NRA SHOW ISSUE
300+ MUST HAVE
GUNS
& GEAR COUNTRY MUSIC’S
CRAIG MORGAN HUNTER, VETERAN, COMIC, COP
Guardians Of The USAF
NRA Museums’ Firearm Treasures Shoot ‘Brown Bess’ Muskets In Historic Colonial Williamsburg
PART 2
GUN REVIEW
Guncrafter Industries’ Model 4 .50-caliber 1911
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American Shooting Journal // May 2016
A MERIC A N
SHOOTING JOURNAL Volume 5 // ISSUE 9 // May 2016 PUBLISHER
James R. Baker ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Dick Openshaw
GENERAL MANAGER
John Rusnak
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Andy Walgamott EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Danielle Breteau LEAD CONTRIBUTOR
Dave Workman CONTRIBUTORS
Larry Case, Rob Reed, Nick Setting, Bob Shell, Troy Taysom, Oleg Volk SALES MANAGER
Katie Higgins
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Mamie Griffin, Steve Joseph, Garn Kennedy, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold PRODUCTION MANAGER
Sonjia Kells DESIGNERS
Ciara Pickering, Sam Rockwell, Liz Weickum PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Kelly Baker
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Emphasis on Quality Accent on Innovation
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ON THE COVER
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American Shooting Journal // May 2016
Craig Morgan, TV hunting show host, country musician, father, paratrooper and much, much more will release a new album this year. We catch up with the Tennessee native in this issue’s cover feature. (OUTDOOR CHANNEL)
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CONTENTS
VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 9 • MAY 2016
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GO BACK IN TIME
Colonial Williamsburg is the world’s largest living history museum and you can now shoot the famed Brown Bess rifles handcrafted there on a brand-new range as part of the experience of reliving what it was like at our nation’s birth.
(COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG)
FEATURES 60
CRAIG OF ALL TRADES Craig Morgan is many things – singer-songwriter, former paratrooper and cop, husband, father – and with a new album on the way, the busy Tennessee country crooner and hunting show host took a moment to talk with us about what he’s up to these days.
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GUARDIANS OF THE AIR FORCE, PART II OF II: THE ‘SKY COPS’ Whether guarding military aircraft at bases around the country and world or missile fields on the Plains, USAF Security Forces play a crucial role keeping our assets safe, and much more!
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GUN REVIEW: 50 GI Guncrafter Industries’ Model No. 4 50 GI packs a powerful punch, whether you’re carrying for self-defense or hunting hogs.
DEPARTMENTS 115
Q&A WITH RTD ARMS’ OWNER Competitive shooter Tony Hook took his frustration of subpar ARplatform parts and turned it into a high-precision AR manufacturing company. How did he do it?
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AEROSPACE-CALIBER AR’S The firearms industry is benefitting from the ingenuity of this aerospace industry team! Meet Ernest Apodaca, owner of Layke Tactical, and take a look at their amazing new 6-pound titanium .308 AR!
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WHAT IS BLACKPOWDER, PART III: BULLETS, HUNTING, MORE In the third and final part of his trilogy on all things blackpowder, Bob Shell talks about defouling barrels, best bullets, hunting, expected accuracy and cleaning.
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Editor’s Note Competition Calendar Gun Show Calendar Top Shooters Rifle Gallery Beat Story: Stick ’Em Up Pistol Gallery A Salute To America’s Armed Forces AR Under Construction Precision Rifle Series Schedule & Resource Guide
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 © 2016 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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CONTENTS nra show 2016
The NRA’s 145th Annual Meetings & Exhibits come to Kentucky this month, and we preview the big doin’s, as well as highlight great new guns and gear! NRA Offers, Politics, Schedules 24 NRA Show Spin-n-Win Offer! 27 Target November: Why This Year’s Elections Matter So Much 27 ILA, Powerhouse Of The NRA 160 Annual Meetings & Exhibits Schedule Of Events NRA Product Spotlights 43 Rifles 79 Optics & Sights 99 Handguns 111 Shotguns 129 Gun Gear 163 Industry 177 Accessories 199 Ammunition 205 Reloading 221 Survival 223 Adventure 229 Knives
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CURATING AMERICA’S PASSION FOR GUNS Join Phil Schreier, senior curator at the NRA National Firearms Museum, for an inside look at some of the nation’s most historical firearms, and learn how he became the NRA’s first war correspondent since World War II.
(NRA MUSEUMS)
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EDITOR’S NOTE ay is here, it’s here! It is finally here! Hurray! Why are we so excited? Because the National Rifle Association’s 2016 Annual Meetings & Exhibits is this month and Kentucky’s famed horse-racing city of Lousiville is hosting the event. In this month’s much-anticipated NRA issue you will find all of the latest gadgets, gear and guns that have stormed the market – complete with insight into what makes them tick. We do have to warn you, however, that perusing this issue will either leave your bank account depleted or your wishlist even longer. All the things you never knew you couldn’t live without are in here, so beware! Speaking of the NRA, in this issue’s focus feature we speak with Phil Schreier, who is the senior curator at the organization’s National Firearms Museum in Virginia and who has spent a lifetime immersed amongst some of the most historical guns in our nation. He tells us what it’s like to have a job many only dream of. We also take you back in time to Colonial Williamsburg, a 301-acre living-history museum that features handcrafted
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muskets, such as the renowned Brown Bess, and the brand-new, open-to-the-public musket range there is a must-add to your bucket list. We catch up with Outdoor Channel star and country-music legend Craig Morgan, and meet the movers and shakers coming up in the black-gun arena. This issue is truly packed with goodies! On another note, I want to personally thank all of our Executive editor Danielle Breteau readers for supporting the American Shooting Journal through its very first year. We can now be found in over 30,000 newsstands nationwide. All of our stories come from you – the vibrant, human element of the gun industry’s wider story – and we love sharing them with fellow readers.
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American Shooting Journal // May 2016
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COMPETITION Lance Thompson, 11-year-old International trap competitor, is a member of the Keystone Eagles International Shotgun Team and is shooting for the Olympic Games.
C A L E N D A R
May 13-15
Washington State Championships Cashmere, Wash. Chelan County Fairgrounds
May 14-15
Kansas State Championships Lyons, Kan. Bar K Bar Arena
May 21-22
Maryland State Championships Dillsburg, Pa. Diamond 7 Ranch and Arena
May 14-15
May 21-22
May 21-22
May 1
May 14
May 27
Corn Huskers Classic VIII Grand Island, Neb. Heartland Shooting Park
York Classifier Dallastown, Pa. Izaak Walton League
Music City Shootout VI Dickson, Tenn. Music City Tactical Shooters
Talladega Match Talladega, Ala. CMP Marksmanship Park
May 18-22
Big Iron Annual Shoot Big Iron CFDA Club Marysville, Kan.
National Classifier Sloughhouse, Calif. Sacramento Valley Shooting Center
May 14
Northeast Regional Championships Pennsville, N.J. M&M Sporting Clays
May 21-22
Northern Lakes Regional Classic XXV St. Paul, Minn. Oakdale Gun Club
Sporting Clay Houston Regional Conroe, Texas Creekwood Shooting Sports
May 27-29
Great Northwest Territorial Championship Treasure Valley Gunslingers Caldwell, Idaho americanshootingjournal.com 19
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American Shooting Journal // May 2016
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TOP SHOOTERS Former Marine Corps Scout Sniper Trey Dominick may be home these days, but he’s still on watch. (TREY DOMINICK)
In the wilds of western Colorado, Keith McNeill takes his brand-new .308 Armalite out for a test run. Looks like fun! (KEITH MCNEILL)
University of Louisville student Alexis Denise Carter learned to shoot on her father’s farm and continues to target practice for fun by taking charge of this behemoth MG Arms .50-caliber BMG. Good girl! (FRANK JARDIM)
Sporting a Belgian PS90, Second Amendment attorney Alexandria Kincaid is not only a shooter, she is a war historian. (AMANDA ALLARD) americanshootingjournal.com 23
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American Shooting Journal // May 2016
TARGET NOVEMBER:
Elections matter, and a lot in 2016 STORY BY DAVE WORKMAN * PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE NRA
hen Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the National Rifle Association, spoke in early March to the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, he made it clear to the packed audience that Hillary Rodham Clinton is no friend of gun owners. “She’s been clear about one Wayne LaPierre thing,” he observed. “She hates the Second Amendment. She hates us and is coming after every bit of our freedom.” Then he threw down the gauntlet: “Mrs. Clinton,” LaPierre challenged, “if you want to come after the NRA – if you want a fight over the Godgiven rights of America’s 100 million gun owners –if you want to turn this election into a bare-knuckled brawl for the survival of our constitutional freedom ... bring it on.” Clinton has made no secret of her disdain for the NRA. She made gun control a cornerstone of her campaign for president. It is a gamble, deliberately alienating a large voter bloc. In his monthly “Standing Guard” column that appears in NRA magazines, LaPierre – who was not available for an interview – observed, “In Hillary’s world, no allegation is out of bounds or too extreme.” He noted that Clinton has called NRA leaders “absolutists.” “Absolutists?” he then asked. “You bet. When it comes to the defense of our uniquely American rights and the liberty they secure, we proudly accept that title.” The NRA gathers this month for their 145th annual meetings and exhibits in Louisville, Ky. They’re anticipating a big turnout, and there will be lots to see. The exhibit hall covers more than 475,000 square feet and will feature more than 650 exhibitors. There will be guns, knives, hunting and shooting gear, clothing and some of the biggest names in firearms. In addition, there will be special programs and seminars, a special section for gun collectors and more. There will be the annual members’ meeting, which
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will feature reports from LaPierre, NRA’s chief lobbyist Chris Cox, President Allan Cors, First Vice President Pete Brownell and Second Vice President Richard Childress. This year, gun owners are facing what might be considered a “perfect storm.” With the passing of Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, author of the landmark 2008 District of Columbia v. Heller ruling that affirmed the Second Amendment protects an individual civil right to keep and bear arms, a new urgency is added to picking a president that is pro-rights. That person will very likely select more than one Supreme Court justice. Gun rights activists believe the future of Second Amendment hangs in the balance. President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to replace Scalia. Where Justice Scalia was considered a cornerstone conservative, Garland is at best a moderate. Writing in the National Review Online, writer Carrie Severino cautioned, “Garland has a long record, and, among other things, it leads to the conclusion that he would vote to reverse one of Justice Scalia’s most important opinions, D.C. vs. Heller, which affirmed that the Second Amendment confers an individual right to keep and bear arms.” The Supreme Court is something of a prize for the gun prohibition lobby, and now it is within their grasp. If Clinton wins the presidency, she “intends to take down the NRA, calling us her number one ‘enemy’,” LaPierre wrote in April. This fall’s elections could be the ultimate showdown. Between now and then, the war of words will continue. In his April column, LaPierre asserted that the battle is “about principle.” It might also be about getting out the vote. NRA members attending the convention will likely be reminded several times that this is what the November election is all about. Between those reminders, they’ll have some fun. The activities include the NRA Foundation Banquet, the 10th annual NRA Women’s Leadership Forum, the NRA-ILA dinner and auction, the Saturday Night celebration, the NRA Country Jam, the annual Prayer Breakfast and more. americanshootingjournal.com 27
POWERHOUSE FOR THE NRA: CHRIS COX He and ILA fight the ‘good fight’ STORY BY DAVE WORKMAN * PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE NRA
hen Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation allowing campus carry in the Lone Star State, it was the result of a grassroots effort that didn’t just spring up out of nowhere. Writing about the victory, NRA’s Chris Cox, executive director of the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA), noted how NRA has “been working to eliminate state laws that make it either difficult or impossible to legally carry a concealed handgun for protection while away from home.” That defined what the ILA does best. A legislative powerhouse, ILA has a track record that infuriates the gun prohibition lobby. That record is one reason that Democrat Hillary Clinton essentially declared war on the NRA as part of her presidential campaign. Indeed, she named the NRA as one of her “favorite enemies.” You’ve got to work pretty hard to wind up on someone’s list of “favorite enemies,” and in this case it’s a label that NRA can wear with pride. As noted by Robert Farago, writing in late February, “Recent polling illustrates that Clinton’s decision to incorporate anti-gun messaging and direct attacks on NRA is ill-advised if she wants to win the White House.” He was quoting Cox in a piece at The Truth About Guns. Cox wasn’t available for an interview, but his staff offered valuable help. Late last year, Rasmussen Reports released a survey that revealed 63 percent of Americans with a gun in the home feel safer. This followed on the heels of an Octoberreleased Gallup poll that said a majority of Americans think more people carrying concealed firearms “would make the country safer.” That was before the terror attacks in Paris and San Bernardino. In the wake of San Bernardino, the president incredibly tried to politicize the tragedy, as Cox wrote for USA Today, “suggesting the men and women of the National Rifle Association are somehow to blame.” Cox noted that “the president’s failed foreign policy has made us less safe.” “And,” Cox wrote, “his domestic gun control agenda would jeopardize our safety even further. In California, President Obama had what he wanted – the strictest gun control in the country – and it did not prevent
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this evil act.” Chris Cox GOP front-runner Donald Trump suggested that if there had been legally armed citizens in Paris and San Bernardino capable of firing back, it might have reduced the carnage. Concealed carry across the United States is possibly the NRA’s greatest achievement in recent years. By some estimates there are upwards of 13 million private citizens licensed to carry across the 50 states. NRA was responsible for one of two federal lawsuits against Illinois that forced that state’s legislature to adopt a concealed-carry statute. In his USA Today piece, Cox observed, “Unlike the president, regular citizens are not surrounded by armed Secret Service agents wherever they go. When we find ourselves under attack, no one is there to protect us. That responsibility is ours and ours alone.” According to a January piece in the New York Times, ILA is a force on Capitol Hill, as demonstrated following the San Bernardino attack. “Senate Democrats,” the newspaper’s Eric Lichtblau noted, “sensing an opportunity, rush to pass a measure denying guns to anyone on the no-fly terrorism watch list…” The story explained how Cox and his troops went to work. The Senate rejected the proposal, and a companion measure to expand background checks. Neither proposal would have prevented the attack. ILA was on the front lines when West Virginia lawmakers overrode Gov. Early Ray Tomblin’s veto of permitless carry, openly or concealed, generically called “Constitutional carry.” On the horizon for ILA, and for all NRA members, is the 2016 election. At stake are the White House, Capitol Hill, U.S. Supreme Court and lower courts. What happens in November could determine the future of the shooting sports, self-defense, and even the Second Amendment. americanshootingjournal.com 29
Curating
THE AMERICAN PASSION Behind The Scenes At The NRA National Firearms Museum With Senior Curator Phil Schreier
Phil Schreier has spent 26 years with the NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Va., working his way up from part-time weekend gift shop attendant to senior curator today. Here he holds a Webley MK VI with a WebleyPritchard Revolver Bayonet, a “trench-raiding” rig from World War I.
This Girardoni air rifle at the NRA Museum is similar to the one used by Lewis and Clark during their Western expedition. The rifle could fire multiple shots before needing to be reloaded.
STORY BY ROB REED * PHOTOGRAPHS BY NRA MUSEUMS
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hil Schreier has one of the best jobs in the firearms industry. As senior curator of the NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Va., just west of Washington, D.C., he works hands-on with rare and historic firearms that make up the museum’s collection. We talked to Schreier about the museum, his passion for collecting and shooting, his writing and his experiences as the NRA’s only accredited war correspondent since World War II.
American Shooting Journal Can you first tell us a little about the National Firearms Museum. When was it founded, what is the museum’s mission and how large is the collection? Phil Schreier The National Firearms Museum was founded in 1935 as an off-shoot of American Rifleman Magazine. Manufacturers had been sending NRA Publications samples of their latest models for test and evaluation write-ups and allowed us to keep them. After a while, we had quite the collection that today numbers well over 6,000 firearms, and all but a dozen or so were donated. Our mission is to provide a tangible glimpse into the history of firearms through their development and use, and link their evolution to the American experience of freedom, liberty and firearms. ASJ How is the museum arranged and how do you decide what should be featured?
PS There are 15 galleries in the museum comprised of 85 exhibit cases that show off and highlight the development and evolution of firearms from 1350 to the present day. We try to hit the high points along the way, but more importantly we demonstrate what it took for Americans to acquire their freedom and maintain it ever since. ASJ How does the museum’s collection compare to the firearms held by other museums, such as the Smithsonian? What makes the National Firearms Museum special? PS Each of the numerous other firearms museums in the country has something special to offer. Springfield Armory has the best collection of US Military arms from 1795 to 1968. The Cody Firearms Museum in Wyoming has the Winchester factory collection. The Davis Museum in Claremore, Okla., has the largest collection of any of us. We specialize in telling the whole story of Americans and their guns. From the founding of Jamestown in 1607 to the present day, we try to highlight little-known stories that had a huge impact on our history. ASJ Tell us a little about the newest exhibit. PS Right now we have a Steampunk exhibit that is somewhat a mix of fantasy and reality, kind of a grouping of John Browning and Jules Verne’s love children as written about by H.G. Welles. It’s whimsical, a word I never imagined I’d use in describing an exhibit here. ASJ What are your responsibilities as senior curator, and
Also on display at the museum are numerous firearms used by Hollywood. This Barret 82A .50 BMG rifle was used in the movie The Hurt Locker.
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what does that entail? What it is like being one of the public faces of the museum and the NRA on TV? What is the best part of your job? PS As senior curator, I am kind of a catch-all for things here, from the NRA Gun Collectors Committee Awards programs at the NRA Annual Meetings and the NRA Gun Collectors Annual Gun Show, to some of the new exhibits we have here on display. I also figure heavily into the exhibits we take on the road each year. With five million NRA members and an annual visitation of 400,000 between our two museum sites, we see more members and members of the general public when we take the show to the people. Being on TV also brings our collection into the living rooms of our members and friends. The numerous gun shows we film during the course of the year helps encourage folks to come and see us, as well as view our collections online – the next best thing to seeing us in person. The best part of my job is actually getting to meet and visit with our friends who take the time to watch the shows and visit the museums. It is humbling to meet them and to find out where they are from and what got them interested in firearms in the first place. We all took different paths to get to the same place; each of those journeys is not only unique but interesting as well.
“THE NEXT THING I KNEW I WAS ON A BIG PLANE HEADED TO THE SANDBOX [IRAQ] WITH THE 101ST ...” ASJ What have been some of your best experiences at the museum, and what have been some of your favorite exhibits? PS As Jerry Garcia once said, “… What a long, strange trip it’s been.” I had no idea what I’d be in for when I accepted a part-time job in the museum gift shop some 26 years ago. Since I began the journey I have been to all 50 states and 14 countries – not all on the NRA dime, mind you, but all work related. I was able to view nearly every gun museum in the US and many in Europe, I served as an embedded war correspondent in Iraq and Afghanistan and I have had the honor of curating a large portion of Theodore Roosevelt’s personal belongings, uniforms and firearms. Working with Robert E. Petersen’s collection has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience, as has sitting down at the private homes of Bill Ruger and Tom Selleck, just smoking cigars together and chatting about our favorite firearms. I often have to pinch myself and ask, How did I get here? But I try to thank God often for the opportunities he has given me and this blessed job that I enjoy on a daily basis. It may be one thing to hold Theodore Roosevelt’s Winchester 1895 or Tom Selleck’s Quigley Sharps, but 32
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the lasting part, the most important part, is the actual people you get to interact with. I am very fortunate to work with a great set of colleagues who are all amiable and professional. I am also blessed to have made some of the best friends I could have ever dreamt of having through
Schreier oversees both NRA museums (the other’s at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Mo.), which receive 400,000 guests a year, traveling exhibitions and a YouTube Channel. Here he has a mid-1800s LeMat Revolver featuring a second, 20-gauge barrel, in addition to nine-shot cylinder. Here with a bison, Schreier is also an avid shooter who enjoys firing his MGs, SMGs and Winchester 1895s.
the relationships I developed here at work. ASJ What do visitors react most strongly to? What seems to be most commented on? PS Well, if we went by YouTube views alone, the Lewis & Clark air rifle is the most popular, at 4.1 million views. It is amazing that so many people have watched those eight and a half minutes of video and find it interesting and compelling. It is a rifle that effectively changed the course of history for this country, and it has escaped much notice until now.
These two iconic handguns appeared in 1988’s Die Hard. The HK P7 (bottom) was used by villain Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) and the Beretta 92 was used by hero John McClane (Bruce Willis). The same prop Beretta was also used by Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon.
Operating this steam-powered device involves donning the brass and leather gauntlet, which comes complete with gauges for trigger pull. Fitted with a telescopic sight, this innovative single-action handgun is based on a six-shot .44 Remington percussion revolver and even includes a forward monopod for firing stability. It’s part of the museum’s Steampunk Guns exhibit: “It’s whimsical, a word I never imagined I’d use in describing an exhibit here,” explains Schreier.
This Smith and Wesson Model 29 was used by Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry and Magnum Force (1972). It was a gift from Eastwood and Warner Brothers to film writer/ director John Milius, who wrote significant parts of Dirty Harry and is credited with writing the screenplay for Magnum Force. The pistol received notoriety as being the “most powerful handgun in the world” and prompted civilian Model 29 purchases to skyrocket following the film’s success.
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ASJ The National Firearms Museum is unique in that guns in the collection are sometimes taken out and fired. How do you determine which of these historic guns to shoot? What is the experience like firing these historic firearms? PS Well, the curator in me still cringes sometimes when we shoot the real artifacts, and I’m not entirely sold on the thought of doing that regularly. But when you think about it, they are guns, after all, and they were designed to be shot. Most were shot sometime shortly before they were turned over to us and we do interest those who see us shooting them in the history of the guns, so I guess it has its advantages. We certainly do not shoot artifacts that have been loaned to us or anything that might be too fragile or delicate. For the most part, we try to pull items from our own collections before we draw on the museum’s artifacts to shoot. ASJ How did you get started in the firearms industry? How did you start working for the NRA? PS I can proudly say that I owe it all to Scouting. I worked for many years at a Scout camp in the Shenandoah Valley here in Virginia. I came to know the National Inspection team for camp certification and the field sports director was a division director at the NRA, and I bugged him relentlessly for years about a job. He actually called me one night while I was working the evening shift in a shopping mall. A friend of mine answered the call and I was offered the job of part-time sales associate and curatorial assistant in the museum – Saturday and Sundays only, six hours a day. I thought I’d be miserable for the rest of my life if I had to give up my weekends. My friend told me to jump on the chance. “You never know where it might lead.” So I took the job. Within six months I was full time. I called my friend to offer him the job I recently vacated with my promotion. I used the same lines on him that he used on me six months earlier. He, too, reluctantly gave up his weekends to start with the NRA and he is now the editor in chief of American Rifleman, Mark Keefe. ASJ Tell us how you became embedded with the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq in 2003 as the NRA’s first accredited war correspondent since WWII. What was that experience like? PS I’ve known Mark since he was about 12 years old, and if a person is lucky enough to have just one friend in life like Mark, they should count themselves blessed. I am lucky enough to have a half a dozen friends that I’d instantly lay my life down for. Mark and I were talking about the war in Iraq in March of 2003 and how there were going to be embedded war correspondents within the units. American Rifleman had not had a war correspondent since Bill Shadel had covered D-Day for us in 1944. I looked at Mark, he looked at me and shook his head saying, “Naw, you might be crazy but you’re not insane … are you?” I was all about getting an accredited spot and Mark provided the camera crew and letters of introduction, but the Department of
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Defense was having none of it. They effectively stonewalled us for months. Even a personal letter from Charlton Heston to General Franks had zero impact. I gave up at one point, until I read a news article online written by Specialist Thomas Day of the 101st Airborne in May of 2003. It had his email attached to the byline, so I wrote to him. He suggested I speak to Major Cate of their public affairs office and the next thing I knew I was on a big plane headed to the sandbox. It was surreal. It was also the most significant thing I have ever done with my life so far. For each of the 30 days I was in Iraq, I had never felt so alive nor so close to death. It was an amazing experience.
This single-shot arm known as the Mayflower Gun was originally a .50-caliber rifle, but extensive usage has removed almost all traces of rifling. Discovered during the restoration of Mayflower passenger John Alden’s home in Duxbury, Mass., in 1924, this piece is typical of many arms possessed by early New England settlers. Alden’s home was occupied by members of his family from 1653 through 1896. According to an article about the rifle posted on Beretta.com, if fired today, it would use a .66-caliber bullet.
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ASJ You later visited the MEB (Maneuver Enhancement Brigade) in Afghanistan in 2009. How was that experience different – or the same – as your earlier experience? PS Afghanistan was quite different. Everything was totally controlled. There was no wandering around or just “checking things out.” It felt like a different war and it certainly was. I was only there for 10 days to help sponsor a 5K run for two fallen warriors. I’d much rather spend 30 days in Iraq of 2003 than one more day in Afghanistan of 2009. ASJ What’s your favorite firearms or type of shooting? PS I like a lot of shooting events. I have shot competitively at End of Trail, Bisley and Camp Perry, but I really like shooting my MGs and SMGs, as well as Winchester 1895s, wherever and whenever I get the chance. ASJ What’s the one thing you’d want our readers to know about the NRA’s National Firearms Museum? PS Well, if nothing else, we have two museums. One at the NRA headquarters in Fairfax, Va., and one at the Bass Pro Shops’ flagship store in Springfield, Mo. Both are open seven days a week and free to everyone. Come on by and take some time to visit us. Editor’s note: For more information on the NRA National Firearms Museum, you can visit them at nramuseums.com.
www.Unique-ARs.com 888.982.8386
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Rifles NEW RT-10 LIGHT CARBINE FROM RTD MFG. www.rtdarms.com For 2016 the RT-10 family of .308/7.62x51 rifles has a new member: a lightweight, multipurpose, hard-hitting and accurate carbine called the RT-10L. This rifle features a 16-inch black salt nitrite stainless-steel barrel for the hardest, most accurate and corrosion-resistant barrel you can get. The 13-inch free-float hand guard is lightweight and comes with your choice of KeyMod or screw mount rails. The MagPul ACS-L buttstock and the MagPul MOE pistol grip are standard on the RT-10L, as is the RTD single-stage combat trigger. All RT-10 platform rifles are made with precision-machined upper and lower receivers made from a Cerro mil-spec 7075 T-6 aluminum forging and accept MagPul PMAGS. If you need your RT-10 tricked out a bit more, you can get an RTD 3.5-pound trigger and/or a nickel boron BCG. Weighing in at only 7.12 pounds and with an overall length of 35 inches with the buttstock collapsed, the RT-10L weighs less than many of its competitors, yet still provides big-bore stopping power and longer range accuracy. All RTD rifles are handcrafted by master armorers who hand lap all the upper receivers for a zero gap between the receiver and the barrel extension and also hand lap every barrel so you have the best available accuracy right out of the box.
NOVESKE RIFLEWORKS www.noveske.com Noveske Rifleworks is announcing the latest generation of their N6 rifle. The N6 Gen III – chambered in 7.62x51 – features Noveske’s billet receiver set with similar design cues found in their N4 line. This new rifle features ambidextrous controls, including mag release, safety and bolt release, and they have added their newest version of their famed NSR hand guard. The NSR N6 is a very light design, has good ergonomics for shooting and Noveske offers it with either KeyMod or M-Lok accessory mounts. You can get this rifle in four variants: 16-inch N6 Gen III; 16-inch N6 Gen III Enhanced (this offers features optimized for suppressed use); 12.5-inch Leonidas Gen III; and the 12.5-inch Leonidas Gen III Enhanced, which also comes with features optiwwmized for suppressed use. Cost of the rifle ranges from $3,400 to $4,000 and it comes in three colors: black, burnt bronze and Noveske Bazooka green. We did hear that more colors may be on the way.
DOUBLE D ARMORY GUARANTEES SUBZERO MOA WITH THEIR SST RIFLE www.ddarmory.com The SST appears similar to other AR-style rifles from a distance, but a closer inspection reveals that tradition was not adhered to. Consideration was given to saving weight where possible and reinforcing where necessary, and through this transformation, Double D Armory guarantees sub-MOA accuracy. Featuring a 16-inch free-float hand guard with a six-position adjustable buttstock and enlarged trigger guard, you can tell they have done their homework. Some of the features we like most are that flared magwell, the match-grade barrel designed and built by Lothar Walther, and it sports a nickel-boron-coated carpenter 158 bolt and a 8620 carrier with properly staked gas key. The upper and lower are a matched pair built from billet aluminum, giving them strength and durability along with uniformity and can be finished in any number of hard anodized specialty finishes. Double D’s SST is by far a step above rackgrade ARs.
OCTOBER COUNTRY’S BIGBORE ENGLISH SPORTING RIFLE www.octobercountry.com October Country’s big-bore English Sporting Rifle has demonstrated its prowess in North America and African, providing one-shot kills on everything from elk and grizzly bear to eland and Cape buffalo. This is considered one of the most powerful traditional muzzleloading rifles manufactured today. It features a maple English style Rigby pistol grip stock and a 1¼ inch to 11/8 inch tapered octagonal 36 inch barrel. The barrel has a shallow groove with a slow-twist rifling that delivers a round ball at speeds over 1,800 feet per second with muzzle energy exceeding a ton and a half. Whoa! Serious stuff.
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RIFLES
BROWNING ADDS NEW X-BOLT MODELS www.browning.com • Booth #4914 New from Browning are a couple of additions to the X-Bolt family and a BAR MK3. The X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed bolt-action rifle has a composite stock with A-TACS camo and Cerakote Burnt Bronze finish on the barrel and action. Chambered in a wide range of popular hunting calibers from .243 Winchester
to .300 Winchester Magnum, there are three barrel lengths: 22 inches for standard calibers, 23 inches for .270 WSM and .300 WSM, and 26 inches for rifles in 26 Nosler, 7mm Remington Magnum and .300 Win. Mag. It has an adjustable Feather Trigger, detachable rotary magazine, bolt-unlock button and X-Lock scope mounting system. The other X-Bolt entry is the Long Range Hunter, chambered for 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 WSM, .300 WSM, 26 Nosler, 7mm Rem. Magnum
and .300 Win. Magnum. Browning’s BAR MK3 features a new receiver profile with engraving, and a new stock and forearm made from Grade II walnut with cut checkering and an oil finish. This new model is chambered for nine different calibers, with 22-, 23- and 26-inch barrel lengths, depending upon the caliber.
AK-47 ENTHUSIASTS WILL LOVE THE M10X BY M+M www.mm-industries.com • Booth #3352 Engineered from the ground up using modern materials and manufacturing processes, the M10X maintains the AK’s legendary reliability and simplicity while improving on some of its shortcomings. Inspired by Eastern and Western firearm designs using elements from guns such as the Sig 556, Galil, Saiga and FAL, the M10X features vastly improved ergonomics, modularity and is the most accurate semiautomatic 7.62x39 platform on the market today. All this despite using 50 percent fewer parts than a traditional AK-47.
K&M ARMS’ NEW .308 BULLPUP www.kmarms.com • Booth #2956
GOING SUB AND SUPERSONIC WITH TK DEFENSE
This bullpup chambered in 7.62x51 is not for the faint of heart. It a serious piece of machinery. This pup has a short-stroke piston system with adjustable gas and billet aluminum lower and nonreciprocating charging handle that can switch to either side of the receiver. There’s an ambidextrous magazine release as well. It also features a 3.5- to 5-pound trigger with a patented trigger linkage, something the bullpup industry is not known for. The barrel length varies from 16 to 20 inches and has a 1-in-10 twist rate. The overall weight is right at 8.86 pounds and the overall length ranges
www.tkdefenseusa.com TK Defense is an ammunition company turned firearms dealer and manufacturer, and they are setting the pace for latest AR rifles. Some of their latest builds feature Spikes Tactical JACK lowers and Matrix Aero side-charging upper receivers, and since these folks specialize in subsonic ammunition, their 300 AAC BLK 208-grain A-Max subsonic is their most popular model. TK Defense still offers a full line of subsonic ammo to include 300 AAC Blackout 208-grain A-Max Subsonic; 300 AAC Blackout 110-grain V-Max supersonic; .308 208-grain A-Max subsonic; .308 150-grain FMJ subsonic; and the 9mm Luger 147-grain RNFP subsonic and 9mm Luger 158-grain LRN subsonic – both loaded with non-fouling K-Jax coated lead bullets.
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American Shooting Journal // May 2016
CLASSIC FIREARMS OFFERS FINNISH M39 MOSIN NAGANT RIFLE www.classicfirearms.com For over 25 years Classic Firearms has offered exceptional surplus firearms from around the world. Their Yugoslavian SKSs and Romanian Tokarevs are among the many surplus arms you can find there; however, this is the first time they have ever had or offered the Finnish M39 Mosin Nagant.
from 26.25 to 30.25 inches. This rifle comes standard with a flash hider, modular side rails that can be mounted in any of the side slots and a flared magwell for good measure. When the Finns gained their independence from Russia in 1919 they took their stockpile of captured Russian M91/30 rifles and redesigned them to maximize their potential. They added new barrels that were heavier and well rifled, the sights were improved, the stocks were replaced with more ergonomic versions, the triggers were enhanced for a smoother pull and even the magazines were improved to ensure smooth, efficient feeding. The result was a highly accurate piece of quality Finnish workmanship and a workhorse wo of a rifle. The Finnish Finn arsenals have long been depleted of these M39s M39 for decades, so for Classic Firearms to have and offer o one is truly a special find. You may never find another one in this lifetime.
RIFLES PALMETTO STATE ARMORY OFFERS PSAK-47 AND KS-47 www.palmettostatearmory.com • Booth #4553 Palmetto State Armory just announced its PSAK-47 family of rifles. Chambered in the legendary 7.62x39 caliber, this rifle is assembled on all-new manufactured parts. The high quality 1mm steel receiver serves as the base for this new semiautomatic, and the 4150 melonitetreated barrel is teamed with a melonite-treated bolt for durability and accuracy. The stamped steel components – a single-stage d muzzle brake – have trigger, 800-meter rear sight leaf and a slanted ation, this beauty will run between $749 a black oxide finish. Depending on customization, and $849. mbered in 7.62x39. The 4150 Nitride barrel PSA also has an AR-platform rifle chambered te. The bolt carrier has 8620 chrome is 16 inches long and has a 1-in-10 twist rate. re forged from billet aluminum. There is a lining and the upper and lower receiver are A keymod hand guard. Overall weight? Just 6-position buttstock and a free-float PSA 7.25 pounds.
