Scott Haugen (right) and professional hunter Pieter Zwiegelaar with an exceptional roan antelope taken in South Africa last year. Haugen had dreamed of bagging a roan as well as a sable antelope for years, but it didn’t become reality until his 16th African safari, an adventure he recounts in this issue! (SCOTT HAUGEN)
MEDIA
FEATURES CONTENTS
23 TACTICAL TRAINING: DEVELOPING A SURVIVAL MINDSET
“A firearm alone does not make you prepared for self-defense. Training the body is only part of the equation – training the mind is what separates the survivors from the victims.” So writes Graciela Casillas as she helps you cultivate an “unyielding determination to see tomorrow.”
31 TACTICAL TRAINING: TAKE TO THE BARRICADES!
Tired of using bulky, awkward training structures that always have to be hauled out of storage and put together? You might be interested in the handy devices from Portable Tactical Simulated Barricade. Trampas Swanson put the company’s many barricades –which range from desk- to full-sized – to the test and reports back on how well they work.
39 SC ATTERGUN ALLEY: RAVENS, GUNSITE ACADEMY, AND MOSSBERG 940 PRO TACTICAL SPX SHOTGUNS
What do corvids, a remote stretch of Arizona and a tactical shotgun all have in common? They were all part of Larry Case’s pilgrimage to the famed Gunsite Academy for a three-day training session with Mossberg’s 940 Pro Tactical SPX under the careful eye of the facility’s instructors – and the local ravens! Case’s shoulder might have been a little sore afterwards, but he powered through to write up his experience.
47 SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING: WONDER WOMAN
Boxer. Kickboxer. Martial artist versed in myriad styles. Firearms instructor. Professor. Author. “One of my all-time favorite self-defense mentors and personal sifus.” You gotta meet this literally kick-ass gal!
67 ROAD HUNTER: HUNTING AFRICA’S PRIZED SABLE AND ROAN ANTELOPE
A sable antelope has been on Scott Haugen’s hunting bucket list since a young age, but the majestic “prince of Africa” evaded him during more than a dozen safaris. It wasn’t until last spring that our traveling hunter finally would get a great chance to fulfill his dream – and then some – in South Africa. Pack your bags for a hunt to remember!
75 BULLET BULLETIN: ROYALTY FOR YOUR RIFLE
For a hunter-handloader like Phil Massaro, Sierra’s GameKing product line has long served as a great source for bullets. He details the many offerings of this “very flexible projectile” that he’s sent countless numbers of towards targets and big game alike.
87 BL ACK POWDER: WHEN THE GRIPS MAKE THE GUN
Mike Nesbitt is a devotee of the guns of the Old West, and when he got ahold of a Uberti replica Smith & Wesson New Model #3 Frontier, he just had to try and match the grip to the original revolver. Find out how he fit a Triple K grip onto the handle – and how much it improved his shooting afterwards!
15 TAKING STRENGTH FROM RANDI ROGERS
If you’re looking for a female shooting instructor, you could do much, much worse than Randi Rogers. A member of Team Ruger, holder of 75-plus world and national titles, and a trainer at CLS Academy, Rogers embodies many of the qualities our Paul Pawela identifies as critical when it comes to finding a great teacher for women interested in getting into the shooting sports.
54 SPRINGFIELD ARMORY SA-16A2
In an homage to America’s last Cold Warrior, Springfield Armory has come out with another replica US military service weapon, this time riffing on the famed M16A2. Frank Jardim, our stickler for historic detail, put the SA-16A2 through its paces – how well does it evoke a bygone era, and more importantly, how accurate is it?
51 L AW ENFORCEMENT SPOTLIGHT: SHERIFF FACES OUSTER VOTE
An early March special election in San Mateo County, California, could lead to the ouster of Sheriff Christina Corpus. Nick Perna details the investigation into alleged misconduct on her part and why his fellow officer needs to go.
61 MILITARY SPOTLIGHT: CHIPS OFF THE OL’ FAMILY BLOCK
There’s just something about jumping out of airplanes and serving in the military that runs in Paul Pawela’s family, and it holds true for the latest generation – his twin granddaughters Hope and Faith. He shares their impressive story!
