigger pull and a more distinctive trigger reset. While the factory trigger weight is still listed at 5 lbs., 8 ozs., the other improvements are clearly apparent. However, the Gen5 trigger groups are not compatible with previous generations of trigger disconnectors or aftermarket upgrades.

GLOCK 19X

IMPORTER: GLOCK, INC. (DEPT. AR), 6000 HIGHLANDS PARKWAY, SMYRNA, GA 30082; (770) 432-1202; US.GLOCK.COM 7.44" BHKX000

The dustcover has a molded-in, 1.50" accessory rail for light and laser modules. The trigger guard is textured and profiled along the front edge, to act as a finger rest, with an undercut where it meets the grip for improved shooting comfort. The slide release is now bilateral to allow for right- or left-handed operation. The reversible magazine release retains the more generous profile of the Gen4 guns. Like Glock’s original Gen1 models, the frontstrap of the grip bears no finger grooves, while featuring the same rough texturing found on the sides and backstrap of the Gen4s. The result is an improved purchase that fits a broad range of hand sizes. This pistol is compatible with the company’s interchangeable backstrap system. It arrives with a total of four backstraps in two sizes—with and without beavertail extensions—along with an installation tool. Three interesting modifications are located in and around the magazine well. The walls at the mouth of the magazine well have been thinned and beveled to make magazine insertion easier. Previous models have had a circular cutout at the front of the magazine well that allows the magazine baseplate to be more easily gripped in case the magazine needs to be removed. On the G19X, that cutout has been replaced with a short extension that makes the grip slightly longer along the front edge. The opening at the base of the hollow backstrap is fitted with a removable polymer plug that also provides a lanyard loop. Although the G19X will accept Gen3, Gen4 and Gen5 G17 factory magazines, the changes around the magazine well are not compatible with some aftermarket models and upgrades. This pistol ships with one standard 17-round magazine and two additional 17-round magazines fitted with two-round extensions. At the shooting range, the G19X pistol’s performance was typical of Glock products. There were no ammunitionrelated malfunctions or problems of any kind. It ran reliably with hundreds of rounds of various types of 9 mm Luger ammunition, including both practice

BHKX000

4.02" 5.47"

MAGAZINE: 17-ROUND DETACHABLE BOX

MANUFACTURER: GLOCK GMBH (AUSTRIA) CHAMBERING: 9 MM LUGER ACTION TYPE: RECOIL-OPERATED, SEMI-AUTOMATIC CENTER-FIRE PISTOL FRAME: POLYMER, ROUGH TEXTURE; COYOTE TAN SLIDE: STEEL; COYOTE TAN NPVD COATING RIFLING: HEXAGONAL; 1:9.84" RH TWIST

MADE IN AUSTRIA GLOCK, INC., SMYRNA, GA U.S. Pat. 8,156,677

SIGHTS: THREE DOT; POST FRONT, WINDAGEADJUSTABLE REAR

TRIGGER:

DOUBLE-ACTION-ONLY; 5-LB., 7-OZ. PULL WIDTH: 1.16" WEIGHT: 25 OZS. ACCESSORIES: OWNER’S MANUAL, HARD CASE, FOUR BACKSTRAPS, MAGAZINE LOADER, TWO EXTRA 19-ROUND MAGAZINES, LOCK MSRP: $749

SHOOTING RESULTS (25 YDS.)

VEL. @ MUZZLE (F.P.S.)

ENERGY (FT.-LBS.)

HORNADY CRITICAL DUTY 135-GR. FLEXLOCK

995 AVG. 10 SD

297

2.94

3.16

3.05

NOVX ARX 65-GR. +P PCF

1749 AVG. 14 SD

441

2.81

3.30

3.12

SIG SAUER 124-GR. FMJ

1112 AVG. 13 SD

340

3.09

3.61

3.29

9 MM LUGER CARTRIDGE

AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD

GROUP SIZE (INCHES) LARGEST AVERAGE SMALLEST

3.15

NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 ROUNDS FIRED NEXT TO A LABRADAR CHRONOGRAPH AT THE MUZZLE. ACCURACY RESULTS FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 25 YDS. FROM A BENCH REST. TEMPERATURE: 52° F. HUMIDITY: 41%. ABBREVIATIONS: ARX (ADVANCED ROTATION EXTREME), FMJ (FULL METAL JACKET), PCF (POLY/COPPER FLUTED), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION).

and defensive loads. The combination of the G19 slide and G17 frame provides an excellent sense of balance to the pistol, allowing it to point easily. The weight of the G19X sits straight down in the shooting hand without the sense of muzzle heaviness present in some pistol designs.

The new Gen5 Glock 19X provides the flexibility of the G19 compact models with the hand-filling grip and ammunition capacity of the G17. Much like a Commander-sized M1911, this pistol can comfortably fill a variety of roles including home defense, concealed carry and competition.

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

AUGUST 2018

U.S. MODEL 1917

continued from p. 46

the AEF was armed with Model 1917 rifles at the time of the Armistice. Ordnance Dept. records indicate 1,123,259 Model 1917 rifles had been shipped to France prior to the cessation of hostilities. The vast majority of these rifles were acquired by the U.S. Army, but limited numbers were also procured by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, although the Model 1903 remained the predominant rifle used by the latter two branches of service. The Model 1917 remained in production until mid-1919, by which time a total of 2,422,529 rifles had been manufactured. In the immediate post-World War I period, the War Dept. was faced with a decision as to which rifle, the Model 1903 or the Model 1917, would be designated as “Standard” and which would be deemed “Substitute Standard.” There were sound arguments to be made for either. The Model 1917 had proven to be a very serviceable infantry rifle and was available in large numbers. On the other hand, the excellence of the Model 1903 was unquestioned. It was also pointed out that the ’03 was manufactured by government-owned and -operated facilities, so any potential future production of the rifle would not be affected by labor strikes or similar problems that might arise with commercial manufacturers. The naïve, but pervasive, sentiment following the “War To End All Wars” was that soldiers were likely to spend more time on the target range than the battlefield. Thus, the For rifle grenades, the Model 1917 was fitted with a VivienBessiére or “tromblon” launcher. A live round was actually fired through a hole in the center of the grenade.

AUGUST 2018

Model 1903’s superiority as a target rifle was seen as one of the reasons in the decision to retain it as “Standard” and most of the Model 1917s were consigned to the war reserve stockpile. Of course, the illusion of perpetual peace was shattered just a couple of decades later. During World War II, the Model 1917s were called back into service and used by the American armed forces for training purposes and limited use as supplementary service rifles. Also, large numbers were distributed to some allied nations under various military aid programs. After 1945, substantial numbers of Model 1917 rifles were sold via the Office of the Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM), and some have even been offered through the Civilian Marksmanship Program in more recent years. Many rifles were subsequently “sporterized” by the civilian owners for hunting. The large number of rifles given away to allied nations and the practice of sporterizing resulted in unaltered Model 1917 rifles being surprisingly scarce today relative to the number manufactured. When considering the important U.S. military rifles of the 20th century, the “American Enfield” is sometimes overlooked. With the centennial of America’s active combat involvement upon us, the historical significance of the Model 1917 is finally being recognized and the rifle given its rightful place in American military ordnance history. While it may not have been the first choice of many Doughboys, the Model 1917 rifle nevertheless provided valuable service to our fighting men when no other was available. That’s not a bad legacy for any rifle.

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

U.S. Army photo

10 mm auto

continued from p. 62

and safety lever. Like other Kriss firearms, the 10 mm CRB utilizes Glock magazines. The Kriss comes with folding back-up sights and rail space on top for optics as well as a fore-end accessory rail. The entire package weights just over 8 lbs. and is 38" overall with the stock fully extended. The 10 mm Auto cartridge shot out of a 16" barrel makes for formidable performance for a pistol cartridge. The heaviest load I tested in the Kriss was Doubletap’s 180-gr. JHP, which yielded nearly 1500 f.p.s. and 900 ft.-lbs. of energy at the muzzle of the CRB’s rifle-length barrel. A combination like that makes a 10 mm pistol-caliber carbine a viable hunting platform.

The Ammunition

The story of the revolution in popularity of the 10 mm is not complete without a discussion of ammunition. It used to be that 10 mm Auto shooters were forced to choose from a limited variety of overpriced factory loadings or invest in the equipment to load their own. Today the diversity in 10 mm firearms has been matched by a wide offering of factory ammunition. Twenty-four manufacturers offer nearly 100 unique 10 mm Auto loadings, from Glaser Safety Slugs to heavy, hard-cast bullets. All major American manufacturers offer 10 mm loads, along with imported ammunition from companies such as Armscor and Prvi Partizan. Such proliferation also means that 10 mm ammunition has gotten more affordable, with shooters expecting to pay only a slight premium compared to .40 S&W or .45 ACP ammunition. In the course of testing five different firearms, I personally sampled 20 different loads. No matter the need, from plinking to self-protection to hunting, the 10 mm shooter can now find a factory load. There are plenty of premium and specialty self-defense 10 mm Auto ammunition options. One unique offering is Doubletap’s Equalizer, a duplex load that combines a 135-gr. JHP on top of a 55-gr. gas-checked lead wadcutter. At 10 yds. out of the Glock 29, the two projectiles averaged an inch spread from each shot. Five shots—10 holes. There’s never been a better selection of 10 mm Auto factory ammunition than exists today. Projectile options range from full-metal-jacket and hollowpoint styles to duplex loads.