LAYKE TACTICAL HAS LT10 RIFLE www.layketactical.com Layke Tactical, which is providing a rifle for American Shooting Journal’s epic raffle at the NRA show, has a new LT10 semiauto rifle, chambered in .308 Winchester. It features an 18inch barrel with a Midwest 15-inch free-floating handguard, low-profile midlength gas system, nickel-boron bolt-carrier group and a Beatenzone Ultimate charging handle. The magazine release is from Odin Works, and it has a Magpul Generation 1.1 grip and STR buttstock.
www.PKFirearms.com com
Your Home for AR-15 Parts & Accessories! Specializing in Custom Built Uppers. Daniel Defense, Knights Armament, Noveske, Rock River, Vltor
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Visit Our Online Store and “Like Us” On Facebook! 46
American Shooting Journal // May 2016
RIFLES EMF HAS ITALIAN KRONOS SEMIAUTO CARBINE www.emf-company.com • Booth #5501 For 2016, EMF will be offering the Italian-made Kronos semiauto carbine, chambered for the potent .30-06 Springfield. Built by F.LLI Pietta and imported by EMF, the Kronos has a 20-inch barrel made from 4140 steel. This gas-operated short-travel self loader has an adjustable front sight (both windage and elevation), and a half-hunting rib-rear sight. The overall length is 42 inches, and the stock is varnished walnut with a checkered pistol grip. The weight is about 7.38 to 7.85 pounds and it comes with a three-, four- or 10-round magazine.
PALCO SPORTS OFFERS SWISS ARMS AIR RIFLES www.palcosports.com Based in Minnesota, Palco Sports offers fully licensed airsoft and airguns, and two of their top models are the Tac-1 and TG-1 from Swiss Arms. The company is looking to expand its line in 2016, including but not limited to .177- and .22-caliber break-barrel rifles and .177-caliber CO2 pistols and rifles. The company has also
expanded its marketing department to meet the needs of its customers. On the subject of break-barrel airguns, the Tac-1 is a .177-caliber model with a tactical stock that is complete with a rubber recoil pad and cheek rest. It has a new spring designed for noise reduction and includes a 4x32 Swiss Arms scope. It is available in black or tan.
JERSEY ELITE’S CUSTOM DR15 COMPETITION .223/5.56 PATRIOT FLAG MODEL
ANDERSON MANUFACTURING HAS NEW AR’S IN .308 WINCHESTER www.andersonrifles.com • Booth #5802 Celebrating its 50th year in business, Anderson Rifles is offering a line of EXT forearms that replace the standard upper on a typical AR15 sporting rifle. Known for creating the “no-lube” rifle, Anderson Mfg. said the new EXT forearm is available in four sizes: pistol, measuring 6.83 inches; carbine, stretching 9.4 inches; the
NEW LEGACY EGACY AND HERITAGE HUNTING RIFLES FROM MCMILLAN www.mcmillanfirearms.com • Booth #5447 New from McMillan is the Legacy short-action model built on the G31 platform, in five popular chamberings. Joining it is the Heritage rifle series, in five long-action calibers also built on the G31 platform. The Legacy is chambered in .223 Remington, .243 Winchester, .260 Remington, .308 Winchester and .300 WSM. It features a match-grade stainless-steel barrel with target crown and optional muzzle brake. Barrel lengths are in 22
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American Shooting Journal // May 2016
The TG-1 is a precision rifle with multiposition adjustable cheek rest, adjustable stock (for length of pull) and fiber optic green front sight and red rear adjustable sight. It comes with a 4x40mm scope and is also available in black or tan.
www.jemarms.com midlength at 11.5 inches; and rifle at 15 inches. Interchangeable rails are available, including two-, three-, four-, five- and six-hole sizes, providing a more streamlined appearance. The EXT forearms replace a standard free-float upper and they feature two quick disconnects. Also included in the design is a knurled-steel barrel nut. This makes it easier to align the upper, and requires an Anderson barrel-nut wrench.
or 24 inches, depending upon caliber, and they have different rates of twist. The hinged floorplate is machined aluminum, and the stock options include McMillan fiberglass, XX walnut, standard walnut or nutmeg. The barrel, bolt and action are all finished in black Cerakote. The Heritage model is chambered in 6.5x284 Norma, 7mm Remington Magnum, .284 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield or .300 Winchester Magnum. Barrel lengths depend upon the caliber, as do the rates of twist. The barreled action and bolt are finished in black Cerakote. Stock options include McMillan fiberglass, XX walnut, standard walnut and nutmeg.
Jersey Elite Manufacturing, or JEM, has several unique designs for the AR-15 format, both as a pistol and a rifle and for right- and left-handed shooters. They offer three different calibers, the .223/5.56, 300 Blackout and the 6.8 SPC, and this particular Flag Gun is finished in Cerakote and something they carry as a standard product. Nice! All of their upper and lower receivers in the DR (rifle) and DP (pistol) line are made from 7075 aluminum solid billet, and their hand guards are made from their very own JEM extrusion and are 6061 aluminum. The JEM hand guard is designed for strength and is very lightweight – their 15-incher weighs in at just 9 ounces. Most of their DRs weigh right around 6.6 pounds and are some of the lightest and toughest in their class. The JEM muzzlebrake is stainless steel and finished in a black graphite Cerakote. If you feel that weight matters and you want a striking firearm with an incredible finish, Jersey Elite Manufacturing has just what you are looking for.
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American Shooting Journal // May 2016
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RIFLES BADGER ORDNANCE ANNOUNCING NEW RIFLE www.badgerordnance.com
SHORT ACTION CUSTOMS OFFERS NEW RIFLE AND DT CONVERSION KIT www.shortactioncustoms.com Two new entries are coming from Short Action Customs this year, a new line of rifles and a new Desert Tech conversion kit. The new line of rifles is aimed at the precision rifle shooters. These new entries will be lighter and take advantage of the new products, materials and technology including carbon fiber and Melonite treatment on metal parts. Their signature rifle series uses modern machining practices, metal treatments and materials. Check out the QRF (Quick Reaction Force) rifle. It’s available with barrel lengths
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American Shooting Journal // May 2016
ranging from 16.5 to 18.5 inches. They are threaded and available in .223 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester. The CMR (Competition Match Rifle) was designed from scratch, and the result is a precision instrument. Available in barrel lengths from 22 to 26 inches, the barrels come threaded. Chamberings include 6x47 Lapua, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5x47 Lapua and 6.5 Creedmoor. There’s also a model specifically for law enforcement, with threaded barrels in lengths from 16.5 to 18.5 inches. It features the AI AX folding-chassis system. This company also offers the LER (Long Range/Extended) rifle available with barrel lengths ranging from 24 to 28 inches. Chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum.
Badger Ordnance is creeping back into the rifle business, producing a bolt-action model that is designed to tuck into a bag. Prototypes were in production as this issue went to press, and the rifle will feature a Manners synthetic telescoping stock that can be contracted to produce a 9-inch length of pull. With the push of a button, it can extend 3 inches for a fuller LOP. Initially, this rifle is scheduled to be chambered in .300 AAC Blackout and .308 Winchester. The .300 ASAC will be designed around a Remington Model 7 action, while the .308 Winchester version will be built around a Badger Ordnance action. Barrel length will be 16 inches with a threaded muzzle for a muzzle brake or 14.4 inches with a pinned and welded muzzle brake to meet the 16-inch minimum length requirement under federal law.
STRATEGIC ARMORY CORPS ANNOUNCES NEW PRODUCTS www.sacfirearms.com • Booth #5447 For 2016, Strategic Armory Corps will be offering models from Armalite and McMillan. Wearing the Armalite brand is the M-15 Light Tactical Carbine (LTC), chambered in either 5.56x45mm or 7.62x39mm. This semiauto carbine has a 16-inch cerakoted stainless-steel barrel with a ½-28 thread that is cut with a 1-in-7-inch twist.
RIFLES WINCHESTER CELEBRATES 150 YEARS WITH NEW ENTRIES www.winchester-guns.com • Booth #6355 Winchester is observing its 150th anniversary (1866-2016) with the introduction of five commemorative models. For openers, there’s the Model 1866 Yellow Boy lever-action chambered for the .44-40 Winchester cartridge. It has a custom Grade V/VI walnut straightgrip stock, polished brass receiver with engraving there, as well as the lifter and lever. The rifle is fitted with a deeply blued 24-inch octagonal barrel with gold barrel band and special 150th anniversary script. It is drilled and tapped for an optional tang-mounted rear sight. There are also commemorative Model 1873 and 1894 rifles. The 1873 leveraction has a grade V/VI walnut straight-grip stock and rifle-style forearm with cut checkering and an oil finish. It features deep-relief scroll engraving on the silver nitride-finished receiver sideplates, lifter, dust cover, crescent buttplate and forearm cap. It has a 24-inch octagonal barrel and is chambered in .44-40
Winchester, of course. The Model 1894 has the same embellishments as the 1873, but is chambered in .30-30 Winchester. It’s got a 24-inch octagonal barrel, adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight with Marble Arms gold-bead front sight, and the stock features cut checkering. There’s also a Model 70 bolt-action with pre-64-style controlled-round feeding and claw extraction. It has a high-grade V/VI American black walnut stock with cut checkering and deluxe shadowline cheekpiece and black forend tip. The steel sling swivel studs are recessed. The rifle also features deep relief scroll engraving. The Model 70 has a 24-inch barrel and is chambered in .270 Winchester. Another entry is the XPR Hunter with polymer stock in Mossy Oak BreakUp Country camo. This one is available in calibers ranging from .243 Win. to .338 Win. Magnum. It features an MOA trigger and two-position thumb safety and bolt-release button. The barrel length on short-action models is 22 inches, and 24 inches on standard long-action models. The long-action magnums have 26-inch barrels.
COBALT KINETICS REVOLUTIONIZES THE AR WITH THE B.A.M.F. EDGE www.cobaltkinetics.com • Booth #2307 Wicked is the first thing that comes to mind when we see the B.A.M.F. (billet aluminum modern firearm) Edge. Among the many features of this tactical beast is the array of ambidextrous controls to include the charging handle, safety selector, mag release and threaded pins. It comes in .223 Wylde and barrel length options of 16 or 18 inches. The upper and lower receivers are made from precision machined 7075 billet aluminum – hence the name – and come as mated pairs with beveled mag wells and a detachable trigger guard. There are some other nice touches as well that go into the ergonomics of this gun. You simply have to feel it to understand. The gas system is an adjustable low-profile block and this rifle comes standard with a free-floating M-lok handguard and a Hogue overmolded grip. That is a lot of upgrades for just $2,995.
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American Shooting Journal // May 2016
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RIFLES
CZ-USE SPOTLIGHTS 805 BREN CARBINE, E, SEMIAUTO .22 RIFLES FOR 2016 www.cz-usa.com • Booth #2759 CZ-USA’s 805 Bren short-stroke, piston-driven carbine is chambered in .223/5.56x45 and has a 16.2-inch barrel that offers a two-port compensating muzzle brake. This sweet piece is known for being a very smooth-running gun with little recoil and a gentle impulse. The stock folds and is adjustable when extended and, just to make things simple, it uses standard AR-15 magazines. For the gear fanatics out there, there is a Picatinny rail that runs the length of the top of the rifle, one on each side and yet another on the bottom for good measure making the possibilities limited by only your imagination. This carbine comes fully packaged and ready to go for $1,999. Bolt-action rimfires and centerfires, and a couple of semiauto .22-caliber rifles from CZ-USA are also in the spotlight this year. The Precision Trainer comes in two versions, one with a 16.5-inch barrel and the other with a varmint taper 24-inch barrel. Both are threaded for
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American Shooting Journal // May 2016
suppressors. Chambered for .22 LR, they also sport Manners composite stocks. The Model 455 Varmint Evolution has a radically-designed radically designed wood-laminate dl stock t k iin sky blue/gray or pink. It carries a five-round magazine and has a full free-float barrel. The Model 512 Carbine is a semiauto with a black beechwood stock and blue metal finish, featuring a fiberglass-reinforced polymer lower. The Model 512 American is also a semiauto, and has a natural beechwood stock and smooth barrel. Both are available in either .22 LR or .22 Magnum. Three centerfire models offered are all variations of the Model 557. The Short-Action sporter is chambered for .308 Winchester. It has a Turkish walnut stock with a recoil pad and blued smooth cold-hammer-forged barrel. The Model 557 Varmint rifle has a walnut stock with palm swell and lasercut stippling, also chambered in .308 Winchester. The Urban Counter Sniper has a 16-inch barrel, oversized bolt handle, and two forward QD sling swivel studs so a bipod may be mounted to the carbonfiber composite Manners stock. It has a three-prong flash suppressor.
RIFLE GALLERY Davidson’s Gallery Of Guns – Tavor SAR-B16 Ideal game: Caliber: Barrel: Overall length: Weight: Magazine capacity: Twist rate: Barrel: Stock: Scope mount: MSRP:
Small to medium game .223 16.5 inches 26.125 inches 7.9 pounds 30 + 1 1 in 7 Cold hammer-forged CrMoV Polymer bullpup Mil-spec Picatinny $2,439.50
GalleryOfGuns.com
Layke Tactical – LT10 Ideal game: Caliber: Barrel length: Overall length: Weight: Magazine capacity: Twist rate: Barrel: Stock: Scope mount: MSRP:
Elk .308/7.62x51mm 18 inches 36 to 39 inches 8.4 pounds 5 to 25+1 1 in 10 Layke Tactical 4140 nitride Composite Picatinny $1,599 to $2,000
LaykeTactical.com
Jersey Elite MFG – DR15 Ideal game: Caliber: Barrel length: Overall length: Weight: Magazine capacity: Twist rate: Barrel: Stock: Scope mount: MSRP:
Small game and varmints .223/5.56mm 16 inches (options available) Variable 6.65 pounds 30 1 in 7 4140 carbon steel Composite Picatinny $1,569 (.300 Blackout and 6.8 SPC available)
JEMArms.com
Cobalt Kinetics – B.A.M.F. Edge Ideal game: Caliber: Barrel length: Overall length: Weight: Magazine capacity: Twist rate: Barrel: Stock: Scope mount: MSRP:
Midsized game .223 or 5.56mm 16 or 18 inches Variable 7.13 pounds 30 1 in 8 Faxon (.223 Wylde) e) Composite Picatinny $2,995
Legendary Arms – Bobcat Ideal game: Caliber: Barrel length: Overall length: Weight: Magazine capacity: Twist rate: Barrel: Stock: Scope mount: MSRP:
North American bigg game Various 20 inches 38.5 inches Approximately 6.6 pounds d (caliber dependent) 5+1 rounds Caliber dependent #4 contour stainless-steel, fluted and threaded Legendary Arms Works handlaid fiberglass Two-piece Picatinny $1,959
CobaltKinetics.com
LegendaryArmsworks.com
Centurion Arms – CM4 Ideal game: Caliber: Barrel length: Overall length: Weight: Magazine capacity: Twist rate: Barrel: Stock: Scope mount: MSRP:
Small varmint and enemies foreign and domestic Multi or 5.56 10.5 up to 16.1 Variable Variable 10, 20, 30 and 40 1 in 7 N/A Composite Picatinny $1,500
CenturionArms.com
Double D – SST Ideal game: Caliber: Barrel length: Overall length: Weight: Magazine capacity: Twist rate: Barrel: Stock: Scope mount: MSRP:
Varmint, defensive .223/5.56mm 16 inches 32.75 inches 6.3 ounces 30 1 in 7 Double D Armory, CrMoV, Pencil Contour (Sub MOA) Adjustable Picatinny $1,949
DDArmory.com
RIFLE GALLERY Deguns – S&W M&P 15 Sport II Ideal game: Caliber: Barrel length: Length of pull: Weight: Magazine capacity: Twist rate: Barrel: Stock: Scope mount: MSRP:
Midsized game 5.56mm 16 inches Adjustable Variable 30-round PMAG 1 in 9 / six-groove M&P15 Sport Composite Picatinny $739
Deguns.net
Best Of The West – Hunter Elite Ideal game: Caliber: Barrel length: Overall length: Weight: Magazine capacity: Twist rate: Barrel: Stock: Scope mount: MSRP:
Deer, elk, moose 7mm Rem. Mag 26 inches 46.375 inches 9.75 pounds (scoped) 3+1 1 in 9 Stainless-steel Wilson Arms #4 Composite Talley Rings Huskemaw Blue Diamond (upgrade available) $3,995.99 with 3-12X42 Huskemaw Blue Diamond scope
LongRangeStore.com
RTD MFT – RT-10 SAPR Ideal game: Caliber: Barrel length: Length of pull: Weight: Magazine capacity: Twist rate: Barrel: Stock: Scope mount: MSRP:
Deer, elk, moose, wild boar .308 Winchester 20 inches Variable 9 pounds, 9 ounces 5, 10 or 20 - PMAG 1 in 10 RTD Match stainless steel Composite - LUTH AR MB1 Picatinny $2,295
RTDArms.com
Rise Armament – RA-327 X2 Rifle Ideal game: Caliber: Barrel length: Overall length: Weight: Magazine capacity: Twist rate: Barrel: Stock material: Scope mount: MSRP:
Predator or competition shooting .223 Wylde 14.5 inches (16 inches with compensator) 34 inches (buttstock closed) 8 pounds 30 1 in 7 RISE Armament 416 stainless steel with RA-701 compensator Composite Picatinny $1,973
RiseArmament.com
Volquartsen – VM-22 Ideal game: Caliber: Barrel length: Overall length: Weight: Magazine capacity: Twist rate: Barrel: Stock material: Scope mount: MSRP:
Small game .22LR 18.375 inches 37 inches 5.4 pounds 10 1 in 16 Lightweight THM carbon-fiber tension in .920-inch bull-barrel diameter Composite Integral Picatinny $1,295
Volquartsen.com
Noveske RifleWorks – N6 Gen III Ideal game: Caliber: Barrel: Overall length: Weight: Magazine capacity: Twist rate: Barrel: Stock: Scope mount: MSRP:
Medium to large game 7.62x51mm 16.1 inches 35 inches 8 pounds 5 to 25 1 in 10 polygonal Noveske stainless-steel medium profile Composite Picatinny $3,400 to $4,000
Noveske.com
Palmetto State Armory – KS-47 Ideal game: Caliber: Barrel length: Overall length: Weight: Magazine capacity: Twist rate: Barrel: Stock: Scope mount: MSRP:
Small game 7.62x39mm 16 inches 33 inches 7 pounds 30 1 in 10 Chromoly vanadium 4150 nitride-treated ride-treated Polymer Picatinny $999.99
PalmettoStateArmory.com
Craig Morgan is many things – husband, father, singer-songwriter, true patriot who has served in the military and continues to support the armed forces, and a hunter.
Center Stage With Craig Morgan, A Man Of Many, Many Talents STORY BY TROY TAYSOM * PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF OUTDOOR CHANNEL
oldier, paratrooper, air assaulter, deputy sheriff, singer, songwriter, EMT, TV show personality – this might sound like the opening line on a job-fair poster, but the truth is that one man has done all of these jobs at one time or another, and continues to do most of them. Did I forget to include father, husband, member of the Grand Ole Opry and a regular performer with the United Service Organization? Indeed, Craig Morgan is a man of many talents, and all of his accolades have come from hard work. Looking at Morgan’s schedule, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had somehow invented a time machine or a way to clone himself in order to keep up with the crazy life he lives. But when you are doing what you love, it never really feels like work – right? are a dime a dozen today, especially with all the reality-based singing shows. Many of the artists are just flashes in the pan. Staying power is the key to the music business – to any entertainment business, really. Staying relevant is the most difficult part of keeping in the public spotlight. Life for Morgan is no different. It is a fight to remain relevant in the country-music scene. Television can seem worse as consumers are bombarded with entertainment options, and the only way to get and keep loyal fans is to continue producing fresh and exciting products that speak to them. Morgan has figured out a winning formula for he and his fans, and this talent has kept him in the limelight since he first entered the music scene back in his Army days. with the 82nd Airborne Division and later a member of the 101st Airborne/Air Assault Division, he amassed more than 800 jumps, including combat jumps. If you’re not familiar with the Army, that’s a lot of jumps! Morgan knows the lonely, miserable
feeling of being far from home in a hostile atmosphere. At one point, while serving, he entered and won multiple singing competitions, which gave him the confidence to continue. After 10½ years in active duty, Morgan came back home to Tennessee and dedicated himself to a music career, while still continuing to serve by joining the Army Reserve until 2004. His music career didn’t occur by happenstance. Born in central Tennessee in 1964, his father was a bassist and Morgan was introduced to many of country music’s royalty as a child, including George Jones and Tammy Wynette. He even sang the National Anthem at age 10 with Minnie Pearl in the audience. The way the story goes, Miss Pearl told Morgan, “Son, someday you’re gonna be famous.” Miss Pearl was correct. In 2008 Craig joined the iconic country music institution, The Grand Ole Opry – with Miss Minnie Pearl by his side. An invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry is a high honor for any country music artist. Morgan hasn’t forgotten his roots, nor his time in the Army. He regularly entertains service members around the world on USO tours – in fact, he was on one as I wrote this article. Although his tour location is a secret, due to security concerns, he has performed multiple times in Southwest Asia over the past decade, bringing joy, entertainment, comedy and relief to young men and women risking their lives thousands of miles from home. is simply not in Morgan’s DNA. Speaking to him was like talking to an old friend. Sure, he’s a busy man these days, what with a new album getting ready to launch, the seventh season of his hit TV show Craig Morgan’s All Access Outdoors airing in on Outdoor Channel in July, a couple of kids in college and a wife, Karen, of 25 years, but I never felt
like I was burdening him for his time. He has a guy-nextdoor vibe about him – approachable and kind. He’s also a jokester. His cable hunting series is as much a comedy as it is an adventure. Let me give you folks a piece of advice: If you are on a plane and you see someone who looks like Craig Moran – don’t fall asleep! If you do, you will make it onto his Twitter and Facebook accounts as #SOP – sleepers on the plane. His tweets include selfies with snoozing passengers in the background. He takes great joy in catching his fellow sojourners napping. You’ve been warned! Morgan has had many hits over his career such as: “Redneck Yacht Club;” “International Harvester;” “Bonfire;” and “That’s What I Love about Sunday” – a hit that stayed number one on country music billboards for four weeks and was ultimately declared the number one hit of 2005. Morgan just keeps evolving with every album. A single from his new, yet to be named or released album is out now. “When I’m Gone” is fantastic and has a more emotional yearning to it than some of his previous work. I was fortunate enough to hear the entire album, and in this writer’s opinion, “When I’m Gone” will be big, but the best cut is titled “A Whole Lot More To Me.” The song speaks to Morgan’s multidimensional life. I asked Morgan is expand on this a bit more. “We’ve been stereotyped as rednecks, but it’s our own fault – we are to blame. With this song, I wanted people to see a different side to country music. We can like the finer things in life and still be country. The two aren’t mutually exclusive.” the only activity taking up Morgan’s time these days. He has been and is still filming episodes for his show on Outdoor Channel. The show is part reality, part comedy and a whole lot of outdoors. Unlike many outdoor shows, Morgan isn’t about finding the biggest buck on a hunt, but about having fun while being with his family and friends, all while encouraging his viewers to get outside too. In 2015, his show won the coveted Golden Moose Award for best comedy. Morgan is a seasoned outdoorsman and his show is proof positive of his interests. Season seven (beginning in July) promises to be even more adventurous and is geared towards everyone who enjoys the outdoors, country music and fun – it’s not just for hunters. In one of the many upcoming episodes, the show supports Billy’s Place, an organization that caters to griefstricken children and children in crisis and was named after Morgan’s father-in-law, and highlights Billy’s Place 5K Run, Billy’s Place golf tournament and music fest. Craig saw the need for activities like during his time as a deputy sheriff – yes, one of his many facets. Other adventures you will see include Morgan using various Hoyt compound bows while hunting deer in Illinois and Kentucky and big elk in the enchanted state of New Mexico, and a visit to the Remington ammunition plant, where I hope he will ask what happened to the .22LR ammunition! More bowhunting
He may look deadly serious, but Morgan is a comedian at heart and never misses an opportunity to laugh and help others see the humor in the world. His show, Craig Morgan’s All Access Outdoors, won the Outdoor Channel’s Golden Moose award in 2015 for best comedy.
Morgan served in the military for over 10 years, including as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division and later as a member of the 101st Airborne/Air Assault Division. He made more than 800 jumps in his career. (MORGAN FAMILY)
in Ohio and Texas and then off to Nebraska for mule deer – the best kind, as far as this Utah writer is concerned. There is some Florida hog hunting, showing that there is more to the Sunshine State than beaches and bikinis, and then all the way up to Canada for black bear. There are even turkey and goat hunts along the way. These are just some of the adventures. to hunt Vancouver bulls, as well as goats and turkeys. Yes, you read that correctly, Vancouver bulls. You know, cows, but wild. The history behind this is interesting. Captain Vancouver gave King Kamehameha a herd of cattle as a gift. The cattle were killed and eaten rather quickly, wiping out the herd. So the captain gave the king another group, smaller this time, and
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told him to let the herd grow so he could provide his people with a food supply for a long time. That was over 300 years ago, and now the islands have a wild cattle problem. Initially, the king issued an order forbidding the killing of the animals, and the herd grew quickly. But what do cattle do if unmanaged? Raze crops and hurt people. An organized hunt was commissioned years later, which thinned the herd, but deep in the jungle, these nonnative animals continue to damage an already stressed ecosystem, thus the hunt. The hunt isn’t easy either. To get to these bulls, one must walk through steep terrain and thick jungle just to find them. Morgan’s international travels also take him to New Zealand for tahr. Similar to a mountain goat, hunting these
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Even after his active-duty military career ended, Morgan served in the reserves and continues to perform and volunteer for the United Service Organization, or USO, events worldwide.
Himalayn transplants is very difficult due to the terrain and strong winds that blow where these creatures live. then tune in for Morgan’s motorcycle racing episode in Indiana and his day at the dirt track racing in Missouri. He’s also headed for the Bahamas on a world-class fishing trip, doing his best Ernest Hemingway impression by catching the big ones. And what would a season of CMAAO be without music?
Craig will be performing in Iowa and Kansas and parts of these shows will be aired during the season. Craig will also be teaming up with Bass Pro Shops and JP Morris for a cast-and-blast turkey hunt, and will, of course, be participating again this year in the Annual Opry Hunt. This hunt features legends in the country music world out hunting together. In the past the Opry Hunt has been for duck, but rumor has it that this year it’s a rifle hunt – what could they be hunting? You’ve got to tune in to find out!
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Craig Morgan seems to have two speeds – full speed or asleep. When he’s not traveling the world entertaining the troops with the USO, he is performing concerts, recording a new album, going on adventures for his Outdoor Channel show, working with Exodus Road to try and stop human trafficking overseas, volunteering with his local sheriff’s office and spending time with his wife and kids. The old saying is true, “If you want something done, ask a busy man.” Somehow Morgan is able to fit more into his 24-hour day than any other human I’ve met. and check out Morgan’s new shows on the Outdoor Channel starting this summer and watch for his new album to be released sometime in mid-2016. I’ve listened to every song multiple times and can say that as a country music fan, I love this album. His new music doesn’t pigeonhole him as the Bakersfield or Nashville sound. To my untrained ear, he is mixing these polar opposite sounds to create a unique and distinctly Morgan sound. We throw the term “hero” around a lot. Sports stars, music stars, reality TV stars are being sold to us as heroes. A true hero is someone who can be depended on to do what’s best for those around him or her. A true hero doesn’t calculate risk to life or reputation and they never make decisions based on what’s politically correct. A hero sees what needs to be done and simply does it. Craig Morgan’s life has been lived in this exact manner. Is he a hero? He is to me. An avid hunter, Morgan travels the world for game, and his Outdoor Channel TV show, Craig Morgan’s All Access Outdoors, launches its seventh season this July. An episode will take he and son Jerry to Hawai’i, where they hunt goats. (Bottom) If nothing else, Morgan understands the true meaning of family. (MOLLIE COCHRANE, INSET)
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BEHIND THE BADGE
GUARDIANS OF THE AIR FORCE PART II OF II
‘Sky Cops’ Protect Bases, Bombers, Missile Fields, And Take On New Roles STORY BY TROY TAYSOM
In addition to guarding U.S. Air Force missile fields, “Sky Cops” also protect the nation’s bomber fleet. Here, Airman 1st Class Arlando Budd, assigned to the 509th Security Forces Squadron, provides security near a B-2 Spirit at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (SENIOR AIRMAN NICK WILSON, USAF)
Editor’s note: Part I in this series last issue covered the U.S. Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations. he United States Air Force is a unique service for a multitude of reasons. It was the first branch of the service to allow women into combat roles (security police) and has an entire career field dedicated to protecting air bases, aircraft, Air Force personnel and nuclear weapons. All of the other services require individual units to provide security for themselves, i.e. an Army aviation unit’s members, including her mechanics, are armed and trained as riflemen. In the Air Force, only one group is trained in the art of Air Base Ground Defense (ABGD). Chuck Norris started his martial arts training when he was an air policeman in Korea. Besides Norris, the “Sky Cops” have a storied past full of unsung heroes, hard-fought battles and the distinction that not a single air base was ever overrun during the Vietnam War – and not for lack of trying on the North Vietnamese’s part either. It has taken nearly 70 years for this career field to gain its true identity. Here is that story.
T
POST WORLD WAR II In 1947 when the Air Force was officially separated from the
Army, the need to protect not only the aircraft but now a cache of nuclear weapons became paramount. The old-time bomber pilot and commander Curtis LeMay saw the need for a unit to function like the infantry, but on Air Force bases. These airmen needed to be versed in the use of small arms, crew-served weapons, and squad- (fire team in the Air Force), platoon- (called a flight) and company- (called a squadron) level tactics. These units needed to be highly specialized in the deterrence and detection of unauthorized people or groups attempting to access a base (especially ones with nuclear missions) or missile field. The Strategic Air Command led the way in developing their APs into highly trained soldier airmen, known unofficially as “SAC Trained Killers.” During the Korean War, very few air bases came under attack. The APs were basically law enforcement on the base and guarded aircraft. No tactical plans had been implemented, let alone training for a base attack. The Air Force was lucky, but their luck would be tested mightily in the next go-around. The SAC model wasn’t followed by units in Korea, as the nuclear weapons were kept stateside. americanshootingjournal.com 71
BEHIND THE BADGE VIETNAM As the Vietnam War ramped up in the 1960s, so did the need for the Air Force’s presence in and around America’s ally in Southeast Asia. The U.S. focused most of its air bases in South Vietnam and Thailand, with others further away in places like Guam and the Philippines. Those bases located on the mainland endured the greatest risk of attack, as they sat close to enemy forces. Amazingly enough, few of the Air Force bases came under attack in the beginning years of the war. The tactics and mindset were still very Korean WarAir police, security police, security forces – the protectors of our country’s air bases and overseas assets have had several names, but the job they’ve done has never wavered. (TROY TAYSOM)
oriented. Many APs arrived at bases in Southeast Asia to find no weapons had been sent for them to use. Other bases had WWII leftovers – Browning Automatic Rifles (BARs), .30-caliber Browning machineguns, grease guns, Colt .45 ACP 1911s and M1 Carbines. I spoke with Senior Master Sergeant Pete Piazza (retired) at length about what the Sky Cops (as they were lovingly dubbed) endured from 1966-72. Piazza served three tours of duty in Vietnam as an AP and then as a SP. He witnessed firsthand the Air Force go from no real idea of how to defend a base to being awarded the Silver Star for his actions at Bien Hoa Air Base on Jan. 31, 1968, during the Tet Offensive. Piazza took charge of his bunker when his leader, Capt. Maisey, was killed by a rocket. A staff sergeant at the time, he spent the next eight hours running through heavy machinegun fire, rockets and sniper fire to keep his men fully supplied with much-needed ammunition and water. Piazza was quick to educate me on a couple of little known facts. “Ninety percent of the SPs that were at Air Force bases when Tet started had never seen combat,” he told me. He also said something that intrigued me: “The Air Force 72
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was the only branch of the service that didn’t have one of their bases overrun by the enemy.” Why was that? Men just like Piazza. But ask him and he’ll say, “I was just doing what everybody else was doing.” While humility is the true sign of a hero, I will have to disagree with Pete on this one. Silver Stars aren’t just handed out, especially to enlisted USAF airmen. Undoubtedly, there were others who performed as bravely as Piazza did on that January day so long ago. I can’t possibly find and speak to them all; some, including his direct supervisor, Capt. Maisey, were killed on that day and in the days to come as Tet raged on. Piazza certainly wasn’t part of any “chair force.” He was every bit an infantryman that day as Audie Murphy and Chesty Puller. Ask any soldier and he or she will tell you: Whoever owns the night has the advantage. The SPs were some of the first units in the Vietnam War to receive ANTVS-2 scopes, nicknamed “Starlight” because of their use of ambient star and moon light. These scopes were some of the first real attempts at night vision and changed the face of war forever. The riflemounted scope gave the user night vision out to 400 meters, while a crew-served weapons version, the ANPVS-4, worked out to 1,000, and an off-weapon version, the ANPVS-5, allowed sight out to 1,500 meters. For those airmen who had them, night shifts became a little less nerve racking. One asset was in great supply, and gave the SPs another advantage at night – military working dogs, MWDs or K9s. The Sky Cops would walk the perimeter at night with their dogs. The SPs couldn’t see any better just because they had a dog, but the dogs could sense the presence of intruders, and on more than one occasion they stopped enemy sappers before they had the chance to breach the perimeter fence. For whatever reason, the Viet Cong also had a healthy fear of these K9s and kept their distance as word spread of their presence on the air bases. At the height of the K9 program, in January 1967, there were 476 dogs deployed. The dog handlers carried a special version of the M16, called the GAU-5/A. It was shorter and allowed the handler to control the dog and fire the rifle one-handed if needed. It wasn’t until after Tet that the Air Force wrote its first definitive, battle-tested, air-base ground defense manual to be used in the years ahead – especially during the Cold War. THE MAYAGUEZ INCIDENT On May 12, 1975, Cambodian naval ships captured the S.S. Mayaguez, a U.S. merchant marine ship, in international waters. Negotiations broke down and a rescue mission was planned. The closest unit with combat experience was the 56th Security Police Squadron stationed at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. After the CH-53 Knife helicopters plus some HH-53 choppers left the base, Knife 13 disappeared from radar 40 miles out. It is widely thought that mechanical issues caused the crash. All 18 security policemen and four crew members and a linguist died.