93 HERE’S TO THE SECOND
Raise a glass of 2A Bourbon and you’re not just sipping a classic Kentucky whiskey, but a way to donate to veterans, wildlife and other causes. Find out what entrepreneur Tim Oates is distilling at Constitutional Spirits.
(FRANK JARDIM)
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teaches his grandkids on today.
TAKING STRENGTH FROM RANDI ROGERS
Humble, successful multidisciplinary competitive shooter is 'paving the way for future generations of female shooters to aim high and hit even higher.'
Many men own guns to protect the women they love. But statistics show that gun ownership has increased steadily among women over the past several years, indicating their desire to be able to protect themselves. And when it comes to firearms training, sometimes women learn best from their fellow sisters-in-arms.
STORY BY PAUL PAWELA • PHOTOS BY RANDI ROGERS
A lifelong lover of the shooting sports, Randi Rogers is a member of Team Ruger.
In today’s modern society, women have made considerable progress in breaking down stereotypes in the traditionally male-dominated world of firearms. A classic example of this can be seen in competitive shooting, where female shooters have had great success. In the US, women have consistently demonstrated their mettle by displaying precision skill and determination that rival their male counterparts.
If you’re a woman looking to get into the shooting sports – or simply want a gun for self-defense – you might consider a female instructor or someone who’s broken down those
barriers for herself and can help guide you through it too.
Randi Rogers (pictured here) is a highly successful competitive shooter and an instructor at GLC Shooting Academy, and she is a prime example of what I’m talking about. More on Rogers in a moment. First, let’s discuss what to look for in a female instructor.
WHEN LOOKING FOR an
outstanding female instructor, one of the attributes you should value is her leadership capabilities. Other attributes that make an excellentquality instructor are adaptability,
Over the course of 25 years, Rogers has competed in Single Action Shooting Society, International Practical Shooting Confederation, United States Practical Shooting Association and three-gun shooting competitions.
emotional intelligence, open communication, humility, resilience, risk-taking, creativity, empathy, support for other women, confidence in not comparing herself to others and a positive attitude.
Any instructor teaching shooting skills and self-defense methods with a firearm absolutely must inspire confidence in the individuals they are training. They must be a true leader.
As for adaptability, oftentimes the instructor will have to take on multiple roles when training individuals. Most instructors will have various items on their plates – from family to work and everything in between – and it’s a complete juggling act to become a successful instructor. This falls back onto leadership; good leaders adapt to find the solutions they need when facing new situations or challenges.
A strong female instructor will have excellent, open communication skills. Open and honest communication with peers enables women leaders to build trust in their students, who can then put their confidence in the instructor’s life-saving skills.
In the shooting world, emotional intelligence – the ability to identify and manage one’s emotions and those of the people they are training – is necessary for an instructor to succeed. When instructors and students can control their emotions, both are connected to
better performance and productivity.
In over 40 years in this industry, I have found that the secret to success in anything one does – whether that is competition shooting, training or consulting – is humility. By approaching any situation with humility and openmindedness, one can openly express their perspectives and come across with absolute sincerity.
As with any other profession –none so critical as where lives are at stake – it is an absolute necessity for the instructor, especially those who are women, to take risks. It can be daunting to dare to be different. Historically, women have been advised against making significant changes to the status quo, and they have been told to ask others for advice before making any decision. But the best female firearms instructors remain undaunted and trust themselves to make crucial decisions. A great instructor will help pave the way for their students in that regard.
Playing it safe may seem easy, but taking the necessary risks will make students realize that they need to do the right thing, especially when it comes to protecting others and themselves.
Another necessary attribute is resilience. The instructor must believe in herself, and the value she can provide. She will no doubt be scrutinized, especially as a female in
the industry, so she must believe in her abilities wholeheartedly.
IF SHE EMBODIES these attributes, the female instructor will exude confidence, which is the end goal for both the instructor and the student. Confidence allows one to feel safe, to be independent, to have less stress, to be able to control emotions in a dangerous situation, and to have the self-assurance to come out on top, which is probably one of the best feelings in the world.