The handgun hunter has off-the-shelf ammunition options, too. I tested four factory 10 mm hunting loads, in a variety of bullet types and weights, from HSM, Federal, Doubletap and Buffalo Bore in the EAA Witness Hunter. They also represented a range of velocities and energy levels. Today’s 10 mm Auto ammunition comes in a range of performance, from “FBI Lite” velocity up to the original full-house Norma spec. Companies such as Buffalo Bore offer two categories of 10 mm loads. Its “Low Flash, Low Recoil” line puts the 10 mm at just above .40 S&W ballistics, while its full-power “Heavy” loadings give maximum performance. Such variety means that without handloading a shooter has the option to use lower-power loads for practice or self-defense with the option of higher-velocity rounds when more performance is needed. While all of this ammunition is loaded to SAAMI specs, proceed with caution and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations as to what type of ammunition is right for your firearm. To deal with the wide variation in 10 mm ammunition performance adjusting your firearm’s recoil spring may be in order. While most factory springs will handle all 10 mm ammunition, a stiffer spring will prevent wear and tear from a steady diet of heavy loads. Wolff Gunsprings (gunsprings.com) sells “recalibration kits” that provide the shooter with an assortment of spring rates that allow them to tailor their handgun’s function to a specific load they are using. While Wolff makes kits for the Delta Elite and Glock I tested, I only tried their springs in the Witness Hunter, to compensate for the heavy hunting loads I used in it. The bottom line is that, given the current ammunition market, anyone interested in adding a 10 mm Auto to his or her stable of firearms will not find feeding it to be a problem. (For more details on the 10 mm firearms and ammunition I tested, including tables displaying their performance in the various barrel lengths, see “10 mm Auto Field Notes” at americanrifleman.org.)

Conclusion

The 10 mm Auto did not take over the military and law enforcement markets as its designers hoped it would, and, through the years, the cartridge has struggled to survive. Now, nearing the end of the second decade of the 21st century, it seems to have found its place. Those looking for magnum performance in a hip-holster-size semi-automatic handgun need look no further. With a new mantle of firearms and loads, the 10 mm Auto is garnering widespread acceptance. Long the choice of die-hard fans, for the first time in the nearly four decades of its existence, it can finally be said with certainty that the Ten is here to stay. The author would like to thank the following, whose insight and experience contributed to this article: Michael Dixon, John C. Hall, Tracie Hill, Bob Lippman, Bill Vanderpool, the soldiers of the Danish military and the agents of the FBI’s Firearms Training Unit.

americanrifleman.org

August 2018

cmp pistols

continued from p. 37

Some members of Congress expressed concerns that the release of these surplus M1911A1s might spark a crime wave or that the pistols might fall into the hands of individuals prohibited from owning a firearm. In the interest of avoiding such circumstances, the Defense Authorization Act of 2017 established a pilot program by limiting the release of the pistols to no more than 10,000 guns and no less than 8,000 guns per year. Initially, the release of the pistols was at the discretion of the Secretary of the Army, but then came the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, and it suspended the “discretionary authority” for transferring the pistols and repealed the congressionally mandated pilot program. This opened the door for the transfer of the pistols to begin—but first the Army had to be satisfied that they would be securely stored. The Army ultimately surprised the CMP with a requirement that it build a separate storage vault just for the M1911s. In record time, the largest bank vault in Calhoun County, Ala., was built, and the Army was satisfied. Then, in January, 96 crates containing a total of 8,000 pistols were delivered to the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s warehouse at the CMP South facility in Oxford. The pistols have been sitting there in the vault since then, as CMP

The “ANAD 6 78” marking on Ithaca M1911A1 Serial No. 2088647 (above, l.) indicates it was rebuilt at Anniston Army Depot in June 1978. Guns from the Army Museum System (below) included Model of 1911 pistol Serial No. X2337 (above) and a Remington/UMC Model 1911 (r.). The best-condition M1911s likely will go to the CMP’s auction site.

staff prepares to make them available for sale later in the year. The CMP’s chief operating officer, Mark Johnson, extended an invitation to American Rifleman to come to Alabama to have a look at the famous Army M1911s. Our visit started with a bang when we were escorted into the building that now houses the Armyapproved storage vault. We spent the next two hours getting a close look at the guns, and we were greeted with some pleasant surprises. The M1911s currently in the CMP’s vault came from two sources: the Army Museum System and the longterm strategic reserve of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). The Army Museum System pistols are crated separately from the DLA guns, and they are mostly Model of 1911s. We spent almost an hour sorting through the museum crates, finding the pistols to be mostly of Colt manufacture, with

August 2018

american rifleman

a variety of all-original and mixed A1 parts. One Remington-UMC Model of 1911 discovered among the many Colts aroused great excitement. They all appeared to have the original factory finish and they all are equipped with World War II-era plastic stocks. There are even a handful of National Match M1911A1s among them. For all of their attractive and inherently collectible qualities though, these museum system guns represent the minority of the 8,000 currently on hand at the CMP, and it is likely that they will all receive an Auction Grade designation. On the other hand, the majority of the pistols currently in the vault are M1911A1s that were until recently in a Defense Logistics Agency warehouse. These pistols were rebuilt at Anniston Army Depot (“ANAD”) between 1978 and 1982, and they wear a light gray Parkerized finish. To get a better sense of how these guns did in long-term storage, we opened one of the DLA crates and unpacked Ithaca M1911A1 Serial No. 2088647. This gun was originally produced in 1945 and then ultimately went through the ANAD rebuild program in June 1978. Where it went and what it did in the years between production and rebuild is anyone’s guess, but after it was rebuilt, the pistol was packaged for long-term storage in 1987 and periodically opened, inspected and re-packed again. After having a look at the Ithaca, Johnson indicated that it would go for general sale as a Service Grade M1911A1. When these pistols are made available for purchase later this year, they will be graded according to overall condition and sold at the following prices: Service Grade, $1,050 plus shipping;

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL - Kel-Tec SUB-2000 Rifles

Field Grade, $950 plus shipping; and Rack Grade, $850 plus shipping. To get those prices though, several requirements and restrictions will apply to qualified buyers—some of which are new to the world of the Civilian Marksmanship Program. First of all, you will have to submit a separate order pack, even if you are already qualified to purchase from the CMP’s rifle sales program. In addition to that, there is a lifetime limit of one pistol per qualified buyer, and that even applies to the M1911s that go to the CMP’s auction site. Unlike the CMP’s rifle sales program, CMP 1911s cannot be delivered to your door—they can only be shipped to a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL). The Curio & Relic License is excluded from this program. Additionally, qualified buyers will also have to receive a “proceed” on two National Instant Criminal Background Checks: once at the CMP when the purchase is completed and again when the buyer picks up the pistol from his or her FFL. These requirements were not the CMP’s choice but rather a condition placed on the program by its authorizing legislation. All details relating to purchasing requirements are currently listed on the CMP’s website—thecmp.org—along with the complete M1911 program order packet. The CMP will begin accepting orders for the M1911 and M1911A1 pistols currently in the warehouse on Sept. 4, 2018, so you will soon have a chance to buy one of these historically significant pieces of American military history. The only problem is that the CMP expects to receive as many as 75,000 orders for the 8,000 pistols now sitting in the vault, so a lottery system will be used to select buyers. One thing is for certain, though—all of them will sell—making the enthusiasts, collectors and marksmen who get them proud owners of historic examples of John Browning’s masterpiece.

Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc. is voluntarily recalling a limited number of SUB-2000 rifles because of a heat treatment issue that could potentially cause the barrel to rupture when a cartridge is fired and could result in serious personal injury. The SUB-2000 rifles affected by this recall are a select number that were manufactured in 2017. If your SUB-2000 was purchased in 2017 or 2018, do not load or fire it. Please contact Kel-Tec immediately via our website https://recalls. keltecweapons.com/, by email recalls@keltecweapons.com, or by telephone at 321-631-0068, extension 136 (M-F 9-4 EST), to see if your serial number is affected and for instructions on how to return your SUB-2000 rifle to have its barrel replaced free of charge.

americanrifleman.org

August 2018

smith & wesson m2.0 compact continued from p. 41

less than 1/4" of forward movement. Out of the box, the Compact’s trigger pull weight was 5 lbs., 13 ozs., and it only got better from there.

Range Reports As stated at the top, the M2.0 Compact in 9 mm Luger was a gun I had been waiting for; I was excited for it. Semi-automatic pistols that are small enough to carry but large enough to train with, and enjoyable to shoot, are of particular interest to me, so the possibility of an enhanced M&P as direct competition for the Glock 19 really tripped my trigger. I also realized, though, that to truly contend with the Glock, this new M&P had to prove its reliability beyond the several hundred rounds typically required for a pistol evaluation. It had to run for thousands of rounds, with minimal maintenance. To that end, I committed to testing the Compact to at least

