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SHOOTING JOURNAL Volume 8 // Issue 9 // June 2019 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Andy Walgamott OFFICE MANAGER / COPY EDITOR Katie Aumann LEAD CONTRIBUTOR Frank Jardim CONTRIBUTORS Brittany Boddington, Jim Dickson, Steve Comus, Scott Haugen, Phil Massaro, Mike Nesbitt, Nick Perna SALES MANAGER Katie Higgins ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold DESIGNERS Kayla Mehring, Jake Weipert PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker WEBMASTER / INBOUND MARKETING Jon Hines INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@americanshootingjournal.com
ON THE COVER World-traveling hunter Brittany Boddington scored this boar much closer to home, in central California’s San Luis Obispo County. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)
Website: AmericanShootingJournal.com Facebook: Facebook.com/AmericanShootingJournal Twitter: @AmShootingJourn
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American Shooting Journal // June 2019
CONTENTS
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 9
26 (
HISTORY, VALUE TO BE FOUND IN GUN SELLER’S STOCKPILE Step inside Jim Dickson’s wayback machine for a trip to this gun aficionado’s version of heaven – Hunters Lodge’s warehouses, which are “like a time machine back to the glory days of the surplus mail order gun.” Jim details what the Tennessee company has on offer, from Spanish Mausers (pictured) to Webley .380s!
(HUNTERS LODGE)
FEATURES 37
With Federal releasing proprietary bullets as components, reloader Phil Massaro mixed and matched Trophy Bonded Tips and Edge TLRs with different calibers for an African plains game safari. You might say they earned a passing-through grade on a number of antelope and other species!
51
BULLET BULLETIN: PASSING (THROUGH) GRADE EARNED
63
SHE HUNTS: OF PUPPIES, WILD PIGS AND PASO ROBLES
69
GUN REVIEW: NEW OVER/UNDER ‘HAS IT ALL’
81
GEAR REVIEW: MODULAR HOLSTERS RAISE THE BAR
ROAD HUNTER: AXIS DEER TRIFECTA, HAWAII STYLE!
Axis deer are one of the most striking – and best tasting – of the world’s deer species, and they thrive on many Hawaiian islands. Scott Haugen takes us on an unforgettable guided hunt with two buddies for the trophy bucks of the Aloha State.
Brittany Boddington has hunted Europe, Asia and Africa, but she jumped at the chance to score a boar much closer to home – in central California’s San Luis Obispo County. Dickinson kicked off its Greenwing line with a 12-gauge overand-under that author Steve Comus found to be topnotch for wingshooters, and there’s more of that on the way this year with offerings in 20-, 28- and .410-gauges.
When Detective Sgt. Nick Perna and his wife got ahold of three Alien Gear Core Carry Packs and a Drop Leg Holster for her three Glocks, it gave the law enforcement couple a chance to rate the modular systems – think of them as multitools for everyday carriers, says Nick!
AMERICAN SHOOTING JOURNAL is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Ave South Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2019 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A.
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American Shooting Journal // June 2019
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2019 Wisconsin IDPA Championship Ripon, Wis. 2019 Illinois State IDPA Championship Sparta, Ill.
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Glock Fire on the Mountain V Johnstown, Pa.
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2019 USA Shooting Shotgun National Championships (Skeet) Colorado Springs, Colo. 2019 USA Shooting Rifle Pistol National Championships Fort Benning, Ga.
Jim Clawson Memorial Missoula, Mont. americanshootingjournal.com 21
PRS RESOURCE GUIDE Bolt Gun Series June 1 June 8 June 8 June 21 June 22 July 12 July 13 July 20 July 27 August 2 August 10 August 16 August 23
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American Shooting Journal // June 2019
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americanshootingjournal.com 25
HISTORY, VALUE TO BE FOUND IN GUN SELLER’S STOCKPILE Hunters Lodge’s ‘warehouses are like a time machine back to the glory days of the surplus mail order gun.’
T
Story by Jim Dickson • PHOTOS BY HUNTERS LODGE
hose of you old enough to remember the glory days of mail order guns in the 1960s cannot forget Ye Old Hunter. This was the company that Interarms, the largest international arms dealer in the world at that time, used to dispose of the obsolete surplus military weapons it had acquired. Prices were cheap, as low as $9.95 for whole columns of advertised guns, and the U.S. Mail delivered them directly to your door without you having to pay a dealer to be an unnecessary middleman. Customers could purchase rifles from British .577 Snyder conversions of muzzleloaders and Remington rolling blocks to every type of bolt-action rifle imaginable. M1 carbines and M1 Garand rifles were available and even the futuristic and still unsurpassed Johnson semiauto rifle could be had. If a pistol had ever been in any government’s service, it would be represented here. In those days, Sam Cummings, the head of Interarms, ran Ye Old Hunter along with Val Forgett and Meyer Reiswerg. Reiswerg was the one who wrote the unforgettable comic ads for the rifles. Ads like:
“Original Winchester Model 95 Cal. 7.62 Russian. Some with Trotsky’s fingernail marks and a few with Nikita finger prints – none with Stalin’s teeth marks.” “6.5 Italia deluxa! A custom supremo at a giveaway price. Provided just to please you Carcano fanatics who doggedly refuse to accept anything less – or anything better. The rifle that blazed its way to inglorious defeat on
mountain, plain, and beach retired at last so the victory can still be yours.” “M93 Mauser long rifle with long barrel that brings you closer to the target for sure fire hits.” “Italian 70 VV Sniper Rifles! Garibaldi’s greatest, complete with its special spaghetti grained stocks (not to be shot – luckily). Complete with 50 rounds of 6.5 Italian-looking (not shooting – luckily) ammo.”
Stacks of dusty, greasy rifles (left, above) in the cavernous warehouses of Tennessee’s Hunters Lodge await cleaning before they are shipped to buyers. americanshootingjournal.com 27
A case of Mauser rifles opened up in the warehouse.
Under that coat of dust and grease lie P14 Enfield rifles that will clean up beautifully.
“Arisaka type 38 rifle! The rifle that generated confidence for countless Banzai charges. Why rely on that backbreaking varminter you have been lugging and cursing so long – why take a chance on a long range shot with a fogged up scope? Save ammo and charge down that hapless woodchuck!” Reiswerg went on to open Strand Surplus Senter in Galveston, Texas, where he continued his wacky ads. My all-time favorite was “Genuine G.I. toilet paper. Guaranteed unused!” Whatever happened to all the treasures of Ye Old Hunter? Val Forgett sold the remaining stock in Virginia to the owner of what became Hunters Lodge, who also bought much of the rest from Numrich Arms and other sources. THE STORY OF what became Hunters Lodge began in World War II when John Batewell, Sr. and his two Irish-born brothers ran a small trucking company with three trucks. Business improved after the war and John Jr. would often ride in the truck
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American Shooting Journal // June 2019
with his father. They commonly hauled excess Japanese rifles and surplus to the scrap metal yards and smelters in Brooklyn, New York. Fascinated by it all, John Batewell, Jr. – known as Jack – started buying small parts and things that he could afford, printed a catalog on a mimeograph machine and began selling them. He bought a firearms dealers license in 1957 for the princely sum of $1 and ordered his first gun from Golden State Arms, a .303 Enfield. Jack was a tough inner-city kid who really just dreamed of being a cowboy. But without much call for cowboys in the concrete jungle of Brooklyn, eventually Detective Friday on the Dragnet TV show inspired him to join the New York Police Department in 1961 with the goal of becoming a detective. He maintained his small gun business during the next few years as a beat cop, followed by a stint as a patrolman in a radio car. The gun business kept growing and it had to move out of the house to its first location, where it would be known as Southwestern Sales.
Jack began putting more time into the business, making new partners and friends as it grew. Val Forgett of Navy Arms introduced him to James Hogan, who was running the Francis Bannerman operation in those days. Bannerman was the one who bought all the surplus from the Civil War and the Spanish American War. He had built Bannerman’s Castle out on an island to house everything, and Jack would frequently take a boat to Bannerman Island with a one-armed associate of Bannerman’s to buy canteens and anything else he could make a deal on and fit into the boat. Jack also bought inventory from Navy Arms and Springfield Sporters. He attended gun shows, where he remembered Forgett reading a book behind his tables as opposed to the fast-talking hustle of Cholly Steen of Sarco. Then Sam Cummings of Interarms invited Jack down to Ye Old Hunter in Alexandria, Virginia, and Jack began buying inventory from there. This is where he realized that this business was more than just selling guns, it was also about preserving history. As previously noted, he would eventually acquire most of the remaining assets of Ye Old Hunter. By 1968, Southwestern Sales had grown to be the biggest arms dealer in that area of New York. When the famous New York power blackout hit the city,
Webley .380 pistols.