The female instructor who oozes confidence will become a role model and inspire other women by showcasing their own journey and providing education and support so that others may reach their full potential. When a female instructor becomes a role model – whether in the classroom, on the range or on a national level – she empowers her students to not only open doors, but kick them in.
So where does one start to look for this type of female shooting instructor? One place is the competitive shooting world, where women have achieved success nationally and globally. Their proficiency and dedication are visible to the entire world, all while redefining the shooting landscape and paving the way for future female shooters to aim high and hit even higher.
Rogers has honed her skills to become one of the best shooting competitors in the world, having won over 75 world and national titles.
SHOOTING PHENOMENON
RANDI Rogers personifies every word in this article. She has spent a lifetime in shooting sports, having started her competitive shooting career at the tender age of 11. Rogers’s grandparents, Gene “Evil Roy” Pearcey and Karen “Wicked Felina” Pearcey, influenced her in the sport of cowboy action shooting. She studied her famous grandparents so well that she started dominating in cowboy action shooting sports and earned her own unique moniker, “Holy Terror.”
With hard work and dedication over almost a quarter of a century, Rogers has honed her skills to become one of the best shooting competitors in the world, having won over 75 world and national titles. Rogers has competed in Single Action Shooting Society (SASS), International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA), International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC), United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) and three-gun shooting competitions. Rogers also won gold and bronze medals at the 2011, 2014 and 2017 IPSC World Championships.
Rogers is not only one of the most significant shooting competitors
of all time, but she is also a hunter, writer, firearms instructor, volunteer working with youth, and an outdoor enthusiast who loves to travel. She is the former marketing manager for the holster manufacturing company Comp-Tac Victory Gear and was a television host for the show Ammo and Attitude. Rogers also holds a bachelor’s degree in business marketing from the University of Northern Colorado. She currently resides in Texas with her husband of 10 years, Gordon Carrell. Rogers and Carrell, who also teach together at GLC Shooting Academy, are now sponsored as competitive shooters for Ruger’s shooting team.
More importantly, you will not find a kinder or gentler soul than
that of Randi Rogers. I have personally known her for over a decade now, and not once have I seen her without the heartwarming smile she always presents. Rogers has no enemies in the shooting world because she is so kind and respectful. I have never heard anyone say a bad word about her.
Rogers is the role model everyone wants to hang out with. She is filled with compassion and love for the sport, her country, her family, her fans and fellow competitors. She is truly an ambassador in everything she does, especially for women wanting to get into the shooting sports. I am honored to call her a friend. ★
Editor’s note: For more information, visit randirogersshooting.com.
Rogers with husband and fellow Team Ruger member Gordon Carrell.
Rogers’s grandparents Gene “Evil Roy” Pearcey and Karen “Wicked Felina” Pearcey influenced her in the sport of cowboy action shooting.
TACTICAL TRAINING
DEVELOPING A SURVIVAL MINDSET
How to cultivate an ‘unyielding determination to see tomorrow.’
STORY BY GRACIELA CASILLAS
firearm is a tool – no more, no less. It has no will of its own, no capacity for decisionmaking. The true weapon is the mind behind the trigger. Without a survival mindset, a firearm is just a dead weight. When a violent encounter erupts, the mind does not rise to the occasion – it defaults to its level of training. In a defensive
Agunfight, where survival is measured in fractions of a second, the ability to think and act under duress is just as critical as the weapon in your hand.
In the world of self-defense, the emphasis is placed on marksmanship, speed and tactics. These are vital, but they are meaningless if the individual wielding the firearm lacks the mental and emotional fortitude to act decisively under pressure. Survival is not merely a matter of skill – it is a matter of will.
A survival mindset is the difference
between those who succeed and those who fail in the face of life-threatening danger. But is this mindset something you are born with, or can it be cultivated through training? The research of firearms expert and law enforcement trainer Massad Ayoob suggests that while some individuals may have a natural predisposition toward survival, the ability to think clearly and function under extreme stress is a skill that can –and must – be developed.