2,000 rounds. It was a gun I could envision myself carrying, so I wanted to make sure I could trust my life to it. Without getting into the blowby-blow—detailed range reports are available at americanrifleman.org under the “Gun Gear Of The Week” category—I ran the Compact hard and exceeded the 2,000-round threshold. I used a range of ammunition in testing, including more than 1,200 rounds of Aguila Ammunition (115-gr. FMJ, 115-gr. +P, 117-gr. JHP, 124-gr. FMJ and 147-gr. FMJ FP), several hundred rounds from SIG Sauer (124-gr. FMJ, 124-gr. JHP and 147-gr. JHP), and a healthy variety of other brands, bullet weights and profiles—including the ultra-light, ultra-fast 65-gr. ARX load from NovX— for the remainder. So, what did I learn? First, the Compact ran flawlessly. There was not a single malfunction, stoppage, hiccup, rattle, flaw or failing throughout the entire course of fire. I cleaned and lubed the gun only

twice during the test, once at zero rounds and again at 1,000. Examining the gun, post-testing, all the components cleaned up easily, the metal contact surfaces were polished right where they should be, and the wear was smooth and even, a sign of good fit and function. The gun was also accurate. The results of our standard testing protocol are tabulated on p. 41, but even those impressive numbers don’t do the gun justice because they don’t convey just how well the gun points, how well the heavy texturing anchors it in the hand, or just how good the trigger really is—and how much a good trigger can aid accurate shooting. On that note, the Compact is probably best defined in my mind by two characteristics that are now hallmarks of S&W’s M2.0 line, namely the texture and the trigger. The molded polymer frame features a very coarse, gritty texture all the way around the grip. It is without

question the most aggressive factory texturing I’ve encountered, and is closer to a custom stippling job, in terms of feel, than a stock molded frame. In the hand, as long as your hands aren’t too sensitive, the texture effectively increases purchase and improves control and handling during recoil. There is one drawback, however, which is experienced when carrying the gun against bare skin, as in a concealed, inside-the-waistband holster—the grip can really rub the carrier. This effect can be mitigated with a good holster and a quality gun belt, but incidental contact is unavoidable, and can be a bit uncomfortable. Some have suggested sanding the texture down a bit, but because of how effective it is when shooting, I haven’t been able to justify doing so. Instead, I’ve just been sure to keep a T-shirt between the gun and my skin. The second defining feature is the Compact’s trigger. It is remarkable for a striker-fired, double-action design, and a testament to how far the M&P pistols have come since their introduction in 2005. And, remember how I said the trigger got even better? After 1,000 rounds I re-tested the pull weight, and the 10-pull average with a Lyman digital gauge measured 5 lbs., 4 ozs.—a drop of 9 ozs., or more than half a pound, since coming out of the box. I strongly urge anyone who owns an M&P M2.0 pistol to get out and shoot it. Getting 750 rounds, or so, through the gun will transform what feels like a good, striker-fired trigger into a noticeably smoother and lighter mechanism with a crisp break and short reset. It’s a stock trigger that compares well with custom-tuned striker-fired pistols I’ve tested. The quality of this gun can’t be gauged with a few dry-fire trigger presses at the gun shop sales counter— in my experience, the reliability kicks in on round one, but this pistol only gets better with time and training. Coming into this test, I had high hopes that the Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Compact would prove utterly reliable, and would stand out as a legitimate alternative in the duty/carry crossover category—right size, right capacity, reputable manufacturer. I was not disappointed, not in the least.

BULLPUP9 THE MOST COMPACT 9MM DOUBLE-ACTION ONLY PISTOL

MADE IN TEXAS BY TEXANS.

TEXAN .45 LONG COLT / .410 6” BARREL

FREE BROCHURE:

817-573-4445 BondArms.com

americanrifleman.org

August 2018

inside nra | ila report

LATEST LEGISLATIVE NEWS FROM INSIDE THE NRA INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION ILA Grassroots: (800) 392-8683 NRA-ILA: (703) 267-1170 NRA-ILA website: nraila.org

Bedrock American Values Prove Resistant to Gun Control Opportunism

ocial justice busybodies, obsessed with how other people live their lives, often portray the success of their causes as a matter of destiny. “The young people will win,” insists one youthful gun control advocate, falsely portraying his personal crusade as a generational mandate. Yet recent events have demonstrated that bedrock American values—including support for the Second Amendment—tend to outlast national moments of high emotion that are increasingly relied upon by political opportunists to advance their agenda. Given the chance to collect their thoughts, most Americans instinctively revert to freedom. We recently commented on this point with reference to poll numbers that show a familiar pattern of gun control support spiking in the immediate aftermath of an infamous firearm-related crime, only to taper off as the punditry aims its fury in another direction or overplays its hand and is forced to regroup. Since then, additional evidence has arisen that casts doubt upon the media’s breathless narrative that “the ground is shifting on gun control.” Most strikingly, more recent poll numbers reveal the fact that Americans, including young Americans, recognize that the country has far more pressing problems than rushing to enact gun control measures, the effectivenesses of which is dubious at best. The Associated Press and MTV teamed up this year to measure the “Youth Political Pulse” using surveys conducted from late February to early March (when the news cycle was focused on the terrible crime at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School) and again from late April to early May. Between the survey periods, the percentage of respondents ages 15 to 34 who identified firearm-related issues as their highest concern for the country fell 15 points, from 21 percent to 6 percent. During the earlier survey period, the gun issue was the highest concern. In the latter period, it was tied for the sixth most-common response, behind the economy, social inequality—and even threat of nuclear war. Moreover, a week after a similar crime in Santa Fe, Texas, on May 18, support for gun control in the Lone Star State had actually August 2018

dropped six points since it was measured in April by Quinnipiac University polling. A Quinnipiac analyst opined: “The tragedy at the Santa Fe school south of Houston changed few opinions among Texas voters about gun control. Support for gun control in general is down slightly, while support for background checks for all gun buyers is virtually unchanged.” Support for stricter gun laws was also lower in the May sample among those ages 18 to 34 than among those 65 or older, another inversion of the conventional wisdom that youth are destined to change the national debate on this question. The74Million.org, a website that describes itself as a “non-profit, nonpartisan news site covering education in America,” published a lengthy interview in May with Criminologist Nadine Connell of the University of Texas at Dallas, who’s compiling a database of every school shooting since 1990. The piece underscored Connell’s findings that “school shootings are extremely rare” and that allowing them to drive policy isn’t “always the most productive” way to keep students safe. Connell indicated that “from the perspective of policymaking,” the media’s current reporting on school shootings can be misleading. “[A]s of now,” she said, “we don’t think there is an increase in the number of incidents as much as there is an increase in the attention to the incidents.” She also stressed that “the number of rampage-like incidents remains extremely low, and they are a relatively small subsection of the shootings we are analyzing.” Schools, Connell said, “are the safest they’ve ever been.” While Connell indicated in the interview that she is not a fan of arming teachers, she also declined to put gun control at the center of the debate. When asked what would be the “most effective method to stop the lion’s share of the problem,” she emphasized “whole-school-centered approaches to improve climate, clarify expectations, and support teachers and administrators in creating a community of trust and support.” She also noted that the environmental design of schools can play an important role in keeping kids safe without making them feel like they are under siege. Perhaps even more ironic were the findings of a May 22 report—entitled “Can

american rifleman

“hold disproportional attitudes about the events themselves.” Unlike the latest gun control hashtag or self-congratulatory Hollywood vanity project, the National Rifle Association has been around since 1871. We’ve seen movements come, and we’ve seen movements go. And while we never doubt the sincerity of our opposition in their desire to eradicate our right to keep and bear arms, we’re not about to change our values or objectives just because some media talking heads or youth-obsessed celebrities begin making demands or throwing around half-baked claims. Fortunately, the American commitment to freedom also remains strong and resilient. Freedom-loving Americans know they will always have an ally in the NRA.

IN MEMORY NRA-ILA CONTRIBUTIONS

May 1, 2018 – May 31, 2018 Reuben Ledra, Schenectady, NY (from: Judith Ledra); Phillip Smiley, Cherryville, NC (from: Richard and Marjorie Hope); Alfred M. Hutchings, Cicero, NY (from: Charles Pooler); Martin H. Lonstein, Ellenville, NY (from: John and Marianne Lang); Lawrence P. Mannolini, Ellijay, GA (from: John and Marianne Lang); Lorelei Radtke, Gaylord, MI (from: James F. Monforton and Judith A. Doan); Matthew Rea, Tatum, TX (from: Millie Rea); Linda Neely, Wilton Manors, FL (from: J. Fred Neely); Don Kingsbury, Milwaukee, WI (from: Oconomowoc Sportsman’s Club, Inc.); Helen J. Gardner, San Bernardino, CA (from: Mohave Arms Collectors Ass’n.) .