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American Shooting Journal // June 2019
Spanish Mauser rifles await cleaning prior to shipping.
he had all Southwestern Sales outlets surrounded by police so that looters would not arm themselves there. A few years later, Jack moved the business to upstate New York and opened another business, The Armory, distributing M1911 Colts and other handguns and parts he had obtained from Interarms. In 1985, Jack retired from the NYPD as a detective and closed down his businesses, but he kept the inventory in storage. He moved to Florida for five years, but then decided to take his vast inventory and reopen business in Tennessee, where he planned to
take advantage of the peaceful life the Volunteer State offered. IN 1990, HUNTERS Lodge opened in Ethridge, Tennnessee, with an importation license added to their Federal Firearms License. Surplus began arriving from countries like Israel, Russia, the Czech Republic and Chile. By 1998, the emphasis was shifting from cheap surplus guns and ammo to customers who were collectors and historians. One thing that has changed is a small segment of the customers. Back in the 1960s, we enjoyed cleaning up surplus guns and using them. Today, there is the occasional nut who buys a relic that is often over 100 years old and sold “as is” but then complains when it is not in new condition and has grease on it. Go figure. Today, Hunters Lodge offers everything from fine original heirloom-quality artifacts to antique firearms at all price levels, as well as parts and accessories. Their warehouses are like a time machine back to the glory days of the surplus mail order gun business. Stacks and stacks of surplus guns with most everything Ye Old Hunter ever sold are represented to one degree or another. It is a treasure cave of antique guns of all kinds. Huge stacks of dirty, dusty, grease-covered guns are everywhere, awaiting cleaning before being shipped
Eight-millimeter Japanese Nambu automatic pistols.
A rare Belgian Cutlass pistol on a stack of Japanese 8mm Nambu automatics. Mauser and Luger pistols.
Stocked Mauser military pistols with 8mm Nambu and 9mm Luger pistols.
to their new homes. Hunters Lodge is expert at cleaning these up without harming the original finish. They care very much about their customers and this is shown by a pile of testimonial letters from happy steady customers. For those who want the best available examples, the price for hand-selected has always been $25. There are many rare collector pieces that have gone through Hunters Lodge. A few years ago, they even had a lot of Sharps .50-70 cavalry carbines. This was one of the fastest-handling, hardest-hitting carbines ever made. Long before the recent importing of Nepalese Gahendra and Francotte 32
American Shooting Journal // June 2019
rifles, they had cherry-picked these guns and brought the best into their cavernous warehouses. Some of these are very, very nice. These guns are in .577-450 British caliber, but whereas the standard British bore size for the .577-450 is .465, these have bores that run .445. Hunters Lodge is planning to offer ammo custommade for the Nepalese guns in the proper bullet diameter for them in the future so they can be safely shot again. According to the British Proof House in Birmingham, England, the difference in bore size between .465 and .445 is sufficient to blow up a gun even with black powder and lead bullets, so this
ammo will be a necessity. Also in stock are Remington rolling blocks in exotic calibers from various countries, including Scandinavian nations. At this point it would not surprise me if they uncovered a case of unissued Colt Walker revolvers. It’s just that sort of a place. SOME OF THE guns that they are now shipping in quantity that are in very good, if not excellent, condition include the following: • British Webley 5-inch-barrel .380 revolvers from Israel at $388.50. These work fine with readily available .38 S&W ammo (not .38 Special) and
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make a fine gun for home protection. Good power with almost no recoil in the superb Webley revolver system. Most any member of the family can use these effectively in an emergency. They are as simple and foolproof as a revolver gets. • Japanese Nambu pistols from WWII at $650.88. You can find 8mm Nambu ammunition from Buffalo Arms. It amounts to a hot .32 ACP load. Shooting it is like shooting a full-size .22 pistol and it is worth remembering that in the first half of the 20th century, Europeans considered the slightly less powerful .32 ACP FMJ an adequate military and police cartridge. These are high-quality beautifully finished guns. • British .303 Mk III Lee-Enfield rifles at $378. This is the standard
British World War I service rifle that continued in use through WWII. As long as you don’t sporterize it, it is very pleasant to shoot and well proven on all North American game in Canada. Ammunition is available from Prvi Partizan (PPU). • British .303 No. 4 Mk I LeeEnfield rifles at $514.88. Made by Savage Arms in the U.S. for England during WWII, these are the final and finest of the Lee-Enfield series, with sights that are made to order for fast shots on deer. These are firstrate Savage quality guns. Ammo is available from PPU. • Single-shot .303 Lee-Enfield rifles at $189. • Italian cavalry carbines at $315 with accessories, for those wanting
the smallest, lightest carbine that they can get for deer hunting. Ammunition is available from PPU. • Spanish FR7 .308 rifles at $418. These short handy rifles are converted M93 Mausers. They have been slandered in this country by armchair experts claiming that they are unsafe to fire. But the Spanish Proof House in Eibar, Spain, stands behind them and points to their long and faithful service as training rifles in Spain and the other countries that used them when they were sold as surplus. Personally, I shoot thousands of rounds of all types of 7.62 NATO and commercial .308 through one of the M93 Spanish Mausers that the Spanish Army converted to 7.62 NATO. Ammo is available most everywhere. • M1893 Spanish Oveido 7mm short rifles at $292. One of the first short rifles for both cavalry and infantry use, these have always been well appreciated for their good handling qualities and effectiveness, both in combat and in the hunting fields. Ammo is available from PPU. • Russian Mosin M44 carbines from WWII in 7.62x54R with folding bayonets at $292. These accurate, hard-hitting carbines have successfully taken all game found in Russia and Finland. Ammunition is available from MKS Supply, which imports good quality but still cheap Russian Barnaul ammunition. • M1910 Mexican Mausers on the short-stroke M98 action in 7mm at $415. These have always been well appreciated. Ammo is available from PPU. THIS IS JUST a sampling, but it gives you an idea of the range and diversity of the inventory. I am like a kid in a candy store when faced with all these goodies – I wish I could buy some of everything they have. This is your last chance at the 1960s bounty of surplus guns. Those days are gone, but this last major remaining stockpile of the guns lingers on for yet a little while longer. Thank goodness.
Stacks of rifles in the warehouse.
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American Shooting Journal // June 2019
Editor’s note: For more information, visit hunterslodge.com
americanshootingjournal.com 35
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American Shooting Journal // June 2019
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BULLET BULLETIN
PASSING (THROUGH) GRADE EARNED
“I came away with a huge respect for both the Trophy Bonded Tip and the Edge TLR,” writes bullet expert Phil Massaro following a very successful plains game safari to Southwest Africa.
With Federal releasing proprietary bullets as components, reloader Phil Massaro mixed and matched Trophy Bonded Tips and Edge TLRs with different calibers for an African plains game safari. STORY AND PHOTOS BY PHIL MASSARO
A
familiar name came up on the phone display: J.J. Reich from Federal Ammunition. “Hey buddy,
what’s up?” The conversation didn’t last 10 minutes, and it wasn’t just J.J. on the line; Jake Edson of Bushnell Optics was the third voice on the conference call. To say I was beaming by the time I hit the red “end call” button is an
understatement, as these two friends of mine had invited me to participate in a hunt in Namibia, in order to test some new products. If you know me, or have read enough of my writing, you know just how much I love hunting Africa; it’s one of my greatest passions. We’d be hunting with Jamy Traut Hunting Safaris (jamyhunts.com) at his famous Panorama concession. It’d be a plains game safari, with a rather
wide menu; I looked up and down the list and my personal choices ranged from the diminutive springbok – Jamy has great numbers of them and excellent genetics – to the Hartmann’s mountain zebra to the mighty eland. I figured that size differential would test the mettle of both the chosen cartridge and chosen bullet or bullets. You see, Federal has released many of their proprietary bullets in americanshootingjournal.com 37
bullet bulletin component form this year, so those who want to load the Edge TLR in an obscure cartridge may now do just that. In addition, we’d be putting some new Bushnell optics – scope, rangefinder and binocular – to the test. I’ve done a fair amount of testing with Federal’s bullets, and I’ve yet to be disappointed. Trophy Copper, Fusion, Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Trophy
Bonded Sledgehammer; they’ve all been good. I sent a couple of emails out to Jamy, regarding the weather and current conditions, and he informed that the rains that Namibia usually receives simply didn’t show up this year, and that they were in the midst of one of the worst droughts in over a century. He warned that shots would
The classic .300 Holland & Holland Magnum, handloaded with 175-grain Federal Edge TLR bullets.