In a moment of crisis, when the
Carrying a firearm demands a constant state of readiness to respond to threats. Are you prepared to draw your weapon? Can you act decisively when necessary? Remember, your training and mental preparation ultimately determine your response. (GETTY IMAGES)
TACTICAL TRAINING
threat is real and immediate, the difference between survival and defeat is not just in the weapon you carry – it’s in the mind that wields it. A firearm, while powerful, is only as effective as the person behind it. The ability to defend oneself is not merely about accuracy or speed but about the mindset that drives action.
A SURVIVAL MINDSET is the ability to think and act with clarity under lifethreatening stress. It means refusing to give up, maintaining situational awareness and having the presence of mind to assess danger, react appropriately and execute effective action – whether that means fighting, fleeing or de-escalating.
In high-stress situations, the human body undergoes physiological changes – elevated heart rate, tunnel vision, loss of fine motor skills, etc. Without training, these responses can lead to paralysis, hesitation or panic. But with
the right mental conditioning, one can override these responses and act with precision. Whether in combat or civilian self-defense, survivors often share certain traits. They do not freeze, wait for help or give in to despair. They move, they think, they fight.
This is about the firm commitment to prevail in the face of danger. It is the mental resolve that pushes past fear, doubt and hesitation. In self-defense, particularly when using a firearm, this mindset dictates whether a person will react swiftly and decisively or freeze under pressure. According to firearms expert Richard Kluck, “Whether or not a person has been trained in any combative endeavor, at any time in their respective lives, they can develop and understand what a fighting mindset consists of. When does someone learn to fight? As soon as he/she takes the first breath outside the womb and the umbilical cord has been severed.”
Research in psychology and
military science also suggests that a survival mindset is not something one must be born with – it can be cultivated. Studies on combat effectiveness show that while some individuals may naturally possess a stronger will to fight, the vast majority can develop this mental resilience through deliberate training. The US military, elite law enforcement units and self-defense instructors have long understood that mental conditioning is just as critical as physical skill.
JUST AS THE body must be trained to handle a firearm safely and effectively, the mind must be conditioned to function under stress. Developing a survival mindset requires training in three key areas:
Situational awareness: The ability to recognize danger before it fully manifests. Many violent encounters can be avoided or mitigated by being alert to one’s surroundings. This is the
In a life-threatening situation, drawing your firearm may be necessary. While pressing the trigger carries significant consequences, hesitation during a violent assault could cost you your life. (GETTY IMAGES)
TACTICAL TRAINING
first line of defense.
Stress inoculation: Exposure to controlled, high-stress training conditions can reduce the likelihood of freezing in a real-life confrontation. Simulated drills, force-on-force training and decisionmaking exercises prepare individuals to act under pressure.
Commitment to action: The will to act is often the final barrier between survival and becoming a victim. Training must reinforce the understanding that hesitation can be fatal and that decisive action is necessary when life is at stake.
The most effective self-defense training programs incorporate these elements, ensuring that students not only learn to shoot, but learn to fight –mentally and physically.
WHEN FACED WITH a lethal threat, the human brain defaults to its primal
survival mechanisms: fight, flight or freeze. The freeze response is the most dangerous, as it renders a person incapable of defending themselves. Fear is natural, but training can rewire the brain’s response to it.
Research on police officers and military personnel in high-stakes situations shows that repeated exposure to stress, combined with proper training, allows individuals to bypass the freeze response and engage their training instinctively. This is why law enforcement officers practice forceon-force drills, why soldiers undergo live-fire exercises, and why self-defense students must train under pressure.
An individual who carries a firearm but lacks the will to use it effectively is at a significant disadvantage. Many cases of self-defense failure are not due to technical shortcomings but to mental unpreparedness. I believe we
are born with the instinct to survive; however, it’s a choice whether to act on that instinct.
History is filled with examples of individuals who survived against overwhelming odds because of their mindset. Whether it is the civilian who fends off an armed attacker or the soldier who fights through injury, the common thread is the refusal to give up – individuals who would normally not fight back but do so because they possess a mental anchor that fuels their desire to survive.