ILA CONTRIBUTIONS

(The following have contributed $1,000.00 or more to the NRA Institute for Legislative Action: May 1, 2018 – May 31, 2018) Lightle Y. Moris, San Antonio, TX; James Rowen, Rockville Centre, NY; Kelly McAlpine, Irvine, CA; George W. Stokes, Lafayette, LA; Owen Torrey, Houston, TX; Paul L. Davis, Midland, TX; Edward A. Lyle, Akron, CO; W. Webber, Chesterfield, MI; Eldon J. Saul, Halifax, PA; George C. Robinson, Windom, MN; John J. Coates, Oklahoma City, OK; Steve Edelstein, Hunt, TX; Norman Myhr, Portland, OR; Terrence R. Dolan, Minneapolis, MN; William Sommerville, Laguna Beach, CA; Bernard Moore Williams, Charlottesville, VA; Ruth Brewer, Platteville, CO; Julian B. Branch, Palm Beach Gardens, FL; Steven Roberts, Ely, MN; Jeffrey A. Rogge,Whitehouse, OH; Arthur B. Choate, Coral Gables, FL; George Brantley, Carlsbad, NM; Sports South Inc., Shreveport, LA; Davidson’s, Prescott, AZ; Clayton W. Williams, Midland, TX; Barbara Rumpel, Melbourne, FL; Kerry & Libby Krottinger, Wichita Falls, TX; American Outdoor Brands, Springfield, MA; Wescon Management Group Inc., Midland, TX; Darwin Deason, Dallas, TX; Richard H. Collins, Dallas, TX; Kent Distributors Inc., Midland, TX; Kent Lubrication Centers, Midland, TX; Jerry L. Head Investments, Corsicana, TX; Hightower Capital Group Inc., Bellaire, TX; William Scott Jensen, Mayfield, KY; George Taggart, Rockport, TX; John J. Litzinger, Vero Beach, FL; Michael G. Leonard, Equinunk, PA; Frank Harrison, Charlotte, NC; Lyne B. Simmonds, Naples, FL; Bob Bell, Bellaire, TX; John Bowling, Southlake, TX; Mitzy McCorvey, Houston, TX; Eagle Peak Shooting Range, Leander, TX; Laurie Partlo, Clayton, NC; Cliff Zoller, La Crosse, WI; C. Birge Sigety, Tampa, FL; James F. Webert, Stuart, FL; John A. Murray, Rockport, TX; Janet D. Nyce, Elliottsburg, PA; Barry Partlo, Clayton, NC; Carl T. Haley, Nashville, TN; Bobbi Cox, Newport Beach, CA; James Anderson, Ingram, TX; Teal Construction Co., Houston, TX; Appling Farms, El Campo, TX; Midwest Industries Inc., Waukesha, WI; Rock Island Auction Co., Rock Island, IL; Turner’s Outdoorsman, Cucamonga, CA; Marlin F. Fiola, Kansas City, MO; Kenneth S. George, Dallas, TX; Charles E. Long, Indian River Shores, FL; Stephen Hillis, Lakeland, FL; Gerald Rominger, Arbuckle, CA; Jill Glanville, Houston, TX; David Levy, Fort Washington, PA; Roy McCormack, Valparaiso, IN; David R. Ballantyne, Englewood, FL; Palm Beach Concepts LLC, West Palm Beach, FL; Samuel Filoromo, Vedra Beach, FL; Arthur Palmer, Bartonville, IL; Gail I. Kincaid, Fort Stockton, TX; Jonathon Lusher, Kerrville, TX; Markham Dossett,Waco,TX; J. Cruz, Los Angeles, CA; Terry Cacek, Greeley, CO; R. Callan,Tucson,AZ; David R. Putegnat, Centennial, CO; Dahl H. Curry, Manassas, VA; Martin Kluesner, Fortville, IN; John C. Turchi, Grandby, CT; James C. McMillin, Madisonville, TX; Harold R. Berenson, Larkspur, CO; Charles Pooler, Tampa, FL; Greg Arnold, Riviera Beach, FL; Thomas R. Ziegler, Gardners, PA; John Howard, Albuquerque, NM; Charles A. Vermilyea, Warren, PA; George C. Robinson, Windom, MN; C. Lee Newton, Cove, TX; Jay West, Germantown, TN; Donald Grant, Merrill, IA; Thomas Mussoni, Fort Mill, SC; George A. Schaefer, Cincinnati, OH; John Coonradt, Fairfax, VA; Bruce R. Hotze, Houston, TX; Mary Beth Harshbarger, Meshoppen, PA; William D. Ellsworth, Macedon, NY; Mark Beck, Ventura, CA; Richard Mumford, Middletown, DE; Michael McCann, Fort Meyers, FL; William S. Mahan,Warren, PA; Lori A. Clem, Carrollton, TX; Tim Trumble, Niwot, CO; Edwin V. Cabalfin, Bremerton, WA; John H. Quinn, Naples, FL; Cliff McCurdy, Ph.D., Williston, FL; Robert Wiley III, Mercer Island, OR; F. Scott Yeager, Llano, TX; David Peden, Houston, TX; Cape Radiology Group, Cape Girardeau, MO; Barre Fish and Game Club, Inc., Barre, VT; Cold Steel Inc., Ventura, CA; Greg Senn, Chippewa Falls, WI. AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

AUGUST 2018

Courtesy of Davisson Brothers Band

Mass Shootings be Stopped?”—from the Rockefeller Institute. The report, which was funded by a multi-state “Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium” representing a who’swho of Northeastern anti-gun jurisdictions, broadly focused on mass shootings as a general phenomenon, rather than on school-specific events. Like Connell, the authors recognized media distortion as a serious barrier to understanding the true nature of the problem. “Mass shootings, and those that are particularly lethal, are amplified by the news cycle, making them appear more commonplace when they are, in fact, statistically rare,” they stated. They also characterized the media’s coverage of the events as “unbalanced,” potentially leading the public to

Davisson Brothers Band

he Davisson Brothers Band is a great representation of NRA Country. Hailing from the hills of West Virginia, the band lives and breathes an authentic wild and wonderful, country lifestyle with music being the foundation. They take great pride in their heritage and rugged backwoods culture. DBB has an amazing, high-energy show that thrills crowds and makes people proud of who they are. NRA Country’s Vanessa Shahidi sat down with two members, Donnie and Chris Davisson, on the heels of the release of their latest album, “Fighter.” VS: Was there anyone in particular that taught you about the great outdoors? CD: Yes, our dad and grandpa. Our grandpa was the wisest outdoorsman I have ever known. And when I was 16, my dad took my brothers and me on an all-night raccoon hunt with the dogs. It was like my initiation to becoming a man. I will never forget that night. VS: What is your favorite personal firearm? DD: I sang at a wedding when I was a kid, and the bride’s father gave me a .30-30 Winchester as payment. … It means the world to me. I’ve been hunting with it for a long time. VS: Tell us about your new album, “Fighter.” DD: The new album “Fighter” is all about the life we live. Every song on this album has a meaning to who we are and what we represent ... being honest, staying true to ourselves and standing up for what we believe. CD: We live and breathe a country lifestyle on and off the road. We are a product of our environment. Every lyric and note on this record captured that. Learn more about the band and purchase “Fighter” at DavissonBrothersBand.com.

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. Visit nracountry.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

INSIDE NRA | REGIONAL REPORT CENTRAL 2019 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • APRIL 26-28 • INDIANAPOLIS, IN

For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org Indiana State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n. Inc.

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riends of NRA events celebrate American values with fun, fellowship and fundraising for The NRA Foundation. To learn more about events in your area, visit friendsofnra.org, contact your local ﬁeld representative or send an email to friends@nrahq.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

Central Regional Director—Chad Franklin

Nebraska Marksmanship Ass’n.

IA, NE—Tim Bacon

Wisconsin Firearm Owners, Ranges, Clubs & Educators

cfranklin@nrahq.org 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

STATE ASSOCIATIONS

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

nemarksmanship.org wisconsinforce.org

TRAINING

Crime Prevention

The 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. AUG. 4—ELMHURST, IL (Seminar)

Patrick Jones (773) 983-1526

AUG. 4—MARTINSVILLE, IN (Seminar)

Mattie Hartley (317) 439-3482

AUG. 11—LIVONIA, MI (Seminar)

Dashika Hill (248) 906-9090

AUG. 11—ASH GROVE, MO (Seminar)

Michael Brooks (417) 366-9965

AUG. 14—DAVENPORT, IA (Seminar)

John Overstake (563) 424-1812

AUG. 21—APPLETON, WI (Seminar)

Gail Feher (920) 202-3080 AUG. 21—ST. LOUIS, MO (Seminar) Kevin Cummins (636) 207-1900

AREA SHOOTS

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

West Liberty, IA Chandler, IN Negaunee, MI Waterman, IL Holden, MO Weeping Water, NE Beloit, WI

SMALLBORE RIFLE

Monroe, WI Waterman, IL Borden, IN Williamston, MI

HIGH POWER RIFLE

Lodi, WI Van Meter, IA Milan, IL Louisville, KY Holton, MI Wabash, IN Alliance, NE Marshall, MO

SILHOUETTE

Dorr, MI Paris, MO Beloit, WI Louisville, NE Danville, IN Effingham, IL

AUG. 5 AUG. 5 AUG. 6 AUG. 11 AUG. 19 AUG. 25 AUG. 25-26 AUG. 18 AUG. 19 AUG. 19 AUG. 25-26 AUG. 5 AUG. 5 AUG. 11-12 AUG. 18 AUG. 19 AUG. 19 AUG. 25 AUG. 25-26 AUG. 11 AUG. 12 AUG. 18 AUG. 19 AUG. 25 AUG. 25-26

GUN SHOWS

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.

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.

AUGUST 2018

AUG. 3-4

WAUKESHA, WI

AUG. 3-5

INDIANOLA, IA

Waukesha County Expo Center, Bob & Rocco’s Gun Shows (608) 752-6677 Warren County Fairgrounds, Marv Kraus Promotions (563) 608-2045

AUG. 4

CRESCO, IA

Howard County Fairgrounds— Expo Building, Cresco Wildlife Club (563) 380-6625

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

AUG. 4-5

BIRCH RUN, MI

Frankenmuth Credit Union Event Center, Sport Shows Promotions (517) 676-4160

AUG. 4-5

MUNCIE, IN

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

AUG. 11-12

GRAND RAPIDS, MI

4 Mile Show Place, Sport Shows Promotions (517) 676-4160

AUG. 11-12

KOKOMO, IN

AUG. 11-12

SEYMOUR, IN

AUG. 11-12

SPRINGFIELD, MO

Ivy Tech Conference Center, Central Indiana Gun Shows (765) 855-3836

National Guard Armory, Tri-State Gun & Knife Collectors (812) 521-9367 Ozark Empire Fairgrounds—E-Plex, R.K. Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176

AUG. 17-18

SOLON SPRINGS, WI

Solon Springs Community Center, Ray Kangas Productions (715) 372-4654

AUG. 17-19

SIOUX CITY, IA

AUG. 17-19

EVANSVILLE, IN

Sioux City Convention Center, Marv Kraus Promotions (563) 608-2045 Evansville National Guard Armory, Tri-State Gun & Knife Collectors (812) 521-9367

AUG. 18-19

KANSAS CITY, MO

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

AUG. 18-19

NEW BERLIN, IL

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

AUG. 18-19

MONROE, MI

Monroe County Fairgrounds, Sport Shows Promotions (517) 676-4160

AUG. 18-19

INDIANAPOLIS, IN

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

AUG. 18-19

SHIPSHEWANA, IN

AUG. 24-25

ASHLAND, WI

AUG. 24-26

WEST SALEM, WI

AUG. 24-26

BOONE, IA

AUG. 24-26

OTTUMWA, IA

AUG. 24-26

INDIANAPOLIS, IN

AUG. 25-26

BELLEVILLE, IL

AUG. 25-26

PRINCETON, IN

AUG. 25-26

DETROIT, MI

AUG. 25-26

MCCOOK, NE

Shipshewana Event Center, CPI Shows (260) 483-6144

Ashland Civic Center, Ray Kangas Productions (715) 372-4654 LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway, Marv Kraus Promotions (563) 608-2045