probably be on the long side, due to a lack of cover. Accordingly, I chose a couple of cartridges that would each handle the whole spectrum of plains game animals, yet comfortably reach out to the limits of my shooting ability. FOR THE FIRST, I CHOSE an undeniable African classic: the .300 Holland & Holland Magnum. Released in 1925, the .300 Holland & Holland – or Holland’s Super .30, as it is also known – betters the velocity of the .30-06 Springfield by about 100 to 150 feet per second, and until the advent of the .300 Winchester Magnum, was the .300 Magnum. The rifle – a 1959 Colt “The Coltsman” – was even labeled .300 Magnum on the barrel. For this classic setup, I handloaded the 175-grain Edge TLR and the 180-grain Trophy Bonded Tip bullets from Federal, over stout loads of Reloder 23 and Reloder 22, respectively; both gave good velocities and subminute-of-angle accuracy out to 300 yards (my test range limit). For the second cartridge, I wanted something a bit more modern, and as Savage has just released their Model 110 Long Range Hunter chambered for it, the .280 Ackley Improved seemed very intriguing. Capable of matching, and sometimes exceeding, the velocities of the larger-cased 7mm Remington Magnum, the .280 Ackley Improved is an efficient and accurate cartridge, fully capable of being an all-around choice for African plains game, as well as nearly all our North American species. With a load of Reloder 23 in Nosler brass, sparked by a Federal GM210M large 38
American Shooting Journal // June 2019
bullet bulletin
The Federal Trophy Bonded Tip is an accurate and excellent design.
The 180-grain Trophy Bonded Tip in the .300 H&H Magnum makes a wonderful all-around choice.
The Trophy Bonded Tip and the .300 H&H case took this blue wildebeest bull cleanly.
The .280 Ackley Improved and the 160-grain Trophy Bonded Tip.
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American Shooting Journal // June 2019
rifle primer, the .280 AI was driving a 160-grain Trophy Bonded Tip at 2,965 fps into ½-inch groups. I set the Colt .300 H&H up with a Bushnell Nitro 3-12x44 and a standard duplex reticle in Talley rings and bases, and the Savage .280 AI with a Nitro 4-16x44 and the Deploy MOA reticle. Both have side focus adjustments to dial out the effects of parallax, and the additional magnification – I usually prefer a top end of 7x, maybe 9x maximum, on a plains game hunt – came in handy during the course of this hunt. AS IT TURNS OUT, I was immediately glad I had brought two rifles along; neither J.J. Reich nor Jake Edson got their luggage in Windhoek, Namibia’s capitol, so I immediately offered a rifle. J.J. borrowed a Kimber .30-06 from Jamy (using Federal factory 165-grain Trophy Bonded Tip), and Jake borrowed my .280 AI. The African antelopes have a reputation for being tough animals, and in my experience they can be tenacious, but like any game animal on any continent, if you put a bullet into the vital organs, the animal dies. I think the issue – and the source of the reputation for toughness – is that the vitals of African antelopes are located further forward than those of their European and North American counterparts, so the shoulder bones come into play while on safari. You definitely need a bullet
capable of punching through those bones, and a bonded core bullet is a welcome addition on all of my hunts. Controlling the expansion rate – and preventing premature bullet breakup – certainly aids in penetration, and two holes in an animal are better than one. Both the Trophy Bonded Tip and its younger cousin, the Edge TLR, have a lead core that comprises the front half of the bullet; that core is chemically bonded to the jacket. A polymer tip – blue for the Edge TLR and orange on the Trophy Bonded Tip – keeps the ballistic coefficient high and initiates expansion upon impact. The rear shank of the bullet is copper gilding material, and because it can’t come apart, the penetration of both these bullets is excellent, as we were about to find out. MY OWN SAFARI STARTED with a gemsbok, those clown-faced antelope with the straight, rapier-like horns, and the .300 H&H and 175-grain Edge TLR took it cleanly at just under 100 paces. The shot was a pass-through, and the animal went down instantly. We took a good blue wildebeest bull that same day, a perfect broadside presentation, with the 180-grain Trophy Bonded Tip entering on one shoulder and exiting out the other. Jake put my .280 AI to the test, on a long shot on a red hartebeest bull. At 345 yards, Jake got prone in the red Namibian sand and gave a clinic, putting the bull straight down with a single Trophy Bonded Tip. I countered the next day with a hartebeest of my own, taken at 280 yards with the Trophy Bonded Tip from the .300 H&H, off the traditional African threelegged shooting sticks. Again, all shots were pass-throughs. Wound channels were impressive – at least twice caliber – but we had trouble keeping these bullets inside an animal. JAKE AND I LEFT the Panorama camp with Jamy for an excursion to the Namib Escarpment – that geological upheaval that ends up in the Namib
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bullet bulletin Professional hunter Jamy Traut and author Phil Massaro with a trophy Namibian gemsbok.
Desert – for Hartmann’s mountain zebra. We both took excellent stallions in that idyllic setting, with Jake taking his first at under 100 yards with the .280 AI, and me the following morning at 280 yards – with a follow-up shot at 295 yards – with the .300 H&H, yet still not a recoverable bullet. Returning to Panorama, J.J. Reich and I got to spend some hunting time together, and he took both an excellent blesbok ram at 175 paces and a wonderful black wildebeest at just over 200 yards with Jamy’s .30-06. The Trophy Bonded Tip did serious damage to the top of the heart and lungs, yet both shots exited. Perhaps these bullets are tougher than I
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American Shooting Journal // June 2019
Federal’s J.J. Reich and Massaro with Massaro’s red hartebeest bull, taken at 275 yards with the Federal Trophy Bonded Tip in a .300 H&H.
Traut and Bushnell’s Jake Edson with his Hartmann’s mountain zebra, taken with a Savage .280 Ackley Improved and a 160-grain Trophy Bonded Tip.
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bullet bulletin Massaro’s Hartmann’s mountain zebra, taken just inside 300 yards on the Namib Escarpment.
Reich used the 165-grain Trophy Bonded Tip to anchor this excellent black wildebeest with a single shot at just over 200 yards ...
... and this blesbok ram with a 165-grain Trophy Bonded Tip from a .30-06 Springfield.
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initially thought? I ended my safari on a high note, using my .280 AI – the lost luggage and rifles arrived at the end of the week – to take an excellent springbok ram at just under 300 yards. With 16-inch horns, we knew he was very special the instant we saw him, though I knew he simply didn’t have the body mass to stop a 160-grain 7mm bullet, even at that distance. But the afternoon hunt for an eland bull – one we’d seen a couple of times throughout the safari – had me optimistic that a 180-grain .300 H&H bullet would be stopped. Sadly – at least from the point of view of a bullet hound – the eland wouldn’t stop the Edge TLR either. Pulling up broadside at 310 yards, the bull with the impossibly long horns took the .300 H&H right on the point of the shoulder and fell out of the scope. Now mind you, I’m not complaining by any means, but I’d have loved to tell you all about retained weight and expanded diameter and all that jazz. Instead we had a collection of humanely taken animals, and I came away with a huge
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bullet bulletin respect for both the Trophy Bonded Tip and the Edge TLR. Simply put, I wouldn’t hesitate to use the Edge TLR or the Trophy Bonded Tip on any hunt for nondangerous game, anywhere. If it will handle an eland the way it did, an elk or a moose here in North America will be handled equally well. If you want a good long-range bullet for whitetail, mule deer or caribou that will also stay together on the close shots, either of these Federal bullets would make an excellent choice. Grab some for your favorite cartridges, take them to the reloading bench, and you just might find your new pet load.
The author and an eland bull taken with the .300 H&H Magnum and the 175-grain Edge TLR.