Kluck also talks about the survival mindset. “Guns are tools; the true weapon is the mind … they’re not ‘instinctive’ or ‘inherent’ ... but fighting is. Remember … you came out of your mother fighting for air. So why do we disregard the premise of fighting in a normal and rational society? It’s inherent in us; it’s innate, instinctive. And its inherent existence cannot be denied. But as humans in our modern world, we’ve become softer and gentler and more forgiving to those who would inflict violence on our person or another’s because we’ve come to a place both cerebrally and emotionally that violence should be seen as unacceptable … except for those who don’t live by the same set of standards that society says they need to live by. [Neither] criminals nor crime will ever disappear. We want it to, but it’s here as long as we exist as a species.”
CARRYING
A FIREARM is a great responsibility – one that requires a survival mindset rooted in awareness, preparation and discipline, not just technical skill. The foundation upon which all training and decisionmaking rest is formed based on your mindset. For example, those who only take the necessary course that qualifies them to carry a concealed weapon will most likely have a different mindset than those who train consistently with their firearm. To understand the survival mindset, one must first embrace the fact that with power comes the responsibility inherent in
Passing your CCW exam is just the first step. Consistent training is essential to refine your firearm skills and cultivate a life-saving mindset. (GRACIELA CASILLAS)
TACTICAL TRAINING
carrying a firearm.
A survival mindset is not about aggression or dominance; it is about protection, vigilance and the commitment to act only when absolutely necessary. This mindset begins with situational awareness –the ability to perceive, analyze and respond to one’s environment in realtime. Like a martial artist entering the ring, the individual carrying a firearm must cultivate a heightened sense of presence, an understanding of the dynamics around them, and a readiness to act decisively, without hesitation. When teaching defensive tactics, I believe it is important to emphasize awareness and adaptability. Similarly, a survival mindset demands that individuals not only prepare for physical confrontations but also develop the mental fortitude to deescalate situations whenever possible. This requires a commitment to ongoing training and self-reflection, ensuring
that the decision to carry a firearm is never taken lightly.
TRAINING IS THE link between intention and capability. Without it, the survival mindset remains an abstract concept rather than a functional skillset. Firearm training should encompass three critical areas: technical proficiency, scenariobased practice and mental conditioning.
Technical proficiency: At its core, technical proficiency involves mastering the mechanical aspects of firearm handling. This includes safe handling procedures (such as loading, unloading and holstering) and marksmanship skills (including accuracy, speed and target acquisition). However, technical skill alone does not ensure survival. It must be coupled with the ability to perform under pressure, which is addressed in scenario-based training.
Scenario-based training: This forces individuals to apply their skills
in dynamic and often unpredictable environments, including:
• Understanding the difference between cover and concealment and possessing the skill required to get there immediately when rounds start flying;
• Training in low-light or high-stress scenarios to replicate real-life conditions;
• Engaging in force-on-force exercises using non-lethal training aids to build decisionmaking skills;
• And learning to move, seek cover and communicate effectively during a critical incident.
Through these exercises, individuals learn that survival is not just about accuracy but also about timing, positioning and judgment. As in martial arts, the goal is not to “win” but to emerge unscathed, having protected oneself and others.
Mental conditioning: The mind is the most powerful weapon and its conditioning is integral to the survival mindset. Mental conditioning involves
preparing for the psychological and emotional challenges of carrying a firearm. Key elements include:
• Stress inoculation: Training under simulated stress to build resilience;
• Ethical decisionmaking: Understanding when and why to use force, guided by both the law and personal values;
• Post-incident preparedness: Recognizing the emotional and legal aftermath of a defensive encounter and preparing for it in advance.
The importance of mental clarity should be stressed, encouraging practitioners to approach conflict with discipline and a calm mind. Similarly, firearm carriers must cultivate this clarity, ensuring their decisions are measured and just.
CARRYING A FIREARM is not just a personal responsibility but a societal one. Those who choose to bear arms must recognize their role as protectors of their families,
communities and themselves. This responsibility extends beyond the act of carrying and includes advocating for safe practices, encouraging others to seek proper training, and fostering a culture of accountability.
A firearm does not make you safe. Your mindset does. The ability to use a gun is secondary to the ability to act with clarity and resolve in a lifethreatening moment.