Boone County Fairgrounds— Community Building, Boone County Sportsmens Club (515) 212-0125 Bridge View Center, Midwest Arms Collectors LLC (660) 956-6004 Indiana State Fairgrounds, World Class Gun Shows (405) 340-1333

Belle-Clair Expo Center, ECA Hunting and Trade Shows (618) 495-2572 Gibson County Fairgrounds, Central Indiana Gun Shows (765) 993-8942 Brownstown Sport Center, Sport Shows Promotions (517) 676-4160 McCook Fairgrounds, High Plains Shooters Supply (402) 276-1391

AUG. 26

ANTIOCH, IL

Antioch VFW, Lake County Gun Shows (847) 548-0433

AUG. 31-SEPT. 2

JEFFERSON, WI

Jefferson County Fair Park, Marv Kraus Promotions (563) 608-2045

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 Wine Club

(800) 331-9754

ManageYOURiD

(888) 759-7866

Medical Concierge Network

800) 351-6094

Global Rescue

(800) 381-9754

NRA Travel Center

NRA.HotelPlanner.com

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

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

August 2018

continued from p. 49

“[The NRA] is under attack,” he said. “Quite frankly, I’ve never seen anything quite like it. They’ve hacked into almost everything they could. They’ve threatened the officers, the directors, the staff. The harassment goes beyond simply yelling at people. It now involves vandalism. They’ve slashed tires and broken windshields and things like that. And there’s no place for that in America.” North said the renewed call for repealing the Second Amendment proves how determined the enemies of freedom are. “We’ve got a former Supreme Court justice urging that we repeal the Second Amendment,” he said. “The 6 million members of the NRA are not going to stand still for that. The attack that has been waged against the NRA over the course of the last two or three months is unprecedented. “We’re going to stand and support the Second Amendment for the American people. They’re using the First Amendment as a weapon against the Second Amendment. That’s got to stop. "Truth be told, all NRA members should be proud and excited to have LtCol North leading our association into the next battle—and the next era," LaPierre said. “He’s an unflinching, unapologetic defender of Second Amendment freedom who has earned the enduring respect and admiration of our members,” he said. “And he strikes genuine fear into the freedom-hating political elites who so desperately wish for a weakened NRA. “He understands what all the socalled Washington and media experts still don’t—that the strength of this organization will always and forever come from our nearly 6 million members.” For his part, North’s focus will be on defending and growing the Association, protecting the Second Amendment, and spreading the word about NRA’s goals. “We’ve got a message to get out to the American people. And it’s a very straightforward message,” he said. “The NRA was created in 1871 to teach the safe handling of firearms, marksmanship and protection of the Second Amendment. What we want to do is help everyone keep their freedom.”

inside nra | regional report east 2019 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • APRIL 26-28 • INDIANAPOLIS, IN

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

Police Competition

riends of NRA events celebrate American values with fun, fellowship and fundraising for The NRA Foundation. To learn more about events in your area, visit friendsofnra.org, contact your local field representative or send an email to friends@nrahq.org.

East Regional Director—Bryan Hoover

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

LAW ENFORCEMENT

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

AUG. 6-10—CARLISLE, PA

(Patrol Rifle)

AUG. 6-10—HIGHSPIRE, PA

(Handgun/Shotgun)

AUG. 20-24—LEESPORT, PA

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

TUITION-FREE ARMORER CLASSES** (Register at: le.nra.org/training/tuitionfree-schools.aspx) AUG. 15-16—FAIRFAX, VA

(Tavor X95 Armorer)

AUG. 23—FAIRFAX, VA

(Glock Armorer)

Maine Rifle & Pistol Ass’n. Inc.

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.

AUG. 11—LEBANON, PA (Approved)

Contact lecompetitions@nrahq.org or (703) 267-1632.

AREA SHOOTS

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. Scarborough, ME Cumberland, RI Newstead, NY Harwood, MD West Windsor, NJ Vernon/Rockville, CT Eleanor, WV Batavia, OH Annville, PA Manassas, VA

SMALLBORE RIFLE

Millville, NJ

HIGH POWER RIFLE

Charlottesville, VA Westfield, MA Bridgeville, DE East Aurora, NY Hampden, ME Exeter, PA Holland, PA Merrimack, NH Lexington Park, MD Highland Lakes, NJ Chandlersville, OH

SILHOUETTE

Richmond, VA Montpelier, VA Staten Island, NY Johnstown, PA Fairless Hills, PA Ridgway, PA Holderness, NH Rupert, WV

AUG. 5 AUG. 12 AUG. 12 AUG. 12 AUG. 18 AUG. 19 AUG. 19 AUG. 19 AUG. 25-26 AUG. 26 AUG. 26 AUG. 4 AUG. 5 AUG. 11 AUG. 11 AUG. 12 AUG. 12 AUG. 19 AUG. 25 AUG. 25 AUG. 25 AUG. 26

msrpa.org

Goal (Massachusetts)

goal.org

Gun Owners Of New Hampshire Inc.

gonh.org

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

Vermont Federation Of Sportsmen’s Clubs Inc.

vtfsc.org

Virginia Shooting Sports Ass’n.

myvssa.org

West Virginia State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

wvasrpa.org

TRAINING

Crime Prevention

Lyd Neugent (401) 377-8184

AUG. 4 AUG. 11 AUG. 18 AUG. 19 AUG. 19 AUG. 22 AUG. 26 AUG. 26

STATE ASSOCIATIONS

oining NRA-affiliated state associations supports NRA’s mission in your state.See stateassociations.nra.org/ for more information. Connecticut State Rifle & Revolver Ass’n.

csrra.com

Delaware State Sportsmen’s Ass’n.

dssa.us

August 2018

Maryland State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

anjrpc.org

PISTOL

mainerpa.org

american rifleman

AUG. 4—HAGERSTOWN, MD (Seminar)

Ronald David (301) 828-5879

AUG. 11—CENTREVILLE, VA (Seminar)

Charles Sills (703) 362-7293

AUG. 12—FURLONG, PA (Seminar)

Robert Morris (215) 598-3534

AUG. 13—PEEKSKILL, NY (Seminar)

Steven Donahoo (914) 455-4099

AUG. 18—HAGERSTOWN, MD (Seminar)

Ronald David (301) 828-5879

AUG. 20—PEEKSKILL, NY (Seminar)

Steven Donahoo (914) 455-4099

AUG. 23—MARENGO, OH (Seminar)

Connie Cline (740) 501-0627

AUG. 25—PEEKSKILL, NY

(Instructor Development Workshop) Steven Donahoo (914) 455-4099

AUG. 25—KILMARNOCK, VA (Seminar)

AUG. 18-19

ST. THOMAS, PA

St. Thomas Township Volunteer Fire Hall, Izaak Walton League of Franklin County (717) 977-9240

AUG. 18-19

HARRISBURG, PA

AUG. 18-19

CLAYTON, NY

AUG. 18-19

LEESPORT, PA

*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.

AUG. 18-19

ROANOKE, VA

AUG. 4-5

AUG. 23-26

WADDINGTON, NY

Robert Heller (804) 410-5905

GUN SHOWS

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.

OLD FORGE, NY

Hiltebrant Recreation Center, NEACA Inc. (518) 664-9743

AUG. 4-5

SHARONVILLE, OH

Sharonville Convention Center, Bill Goodman’s Gun & Knife Shows (502) 538-3900

AUG. 4-5

OAKS, PA

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

AUG. 4-5

WISCASSET, ME

Wiscasset Community Center, Wiscasset Rod & Gun Club (207) 443-4844

AUG. 11-12

DAYTON, OH

Montgomery County Event Center, Bill Goodman’s Gun & Knife Shows (502) 538-3900

AUG. 12

UNADILLA, NY

Unadilla Rod & Gun Club, Midstate Arms Collectors (607) 748-1010

AUG. 18-19

RUTLAND, VT

Royce Arena—Vermont State Fairgrounds, NEACA Inc. (518) 664-9743

AUG. 18-19

LEESPORT, PA

Leesport Farmers Market, Appalachian Promotions (717) 697-3088

Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, C&E Gun Shows (540) 953-0016* Cerow Park Arena, Clayton Rotary Club (315) 767-5643

Leesport Farmers Market, Appalachian Promotions (717) 697-3088

The Berglund Center, Showmasters Gun Shows (540) 951-1344 Donald M Martin Civic Center, NEACA Inc. (518) 664-9743

AUG. 25

SIDNEY, OH

AUG. 25

CONCORD, NH

Shelby County Fairgrounds, River Valley Classic Gun Show (937) 418-2179

Bektash Shrine Center, Fort Constitution Arms Collectors (603) 223-0001

AUG. 25-26

WIND GAP, PA

AUG. 25-26

AUGUSTA, ME

AUG. 25-26

CENTEREACH, NY

AUG. 25-26

BEREA, OH

AUG. 25-26

MONROEVILLE, PA

AUG. 25-26

RICHMOND, VA

Plainfield Township Fire Hall, Eagle Arms Productions (610) 393-3047

Augusta Civic Center, New England Events (603) 230-9014 Veterans of Foreign Wars, Marbles Enterprises (516) 221-7380

Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, Ohio Shows (330) 539-4247

Monroeville Convention Center, Showmasters Gun Shows (540) 951-2344 Richmond Raceway Complex, Showmasters Gun Shows (540) 951-1344

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 Wine Club

(800) 331-9754

ManageYOURiD

(888) 759-7866

Medical Concierge Network

800) 351-6094

Global Rescue

(800) 381-9754

NRA Travel Center

NRA.HotelPlanner.com

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

americanrifleman.org

August 2018

continued from p. 49

inside nra | regional report midwest 2019 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • APRIL 26-28 • INDIANAPOLIS, IN

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

AREA SHOOTS

riends of NRA events celebrate American values with fun, fellowship and fundraising for The NRA Foundation. 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

Eastern TX—Liz Foley

efoley@nrahq.org

Northern TX—Kevin Post

kpost@nrahq.org

Southern TX—Tyler Ward

tward@nrahq.org

Western TX—Jack Cannon

jcannon@nrahq.org

TRAINING

Crime Prevention

Larry McWhirter (970) 249-2771

AUG. 2—SCHERTZ, TX (Seminar)

Alison Adams (210) 508-0317

AUG. 16—AUGUSTA, KS (Seminar)

Gregory Rupp (316) 651-7877

AUG. 18—AMARILLO, TX (Seminar)

Jeff Srygley (806) 433-0435

AUG. 18—AMARILLO, TX

(Instructor Development Workshop) Jeff Srygley (806) 433-0435

Oklahoma Rifle Ass’n. Inc.

oklarifle.com

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.