Editor’s note: For more, visit federalpremium.com. Federal Edge TLR component bullets: • .277-inch diameter, 136 grains • .284-inch/7mm diameter, 155 grains • .308-inch diameter, 175 and 200 grains Federal Trophy Bonded Tip component bullets: • .277-inch diameter, 130 and 140 grains • .284-inch/7mm diameter, 140 and 160 grains • .308-inch diameter, 165 and 180 grains
Massaro and a good springbok ram taken with a Savage .280 Ackley Improved and a 160-grain Trophy Bonded Tip at just under 300 yards.
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American Shooting Journal // June 2019
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ROAD HUNTER
AXIS DEER TRIFECTA, HAWAII STYLE!
Axis deer are one of the most striking, and best tasting, of the world’s deer species, and they thrive on many Hawaiian islands.
Beautiful islands and great-tasting, plentiful bucks make Pacific state a destination for hunters. STORY AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT HAUGEN
g
lassing from the edge of an expansive meadow, a white sandy beach and blue ocean in the background below, we searched, hoping to pick up any sign of deer movement. “It won’t be long and they’ll start moving,” encouraged local guide Pat Fisher. Three of us had traveled from different parts of the country in hopes of taking highly prized axis deer. Hawaii offers what’s considered to be the world’s best free-range hunting for the species. Many hunters rank these atop the besteating venison, and the striking beauty of these spotted deer is unmatched. While axis deer do exist on public
land throughout the Hawaiian islands, it was private land we hunted this time. I’d hunted on public land for them on prior trips to the islands, and was eager to experience this hunt on vast tracts of land where hunting pressure is low, the bucks grow big, and herds numbering in the hundreds can be seen. FIRST UP WAS my buddy Tom Munson, from Michigan. This was Tom’s first hunt in Hawaii, and he was thrilled. Scouring the distant thickets, a few deer were starting to move. “Just wait, once they decide to feed, there’ll be herds of 200 deer headed out,” smiled Pat. “The rut is also kicking in, so keep
an eye out for bucks chasing does.” Any time deer can be hunted in the rut, increased opportunities present themselves, and the fact it was happening in June, in Hawaii, made the journey even more special. With deer starting to move on the fringes, Pat suggested we move closer. The plan was to swiftly cut the 1,500 yards between us and the deer by moving through a small draw. But a few hundred yards into our stalk, we jumped a doe from the tall grass. Tight on her tail was a good buck, though not a shooter. Soon we jumped another doe, and this one had two bucks tailing her. It americanshootingjournal.com 51
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ROAD HUNTER was obvious the rut was on, and what was happening before us couldn’t have made for better hunting conditions. “With the grass being so tall this year, the deer could be anywhere, so we’ll have to keep our eyes peeled,” Pat shared. With above-average rainfall in recent weeks, rather than being a couple feet tall, the grass was 8 feet high, even more in some places. This made spotting deer from a distance next to impossible. “Let’s keep following this ravine; we should be able to get close to the big herd,” Pat whispered. With a steady wind coming off the beach and hitting our faces, not only did it keep our scent moving in the right direction, but it helped squelch our noise. Soon we were in position and Tom wasted no time getting set in the shooting sticks. We were only 70 yards from a dandy buck, but all we could see were antler tips sticking above the
grass. We had no choice but to wait, and wait. An hour passed and a doe finally stood to stretch. Minutes later the buck started getting fidgety. “Get ready, Tom, lots of times when they start acting like that, they stand up,” Pat pointed out. Sure enough, moments later the buck stood, still grooming his beautiful red, ivory-spotted coat. The moment the buck turned broadside and stretched, Tom hit his mark. Tom’s buck was beautiful, and with antlers eclipsing the prized 30-inch mark, it was a great start to our hunt. I’D HUNTED WITH Pat before on both the Big Island and Molokai. He’d guided me for sheep, goat, wild boar and axis deer. But this time we were on the little island of Lanai, a first for all three of us hunters. Lanai is largely privately owned and by just one entity. This is how Pat found himself on the island, for the interest in sport hunting and what it could bring
Hunting in Hawaii isn’t all flat and sandy beaches. Axis deer habitat ranges from fields to very demanding mountains, like this, on Lanai.
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to the economy of Lanai. Tourism is the number one source of revenue on it, and hunting has been a big part of that. What struck me when I first set foot on Lanai was how laid-back the people were. I’d heard that Lanai is what the Big Island was like 30 years ago, and I believe it. Clean, quiet and tranquil land, along with friendly people, it was a place I instantly fell in love with. Driving through neighborhoods, seeing rooftops and porches adorned in mouflon horns and axis deer racks brought a smile to my face. Indigenous to Asia and parts of the South Pacific, axis deer were brought to Hawaii in the 1800s, a gift from China to King Kamehameha. Today, axis deer are thick on Lanai, Molokai, and are present in a couple other places around the island state. With favorable living conditions and no predators, the herds keep growing. Axis deer keep their spots for life, and offer what many consider to be the finest-eating
ROAD HUNTER game meat on the planet. I’ve seen axis deer in India, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, and other places around the Pacific Rim, and everywhere they are revered for their beauty and fine table fare – Hawaii is no different. WITH TOM MUNSON’S tag filled, it was Jeremy Vaccaro’s turn. This was the South Carolinian’s first axis deer hunt. The day after Tom’s hunt, Jeremy took a nice mouflon sheep with Pat. That hunt found us high atop Lanai’s mountain range, where we actually saw more deer than sheep. I was struck by how high these deer lived, and how rugged the habitat was at this elevated point. The following morning we were up early, glassing the flats where Tom had taken his buck. Not wanting his hunt to end early, Jeremy passed up several opportunities at bucks that morning. After lunch, a dip in the pool and a quick nap, we were back at it that afternoon. Our goal was to go in early
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and set up where we’d seen a big herd of deer feed out the evening Tom got his buck. “Let’s get some elevation and see if we can spot anything moving,” Pat offered. With only 15 minutes of shooting light left, the deer finally started moving. Two big bucks led the way. With the two bucks darting in and out of the grass sniffing does, we waited, and Jeremy got set up in the shooting sticks. When the bigger of the two bucks stepped out, not to chase a doe, but to feed on grass, Jeremy didn’t hesitate, dropping the buck on the spot. Jeremy’s buck carried 32 inches of antler, a monster for everywhere axis deer roam. While Jeremy was pleased with the gorgeous buck he’d just taken, it was the cooler full of great-eating meat he looked forward to enjoying most. HAVING PURSUED FREE-RANGE axis deer in other places, I was eager for something different when it came my turn to hunt. A day of searching brought us into the
Jeremy Vaccaro traveled from South Carolina to experience axis deer hunting in Hawaii, and was elated with the experience.
ROAD HUNTER Author Scott Haugen with his massive, velvet-covered axis deer taken on Lanai. Haugen has pursued free-range axis deer in many places, but this was the biggest he’s ever taken, in both body and antler size.
Tom Munson and guide Pat Fisher (left) with Tom’s prized axis deer. A long stalk and patience came together, and provided the hunters with some of the best-eating wild game on the planet.
final evening of the hunt. Though we saw some giant bucks, some spanning into the mid-30-inch class, I held out, hoping to find a buck with its antlers still in velvet. Finally, with just over an hour remaining on the last evening, we found what we were looking for. While the rest of the herds were up and feeding, we watched as two lone bucks, both in velvet, bedded down. In a rush to cut the distance before they stood, Pat and I quickly covered more than half a mile. Sweating, tired and puffing for air, we were in perfect position. After a quick sip of water, we slithered from brush pile to brush pile. In places the grass was taller than expected, and fortunately it shielded us from the bedded bucks. “We’ve got to be within 100 yards,” Pat whispered. I agreed and moved to set up the shooting sticks. Wiggling to a place where the grass was short, I took a knee and got set in the sticks. Moments later a buck stood, and just as quickly, I picked him up in the scope. Sliding the safety off, I put the green dot of the Trijicon AccuPoint on a white spot, smack on the buck’s shoulder. The .270 roared, sending a 130-grain Nosler AccuBond into the sweet spot. The buck collapsed. Wrapping my fingers around the soft, velvet rack of that buck was a longtime dream come true. His giant rack spanned well over 30 inches and he was the biggest bodied axis deer I’d ever seen. Our time on Lanai was unforgettable. With warm weather, friendly faces and some of the most beautiful hunting grounds any of us had ever seen, it’s safe to say that hunting in Hawaii is unlike hunting anywhere else in the U.S. Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s series of popular hunting books, visit scotthaugen.com. Scott is host of The Hunt on Amazon Prime. Follow him on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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americanshootingjournal.com 59
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
CHIPS OFF THE OL’ ACCUBLOCK
Stocky’s Classic Walnut Sporter Accublock Lite stocks come in Deluxe and Standard Grades (top pair), as do the company’s Monte Carlo Sporter Accublock Lite (bottom pair).