You do not have to be born a warrior to develop the will to survive. Training sharpens instinct, enhances awareness and conditions the mind to respond under pressure. The body cannot go where the mind has never been – so train your mind, and your body will follow.
The ability to survive a violent confrontation is not solely determined by natural instincts. While some may have a predisposition for quick decisionmaking under pressure, science and experience show that a survival mindset can be developed through
rigorous training, mental preparation and an unwavering will to win.
A firearm alone does not make you prepared for self-defense. Training the body is only part of the equation –training the mind is what separates the survivors from the victims. In the end, survival is not just about firepower. It is about the unyielding determination to see tomorrow.★
Editor’s note: Author Graciela Casillas is a certified personal protection specialist who works as a staff instructor with Executive Security International bodyguard school (esibodyguardschool .com). She is also an advanced firearms trainer and has worked with many world-class firearms instructors. She has authored many articles on the subject for various publications and holds a bachelor’s degree in law and society, master’s degrees in education and physical education, and lifetime teaching credentials in psychology.
TACTICAL TRAINING
TAKE TO THE BARRICADES!
Company’s portable cover devices make defensive training a snap.
One of the cardinal rules of gunfighting is to always make the best use of your cover. The term “cover” is tactically defined as any object or barricade that can shield you from
incoming bullets such as concrete barriers, engine blocks in vehicles or brick walls. This factor is often overlooked as a primary focus in much of today’s commercialized training. Sadly, it seems almost completely ignored by any realistic measure within many competitions as well. Keep in mind, these are the very same
competitions that are supposedly based on “defensive” situations. So what is the main excuse for not conducting valuable lifesaving training with barricades? In most cases, barricades pose a logistical difficulty – in other words, finding ranges with them already in place. Given limited time constraints, barricades are often
STORY AND PHOTOS BY TRAMPAS SWANSON
Author Trampas Swanson working nondominant-side drills with Portable Tactical Simulated Barricade’s PTSB-24.
TACTICAL TRAINING
bulky and hard-to-move objects. They are often kept in storage away from the range bays. They need to be transported to the shooting bay, set up and then taken back down, which tends to take up valuable training time and energy.
I have seen these failures throughout the course of over 20 years of teaching students in both the law enforcement and civilian training industries. The biggest thing my professional training as a student and instructor has taught me is that I must always be open to new ideas and concepts to help offer a more complete learning opportunity.
FORTUNATELY FOR THOSE of us who view training as a true matter of potential life or death, there is a company called PTS
Portable Tactical Simulated Barricade. Based out of New York, this fast-growing company is headed by a true visionary in our industry, Frans Johnson. Originally from Jamaica, Frans now resides in the United States as a thriving businessman living the American dream and dedicating himself to help others take their training to the next level with his innovative new barricades.
Seeing the issues with traditional barricade training and what sort of makeshift objects most shooters use at the range – such as barrels or plywood that splinters and warps quickly –Frans decided to try and make barrier training easier, more innovative and fun with a series of portable barricades he has brought to the market.
I discovered this company a few
years ago on the internet and started researching more about their main product, the PTSB-16. This is a freestanding, adjustable barricade that sets up in just minutes and will fit in the back of your vehicle with ease. This and similar products from the company were created to enable those diligent in training to master shooting through or around barricades more conveniently and more often on both indoor and outdoor ranges. I was so impressed by this design concept, I decided to reach out directly to PTS Barricade and request to test out their products. Through the process, I quickly became close friends with the owner, Frans.
THE PTSB-16 IS the company’s flagship product, and it retails for $279. It is a full-sized barrier measuring 16 inches wide with an adjustable height range from 51.25 to 72 inches. Along the sides and facing of the barrier there are various shaped holes that force shooters to use the device to their advantage while firing through them at different heights and positions. This prepares shooters for the all-important realization that between training and the real world there are no “perfect” shot opportunities. If you must fire onto a threat, you should learn to adapt and overcome the obstacles you face proficiently without sacrificing the use of good cover.