Texas State Rifle Ass’n.

PISTOL

Whitewater, KS Byers, CO Arcadia, OK Manor, TX Houston, TX

SMALLBORE RIFLE

Pine Bluff, AR Whitewater, KS Amarillo, TX Byers, CO

HIGH POWER RIFLE

Capitan, NM Garden City, KS Friendswood, TX Diana, TX Van Buren, AR Byers, CO Arcadia, OK

SILHOUETTE

Topeka, KS Bellaire, TX Sand Spring, OK Grand Prairie, TX Erie, CO Bauxite, AR Raton, NM

AUG. 4 AUG. 12 AUG. 18 AUG. 19 AUG. 26 AUG. 4 AUG. 11 AUG. 11-12 AUG. 18-19 AUG. 4-5 AUG. 11 AUG. 11 AUG. 19 AUG. 25 AUG. 26 AUG. 28 AUG. 11 AUG. 15 AUG. 18 AUG. 18 AUG. 19 AUG. 25 AUG. 26

LAW ENFORCEMENT

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

AUG. 20-24—RIO RANCHO, NM

(Handgun/Shotgun) Contact Mary Shine at (703) 267-1628 or mshine@nrahq.org.

STATE ASSOCIATIONS

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

August 2018

american rifleman

tsra.com

GUN SHOWS

MONTICELLO, AR

AUG. 4-5

LEWISVILLE, TX

AUG. 4-5

SAN ANTONIO, TX

AUG. 4-5

MERIDIAN, TX

AUG. 4-5

MIDLAND, TX

AUG. 4-5

NACOGDOCHES, TX

AUG. 4-5

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

AUG. 4-5

LEADVILLE, CO

Drew County Fairgrounds, Kerry Murphy Promotions (501) 580-3737 Premier Event Center, Premier Gun Shows (817) 732-1194 San Antonio Events Center, Saxet Trade Shows (361) 289-2256*

Meridian Civic Center, Whipp Farm Productions (817) 929-1816

Horseshoe Pavilion, Silver Spur Trade Shows (806) 253-1322 Nacogdoches County Exposition Center, G&S Promotions (918) 659-2201

Oklahoma City State Fairgrounds— Modern Living Building, R.K. Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176 Lake County Six Street Gym, E.T.S. Inc. (719) 641-6735

AUG. 11-12

GEORGETOWN, TX

AUG. 11-12

PASADENA, TX

AUG. 11-12

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX

AUG. 11-12

ABILENE, TX

D1 Nation Sports, Premier Gun Shows (817) 732-1194

Pasadena Convention Center, Premier Gun Shows (817) 732-1194 Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds, Saxet Trade Shows (361) 289-2256*

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

AUG. 11-12

TAYLOR, TX

Williamson County Expo Center, Real Texas Gun Shows (713) 724-8881

AUG. 18-19

PASADENA, TX

Pasadena Convention Center, High Caliber Gun & Knife Show (281) 489-1741

AUG. 11-12

TYLER, TX

AUG. 18-19

SAN ANTONIO, TX

AUG. 11-12

WICHITA FALLS, TX

AUG. 18-19

TULSA, OK

AUG. 11-12

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

AUG. 18-19

LITTLE ROCK, AR

AUG. 11-12

SHAWNEE, OK

AUG. 25-26

FORT WORTH, TX

AUG. 11-12

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

AUG. 25-26

ARLINGTON, TX

AUG. 17-19

MONTROSE, CO

AUG. 25-26

CROCKETT, TX

AUG. 18-19

DENVER, CO

AUG. 25-26

JEFFERSON, TX

AUG. 18-19

ALBUQUERQUE, NM

AUG. 25-26

KERRVILLE, TX

AUG. 18-19

MESQUITE, TX

AUG. 25-26

KINGSLAND, TX

AUG. 18-19

MCALLEN, TX

AUG. 25-26

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

AUG. 18-19

BRENHAM, TX

AUG. 25-26

TEXARKANA, AR

AUG. 18-19

MADISONVILLE, TX

AUG. 25-26

LOVELAND, CO

Harvey Hall Convention Center, Lone Star Gun Shows (214) 635-2009 Wichita Falls Multi-Purpose Event Center, Texas Collectors Gun Show (940) 867-1309 Oklahoma State Fair Park— Expo Hall #2, Oklahoma City Gun Show Inc. (800) 333-4867

Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center, C&L Antique Arms (580) 272-6808 Colorado Springs Event Center, R.J. Promotions (816) 676-1200

Montrose County Fairgrounds, Montrose Rod & Gun Club (970) 249-9008 Denver Mart, Tanner Gun Shows (720) 514-0114

Expo New Mexico, Silver Spur Trade Shows (806) 253-1322

Big Town Event Center, Premier Gun Shows (817) 732-1194 McAllen Convention Center, Saxet Trade Shows (361) 289-2256*

Brenham Firearms Center, Real Texas Gun Shows (713) 724-8881 Truman Krimbo Center, Madisonville Noons Lion Club (936) 349-7029

Austin Highway Events Center, Austin Highway Events (210) 242-3683 Tulsa Fairgrounds, Grand American Arms Shows (405) 614-9464

Arkansas State Fair Complex, Arkansas Gun & Cartridge Collectors Club (501) 580-3737 Will Rogers Center—Amon Carter Exhibit Hall, Premier Gun Shows (817) 732-1194 Knights of Columbus, GGA Productions (817) 659-9249

Crockett Civic Center, Marine Corps League 1433 (936) 229-2023 Jefferson Visitor Center, T&K Promotions (903) 431-0043

Hill Country Veterans Center, Hill Country Veterans (830) 315-3101 Kingsland Community Center, Wild Weasel Productions (830) 992-5291

Oklahoma State Fair Park, Grand American Arms Shows (405) 614-9464 Holiday Inn Convention Center, Kerry Murphy Promotions (501) 580-3737 Outlets at Loveland, P.E. Gun Shows (970) 779-0360

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 Wine Club

(800) 331-9754

ManageYOURiD

(888) 759-7866

Medical Concierge Network

800) 351-6094

Global Rescue

(800) 381-9754

NRA Travel Center

NRA.HotelPlanner.com

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

americanrifleman.org

August 2018

continued from p. 49

inside nra | regional report south 2019 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • APRIL 26-28 • INDIANAPOLIS, IN

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

AUG. 10—TUSCALOOSA, AL (Registered) AUG. 11—MEMPHIS, TN (Approved)

riends of NRA events celebrate American values with fun, fellowship and fundraising for The NRA Foundation. 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

Western NC—Doug Merrill

rmerrill@nrahq.org

TN—Mike Webb

mwebb@nrahq.org

SC—Freeman Coleman

fcoleman@nrahq.org

LAW ENFORCEMENT

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

AUG. 6-10—TUSCALOOSA, AL

(Patrol Rifle)

AUG. 13-17—FLORENCE, AL

(Handgun/Shotgun)

AUG. 13-17—OKEECHOBEE, FL

(Handgun/Shotgun)

AUG. 11-12—TUSCALOOSA, AL (Regional) AUG. 25—COLUMBIA, SC (Approved)

Contact lecompetitions@nrahq.org or (703) 267-1632.

AREA SHOOTS

or more information, email Shelly Kramer at mkramer@nrahq.org or call (703) 267-1459. For a complete listing of area shoots, see shootingsportsusa.com. PISTOL

Arden, NC Covington, GA South Congaree, SC Pinson, AL Oak Ridge, TN Brooksville, FL

AUG. 4 AUG. 12 AUG. 18 AUG. 18 AUG. 19 AUG. 26

SMALLBORE RIFLE

Dawsonville, GA Florence, MS Ridgeville, SC Brunswick, TN Pinson, AL

AUG. 4 AUG. 11 AUG. 18 AUG. 18 AUG. 25

HIGH POWER RIFLE

Covington, GA Tullahoma, TN Sunrise, FL Ridgeville, SC Pinson, AL Glen, MS Churchland, NC Gonzales, LA

AUG. 4 AUG. 4 AUG. 4 AUG. 11 AUG. 11 AUG. 11 AUG. 25 AUG. 26

SILHOUETTE

Hoover, AL Quitman, LA Pascagoula, MS Rutherfordton, NC Gaston, SC Brunswick, GA Cusseta, GA Jacksonville, FL

AUG. 4 AUG. 4 AUG. 11 AUG. 18 AUG. 18 AUG. 18 AUG. 18 AUG. 25

STATE ASSOCIATIONS

AUG. 20-24—LITHIA, FL (Select Fire)

Police Competition

Alabama Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

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

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.