Stocky’s debuts new upgraded M700 riflestock collection, lightweight aluminum bedding system. PHOTOS BY STOCKY’S
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ttention, classic wood lovers! Stocky’s recently debuted their new Classic Checkered Walnut Collection of upgraded M700 riflestocks. Also making its debut is the new, lightweight Accublock Mini aluminum bedding system – just the ticket for improving accuracy at extended ranges in these sporter style, drop-in stocks. All models feature 20-line-per-inch
borderless wrap-around laser checkering with a custom stippled shadowline and preinstalled sling studs. There are two new models to choose from: a Classic Sporter with raised cheek, as well as the familiar Monte Carlo. Each model is available in two grades. The Standard version stocks are finished in a durable and attractive factory-lacquer satin finish and are the go-to model for the purists among us, as well as those
seeking a bedding upgrade at an affordable price. The Deluxe version of both models features a handsomely upgraded grain of walnut, a handrubbed oil finish with ebony wood forend tips and grip caps. Introductory pricing is only $299 for Standard Grade and $399 for Deluxe Grade. Editor’s note: For more, visit stockysstocks.com. americanshootingjournal.com 61
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American Shooting Journal // June 2019
she hunts
OF PUPPIES, PIGS AND PASO ROBLES
Author Brittany Boddington has hunted Europe, Latin America and Africa, but she jumped at the chance to score a boar near Paso Robles, in central California’s San Luis Obispo County.
Our world-traveling huntress goes local for a shot at central California hogs. STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRITTANY BODDINGTON
I
’m lucky to hunt all over the world, but this native California hunter has one place I always come back to: Paso Robles. There is never a shortage of wild boar to hunt, and the inland city halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco is amazing. Besides being hunting-friendly, Paso has some great americanshootingjournal.com 63
she hunts
While Boddington was ready for action, her guide’s Jack Russell terrier puppy (above) was still learning the ropes. A rattler welcomed the hunting party in the field.
restaurants and vineyards to explore. This trip was mainly to go see my dad, outdoors writer Craig Boddington, and hit the range with some new guns that needed to be shot. Pig hunting was a bonus! I’ve known the guys at Oak Stone Outfitters (oakstoneoutfitters.com) for quite a while, and my dad hunts with them often. I asked if they could squeeze me in for a day or two of hunting at the end of my visit with Craig. They said yes, and I was thrilled! WE HIT THE RANGE WITH my new AK from Century Arms and did some target practice on Saturday; I think I burned through two or three boxes of ammo pretty quickly. I was able to catch a wine tasting at a local vineyard that evening 64
American Shooting Journal // June 2019
she hunts and then prep for my hunt on Sunday morning with a borrowed rifle. I had packed light since it was only a couple of days of hunting, but I did get to try out my new Kryptek gear. Their ladies’ line just launched and my set fit perfectly. We set out early in the dark with our guide, Tyson. We drove around checking fields for hogs in hopes of catching them early and using the light at dawn to sneak in close enough for a shot. Before too long we spotted some and set out on foot. We climbed up a ridge hoping to get in front of the group of pigs but couldn’t see them in the valley below us by the time we got up there. When we did see pigs they had already gotten past us and were way out – around 400 yards – and not stopping. I was a little bummed, but at least we knew there were pigs around; we regrouped and tried again. This time we climbed out to a nice peak with the intention of glassing. Tyson had his little Jack Russell terrier puppy with him. He is training the pup to be a hunting dog, providing Tyson with a great opportunity for the dog to get some practice. We laughed a bit
All in all, between sampling the fruit of the Paso Robles area’s vineyards (above), restaurants and stuffing the freezer with a wild pig, this was a great short trip for the author.
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as the puppy jumped through the tall grass, more often rolling over himself in trying to keep up. We were walking out to the outcrop to glass when we spotted the first snake of the day. Thank goodness the little dog hadn’t seen it when he went past and we were able to dispatch the rattler before the dog even knew it was there. We were a little more careful where we stepped from then on. I DIDN’T FIND MY pig that evening, but undaunted we set out early again the next morning. The puppy stayed home
this time because we had seen two more snakes after that first one. We followed the same pattern and drove around checking the most likely spots for wild boars. We didn’t find any that morning and the wind picked up pretty drastically. We hiked a few ridges and glassed a bunch of hills with no luck, so we tried driving up into another area and hiked down this time onto the face of a big hill that overlooked a very brushy valley and opposing hillside. We sat down to glass for a bit, and after about 10 minutes Tyson spotted a group of pigs working their way into the thick brush.
We sat for what seemed like forever watching the last spot that Tyson saw the pigs, but nothing moved. I started to wonder if he had really seen pigs, but my skepticism was unfounded; after an hour or so I spotted a black pig moving down through the shrubs. I got on the gun and waited for my chance. I fired the moment the pig stopped and Tyson gave me a distance, but I wasn’t sure of my shot. The pig ran and I thought I had blown it, but the hog never came out of the bush it ran behind. The shot was at 200 yards and the gun was sighted at 200, so I should have been right on, but the reaction looked wrong to me. We waited for a while, and just when I had given up, the black pig appeared on the other side of the bush. It was obviously hit but not down, so when I shot again, this time it dropped and didn’t move. I was so relieved! We made our way over to that side of the hill and I checked the pig carefully with the end of my gun barrel, but it was stone-cold dead. I had a beautiful boar and meat for the freezer. I’d call that a pretty successful trip to Paso Robles, providing me with another great adventure.
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Editor’s note: Los Angeles native Brittany Boddington is a Phoenix-based hunter, journalist and adventurer. For more, go to brittanyboddington.com or facebook.com/ brittanyboddington.
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gun review
Dickinson’s Greenwing over/under shotgun is loaded with features, shoots straight and handles both quickly and smoothly.
NEW OVER/UNDER ‘HAS IT ALL’
Dickinson’s Greenwing line kicks off with topnotch 12-gauge, with three more bores coming this year. STORY AND PHOTOS BY STEVE COMUS
im Bailey and the folks at Dickinson Arms in southern California continue to outdo themselves and raise the bar when it comes to delivering value in shotguns with the introduction last fall of the Greenwing 12-gauge over/ under shotgun. “This isn’t just a great value gun – it’s
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a great gun, period,” said Bailey, coowner of Dickinson Arms. “Working with our factories in Turkey, we are able to provide a level of features, quality and performance one would only expect from a gun costing much more.” The Greenwing is built with the same handcrafted construction and attention to detail found in Dickinson’s other
over/under and side-by-side models. As much as the Greenwing is loaded with features that will be discussed later in this article, all of the features in the world don’t matter if the gun doesn’t shoot straight. Short answer for the Greenwing: It shoots straight, easily and comfortably. This gun has it all.
Author Steve Comus maintains the new shotgun, initially offered last fall in 12-gauge with 20-, 28- and .410-gauge models rolling out this year, not only looks good but shoots well too. americanshootingjournal.com 69
gun review The Greenwing features full coverage engraving on the receiver that includes two ducks on each side.
FIRST WAS A trip to the patterning board to see if the gun shot where I was looking, and if both barrels patterned to the same point of impact. This is critical if the gun is going to be a winner in the field. For much target shooting, it is handy to have a gun that shoots a little bit high (say, 60 percent of the pattern above the point of aim) so that the target is always
in view. But for a hunting gun and a sporter that engages a lot of dropping targets, a totally flat-shooting gun can be the real ticket. While shooting targets with this gun, I purposely picked some stations that featured dropping targets and had a lot of fun hitting them easily and repeatedly. In hunting, sometimes shooters miss when mourning doves do their little dipsy-doodle, where, as they
BERETTA CX4 STORM
accelerate forward, they dip down, pick up even more air speed and then sling out of the short dive, up and away. Guess what: Dipsy-doodle doves being shot at with this gun would merely fly right into the bottom of the pattern – game over. Similar aerobatics performed by teal or even quail can challenge guns that don’t shoot right to the point of aim. No problem with a gun that handles like the Greenwing.