The full-size barriers are currently made of wood for production models featuring a wide base that locks into place with a standard window lock. The height of the barrier is controlled by a wooden dowel that holds the two vertically sliding panels together. If you remove the dowel, the top section can be adjusted for needed height or simply lowered down on the base section. Once unlocked and compressed, the unit can fold in half for easy transportation and storage. Weighing only 14.5 pounds each, several units can be quickly set up on the range and ready for use in a matter of minutes.
Two additional variants are the PTSB-24 and PTSB-Sniper. The PTSB-
Barricade. The name stands for
Vicki Lee engages ballistic mannequins at multiple distances using the PTSB-Sniper as cover and support.
TACTICAL TRAINING
24 includes all the same features as the PTSB-16 but offers a full 24-inch-wide barrier surface for more windows for shooters to work through. The overall weight is still a very manageable 22.5 pounds, and it retails for $369. The PTSB-Sniper is slightly larger, weighing 27.5 pounds, but features cutouts that match major sniper positions to help new law enforcement/military snipers and designated marksmen, as well as civilian competition shooters, to learn offhand shooting. The curved contour of the windows fits most precision rifles while allowing line-of-sight clearance for the optics. Retailing for $469, the PTSB-Sniper is portable enough to easily practice rifle fieldcraft just about anywhere.
The second type of barricade in the PTSB lineup is the PTSB-Lite. Measuring 16 inches by 30 inches and only weighing 2.7 pounds, this handy barricade works perfectly on indoor ranges. Retailing for $49.99 to $99.99, this is the most affordable of the barricade options; instructors might purchase several of these to use in classes with SIRT pistols
and 6mm platforms, as well as on the range. Having a half dozen of these set up on the indoor range benches during class for shooters to rotate through is a true game changer.
When we first received the barricades, my wife Candace Swanson decided to personally test the PTSB-
Lite with her fellow members of the Armed Women of America not-forprofit org. At that time, Candace led four chapters herself and oversaw 16 other chapters throughout the state of Florida as their state leader. The lessons learned by the AWA ladies were invaluable in extending the training opportunities a static range traditionally offers. Their comments were 100-percent positive, with many reflecting a new sense of empowerment from using them. Now how many products are currently on the market that you can honestly say that about? I can count on one hand how many true game changers throughout the past 20 years have come to market and still have a finger left over to offend you with.
For the past four years, I have been successfully using the PTSB-Lite barriers to teach shooters to work the barriers quickly while switching from dominant to nondominant hands on a variety of RE Factor targets. Not only has this been a great benefit in live-fire training, but it has added a great training dynamic for my laser simulator courses as well, in which I employ the Smokeless Range simulator system along with SIRT pistols and Mantis X Blackbeard AR-15 units. Men, women and even children have gained
Getting low with the PTSB-Pro helps to simulate shooting over or around furniture that may offer possible cover.
The PTSB-24 not only works great for rifle and pistol, but defensive shotgun training as well.
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valuable life-saving skills by using these in class.
OVER THE PAST few years, as the company and its customer base have grown, PTS Barricade has not only expanded its lineup of full-size variants, but also began to offer two unique options for those of us who are always mentally training at home and at work. These are not only fun but, in full disclosure, I may have had an influence on their creation.
The first is the PTSB-Micro, a greeting-card-sized polymer barricade with a quick snap-on base that is designed to sit on your desktop at home or at work. It’s far from just decoration, although many have been shown off in offices across the country and spurred amazing conversations about training. No, the intention of the design was for diehard shooters who use their SIRT laser training pistol to shoot targets hung up in their office. While this is a great way to squeeze in time developing proper repetitions on the core shooting fundamentals sans recoil mitigation, these small barricades bring an even more fun dynamic to office training. Despite being small outlets, the portals in the PTSB-Micro can be easily shot
through using the SIRT laser pistols as shooters work from side to side, top to bottom. At only $9.99, I honestly feel like this sort of fun is a steal.
The second fun option is for planners like me. Not only are these shooters always training in their minds at home or on the range at work, but they also enjoy creating a game plan to do so. These are folks who not only come to the range with planned training goals for the day, but know exactly how they want to set up to do so. The PTSB Keychain Barricade may seem small and simple for only $3.99 but they come in handy when planning your next training session or big event. Along with small plastic models of common range items from 3D Stage Builder (3dstagebuilder .com), the PTSB Keychain Barricade fits to the scale of the stage building products to add barricade fun to your planning, alongside mini IDPA targets, barricade fencing, steel plates and pepper popper targets.