AUG. 3—SUMTER, SC (Approved)

AUG. 8—MONCKS CORNER, SC (Approved)

oining NRA-affiliated state associations supports NRA’s mission in your state. See stateassociations.nra.org/ for more information. jmoses1936@gmail.com

Florida Sport Shooting Ass’n.

fssaf.wildapricot.org

Georgia Sport Shooting Ass’n.

gssainc.org

Louisiana Shooting Ass’n.

louisianashooting.com August 2018

american rifleman

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

TRAINING

Crime Prevention

Buford Gates (205) 616-2373

AUG. 11—SAVANNAH, GA (Seminar)

John Bain (678) 283-2504

AUG. 11—SAVANNAH, GA

(Instructor Development Workshop) John Bain (678) 283-2504

AUG. 18—GRIFTON, NC (Seminar)

Leslie May (252) 714-0067

AUG. 25—WHITE, GA (Seminar)

Carl Hirt (770) 334-8285

GUN SHOWS

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. AUG. 4-5

MOBILE, AL

AUG. 4-5

AVON PARK, FL

AUG. 4-5

FORT MYERS, FL

AUG. 4-5

DELAND, FL

AUG. 4-5

PANAMA CITY, FL

Greater Gulf State Fairgrounds, Collectors & Shooters Co. (334) 322-8818 Avon Park National Guard Armory, Great American Promotions (865) 453-0074 Lee Civic Center, Florida Gun Shows (407) 410-6870 Volusia County Fairgrounds, Sport Show Specialists (321) 777-7455*

Bay County Fairgrounds, North Florida Gun & Knife Shows (407) 275-7233

AUG. 4-5

CARTERSVILLE, GA

Clarence Brown Conference Center, R.K. Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176

AUG. 11-12

WINSTON-SALEM, NC

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

AUG. 4-5

LAFAYETTE, LA

AUG. 11-12

GREENVILLE, SC

AUG. 4-5

RALEIGH, NC

AUG. 18-19

STUART, FL

AUG. 4-5

COLUMBIA, SC

AUG. 18-19

ORLANDO, FL

AUG. 4-5

LEBANON, TN

AUG. 18-19

MIAMI, FL

AUG. 4-5

KINGSPORT, TN

AUG. 18-19

BILOXI, MS

AUG. 18-19

CHARLOTTE, NC

AUG. 18-19

KNOXVILLE, TN

AUG. 25-26

HOOVER, AL

AUG. 25-26

FORT PIERCE, FL

Lafayette Event Center, Classic Arms Productions (985) 624-8577 N.C. State Fairgrounds, Dixie Gun & Knife Show Classic (919) 781-1287

Jamil Shrine Center, South Carolina Arms Collectors Ass’n. (803) 463-9377 Wilson County Expo Center, Bill Goodman’s Gun & Knife Shows (502) 538-3900 MeadowView Convention Center, R.K. Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176

AUG. 11-12

HUNTSVILLE, AL

Cahaba Shrine Center, VPI Gun Shows (256) 381-0506

AUG. 11-12

OKEECHOBEE, FL

KOA Convention Center, Great American Promotions (865) 453-0074

AUG. 11-12

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL

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

AUG. 11-12

BROOKSVILLE, FL

Hernando Sportsman’s Club House, Hernando Sportsman’s Club (352) 799-3605

TD Convention Center, South Carolina Arms Collectors Ass’n. (803) 463-9377

Martin County Fairgrounds, Great American Promotions (865) 453-0074 Central Florida Fairgrounds, Florida Gun Shows (407) 410-6870

Miccosukee Gaming Resort, Florida Gun Expo (305) 922-3677 Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center, Classic Arms Productions (985) 624-8577

Park Expo, Dixie Gun & Knife Show (919) 781-1287 Knoxville Expo Center, R.K. Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176

Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Collectors & Shooters Co. (334) 322-8818 Havert L Fenn Center, Patriot Productions (866) 611-0442

AUG. 11-12

WEST PALM BEACH, FL

AUG. 25-26

TAMPA, FL

AUG. 11-12

SAVANNAH, GA

AUG. 25-26

HOLLYWOOD, FL

AUG. 11-12

MANDEVILLE, LA

AUG. 25-26

PENSACOLA, FL

AUG. 11-12

JACKSON, MS

AUG. 25-26

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA

South Florida Fairgrounds, Sport Show Specialists (321) 777-7455*

Savannah Civic Center, Eastman Gun Shows (229) 423-4867 Castine Center, Jean LaFitte Promotions (337) 302-5535

Mississippi State Fair Commission, Great Southern Gun & Knife Shows (865) 671-4757

Florida State Fairgrounds, Florida Gun Shows (407) 410-6870 Italian American Civic League, Florida Gun Expo (305) 922-3677

Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds, North Florida Gun & Knife Shows (407) 275-7233 Gwinnett County Fairgrounds, 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 Wine Club

(800) 331-9754

ManageYOURiD

(888) 759-7866

Medical Concierge Network

800) 351-6094

Global Rescue

(800) 381-9754

NRA Travel Center

NRA.HotelPlanner.com

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

americanrifleman.org

August 2018

continued from p. 49

INSIDE NRA | REGIONAL REPORT SOUTHWEST 2019 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • APRIL 26-28 • INDIANAPOLIS, IN

For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org AUG. 22—MESA, AZ

(Seminar) Gerard Violette (480) 244-6315

AUG. 26—CASA GRANDE, 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.

Southwest Regional Director— Jason Quick

jquick@nrahq.org

AZ—Winston Pendleton

wpendleton@nrahq.org

Central CA—Paul Rodarmel

prodarmel@nrahq.org

Eastern CA—Cole Beverly

cbeverly@nrahq.org

Mid CA—Sheila Boer

sboer@nrahq.org

Northern CA—Dan Wilhelm

dwilhelm@nrahq.org

Southern CA—Mike Davis

mdavis@nrahq.org

NV—Steve Wilson

swilson@nrahq.org

UT—Jim Reardon

jreardon@nrahq.org

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

AREA SHOOTS

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

Sloughhouse, CA Redwood City, CA

SMALLBORE RIFLE

TRAINING

South El Monte, CA

HIGH POWER RIFLE

Crime Prevention

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. AUG. 3— MOHAVE VALLEY, AZ

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

AUG. 18—MENIFEE, CA

(Instructor Development Workshop) William Flory (951) 928-2794

AUG. 18—REDLANDS, CA

(Seminar) O Zeller Robertson (909) 609-4515

Centerville, UT Carson City, NV Ojai, CA Escondido, CA Dulzura, CA Castaic, CA Lincoln, CA Wendover, UT

SILHOUETTE

Tucson, AZ Cupertino, CA Mesa, AZ San Fernando, CA Phoenix, AZ Bishop, CA

AUG. 5 AUG. 18 AUG. 18-19 AUG. 4 AUG. 4 AUG. 5 AUG. 5 AUG. 11 AUG. 18 AUG. 18 AUG. 25 AUG. 4 AUG. 11 AUG. 19 AUG. 19 AUG. 25 AUG. 25

STATE ASSOCIATIONS

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

AUGUST 2018

LAW ENFORCEMENT

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

continued from p. 49

effective training programs, instruct in a professional manner, and conduct practical training exercises. Restricted to law enforcement officers only. AUG. 6-10—PRESCOTT, AZ

(Select Fire)

AUG. 27-31—BOULDER CITY, NV

(Patrol Rifle) Contact Mary Shine at (703) 267-1628 or mshine@nrahq.org.

GUN SHOWS

PAYSON, AZ

Tonto Apache Recreation Gymnasium, Firing Pin Enterprizes (928) 485-0437

AUG. 11-12

SANDY, UT

South Towne Expo Center, Rocky Mountain Gun Shows (801) 589-0975

AUG. 18-19

FLAGSTAFF, AZ

Fort Tuthill County Fairgrounds, Arizona Collectibles & Firearms (928) 310-8544

AUG. 18-19

PASO ROBLES, CA

AUG. 24-26

RENO, NV

AUG. 25-26

TUCSON, AZ

Paso Robles Event Center, Central Coast Gun Shows (805) 481-6726

Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Big Reno Show (775) 828-2350 Tucson Expo, AZ Gun Radio (650) 520-6002

AUG. 18-19

PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ

AUG. 25-26

VENTURA, CA

AUG. 18-19

COSTA MESA, CA

AUG. 25-26

LAS VEGAS, NV

Prescott Valley Events Center, Western Collectibles & Firearms (928) 713-3037

Orange County Fair & Event Center, Crossroads of the West Gun Shows (801) 544-9125*

Ventura County Fairgrounds, Crossroads of the West Gun Shows (801) 544-9125 World Market Center Las Vegas, Crossroads of the West Gun 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 Wine Club

(800) 331-9754

ManageYOURiD

(888) 759-7866

Medical Concierge Network

800) 351-6094

Global Rescue

(800) 381-9754

NRA Travel Center

NRA.HotelPlanner.com

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

americanrifleman.org

August 2018

INSIDE NRA | REGIONAL REPORT WEST 2019 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • APRIL 26-28 • INDIANAPOLIS, IN

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

AREA SHOOTS

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

ddelaroi@nrahq.org

OR, HI—Mike Carey

mcarey@nrahq.org

WA—Michael Herrera

mherrera@nrahq.org

WY—Logan Duff

lduff@nrahq.org

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

Wadena, MN University Place, WA Sherwood, OR Palmer, AK Honolulu, HI

HIGH POWER RIFLE

Rexburg, ID Bismarck, ND Bothell, WA Ravensdale, WA Glendive, MT Rawlins, WY Eagle Creek, OR

SILHOUETTE

Missoula, MT Moffit, ND Eatonville, WA Carpenter, WY Trail City, SD Sherwood, OR Nampa, ID

AUG. 5 AUG. 11 AUG. 18 AUG. 25 AUG. 26 AUG. 11 AUG. 11 AUG. 12 AUG. 18 AUG. 18 AUG. 18-19 AUG. 25-26 AUG. 4 AUG. 4-5 AUG. 12 AUG. 18-19 AUG. 19 AUG. 25 AUG. 25

TRAINING

Crime Prevention

an email to refuse@nrahq.org or by calling (800) 861-1166. AUG. 12—HUGO, MN

(Seminar) John Overstake (563) 424-1812

LAW ENFORCEMENT

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.