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American Shooting Journal // June 2019
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At the patterning board, I fired one shot from each barrel and was elated to see that the aiming point was dead center in the overlapping patterns. In other words, the gun shoots exactly where it looks and both barrels shoot to the same point of impact. Next was a trip to the sporting clays range to engage some random sporting targets, using an improved cylinder choke in the bottom barrel and modified on top. Ammo was 1-ounce, 1,200-feet-per-second No. 8 target fodder. Again, the gun came through like a champ. When I did my job, it crunched clays repeatedly. To doublecheck, I had old buddy Blaine Huling give the gun a ride with sporting targets. Repeated crunches. Beautiful. We shot the gun a lot more at sporting, did some skeet and then hit the five-stand. Story was the same whatever we did. When we did what we were supposed to, the gun hammered targets. THE SPECIFIC GUN for this writing sports 26-inch vent-rib barrels. It was both alive and smooth, whether it was a quick pointing shot or a long swing-through. That matters with any field gun. The Greenwing has a mechanical single-trigger system, which is very nice in a hunting shotgun because this
means that if there is an ammo failure on the first shot, the second shot can be taken quickly. By comparison, inertia systems require a bump from the recoil of the first shot to set the trigger for the second shot. The trigger pull for both barrels was virtually identical at a tiny bit more than 4 pounds, providing a very nice, clean break. The gun also features automatic ejectors – and do they eject! Empties are launched several feet when ejected. And when two empties are ejected simultaneously, they land within a couple of inches of each other. This is the sign of very well-timed ejectors and another added touch that usually is not found in any but the really high-end guns. Nominal weight is 7½ pounds, but since it has a wood stock – Turkish walnut, to be specific – there can be a slight overall weight difference because not all pieces of wood have the same density and weight. Length of pull is 14½ inches, which is standard for such guns. Diamond point checkering at 22 lines per inch on both the pistol grip and the forend is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, as is the outline of the checkering pattern itself. A convex curve at the top of the pistol grip checkering is a nice touch.
Stock checkering is 22 lines per inch and the trigger is gold colored. The shotgun comes with five interchangeable choke tubes, wrench and carrying case for the extra tubes.
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The Greenwing features screwin chokes and comes with five – full, improved modified, modified, improved cylinder and cylinder – and a flat wrench to change them, as well as a small plastic box to carry the wrench and extra chokes. The Schnabel forend is a nice touch and a pleasing part of the overall configuration of the stock and forend. Both the sweeping pistol grip on the buttstock and the forend are substantial without being blocky. This means there is plenty of wood to grasp securely for total control. Other dimensions are classic, which gives the gun an appealing look. The action features a full coverage scroll engraving pattern with two ducks on each side, as well as the Dickinson name and Greenwing logo on the bottom. This is not something one expects on lower priced guns. The Greenwing comes with either blued or silver satin finish receivers (the model for this discussion has the latter). The trigger has a gold finish. The barrel selector switch is within the mechanical safety button and the barrel indicators are totally intuitive in that there are two dots for each barrel. One is white and the other red. The red dot indicates which barrel will shoot first. Bone-headed simple and about time. The Greenwing is offered in 26-, 28- and 30-inch barrel lengths to accommodate different preferences and shooting needs. In addition to the 12-gauge Greenwing available now, Dickinson is adding 20-, 28- and .410-gauges this model year. The Greenwing carries a retail price of $700. Like every Dickinson shotgun, the new Greenwing is also backed by the company’s U.S.-based customer service and limited lifetime warranty. For more information about the new Dickinson Greenwing 12-gauge over/ under, or the company’s entire line of quality shotguns for hunting, sport shooting and tactical use, visit your local Dickinson Arms dealer, contact Dickinson Arms at (805) 978-8565 or go online to dickinsonarms.com.
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American Shooting Journal // June 2019
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AR Parts, Guns & Accessories americanshootingjournal.com 77
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
NEW MODEL JOINS FAUX FOWL LINE ‘Natural Wonderduck ... is as natural as it is going to get,’ says maker of motion decoys for waterfowlers. PHOTOS BY WONDERDUCK
W
alter Solomon, aka Mr. Wonderduck, has created a range of motion decoys since the early 1990s, each more realistic and effective than the last. Because he is an avid duck hunter himself, he understands the needs of the duck hunter and he knows what works. A true decoy pioneer, Solomon was the first to invent a battery-powered wing motion/water motion decoy, he was the first to invent a rotatingwing decoy, and he was the first to invent, patent and manufacture the Wonderduck Paddle Wheel with rotating wings and rotating paddles. Solomon also invented Weedless Paddling Feet, which are designed to add a flash of color, similar to a duck’s wing patch, giving you water motion,
decoy motion and sight motion in color, all at the same time. Now celebrating 25 years in business, Wonderduck Decoys makes 13 basic motion decoys – various models that flap, paddle and rotate – in a range of species. Their latest decoy, Natural Wonderduck, is the most natural, realistic motion decoy Wonderduck has ever made. Its rear-mounted motors create more natural body motion than ever before. “Duck hunting is a form of natural selection,” explains Solomon. “If a duck decoys, we kill it. If it doesn’t decoy, it lives and reproduces. Ducks today are far more wary than ever before. That is why, to stay ahead of evolution, you must have the best motion decoy possible.” He adds, “That is why Wonderduck has introduced Natural Wonderduck,
The Natural Pro-Grade XD Series offers extraordinary carving detail and vibrant paint coupled with unmatched durability.
with rear-mounted motors that create a natural swimming motion. This is as natural as it is going to get!” All Wonderduck decoys come with a limited warranty and repair guarantee, even if you shoot it. The maximum repair fee for 2019 is $35. “No matter how old or how damaged the decoy is, Walter will take care of his customers,” says Cathy Sawyer, the company’s managing director. “I have seen decoys all the way back from the early ’90s that have come back where the dog chewed it up, they have been shot or just not taken care of. Walter always takes care of them at cost of supplies and shipping, with no labor charge.” Mr. Wonderduck asks, “Do you want to hunt ducks, or be a duck hunter?” The difference just may come down to your decoy. Editor’s note: For more information, visit wonderduck.com.
The Natural Paddle Wheel decoy from Wonderduck comes with rear-mounted motors for the most realistic, natural movement.
americanshootingjournal.com 79
gEAR review
MODULAR HOLSTERS RAISE THE BAR
When author Nick Perna’s wife got ahold of three Alien Gear Core Carry Packs and a Drop Leg Holster for her three Glocks, it gave the couple in law enforcement a chance to rate the modular systems.
Think of Alien Gear’s Core Carry Pack and their Drop Leg Rig as multitools for everyday carriers. STORY AND PHOTOS BY NICK PERNA
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enerally, I’m leery of a product that claims to perform multiple functions. My experience is that when something tries to be everything, it turns out to be marginal at doing a variety of things. Take, for example, the multitools produced by a variety of companies. They contain a veritable cornucopia of tools for various functions – pliers, saws, screwdrivers (regular and Phillip’s head), knives and so on. Each tool performs its assigned task
adequately but not to perfection. In other words, not as well as a standalone tool designed for that specific purpose would do. A 2-inch saw blade attached to a multitool won’t function as well as an actual saw in any situation. The same goes for tactical gear and accessories. I am willing to shell out the bucks for a well-designed product manufactured for a single purpose, or, if the need arises, pay for multiple products to meet multiple demands. Take holsters, for example. For my
everyday carry, I use more than one holster. My primary carry gun is a Glock 30, compact .45. I often carry it in an outside-the-waistband Kydex holster. It’s not the ideal configuration for concealed carry as it prints a bit, but, from a tactical standpoint, it is my go-to rig. I can draw the weapon easily from it and it has good retention. When going for concealment, I do appendix carry. I have two holsters, one leather and one Kydex. I prefer the leather one for comfort reasons. It is also very aesthetically pleasing americanshootingjournal.com 81
gEAR review with a rich, soft, brown leather. The Kydex one has better retention since it is form-fitted to the exact weapon. It gets a little “pokey” after wearing it for a while, as well as sweaty. Despite the thickness of the gun, these holsters conceal it very well.
The appendix configuration was a decent setup but not the author’s favorite.
RECENTLY, MY WIFE made a big purchase. She bought three Alien Gear Core Carry Pack holster systems. One is for her Glock 26 9mm, another for her Glock 43 9mm, and the last for a Glock 27 I own. She also purchased a drop leg adapter for her Glock 26. Yeah, I have a cool wife. The holster system is designed to be used inside the waistband, IWB appendix, outside-the-waistband slide, OWB paddle, and a holster mount for mounting it inside of a vehicle. It’s the multitool of holsters! The user can change the holster into its various configurations by following the fairly simple enclosed instructions.