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BEHIND THE BADGE Moments before take-off, a picture of the ill-fated Sky Cops in Knife 13 was taken. Thirty minutes later all 23 passengers were dead. The image leaves a haunting legacy of sacrifice and how short life can be in a combat zone. COLD WAR As the Cold War heated up, America’s nuclear arsenal followed suit. Most nuclear assets came under the purview of the USAF, and more specifically SAC. SAC was the brain child of LeMay and was arguably the best run major command in the Air Force. SAC operated bases for bombers capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as bases that The USAF was the first branch of the military to deploy female snipers and has since trained multiple women in this role. (USAF)
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supported missile field operations. These wings were subject to remarkably stringent inspections, the failure of which would result in the firing of the senior staff of the wing. The SPs were responsible for several missions on SAC bases: the protection of the weapons storage areas, where the nukes were stored; and the physical guarding of the B-52s and KC-135s, air refuelers, that were on “alert.” Being on alert required the aircrews to live in a special facility next to the aircraft. At the sound of the klaxon, the crews rushed to their aircraft and were ready for take-off to top secret destinations. The SPs guarded all of these locations, day and night, 24/7/365. At places like Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, guard duty tested one’s desire to be a cop. Missile fields also demanded the attention of the SPs. These fields were vast and remote. Cops worked seven days straight, often living out of campers attached to the back of pick-up trucks. The missile fields weren’t located in tropical locales either. They were spread across states like Montana, Kansas, Wyoming and South Dakota. Working conditions for the cops were less than ideal; in fact, at times the conditions resembled the Arctic Circle more than the continental United States. But defend these locations the SPs did, and to this day, still do. In 1997 security police career fields of law enforcement and security specialist were merged into one field and renamed Security Forces. This change gave the cops more
BEHIND THE BADGE flexibility in manning assignments, as well as providing cross training. MODERN-DAY WAR ON TERROR The USAF’s modern-day Security Forces function even more like infantry units than the cops in the past. They have all the weapons of the infantry – the M240, M249B, M4, M9, M203, 81mm mortars and M24 sniper systems. They are the first service to deploy female snipers and have now trained multiple women in this role. The Air Force’s cops continue to become a “high speed, low drag” group. They have a squadron that is airbornequalified, stationed in Georgia. This group of cops even made a combat jump with the Army into Iraq. Air Mobility
Command has also developed a group called the Ravens. In this group of Security Forces, airmen accompany aircraft into dangerous regions of the world where there is no onground security for the aircraft. These men and women travel the world providing security for these USAF assets. Other major commands have similar. The Air Force continues to change with the times. It just so happens that the “Sky Cops” are leading the way when it comes to installation, asset, nuclear and personnel security. The lessons learned in the Jungles of Vietnam and Thailand, as well as the lessons of the Cold War in Europe and the frozen missile fields and bomber facilities of America are the foundation under which the new generation of Sky Cops continue to grow and evolve.
BEAT STORY: STICK ’EM UP BY ANONYMOUS In March of 1972 I was stationed at Westover Air Force Base, Mass. A fellow Office of Special Investigations agent and I were getting ready to do several buy/busts that night. At the time we weren’t allowed to keep our firearms with us. Policy dictated that we wait for Security Police to be in the vicinity waiting for the signal that the buy had happened, as theirs was the job of being the armed personnel at the bust, as well as prisoner transportation. The informant was in the car with us when the buy took place and we were getting the signal to move in, but the Security Police were nowhere to be found. We moved in anyway to prevent the dealer from getting away. We approached the car and we informed him that he was under arrest. Not wanting to be taken lightly, my partner put his hand in his coat pocket – making a finger gun in his pocket so the dealer would get the impression that we were armed. Since we still had to wait for Security Police to transport the dealer we had to handcuff him to the steering wheel of his car to prevent him from leaving. Oh, how times have changed!
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Optics/Sights MONSTERS COME INTO FOCUS WITH LEUPOLD’S NEW TWILIGHT MAX LIGHT SYSTEM www.leupold.com • Booth #4214 Leupold has outdone themselves with their new Twilight Max Light Management System. What does that mean? Let’s just start off with the power range: 1.5-5x all the way to 8.5-25x – that’s crazy! And with the dual spring ¼-minute-of-angle fingerclick adjustment system that ensures matchgrade repeatability and strength, this scope has us hooked. The new system also offers more light transmission. Leupold has integrated a triplet-lens
system and some space-age coating that helps transmit more of the entire visual spectrum. Think high definition through your scope. They added blackened-edge lenses and internal mechanisms that remove stray light, which would degrade your sight picture, and they purge all of the oxygen from their scopes and replace it with argon/krypton gas which helps resist thermal shock, making it 100-percent
fog- and waterproof, and, most importantly, keeps Superman away. OK, maybe not, but to top off Leupold’s newest release, they’ve optimized the contrast. This makes it seem as though your prize game is standing out from even the deepest of shadows. Just be careful what you spy through this new VX-3I scope – the monsters have nowhere left to hide.
BURRIS HAS GONE M.A.D. www.burrisoptics.com • Booth #5139 Burris Optics has developed the Modular Adjustment Dial (M.A.D.) system, that offers shooting enthusiasts siasts the option to have an exposed or capped knob for both windage and elevation adjustments. Get this – in any combination they desire. This new design also allows custom knobs to be added to the riflescope to perfectly match the trajectory of any ammunition. Zero-click-stop functionality is standard with the M.A.D. system, and lets the shooter easily revert back to the original zero setting without counting clicks – major time saver. Currently, the knob styles that are available in the M.A.D. system are mil- or MOA-marked capped knobs (low and tall options available), mil or MOA exposed knobs (low, single-turn and tall multi-turn available) and custom-lasered capped or exposed knobs. Also worth noting, all the optic modules that accept the M.A.D. system ship standard with an elevation mil or MOA capped, exposed and windage covered knobs. As for the complexity of changing your system, worry not. These knobs can be easily changed with a hex key. Updated technology with an easy transition.
VORTEX REDESIGNS DIAMONDBACK BINOS www.vortexoptics.com • Booth #5738 Vortex Optics redesigned their Diamondback Binoculars for 2016. These binos not only boast a new look and feel, they offer multiple upgrades designed around hunters who have voiced their preferences. Out of the box, you will notice a short hinge that allows more room for your hands and rubber-armored housing with diamond checkering. Among the changes are an all-new optical system with enhanced, dielectric, fully multicoated lenses that serve up stunning views and impressive low-light performance – critical attributes when working to glass up and evaluate game – and an ultrawide field of view. The value of this alone should be evident. Our favorite tweak might be that the Vortex binos offer multiposition twist-up eyecups that are super comfortable, not to mention they guarantee proper eye relief. They’re available in multiple size options: 12x50mm, 10x50mm, 10x42mm, 8x42mm, 10x32mm, 8x32mm, 10x28mm and 8x28mm. And when it comes time to down game spotted through those Diamondback binocs, rifle hunters and shooters who are looking for a lightweight, optically superior riflescope that tracks true will find their match with the Razor HD LH. Complete with all the attributes you would expect from a high-end scope, such as being made from a solid block of aircraft-grade aluminum and type III hard-anodized exterior, these scopes also come standard with high-density, extra-low dispersion glass, an APO apochromatic lens system, XR Plus premium multicoated lenses, tack-sharp resolution from edge to edge and, for an added bonus, ArmorTek on both exterior lenses. All of these attributes combined in one scope delivers stunning image quality. The super clean HSR-4 BDC and G4-BDC reticles are optimal for target acquisition and pinpoint accuracy, and Vortex’s argon-gas purging system prevents internal fogging over a wide range of temperatures. What more could you want from one scope? We know – an ultraforgiving eyebox. Consider it done because that’s in there too. Available sizes include: 1.5-8x32mm, 2-10x40mm and 3-15x42mm. americanshootingjournal.com 79
optics/sights TAKE A CLEAR SHOT IN THE DARK WITH ADVANTAGE TACTICAL SIGHT www.advantagetactical.com • Booth #4257 Make a shot in the dark at distance with just an illuminated front sight? You can do it with Advantage Tactical’s Dark Diamond sight. What is so clever about this set-up is that their Firefly front sight is clear in the daytime as well as at night and creates a perfect visual diamond, so there is clear feedback when you are on target and it’s perfect for close-up shots up to 25 yards. A great solution for getting up close and personal in low-light situations.
STEINER ADDS HX BINOCULAR, MINISCOPE www.steiner-optics.com • Booth #5139 Steiner’s new HX binoculars feature a new design and four model options, all built for serious hunters. These roof-prism binoculars are offered in 8x42mm, 10x42mm, 10x56mm and 15x56mm. They feature Fast-Close focus with a central focus wheel and ergonomic eyecups. They produce a bright, clear image that is sharp from edge to edge, thanks to new lens coatings. The 15x56mm model is Steiner’s most powerful hunting binocular, and it brings distant targets up close for careful scrutiny before making a stalk or pressing a trigger. In mid-2015, Steiner announced their new Miniscope, sized to fold up and fit in a pocket. This 8x22 hand-held model has high-contrast lens coatings and delivers a sharp image. Hitting the scale at a scant 2.8 ounces, the scope measures only 2 inches by 2 inches and it comes with a carrying case that fits on a belt.
NIGHTFORCE OPTICS ANNOUNCES THEIR SHV FIRST-FOCAL-PLANE RETICLE TECHNOLOGY www.nightforceoptics.com • Booth #4939 The new SHV 4-14x50 F1 riflescope features intelligent reticles that allow the user to preselect an illumination level appropriate rve rrv vvee for lighting conditions, turn it off to preserve battery power, then restore it instantly w with ith itith th ents en a one-click rotation of the dial. This prevents having to cycle through multiple brightness settings. The 4-14x50 includes side parallax adjustment and offers windage/elevation adjustments in .25 minute of angle or .1 milradian increments. This SHV has an exposed elevation turret, which offers a positive return to zeroo regardless of how many elevation adjustments nts ts have been made. The windage adjustment is capped for protection, but the cap can be removed for full and constant exposure. This optic can adjust to 90 MOA of elevation and 70 MOA of windage – all within its 30mm tube. Retailing at just $1,290, you would be hardpressed to beat this quality and perks for this price anywhere else.
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SWAROVSKI’S NEW X5(I) RIFLESCOPES ARE WINNERS!
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nyone who has ever settled their crosshairs on a big buck, bull, fullcurl ram or pronghorn knows the importance of being able to trust your optics at the moment of truth. That’s never been a problem with any riflescope wearing the Swarovski Optik label, and it isn’t likely to happen with the new X5(i), developed primarily for long-range shooters and with an all-new design that includes an illuminated reticle featuring 10 different brightness settings. Folks who get the most out of hunting the transition periods, which are those twilight periods at dawn and dusk when the wily mature animals come out of the shadows, will appreciate the illuminated reticle, and this new scope features newly designed turrets that allow a hunter or shooter to make 20 MOA adjustments per revolution, in ¼-MOA increments. There are, according to Swarovski, up to 116 MOA elevation adjustments inside the scope’s 30mm tube. How important is that? Plenty, for someone who is trying to make a precision shot at long range. Try that sometime when everything — the months of planning, the travel and expense, the time at the shooting bench and maybe even at the reloading bench — hinges on one wellplaced shot.
Z8i Anyone who has ever done this knows what we’re talking about. This year there are two scopes in the line, a 3.5-18x50mm and a 5-25x56mm. Those big objectives pull in every bit of available light possible. There’s also a 5-25x56mm that adjusts at 1/8-MOA. The elevation, windage and parallax turrets, and the inversion system, are all constructed with stainless-steel components, so they’ll stand up to rigorous use in even rotten environments. Beyond that, the X5 design features a subzero function that allows a hunter to fire at
game that suddenly appears at closer range if the zero is set at a longer distance. The shooter can come down 10 MOA (or 40 clicks) from a preset zero and press the trigger. Second-focal-plane long-range reticles are offered in 1 or 2 MOA increments in the X5(i) models, according to Swarovski. Meanwhile, you might also want to check out the Swarovski STR80 spotting scope, a very good companion piece to the new riflescope. Those looking for real trophies will appreciate the illuminated reticle (either MOA or MRAD) with 15 brightness settings. That includes 10 day levels and five night levels. Swarovski designed this scope to work with existing eyepieces, so the 20-60X and the 2550XW wide angle will both work. In addition, it is adaptable for use with an SLR camera, making for a very powerful telephoto lens! The scope has an HD optical system and the lenses have all three of Swarovski’s proprietary specialty coatings: Swarotop, Swarodur and Swaroclean. What’s the value of this? A memorable hunt that ends with a notched tag, an impressive rack and freezer full of meat, that’s the value. SWAROVSKI OPTIK ALSO presents the new Z8i rifle scope. The Z8i rifle scope completely redefines performance with its 8x zoom and an outstanding optical system which offers rapid target acquisition. The 8x zoom combines a large field of view with high level of detail accuracy offering optimum detail recognition. The new rifle scope impresses with its high magnification ranges and uncompromising image definition across the whole field of view. Swarovski Optik will offer the Z8i in four different models; Z8i 1-8x24, Z8i 1.7-13.3x42 P, Z8i 2-16x50 P, and Z8i 2.3-18x56 P.
X5i
Within the Z8i rifle scope Swarovski Optik introduces the first switchable reticle, called the Flexchange 4AIF. This new feature enables the user to switch the illuminated ring around the illuminated center dot on and off, with the press of a button, (For example you can switch from a 4A-i to a CD-i style reticle.) The Flexchange is offered in the Z8i 1-8x24 and the Z8i 1.7-13.3x42 P rifle scopes. Another option on the new Z8i is the ballistic turret flex (BTF), which can be configured separately using several different types of ballistic compensation correction, and be attached and removed at any time without tools. The BTF comes as a set with both the windage and elevation turrets. If used as a top turret, it can compensate for bullet drop, and when used as a side turret, for windage adjustment. Another optional accessory for the BTF, the personalized ballistic ring (PBR) offers yardage or mil adjustments for all the relevant hunting distances. Swarovski Optik has made it possible to implement the 8x zoom in a slim 30mm (1.18 inches) main tube, offering maximum flexibility in use. Excellent viewing comfort and a light transmission level of 93 percent, higher light transmission than any other Swarovski Optik rifle scope, complete the overall optical package. Albert Wannenmacher, CEO of Swarovski Optik North America, emphasizes, “The new Z8i rifle scope will set a new standard in riflescope technology and performance. Here at Swarovski Optik we continually try to push the envelope and give the hunter and shooter products that not only set new industry standards but also give options never thought possible before.”
SWAROVSKI OPTIK 2 Slater Road Cranston, RI 02920 (800) 426-3089 www.swarovskioptik.com
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optics/sights SWAROVSKI HAS TWO INNOVATIVE NEW OPTICS: THE Z8I AND THE X5(I) RIFLE SCOPES www.swarovskioptik.com • Booth #5103 The new Z8i riflescope completely redefines performance with its 8x zoom and an outstanding optical system, which offers rapid-target acquisition. The 8x zoom combines a large field of view with high level of detail accuracy offering optimum recognition. This new riflescope impresses with its high magnification ranges and uncompromising image definition across the entire field of view. With this new model, Swarovski has also introduced what they call Flexchange. This new feature allows the shooter to switch the illuminated ring around the illuminated center dot on and off with the press of a button. For example, you can switch from a 4A-i to a CD-i style reticle quickly. Another option on the new Z8i is the ballistic turret flex (BTF), which can be configured separately using several different types of ballistic compensation correction, and can be attached and removed at any time without tools. The BTF comes as a set with both the windage and elevation turrets. If used as a top turret, it can compensate for bullet drop, and when used as a side turret, it will compensate for windage. Another optional accessory for the BTF, the personalized ballistic
ring (PBR) offers yardage or mil adjustments for all the relevant hunting distances. Swarovski will be offering this Z8i in four different models: Z8i 1-8x24, Z8i 1.7-13.3x42 P, Z8i 2-16x50 P and Z8i 2.3-18x56 P. The X5(i) rifle scope has been developed specifically with the long-range shooter/hunter in mind. It’s a completely new design built for extreme precision on an exceptionally rugged platform. The newly designed turrets allow for 20 MOA per revolution, have a viewing window to show the user what revolution he or she is on and have ¼ MOA point-of-impact adjustments. At the heart of the X5(i) is a spring retention and lever system that exerts the same pressure on both turrets from the inversion system, regardless of positioning. This assures maximum accuracy and repeatability. There is up to 116 MOA of elevation adjustment inside of a 30mm tube that yields a 5X zoom range. Sweet! The elevation, windage, parallax turrets, as well as inversion system are built from stainless steel components adding to the overall ruggedness of this scope for hunting or competitive purposes. Swarovski offers this scope in two different models: the X5(i) 3.518x50 and X5(i) 5-25x56.
SKINNER SIGHTS www.skinnersights.com
When simplicity and genuine products matter to you, look no further than Skinner Sights. Their signature product is an aperture peep rifle sight that fits on numerous makes and models – no gunsmithing or alterations necessary – and is made from solid bar stock, so it’s tough. Since the folks at Skinner are all avid hunters and shooters with a ridiculous amount of time in the field, they make products that they want to use, which also includes outstanding gun cases. Their products are made in the sweeping landscape of Montana.
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www.tomkatammo.com • 301-926-7068 • 18 Cessna Court Gaithersburg, MD 20879 84
American Shooting Journal // May 2016
MONSTERS
THEY’RE OUT THERE
THE NEW LEUPOLD® VX®-3i WILL MAKE A BELIEVER OUT OF YOU. With our new Twilight Max™ Light Management System, you can expect more than just light transmission from the VX-3i. Its triplet lenses and revolutionary coatings transmit more of the entire visual spectrum, while edge blackened lenses and internal mechanisms remove stray light that degrades your sight picture. Finally, we optimize contrast so game stands out from even the deepest shadows. The VX-3i’s sight picture is almost unbelievable — just like the mulies you’ll be packing out. The VX®-3i. Believe in monsters.
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“In the days of lace-ruffles, perukes and brocade Brown Bess was a partner whom none could despise -An out-spoken, flinty-lipped, brazen-faced jade, With a habit of looking men straight in the eyes -At Blenheim and Ramillies fops would confess They were pierced to the heart by the charms of Brown Bess.” - Rudyard Kipling Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia is the world’s largest living museum. This historic site is home to period-perfect gun and blacksmith shops, as well as grounds and architecture. They also handmake the famous Brown Bess musket and have just created a musket range where guests can shoot these smoothbores. (COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG)
Brown Bess Roars To Life At New Shooting Range In
Colonial Williamsburg History, Tradition And Heritage At The New Musket Range
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lthough not a soldier himself, Rudyard Kipling was familiar with the British army, their weapons and methods of fighting. No doubt he had soldier chums who were happy to tell him about the best girl they had, the Brown Bess musket. From about 1722 to 1838 the Long Land Pattern musket (Bess’s official name) was the standard-issue long arm for all land forces in the British military. This weapon fired a .75- to .78-caliber ball and weighed right at 10 pounds. As this was the era of British expansion, Brown Bess saw duty around the world. From India to Waterloo all the way over to those pesky American colonies, this was the gun that did most of the fighting, and when mounted with the standard 17-inch bayonet it was deadly indeed! Think of an M1 Garand that stayed in service for over 100 years! THE ORIGIN OF THE NICKNAME Brown Bess for this pattern musket seems to be uncertain. Some say it was an affectionate reference by the British soldiers to Queen Elizabeth I. King George I was in fact German and did not speak English (go figure), and others think it could have been an interpretation for the German braun Buss or brawn Buss, meaning strong gun or brown gun. (Büchse is an old German word for rifle, in the sense of a hunting weapon.) Most experts on this musket, however, seem to think it is more likely the overall appearance of the weapon: dark brown wood on the stock and a barrel that often had a brownish tint due to the method of “bluing” the metal at this time known as russeting. History is wonderful and if you are as crazy about guns
STORY BY LARRY CASE
as I am, you could get lost in the details and minutiae of any firearm. I will admit, however, that there is something better than just reading about it – hands-on shooting. The feel of the gun, the burning powder in your nose and getting your hands dirty – there is no substitute for this. So, where can you actually learn to load and fire a Brown Bess musket? Glad you asked! Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, of course! THE COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION is the world’s largest living history museum. This is the restored 18th Century capital of the British Empire’s largest, wealthiest and most populated outpost in the New World. Colonial Williamsburg strives to interpret the origins of the idea of America conceived decades before the American Revolution. This amazing place tells the story of a revolutionary city used by many different people, often with vast differences and cultures, who came together on the concept of freedom. This 301-acre historic site features hundreds of restored, reconstructed and historically furnished buildings. Costumed interpreters tell the stories of the men and women in this 18th century city – black, white and Native Americans were all here. Some were slaves, some were indentured and some were free. When you come here, you will learn the challenges these people faced and you can also learn to fire the Brown Bess! BRAND NEW THIS YEAR, Colonial Williamsburg has opened a firing range where guests can learn to load and fire this treasured musket. If you enjoy history (which you probably
do if you are visiting Colonial Williamsburg), take the time to feel history in your hands by shooting these historical treasures. Even though we were visiting the colonies and not Her Majesty’s home in England, the day my wife Helen and I visited Colonial Williamsburg, we were treated like royalty. Joe Straw, public relations manager for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and all of the staff went out of their way to make us feel welcome. OUR FIRST STOP was the gunsmith shop. To be honest, I could have spent the entire day in there. As with much of Colonial Williamsburg most of this sweeping landscape is just like stepping back in time. Try to imagine walking into an 18th century gunsmith shop. It’s all here! The guns, the powder horns, the tools and every accoutrement that you can think of and some you might never have realized existed, all with the absolute authenticity and attention to detail that Colonial Williamsburg is known for. I stood in awe of the blacksmith’s shop next door as a flat piece of metal was repeatedly heated, hammered and forged around an iron rod, transforming it into a rifle barrel. I had always been curious about this process and wondered how it was even possible. There I stood as sparks danced with each blow of the hammer and black smoke rolled. I was very fortunate to spend some time with George Suiter, the master gunsmith here. Suiter has been working in this gunsmith shop for over 30 years and after about 10 minutes of speaking with him I had already forgotten more about making these rifles than I would ever know. Suiter makes these Colonial-era “rifle guns” right in this shop and people can order their very own. The waiting list is quite lengthy, currently eight to nine years, and on average a rifle will fetch about $20,000. “The best way to preserve a trade is to practice it,” Suiter told me, “ … and that is what we do here at Colonial Williamsburg.” He assured me that one would never find tools in this shop which were not true to the time period. I also spent some time talking to Eric Goldstein, curator of mechanical arts and numismatics. Goldstein is the coauthor of The Brown Bess: An Identification Guide And Illustrated Study Of Britain’s Most Famous Musket. This is, at the very least, an exhaustive study of the British Land Pattern musket. I do not believe you could be a serious student nor a proper collector without owning this book. JOE STRAW WAS ULTIMATELY ABLE to hustle me out of the gunsmith shop and took Helen and I to the musket range. A highly capable group and just as knowledgeable in their craft awaited us. You will find this level of commitment and passion all over Colonial Williamsburg, and this is also depicted in the clothing and demeanor. Portraying a Colonial-era militia man, Sgt. Justin Chapman met us at the range with a host of well-trained helpers. Sgt. Chapman gave us an extensive safety and background briefing on the Brown Bess, as well as a period “fowling piece.” The “fowler,” we were told, would be a 88
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You can order your own handmade Brown Bess from Colonial Williamsburg, but it may take a few years – and a few dollars – to build. (LARRY CASE)
Situated on 301 acres, Colonial Williamsburg allows visitors to be completely immersed in the time period. All the people who work and live here are well versed in the history and wear period attire. (COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG, BOTH)
muzzleloader that would have likely been used by colonists at the time. A predecessor to the modern shotgun, it could be loaded with bird shot or ball load, making it very versatile for the hunting colonist. Both the Brown Bess and the fowler are smoothbores (no rifling in the barrel). They could be loaded quickly, but are not especially accurate over 50 yards. For the Europeanstyle of combat used at the time, where armies marched in formation to within range of their foes and then sent a volleys of lead chunks at them, the Brown Bess was a deadly The gunsmith shop is like stepping back in time. All of the muskets and tools, including barrel rifling, engraving and carpentry tools, are handmade in the same tradition and manner that they were created in the 18th century. (COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG, ALL THIS PAGE)
THE COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG EXPERIENCE DIRECTIONS Colonial Williamsburg is 150 miles south of Washington, D.C., near Interstate 64 and is an easy drive for much of the East Coast. You can fly into Norfolk, Newport News/Williamsburg and Richmond International airports. Amtrak also serves the Williamsburg area. HOURS Colonial Williamsburg is open seven days a week, 365 days a year (!) Hours are generally 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but may vary by season. WHAT TO SEE There are 301 acres, which encompasses the original town, 88 original buildings, 225 period rooms, over 500 reconstructed buildings, 67,000 American and British antiques and works of art from muskets and cannon to furniture, textiles, toys, tools and pottery. STAY AT WILLIAMSBURG There are lots of places to stay at Colonial Williamsburg, everything from the historic Williamsburg Inn, in which you may think you stepped back into the 18th century, to the more moderately priced Governor’s Inn. We stayed at the Williamsburg Lodge and loved it. All the accommodations are walking distance from the historic area. EAT AT WILLIAMSBURG As you may have guessed there are lots of great places to eat here. With over 10 restaurants in town you will need to check the lineup when you get there. Just make sure you visit some of historic taverns, I didn’t make it to all of them, but we enjoyed the hospitality at Shields Tavern and I am told George Washington’s favorite was Christiana Campbell’s Tavern. The Williamsburg Inn has two dining areas and the Williamsburg Lodge’s Sweet Tea and Barley was one of our favorites. Editor’s note: For more information on Colonial Williamsburg, you can visit them at colonialwilliamsburg.org. 90
American Shooting Journal // May 2016
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This Brown Bess’s loaded pan is primed to fire. Notice the 18th century version of a safety – a leather cover on the frizzen. (Inset) Williamsburg’s blacksmith shop is perpetually in motion as they create the barrels, among many other items, from bare metal by repetitively heat treating and hammering the soon-to-be musket barrel. (COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG, BOTH)
weapon; for the long-range shooter, not so much. A British soldier was expected to be capable of firing four shots in one minute. After a few volleys of fire, a charge was ordered using those wicked triangular 17-inch bayonets. The line that could stand against such a charge was stalwart indeed! MY WIFE HELEN HAD the privilege of being the first visitor to fire a round on the brand new musket range here. I enjoyed watching her do that as much as
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American Shooting Journal // May 2016
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The A B Arms™ MOD X GEN III Modular Rifle System™ is designed and engineered for military, law enforcement, and hunting enthusiasts. The MOD X GEN III Modular Rifle System™ is a lightweight (3 lbs. 2 oz.), ergonomic, drop-in chassis for the Remington® Model 700 Short Action. It serves as a modular foundation on which tactical accessories can be added according to the operator’s needs.
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Fixed: ABAMX700DE Side Folding: ABAMX700SFDE
Designed for Remington 700 Short Action - Right Hand Aluminum, hard coat anodized to Mil-Spec Type III Easy to assemble, drop-in design KeyMod™ Standard on three sides of the forearm Lightweight, 13.5” free-floating modular forearm Multi-point radial cut inlet which allows barrelled action to sit in stress free for utmost accuracy (no V-block) Uses AICS-style magazines in .308 and .223/300BO LOP Adjustability: Fixed: 10.62”-15.69” Side Folder: 12.35”-17.25” Trigger well will accept all after-market trigger systems Will accept barrel lugs up to 1.21” wide and .30” thick Integrated push button magazine release located at the front of the trigger guard Comes standard with A B Arms™ Urban Sniper Stock™ and A B Arms™ SBR P Grip™
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The author’s wife Helen Case (right) stands with a Colonial Williamsburg guard and demonstrates the length of the Brown Bess complete with bayonet. (LARRY CASE)
The latest at Colonial Williamsburg is the musket range – now open to the public. (LARRY CASE)
anything on this trip. There is something about watching a new shooter that warms the heart. The look on her face after the smoke and boom of her first shot was priceless. When she was asked if she wanted to shoot again, she immediately replied, “Of course!” When it was my turn to shoot, I found it difficult to keep the ball on the target – an NRA pistol target. The Brown Bess has no front sight, but the small lug where the bayonet attaches serves as one. Again, this was not meant to be a sniper rifle. Quick and easy to load, I could see how shooting this type of muzzleloader could be addicting. Straw had to drag me off of the range before we all froze
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to death – it was a cold March day – and I shot up all the powder and ball in the county. AT THE END OF THE LONG DAY, Helen and I would not be denied another stroll down Colonial Williamsburg’s streets. It was a blustery evening with not many visitors around. I stood and peered down Duke of Gloucester Street; nobody was in sight outside of those in period attire. Far down the street I could see a soldier in uniform hastening into the evening gloom. Trouble was coming, but in the end came freedom and the rise of the greatest country the world had ever seen. Just for a minute I imagined it was 1774, and I was there.
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COLT GOLD CUP NATIONAL MATCH MKIV SERIES 70 SEMIAUTO PISTOL The Colt Gold Cup is known as the finest shooting semiautomatic in the world, and is the standard for competitive guns. The first Colt Gold Cup pistol was introduced in the late 1950s and was designed to give competitive shooters a gun they could take directly from a dealer’s showcase to the firing line. (DEREK POFF)
The Colt Python is a double-action handgun chambered for the .357 Magnum and built on Colt’s large I frame. Pythons have a reputation for accuracy, a smooth trigger pull, a tight cylinder lock-up and were first introduced in 1955 as Colt’s top-of-the-line model. This beautifully engraved 6-inch blue Python is a classic example of the definitive Colt revolver. (DEREK POFF)
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COMMANDER HERITAGE The Turnbull C Commander Heritage is Turnbull Restoration & Manufacturing Company’s new gun for 2016. This firearm is finished in Turnbull’s si signature case color on the frame and has blued slide and parts. It is han hand-fitted and 100 percent American made.
1911 PISTOL Deep River Customs’ 1911 Govt Model is stainless steel with a DLC finish and has a tapered cone bushing barrel. The top of the slide and spring tunnel are stippled with custom design cuts. Other features include 25 lpi checkering, adjustable night sights, match trigger, hammer and sear for a tight yet smooth fit.
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A perfect launching platform for 300 grains of .50-caliber controllable stopping power, this handgun is available with Model 20/21 SF frame, including Gen. 4 Slide and match-grade barrel fully machined from forgings. It comes with one 50 GI 9+1-capacity magazine with extended base pad, and is available in satin stainless or with optional black Melonite.
C9 WOODLAND CAMO 9MM
HI-POINT FIREARMS www.hi-pointfirearms.com
The Hi-Point Firearms C9 Woodland Camo is a direct-blowback striker-fired semiauto pistol that features a woodland camouflage pattern that has been applied to the slide and grip panels via hydro dipping. Each pistol comes standard with a single-stack eight-round magazine (10-round optional), three-dot sights and unconditional lifetime warranty, and it is 100 percent American made.
HANDGUNS GUNCRAFTER INDUSTRIES’ CCO 1911 PISTOL www.guncrafterindustries.com A commander top and officer bottom, small, powerful, easy to control – perfect! Sporting a heavy rounded butt and slimline Alumagrips for concealability and comfort, this 1911 also offers Guncrafter Industry’s tritium sights, slide-top serrations and a match-grade trigger and barrel. The standard finish on this beauty is black melonite for extreme wear and corrosion resistance, and it is also available in stainless steel, duotone and reverse duotone. The weight can vary from 33 ounces to 27 ounces, depending on whether you choose steel or the lightweight aluminum version. Another nice option is the choice of calibers: .38 Super, 9mm, as well as .45 ACP for the traditionalist. You know you are handling a custom firearm when you hold and shoot one of GI’s firearms, and the $2,595 price is worth every tiny detail they put into their work. Every gun GI makes comes with two magazines and a Cordura case, as well as a lifetime satisfaction guarantee.
YHM .300 BLACKOUT PISTOL WEIGHS JUST 5 POUNDS www.yhm.net • Booth #5940 Weighing in at a mere 5 pounds, YHM’s new .300 Blackout pistol incorporates their KR7 carbine handguard that offers shooters the popular KeyMod mounting platform. The special design of the rail bridges the gap between the upper receiver and handguard for a seamless look – nice touch. This pistol was created using forged 7075-T6 aluminum and features a 4140 steel barrel with a Melonite finish with 1-in-8 twist and 5/8-24 threading. This new gem comes standard with a YHM Phantom 3080-5C2 Flash Hider/Compensator and a 30-round magazine.
AMERICAN TACTICAL IMPORTS HAS NEW .45 ACP, 9MM MODELS www.americantactical.us • Booth #6213 New handguns from American Tactical include a .45 ACP and 9mm, both semiautos. The FX-H 1911 is a single-action semiauto on the 1911 platform. It has a 5-inch matchgrade stainless barrel, polymer frame and stainless-steel slide. It has an
ambidextrous thumb safety, fiber optic front sight, beavertail grip safety with bump and finger grooves on the front strap. There’s also an accessory rail on the dust cover. The striker-fired 9mm BB6 has a polymer frame, 5-inch barrel, steel slide and integrated optics mount with an 18-round magazine capacity. There’s also a Mil-Sport pistol in 9mm with a 5.5-inch barrel, 7-inch keymod handguard, forged upper and billet lower with a 17-round magazine.
GARY REEDER OFFERS SEVERAL CUSTOM HANDGUN MODELS www.reedercustomguns.com
INLAND INTRODUCES ‘ADVISOR’ M1 PISTOL www.inland-mfg.com Inland Manufacturing is introducing a rendition of the M1 pistol popular with American military advisors in Southeast Asia during early stages of the Vietnam War. This tough little pistol is called The Advisor, and it has a 12-inch barrel. Built around the M1 carbine action, The Advisor will accept M1 magazines and comes with a single 15-round magazine. A 30-rounder will also fit.