AUG. 13-17—CHEHALIS, WA

(Handgun)

AUG. 20-24—CHEHALIS, WA

(Tactical Shooting) Contact Mary Shine at (703) 267-1628 or mshine@nrahq.org.

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.

AUG. 4—RICHLAND, WA

(Approved)

AUG. 18—MARYSVILLE, WA

(Approved) Contact lecompetitions@nrahq.org or (703) 267-1632.

STATE ASSOCIATIONS

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

alaskaoutdoorcouncil.org

AUGUST 2018

Hawaii Rifle Ass’n.

hawaiirifleassociation.org

Idaho State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

idahosrpa.org

Minnesota Rifle & Revolver Ass’n. Inc.

mrra.org

Montana Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.

mtrpa.org

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

North Dakota Shooting Sports Ass’n.

continued from p. 49

ndssa.org

Oregon State Shooting Ass’n.

ossa.org

South Dakota Shooting Sports Ass’n.

sdshootingsports.org

Washington State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n. Inc.

wsrpa.org

Wyoming State Shooting Ass’n. Inc.

wyossa.com

GUN SHOWS

CARSON, WA

American Legion Post 137, Cascade Sportsman’s Club (509) 951-6733

AUG. 17-19

ANACONDA, MT

AUG. 17-19

SIDNEY, MT

Elks Lodge, Weapons Collectors Society of Montana (406) 832-3240 Richland County Events Center, Weapons Collectors Society of Montana (406) 480-5594

AUG. 4-5

PENDLETON, OR

AUG. 18-19

MORTON, MN

AUG. 4-5

ANOKA, MN

AUG. 24-26

CASPER, WY

AUG. 10-12

LIVINGSTON, MT

AUG. 25-26

HILLSBORO, OR

AUG. 11-12

PORTLAND, OR

AUG. 25-26

CENTRALIA, WA

AUG. 11-12

PUYALLUP, WA

Pendleton Convention Center, Collectors West (800) 659-3440 Anoka Ice Arena, Crocodile Productions (763) 754-7140

Park County Fairgrounds, Weapons Collectors Society of Montana (406) 861-6048

Holiday Inn, Oregon Arms Collectors (503) 254-5986 Western Washington Fairgrounds, Washington Arms Collectors (425) 255-8410

Jackpot Junction Casino, Minnesota Weapons Ass’n. (612) 721-8976

Central Wyoming Fairgrounds, Up In Arms Gun Shows (208) 420-2295 National Guard Armory, Collectors West (800) 659-3440

SouthWest Washington Fairgrounds, Wes Knodel Gun Shows (503) 363-9564

AUG. 31-SEPT. 2

GILLETTE, WY

Campbell County Fairgrounds— CamPlex, Up In Arms Gun Shows (208) 420-2295

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 Wine Club

(800) 331-9754

ManageYOURiD

(888) 759-7866

Medical Concierge Network

800) 351-6094

Global Rescue

(800) 381-9754

NRA Travel Center

NRA.HotelPlanner.com

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

americanrifleman.org

August 2018

INSIDE NRA | PROGRAMS & SERVICES

Eddie Eagle Celebrates 30th Birthday

ddie Eagle GunSafe Program is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Over the last three decades, the program has taught more than 30 million children across America simple, effective, firearm-accident-prevention principles. More than 28,000 schools, teachers, civic organizations and law enforcement officers have helped to implement it. Created in 1988 by past National Rifle Association (NRA) President Marion P. Hammer, it was developed with the assistance of teachers, child psychologists, law enforcement professionals and NRA’s own gun safety experts. In 2015, NRA introduced a fresh, new Eddie with the help of a task force consisting of educators, law enforcement officials and a clinical phycologist. Though Eddie has evolved, his mission has not: teach children what to do if they ever come across a gun. The program update also included providing all program materials free for download online at Eddie Eagle’s Treehouse, a kid-friendly online resource. The website, EddieEagle.com, gives children the full Eddie Eagle experience and features the new Eddie Eagle animated videos, sing-along songs, and downloadable activity books. NRA’s Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program teaches children in pre-K through fourth grade the safety message “If you see a gun: Stop! Don’t Touch. Run away. Tell a grown up.” NRA’s longstanding rule of gun storage is to store guns so they are inaccessible to any unauthorized

users, especially children. Firearms are found in approximately 40 percent of all American households. Though an adult may not own firearms in his or her home, they may be located in the homes of friends a child visits. To ensure their safety, children must be trained what to do if they encounter a firearm. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), unintentional firearm fatalities among children of Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program’s targeted age group have declined approximately 80 percent since it debuted in 1988. Firearmaccident-prevention programs, such as Eddie Eagle, have been a contributing factor in that decline. The effectiveness of the program is confirmed by declining gun accidents among children, its popularity with the schoolteachers and law enforcement

officers who teach it, and testimonial letters. These letters relate incidents in which children encountered guns and, because of what they learned in the program, they sought help from an adult and avoided injury. The Eddie Eagle program makes no value judgments about firearms, and no firearms are ever used in the program. It has no agenda other than accident prevention— ensuring children stay safe should they encounter a gun. The Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program has been honored or formally endorsed by groups such as the National Sheriffs’ Association, The American Legion, The Police Athletic League, the National Association of School Safety and Law Enforcement Officers, the American Association of American Educators, and others. Governors in 26 states have signed resolutions recommending the program be used in their school systems. Anyone may teach the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program, and it’s not limited to teachers and school systems. Above all, NRA membership is not required. The program can be readily incorporated into existing school curriculum, taught at safety events, civic scouting oragnizations, and used to reach all ages or simply one or two grades. Call (800) 231-0752 or send an email to eddie@nrahq.org for more information. To learn how parents can keep their children safe, resources are available online at eddieeagle.nra.org/. Children specific resources can be found at eddieeagle.com.

NRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Joe M. Allbaugh, Oklahoma; Thomas P. Arvas, New Mexico; Paul Babaz, Atlanta, Georgia; 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; 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; 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, Virginia; 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.

AUGUST 2018

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I HAVE THIS OLD GUN . . .

GUN: SMITH & WESSON “WOLF & KLAR” .44 HAND EJECTOR, THIRD MODEL CHAMBERING: .44 SPL. SERIAL NUMBER: 318XX MANUFACTURED: 1928 BARREL: 5" (MOST COMMONLY ENCOUNTERED; 6½" BARRELS BRING A PREMIUM) CONDITION: NRA VERY GOOD (MODERN GUN STANDARDS) VALUE: $1,750 TO $2,250 NOTE: THIS GUN LETTERS TO WOLF & KLAR AND IS FITTED WITH W&K-CARVED PEARL STOCKS. BOTH FEATURES BRING PREMIUMS.

SMITH & WESSON “WOLF & KLAR” .44 HAND EJECTOR, THIRD MODEL

any collectors have an affinity for firearms with a connection to Texas, such as Smith & Wesson’s Third Model Hand Ejector revolver, also called the Wolf & Klar Model. Although now long gone, Wolf & Klar (W&K) was a Fort Worth pawn shop started by German immigrants Alex Wolf and Jacob Klar that became a prominent hardware, jewelry and gun store during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Located near the stockyards, at 1505 Main St., Wolf & Klar was a favorite destination for cattlemen and lawmen. The store was also one of Smith & Wesson’s biggest customers, often embellishing factory guns with aftermarket engraving and carved pearl stocks (sometimes using local artisans with questionable skills). Smith & Wesson introduced its Second Model Hand Ejector in 1914 and discontinued its First Model Hand Ejector (the Triple Lock) the following year, as the Second Model was basically the same gun, but without the Triple Lock’s costly third cylinder yoke lock-up or extractor shroud. Although many customers wanted the extractor-protecting shroud back, Smith & Wesson refused. That is, until Wolf & Klar ordered 3,500 Second

Model Hand Ejectors with the shroud. That got S&W’s attention. Thus, in 1926, the Hand Ejector Third Model was born as an uncataloged Wolf & Klar exclusive. Available blued or nickel-finished, with checkered walnut stocks, adjustable or fixed sights, and barrel lengths of 4", 5" and 6½" (rare), most W&K guns were chambered for .44 Spl., with a few rarities in .44-40 Win. and .45 Colt. Ironically, because the guns could be special-ordered from the factory, only 1,000 Third Models were actually shipped to W&K between 1926 and 1936. In total, just 4,976 Third Models were made between 1926 and 1940, when World War II halted production. Consequently, the relatively few guns

shipped to Wolf & Klar carry a premium. “It has become a collecting genre in itself,” said NRA Life member and noted S&W collector David Carroll. “Their guns are more in demand today than ever before.” The 60 percent gun shown was shipped on June 29, 1928, to Wolf & Klar. The wholesale price was $21.90, and it retailed for $36.50. The W&Kcarved steer head stocks with ruby eyes set the buyer back another $12 (gold horns and nose rings cost more). In 2017, this well-used revolver was sold by Lock, Stock & Barrel internet auction (lsbauctions.com) for $1,245.78. Today it is easily worth $1,750 to $2,250. —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.

AUGUST 2018

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

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American Rifleman 2018-08

Articles inside

70 Years Of The Nosler Partition

Oliver North Takes The Helm

CMP M1911s: The Inside Story