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gEAR review With the OWB setup, the gun rides pretty high in the holster. “Depending on your preference, this can be a good or bad thing,” says Perna.
My wife opted to use YouTube to learn how to go about adapting the holster. Between the two of us we tested three of the variants with three types of Glocks. The only ones we didn’t try were the vehicle mount and the regular IWB (not the appendix carry). We opted to stay true to what we actually carry at work and when off-duty to give the most realistic evaluation of the products. Appendix: The appendix carry configuration used one half of the holster shell, along with a neoprenetype material as backing. The holster was comfortable and easy to draw from. The one thing I didn’t like about it was that it used the tension from the owner’s belt for retention. Since it was essentially half a holster, the holster shell itself didn’t do a lot to keep the gun in place. Guns have a funny way of falling out of unsecured holsters, so I like a little more retention in my carry rig. The other appendix carry rigs I use will hold the weapon in the holster, even when outside of the beltline. That being said, it was a decent setup. OWB: The OWB rig performed pretty well. My wife used this with her Glock 43. It printed about as much as any other OWB holster would. The additional material above the belt is good for wearing for extended periods of time to preventing chaffing. The gun rides pretty high in the holster. Depending on your preference, this can be a good or bad thing. We felt it made 84
American Shooting Journal // June 2019
The complete rig with the holster disconnected from the paddle portion.
the handle of the pistol print a little more than desired, but this is true of all rigs that ride high above the waistband. OWB paddle: The paddle rig worked pretty well. The holster attaches to the paddle portion via a plastic knob that can be easily removed, presumably to switch it out with holsters for other guns. You can attach your Glock 27 holster and swap it out with your Glock 43 holster. There is a retention lever that keeps the firearm firmly locked in place when inside the holster. It was easy to manipulate and facilitated quick draws. IWB: I’m personally not a huge fan of IWB, other than appendix carry. I didn’t test this variant. Drop leg rig: This item is purchased separately and was probably the coolest rig tested. It allows the user to switch from a concealed setup to a more tactically functional one. My wife tested this and found it to be very functional. It has an adjustable strap to set how low the rig will hang. The two leg straps keep the holster firmly in place. THIS TYPE OF modularity makes a lot of sense to me. As law enforcement officers, my wife and I both saw a need and application for this because specialized units often have to switch out their gear to meet mission requirements. An officer may be working undercover one minute,
The drop leg rig was “probably the coolest rig tested,” says the author.
then have to participate in a tactical operation such as a raid or high-risk warrant service. An officer in plain clothes can throw on the drop-down rig, attach his or her holster to it, throw on a raid vest and they are off to the races! Overall, we found the Alien Gear Core Carry Pack to be a good purchase. Individual preferences notwithstanding, I found it to be a pretty good system. High marks go to the paddle holster and drop leg configurations. I prefer other options for appendix carry, but it is still a useable system. It would be a smart purchase for someone on a budget that required multiple holsters. So, if you’re looking for a functional platform that can perform multiple functions well, the Core Carry Pack by Alien Gear is the way to go. Editor’s note: Nick Perna is a sergeant with the Redwood City Police Department in northern California. He has spent much of his career as a gang and narcotics investigator. Perna previously served as a paratrooper in the US Army and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco. He is a frequent contributor to multiple print and online forums on topics related to law enforcement, firearms, tactics and issues related to veterans.
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It all started about 15 years ago. I had a small gun shop (shack) on main street along with a couple other ventures. Business was doing good and I started to notice a certain pattern that I just could not ignore. Many of my customers would come in looking for a good option to carry a back up weapon and the choices were slim at best. The holsters that were available did not have the options that we were all looking for. The thought had crossed my mind to design and sell something myself, but I already had enough to do with the responsibilities of running my businesses. Shortly thereafter, I set out using my customers input and my own experiences to design a solution to this problem. I soon realized how valuable my customers’ input could be when looking for solutions. After many attempts and design tweaks, we all agreed that the aholster pocket solved the missing pieces that were needed for the perfect pocket carry solution. If you are looking for a holster to pocket carry your weapon, look no further than Aholster Company.
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GALLERY DARA HOLSTERS Dara Holster’s patented Curved Clip is designed to mimic the curve of the waistline, offering 100 percent clip-to-belt contact while carrying, keeping the gun and holster close to the body at all times. Concealed carry has never been so easy. » www.daraholsters.com/iwb-holsters-1
AHOLSTER COMPANY Aholster Company specializes in Kydex concealment holsters. The Pocket holster is one of their top sellers and is used by civilians and law enforcement for an everyday practical way to carry a backup weapon, as well as in some situations a primary. It is available in right- or left-handed carry and made with .060-inch Kydex. » www.aholster.com
HANDGUN GRIPS Now that summer is here, update your holster with lightweight material. Check out Handgun Grips’ selection of Techna Clip, which attach to a variety of pistols and revolvers, eliminating the need for a holster. Handgun Grips also stocks a variety of leather holsters made by Don Hume and nylon holsters made by Ace Case. » www.handgungrips.com
COVERT CARRIER Covert Carrier, Inc., has added Sig 238 and Sig 938 grips to their line. The G-10 grips can be purchased as a set or single right- or left-handed options. Visit their website or call (702) 245-6302 for more info. » www.covertcarrier.com
BULLARD LEATHER A new addition to Bullard Leather holsters is the thumb break snap, designed to be used by most of the company’s holsters. The back is reinforced leather to keep from breaking down, and the strap can even be made with exotic leather. The holster pictured is a Combat Holster for a Glock 19/23/32 with the thumb break snap. » www.bullardleather.com americanshootingjournal.com 87
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
‘YOU DREAM IT, WE WILL BUILD IT’
3i Holsters’ most popular product is its outsidethe-waistband holsters, but the company also makes insidethe-waistband models, along with mag carriers for those who carry every day, are in law enforcement or are competitive shooters.
3i Holsters prides itself on ability to customize. PHOTOS BY 3I HOLSTERS
n 2014, when their favorite holster maker decided to close down his shop, Scott Frank and his wife Paula stepped in to buy the company and keep the craftsmanship of 3i Holsters alive. Frank worked with the previous owner for six months, learning “all the ins and outs of making a good quality holster.” Now, the Zanesville, Ohio-based shop has evolved into a midsized holster manufacturing company specializing in custom Kydex holsters, mag carriers and accessories for everyday carry, law enforcement and competition. “Our most popular product is our outside-the-waistband holsters,” says Frank. “They are great for shooting at the range but are also very concealable, which serves the customer in two ways. This holster is also very comfortable and we can have a lot more fun customizing an outside-the-waistband than we can with an inside-the-waist.” Indeed, 3i Holsters’ specialty is their ability to customize. “We pride ourselves in being able to do just about anything a customer asks when building their holster,” says Frank. “We have created a ‘speed demon’ of a competition holster, just by listening to our competitive shooters and making adjustments to our design.”
I
Customers are able to choose their belt attachments, cant, sweat guard, and hand, and can even add custom graphics to their holster to make it truly one of a kind. “If a customer doesn’t see something on the website that they want, we welcome them to contact us so we can accommodate them,” says Frank. “Our Facebook page is full of pictures of all the crazy holsters we have created! Please check it out and let us make your custom holster! You dream it, we will build it.” Editor’s note: For more information, visit 3iholsters.com. americanshootingjournal.com 89
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BLACK POWDER
CUSTOMIZING A FOWLER
Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading’s kits allow builders to personalize their guns.