Known for turning out quality custom sidearms, Gary Reeder is shining the spotlight on the newest handguns in the lineup. The African Hunter, chambered in .500 Linebaugh with a 6½-inch ported barrel, is one of their most popular custom-hunting revolvers. This beauty was built on the customer’s base Ruger and has been fully customized. The customer picks the caliber, barrel length, finish, grips, sights and much more. This beauty can be built to anyone’s specification. Using Reeder’s own Gunfighter grip design, this is most definitely one of the finest hunting revolvers on the market, but they take about four to five months to build, so start dreaming. Reeder’s Outlaw features extremely nice
color-case hardening, their own proprietary black Chromex finish on the barrel, cylinder and gripframe, and also comes with their Gunfighter grip perfectly matched with a set of Sorrel grips. The gun is tastefully engraved and features gold bands on the barrel and cylinder. This Ruger Vaquero received a full-action job, deep dish crown and Maxi Throat and is extremely accurate. They also threw in a red-dot sight for good measure. If you want a custom design or have a gun you would like to trick out, Gary Reeder is impressive on all standards. americanshootingjournal.com 99
HANDGUNS BROWNING HAS SUPPRESSORREADY 1911-22 www.browning.com • Booth #4914 The growing popularity of suppressors hasn’t been lost on Browning, which is introducing a new Black Label 1911-22 that is suppressor-ready with rail models. Both have threaded muzzleprotector barrels, and there are two sizes. The full-size model has a 4½-inch barrel and the compact comes with a 35/8-inch barrel. Both have composite frames with accessory rails. Each pistol has fixed-steel combat sights dovetailed into the slide and the grips are made from G-10 composite and are fitted with extended ambidextrous thumb and beavertail grip safeties. Also on the way is a Black Label 1911-.380 Pro, with or without a rail. They also have steel combat three-dot sights or night sights dovetailed into the slide. These are scaled-down models from the original M1911 version with G-10 composite grips. Both .380 ACP pistols have 4¼-inch barrels with target crowns, and feature the extended ambidextrous thumb safety, extended slide release and beavertail grip safety. They carry eight-round magazines and weigh 17½ ounces.
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American Shooting Journal // May 2016
NEW HERITAGE 1911 FROM TURNBULL RESTORATION & MANUFACTURING www.turnbullmfg.com • Booth #6623 The Commander Heritage Model 1911 is new this year and offered with a blued slide and color-case frame, double-diamond checkered walnut grips and Novak three-dot sights. In true classic fashion, this stunning 1911 comes chambered in .45 ACP, and just in case these upgrades weren’t enough, Turnbull Manufacturing can upgrade the grips, sights and even the engraving pattern. They are true craftsmen and make every restoration a priority.
FMK’S C1 SEMIAUTO OFFERED IN TWO CALIBERS www.fmkfirearms.com • Booth #5753 With a polymer frame and stainless-steel slide, the C1 semiauto from FMK Firearms is available in different frame colors, and it is offered in two
popular calibers: 9mm and .40 S&W. With a choice of either black or satin-nickel plating on the slide, the C1 has a 4-inch stainlesssteel barrel, and a Glock-compactible sight system. It has a shock-absorbing back strap, loaded chamber indicator, interchangeable triggers, and a molded rail for accessories. The 9mm version is available with a 10-, 14- or 17-round magazine (depending on jurisdiction and local regulations) and the .40-caliber model has a 10-round magazine. It weighs 23.45 ounces and is 6.85 inches long. Shooters can select frame colors that include black, dark earth, OD green, urban grey, pink, crimson red and tiffany blue, and either plain or engraved with the Bill of Rights.
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HANDGUNS VOLQUARTSEN FIREARMS TEAMS UP WITH SMITH & WESSON www.volquartsen.com
Volquartsen and S&W might seem an odd couple, but when two industry leaders get together, in this case, you get barrels for the newly introduced 22 LR pistol from Smith & Wesson – the SW22 Victory. They offer these barrels in stainless-steel match featuring their unique I-fluting pattern that reduces weight and increases rigidity and heat dissipation. They are even offering barrels with a lightweight THM carbon-fiber tension just like Volquartsen’s carbon-fiber tension rifles. You won’t miss the mark they made on the new SW22 Victory.
SEVERAL HANDGUNS FROM CZ-USA www.cz-usa.com • Booth #2759 For 2016, CZ-USA has several semiauto pistols, including the Urban Grey series, five handguns all
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chambered for 9mm and all suppressor-ready. The lineup incudes the P-09 with a 21-round capacity, polymer frame, fixed high-profile sights and swappable safety/decocker; the P-07 is a similar model with a slightly more compact body and 17-round magazine; the SP-01 has a full-length frame and rail, high-profile sights and 18-round capacity; the CZ751 (omega) with an 18-round magazine, traditional frame and slide; and the P-011, a compact model that also comes with a rail, 16-round magazine, swappable safety/ decocker and black rubber grips. The CZ75 P-011 Convertible model is also chambered in 9mm, has a black polycoat finish and rubber grips, accessory rail, 7075 aluminum frame and convertible safety/decocker. The CZ75B1 is a full-size model in 9mm with a black polycoat finish, while the CZ75 Tactical Sport Orange has a striking orange grip and black olycoat finish. polycoat
SRT ARMS LOVES THE SOUND OF SILENCE www.srtarms.com
SRT Arms specializes in muzzle suppressors and integral suppressor conversions for various rifles and handguns. They are a registered DoD contractor and currently work with the military as well as civilian shooters. One of their latest creations is an Integrally suppressed Ruger MkIII pistol that shoots highvelocity .22 LR ammo at subsonic speeds, and is quieter than a pellet rifle. This little plinker is perfect for small pest control or plinking – quietly – and shoots about a 1-inch minute of angle at 15 yards. They use stainless steel and inconel components for their high-pressure applications and aluminum on rimfire. Their state-of-the-art spacer and baffling technology is epic. They use a Larson-Davis 800B sound meter to test all of their work – one of only 2 meters approved by the US military for suppressor measurements.
gun reviews
THE WALLOPER Evaluating Guncrafter Industries’ Model No. 4 50 GI
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY OLEG VOLK
The 50 GI features a 6-inch barrel and 7+1 capacity. It is available in a wide variety of finishes and with various sight options.
andguns are almost always inferior to rifles in terms of accuracy and stopping power. Since defensive fighting usually happens up close, those qualities are important, but casual carrying of long guns is not socially acceptable in much of the world. The solution is to use the most powerful handgun that’s still practical for unsupported firing. Guncrafter Industries Model No. 4 Hunting pistol attempts to create exactly that kind of weapon by combining 6 inches of barrel with a .50-caliber bore, the largest legally possible without
H
National Firearms Act paperwork. That way, the projectile already has an impressive frontal area, 23 percent wider than .45 ACP, and 15 percent higher velocity for the same 230-grain bullet weight. For hog hunting use, slower but much denser 300-grain bullets are available. While less energetic than a hot 10mm auto load, the 50 GI is more efficient by not having to use as much of the kinetic energy to expand the projectile. The 50 GI accomplishes all that with the pressure of only 15,000 pounds per square inch. With the 6-inch barrel, americanshootingjournal.com 105
gun reviews Guncrafter Industries Model No. 4 50 GI packs a powerful punch, whether you’re carrying for self-defense or hunting hogs.
Gun reviewer Oleg Volk reports that the plain rear sight combined with a tritium front sight works well in moderate light, and it’s easy for the eye to pick up the chartreuse vial.
Unlike the texturing on some highpowered handguns’ grips, the 50 GI comes with enough to hold onto it while it kicks, but isn’t so rough that it’ll chew up your hands at the range. The reviewer reports that while it shoots like any 1911 out there, the difference is in how much impact it delivers downrange.
230-grain HP and 300-grain JFP ammunition, with 185-grain HP hitting slightly lower and a 275-grainer an inch higher. At 25 yards, the groups predictably scaled to 2.5 inches, which is quite good for a fighting pistol with iron sights. The combination of plain rear sights and tritium front worked
especially, it gives much reduced muzzle blast compared to other powerful defensive chamberings intended to supplant .45 ACP. While the case has a rebated rim like .50 AE, it’s straight rather than tapered. Seven cartridges fit a regular 1911 magazine. Recoil was the same as with a standard .45 ACP Government model, and the pistol showed impressive practical accuracy. Fired at the rate of about a shot per second, Model 4 gave one inch dispersion at 10 yards with all four loads. The sights as supplied were regulated for 106
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THE DEGREE OF TEXTURING WAS SUFFICIENT FOR RETENTION, NOT ENOUGH TO ABRADE THE HANDS well in moderate light, with the eye focusing on the vial with ease. With the long slide providing a nice forward balance, the sights returned on target readily. Overall weight is only a couple of ounces more than a regular M1911. The pistol is available in a wide variety of finishes and with
gun reviews various sight options. Magazines required a good smack to seat on a closed slide when full, and dropped free when empty. The textured slide release worked well, so that I didn’t even bother with dropping the slide with the weak hand. The degree of texturing was sufficient for retention, not enough to abrade the hands. Unlike .357 Coonan, the Model 4 in 50 GI didn’t require conscious wrestling back out of recoil. It shot like any other 1911, with the sole difference of delivering a greater impact downrange. The report was not noticeably different. The muzzle flash was
A close-up of the wheelhouse of the 50 GI.
VELOCITY TESTING RESULTS The velocity numbers listed on the ammunition boxes are conservative. Actual testing with 50 GIs in two different barrel lengths provided the following: Bullet 300 grain JFP 275 grain JHP 185 grain CHP 230 grain CHP
5-inch barrel 724 fps 872 fps 1,192 fps 1,004 fps
6-inch barrel 776 fps 949 fps 1,248 fps 1,048 fps
Gain 52 fps 77 fps 56 fps 44 fps
With a 6-inch barrel, there is a 5 to 9 percent gain in velocity over a 5-inch barrel, which translates into a 10 to 19 percent increase in muzzle energy.
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not visible in daylight. So for the cost of dropping the full capacity from 8+1 to 7+1, it is possible to get a wellbehaved but more powerful weapon with the familiar form factor. The only down side I found has been the price: the pistol lists for a bit over $4,100, magazines are $50 each, and the ammunition runs $30 to $50 per 20-round box. I plan on talking to a couple of manufacturers to see if cheaper target ammunition may be developed for practice.
SHOTGUNS A5 Sweet 16
Citori
ONE SWEET SHOTGUN BY BROWNING – SWEET 16, THAT IS! www.browning.com • Booth #2759 In the not-so-distant past if your buddy uttered the phrase, “Sweet Sixteen,” your eyebrows didn’t go up because you knew he was talking about a Browning Auto-5 in 16 gauge. Maybe it was the sweet way these guns handled or their light and trim dimensions. Often called the “Gentleman’s Gauge,” the in-between 16 is, to many hunters, the ideal ammunition for the perfect gun. A well-designed 16-gauge is closer in weight to a 20-gauge with a shot payload closer to the 12; the 16 patterning bests them both. Browning’s A5 Sweet 16 offers a gloss walnut stock, brass-bead front sight, humpback receiver – which increases the length of the sighting plane – is ergonomically balanced and has a recoil-operated kinematic drive with Invector-DS choke tubes. The barrel is 28 inches and the overall length is 49¼ inches with a length of pull right at 14¼ inches. Like its most revered predecessor, the A5 Sweet 16 is built on a smaller,
lighter receiver for reduced weight and a sleek feel in your hands. Total weight? Just 5 pounds, 13 ounces. It retails for just $1,699. Perfect. year, let’s not Among other treasures available from Browning this year forget that they are offering a high-grade program with their limited production Citori 725 Grade VII shotguns in 20- and 28-gauge and .410 bore. These over-and-under shotguns get many hours of hand engraving and touch-up before they are matched up with grade VI/VII walnut with close-radius pistol grip and palm swell stocks. They come with a John M. Browning Signature fitted case, and they are offered with barrel lengths of 28, 30 or 32 inches. Another winner this year is the return of the 16-gauge in the A5 shotgun. This self-loader is built on a smaller, lighter receiver and works with a recoil-operated Kinematic Drive System. The receiver is made from lightweight aluminum with a black anodized bitone finish, while the stock and forearm are glass finished walnut with a close-radius pistol grip and 18 lines per inch of checkering. It comes with a shim adjustment kit and Invector DS choke tubes. The Citori 725 Sporting and Field O/U models will include .410 models in 2016. Sporting models have 30- or 32-inch vent-rib barrels.
712 G2
Drake
A PAIR AIR OF THREES BY CZ-USA www.cz-usa.com • Booth #2759 With a triple lineup of semiautos, which are all highly anticipated variations of the Model 712, and break-action shotguns, all offered in 12- and 20-gauges, CZ-USA has outdone themselves and met all of our demands. Starting off with the autoloaders, the Green G2 has a green anodized receiver, walnut stock with laser-cut checkering and palm swell, and five flush choke tubes. It has a vent-rib barrel and
bead front sight. Th ’ a 33-gun G2 model d l th tit There’s thatt competitors ought to like. It has an extended bolt handle and extended magazine that gives this gun a 9+1 capacity. The vent-rib barrel is 22 inches long and the gun ships with three extended black choke tubes. The Model 712 Synthetic Camo G2 is for waterfowlers, with Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades on the receiver, barrel and polymer stock. It has a 28-inch vent-rib barrel and is chambered for 3-inch 12-gauge magnums. In the break-action arena, the Upland
Ultralight Green is an OP/U model with vent-rib bbarrel,l fifive iinterchangeable t h bl choke h k ttubes b and d anodized green receiver. It is available in 12- or 20-gauge. The Drake model has a 28-inch vent-rib barrel, tang safety, five interchangeable choke tubes and it is chambered for either 12- or 20-gauge shells. Next is the Redhead Premier, with a new one-piece CNC-machined receiver with a silver finish, checkered Turkish walnut stock, five flushmounted choke tubes, 28-inch vent-rib barrels and five choke tubes. It is offered in 12- and 20-gauge with auto ejectors, and in 28-gauge and .410 bore. americanshootingjournal.com 111
SHOTGUNS
MO MOSSBERG ADDS 500 ATI SCORPION SHOTGUN TO LINE-UP www.mossberg.com • Booth #3223 The legendary 500 pump-action, 12-gauge platform is designed for smooth, reliable operation and features nonbinding twin action bars; positive steel-to-steel lock-up; an anti-jam elevator; and dual extractors. Its lightweight, anodized aluminum receiver provides for added durability and better balance. And just to make things that much easier, it has their
ambidextrous top-mounted safety. The addition of tactical accessories takes this 500 to the next level of functionality. The TactLite 6-position adjustable stock features an elongated design to improve fit for most users; a 3 7/8-inch length-of-pull range of adjustment (length of pull ranges from 10 ¾ to 14 5/8 inches); and 1-inch adjustable cheek riser. Overall length is 363/8 inches and it weighs 6¾ pounds. Incorporated into the stock is the Scorpion Recoil System, utilizing the Scorpion T2 Recoil Pistol Grip with sure-grip texture and extended recoiltaming material to reduce discomfort to the shooter’s hand and thumb, combined with the thin, non-slip Scorpion X2 Recoil Pad. The well-designed stock offers no snag points and features a dual-sided quick-detach attachment points. There is also a single-point sling mount insert above the grip that can be faced left or right.
Winchester SX3 Composite Stalker
WINCHESTER EXPANDS SX3 SX3, SXP SHOTGUNS www.winchester-guns.com • Booth #6355 For 2016, Winchester is introducing new
smoothbores for big game, turkey hunting and sporting clays. Joining the family are the new SX3 Ultimate Sporting Adjustable and SX3 composite
Sporting Carbon Fiber models. The SX3 has atin oil-finished oil finished grade II/III walnut stock a satin with adjustable comb and cut checkering. The Perma-Cote gray barrel is ported and has a vent rib with Tru-Glo fiber optic front sight and white midbead. It is chambered for 12-gauge 2¾-inch shells and barrel length choices are 28, 30 and 32 inches. For turkey hunting the SXP Long Beard 12-gauge pump comes with an Invector-Plus extra-full Long Beard turkey choke on a 24inch barrel with Tru-Glo fiber optic sight. Chambered for 3-inch magnums, the shotgun is finished with Mossy Oak Break-Up Country camo and the stock has two interchangeable comb pieces. For deer hunters, the SXP Extreme Deer Hunter 12-gauge pump gun has a synthetic pistol-grip stock with textured gripping surfaces. Finished with Mossy Oak BreakUp Country camo, this model also has two interchangeable comb pieces. It has a 22-inch rifled barrel with a Tru-Glo fiber optic front sight and adjustable rear sight.
AMERICAN TACTICAL IMPORTS HAS O/U MODELS www.americantactical.us • Booth #6213 American Tactical is turning heads with both of their new 12-gauge over-and-under models. The Cavalry Turkey Fowl model offers a 21-inch barrel with 9-inch barrel extensions, a hardwood checkered stock and 3-inch chambers. The barrels have a high vent rib and there’s a thick recoil pad on the buttstock. This is a very comfortable gun. Their other gem is the Cavalry Sport, which also features a wood stock, high rib with double bead and a 30-inch barrel. It has extractors and 3-inch chambers.
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As an avid shooting competitor who’d just purchased a subpar AR-15, Tony Hook was challenged to build a better rifle – he did and launched RTD Manufacturing.
THE GREAT CHALLENGE
Exclusive Interview With Tony Hook, Owner and Founder of RTD Manufacturing
When Hook began, his biggest hurdle was sourcing the few parts he could not manufacture himself. The main problem was the level of quality he insisted on for his guns.
INTERVIEW BY DANIELLE BRETEAU * PHOTOGRAPHS BY RTD MANUFACTURING
such a company, one that prides itself on extremely low tolerances.
T
American Shooting Journal How did RTD Arms get started? Tony Hook It was started due to a question my 14-year-old stepson Robby asked. I had just purchased a brand-new AR-15 made by one of the more recognizable manufacturers. I brought it home and took it apart
he American Shooting Journal sat down with Tony Hook, owner and founder of New Hampshire’s RTD Manufacturing, who shared how he went from fixing cars for a living to manufacturing guns, as well as the trials and tribulations of what it takes to start, own and operate
while he was watching. I found that most of the parts inside were very poor quality, and the upper and lower receivers did not fit well. After using a few words I should not have used in front of a 14-year-old, he asked me if I could build a better one. I thought about it for a minute and said, “Yes!” Then he asked if I could make money making guns. I think my response was, “Maybe,” and that I would have to americanshootingjournal.com 115
build a rifle better than what I was finding on the shelf excited me. ASJ How long have you been in business? TH We have been in business since 2012, and a licensed manufacturer since 2013.
Eighty-five percent of all RTD guns are made in New Hampshire; the company’s plant is based just west of Manchester.
Much of Hook’s inspiration to create a fine rifle was his feeling that many massproduced AR-platform rifles – even wellknown brands – are simply poorly made.
look into it. ASJ Where did the name RTD come from? TH I get this question a lot. I wanted to keep the name simple, because a gun manufacturer’s business name has to appear on their lower receivers the exact same way it is listed on their federal firearms license (FFL), and I didn’t want it to take up too much space. At the time it was my intention to have Robby be part of the business, since he came up with the idea. RTD stood, at the time, for Robby Tony Development. Not long after we were licensed and had started manufacturing, Robby quickly realized that guns were not his passion or within his many skill sets. He opted not to be involved. Luckily the name was not going to be wasted on meaning. We had two dogs, Roscoe 116
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and Tucker, and they were dubbed the R and T of RTD. But that was not the end of the story. One day, I was teaching an armorers course on one of our pistol platforms and a retired Army captain stepped up, slapped me on the back and said, “What a great name for a firearms company – Ready To Deploy!” So, with a straight face, I thanked him and RTD has been Ready To Deploy ever since. ASJ What a metamorphosis! Now that we know where the inspiration came from, what drove the passion to jump through all the hoops it took to get a gun-manufacturing business up and running? TH I don’t know if it started as inspiration; it was more like a challenge, and I didn’t want to lose face. I had always loved guns and shooting, and the idea that I could
ASJ What is your background? TH My background is mostly in the automotive industry. I’ve made most of my living either owning a shop or running someone else’s for years. I tried to escape the auto-repair world and got into machine and tool, welding and even insurance, but these jobs always pulled me back in until now. ASJ Tell us more about your family. TH I have a great family, both immediate and extended, and most of them shoot but all of them are supportive. I lost my first wife to cancer at a very young age before we had any children, so I do not have any children of my own. However, I do have three stepkids that anyone would be proud to call their own. They have one heck of a mom, Debbie, who did an awesome job bringing them up. The oldest is Maria, who just got her doctorate and is taking her board exams to become a pediatric physical therapist this month. When it comes to brains and beauty she gets very high marks, and she is a good shot when she can sneak in some range time. Next is Paige, the middle child and much more of a free spirit. Paige just graduated college and is now studying for her CPA. She is yet another smart and beautiful woman not to be reckoned with. I often say if you give Paige $10 and a Swiss army knife she could take over a small European country; she also enjoys going to the range and exposing her friends to shooting. The youngest is Robby – the person responsible for why I am answering these questions for you today. At 6 foot 6 inches, Robby is a very talented basketball player, and has been accepted by three colleges to play basketball next year. Building guns might not be Robby’s
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strong point but with his brains and business spirit, I do not think he has anything to worry about. My wife Debbie is the love of my life. She has gone through a lot of culture shock supporting me and RTD – she was quite the soccer mom when we met. Debbie had never even been in a gun shop before we met. Now, she shoots too and works the RTS table at gun shows. One Saturday night she even helped me build four guns until 2 a.m. because we sold out of every single gun we brought to the Concord Gun
Show and needed more for Sunday. So, yes, I have family.
ASJ What was the hardest hurdle when you startied this company? TH Wow, there were a lot! For starters we had to get our FFL; to be honest, I thought that would be the hardest – it was not. The hardest aspect was finding quality manufacturers that could supply the parts we could not make ourselves. Most wanted huge quantity orders or big-dollar minimum orders that we were in no position financially Hook says his family has been hugely supportive of his move to to pull off, so began manufacture firearms – a trek he plan B: find local started just a few years ago. Now, he produces some of the finest machine shops that AR-platform rifles on the market. had the equipment and tooling. Most were very receptive, and we have great relationships with all of them. They are also one of the main reasons that over 85 percent of an RTD
firearm is made right in New Hampshire. ASJ What has been the best payoff, in terms of realizing you made the right decision? TH I think what makes it all worthwhile is when a customer goes out of their way to come to me at a gun show or an event to thank me and let me know how much they love the gun we built for them, or that it is the best one they have ever owned. That lets me know that I am doing what I started out to do and did not lose sight of why I started. ASJ Do you compete in shooting sports? TH When I started RTD, I was an avid shooter competing in International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA), Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), F-class long range and local pin shoots. I even did a little 3-Gun competition, but nowadays the only trigger time I get is test firing. I hope
.223, .308, .300 WM, .338 LAPUA MAGNUM • NO COLD SHOT POI SHIFT Q U I E T E S T 1 . 5 ” D I A S U P P R E S S O R S AVA I L A B L E * • 1 / 2 T H E W E I G H T O F S TA I N L E S S
WWW.SRTARMS.COM 522 Finnie Flat Road, Ste. E, PMB 138 Camp Verde, AZ 86322 Ph: (928) 567-2588 120
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* independently verified
Hook hopes to have his RTD RT-10s and other products on the shelves of at least 100 gun dealers and distributors by the end of 2016.
to get to a place where I can enjoy the fruits of my labor and get back to more competitive and recreational shooting. ASJ What are your business goals at this point or the next milestone, shall we say? TH The biggest business goal at this time is branding. I know there is a lot of competition in the AR-platform market and we are working very hard to put our stamp on it. This goes hand-inhand with the next milestone and that is to have our rifles available in no less than 100 gun retailers and distributors by the end of 2016. As far as growth, I
feel it needs to happen naturally. My greatest grea fear is growing too big too fast and compromising the quality of our firearms, which I won’t do. Another fire big item on my goal chart is a 1911 pistol, pi and if all goes well it should debut de in late 2016 or early 2017. ASJ What are you most excited by right now? TH We just went into production with our new rifle and AR pistol featuring a side-charging upper. It is our first departure from mil-spec and I am very excited about it. I believe it fills a need for several different applications and is not just novelty. The side-charging upper ensures the shooter does not have to reposition their gun to lock and load, and my favorite benefit is it offers an opportunity for shooters with a weak hand possibly due to arthritis, handicap or injury to be able to enjoy and operate an AR-platform firearm.
ASJ Do you support any charities? TH Yes I do, both personally and through my business. I support the Susan G. Komen foundation and their fight against breast cancer, which is how I lost my first wife, and I also support the ASPCA and some local animal shelters in the area. ASJ What is your personal motto or creed? TH Live free or die trying. ASJ Thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us, Tony, and the American Shooting Journal and our readers would also like to extend a huge thank you for your generosity in donating one of your beautiful RT-10 rifles for last January’s SHOT Show raffle and this month’s NRA show raffle. Another lucky reader will soon be the new owner of an exceptional piece of workmanship. TH Thank you, it was a pleasure.
As seen at
Brownells.com & BeyerBarrels.com
Ultralight rimfire barrels For the Ruger 1022 and 1022 takedown barrels as well as the AR15 dedicated uppers. Match chambers and 7075 aluminum. Bull barrels, mid weight and factory taper barrels now with straight or diamond fluting. To buy direct call Clint at 360 640 1497 Also available at Brownells or other various dealers.
189179 hwy 101 Forks, WA 98331
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The American Shooting Journal and American Tactical salute all members of the Armed Forces who have served, fought and currently fight to protect our nation’s freedoms.
WE THANK YOU! Brought To You By:
www.AmericanTactical.us
(ORDNANCE LOCKER)
UNDER CONSTRUCTION PO POLYMER80 OLY YME ER80 80 0
LAYKE L AY YKE TACTIC TACTICAL TAC TA ACT CT TIC ICA CAL A AL
RTD MFG
.308 Warrhogg 80 percent polymer lower receiver See us on page 3
LT 10 low LT-10 lower receiver i See us on page 170
RT-10 upper and lower receiver See us on page 116
GIBBZ ARMS
G4UR side-charging upper receiver See us on page 148
GUNTEC
Heavy-duty universal 80 percent AR jig See us on page 77
GUNTEC
GT-15JK-FDE handguard with monolithic top rail See us on page 77
PK FIREARMS
FN 18-inch profile barrel with Daniel Defense slim-rail upper See us on page 46
WHITE OAK ARMAMENT AR-15 carbon-fiber float tube See us on page 154
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PICKETT’S MILL
AR-15 and AR-10 upper receiver See us on page 153
CENTURION ARMS Modular rail See us on page 49
HARDENED ARMS
THORDSEN CUSTOMS AR-pistol cheek rest See us on page 66
Black Widow monocore suppressors See us on page 121
NIGHTFORCE OPTICS NXS 1-4x24 compact riflescope See us on page 63
RUBBER CITY ARMORY
Low-mass competition bolt-carrier group See us on page 152
TROY INDUSTRY Tomahawk stock See us on page 113
SRT
.223 AR suppressor See us on page 120
RISE ARMAMENT RA-535 advancedperformance trigger See us on page 145
BATTLECOMP DEGUNS
BC 51.0 See us on page 149
Aero Precision slimline .22-caliber flash can See us on page 13
VELOCITY TRIGGERS
3-pound curve trigger See us on page 146
LUTH-AR
MBA-3 buttstock See us on page 56
AMERICAN BUILT ARMS COMPANY Urban Sniper stock See us on page 93
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gun gear GREYBULL’S PRECISION HUNTING STOCK www.greybullprecision.com Your first reaction when you slide in behind your rifle should be, “Everything is where it should be.” A good stock provides a solid platform for the action and fits the shooter reasonably well, but a great stock provides a solid and consistent platform, ergonomics that allow the shooter to get maximum accuracy with reduced recoil, a bedding system that allows drop-in or custom bedding and, of course, looks great. If you are building a rifle or have tried your position with tactical stocks, then you know that they can tend to be bulky and have sharp angles. Sporter stocks usually have an unnatural grip, low comb and often aren’t
suited for heavier barrels. If you ou have found d this N82’s magaz magazine zine time and again, you should take a look at Greybull’s hol ho h olste ol lst ste ste ter holster Precision Hunting Stock. This 32-inch stock weighs just 2.5 pounds – already an added benefit – is textured and has a vertical right-hand grip. It comes standard with a 1-inch Pachmayr recoil pad and offers a full-length aluminum ladder frame and bedding block. It will fit the Remington 700, long or short action, and has a swing-out magazine, and the barrel fits up to a Remington Sendero Contour with no modifications. The sporter or standard barrel will have 1/8- to 3/16-inch clearance on either side. You can also get it in your choices of olive, grey, tan or black. The weight balance of this stock is exceptional. You will be hard-pressed to find a better stock for a hunting rifle that’s expected to put hits on target at extended ranges, while having the correct weight, carry, durability and performance – qualities that hunting conditions demand.
PROGRESSIVE PUMP-ACTION FOREND AND STOCK BY ADAPTIVE TACTICAL www.adaptivetactical.com • Booth #2448 Adaptive Tactical’s EX Performance Forend and M4-style Stock for the Mossberg and Remington shotguns have been created and optimized for pump actions. These progressive Bald Eagle designs feature a high-impact polymer construction, which make them ideal choices if you1156 want to upgrade your Mossberg 500 and 88, 590 or Remington 870 12-gauge pump shotgun. The EX Performance Forend features a 2-inch Picatinny rail hidden under the nose cap – great for all sorts of accessories. The fully adjustable stock offers integrated sling-point attachments and they both come in your choice of black or an array of popular camouflage colors. You won’t need a gunsmith to install these upgrades either. They were speciafically designed for owner installation.
PICKETT’S MILL ARMORY HAS MIDLENGTH BARREL www.pmarmory.com The Pickett’s Mill Armory 16-inch midlength .223 Wylde barrel is a combination of what everyone hopes for in a high-quality barrel. The length of the barrel offers the shooter the mobility they have become accustomed to with their tactical rifle, and the midlength gas
system helps minimize recoil for faster follow-up shots. The 416R stainless-steel barrel features a nickle boron extension for smooth feeding, and it comes with a 1-in-8 twist rate finished with a nice bead blast.
THE EXT FOREARM BY ANDERSON RIFLES, MAKER OF THE WORLD’S ONLY NO-LUBE RIFLE. www.andersonrifles.com • Booth #5802 Anderson Rifles manufactures the world’s only no-lube rifle, and since they have been around for 50 years, they are definitely doing something right. This year they launched a new line of EXT forearms designed to replace the standard upper on the AR-style rifle. The new precision forearm replaces the standard free-float upper and features two quick disconnects. Also included is a knurled-steel barrel nut that is easier to align with the upper than the old style, but does require the Anderson barrel nut wrench. There are different interchangeable rails that comes in two-, three-, four-, five-, and six-hole sizes too, and all of their designs come in four sizes including pistol (6.83 inches); carbine (9.4 inches); midlength (11.5 inches) and rifle (15 inches). These new rails give a sleek, streamlined look and makes alignment with the upper receiver easier. americanshootingjournal.com 129
gun gear SELECT FIRE MAKES S IT EASY TO BUILD YOUR OWN N 10/22 www.ruger1022receiver.com
RIO GRANDE CUSTOM GRIPS HAS NEW DESIGNS FOR THE XR3 GRIPFRAME www.riograndecustomgrips.com Your imagination is the limit with Rio Grande Custom Grips full-color designs, like the above unique grip for the Ruger New Model Vaquero. These folks are on the cutting edge of design and can create images never seen before on grips. They have a growing library of stock images and can recreate anything you can dream up. Everything they make is designed and manufactured in the US, so support America and give your grip something to smile about.
RISE ARMAMENT’S RA-140 SUPER SPORTING TRIGGER www.risearmament.com RISE Armament’s newest trigger is a highperforming, cost-effective upgrade for replacing mil-spec triggers. With a 3.5-pound pull, this single-stage trigger system has a clean break with a short reset, and at just $129, the RA-140 SST is the least expensive trigger on the market in its class. Most other performace triggers easily cost twice as much. The SST fits most .223 and .308 AR-style platforms, and its self-contained design makes it easy to install with no fine-tuning needed. Like RISE Armament’s other products, the RA-140 SST is manufactured and assembled in their Oklahoma facility and adheres to strict aerospace requirements, which are more stringent than standard gun-manufacturing requirements.
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Select Fire is known for manufacturing ng 10/22 receivers with mil-spec machined-in scope rails ey offer most often used in competition, but they so much more. Their products are specifically ifically designed for anyone to be able to build a semiautomatic .22 Long Rifle or a semiautomatic tomatic .22 Magnum (WMR) rifle from scratch, andd they provide receivers in mil-spec class 3 black hardcoat anodized or raw 6061-T6 aluminum in shorthortor long-scope rail configurations. All of their receivers are manufactured to extremely high tolerances with CNC machine tools. ools. Each receiver is cut from a solid billet bar stock and for gun enthusiasts who love a showpiece, they even produce solid brass 10/22-style receivers for builders who want a unique show rifle that can be polished to a mirror finish.
Select Fire also provides a receiver drill-bit kit with a reamer and tap, so the customer has all the tools necessary to complete their own semiautomatic .22-caliber rifle. If the rifle builder does not want to measure for their drill points, Select Fire provides a drill fixture that locates all holes for drilling and tapping – this thi makes things much easier. However However, ffor the builder who wants to measure th their own drill points, they provide a sc schematic with every receiver. These folks make things simple. They want their customers to be able to build a semiauto rifle using just a home drill press and basic hand tools. We like that too.
CERAKOTE INDUSTRY LEADERS – MCM FIREARMS www.mcmfirearms.com MCM Firearms is a custom firearms manufacturer that specializes in Cerakote applications and tout themselves as home of the only licensed Kryptek Cerakote applicator, using Teflon from DuPont, in the US. They are an interesting mix of shooters with backgrounds in custom show-car building, so they approach every firearm they build or Cerakote application with the same level of detail and quality. If you want to do the job yourself, they are licensed to produce and sell stencil kits for Kryptek Outdoor Group, whom they are partnered with, so you can coat your own firearm – and yes, they even provide tech support. What a great mix of talents.
POLYMER80 OFFERS LOWER RECEIVER BLANKS, PISTOL FRAMES www.polymer80.com • Booth #4861 Polymer80 continues to outpace the competition with new industry-first product designs, while expanding firearms product lines within the rifle, accessories and pistol markets. Their patent-pending Polymer80 products offers lower receiver blanks for AR-style rifles, including .308s, and pistol frames that are compatible with a Glock Gen3 9mm and .40 S&W components. These blanks are considered an 80-percent polymer lower or frame, meaning they do not fit the requirements to be called a firearm, therefore no FFL transfer is needed to purchase one. The AR 80-percent polymer lower offers a solid-core design, beefed-up buffer-tube ring and ribbing, a no-thread design on the pistol grip area and a stiffened magwell. They even come with an improved jig system with additional insert to assist the owner when drilling the trigger hole, and of course they provide the mill bit and drill bits with the kit.
gun gear
MCMILLAN FIBERGLASS STOCKS INTRODUCES NEW STOCK DESIGNS AND D FINISHES www.mcmillanusa.com • Booth #5447 McMillan is known for its wide range of custom rifle stocks and they have just introduced three new hunting and sporting stocks to its collection, along with a new camo finish. First up in the line up is the Game Warden. This stock shares the same streamlined design and A-3 vertical pistol grip as McMillan’s popular Game Scout rifle stock, but the Game Warden features a larger forend, which accepts larger contour barrels up to a No. 8. It is ambidextrous and can be inletted for Remington-
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type and Sako right- and left-hand actions. You can get the stock with a fixed comb or a choice of integral cheekpieces. They even offer the Adjustable Game Warden that only accepts Remington-type actions. Their new Game Hunter stock fits Remington-type actions. This stock uses a high Monte Carlo-style cheekpiece similar to the McMillan Hunter stock and an A-3 vertical pistol grip. This vertical pistol grip allows for a smooth transition from a tactical stock to a compacthunting stock. The streamlined forend can accommodate a large contour barrel up to No. 8, and the higher cheek comb allows for scopes with larger diameter bells and objective lenses. This stock is currently only available in a right-hand model.