Pictured is the TVM Kit for the Fowler as it arrives, with barrel pre-inlet.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY MIKE NESBITT
he Fowler is just one of several excellent guns made by Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading, either as finished rifles ready to shoot or as kits. I have built guns from TVM’s kits before, so for this Fowler, I ordered one again. The kit I ordered is called a “TVM Kit,” which means several important steps are already done. The Natchez, Mississippi-based company also makes a “Builders Kit” for more advanced gunsmiths and which require more work. Getting the TVM Kit does cost a little more, about $150, but to me that is well worth it. The TVM Kit for the Fowler has a base price of $850, but options (like the sling swivel) can increase that. The TVM Kits come with the barrels fully inletted, the butt plates fitted, and the locks fully inletted. In addition, the screw hole through the stock, the breech plug and the lock plate are already drilled. That’s important because the alignment of the lock and barrel needs to be good. Although these tasks are done for you, there are still a lot of things to
T
The artificial striping was “painted” on the stained stock with dye.
do on the TVM Kits. In other words, getting the TVM Kit instead of the Builders Kit simply gives the buyer a much better start. I wanted this Fowler to be on the “handy” side, so I ordered it with the 36-inch barrel instead of the longer 42-incher. Other features in this kit include the brass furniture. The option for furniture is either steel or brass. My kit also came with the fittings for a sling, a swivel at the front and a large button at the back. One other option was the selection of a Durs Egg lock from L&R Lock Company. That completed the kit as ordered from TVM. Additionally, I asked for very plain straight-grained wood with no figure. That was just what I received and I do compliment TVM for that. My reason for wanting very plain wood
was because I intended to artificially stripe the stock, somewhat like Leman striped his stocks. That might be just a bit out of place on a typical Fowler, but my gun is going to be mine, not typical. ALL OF THE work assembling this Fowler was done at Allen Cunniff’s small shop. Allen is my Quigley partner and we do a lot of black powder shooting together. He’s also a fine ’smith and he works faster than most of those I know. I can’t give Allen enough credit for the good work that he did, although he did save some of the task for me. The first real step in assembly was to more properly fit and attach the butt plate. That is a good place to start and the butt plate then protects the butt of the stock. From there, we americanshootingjournal.com 93
BLACK POWDER located the position for the barrel lugs and the middle lug also became the location for the sling swivel. The barrel is held to the stock, ahead of the lock, with cross pins in addition to the main lock bolt, which also goes through the back of the breech plug, and the tang screw, which extends down to thread through the trigger plate. That’s where progress is measured in sawdust! Then the gun was complete, as far as assembly goes. Allen did the browning for me on the lock, barrel and trigger. In addition to that, he had heat blued the screw heads. The only thing left to be done was to finish the wood and that was my department. So we took all of the metal pieces off of the stock, gave the maple stock a coating of walnut stain, and I took the wood back to my base camp for the striping and finishing.
BOOK REVIEW:
SHARPS FIREARMS, VOLUME I REVIEWED BY MIKE NESBITT • PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROY MARCOT
I
had the recent pleasure to review the first book of a four-volume set about the Sharps Firearms by Roy Marcot with others. That first book was Volume II and it simply was finished first. Now I can tell you about Volume I, and this book was certainly worth waiting for. Sharps Firearms, Volume I is about “The Percussion Era 1848-1865.” To say that this is an interesting part of the Sharps story is putting it quite mildly. It is very interesting, from the first handmade rifle, which the Sharps patent started with, to the very special Model 1859 military rifles (with the double-set triggers) sent to Colonel Hiram Berdan for his Sharpshooters. Of course, there is a lot more mentioned than just that, and illustrated with fantastic color photos, this book covers all of the percussion Sharps arms, rifles, pistols and shotguns. This volume has 440 pages nicely divided into 19 chapters. Chapter 1 is about the beginning, as we should expect, with
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info about Christian Sharps and his work as a gunsmith. The Sharps rifles went through the stepping stones of evolution and that is covered in real detail. Chapter 8 is where things get very interesting for me and that is about the Model 1852 Sharps, the first of the slantbreech models. Covering the slant-breech models continues through Chapter 12. Of personal interest to me is the Model 1853 Sporting Rifle in .44 caliber that was owned by George Armstrong Custer, which is on display in Cody, Wyoming. The straight-breech Sharps are next, starting with the Model 1859 Military Carbines in Chapter 13. Each version of the Models ’59, ’63 and 1865 Sharps are covered individually, and also included are the Confederate copies of the Sharps breechloaders. Rather complete information is included about the accessories and attachments for these rifles, from the bayonets to the
THE ARTIFICIAL STRIPING was done using Lincoln’s dark brown leather dye, painted on with a very small brush, “painting” each line at a time. My method includes dipping just the point of the brush into the dye, and then painting as many lines as possible before the dye is completely gone from the brush. This means the first line will be the boldest, and the lines keep getting thinner and “weaker” until they basically disappear. And don’t make those lines too straight. Nature doesn’t stripe wood with straight lines. Artificially striping a stock this way takes a couple of hours per side of the stock and that does seem to be slow. Of course, nature takes more time than that. The artificial stripes are just a little bit darker than the walnutstained stock, so the lines are not outstanding or in any great contrast to the darkened wood. Those stripes are actually hard to see until the finish is applied. After the finish is applied, then those lines do stand out and dramatically so! Let me say that I was very pleased with the artificial
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BLACK POWDER
bullet moulds, as well as the paper and linen cartridges. And the text is always supported with beautiful color photos, sometimes of things we might not see anywhere else. If we might judge this book by its cover, we’d find it is equally as impressive. It’s a big book, measuring 12 inches by 10 inches and weighing 6½ pounds. Sharps Firearms, Volume I most certainly covers the entire percussion era of
the Sharps breechloaders. Hardcover with dust jacket, the retail price is $100. Books can be ordered directly from the authors, which will include an autographed plate, by mailing checks to: Roy Marcot, 12655 E. Horsehead Road, Tucson, AZ 85749. Make the check payable to Northwood Heritage Press and please add $10 for shipping and insurance. If you have any questions regarding an order, call Roy Marcot at (520) 906-0716 or email roymarcot@msn.com.
striping done on this stock and at this time, with words being written before the gun has been fired, I’ll say how I do expect to hear just a few “ooohs and aaahs” from other shooters. After the striping was done, this stock was finished with Tru-Oil. TruOil is more or less a type of varnish and that makes it rather authentic for finishing a muzzleloader like this Fowler. Nine applications later, it sure looks good to me. And, following the reassembly of the gun, it was ready to do some shooting. WHILE THIS IS a “fowling piece,” most of the shooting that will be done with it is with a patched round ball. A lot of birdshot loads will be fired too, but for now the only shooting I’ve done with the new gun has been with round ball loads. Those loads consist of 60 grains of GOEX FFFg powder, a .595-inchdiameter round ball wrapped in a
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American Shooting Journal // June 2019
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BLACK POWDER Here’s the finished gun, ready for shooting.
A closer view of the artificially striped and perhaps a bit fancy stock.
This target “captured” the very first five shots, fired with patched round ball.
Very fast ignition is provided with the L&R Durs Egg flint lock.
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.015-inch-thick lubricated patch. A 20-gauge is basically a .60 caliber, and for good starting loads, try one grain of powder per caliber, or 60 grains. That’s a load I have used for several years in other 20-gauge smoothbores. For a target, a 100-yard bull’seye was posted at just 25 yards. This Fowler has no sights other than the “turtle” blade at the front, and (of course) no rifling in the bore, so we can’t expect the most in accuracy. But my first shot showed me how accurate the gun might be, printing in the 9-ring at 6 o’clock. That was delightful. Four more shots followed and they all printed rather well on the target. I’d call that first target an excellent measure of success. Three more shots were fired before I was done for the day. Those were taken offhand at a turkey silhouette hanging at 50 yards. That turkey is a rather small one and I’ve missed it plenty of times before. But this time I hit it two out of the three tries. Now I’m ready to use this gun in the coming Trade Gun Frolic of the Evergreen Muzzleloaders. IN BUSINESS FOR 20 years now, in my opinion (and I’m not alone) TVM makes the best muzzle-loading kits available. I recommend them without hesitation. They make a variety of styles and their Leman rifle is certainly one of my favorite front-loading rifles. They can be telephoned at (601) 445-5482. They also have an impressive website for viewing their fine guns and kits at tvmnatchez.com.
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not only proven effective, but are also nontoxic and environmentally friendly. “Making an effective product that is safe and nontoxic is an easy choice,” says Dworkin. “It’s easy to make harmful products, but making a safe product helps us to stand out from the crowd.” The company’s gun care products, for instance, are made with nontoxic ingredients that won’t harm your firearm, nor the environment. Used in conjunction, the products ensure smooth, reliable, long-lasting functioning of any firearm. Zerust’s gun oil cleans dirt and grime from exposed metal surfaces, while preventing moisture build-up that leads to harmful rust and corrosion. The thin, long-lasting spray keeps your firearm functioning smoothly by reducing metal-on-metal wear. Zerust’s gun cleaner cleans triggers, tubes, chambers
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