The Game Scout X-Bolt is the only aftermarket stock made for the Browning X-bolt action and its unique floorplate. It is available for both short and long actions and can accommodate barrels up to a No. 5 contour. Now, onto the paint! McMillan’s newest paint finish, the Transition Camo Series, is highly durable and mimics the spray patterns favored by professional tactical units and hunters. The paint itself is an industrial-grade, nonslip pebble finish similar to that found on power tools, office machines and industrial equipment. This polyurethane paint is durable, suitable for harsh conditions and currently available in three color combinations: woodland transition (olive, khaki, black and brown); desert transition (tan, khaki, brown); and GAP transition (olive, khaki, black).
gun gear BARTLEIN BARRELS BRINGS SINGLE-POINT RIFLING TO THE 21ST CENTURY www.bartleinbarrels.com With a current wait time of five to six months for a precision barrel, clearly the word is out that some of the most precise barrels commonly used for hunting and today’s Precision Rifle Series competitions are those from Bartlein Barrels. This team of experienced shooters, reloaders and hunters have been in the firearms industry for years and know the industry inside and out. If you want to do one thing right, then give it all you’ve got, and that is precisely what they do with their barrels. Their uniformity is second to none and their rifling machines are so accurate they carry the twist rate to the fourth decimal point, meaning you can have your twist so precise, it measures 1 in 11.3642. Their single-point cut rifling is the most stress-free method to rifle a barrel, the twist is exact and the bore and groove dimensions are uniform. They prelap every barrel before rifling and finish lap just after. This means you should never need to fire lap or bore polish your barrel under
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any circumstances. They also swear that a lapped barrel will not wear out faster than an unlapped one, and have found that their barrels will typically last longer than a button barrel. We will take their word for it; after all, they are the best in the industry.
BEYER BARRELS, A SMALL TOWN MANUFACTURER OF LIGHTWEIGHT BARRELS www.beyerbarrels.com Any rifle builder knows accuracy is dependent on a combination of the ammunition, action, stock and bedding, trigger and sighting equipment – let us not forget the human element – but the barrel is key to achieving maximum accuracy. Beyer Barrels are state-of-the-art and machined from 7075 aluminum, not the more common 6061 T6. Their lightweight aluminum barrel is lined with a chromoly button-rifled liner. Rifling in .22 LR is one turn in 16 inches, which stabilizes heavy subsonic bullets. Beyer uses a proprietary method of installing and retaining the liner, which enhances the accuracy of the barrels. This lining method in conjunction with
a high-quality aluminum barrel has been tested during fully automatic fire and is able to withstand the heat and stress, unlike some other lined barrels. The barrel-to-receiver shank is oversized by .001 of an inch to ensure a perfect fit with the receiver. The all-important front end of each barrel receives an 11-degree target crown. Beyer Barrels barrels are available in various configurations including bull, middle weight, standard tapered and fluted, and if you like attractive guns with some “bling,” you will appreciate the variety of colors and finishes they offer. All of their barrels are Cerakoted. Beyer expects that rifles built with their barrels will group .5 minute of angle or less at 100 yards. Beyer Barrels also makes AR barrels, which can be threaded for a suppressor upon request. The company is based in Forks, a small town on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.
HOLSTERS
Designed with you, the shooter, in mind!
zzzcustomholsters.com • 760-704-7384
gun gear LUTH AR’S NEW MBA-3 CARBINE BUTTSTOCK www.luth-ar.com • Booth #6256 LUTH-AR features rifle and carbine Modular Buttstock Assemblies that are fully adjustable, strong, lightweight, affordable and fit standard AR-style rifles. Their latest version, the MBA-3, features all sorts of new and neato additions, such as a bottom-facing Piccatiny rail, an anti-rattle set screw and a three-axis buttplate for making all sorts of minute adjustments to get your position just perfect. The MBA-3 comes in black, flat dark earth or pink, and if not only the lightest adjustable buttstock on the market, it is the most reasonably priced at just $159.
HIPERFIRE EXHIBITS ITS HIPERTOUCH AR FCG PRODUCT LINE AT NRA 2016 www.hiperfire.com Booth #2454 HIPERFIRE makes its first NRA booth appearance and will exhibit and sell their HIPERTOUCH Enhanced Duty Trigger (EDT) and their 24 Series lines of fire controls. The EDTs were designed for law enforcement officers, NRA service-rifle competitors and home defenders and offer trigger weights that are user-adjustable. These triggers have a stiffer hammer spring that provides a high-energy hammer strike with an incredibly low trigger weight settings of 2½ to 4¼ pounds. The single-stage pull is very smooth too with only a hint of creep, a very crisp break, a super-fast lock up and very positive trigger reset. Come to the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits this month in Lousiville, Ky., and check out this trigger. Your trigger finger will thank you.
ULTRA-LIGHTWEIGHT HANDGUARDS BY GUNTEC USA www.guntecusa.com Guntec USA manufactures an array of precision parts for the AK and AR platforms, but it’s their latest handguard that has us rubbing our hands. Their 15-inch KeyMod floating handguard is thin and ultralightweight. It comes with a monolithic top rail and is made from T6 aluminum. The rail system slides over the barrel nut and is locked up against the receiver with six screws. This gives it a tight 1.48-inch fit against the receiver, which allows for a monolithic top rail. This design comes in 12 and 15 inches currently and is offered in flat dark earth.
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gun gear HUBER CONCEPTS LEVELING THE MUZZLE BRAKE PLAYING FIELD www.huberconcepts.com The Huber square muzzle brake just works. The test? Hold your gun out at arm’s length with one hand and fire in fully automatic mode. What happens when you do that with your gun? If you had a Huber Concepts square muzzle brake, nothing would happen – absolutely nothing. Your barrel will stay dead
level even shooting in full auto. It is hard to believe unless you have seen it first hand, but in fact this patent-pending design nails the secret of the very thing muzzle brakes are all trying to do. Not only does this brake eliminate muzzle rise completely – did we mention that already? – it dissipates smoke so efficiently, you never see it leave the end of your rifle. Long guns, short guns – it just works! Do you shoot a big-bore gun? You can forget
BATTLECOMP, AMERICA’S ORIGINAL HYBRID MUZZLE DEVICE www.battlecomp.com Originally designed for law enforcement use, the BattleComp bridges the gap between a muzzle brake and a flash hider, and enhances speed to target and accuracy for shooters of any skill level and experience. BattleComps reduce muzzle rise while only minimally increasing flash, sound and concussion. There are BattleComps for many of the most popular rifles out there, from .223 to .300 Win Mag, and they include adapters where silencers are legal. The folks at Battlecomp are always up to something and never stop developing new ideas. Big breakthroughs come in tiny packages and these are all 100 percent made in the US.
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about flinching. Are you a sniper? There is almost negligible flash and target reacquisition is so fast, you won’t even feel you moved off target. Are you a competition precision shooter or hunter? Recoil is a thing of the past. For just $195, you can relax behind your gun.
PATRIOTIC RECOIL PAD FROM KICK-EEZ www.kickeezproducts.com Kick-EEZ has been making recoil pads for 31 years and is a family- and veteran-owned business. They have been using Sorbothane since they started and many of their competitors are still trying to compete with the comfort and performance Kick-EEZ provides even with all of the latest and greatest designs, materials and technology. The Patriot Pad, their latest design, was created to honor US veterans for all they do to protect our country, and they put their money where their mouths are. Kick-EEZ offer a 50 percent discount to any US veteran who currently and comes in flat dark earth. Purchase a Kick-EEZ Patriot Pad and they will make a contribution of $5 to a veterans organization.
gun gear TRIDENT TRIGGER www.tridenttrigger.com It is hard to describe the feel of any trigger, but this trigger-parts kit rivals the performance of any trigger you can find over $200. The benefit is this one costs a fraction of the price and offers all the reliability of mil-spec triggers. It comes in either curved or straight and drops in for precision AR-15- and AR-10-style rifles. These trigger kits are normally sold to AR
original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and include a custom hammer, trigger, disconnect, hammer spring and disconnect spring. The triggers are far superior to mil-spec triggers because each one is hand tuned, measured and fitted, breaks clean at 3 and 4 pounds, has minimal creep and a reduced weight pull. The hammers and springs are full power, so there are no light primer strike. You get a definite clean and clear response. The kit fits .154 small pin lowers with mil-spec pin locations, and will yield a trigger pull typically
NORTHTECH DEFENSE PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF AR PLATFORMS www.northtechdefense.com Northtech Defense has been making high-end CNCmachined products for the firearm, aerospace, recreation and other parts industries for over 10 years, and specializes in billet sets, uppers, lowers, barrel and bolts – all of which are manufactured in their own shop based in Oregon. This gives them immediate oversight on all aspects of their production and ensures close tolerances. They are a group of mad scientists too, perpetually creating prototypes or refining existing products. They feel that no process is above being improved upon. Working closely with all aspects of the shooting community to include strong connections with the military, law enforcement 3-Gun competitors, self-defense community and rifle enthusiasts, this team is always on the cutting edge.
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plus or minus 2 ounces of the tested pull weight, which is a noticeable difference in accuracy over standard triggers. In case you have some bigger projects, Trident Triggers offers special pricing for highquantity, dealer and OEM orders.
HEAVY-DUTY UNIVERSAL 80% AR-15 JIG
FORGED 80% AR-15 LOWER RECEIVER
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gun gear NEW ENGLAND CUSTOM GUNS HAS TWO GREAT SCOPE-MOUNT MODELS www.newenglandcustomgun.com • Booth #2885 The ERA-TAC Adjustable Inclination Mount solves the dilemma of which mount to use for long-range shooting. Its adjustability will allow the shooter to use the full range of their scope’s elevation adjustment. This incline mount adjusts from 0 to 70 MOA forward cant in 10 MOA increments. This will allow the shooter to adjust the mounted optic to the desired cant based on the optic, weapon, cartridge and/or desired distance. The ERA-TAC Ultralight scope mount was designed for minimalistic design and very low weight. A 56mm/2.2-inch offset allows enough eye relief for different rifle positions. Don’t let the light weight fool you; this mount can even withstand the force of shooting a .50 BMG.
KELBLY’S HAS GONE BERSERK (A GOOD THING)
NOWLIN ARMS HAS EXPANDED THEIR LINE OF BARRELS
www.kelbly.com
www.nowlinarms.com Specializing in the 1911 platform and known for arrels, incredible premium custom parts such as barrels, action kits, sears, ejectors and pretty much everything that matters on a 1911, Nowlin Arms has expanded their barrel line to include the Glock 17 (9mm Luger 1-to-16-inch twist, 4.49 inches) and Glock 21 (.45ACP, 4.6 inches). They have even added bull barrels in .45 ACP for the Officer 1911 model in both ramped and nonramped styles, and
offer a lifetime guarantee against breakage – that is dedication to a prod product. ct In addition to this new line of barrels, their Speed Demon Action trigger kit with a 3-pound pull was specifically designed for the professional shooter. All of the parts are wire cut EDM (electrical discharge machining) and CNC machined to the half million cycles.
STRIPLIN CUSTOM GUNWORKS OFFERS GRIP ADAPTERS FOR THE BROWNING BUCKMARK 1911 www.striplincustom.com Striplin has developed grip-adapter plates for the Browning Buckmark URX and UFX frames. These adapters allow the use of the very popular 1911 grips on the Buckmarks for the familiar 1911 grip we all have come to love. The adapter plates are machined from 6061 aluminum and are built as thin as possible to replicate the feel of the 1911. The Browning, with the plates installed, is only 1/16 inch thicker than the 1911 – practically imperceptible. The adapters come with grip bushings installed in your choice of standard or slim options, and with the vast variety of 1911 grips available and their customization capabilities, the personalization options are limitless. The adapters come standard in matte black, but can be finished in custom colors and processes. The adapter plates are prespot drilled for the placement of an optional thumb rest, just in case that is how you prefer your rig.
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Introducing the new GRS Berserk synthetic stock featuring the quality and ergonomics of GRS riflestocks without the worry of laminate. The Berserk stock features a 15 percent glassreinforced body with a 65 percent glass-filled pillar system. This design makes it unnecessary to bed the rifle because it uses the vibrationreduction properties of fiberglass in the pillars to mate up to the action. The ergonomics of the Berserk feature a canted pistol grip with finger grooves for a relaxed wrist position whilst shooting prone. It also has an adjustable cheek piece and adjustable length of pull. The Berserk is currently available for Remington 700 Short and Long Actions, Howa 1500 Actions, Weatherby Vaguard Short Actions, Tikka T3 Actions, Savage 12 Actions and Savage 16 Actions.
THE FERRARI OF TRIGGERS PERFORMS AS GOOD AS IT LOOKS. BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT. “This trigger is so clean and crisp that it amazes me every time... The reset is magic.” - Joe
“Once you squeeze this trigger and make a follow-up shot in the same hole, you’re gonna be so mad you spent money on any other trigger group.” - Doug
“I have used many different drop-in AR triggers in the past, but the RA-535 is without a doubt the best of the best! The break is so clean, I am almost surprised when it happens, and the reset is so crisp that double-taps and follow-on shots are a breeze.” - Joel
“I was able to have a much better feel between my finger and the trigger with no take-up, giving me a much more precise shot. And with the reset as crisp and solid as it is, my follow-up shots were fast and spot on.” - Les
“My grouping has become so tight, it’s hard to count the shots on the paper target at 100 yards with backup sights only… Amazing product. Amazing company.” - Daniel
THE RA-535 ADVANCED-PERFORMANCE TRIGGER Proudly designed and made in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma www.RiseArmament.com
gun gear VELOCITY TRIGGERS DEVELOPING NEW AR MODEL www.velocitytriggers.com • Booth #5106
RUBBER CITY ARMORY’S LOW MASS CARRIER www.rubbercityarmory.com
Development is in progress on a new replacement trigger for AR-platform rifles, which Velocity Triggers is promising to make affordable for the average gun owner. This company produces a trigger group that comes as a preassembled housing and will fit into any AR lower, with no gunsmithing required. Every trigger produced is made in the US, and they use EDM wire technology and only tool steel that is heat treated. In addition, Velocity Triggers also produces replacement firing pins made from prehardened 17-4 stainless steel. Also, they make pivot and takedown pins, and the company is working on extended pins.
Rubber City Armory’s Low Mass Competition carrier is processed with Blacknitride, which increases wear resistance, fatigue strength, corrosion resistance and lubricity. This carrier offers lower overall mass and less recoil, which puts you on back on target faster. Weighing in at just 6.8 ounces, this is a great upgrade, but Rubber City also offers the RCA Titanium carrier if you just need a bit more of an edge.
CDI PRECISION GUNWORKS NOW OFFERS DBM FOR SABATTI www.cdiprecisiongunworks.com CDiPrecision Gunworks, known for developing a wide array of detachable box magazines, is now offering a DBM for the Sabatti Rover Tactical short-action rifle. This DBM is available in .308, for five- and 10-round Accuracy International Chassis System (AICS) magazines, and .223 and Long Action rifles are coming soon.
SUPERIOR QUALITY AND VALUE
The Velocity AR Platform Trigger A high quality AR platform trigger (compatible with .22, .223/5.56mm, .30 cal) at an affordable price of only $150 Simply stated, The Velocity Trigger makes your AR feel like a bolt action rifle.
• Every trigger is 100% Made in America • EDM wire technology and All Tool Steel are used to precision manufacture the trigger, hammer and the disconnect • They are heat-treated to give you an exceptional lifetime of service • The housing for the trigger assembly is machined from 6061T6 billet aluminum
*Do Not use with 9mm conversion or any open bolt face
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gun gear
EVOLUTION GUN WORKS MAKES SOLID-STEEL THUMB SAFETY www.egwguns.com Due to consistent failures with inferior cast and MIM thumb safeties and seeing the need for a cleaner, more solid thumb-safety design, EGW
created a solid-steel, machined ambidextrous thumb safety. EGW is one of few that can and do do this. The kit includes two hammer pins for frames that measure .750 to .765 inches wide, the thumb safety is serrated and the hammer pin doubles as the down-stop for the right paddle. The sleeve sits just inside the frame tangs and the grip safety rides on the sleeve, which is not influenced when operating the safety. The sleeve prevents the safety from expanding where the sides join. For the safety lug that makes contacts with the frame on the left-hand side, they machined a radius down-stop instead of a pointed contact often found on these types of safeties. The T-slot on the right side prevents the safety from walking out. Unfortunately, this thumb safety is not a dropin part for your 1911; however that might be what makes it such a perfect upgrade – it requires precise attention.
EASY-TO-INSTALL REPLACEMENT TRIGGERS FROM ROM CMC www.cmctriggers.com • Booth #2735 CMC produces self-contained replacement trigger groups for AR-15 rifles, and d red there are four choices available with either flat or curved triggers and are offered in 3.5-, 4.5-, 5.5- or 6.5-pound pulls. gth With extremely tight tolerances, the CMC trigger groups feature full-strength g. rocket-wire springs, high-grade 410 stainless-steel housings and factory tuning. There is very little take-up or overtravel, and they fit mil-spec receivers. Last autumn, CMC and Lantac USA reportedly collaborated on two new triggers, the E-CT1 and E-CT2. Offered with either a flat or curved skeletonized trigger, the E-CT1 is set at 3.5 pounds and the E-CT2 is a two-stage unit.
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ALTAMONT GRIPS FLUSH WITH DIAMONDS www.altamontco.com
The Colt 19 1911 inlay grips are a perfect fit for the timeles timeless American classic. Exclusively Altamont, their new grips feature a rich from Altam hand-inlaid gold- or silver-clad Rampant Colt with a varie variety of embellishment and material option. The They offer a handsomely textured pattern over a polis polished surface, and one of their most designs, Spanish Diamonds, features a popular de classic dou double-diamond outline. These premier grips enhan enhances the look of a classic Colt and fit perfectly oon either a showpiece or workhorse. makes all of their products in Altamont Grips G the US.
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gun gear BRIGADE MANUFACTURING TO OFFER NEW FOREARM SYSTEM www.brigadefirearms.com
UNIQUE ARS OFFERS THE ULTIMATE IN FOREND CUSTOMIZATION www.unique-ars.com • Booth #2807 Nothing quite defines the shooter better than a forend with incredible design and detail. We are pretty sure that there isn’t a design out there that Unique ARs can’t do, and in case you don’t have your own, they have got ideas. These guys are masters of creativity – think Jurassic tattoo but for your gun. Their One Shot free-float handguard, made for the AR platform, comes in 7-, 9-, 12- and 15-inch lengths. Made from T6 temper 6061 aluminum and with an ultimate tensile strength of at least 42,000 pounds per square inch and a strength of 35,000 psi minimum, the inside diameter is 1.75 inches and it comes with a proprietary barrel nut for the .223/5.56. Unique ARs offers an array of custom colors as well. Adding your own external gear to this forend is not a problem, because they offer proprietary Picatinney rails too. Oh, the ideas!
Based out of Miami, Brigade Manufacturing specializes in all things AR-platform. They offer a full array of complete builds, as well as parts to upgrade your current rig, including uppers and lowers – complete or stripped – barrels, accessories and parts. Brigade is proud to say that their products are made by Americans for Americans, and they even offer a special military discount for current and retired veterans. Their state-of-the-art facility ensures their products are made with precision, in a timely manner and at a great price.
HARDENED ARMS HAS ALL-NEW CALIBER PRODUCTS FOR 2016 www.hardenedarms.com
AMERICAN BUILT ARMS COMPANY LAUNCHES THE MOD*X GEN III MODULAR RIFLE SYSTEM www.abarms.com This isn’t your daddy’s Remington Model 700 short action! Known for manufacturing small-arms parts for the defense industry, American Built Arms Company has released their lightweight and ergonomic drop-in chassis system just for the Remington 700. Created from aluminum, hard-coat, anodized to mil-spec type III, this system offers a 13.5-inch freefloating modular forearm and a zero-minute-of-angle scope rail, although a 20 MOA scope rail is available. It is available in fixed and folding stock versions and weighs only 3.2 pounds – wicked! The forearm offers KeyMod on all three sides and Geissele mounting slots on two. As the name suggests, this is an American-made product and the company is veteran owned.
GIBBZ ARMS HAS NEW .308 SIDE-CHARGE UPPER www.gibbzarms.com The new Gibbz Arms left-side charging upper fits most custom AR-10 bolt carriers. This patent-pending unit has a beveled ejection port with an integral case deflector. Weighing 14.6 ounces, this upper works with LR308 lower receivers and it has a low 15-slot Picatinny rail in the top. This upper features a nonreciprocating handle that stays forward during operation. It is completely manufactured in Arizona.
THORDSEN CUSTOMS PROVIDES STARTS FOR HOME GUN BUILDERS www.thordsencustoms.com Thordsen Customs produces all kinds of gear for the builder, including the new Picatinny buffer tube adapter, a new blast deflector and the UBLMequipped stripped upper and lower billet receiver. The new buffer-tube adapter is compatible with multiple platforms, fits any Picatinny rail and has 304 stainless-steel hardware. Made from 6061 T6 aluminum with a Type III hard-anodized finish, it weighs a scant 2.5 ounces. The new BD-180 blast deflector is 1.8 inches long, 1.36 inches in diameter and is made from alloy steel. The kit comes with the blast deflector,
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an A1 flash hider and a T-60 torx installation tool. The deflector is finished in manganese phosphate. Thordsen’s matching billet-machined lower and upper features a large-opening winter trigger guard, preinstalled UBML and Prince Bullet Button magazine locks, and a nylon-tipped upper-receiver tension screw. They are machined and engraved for compatibility with 45- and 60-degree shortthrow fire-control selectors and are compatible with most add-on ambidextrous bolt-catch levers. Machined from billet 7075-T6 aluminum with a matte-black hard-coat anodized finish, they have M4 feed ramps. There’s also a muzzle brake designed by 3-gun shooters. It has a dual-port design with angled porting, and is tapered to fit 0.75-inch diameter barrels. They are machined from 416 stainless
Creating some of the finest AR-platform uppers and parts, Hardened Arms is dedicated to innovative firearms and designs. Every firearm they build is built to order so you know you are truly getting a custom rifle, but at a great price. They also offer just about any addition or upgrade you can think of for your black gun. Their new 2016 lineup includes all-new caliber products like their 5.56 20-inch HBar (also comes in match grade), 5.56 22- to 24inch bull barrels (also in match grade with an MOE accuracy guarantee) 5.56 16-inch piston-driven rifles, 6.8 SPC II 16-inch HBar profile, 6.5 Grendel 18-, 20-, 22-, 24-inch HBar (22- to 24-inch offered in bull barrels) and a titanium nitride-coated BCG and barrels in 5.56, 5.56 match, 6.8 SPC II, 6.5 Grendel, 300 BO and 7.62x39, to name a few of their latest creations. Hardened Arms is a true machine shop so they offer their own array of barrels with many different profiles, such as Melonited (QPQ or black nitride) or stainless and titanium nitride finishes, and can create various fluting options. Since they are always creating, there is always something new at Hardened Arms. Wait times usually run around three to six weeks, and that too is a sign of quality.
or 4140 heat-treated steel with a manganese phosphate finish.
gun gear
HARDENED ARMS S HAS NEW PROPRIETARY BARREL-MAKING PROCESS www.hardenedarms.com The newest development in the Hardened Arms product line is the proprietary barrel-manufacturing process. They only use 4150 chromoly vanadium steel for its barrels. This has allowed the company to create a certified mill-to-barrel, match-grade barrel and bolt carrier group with an MOA accuracy guarantee. Hardened Arms has highlighted its Predator Series elite AR-15 uppers and complete rifles. The company also has a patent-pending handguard, plus various muzzle brakes, flash hiders and charging handles, and plan to offer multicaliber suppressors that are currently in various testing phases.
PURE GOLD SHOTGUN CHOKES FOR ALL CHALLENGES www.gameacc.net Name the application and Pure Gold Chokes has a model to meet the challenge. Whether shooting waterfowl, wild turkeys, sporting clays, or even buckshot and competition-card shooting, there is a model in the lineup. For example, waterfowl chokes are available in modified and improved cylinders and are engineered from heat-treated stainless steel to handle all types of nontoxic shot. They are available in 12- and 20-gauge. Their Pure Gold Tempest waterfowl chokes were developed specifically for Federal Premium Black Cloud ammunition. For sporting clays, Pure Gold developed the Titanium Diamond choke series. They feature a rugged finish and there are several models available.
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gun gear MUZZLE BRAKES FROM KAHNTROL SOLUTIONS www.kahntrol.com Quality muzzle brakes help reduce recoil and improve accuracy, and Kahntrol Solutions produces both clamp-on and threaded models. In addition, they have several accessories, including the PodMod adapters that fit assorted bipod models. The clamp-on muzzle brake requires no modification of the barrel, and they produce clamp-ons that fit barrels measuring between .570 and .950 inches at the muzzle. They are machined from 6061-T6511 aluminum and hard-coat anodized in matte black. Kahntrol has three styles of threaded brakes: the 3-gun brake made from 4140 steel and available with ½-28 or 5/8-24 threads; HexMod od brake available with threads in 55/8-24, ¾-24 ¾ 24 or ¾-32; and the HexMod CWES Gen1 and Gen2. The Gen1 model is available for AK-pattern rifles and the Gen2 system comes with 5/8-24 threading.
SAFETY HARBOR FIREARMS OFFERS THE KOMPACT ENTRY STOCK SYSTEM www.safetyharborfirearms.com The Kompact Entry Stock system (KES) is an innovative solution for the collapsible stock on any AR-15/10-based firearm – no gunsmithing required. It offers an adjustable length-of-pull that ranges from 0 to 13.5 inches and the sling mount is ambidextrous. It’s another great solution from Safety Harbor Firearms.
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Bartlein Barrels, Inc Manufacturers of Precision Single-Point Cut RiďŹ&#x201A;ed Barrels
On the Cutting Edge of Barrel Technology!
262-677-1717 www.BartleinBarrels.com W208N16939 N. Center Street Jackson, Wisconsin 53037 americanshootingjournal.com 155
gun gear VALKYRIE DYNAMICS INC. www.1911compensator.com One could consider Valkyrie Dynamics the onestop shop for all things tricked-out 1911. They use state-of-the-art Haas CNC technology to machine parts from aerospace aluminum, and hardened stainless steels to create unique grip designs, as well as cool-looking and highly functional compensators. Examples of their top sellers include the unique Cobra Skeleton grips and Predator compensators, which, by the way, provide exceptional recoil reduction as well as look amazing. If you are looking for just the right amount of uniqueness on your firearm, check these guys out.
KKM PRECISION HAS SUPERB PISTOL BARRELS www.kkmprecision.com Known for producing highly accurate pistol barrels favored by competitors, KKM introduced several new barrel models. Very late in 2015, KKM began making barrels for the Springfield XD(M) in 9mm, the XD45, the Sig Sauer P226, P229 and P220 and the CZ75. Their barrel production is done with state-of-the-art
multi-axis CNC machinery. The company was founded in the early 1990s, so KKM has plenty of experience. KKM has developed a unique, proprietary button-rifling process that virtually assures accuracy. Barrels are 100 percent made in the US from 416R stainless-steel, heat-treated 44 RC. All barrels are available polished, satin finished or coated with black nitride. All chambers are SAAMI spec, and dimensions are held to National Match standards.
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Pending
VZ GRIPS HAS NEW KEY MOD GRIPS www.vzgrips.com • Booth #5947 VZ Grips is introducing a new line of G10 KeyMod grips designed to work on any platform that incorporates the KeyMod rail system. There are two different choices. One is a slimline model, which is squared off on the ends, and an interlocking version with more of a radiused profile. Both feature VZ’s proven signature textures that have been hits in the handgun grip line, and are available in numerous color schemes.
A TACTICAL RIFLE SOLUTION
• Lightest bullpup on the market • The only bullpup in an all metal design • The only bullpup with a factory trigger that is adjustable from 3.5-5lb • Short stroke gas piston system • Utilizes some AR-15 components for easy replacement of parts • The only bullpup that you can change the pistol grip to use a standard AR-15 grip • Available in both 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO • Order direct from the manufacturer • 100% MADE IN THE USA
480.406.0538 • www.kmarms.com • Chandler, AZ americanshootingjournal.com 157
SAND PAPER PISTOL GRIPS GIVES POSITIVE CONTACT www.sand-paper-pistol-grips.com Sand Paper Pistol Grips has the perfect solution to slippery or less-than-desirable gripping properties of polymer-framed handguns. Their exclusive SRG70 gripping material, which is a hybrid of grip tape with a bonded layer of rubber. The SRG70 material has the appearance of fine stippling but the gripping properties are far superior. It will not damage your firearm or reduce its value, and the profile is about 18/1,000ths of an inch, so it will not add bulk to your grip. For shooters who like a bit of pizzazz and crazy colors, they even offer 10 color options on their sister site: zombie-gun-grip.com.
SEEKINS PRECISION ON CHANGES THE GAME CK-GUN ON BLACK-GUN PRECISION ON www.seekinsprecision.com cision.com Booth #2203
• Simple Bolt-On Installation for Most Vehicles • Amazing Performance - Affordable Price! • Reliable & Nearly Maintenance FREE • 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
AMERICAN TRACK TRUCK, INC. P.O. Box 260 • Chassell, MI 49916 Toll Free: 800-900-0995 Local: 906-353-6330
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If you are looking for AR perfection, Seekins Precision knows no other way. Built for real-world world use, they manufacture complete ete uppers, lowers, handguards, scope bases, scope rings – the list goes on. Their uppers and lowers ers are CNC 6-billet machined from 7075-T6-billet aluminum and they are setting the standard by offering a completely ompletely reedmoor ambidextrous SP10 6.5 Creedmoor lower receiver with an ambi mbi magazine release, selectorr switch and bolt switch. Seekins’ SP3R free-floatt handguard is flat on the bottom, om, which enhances stability for precision shots, and their top Picatinny rail extends over the barrel mount to strengthen the receiver and provide more spacee to mount optics or other interesting ng gadgets. These are just a few of the he highlights this year from Seekins Precision. If you are looking for the highest quality in fit and finish and are looking for a real-world components, then you have just sighted in.
Custom Grips Showcase
Ammunition
events
NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS & EXHIBITS SCHEDULE KENTUCKY EXPOSITION CENTER 937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209 Entry into the exhibit hall is FREE to NRA Members and their immediate family!
NATIONAL NRA FOUNDATION BANQUET
THURSDAY, MAY 19, 5:00 P.M. EXHIBIT HALL 2D, KENTUCKY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER Join us for an evening of food, fellowship and firearms. Protect the future of shooting sports and our hunting heritage while enjoying an evening with Second Amendment supporters. The auctions will feature oneof-a-kind firearms, hunts and merchandise only available at the National NRA Foundation Banquet. We will also feature exciting games throughout the evening for a chance to win numerous firearms.
10TH ANNUAL NRA WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP FORUM LUNCHEON & AUCTION
FRIDAY, MAY 20 RECEPTION AND SILENT AUCTION: 10 A.M. TO 11:30 A.M. LUNCHEON: 11:30 A.M. TO 1:30 P.M. MARRIOTT HOTEL, DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE Terry Fator and his cast of hilarious puppets will join us for an afternoon of comedy and celebrity impersonations. He has been touted as “one of the most talented people on the planet,” by Simon Cowell. We’re so lucky to steal him away to give our Women’s Leadership Forum members an exclusive experience you won’t find anywhere else! The NRA Women’s Leadership Forum Luncheon & Auction took root more than a decade ago when a small group of women wanting to make a difference gathered to share their ideas and goals. Today, the NRA Women’s Leadership Forum Luncheon & Auction has grown to become our 160
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EXHIBIT HALL HOURS: Friday, May 20 Saturday, May 21 Sunday, May 22
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION HOURS: Thursday, May 19 Friday, May 20 Saturday, May 21 Sunday, May 22
2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
marquee women’s event of the year, drawing hundreds of distinguished women from all parts of the United States for a truly unforgettable afternoon. The luncheon and auction includes silent and live auctions featuring unique treasures, one-of-a-kind artwork and jewelry, exciting firearms and hunting trips of a lifetime.
NRA-ILA LEADERSHIP FORUM
FRIDAY, MAY 20, 12:30 P.M. FREEDOM HALL, KENTUCKY EXPOSITION CENTER NRA-ILA’s annual leadership forum is one of the most politically significant and popular events in the country, featuring the nation’s top Second Amendment leaders in government, media and the entertainment industry. This forum is also a must-stop for candidates seeking the highest levels of elected office, including governor and Congress.
19TH ANNUAL FIREARMS LAW SEMINAR
FRIDAY, MAY 20, 8:00 A.M. SPEAKER: LT. COL. OLIVER NORTH ARCHIBALD COCHRAN BALLROOM, GALT HOUSE HOTEL The gold standard in firearms law classes, this day-long seminar provides instruction for practicing attorneys who represent firearms owners and FFLs, judges, licensed dealers, bloggers and others with an interest in Second Amendment law. CLE credit is available for all states. This seminar will include discussions about current constitutional challenges across the country, how to best
analyze and bring constitutional challenges, executive orders and dangers from the administrative agencies (including those from the Veterans Administration and Social Security Administration gun grabs), FFL compliance issues and ATF’s new guidance on what constitutes a firearms dealer, firearms instructor liability, preemption cases across the country, rights restoration, gun trusts and firearms in trusts and estates.
NRA COUNTRY JAM VI FRIDAY, MAY 20, 6:00 P.M. BELVEDERE AT WATERFRONT PARK
After the guns are cased as the exhibit hall closes on Friday, round up some friends and cut loose for a few hours with some top-notch country music entertainment at the NRA Country Jam. For five consecutive years, the Jam has proven to be the event for fun-loving NRA fans – it’s where blue-jean-wearing NRA members go to hang out in a relaxed environment, have fun, perhaps drink a beer together and listen to some truly outstanding music. Get your tickets early!
coordinators and offers discussions on how to bring an NRA university to your school. Student activists from across the country gather to discuss ideas, receive training, earn free swag, learn about possible job opportunities with NRA and meet and network with likeminded students. Attendees are encouraged to bring a current resume if interested in possible employment with NRA-ILA.
SATURDAY NIGHT CELEBRATION SATURDAY, MAY 21, 7:00 P.M. KFC YUM! CENTER
No matter the city or venue, the NRA show always culminates in a memorable musical performance on Saturday night. Top-tier artists such as Miranda Lambert, Hank Williams, Jr., Lee Greenwood and Alan Jackson have headlined years past, and this year’s superstar performer is Toby Keith. Get your tickets early because this “star-spangled event” – it falls on Armed Forces Day – will sell out fast.
NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST NRA-ILA DINNER & AUCTION FRIDAY, MAY 20, 6:00 P.M. GRAND BALLROOM, GALT HOUSE HOTEL
This dinner and auction event will feature a custom Orange County Choppers Trike, donated by Pell Industrial and designed specifically to commemorate the NRA.
SUNDAY, MAY 22, 7:00 A.M. GRAND BALLROOM, GALT HOUSE HOTEL
Make sure you reserve your tickets for the NRA Prayer Breakfast in Louisville. Join over 1,000 NRA Members for a time of inspirational encouragement. We’ll have speakers who will challenge you with stirring words of freedom and faith, great music and some good food. This is one of the key events at the 2016 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits. We’ll see you there.
ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS SATURDAY, MAY 21, 10:00 A.M. FREEDOM HALL, KENTUCKY EXPOSITION CENTER
As home to the world-famous Kentucky Derby, Louisville knows what it takes to showcase a spectacular race – and the NRA knows what it takes to stand up for our country and win the 2016 presidential race! Make plans to join NRA President Allan Cors, Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox and your other NRA officers for the 145th Annual Meeting of Members.
NRA-ILA YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
3RD ANNUAL NRA WOMEN’S NEW ENERGY BREAKFAST SUNDAY, MAY 22, 9:30 A.M. TO 11:00 A.M. KENTUCKY EXPOSITION CENTER
This event, held in conjunction with the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, is a women-only get together that provides the opportunity for women, especially those new to the NRA family or attending the NRA Annual Meetings for the first time, to socialize and network with other like-minded women, meet female NRA board members, leaders and staff and hear about NRA programs and outreach efforts.
SATURDAY, MAY 21, 3:00 P.M. TO 5:00 P.M. KENTUCKY EXPOSITION CENTER
NRA-ILA’s Annual Youth Leadership Conference is designed for college students and recent graduates looking to take an active role on their campus and in their community to defend and promote the Second Amendment. NRA-ILA grassroots staff provide in-depth training for student leaders on how to become youth outreach
4TH ANNUAL NRA YOUTH DAY
SUNDAY, MAY 22, 10:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. KENTUCKY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER All youth and their families are welcome to join in on the fun during this day filled with interactive activities, a walk through the exhibit hall to the various Youth Day sponsor’s booths and will end with a drawing of prizes. americanshootingjournal.com 161
VETERAN OWNED SMALL BUSINESS
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(951) 736-9440 | info@paragontactical.com | www.paragontactical.com | www.supertrap.com Corona, CA | CA Contractors License number 800347 Paragon, for the last 10 years, has been the only company with a proven Class “A” fire rating on their Super Trap® shooting range backstop! 162
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industry SHOOTING CHRONY LEADS THE WAY www.shootingchrony.com Well known for its line of chronographs that are used by shooters all over the country, Shooting Chrony leads the way with accessories for electronic devices. For example, the Chrony LED lamp allows the use of a Chrony chronograph under any light conditions to ensure consistent velocities. Indoors or outdoors, these lights work. The NiMH Battery Pack can power the LED lamp for more than 18 hours of continuous use when there is no 120V/220V power source available. It has a 12V rechargeable battery with an overcharge protector. There are several Chrony models, including the Master, Alpha, Gamma and Beta. They all fold up into compact packages that make carrying them to the range convenient.
MAKE YOUR AMMO STAND OUT WITH TAC-PAC www.tac-pac.net The TAC-PAC case was designed for the discerning end user who wants to keep their ammunition properly store and readily visible. Made of 100-percent recyclable thermoformed plastic and durable enough to be reused again and again, this ammunition container is perfect for the very organized person. Most ammunition
boxes you see are simple paperboard with a plastic or foam insert. If the box gets wet or dirty it is most likely ruined. As a wholesale ammunition manufacturer or retailer, the most obvious benefit of this case is the innovative clear design, which lets the customer clearly see – pun intended – what they are buying. It’s a great way to showcase bullet features such as ballistic tips and hollow points. These cases stack and nest perfectly for easy shipping or display. For law enforcement agencies, gun stores, ranges, etc., these boxes are easy to inventory and you never need to open a box just to see if it is complete. And TAC-PAC makes boxes for 99 percent of the available commercial ammunition in the world. See, small packages can make huge changes in the gun industry.
NECO OFFERS A CHRONOGRAPH AND RAS RIFLE TUNING SYSTEM www.neconos.com NECO this year is offering the new Kurzzeit BMC-19 wireless chronograph and the RAS rifle tuning system. The BMC-19 chronograph is sensitive enough to pick up a .17-caliber projectile and has its own infrared light source, so one needn’t worry about shadows or overcast. The small display box hooks up to the light screen, and can be used at the range with a laptop, or taken home and downloaded there. It can also measure speeds from 500 to more than 4,000 feet per second. The RAS rifle tuning system actually allows the user to tune a rifle barrel. It replaces a traditional muzzle brake, and features a tuning ring that can help improve and tighten groups considerably, firing off a solid rest. The tuning ring is rotated in small steps to find the best setting that works with the ammunition someone is using. It works with two-shot strings to produce tighter groups and works best with free-floating barrels.
GROUPON FOR GUNS? DEAL! www.gununiverse.com
If you are familiar with online buying platform sites such as Groupon or Living Social, then you understand group buying. That is exactly what Gun Universe offers – a huge price break to you. Gun Universe goes directly to producers, wholesalers and distributors to negotiate a group savings on behalf of their subscribers. They work with suppliers to determine price points and deal limitations, then create a window for certain products to be showcased. This behind-thescenes negotiations means you can get what you want for at or near cost. The folks who subscribe to Gun Universe get a fun buying experience and cost benefits simply by being a part of this unique community. You may ask, How do they do this? Many of the products are offered at hard-line prices in these group platforms because producers and wholesalers know that happy clients make great promoters. This is also why there are limited numbers of all these products. It’s kind of like a secret club that you don’t want anyone else to know about.
MIL-SPEC CAMO FACE PAINT?! YEP! www.camofacepaint.com Professional Hollywood makeup artist guru Bobbie Weiner is internationally known for working on the frozen and floating bodies in the movie Titanic, among many others. It was from this that the US government contacted her to develop camouflage paint for them and is now considered their number one supplier of face paint, not to mention also awarding her two gold medals for the quality of her products. No small feat. Now she supplies the hunting industry with the same camo paint she produces for the federal government – we could even say it is mil-spec paint – and it comes in a five-color compact or three stick kits, which are sold in post exchanges (PX) all over the world and can be washed off with just soap and water. Needless to say, it is made in the US and is a must for any hunter.
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industry REVOLUTIONARY TACTICAL TARGETRY BY PARAGON TACTICAL www.paragontactical.com This California-based company provides stateof-the-art shooting range containment systems, designs and builds tactical rifle and pistol ranges that include ballistic range baffles, safety walls and ceilings, target systems and more. Their new and revolutionary target system offers a static lateral 360-degree target, which is a new advancement in target technology. This patented turning target system allows rangemasters to easily create and run tactical courses of fire in a matter of seconds! This can be quite handy when creating a dynamic course of fire. Some of the features of this system include: password-protected interface; highly responsive and graphic interface that uses the latest programming; it’s self-adjusting; and most
importantly, there is fluid motion with no pauses. The system is easy to learn too, because it is so intuitive and there are several levels of access and multiple profiles can be programmed into the system. This is great for shared ranges. It’s like Paragon Tactical took everything that was wrong with most target systems and made it right.
ALEXANDRIA KINCAID’S BOOK ‘INFRINGED’ NOW IN THE NRA ONLINE STORE www.alexkinkaid.com • Booth #5810
DEGUNS IS A ONE-STOP SHOP www.deguns.net Deguns, aka Discount Enterprises, offers so many things we didn’t even know how to categorize them. First, they are a gun shop complete with a full-time gunsmith and are a Class 3 NFA dealer. They are also an incredibly comprehensive web-based shooters bazaar offering everything a gun lover could want or need at amazing prices. Wait, there is more. They even have a direct link to their distribution warehouse where customers can order direct at deguns.biz. No, we are not done. They offer knife sharpening too. You can either order knife sharpening through their website and send your knives in, or feel free to walk into their store located in Nebraska, where all of the items you see online can be found. The website is ever-changing too. What you see online today may not be there tomorrow and they have what they call their deal of the day. This is where they post their top deal – and they would know – so visiting them each day is probably a great idea.
KAKADU TRADERS HAS CCW DENIM CONCEALEDCARRY VEST www.kakaduaustralia.com
AMERICAN GUNSMITHING INSTITUTE TEACHES HOW TO REPAIR, BUILD GUNS www.americangunsmith.com • Booth #4346 The American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) offers invaluable knowledge online. Just like so many other degrees and vocational training these days, you can remotely take and complete AGI’s certified gunsmithing courses. They’re so serious about the level of education you will receive, they boast equaling and, more often, exceeding campus-based courses. Some of the courses AGI offers include basic and advanced firearms maintenance, customizing and gunsmithing repair for hobbyists and professionals, to name a few. They will even send you a lesson for free just to try out their teaching skills and high-quality videos. Learning a skill from the comfort of your own home that is directly related to your and our favorite pastime? Sweet!
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New from Kakadu Traders, the makers of a rugged concealed-carry vest, is a new rendition of the Kelly vest, this time in denim blue. Designed like the rest of the line, this new model has a washable leather collar, brass zipfront closure, double front yokes, chest flaps covering welted pockets, side entry pockets and paneled back with side adjuster tabs. The interior is black cotton lined with a stencil print that covers the Kakadu concealed-carry internal system (CCIS) and comes with the Kakadu anti-imprint pads.
If you carry or own a firearm for any reason, you may want to have the name Alexandria Kincaid in your backpocket or range bag. Whether you are a collector, competitive shooter, self-protection tactical guru or just need assistance navigating the ATF labyrinth, Kincaid is not just a firearm lawyer, she specializes in all things Second Amendment. Whether you have one firearm or 100, all gun owners worry about one thing: how to exercise their Second Amendment rights without jeopardizing their future freedom. Infringed empowers every gun owner by providing the necessary knowledge to stay safe, legal and alive. You can get a copy of the gun owner’s ultimate reference manual and support the NRA at the same time by buying Infringed right from the NRA online store, or you can get a free copy when you donate $100 to the Second Amendment Legal Defense Foundation, a nonprofit that provides Second Amendment legal services to people who cannot afford it, and they defend against an overreaching government. You can visit them online at 2alegaldefense.org.
21ST CENTURY SHOOTING OFFERS WIDE VARIETY OF ACCESSORIES
WHY BUY A REAMER WHEN YOU CAN RENT ONE FROM 4D?
www.21stcenturyshooting.com • Booth #4346
There is no need to buy a reamer when you can rent one, especially if you are only going to use it once or twice. 4D Reamers specializes in renting reamers, headspace gauges and popular gunsmithing tools, and with over 1,000 options to choose from, they will have just what you need. 4D is made up of professional gunsmiths who have immense pride in their work, so you never have to worry about the quality or sharpness of the reamer you receive. You can count on it being perfect.
Shooters looking for a wide range of accessories should find what they’re after by checking with 21st Century Shooting, an Indiana company that handles all kinds of products. Reloading supplies, bullet seaters, cleaning supplies, case-prep tools and more. You will also find bore guides, case holders and drivers, tube micrometers, reloading trays and sandbags. There are even a couple of products for paintball shooters.
www.4-dproducts.com
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industry SMART FIREARMS’ NEW 3RD GENERATION – IT’S SO REAL! www.smartfirearms.us Smart Firearms Training Devices has developed a training gun that literally corrects bad habits and trains correct handling of a firearm using corrective technology. The device uses a highly adaptive algorithm that detects triggerfinger placement among a myriad of other movements and sounds off when something is incorrect. This gives an instructor and the shooter an audible notification and immediate feedback. These training devices are currently being used by large police departments in the United States that include New York PD, Boston PD, New Orleans PD, Phoenix PD, as well as 85 international police departments. Smart Firearms is now on their third-generation model with updates that include optional removable magazines, night sights, a laser interface and other realistic gadgets, all designed to perfectly replicate and function just like the same firearm the officer or student uses. The gun is even purposely and properly weighted for each make and model. This training aid is designed to teach anyone who uses a firearm in the line of duty, among others, what cannot be readily taught on a live-fire range, giving the shooter and the agency a better trained officer.
AMERICAN TRACK TRUCK www.americantracktruck.com Using a simple bolt-on design that you can install in minutes, the Dominator Track Systems replace your wheels and tires, allowing your vehicle to travel through snow, ice, swamp and wetlands – yes, we said wetlands! You’ll go places you never thought you would be able to in your vehicle. There are two sizes available: one for general-purpose vehicles and extra large tracks for deeper snow and more aggressive terrain. For less than the price of a new snowmobile, you can stay comfortable in your vehicle and take on the terrain.
IDAHO’S SUPER HUNT A CHANCE TO HUNT GEM STATE BIG GAME www.idfg.idaho.gov/superhunt Do you dream of hunting for an elk, deer, antelope or moose during any open hunting season? If this kind of freedom is your idea of hunting, then you have got to enter the Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s Super Hunt drawings. Just in case the epicness of hunting this amazing cadre of America’s biggest game wasn’t enough, other things that make this an even sweeter opportunity are: you don’t need a license to enter; you can enter as many times as you want; and each entry only costs $6 for a single species or $20 for all four in what IDFG calls the Super Hunt combo. As an added benefit to all hunters and anglers, the revenue raised by the Super Hunt drawings support the Access Yes! program, which opens private land and access to public lands. In 2015 alone, Access Yes! opened 379,067 private acres and 474,845 public acres to the public for hunting and fishing. This is a cause worth supporting.
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industry DAVIDSON’S GALLERY OF GUNS www.galleryofguns.com GalleryofGuns.com is the consumer website for Davidson’s, one of the oldest and largest firearms wholesalers in the country. They are dedicated to helping you find the perfect firearm and they have a very simple system. Just search for the new firearm you want from over 90 of the world’s most renowned manufacturers and once you find the gun you are looking for, you will receive an instant quote from your local gun retailers. There are no phone calls, emails or texts. Just find and buy. You might be asking yourself why you wouldn’t just wander down to the store yourself or buy from any number of online retailers. Well, if you buy your new gun through Gallery of Guns, should anything ever go wrong with that firearm, it will be replaced by a brand new one. They call it their lifetime replacement warranty and they mean it.
PRECISION RIFLE SERIES GROWING FAST www.precisionrifleseries.com The fastest growing and dynamic shooting sport in the nation, the Precision Rifle Series is a rifle match that pits competitors against themselves and against shooters across the nation with events throughout the year and locations scattered from the Blue Ridge Mountains to Texas
TE RA T ! A FL NG 5 PPI 9 . I $9 SH
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deserts and Montana’s vast open spaces. This sport is attracting novices and snipers alike. Can you handle it?
WANT TO COMPETE AGAINST OTHER SHOOTERS NATIONWIDE? THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT BY TEAM RĒKON www.teamrekon.com Firearms enthusiasts haven’t had a way to pit themselves against shooters nationwide without having to travel great distances. But now there is a fully customizable app where they can brag about their accomplishments, thanks to Rekon. Some of the features include a fire session, which uses verification technology, advanced scoring algorithms and extremely precise data to give shooters of all disciplines and skill levels the ability to measure and track their shooting performance. It highlights each shooter’s accuracy, precision, distance to target, average spread and more. There are also challenges that allow shooters to compete against other users from anywhere in the world and at any given time to see how they stack up against other shooters outside of their own network. This is done by using sophisticated leader boards with robust filtering options. Rekon also has something they call a fire
feed. This is a social connection hub that brings shooters together from all across the globe. Whether posting or viewing, users can interact with each other, share accomplishments, view photos and videos, connect with friends, send and receive private messages and much more. This app currently only works with Apple products, but an Android platform is in the works.
ORION ARMS CORPS www.orionarmsonline.com If you find yourself in Kentucky, like during the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits this month, stop in and visit Orion Arms Corps. This gun store carries a wide variety of firearms from .50-caliber Barretts to .22 pistols. They also carry an array of gear for the novice and expert alike and are proud distributors of Case knives and concealed carry purses from Gun Tote’n Mamas. You can check them out on Facebook where they post new products and deals just for their insiders. Their latest deal? We weren’t suppose to tell, but you will get a 20-percent discount on a concealed-carry purse with any purchase of a firearm. Shhhh!
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AEROSPACE INNOVATION AIMS HIGH Layke Tactical found its roots in the aerospace industry. A group of engineers and a few others came to together using their expertise to create highly innovative AR-platform rifles.
Layke Tactical Reaches For The Stars With AR Innovation INTERVIEW BY DANIELLE BRETEAU * PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF KELLY ENTREKIN
E
rnest Apodaca is the owner of Layke Tactical, manufacturer of precise and high-end ARplatform rifles. Having come from an aerospace background, he and his team have focused their expertise on making a diverse array of ARs that are unique in look and feel to any shooter.
American Shooting Journal How did Layke Tactical get started? Ernest Apodaca A group of people and I expressed a desire to make our own firearm brand. An opportunity arose to buy out a small and local AR-platform business, so we did. We applied our aerospace machining and inspection principals and started making a top-quality
Layke Tactical’s Haas machine is used to create their upper and lower receivers, grips and flash suppressors.
gun that we could offer with a lifetime warranty. ASJ Where did the name Layke come from? EA Layke Tool was originally established in Meadville, Pa., americanshootingjournal.com 171
This 6-pound titanium .308 AR is setting the stage for what can be accomplished with aerospace knowledge and technology.
back in 1953. The name “Layke” was the middle name of one of the original owners. Layke Incorporated, started in 1955 in Phoenix, Ariz., manufacturing aerospace components. Layke Tactical started in February 2013 as a separate division manufacturing firearms components and finished assemblies. Layke Tactical is made up of just three people; however, Layke Incorporated, a much larger organization, supports Layke Tactical with the use of our engineering, quality control, programming and personnel. ASJ What was the inspiration to start manufacturing firearms?
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Transitioning from flight engineering to firearms was not as much of a hurdle as you might think. According to the folks at Layke, finding product liability insurance and credit card processing programs for firearms-related industries were their biggest challenge.
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EA The idea came at a time when the aerospace manufacturing industry was down, which is common in that field. ASJ What was the most difficult aspect of starting Layke Tactical? EA Finding product liability insurance for firearms, credit card processing for firearms and getting name recognition in the firearms industry. ASJ What makes the effort all worthwhile?
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EA The response we have received from our customers about the accuracy and quality of our firearms. ASJ What is Layke’s next milestone? EA Innovations with new components and designing and producing AR platforms There is no end to the possibilities Layke Tactical in 9mm and other calibers. can achieve, and we should soon see an expansion of their work with different ASJ Do you support any caliber AR-platform charities or organizations? options. EA Organizations? Yes! The National Rifle Association, Arizona Elk Society, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, Society Of Manufacturing Engineering, National Tool And Machine Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation. ASJ What is your personal motto or creed? EA Quality in all the products we produce! I also believe that keeping jobs in America, especially in Phoenix, using skilled men and woman is contributing to the health and well being of our country.
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gear
CANNON SAFE’S BRIGADIER SERIES – ‘ULTIMATE IN LUXURY FEATURES’ www.cannonsafe.com • Booth #3701
The Cannon Brigadier Series model BR604830-90 safe is Cannon’s flagship model and has the ultimate in luxury features and security for your most treasured valuables. The security features include their dual-access EMP lock, 12 4-inch locking bolts, Tru-Lock internal hinge, anti-pry tabs, 90-minute fire rating, triple-fin smoke seal, dual relocker and triple hard plates that protect the lock. And that is just the beginning. These safes come in three colors: hammertone black, hammertone charcoal and hammertone beige. The interior upholstery is practically luxurious and there is an upgraded MOLLE door organizer kit, interior lights, a powered media box with USB and Ethernet ports, adjustable shelving and a chrome five-spoke handle. Yes, crazy, we know – and nicer than most living rooms! As with all Cannon Safe products, it is backed by a lifetime replacement promise and is simply the perfect solution for all of your valuable guns, electronics, heirlooms, cash, paperwork, jewelry, firearms, mother-in-law, pets when you are away – no, maybe not those last two – and other valuables.
FROGLUBE EXTREME: PROFESSIONAL-GRADE LUBRICATION FOR EXTREME CONDITIONS www.froglube.com • Booth #2731
additions is the all-together Vega DA1 Upsidedown Holster. This design is a bit rare, but Vega has a great version. Currently only available for small revolvers, the hand-molded, full-grain tan leather might be too nice to keep concealed. There is an elastic restraint band that grips the gun and facilitates easy drawing, and it’s also ambidextrous simply by reversing the clip. The quality adjustable leather and elastic harness is comfortable and durable with low-bulk hardware. This is just one of the thousands of holsters you can find at BuyHolsters.com.
FENIX HAS EDC FLASHLIGHT www.fenix-store.com The PD35 TAC (tactical edition) is the ideal pocketsized everyday-carry flashlight. Though measuring less than 5.5 inches, don’t let the size fool you. It features up to a 1,000-lumen output and has a beam distance of up to 656 feet. In Outdoor Mode, the PD35 TAC delivers six output modes. Bald Eagle 1156 The perfect size for all sorts of applications, from outdoor use to law enforcement, you can count on this powerful little sidekick.
GET YOUR P.H.D.S BY E.A.R. www.earinc.com • Booth #5002 & 5003 Keeping firearms running in all temperatures and conditions requires a good lubricant, and FrogLube Extreme meets those challenges. This stuff was formulated to work across a broad range of environmental conditions, from minus 44 degrees to above 140. It is nontoxic and all natural. It doesn’t evaporate or burn off at high temperatures. Rather, it reduces fouling in tactical rifles, micronizes fouling particles, functions even on precision firearms and it complies with Army field manual/tech manual specifications for smallarms operations and maintenance. FrogLube Extreme comes in a handy squeeze tube and is simply the coolest stuff you ever needed.
NEW VEGA UPSIDEDOWN HOLSTER AVAILABLE AT BUYHOLSTERS.COM www.buyholsters.com The true one-stopshop for all things holster, Buyholsters .com has an incredible selection. Among many of the products they offer, one of their latest
DIAMOND D’S GUIDE HOLSTER SIMPLE, COMFY www.diamonddcustomleather.com
E.A.R.’s new Quick Fit P.H.D. has been specifically designed for people who want a water-resistant, multifunctional device that can be worn as electronic ear protection and/or a personal hearing device – hence the name P.H.D. This little device is ergonomically designed with a stock half-shell body that fits comfortably within the folds of the outer ear. The P.H.D. is 100 percent digital with multichannel processor that automatically reduces damaging noise above 85 decibels while amplifying quiet sounds, ensuring clear communications, sound direction and 360-degree situational awareness. It is perfect for all types of applications and in our case, great for shooters.
The Guide’s Choice chest holster from Diamond D is simple, comfortable, easy to adjust, accessible and very versatile – what else could you possibly want from a holster? The design maximizes handgun accessibility and is perfect for the avid outdoorsman, plus it looks great – just what anyone would need in the woods. No matter if you are hiking, hunting, fishing, flying, driving a boat and even bowhunting, The Guide’s Choice chest holster is perfectly named. americanshootingjournal.com 177
gear ZZZ CUSTOM WORKS INTRODUCES THEIR LATEST CONCEPT – THE CZECH PACK www.zzzcustomholsters.com The Czech Pack is a unique innovation that resulted from collaboration with Lucky Dragon Industries and zZz Custom Works. Inspired by a vintage travel tote from the former Czechoslovakia and using the most contemporary materials, the Czech Pack easily transforms from a shoulder-slung travel bag to a frameless backpack in seconds. In the shoulder-slung configuration it measures 7 inches high, 6 inches wide and 4.5 inches deep, has two outer pockets that are secured by industrial zippers and external hardware for adding various accessories such as water bottles and key chains. As a backpack it measures 17 inches high, 17 inches wide and 4 inches deep, offers a protective weather flap for the top enclosure, two shoulder straps and access to the two outer pockets. Originally intended for military applications as a sensitive-site-exploitation and data-collection bag, the Czech Pack is made with nylon webbing, packcloth, ripstop and various fasteners.
MESSENGER BAG BY HIDING HILDA www.hidinghilda.com • Booth #6334
LYMAN OFFERS ESSENTIAL RIFLE MAINTENANCE MAT Stylish, modern and classy are three words that clearly define this concealed-carry messenger bag made from a lightweight, water-resistant fabric that is – wait for it – machine washable! Thanks to its clever design this bag can carry an array of different weapons, comes in a variety of colors and runs $79.99. It’s the perfect solution for many of today’s carry needs. Hiding Hilda is known for a full assortment of bags, gear, jewelry and more, but be careful if you visit them – you will be sure to find things you simply cannot live without.
www.lymanproducts.com • Booth #4039 The new Essential Rifle Maintenance mat from Lyman is chemical resistant and features molded
storage compartments for small parts. Made from synthetic rubber for a nonslip surface, the Essential Rifle mat measures 10 inches wide by 36 inches long. It will fit most rifles and shotguns and rolls up for storage, or can be hung on a wall.
PACIFIC EYEWEAR www.pacificeyewear.net
NOMAR ALASKA MAKES SCABBARDS DESIGNED FOR REAL OUTDOORSMEN www.nomaralaska.com The ultimate in eye protection, Pacific Eyewear has gear that fully protects your eyes from all angles and offers a clear view for excellent peripheral awareness. They can even be worn over your existing prescription eye if need be. The lenses are made from a scratchresistant polycarbonate and the temple length and pitch adjustments are nylon so they are very light and comfortable. They provide 99 percent UVA/B/C protection and they meet US and Canadian safety standards.
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Alaskan bush pilots encourage customers to use soft-sided gun cases when flying in the bush, but your special long gun deserves protection and NOMAR’s weatherproof gun scabbard is the answer. This gun scabbard is completely waterproof and padded. The outer bag is made with Seatarp and is sealed at the edges. Extra strength is added with a sewn edging that holds the carry handle and D-rings for an optional carry strap, and they are strong enough to use as secure points for attaching your scabbard to a skiff, ATV or horse – because that is how tough people do it in Alaska! The inside liner has closed-cell foam covered with a silicone-treated polyfleece. This unique liner will protect your gun without scuffing. The 4 square feet of ½-inch closed-cell foam offers a 140-pound floatation rating. This bag will definitely float the gun if it hits the water and might even keep your head above water if you need it – because real outdoor folks have to think about these things. The scabbard measures 15 inches wide and 57 inches long with a watertight roll-down top. Even rolled down to 47 inches, it will still hold most scoped rifles. They can even make a custom bag for any gun you have, such as an AR-platform or other – because Alaskans have to be versatile.
gear NO DIRTY MAGS WITH THE MTUL MAGBRUSH FOR HI-CAP RIFLE MAGS
NEW GSP•15 AND GSP•PRO EARPLUGS FROM ETYMOTIC RESEARCH
www.mygtul.com
www.etymotic.com • Booth #5761
We love GTULs and MTUL. This company offers one of those tools you always need, but never thought anyone made. If your magazines hit the dirt, they should be cleaned before being brought back into service. The MTUL is a brush specifically designed for high-capacity rifle magazines. It fits both 5.56 and 7.62mm, and will work with AR, AK, FAL, M1A and many other magazines in that genre. The U-shaped brush is over 9 inches long and stout enough to depress the follower and magazine spring without disassembly and is long enough to clean 40-rounders. At the opposite end of the handle is a punch to disassemble a magazine such as a PMAG. Designed with the military, law enforcement and 3-Gunners in mind, there simply isn’t another brush like this on the market.
Etymotic Research offers an array of electronic earplug options for all types of shooters. The GSP•15 electronic earplugs are for gun-sport enthusiasts who need protection from firearm blasts, but also need protection from loud continuous noise from vehicles or machinery. At the flip of a switch sound is amplified, improving distance detection up to five times for enhanced awareness. This is great for hunters. The GunSport•PRO electronic earplugs are designed for gun-sport enthusiasts in the field or at the range where enhanced awareness, clear communication and blast protection are desired. Both models come with varying earplug inserts for individualized comfort.
RAMRODZ AND THE JURASSIC Q-TIP www.ramrodz.com RamRodz designs and manufactures specially engineered, caliber-specific gun-cleaning swabs for pistols, rifles and shotguns. These disposable and biodegradable rods, or RamRodz, provide far superior cleaning performance than cotton patches and in a fraction of the time. No hassle, no mess.
Each industrial-grade low-lint cotton head is mounted on a strong 3- or 8-inch-long flexible bamboo handle, and expands deep into a gun’s rifling grooves. They’re ideal for cleaning slides, receivers, chambers, mag housings and breeches. Available in most common caliber sizes, RamRodz are preferred by professional gunsmiths, sportsmen, military, law enforcement and shooters alike.
PRIVATE LABELS, HEADWEAR AND PATCHES FROM PACIFIC SPORTSWEAR & EMBLEM CO. www.pacsport.com With a large variety of products, Pacific Sportswear and Emblem has been addressing the needs of businesses and organizations from its headquarters in San Diego. What they appear to do best of all is patches, from the simple to the most complicated. Using precision-cut molds and embroidery machines, this outfit utilizes various materials in its patch-making process. Patches can be embroidered, rubber/PVC or chenille. The company works with each client to produce a finished product that fills their needs, and can readily accomodate large companies for items such as uniforms. Another excellent trait is they work fast.
RIGEL PRODUCTS TRIPLES BORE-CLEANING SPEED www.rigelproducts.com Rigel Products has a patented triangle patch that cleans bores faster than square or round patches. How does this happen, you may wonder. The design allows the cloth to reach farther down into the jag to press even more fabric against the bore wall with every pass. That’s how. The notches in the sides allow the triangle to move freely and not get stuck. Although you can use them with your own, they perform best when combined with Rigel’s patented jag brush because the flexible bristles of their brushes push any patch (triangular, square or round) further into the rifling. The two diameters of their jag brush for rods makes them dual-purpose, pushing a patch at its front end and brushing at the rear. Their jag brushes for cables triple the effectiveness because it has a loop for a lube patch at the rear of the brush design as well. Brilliant!
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gear PROLIX LUBRICANTS KEEP GUNS RUNNING www.prolixlubricant.com
moves to the rear, making jams, cleaning or any number of functions easier. This device is also great for gunsmiths. It is easy to hold the slide rearward while removing or replacing pins and/or levers. And it makes it easier to lock a slide back on a heavy-spring pistol. The Handi-Racker comes in two sizes that fit 90 percent of the most popular semiautomatics on the market.
ULTICLIP IS GETTING EVEN MORE VERSATILE
Among many of the features we love, it is made in America with a military-grade black oxide finish and uses a C-1075 spring steel – this translates to ridiculously strong stuff. The steel has a wax- and oil-coated treatment, which is a rust inhibitor, and the unit only weighs .78 ounces. Some of the most important features that we gun-toters enjoy is the concealability of this little clip.
PRO DEFENSE GIVES BACK YOUR HANDS www.pro-defense.com
www.ulticlip.com PrOlix is a nonpetroleum-based solvent/lubricant that has been keeping guns running for a long time. It cleans and lubricates firearms, preserves wood, inhibits rust and corrosion and eliminates oil and grease. PrOlix provides waterproof protection and is environmentally friendly. It is also safe to use on Glock polymers.
HANDI-RACKER IS INDEED PRETTY DARN HANDY! www.handi-racker.com
Handi-Racker is the most effortless way to rack a slide on most semiautomatic pistols. Yes, most of us can rack a slide with our hands, but for those with arthritis, weak or small hands or who may be disabled (even missing an appendage like many veterans we know), slide operation can be difficult or impossible. Handi-Racker makes these problems disappear. Simply place the Handi-Racker atop the slide, put the front of the unit against any firm surface and push the pistol forward. The slide effortlessly
If you are not familiar with the Ulticlip, then we must tell you that is it unlike any traditional holster clip on the market. There is no need for a belt or any other secondary means of support to provide retention. What this means to you is that once you clip your already existing holster where you like it, you can be sure it will never move again, until you decide to do so. This little clip is incredibly strong and uses a design we mortal humans are familiar with on other applications but will surprise you that it has not existed before now. This year, the company has expanded their line and now offer the Ulticlip3. This clip offers a wider variety of mounting solutions and holster options to the lineup to include plastic moldedstyle holsters as well as most leather models.
NATE SQUARED TACTICAL MAG CARRIERS www.n82tactical.com • Booth #5937 Nate Squared Tactical (N82) offers their inside-the-waistband Mag Carrier. Like all other patented N82 IWB holster designs, the Mag Carrier provides the highest level of comfort. Your mag sits securely between the polycarbonate shell and the leather facing, while a layer of neoprene and suede leather complete the backing to provide you with the ultimate in all-day comfort – something N82 is renowned for. This new design comes with the same quality craftsmanship and lifetime warranty that has long been synonymous with every product from this team of craftsmen, and is available for a variety of calibers in both a single- and double-stack configuration. It’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
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Watching hunters transition over all types of terrain while in pursuit of game clearly demonstrates that one hand is continuously repositioning the rifle sling on the shoulder. The Gunslinger from Pro-Defense Tactical Solutions readily attaches to a backpack strap and positions the sling up on the shoulder, freeing up both arms and hands, while keeping your firearm readily accessible. The Gunslinger also features a Picatinny-rail feature to attach a light or other accessory. It’s lightweight (.5 ounces), compact and extremely durable. The Gunslinger is made in America, designed by experienced outdoorsmen and field tested by highly experienced hunters.
COMP-TAC SHOWCASES THREE NEW HOLSTERS www.comp-tac.com • Booth #5953 Comp-Tac is showcasing three new holsters in 2016, all designed for concealed carry. The Infidel Max is made from Kydex and is designed for inside-the-waistband carry. It has an easy-on/off clip that allows for cant adjustments, and it may be worn anywhere from the appendix area to the back hip. It is joined by the Infidel Ultra Max, a slick hybrid model for IWB carry that also offers an easy-on/off nylon clip, and can be adjusted for cant. It comes with a Kydex shell and leather backing. The Cavalry model is for pocket-sized handguns. It has a leather backing and Kydex shell, and allows for a fast draw. It has a retention adjustment, the cant is also adjustable, and even the ride height g can be adjusted. j
gear NEW WATERTIGHT ISERIES CASES FROM SKB www.skbcases.com Two new watertight additions to the SKB1 series and updated versions of the 3-gun Watertight Competition case have been unveiled by SKB. These cases were announced late in 2015, and the lineup includes the 3i-3614-AR iSeries Custom AR case. This one measures 36.5x14.5x6 inches. It will hold a shorter tactical rifle or carbine and it features pull-out foam plugs that allow firearms with overall lengths of 35 inches. They feature dense, closed-cell recyclable foam, and there is room for a rifle scope. The 3i-4214-AR iSeries case is 42.5 inches long
and accommodates longer tactical rifles. It also holds accessories and has a foam interior. These cases are made with high-strength polypropylene copolymer resin, and they have gaskets to keep water out. They have molded-in hinges and a patented trigger-release latch system. The updated 3-gun watertight Competition Case, the 3i-5014-3G, features a heavyduty closed-cell foam interior with 17 accessory cavities. There is room for all sorts of gear, plus three firearms. The 3G case holds scoped rifles up to 39 inches long and shotguns up to 48 inches
protection from loud noises to include auto racing, shooting, hunting and so forth – add in snoring as a possibility, but they are also cleverly designed for swimmers too. The overall neato-factor with www.sportear.com • Booth #3325 these is the revolutionary push-to-hear button. SportEAR knows how to take hunting to an entirely Just press to hear the world around you and push new level. They are industry leaders in hearing again to shut it down. Nice option. You no longer protection/enhancement not only for hunters but have to remove your ear protection just to talk. shooters of all kinds. They specialize in protecting Also in their top line up is the Ghost Stryke your hearing from loud noises and have an entire 100 percent digital earmuff – without the muff. line dedicated to electronically enhancing sound Not only does this hearing protection subdue the up to 10 times the normal levels, which is great for unwanted and high piercing sounds of gunfire, all sorts of applications. among other loud noises, it also simultaneously LMT Flip-up Front Sights First up, their X-Pro series offers hearing enhances hearing up to six times the normal
SPORTEAR HAS TWO NEW OPTIONS FOR COVERT HEARING PROTECTION
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long, and there is also room for handguns. There is an extra cavity for tools and cleaning gear, plus cavities for pistol magazines and another for a holster. This case also features molded-in hinges and stainless-steel hinge pins. It is gasketed to keep out dust and water and is also submersible. levels. Using an adaptive sound compression technology and innovative and highly comfortable ear-plug design, these are an excellent choice for shooters everywhere. These folks have over 50 years of experience ust in the hearing industry. Who else would you trust ense? with such an importantt perishable sense?
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gear BROWNING HAS NEW FLASHLIGHTS www.browning.com g • Booth #4914
a beam out to 550 yards. It has a polycarbonate housing with a flexible rubber-lens ring and built-in adjustable stand for hands-free use. The headlamp is the Black Out 6V model with 635 lumens. It is effective out to 165 yards with a white LED that will also never need to be replaced. It has an anodized aluminum body and silent Tilt Hinge and a soft-rubber head plate.
WARREN CUSTOM OUTDOOR HAS YOU COVERED New outdoor/hunting flashlights are on the way from Browning, including a couple of rechargeable models and a headlamp. Browning’s new Hellcat has a very bright beam that reaches out quite far. It produces 610 lumens with a pair of CR123A lithium batteries or 825 lumens with the optional Li-ion battery. It has an aluminum body and polycarbonate lens. It also has soft green LEDs. The Hell’s Canyon Speed Alpha Max is rechargeable, with advanced digital circuitry and an aircraft-grade aluminum body. It has a Luxeon white LED with high and low modes and brightness levels of 155 to 315 lumens. There’s also a single green LED for stealth, and it has a Dura Touch armor coating. Then there’s the High Noon rechargeable spotlight, with a white LED that will never need to be replaced. It produces 50 to 850 lumens and casts
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entire library of take-down guides (the how-to books that explain how to disassemble any number of firearms), lures, trapping baits, sights, flashlights and something called a Woodman’s Pal. We just have to get this hatchet/knife/axe thing, if for no other reason than to say we have one! Check these guys out, but make sure you have some time to sit on their proverbial front porch and solve the world’s problems.
www.warrencustomoutdoor.com
TANNERITE OFFERS NEW 3D TARGET, EXPLODING TARGET
If you are a shooter or hunter – if you are not, then you probably picked up this magazine by accident – then stop by Warren Custom Outdoor and say “Hi,” even online! These folks are the perfect blend of yesterday’s small-town kindness and offer modern products any one of us could use. Their website is like being in your hometown store that carries everything, even items you didn’t know you needed but simply must have. Some of the items they offer include the renowned Eezox synthetic lubricant line and an
Coming from Tannerite this year is a single 1-pound exploding target and a new 3D cardboard target called Pete The Prairie Dog. This is quite a small target, and their first threedimensional animal target. It stands 14 inches tall, and may be used with ¼-, ½- and 1-pound Tannerite targets. This target is in response to popular demand. It’s nonincendiary, comes with its own mixing container and provides a safe alternative to other exploding targets. The target has a built-in shelf, and there is a bull’s eye hold in the center. When hit, the target is pulverized.
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gear MERNICKLE ANNOUNCES NEW SHOTGUN SHELL BELT www.mernickleholsters.com
SAVOY LEATHER www.savoyleather.com The unique looks and design of Savoy Leather holsters are one of the reasons they are admired and coveted by so many different shootingindustry enthusiasts. Artistry, function and design is what they are all about. Each holster is crafted to order so you know you are getting a unique piece of gear made just for you. Crafted from fine leather with exquisite attention to detail, the Savoy family lives by their motto: “Let our family create an heirloom for yours.”
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Mernickle Holsters has announced a new shotgun shell belt that is a combination of old and new styling and materials, sure to win quick favor with the cowboy action crowd. The new shotgun belt features heavy militarygrade elastic rather than leather for the shell loops, while the belt is leather and lined with suede to prevent movement while being worn. The new model allows users to extract shells at any angle with little or no effort, while still holding them firmly in place until needed. There are six elastic loops that hold two shells each.
TACTICAL TAILOR www.tacticaltailor.com • Booth #2742 From day one, Tactical Tailor’s focus has been to make quality products for those who protect
our country, and that has never changed. From slings, packs, rigs and bug-out bags to holsters and uppers, you name it, Tactical Tailor has you covered. Their motto, “Do what’s right because it’s right,” is a phrase they stand by, and they pride themselves on making quality gear and providing good jobs for hardworking Americans. Needless to say, all of their products are designed and manufactured in America for those who protect our nation.
NEW FROM STICKY HOLSTERS: TRAVEL MOUNT www.stickyholsters.com Booth #2979 The latest introduction from Sticky Holsters is one that roadtrippers and simple commuters should
americanshootingjournal.com 189
gear warm up to. Called the Travel Mount, it is a simple and practical accessory that allows armed citizens to mount a Sticky Holster in a center console, motorcycle saddlebag, boat compartment, night stand, desk or anywhere that one might wish to have a pistol handy. It attaches via a hook-and-loop fastener and stays put. The Travel Mount is 8 inches tall by 5¾ inches wide. Another entry from Sticky Holsters is a new line of pouches for Tasers. These holster allow people to carry a Taser openly or concealed, providing a nonlethal defensive tool.
TRIPLE K HAS NEW HOLSTERS www.triplek.com • Booth #6149 Triple K Manufacturing has launched a new holster line designed to meet the needs of handgun hunters with two models, as well as a third model designed for Model 1911 pistols and clones. There are two
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models for scoped handguns. The first is the Big Thunder Torso Rig, which accommodates rather large handguns fitted with scopes. It is designed to distribute the weight of a large hunting handgun evenly across the torso and both shoulders with a neck strap that is adjustable and has a wide band for comfort around the neck. The handgun is carried laterally in a ready position. It is a good choice for backpackers and horsemen. The Space Cowboy holster is a belt holster with a straight drop. It can be worn on belts up to 2.25 inches wide, and is open on the front to accommodate scopes. There’s a tie-off leg strap and a safety strap that fastens over the hammer. Triple K’s Lucky Gator Holster is a rig for the Model 1911 and its clones with barrel lengths from 4 to 5 inches. Made from select American alligator hide over premium vegetable-tanned steer leather, it features waxed nylon stitching and a draw shield, and is available in brown or black.
WHITE OAK ARMAMENT HAS DRY FIRE DEVICE www.whiteoakarmament.com Time and time again, dry-fire practice has been proven to be an invaluable form of training. White Oak Armament must have felt the same way, so they devised an ingenious contraption solely for this type of training. Their Dry Fire Device resets your trigger without the trainee having to break their position. The size and profile is the
same as a 20-round magazine and can be used in conjunction with electronic trainers such as SCATT or Noptel. This is a great training tool for coaches, novice and competitive shooters, and even armorers can use it to test the trigger pull after an installation. When clamped in a vise, it leaves both hands free to test and adjust the trigger. This trigger reset tool is not just for handguns. It can also be used in AR-style rifles by installing it through the top of the magwell before placing the upper onto your lower. The carrier assembly must be removed from the upper receiver, which makes this a very safe training aid. Now that is thinking outside the box!
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gear WRIGHT LEATHERWORKS www.wrightleatherworks.com If you are looking for an excellent-quality, lowprofile OWB leather holster, then you must ttry the Predator by Wright Leatherworks. This clean, tight-fitting holster not only offers tthe perfect concealment design, but they have clearly thought out issues surrounding other leather holsters, such as adding a special stiffening strap that keeps the mouth of the holster open, making reholstering smooth and easy. They can accommodate just about any firearm and – get this – if they don’t have your firearm listed, they will make it for you. How is that for customer service?
A BOLD NEW APPROACH IN CAMOUFLAGE TECHNOLOGY FROM BADLANDS www.badlandsapproach.com • Booth #6009 Badlands has developed a color-adaptive camouflage pattern that changes based on the wearer’s surroundings. This is what they call approach evasion technology. Tested at both extreme distances and up close, this innovative breakup pattern ensures visual confusion for whatever may be looking the wearer’s way, no matter the distance. Badlands design, which is available now, offers this pattern on clothing and packs and is perfect for the ultimate hunter or anyone who simply wants to fade into the background.
HOSTAGE DUAL-ZONE TARGET BY CUSTOM METAL PRODUCTS
ZERO TO FINGER-SWIPE ACCESS IN UNDER ONE SECOND FROM LIBERTY SAFE
www.theprofessionalschoice.net
www.libertysafe.com Booth #6109 The HDX-250 Biometric Smart Vault from Liberty Safe offers a high-security but quick-access safe that operates with just the swipe of a finger – the owner’s, preferably – making this safe, well, safe! But just in case you forget your fingerprint, there is a backup key. This smart system comes with the ability to memorize 15 different fingerprints, has a lighted interior – nice – is made of steel and is very tamper-resistant. The interior dimensions are 3.75x9.75x11 inches, which will fit most common handgun sizes, and the unit weighs just 15 pounds. Unfortunately, a bad guy could run off with it, so you might want to secure it to something a bit heavier. This is a great little box for items you want readily available and it’s packed with all sorts of technology and safety features you won’t find anywhere else for just $279.
3 SPEED HOLSTER www.3speedholster.com
www.custommetalprod.com • Booth #5907 This tactical target uses a B-C zone torso with the g over the shoulder of a head of a bad guy looking hostage. When hit, the bad-guy target flips from one side to the other side. There is also a center mass reactive target that will flip out to the side when hit. To reset, just shoot it back. No need to head downrange. The target comes complete with everything you will need – stand and hardware, which makes things easy – and is priced at $299. The B-C zone torso measures 12 inches by 24 inches and the reactive plates are 6 inches in diameter. This tactical target is perfect for precision training.
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G&A INVESTMENTS OFFERS NEW PISTOL AND RIFLE CLEANING MAT
Undercover officers from around the country have spent endless hours testing 3 Speed Holster. When the company says “tactical,” they mean it. The engineering and design behind this holster was made for one purpose: defending its user’s life. This original fail-safe, fast-draw system ensures a proper combat grip every single time – the epitome of tactical basics. A couple of the things we love most about these guys is each holster is custom built to fit your gun, holster and body design, and the company is so convinced you will want to keep this holster, they offer a 30-day, 100-percent money-back guarantee.
G&A Investments has been making cleaning patches for a decade, and offers a line called The Professionals Choice. This year they are introducing a tough pistol and rifle cleaning mat that is made from 100 percent recycled fibers. It absorbs oils and fluids, and may be used inside and outside. In addition to the mat, The Professionals Choice also launched a new silicone wiping cloth and an extreme weapons grease to keep them running and up to snuff. This company produces the largest variety of cleaning patches anywhere, and there are patch sizes to fit everything from rimfires up to largecaliber rifles and shotguns.
NEW ‘BIG FIFTY’ REST FROM BULLETS.COM www.bullets.com There’s a new cast-iron rifle rest from Bald Eagle called the Big Fifty, announced late in 2015. This rugged rest weighs 24 pounds, and has a triangle base that definitely provides stability no matter what type of rifle it hosts. There are separate coarse and fine adjustments for elevation. It may be used on a bench or on the ground, but this is not something one would carry along into the field. This is a serious rest. The overall length is 18 inches and overall width is 20 inches, and it stands between 7 and 11 inches high. The Big Fifty has a cradle made from aluminum and steel with a depth of 2.5 inches, and the forend stop is made from high-density polyethylene. The stop measures 2 inches. Also coming is the Bald Eagle extreme-duty pistol cleaning stand. This unit is hefty, weighing 10.46 pounds. Made from cast iron, it has a mounting system that fits most semiauto pistols with detachable magazines. It is tilt-adjustable and also rotates. It locks every 30 degrees. The Bald Eagle has a large lock handle that can be repositioned, and there are four mounting holes that allow this unit to be mounted in place.
colors, including natural, saddle brown, mahogany, black, chocolate and dark brown.
KRAMER HORSEHIDE HOLSTERS EQUALS TOP QUALITY
KAKADU’S GUNN WORN LINE OFFERS AUSTRALIATOUGH HOLSTERS
www.kramerleather.com Horsehide has long been known as a viable material for concealed-carry holsters, and one of the top names in the business, Greg Kramer, has been using this leather for many years. There are several models, and recently Kramer supplied us with a sample of the MSP Paddle Holster, which is one of the more popular rigs and exemplary of Kramer handiwork. This rugged rig features a paddle reinforced with plastic and fitted with a backup snap belt loop that is removable. Kramer produces all kinds of concealment holsters and magazine pouches, including crossdraw models, pocket holsters, IWB rigs and even a holster specifically designed for women.
FARLEY MANUFACTURING HAS COAXIAL REST FOR COMPETITIVE SHOOTERS www.farleymfg.com Farley’s Coaxial Rest was first prototyped and built in 1987. Industry production began in 1997 following
www.gunnworn.com
a series of design changes and advancements in bearing technology. Since its release, their Coaxial Rest has become the flagship rifle rest for competitive shooting, helping more shooters win state, national and world titles than any other. Farley Manufacturing prides itself on serving the industry through thoughtful innovation and precision manufacturing of products that are among the finest in the nation. If you are a competitor, you are not fully geared up without Farley.
NEW HOLSTER RIGS IN FROM D.M. BULLARD www.dmbullardleather.com Three new carry rigs are ready from D.M. Bullard, and all three are pancake-style models made from Herman Oak leather. Their line of holsters are for both semiautos and revolvers, although one of the three will be exclusively for autos because it has a magazine pouch attached. Bullard holsters are 100 percent handmade, and are available in a variety of
Kakadu makes some of the most rugged clothing around and it’s all built – yes, we said built; it’s that tough – around the rugged needs of the true Aussie. Now, bringing their line to America and designing specifically for the gun toter, they have created their Gunn Worn line. The Gunn Worn team was challenged to disburse the 3 to 4 pounds of gun weight, manage imprinting and find the perfect fabric strength that eliminated tearing and barrel wear. It was also important for the firearm to be easy to access when needed and, most of all, the look needed to readily blend into crowds. That is a lot to ask for, but they did just that. First, they selected a rugged canvas for the outer fabric, added brass hardware and a cowhide trim and stonewashed it to give it that lived-in look. They added coated 300 denier nylon, which withstands tearing and ensures the weapon remains dry. There is a built-in holster with militarygrade elastic that allows for a wide range of firearms and removable anti-imprint pads to help diffuse imprinting even more. These Aussies have truly thought of everything. After all, it’s what is on the inside that counts.
ONE STOP SHOP
FOR ALL YOUR RELOADING AND SHOOTING NEEDS Firearms, Build Components, Reloading Equipment, Reloading Components, Optics, Shooting Gear, Cleaning Equipment and Solutions
1-888-960-2952 • www.butchsreloading.com americanshootingjournal.com 193
2016 PRECISION RIFLE SHOOTING EVENT SCHEDULE! April 29 - May 1
Rock Lake Rifle Range PRS
St. John, Wash.
May
7- 8
Masterpiece Arms Precision Rifle Shootout
Baker, Fla.
May
14 -15
South Dakota Steel Classic by Precision Reloading
Orient, S.D.
June
10 -12
Alabama Precision Rifle Challenge
Childersburg, Ala.
June
11-12
Tactical Supply
TBD, Wash.
July
16 -17
Heatstroke Open
Camargo, Okla.
Aug.
26 - 28
Precision Rifle Shooters Of Idaho Shootout
TBD, Idaho
Dec.
9 -11
Tactical Precision Rifle Challenge
Phoenix, Ariz.
For more information visit www.precisionrifleseries.com
PRS RESOURCE GUIDE ACCESSORIES & GEAR
PARTS
Badger Ordnance Kahntrol Solutions Liberty Arms LLC
Huber Concepts Kelbly’s Liberty Arms LLC
TRAINING
CUSTOM RIFLES
Liberty Arms LLC
See us on page 196
See us on page 197
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American Shooting Journal // May 2016
Kelbly’s Liberty Arms LLC
See us on page 193
See us on page 195
See us on page 197
See us on page 196
See us on page 197
PRECISION SHOOTING HUBER CONCEPTS Timing is Everything…Feel the Difference
What can you do? 10 8 6 4 2
Our Record 1.403” 5 shot group, .308, 1,000 yards Redundant Safety– prevents the “Remington Moment” Single and Two Stage.
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About CDI: Our Passion for Precision
CDI Precision Gunworks is proud to offer custom DBM (Detachable Box Magazine) kits for your precision bolt action rifles. No one else offers such a wide variety of DBM for these popular rifles. All at the best prices and the best customer service anywhere. American made and guaranteed forever.
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Owner of CDI Precision Gunworks
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AMMUNITION
FREEDOM MUNITIONS NOW OFFERS AMERICAN ICAN ICA AN STEEL ST S TEEL T EEL www.freedommunitions.com • Booth #2123 Freedom Munitions has just released their new line of brass-plated steel-cased ammunition – American Steel. In case you were worried, unlike foreign-made and imported steel-cased ammunition, American Steel is made from the highest quality brass-plated steel cases combined with dependable primers and powder, probably because it is made right here in America. The American Steel line is not only accurate and reliable, it also offers a more economical price point than traditional brass-cased ammunition, setting a new standard for range ammunition. This is exactly what we shooters need right now. Freedom Munitions is using a copper-plated lead projectile from X-Treme Bullets; they are loaded to the same performance standards and with the same powder and primers as Freedom Munitions’ traditional line of new and remanufactured ammunition. They are so similar, in fact, that spotting differences between them is almost impossible, and this is due to their unique brass-plating process. The first round – pun intended – of American Steel is 9mm, and other calibers will follow. All of this makes this ammunition perfect for training on the range.
ICC HAS EXPANDED LINE OF .300 BLACKOUT AMMO www.iccammo.com International Cartridge Corporation has been producing lead-free, frangible ammunition for some time, and offers both training and duty ammo for federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Among the newest advancements are loads for the .300 Blackout. The Green and Gold Elite training line includes a 100-grain supersonic, unjacketed frangible training round for use on steel targets, a 108-grain supersonic semijacketed frangible training round for suppressed firearms and a 147-grain supersonic FMJ training round for outdoor training and other uses. Additionally, in the Duty and Defense lines there’s a 110-grain supersonic jacketed frangible, a 110-grain supersonic solid-copper load, a 120-grain supersonic jacketed frangible, a 140-grain supersonic frangible jacketed open-tip round, a 180-grain subsonic solid-copper expanding round, a 190-grain subsonic solid-copper expanding round and a 220-grain subsonic with a Sierra MatchKing for duty and defense.
BLACK HILLS HAS SIZZLING NEW .38 SPL. www.black-hills.com There’s a sizzling new .38 Special coming this year from Black Hills Ammo, and it’s touted as producing nearly 1,000 feet per second from
a snubby. According to Black Hills, this new entry will get above 1,000 fps from a 3-inch barreled gun, and in gel tests it has performed far better than typical .38 loads. Black Hills uses a nonexpanding bullet in this round that was developed in cooperation with Lehigh Defense. It will not plug
up like some hollowpoints, nor will it fragment rather than penetrate. With the growing popularity of concealed carry, many people are carrying revolvers chambered for the venerable cartridge, rather than semiautos, and this new round will put the caliber squarely back on the self-defense map. americanshootingjournal.com 199
TulAmmo
TULAMMO ADDS THE MAXXTECH LINE AND .50 BMG ROUND www.tulammousa.com • Booth #4638 TulAmmo has been providing experience in rifle and pistol ammunition for ages, and this year they are adding a number of new products, including the MAXXTech line of brass-cased pistol cartridges. The cool part about MAXXTech is it combines top-shelf ballistic performance with a reloadable case for shooters interested in continued precision shot after shot. Also new this year is their .50 BMG round for big-bore rifle enthusiasts. All new, all cool.
NEXUS AMMUNITION PRODUCES MATCH LINE AMMO www.nexusammo.com • Booth #5447 Nexus offers a lineup of match-grade ammunition in popular calibers, using top-shelf components. Selections include a .223 Remington with a 77-grain Match HPBT bullet at 2,767 feet per second; .260 Remington with a 136-grain HPBT bullet at 2,805 fps; a .300 Blackout with a 125-grain HP bullet moving out at 1,857 fps or a 220-grain subsonic load with a HPBT bullet moving out at 1,001 fps; p a .308 Winchester ppushing g a 168-grain g
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American Shooting Journal // May 2016
HPBT projectile at 2,706 fps or a 175-grain HPBT at 2,530 fps, plus a 175-grain HPBT pill at 1,031 fps; and, lastly, a 220-grain HPBT subsonic load at 1,001 fps. There is also a pair of .300 Winchester Magnums, one with a 190-grain HPBT at 2,960 fps and the other with a 220-grain HPBT at 2,784 fps. Lastly, two loads come in .338 Lapua, one with a 250-grain HPBT clocking 2,805 fps and the other with a 300-grain HPBT that leaves the muzzle at 2,710 fps.
NEW AMMUNITION FROM SIG SAUER www.sigsauer.com â&#x20AC;˘ Booth #5333
kensbrass.com
801-638-6088 ken@kensbrass.com
Since Sig Sauer got into the ammunition business, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been one new load after another, and the newest additions include .38 Super, .38 Special, .357 Magnum and .300 Blackout. The .38 Super +P load has a 125-grain bullet, as do the .38 Special and .357 Magnum loads. Meanwhile, the .300 Blackout comes with a 220-grain bullet loaded to 1,000 feet per second for subsonic performance. Later they will also offer a 120-grain supersonic bullet.
500 S&W #9 SHOTSHELLS FROM MATTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BULLETS www.mattsbullets.com Available in boxes of 50, these shotshells turn your 500 S&W into a 28-gauge shotgun revolver! They contain ž of an ounce of No. 9 shot, the same load as a 28-gauge shotshell, and deliver it at 1,100 feet per second out of a 10-inch revolver. This is pretty much the same velocity you would expect from a full-sized shotgun. Now your little gun is packing power.
QUALITY USED BRASS â&#x20AC;˘ 300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag and other Magnum sizes â&#x20AC;˘ 6WDQGDUG 5LĂ H 6L]HV VXFK DV :LQ â&#x20AC;˘ Cowboy Action sizes such as 30-30 Win & .45-70 Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ovtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;˘ ZLQ Âś $&3 6SHFLDO 0DJ DQG &ROW
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AMMO
COWBOY .25 .32 .38 .38 .38 .38-40 .44-40 .45LC .45LC .458
85 GR. 78 GR. 120 GR. 125 GR. 130 GR. 180 GR. 180 GR. 160 GR. 200 GR. 350 GR.
RNFP/500 RNFP/500 TC/500 RNFP/500 RNFP/500 RNFP/500 RNFP/500 RNFP/500 RNFP/500 RNFP/100
$28.00 $25.00 $32.00 $33.00 $34.00 $42.00 $42.00 $44.00 $44.50 $26.00
STANDARD .32KEITH .380 9MM 9MM .38 .38 .40 .45ACP .45ACP .45LC .38
125 GR. 95 GR. 115 GR. 125 GR. 148 GR. 158 GR. 180 GR. 200 GR. 230 GR. 255 GR. 148 GR.
SWC/500 RN/500 RN/500 RN/500 DEWC/500 SWC/500 RNFP/500 SWC/500 RN/500 SWC/500 WC/500
$46.00 $30.00 $31.50 $33.00 $34.50 $36.00 $41.00 $42.50 $46.00 $55.00 $40.00
GAS-CHECK .38 .357 .41 .44 .44 .44 .45LC .45LC .458
158 GR. 180 GR. 230 GR. 240 GR. 240 GR. 305 GR. 260 GR. 325 GR. 430 GR.
SWC-HP/100 LBT-WFN/100 SWC/100 SWC-HP/100 SWC/100 LBT-WFN/100 SWC-HP/100 LBT-LWN/100 LBT-LWN/40
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This is a good cross reference of the bullets we offer. We have about 144 set of molds with new molds coming. Sixteen employees working 10 hr. a day shifts 4 days a week with 9 casters, 6 auto lubers, and 12 VWDU OXEHUV JDV FKHFNLQJ HYHU\ GD\ :H KDYH EXOOHWV PDGH ZLWK 多YH different alloys that we order in 40,000 - 60,000 lbs at a time a mixed per our set alloys. By the time you read this ad we should be in our new state of the art 10 thousand square foot facility. Prices subject to change without notice.
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870-856-6788 www.mattsbullets.com/ammunition 204
American Shooting Journal // May 2016
RELOADING 7mm-, .30-, .338- and .45-caliber cases. What’s nice is each of those tools also work with a wide range of cases within each of those calibers. What reloader wouldn’t need this?
Cyclone
INLINE FABRICATION GETS RELOADERS ORGANIZED www.inlinefabrication.com
LYMAN HAS NEW ROTARY CASE TUMBLER, LOADING BLOCK www.lymanproducts.com • Booth #4039 High-volume shooters who need to keep lots of brass polished will likely delight with the appearance of the Cyclone rotary-case tumbler from Lyman. It can handle up to 1,000 spent .223 Remington cases, so it can certainly handle even more handgun cartridges. It comes with 5 pounds of stainless-steel media pins and a sample packet of cleaning solution. It has a lined bowl for quiet operation, and it is belt-driven for smooth, quiet tumbling. The unit features a built-in timer that runs up to three hours and shuts off the tumbler automatically. It comes with a couple of sifter pans that allows the media to be poured out of the bowl, and the cleaned brass is then separated from the tumbling media pins. Another new product is the Bleacher loading block, which features rows for cartridge cases that rise like steps incrementally from the first level to the top level. Made from rugged plastic, the blocks are made in three sizes to fit most cartridge heads, with .388-inch holes in one version and .485-inch holes or .565-inch holes for big caliber guns. These blocks will hold 50 cartridges.
ENTERPRISE SERVICES EXPANDS THEIR CASESPINNER LINE www.cartridgeanneal.com
Here is a team that not only loves reloading, they want you to enjoy it as well. They have developed a line of products dedicated to doing just that. Among their brilliant ideas, they build LED press lighting and Ultramount press risers in 4-, 6- and 9-inchtall versions so you can get set up at the ideal height for you. They have also just launched their quickchange system that allows the reloader to use the same mount for multiple presses, scales and vises. Imagine all the space you will save! Not only that, if you have multiple dies, bins, parts and pieces – as any reloader would – they even have storage trays, powder measure holders and wall mount rails to hold Akro bins. If you like a neat and tidy space that is comfortable and tailored to your needs, then Inline will get you all set up.
WHAT DOESN’T BUTCH’S RELOADING HAVE? www.butchsreloading.com Bullets, powder, cleaning gear, gun-building components – it’s all available from Butch’s Reloading, which has stores in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Among the products they offer are powders from Alliant and Hodgdon, brass from Lapua, Nightforce scopes, Berger bullets and barrels from Bartlein, Shilen and Krieger. In addition, this company also offers ammunition from ABM, MagTech, American Eagle, Sellier & Bellot and other brands. Dies, presses and priming tools are there too, plus powder scales, reloading manuals, primers and even ammunition magazines.
RIM ROCK BULLETS www.rimrockbullets.net Stop the tumblers – this new case-cleaning system might be just what you need! This case spinner polishes 100 percent of the exterior, including the case head and extraction groove. Enterprise has offered their .30-caliber case spinner for some time now. In their own words, they finally got off their butts at the request of loaders natiowide, and created the same simple yet amazing system for .22-, 6mm-, .25-, 6.5mm-,
This family-owned and -operated bullet-casting outfit takes pride in the little things – bullets! They take the time to cast just one type of bullet at a time in batches of over a million to ensure that the bullets they create are consistent – each and every one of them. They are proud to say that everything you see on their website is actually in stock and ready to ship.
STARLINE BRASS EXPANDS ITS LINE www.starlinebrass.com Starline has recently added .32 S&W to their expanding line of product offerings. The .32 S&W was originally designed as a black powder cartridge for use in small, inexpensive pocket revolvers. Starline’s new .32 S&W brass has been designed for safe use with both smokeless and blackpowder, in revolvers chambered for .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R Magnum and .327 Federal Magnum. In case you didn’t know, Starline Brass manufactures and sells over 80 calibers of superior quality reloading brass and has just added 15,000 square feet to their existing 30,000-square-foot facility. This expansion provides more floor space for production and expands Starline’s shipping department. Starline already has an excellent reputation and we see the company’s growth as proof that shooters all across the country do as well. According to Starline, this expansion will allow them to grow their product line even beyond what it is today, so keep your eyes out for even more excellent products from Starline.
RAINIER BALLISTICS HAS NEW PROJECTILE www.rainierballistics.com • Booth #4303 Rainier Ballistics, the Washington state-based outfit that specializes in plated bullets, has a new projectile for 2016 that just started shipping before the holidays. It’s a 170-grain .30-caliber Wedge bullet designed primarily for the .300 AAC Blackout cartridge. There are two versions, a hollowpoint and flatpoint, and neither has a crimping cannelure. Both versions of the bullet have concave bases, and according to Rainier, they are designed only for subsonic use. Alexander Arms will soon be offering these bullets in loaded ammunition, according to Rainier.
AUTO-FEED STAINLESS STEEL PRIMING TOOL BY 21ST CENTURY SHOOTING SUPPLY www.21stcenturyshooting.com This new auto-feed, click-adjust, stainless-steel priming tool is designed for the Lee auto-prime tray. This little gadget includes one folding priming tray and two adapters – one small and one large – and it uses either the Lee or 21st Century Shooting Supply’s shell holders. Just when you thought you never had the perfect tool for the job, along comes this gadget. americanshootingjournal.com 205
RELOADING NOSLER RELOADING GUIDE 8 IS NOW OUT, FEATURES LOADS OF NEW DATA www.nosler.com • Booth #5423 The latest in comprehensive loading manuals now includes Nosler’s AccuBond long-range bullet line and their family of cartridges, which include the 26, 28 and recently announced 30 Nosler. This 800-page guide features load data for nearly 120 rifle and handgun cartridges with several informative chapters such as “Getting Ready to Reload” for the beginning handloader and bullet cutaways that explain Nosler-bullet construction and terminal performance. Several new and traditional powder selections have been added throughout the manual, including Hodgdon’s new Enduron line of powders as well as Alliant’s RL26 and RL33, to name a few. Also, there’s the much anticipated subsonic load data for the .300 AAC Blackout and standard load data for the .458 SOCOM. In addition to new data, there are new cartridge introductions contributed by outdoor writers, Nosler ballisticians – yes, this is a real job – and notable individuals in the outdoor industry. The book is currently available in hard copy, and will soon be offered in digital format where the entire manual can be downloaded. Aha! The speed of technology is catching up to the speed of a slow bullet.
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NEW PREP TOOL FROM LITTLE CROW GUNWORKS www.littlecrowgunworks.com For a handy prep tool, the PPT from Little Crow Gunworks is built to last through a lot of use. Featuring a knurled solid-aluminum handle with a bearing-mounted aluminum tool head, the PPT has an offset design that sets it apart from other such tools. The tool head has four 8-32 tapped holes that accept case-prep tools from most major reloading companies. Once they’re installed,
HIGH QUALITY BRASS IN A MULTITUDE OF CALIBERS FROM SAGE’S RELOADING SUPPLY www.sagesreloadingsupply.com If you are into reloading and have been for a while, then you might already have your triedand-true sources for brass and bullets. Sage’s Reloading Supply has only been around for a few years – founded in 2014 by Wes Sage – but they have certainly learned what it takes to offer excellent customer service and products, as well as ultra-fast affordable shipping to anywhere in the US. Their website is direct, to the point and easy to navigate, which is perfect for the busy reloader. Check them out!
the user simply rotates the PPT in a clockwise motion to deburr and chamfer the case mouth, and then ream and/ or clean the primer pocket. There is no need to stop, change tools and start over again because everything is there in hand. The PPT is available in several different colors.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN RELOADING HAS NEW .224-CALIBER PILL www.rmrbullets.com Rocky Mountain Reloading is introducing a new .224-caliber BT bullet designed for use in a tight rifling twist. Weighing 69 grains, this pill – dubbed the 3GH (for three-gun hunter) – will deliver stable performance out of barrels with rifling twists ranging from 1 in 7 to 1 in 10. This match-quality hunting bullet is capable of deeper penetration and expansion and delivers superb accuracy. RMR also offers their 69-grain version in bulk packages to OEM manufacturers, distributors and dealers. Casual reloaders can purchase any of their products directly from their website.
RELOADING KEN’S BRASS PROVIDES QUALITY CARTRIDGE CASES FOR RELOADING www.kensbrass.com Specializing in quality once-fired brass, Ken’s Brass has been serving handloaders who look for popular or even lesspopular calibers. This Utah-based outfit updates its inventory daily, and provides both rifle- and handgun-cartridge cases, and even purchases brass too. Proprietor Ken Christensen said that they’re especially interested in less-than-usual calibers. Their website lists all of their available brass, and they will notify customers when they are looking for something unusual. The used brass is carefully inspected to assure that customers get the best quality available, and spent primers are left in the cases.
WESTERN POWDERS HAS NEW LOADING MANUAL www.ramshot.com • Booth #4640 Western Powders has announced a new Reloading & Load Data Guide, this one version 6.0, and it’s already off the press. Spanning 112 pages, the new loading guide is for Accurate and Ramshot powders, with expanded data that covers hundreds of new loads, with emphasis on two propellants, LT-30 and LT-32, both world record-holding powders. There is new data for the .30 BR, 6mm PPC, 6.5x284, the 5.56mm NATO and legendary cartridges including the .45-70 Government and the .30-30 Winchester. In addition, there is comprehensive loading data for Blackhorn 209 in both modern muzzleloaders and blackpowder cartridges, and the guide also offers a complete listing of shotshell reloading data. The guide also features a “getting started” section, and an introduction to the full line of Montana X-Treme gun care products.
DILLON PRECISION CONTINUES POPULAR PRODUCTS www.dillonprecision.com • Booth #4109 With several reloading presses and accessories, Dillon is set to retain its leadership position in the reloading arena. The legendary Square Deal has introduced more shooters to reloading than anyone can count. It remains today one of the most popular progressive presses on the market. This fourstation model features automatic indexing, auto priming and more. The Square Deal B is capable of loading 300 to 500 rounds per hour and comes with factoryadjusted loading dies ready to go. It is capable of loading only straight-walled pistol cartridges and uses a proprietary drop-in, insert-style die. At the upper end of the line is the XL 650, a five-station progressive that is loaded (pun intended). It features a mechanically indexed shellplate, mechanical case insertion via a case-feed tube and you can order dies for specific calibers. The 650 comes with one powder measure, one prime system with large and small priming parts, one large and one small primer pick-up Square tube, a low-primer alarm, a loaded cartridge Deal B bin, one toolhead, one powder die, one caliber conversion kit and one set of standard Allen wrenches.
REDDING HAS NEW TURRET HEAD STORAGE SYSTEM www.redding-reloading.com • Booth #3119
Turret Storage Stacker
Redding is now offering a unique storage system for spare turret heads that fit on the Redding T-7 turret reloading press. Dubbed the Turret Stacker, this storage system lets a busy reloader store multiple turret heads and will hold two or three tiers, depending upon the height of the dies. The use of multiple turret heads lets users leave certain die setups in place, contributing to consistency from loading cycle to cycle. There are seven die positions in each turret head. Featuring an anodized aluminum base and blue-steel stacking spindle, the Turret Stacker comes with removable nonskid feet. If the feet are removed, there are holes in the base that allow mounting directly to a bench. Redding designed this stacker with multiple spacers, allowing the individual user to set the correct spacing of each head based on the dies that are installed.
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• CHRONOGRAPHS • BALLISTIC SOFTWARE • CONCENTRICITY GAUGES
(800) 451- 3550 / neconos.com americanshootingjournal.com 209
Part IlI of III – Defouling, Best Bullets, Hunting, Accuracy And Cleaning STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY BOB SHELL
Editor’s note: We’re wrapping up our three-part series on blackpowder, which previously looked at its invention and early usage and then loading and safety, and now finalizes this issue with a discussion of defouling, types of bullets and more.
B
lackpowder fouls a lot and if you don’t dry-brush out your barrel after every couple of shots, your bullet or ball will start becoming difficult to push down the barrel. If you brush it and dump out the residue, you can shoot all day doing that. I don’t recommend any type of lube, as you might contaminate the powder and it won’t help you in this operation. Use a tight shotgun-type brush for best results. Following those procedures and tweaking them to suit you should produce a lot of hours of enjoyable shooting.
Blackpowder and its many compositions – represented here by FFFFG L, FFFG L, FFG and FG R – represent a link to the shooting world of the past and an exciting one that is thriving today. americanshootingjournal.com 211
As a note, some of the very early muzzleloaders had straight rifling to help deal with the fouling that blackpowder produces. Perhaps that’s where someone got the idea to twist it to stabilize a bullet. From a military point of view, they used smoothbores because of the mess that blackpowder produces. It takes more time on a battlefield to load a rifled firearm than a smoothbore. That is because the rifling fouls quicker, which makes it more difficult to load. When I am target shooting with a front loader,
you will avoid a possible accident. I have .36- and .44-caliber revolvers and they both shoot accurately with balls. I have tried bullets in them, but there is no practical advantage 99 percent of the time. THERE ARE MANY TYPES of bullets out there for muzzleloaders. Some of the new ones are subcaliber with sabots meant to increase long-range performance. I have some of those on hand, but for the purpose of this article I will stick with the basic stuff.
limbs were amputated because of the Minié ball, as they tended to shatter bones; with the state of medical care in that period, it was easier to cut off than save a limb. My experience is they tend to be more accurate with powder charges on the lighter side. Here again there is room for experimentation to obtain the best results in your weapon. I have also shot them in a .45 caliber and they were satisfactory in every way. To be honest, my favorite bullet for hunting is the Maxi-Ball. They
Minié balls (left) and Maxi-Balls are the two basic bullets for blackpowder rifles between .36 and .58 caliber. The former was developed by a French officer in the mid-1800s, while the latter is sold by Thompson-Center. Author Bob Shell prefers Maxi-Balls for hunting. (MINIE BALLS: MIKE CUMPSTON)
the bore is dry brushed after a few shots to keep it going. During the heat of battle a soldier doesn’t have that luxury. Of course, the usable accuracy was only from 50 to 80 yards with such weapons. They generally stood on a battlefield in plain view of each other and they shot until someone said uncle. Marksmanship wasn’t a top priority in this type of battle. You just shot into the crowd and hoped to hit someone. Shooting a cap-and-ball revolver is essentially the same. Put the powder in and seat the balls tightly against the powder. One difference is you need to put some substance over the balls to avoid all of them going off simultaneously. I use something like Crisco, which always works for me, and I have never had that happen – and would just as soon forgo that experience. After loading the powder and bullet, then put on the caps but not before. That way 212
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The basic bullets for rifles from .36 to .58 caliber are either Minié or Maxi-Balls. The Miniés have been around since before the War Between the States. They were invented by Capt. Claude-Étienne Minié, an officer in the French army in the mid-1800s. They are a hollow-base bullet that depends on the skirt expanding to provide a gas seal and good accuracy. They generally work as advertised, as long as they are cast soft. They are prevalent in .58-caliber weapons and come in various weights, from about 450 to over 500 grains. Their grooves are designed to help clean out the fouling, and with some types of lube will also soften the crud that accumulates in the barrel. They are the fastest projectiles to load, which wasn’t lost on militaries of the period. The .58 caliber was the most prevalent rifle caliber in the American Civil War. They gave good accuracy and produced horrible wounds. Many
are available in .36, .45, .50 and .54 calibers. They resemble a slug and have two or three bands that engage the rifling. Between the bands is the area where you put your lube, and I use a lot to ensure that they stay against the powder. I also use a hard lube as opposed to a semiliquid type that may run into the powder, rendering it inactive. As with the other types, pure lead projectiles work the best, as they take the rifling well. I have seen some hard-cast slugs that were very difficult to load and seldom as accurate. I have a .50-caliber TC Hawkins and with my favorite load it shoots better than I can. A friend of mine has a .45-caliber Hawkins that he hunts deer with. We were out one day and after a while, I went over to where he was. I noticed that his Maxi was sticking out the end of his barrel. Good thing he didn’t get a shot. He had some store-bought slugs that were way too hard, so I molded him
some good ones and took the others and made regular pistol bullets out of them. FOR HUNTING, WHAT CALIBER should you use? As with everything, some common sense should be used. Keep in mind that you will have only one shot and that a reload will take some time. Even with premeasured loads, a second shot won’t get taken quickly. Your quarry simply won’t stick around for it. That should encourage you to practice enough from hunting positions to get good enough to make that first shot count. The .36 caliber is an excellent small game and pest load. It can be utilized for small game without excess meat damage. With a Maxi-Ball it can dispose of a coyote in short order. It should never be used for large game, as it just doesn’t have the horsepower for such work. The .45 can be used for deer-sized animals with good shot placement, which is true of all hunting. The
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round ball is a bit light, weighing chance. And in some cases, you could about 115 grains, which isn’t a lot. I be mauled by an angry bear that you would use a Maxi- or Minié ball for didn’t shoot well. large game and confine the round Two friends of mine went on an ball to small animals. elk hunt in northern Arizona last year. The .50-, .54- and .58-caliber rifles Both have .50-caliber Hawkins rifles with Maxi- or Minié balls can be used and were using 370-grain Maxi-style for game larger than deer. Round balls that I molded. Since they didn’t balls in those calibers will work well want the corrosion, we went with on big game, as they have enough weight to provide good killing power when used on deer-sized animals. The Maxis would work better on such game as elk, moose and bear. Just be aware that your first shot must count because you won’t Thirty-six-caliber cap-and-ball revolvers are fun to shoot and are accurate at 25 get a second yards, longer with practice. They also produce a nice pile of smoke when fired.
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Clean Shot, which produced good accuracy at 50 and 100 yards. Anyway, Tony harvested a fine bull, but Marty had the cap go off without firing the powder charge. The elk heard the pop
This grouping shows the potential accuracy when hunting with blackpowder firearms.
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and was long gone before he could get off a second shot. The second cap ignited the powder charge. He was wondering what a Hawkins rifle would look like wrapped around a tree. Anyway, those things happen even if you do everything correctly, but not very often. The old smoothbore rifles aren’t accurate enough for most hunting situations, though the bigger calibers can do the job if you manage to hit something. Many of those were around .70 caliber, so they shot a large ball. The longest practical range with a smoothbore is 75 to 80 yards. If you purposely hit something beyond that, luck played a major part. I suppose you could load some shot and make it a clumsy shotgun at close range. I have done that and it does work OK. They are best used for reenactments and target shooting. The old blunderbusses were frequently used for small game
hunting. They have a big opening, making them easy to load. Early on, hunters found out it was easier to hit a bird on the wing with a shot load as opposed to a single projectile. EXCELLENT ACCURACY is a hallmark of many muzzleloading firearms and might amaze people with preconceived notions that they are not very powerful or accurate. Nothing can be further from the truth. Like modern arms, many muzzleloaders can outshoot their owners. A .50-caliber Hawkins can easily put three Maxi-Balls into an inch at 100 yards when shot by a competent marksman. Round-ball weapons also are very accurate and many can shoot well at 200 or more yards. It just takes a little more work and preparation. Cap-and-ball revolvers also can surprise you with their accuracy. Wild Bill Hickok shot an adversary at 75 yards through the heart with a .36-caliber cap-and-ball revolver. Of course, he was an excellent shot who
practiced every day, but it shows what can be done. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also the challenge, which makes it more interesting and fun. I recently took two shooters out and let them shoot my .36-caliber capand-ball revolver. They were amazed at the accuracy and how much fun it was. I believe both will be shooting blackpowder arms in the future as a result of that. In spite of the crude sights, at 25 yards a 3-inch-or-better group is entirely realistic. AND FINALLY, BLACKPOWDER is hygroscopic, which means that it will absorb moisture very readily. That means that you must clean your weapon as soon as possible to avoid rust. With my muzzleloaders I remove the nipple and run hot water down the barrel with a little dish soap. I run a brush down the barrel until the water is clear. After that I run enough hot water through it to get it hot, then I let it dry. I then run a dry patch through it to make sure there is no water lurking about. I clean the nipple and the area around it and apply a light coating of oil on the gun. That works for me and I have used that method for many years and never have any problems with rust. There are a variety of products on the market that work well, but I prefer my method. Sometimes after cleaning a blackpowder weapon, it will be left it in the sun for awhile. Living in Arizona, I know that that will really dry it up in a hurry, getting the metal so hot you can hardly touch it. FOR ANYONE CONTEMPLATING GETTING into blackpowder, by all means go for it. As shooting is about having fun, blackpowder will only enhance it. Done correctly, it is a safe and enjoyable hobby and lets us know how easy we have it in regards to weapons. Just imagine you are on horseback in a downpour with a band of Apaches chasing you. They are planning on giving you a close-cropped haircut and you have a cap-and-ball revolver you are trying to reload. It will help you appreciate your modern handgun and its cartridges even more. Â? americanshootingjournal.com 217
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Black Powder SCHUETZEN BLACKPOWDER www.schuetzenpowder.com • Booth #4508 Specialists in blackpowder, Schuetzen is highly regarded among reenactors, buckskinners and competitors, and the company also supplies Swiss Black Powder for everything from fine 4Fg and 0B priming powder to powders for cannons and mortars. Schuetzen blackpowder is manufactured by WANO Schwarzpulver GmbH in granulations ranging from 1Fg to 3Fg and Reenactor powders for blanks. Swiss blackpowder is found in many a horn and flask, and it is produced in small batches with charcoal from buckthorn alder.
RYDON HAS ‘QUICK SIX’ C&B REVOLVER CYLINDER LOADER www.rydoncorp.com Blackpowder percussion sixguns are fun to shoot, but loading can take some time, and that’s where the new Rydon Quick 6 revolver loader comes in handy. It seats six rounds at the same time with the same seating pressure. Featuring an all-steel threaded rod it can seat six round balls or bullets by twisting down on the rod. The loader is available for .36- and .44-caliber cylinders, and the six loading rods are also made from steel. The unit is made in the U.S. and is but one of the many blackpowder accessories from Rydon.
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survival
WHISTLES FOR LIFE www.whistlesforlife.com
If you can be heard, you can be rescued! Sound is the number one factor in finding lost and injured victims or preventing crime. Whistles For Life makes ear-splitting 120-decibel whistles that blast through three separate sound chambers, producing an omni-directional as well as piercing staccato signal that can be heard over other loud noises, such as howling wind and rushing water. This brilliant, seemingly harmless device was designed by search-andrescue professionals, and is manufactured in the USA using the strongest ABS plastic. This whistle will not crack or fail like cheaper imitations. They are so coveted in the search-and-rescue field that organizations such as National Association For Search & Rescue, National Safe Boating Council and the US Life Saving Association incorporate them into their daily gear. These whistles come in a variety of colors and patterns and you can personalize them with your own design, just like the whistles at right (which are not for public sale) have been.
FLOJAK INDUSTRIES’ EARTHSTRAW A SOLUTION FOR WHEN POWER GOES OUT AND WELL WATER IS NEEDED www.flojak.com Do you have a well? Does it run on electricity? Can you get to your water when the electricity goes out? FloJak and EarthStraw hand well-pump systems are the answer. These devices are very narrow and designed to fit into your well right alongside the existing electric pump. These easy-to-install kits operate independently from the electric pump system, providing a reliable backup water solution during power outages or for daily use if you prefer to be completely off grid. What seems like such a simple device is strong enough to bring water up from as deep as 150 feet! Now that is power right in the palm of your EarthStraw.
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LIGHTNING STRIKE FIRE STARTER COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE www.lightningstrikefirestarter.com Serious outdoor survival types don’t rely on matches and lighters to keep them in the gene pool. They know from experience what works and what doesn’t. Striking a match or flicking your Bic does not guarantee you’ll get a real fire going. Lightning Strike Fire Starter was created by a lifelong outdoorsman and survival expert who made it easy for anyone to start a fire, even under the toughest conditions. What sets this fire starter apart from the rest is the tremendous spark output. It literally showers your tinder with long-burning embers. Anytime you leave the security of your vehicle or home, having a means to start a fire at your disposal can literally be the difference between life and death. Many survival-conscious people always carry a sleeping bag, water, fire starter and other tools in their vehicles. Do you?
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“Manufacturers of quality case cleaners, deburring and tumbling equipment since 1959” americanshootingjournal.com 221
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Adventure
HOLLAND GUNS LONG-RANGE SHOOTING SCHOOL www.hollandguns.com
Want to become the shot you’ve always wanted to be? Darrell Holland has been training hunters nationwide for over 20 years in the art of long-range shooting and hunting. Learn to hit targets on demand up to 600 yards out in just four short days of training. Learn wind-doping skills, rapid target acquisition, bolt cycling, reticle ranging skills and a complete understanding of ballistics. Holland Guns Long Range Shooting School’s unique training methods and curriculum separate them from the rest of the training schools in the country. They even offer private tutorials and keep their class sizes small, so there is a lot of individual attention. Honing your shooting skills is an investment you should never pass up.
Holland Guns Long Range Shooting School founded by Brian Winchester. Among his many talents – to say the least, he is mostly known for being a fourth degree master black belt and was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall Of Fame for most outstanding contributions to martial arts. No easy task.
Cowboy Fast Draw
REAL TEXAS GUN SHOW www.therealtexasgunshow.com
Reality Based Tactical Training
A ONE-STOP SHOP WITH REALITY BASED TACTICAL TRAINING www.realitybasedtactical.com
SPEED COUNTS WITH COWBOY FAST DRAW ASSOCIATION www.cowboyfastdraw.com Speed, fun, competition and, above all, safety – members of the Cowboy Fast Draw Association may be the fastest guns alive, but their most important goal is to be the safest. The participants range in age from 8 to 85plus, and with 70 affiliated clubs across North America and several countries, CFDA has thousands of members. Targets are round discs and timing is done down to the thousandth of a second. These hombres wear Western-style clothing from the late 1800s, and they all have aliases. Cartridges are typically .45 Colt with small charges of blackpowder substitute. Come and join the bang-up fun!
True self-preservation has more to do with mental conditioning than what the average person understands. The physical portion of training is great, but without training the mind with a battle mindset, you will most likely be trying to play catch-up with the adversary, and reaction is always slower than action. Reality Based Tactical Training is a one-stop shop. If you want to learn how to use a firearm and/or become expertly proficient, they can help you. If you want to learn martial arts, they can do that. Among the many courses they offer are: concealed-carry permits; first-aid/CPR; bomb and bomb incident management; personal protection; physical and electrical security; edged weapons; the list goes on and everything is absolutely reality based. They even go deep into threat assessment and intervention and risk and crisis management. This group of instructors comes from all walks of life and between them they have an immense knowledge base to share. Their 80,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility located in Knoxville, Tenn., is owned and
They may not be the biggest, as they cater mainly to local vendors, but The Real Texas Gun Show has extremely high standards when it comes to offering a safe and clean environment for guns, gear, self-defense, custom knives and all sorts of gun-related and outdoor products you might not find anywhere else. When in Texas, you have to attend a Real Texas Gun Show. Due to their popularity, they are expanding to include prepper supplies and outdoor motorsports. If you want to attend a great show geared towards the family that shoots together, then visit one of their locations in Orange, McKinney, Belton, Brenham, Port Arthur or Lake Conroe, Texas.
Real Texas Gun Show
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Adventure LUXURY VACATION MEETS EPIC HUNT FOR TROPHY BULLS AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK RANCH www.rockymountainelkranch.com • Booth #5007
THE RANGE 702 www.therange702.com When people go to Las Vegas they often have a grandiose expectation of everything glitz, glamour and over the top. Vegas’s premier gun range is no different. The Range 702 sports 16 lanes kitted out with the latest equipment and technology for a clean, efficient, well-lit and comfortable gun range the whole family will love. They even have what they call their Ultra Lounge, a luxurious place to rest between shoots. Just what you would expect from a Las Vegas gun range that caters to guests looking for the ultimate shooting experience. But don’t take our word for it – the Southern Nevada Concierge Association has voted them the best gun range in Las Vegas. As an added bonus, The Range 702 offers complimentary transportation to and from any of the strip or downtown hotels! Premier service all the way.
If you dream of American big-game hunting and would like to trek off each morning with your own private guide from a stunning luxury lodge, then Rocky Mountain Elk Ranch is the epitome of that ideal. Your hunt comes complete with lodging, meals, guides and even field-dressing services. All you have to do is hunt, shoot and enjoy. They even have a selection of weapons to choose from if you don’t want to travel with your own. This is the perfect getaway for groups or families too. Guests who do not hunt stay for free, and groups of four or more get private reservations and discounts. Impossible, you say?
It’s true – and you have to see it to believe it. Plus, since they’re a private ranch, no tags or licenses are required. Their motto says it all: Just come and shoot the bull of your dreams. They are so confident you will be happy that if you do not see something you would like to shoot after the first day, you can cancel and they will give you a complete refund. That’s a serious promise to make, but clearly defines how proud they are of their hunts. According to the ranch, their three-day hunts yield 100 percent success. So if you want to experience southeastern Idaho, about one and a half hours from Jackson Hole, Wyo., and Yellowstone, what many consider the ultimate hunting location in the West, stop in your tracks and visit Rocky Mountain Elk Ranch. A luxury vacation coupled with an epic hunt – the ultimate bundled package.
IDAHO BACKCOUNTRY BIG GAME HUNTING A SPECIALITY OF SILVER SPUR OUTFITTERS AND LODGE www.silverspurlodge.com Silver Spur Lodge has 650 square miles of hunting area in central Idaho’s Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, the Gospel-Hump Wilderness and Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest – absolutely some of the most beautiful country on Earth, and the lodge is right in the center of it all. Located in Dixie, Idaho, they hunt the Selway and Elk City Zones – Units 15, 16a, 19, 20 and 20a. They offer all sorts of packages for all sorts of game. Most are guided hunts and many are combinations, such as the guided elk, deer and bear combo hunts. You can hunt mule deer, bighorn sheep – the list goes on. They offer hunts that cater to bow and rifle users, and you have the option of hunting from the lodge or heading deep into Idaho’s rugged backcountry on horseback and mules or 4x4s, depending on the package. The backcountry hunts take you to permanent camps that are set up around the area and have all the comforts of home. This cadre of professional guides and tenders are experts in the area and know how to create an amazing experience that you won’t soon forget.
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Adventure TIMBERLINE RANGE CAMPS www.sheepcamps.com We live in uncertain times with many products that simply aren’t built to last. Timberline Range Camps feels the same way, so what they build is meant to last through the hardest of times, and that is the point. Their portable homes are rugged, and what we mean by rugged is that they are designed to go off-roading wherever you need to go, and provide comfortable shelter wherever you land. Completely built with the survivalist in mind, each unit is constructed with heavy-duty materials and insulation, a wood-burning stove and a solar panel. Don’t leave home without it.
terrain for upland hunting, and pheasant and chukar hunting is available for day hunters, birdcard holders and large groups. Raahauge’s also boasts a beautiful sporting clays course, which is open to the public year-round. For all things bird and shotgun, Raauhauge’s has you covered.
Adventure Hunts provides detailed info on proven outfitters, guides and safari companies that best meet the client’s desires, abilities, dreams and, most of all, budget. From the first-timer to the serious hunter, this company knows best.
ADVENTURE HUNTS, YOUR LINK TO SAFARIS NEAR, FAR
PHIL WILDMAN OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: TROPHYCALIBER FISHING
www.adventurehunts.com
www.phil-wildman.com
Adventure Hunts is known worldwide for their unique cost-saving safari packages in popular destinations such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Benin, New Zealand, Australia, Belize, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Argentina and many other locations.
If you are looking for world-class fishing in Oregon, you have found your guide: Phil Wildman Outdoor Adventures offers experiences you can only encounter in the Pacific Northwest. For Chinook salmon, steelhead and walleye on the Columbia River, Phil runs a brand-new 25-foot Alumaweld Columbia guide sled, and he fishes the coast out of his ClackaCraft Clacka Max driftboat. If you love fishing, excitement and the best amenities, contact Phil for a trip of lifetime.
RAAHAUGE’S FEATURES SPORTING CLAYS COURSE, UPLAND BIRD HUNTING www.lincraahauges.com Raahauge’s Pheasant and Sporting Clays Club in Dunnigan, Calif., offers over 2,400 acres of amazing
PERSONAL PROTECTION, REALITY BASED TRAINING, FIREARMS & EDGE WEAPONS INSTRUCTION
WILL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SURVIVE? DON’T GUESS, KNOW! IF NOT YOU THAN WHO? WHO WILL PROTECT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WHEN THE TIME COMES?
Renowned worldwide reality based training expert and founder of Reality Based Tactical Training, Brian Winchester, is offering magazine readers an opportunity to get serious military and personal protection training, previously only offered to law enforcement and black level protection groups. This four day seminar (normal cost of $2000 per person for a group rate) is being slashed to $799.00 to the first 50 magazine readers who take action! Come get the start you will need for your self-preservation at our state of the art 80,000 square foot indoor training facility.
TN State Certified Handgun Safety School
-- • -8919 Valgro Rd • Knoxville, TN 2716 Lower Rinehart Rd • Dandridge, TN
(865) 274-7029 “Under pressure you don’t rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training. That’s why we train so hard.” – Anonymous Navy Seal Commander 226
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www.realitybasedtactical.com
Phil Wildman Outdoor Adventures Timberline Range Camps Adventure Hunts
Phil Wildman
Outdoor Adventures Salmon, Steelhead, and Walleye Fishing At Its Finest
Three World Class Fisheries Located Near Portland, OR. WHETHER YOU WANT TO BE CATERED TO, OR LEARN TO DO IT ALL YOURSELF, YOUR TRUSTY GUIDE, PHIL OF PHIL WILDMAN OUTDOOR ADVENTURES, WILL SHOW YOU JUST HOW!
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KNIVES
SPYDERCO INTRODUCES THE MAMBA
Mamba
www.spyderco.com Spyderco has outdone themselves this year, and the lineup is topping the charts. Among this year’s newest blades, the Mamba is catching everyone’s eye. Knife designer Joel Pirela, master knifemaker Walter Brend and Spyderco teamed up to create the Mamba – one of the most advanced factory folding knives ever made. With a graceful upswept 3.76-inch stainless-steel blade and contrasting two-tone black titanium carbonitride and satin finish, this knife showcases Brend’s legendary custom signature. Other new-this-year knives from Spyderco include: • The Lil’ Lum, a model based on designs by the late Bob Lum. It has a short, wide 2.38-inch bamboo leaf-shaped blade made from VG-10 steel with a flat grind. The handle is G-10 and features a liner lock. • The C199Tip Nirvana, a folder with a 3.74-inch clip-point blade featuring a saber grind edge. It has a one-piece titanium handle, pocket clip and it weighs less than 5 ounces. • The Mantra model has a full flat grind on its 3.16-inch blade, and the handle is made from titanium with a pocket clip. It has a leaf-shaped blade made from CPM M4 stainless steel and there’s a Reeve Integral Lock mechanism on one scale. • Snap-It Salt, with a yellow fiberglass reinforced nylon injection-molded handle featuring textured Kraton black insets. This one has a 2.96-inch blade featuring a hollow-ground serrated edge, and large clip. • The PITS folder has a full flat-ground clip-point blade crafted from N690Co steel and a handle with scales machined from solid titanium. This folder has a slipjoint lock and wire pocket clip that is reversible. The scales are bead blasted to a matte finish and anodized with a blue finish. • A lightweight version of the Manix folder with a 3.37-inch blade made from CPM S110V stainless steel, with a full flat-ground surface. The handle is made from blue fiberglass-reinforced copolymer and the knife weighs a scant 2.9 ounces. • The Para Military model has a 3.42-inch full flat-ground blade and G-10 handle with pocket clip. It has nested stainless-steel liners and the patented Compression Lock mechanism. • The Street Beat lightweight, which has a 3.51-inch blade of VG-10 steel coated with a ceramic, and an FRN handle. It comes with an injection-molded polymer sheath. • The Proficient, a handsome outdoor knife with a 4-inch flat-ground blade made from CPM 290V stainless. Weighing less than 6.5 ounces, the Proficient has a carbonfiber handle with lanyard hole in the butt. It comes with a leather sheath.
Lil’ Lum
LANSKY ANNOUNCES NEW SHARPENER www.lansky.com • Booth #2347 Lansky’s new entry this year is a pocket-sized sharpener that is designed to be used in tandem with the Lansky sharpening kit, or on its own. The new unit features four carbide sharpeners at 17-, 20-, 25- and 30-degree angles to address all kinds of sharpening requirements. In addition, there’s a ceramic honing element that trues and polishes the edge, and even works on tapered or serrated blades. It features tough zinc-alloy construction and only weighs 3.9 ounces.
EXQUISITE KNIVES MAKE A GREAT INVESTMENT www.exquisiteknives.com Exquisite Knives scours the globe in search of the finest knives that are readily distinguishable, and their collection includes folding and fixed-blade
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KNIVES knives from the best knife makers in the world. Names such as Loveless, Moran, Lake, Walker and Schmidt are common topics of conversation within this realm. What is amazing is these knives continue to increase in value based on their uniqueness, the maker and quality of materials and craftsmanship. Not only does Exquisite Knives provide an extensive collection to choose from, but they are often tasked to find rare and unique blades for their elite customers, who come to them from all parts of the globe. Needless to say, international shipping is a common service. If you have a sharp desire for a unique blade or are in search of something very specific, the name says it all: Exquisite Knives.
Ontario Knife’s Drop Point Hunter
Ontario Knife’s Trailing Point Hunter
razor-blade cutter that folds back into the handle, same as a traditional pocket knife, and the handle is made from nonslip weatherproof material that is textured for a strong hold. The DX200 has two blade locks and a liner lock.
ONTARIO KNIFE HAS TWO NEW HUNTERS www.ontarioknife.com • Booth #4661
COAST HAS A DOUBLE-LOCK UTILITY KNIFE www.coastcutlery.com Coast’s DX200 Pro Razor knife is a utility tool that is designed for safe cutting. It features a replaceable
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Two new hunting knives have been announced by Ontario Knife, under the new Robeson Heirloom series brand. They are the Drop Point Hunter and the Trailing Point Hunter. Both models feature 4.19-inch D2 steel blades with full-tang wood handles. The blades
are 0.125 inches thick and the knives measure 9.05 inches overall. They both come with leather sheaths.
BUCK KNIVES LAUNCHES THEIR INTERCHANGEABLE BLADE KNIFE www.buckknives.com • Booth #3706 By popular demand and downright insistence from Buck Knives lovers everywhere, the interchangeable blade knife is back. The 550 Selector 2.0 currently features three interchangeable blades including a drop point, partially serrated drop point and a gutting blade. Each nondisposable blade is made of 420HC steel and is heat-treated by Buck’s patented process. Buck’s first interchangeable blade knife was introduced in 1990 and discontinued long ago. Thankfully they have brought back this longawaited treasure and you get so much for just $125. This knife, like all of Buck’s blades, is backed by their famous forever warranty, and it is made in the US. That’s a lot of knife for just $125.
KNIVES NEW SHIELD FROM KERSHAW; NEW FOLDER FROM OM ZERO TOLERANCE
Zero Tolerance KVT
www.kershawknives.com • Booth #4311 New from Kershaw is the Shield, a handsome folder with a four-position pocket clip. Featuring Featurring i he SpeedSafe assisted opening, the Shield has a frame lock with hardened steel lockbar insert insert.t. TThe 10 withh a blade is made from stonewashed stainless steel with a satin finish, and the handle is 410 titanium carbo-nitride coating. This knife is based on the Eklipse model designed by Rick Hinderer. The tanto-style blade measures 3.1 inches long and the knife as a whole weighs just under 5 ening. ounces. It has a built-in flipper on the back of the blade that allows for quick, one-hand opening. 0. From Kerhaw’s sister brand, Zero Tolerance, there’s another new folder dubbed the 0900. Designed by Les George, this knife model features the Zero Tolerance KVT ball-bearing system em that helps speed the opening. It’s got a premium crucible S35VN stainless-steel blade measuring less than 3 inches, and a titanium handle with a frame lock and hardened steel lock bar insert. There’s a reversible deepcarry pocket clip.
Kershaw Shield
BATTLE HORSE KNIVES’ SHORT TRAIL BLADE www.battlehorseknives.com • Booth #5956 This sweet fixed-blade knife is the perfect companion for anyone who is serious about outdoor gear. With a 2 1/8-inch blade length and an overall 5¼-inch length, not to mention a lanyard cutout, this little sticker not only conceals and deploys easily, it is seriously tough. The blade is made of very strong D2 steel and has been honed to 1/8 inch thick. That’s a pretty serious blade. Great gear most certainly comes in small packages.
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“EVOLUTION”
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KNIVES HOGUE ADDS THE EX-F02 FIXED-BLADE KNIFE www.hogueusa.com • Booth #4410 The EX-F02’s lightweight durable design was created specifically with the outdoorsman in mind, and features a polymer overmolded rubber hybrid handle with a blade fashioned from A2 tool steel. The hybrid handle’s rubber surface offers unmatched gripability while performing strenuous cutting activities. A finger detent and a gentle recess on the tail end result in better leverage in a reverse-grip situation. Available in either clip-point or tanto-blade options, the knife also offers four choices
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of rubber colors: black, OD green, flat dark earth and hunter orange. But wait, there’s more! A precisely fitted ambidextrous auto-retention aerospace polymer sheath is included to constrain this beast of a knife.
BROWNING OFFERS A FULL ARRAY OF BLADES www.browning.com • Booth #4914 Browning has released their 2016 line of blades – four new fixed-blade models and a trio of Black Label tactical models. The lineup includes: • The Overtime model with laminated G-10 scales, D-2 high-carbon steel 33/8-inch blade in a flat-ground modified skinner profile. • The Hell’s Canyon Speed model has a 3½inch modified drop-point blade with a carbonfiber insert. • The Steel Sharp fixed blade with ERT (edge retention technology) with a 7Cr stainless-steel hollow-ground blade. • The new Incase drop-point with a 440 stainless-steel blade and full-tang handle with sculpted G-10 scales. Overall length is 7½ inches. • The Black Label Stacked Deck folding frame lock with a 3½-inch VG10 stainless-steel blade with either a modified spear point or tactical Wharncliffe design. • The Speed Dial Pocket Deploy folder has a deep-belly tanto-point blade measuring 3 5/8 inches. • The Pandemonium full auto, with modified 440 stainless hollow-ground tanto blade measuring 3½ inches.
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