What I have learned through using these in combination has helped me better articulate to my range safety officers how to set up efficiently. The “1,000-yard” view of being able to see how the range will look prior to putting in all the labor will catch many
potential safety issues such as crossfire or improper angle on steel targets. Just for the safety issues alone, these items are a “must have” for anyone setting up large-scale training.
WHILE PTS BARRICADE may still be a small company, I do believe they are on to something big with their products. At our Swanson Training Group courses and firearms instructor workshops, the PTS barricades have already greatly helped hundreds of shooters enrich their training. By being able to understand why we train like this and to physically work through and around barriers with both simulators and live fire, it could very well increase a student’s odds of survival in a fight immensely.
Moving forward, as I cheer and support this company’s future growth, I would love to see PTS Barricade collaborate with a larger manufacturer (perhaps via a license deal?). This could possibly reduce future pricing and upgrade the materials to have easy-to-replace panels or even selfsealing polymers. For now, however, I thoroughly enjoy getting the most out of these barriers to help the next generation of gun owners achieve the added edge they need to survive in
Rainy days in the office are much more enjoyable using the PTSB-Micro and a SIRT pistol to train at your desk.
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the real world. The simple fact is these barriers work very well to promote continued training after an initial range session.
Visit ptsbarricade.com for more information. ★
Editor’s note: Retiring early from law enforcement in 2011, Trampas Swanson has worked as a deputy sheriff, primarily serving as a SWAT sniper. Early in his career, he trained fellow law enforcement officers before transitioning to private military personnel and civilians. Swanson currently travels throughout the country teaching as an NRA and USCCA training counselor and instructor in his 23rd year as a professional firearms trainer.
Swanson is also easily recognized in the media industry for his work on over two dozen US and international publications worldwide ranging from recreational shooting to serving seven years as the editor for the private military contracting world’s top industry magazine.
The PTSB-Lite offers a great way to maximize your training on an indoor range.
SCATTERGUN ALLEY
RAVENS, GUNSITE, AND MOSSBERG 940 PRO TACTICAL SPX SHOTGUNS
Autoloader stands test of three-day class at famed training academy.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY LARRY CASE
When I saw the raven, I knew that I was back, and it was a good feeling.
The raven is a metal sign on the gate as you enter Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona, quite possibly the most prestigious firearms training center in the world. Linda Powell was driving an SUV loaded with gun writing talent (not me) in the form of Frank Melloni, Rich Nance and Ed Combs; Fred Mastison was in another vehicle. Linda humored me with a stop at the gate for pictures of the Gunsite raven. (You gotta have a picture of the raven!)
is the symbol of Gunsite. You will see them almost every day around the sprawling grounds of Gunsite, sitting in the odd tree or floating by on the desert wind croaking about some kind of raven gossip.
In case you didn’t know, the raven
The story goes that when Jeff and Janelle Cooper founded Gunsite, they were looking for a symbol for what would become a world-class firearms training facility. Janelle traced part of her ancestry back to Scandinavia, and in Norse mythology Odin was the god of Valhalla. Odin had two ravens that were his messengers and were often depicted on and around his throne. The ravens, Hugin and Munin, conveyed knowledge down to earth and brought back news to him. Most importantly, they were seen as how the gods
Fellow gun writers (left to right) Ed Combs, Rich Nance and Frank Melloni.
The gates and iconic raven logo to one of the most prestigious firearms training centers, Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona.
SCATTERGUN ALLEY
dispensed knowledge and wisdom to mankind. The Coopers figured this was a great analogy for what Gunsite would be doing – delivering knowledge and wisdom in firearms classes. I agree!
For the rest of the week, we toiled in the shotgun fields of Gunsite, and it was wonderful. It included long days of training in the classroom, on the range, and in some of the “shoot houses” where scenario-based training takes place, both with and without live fire. (I think the scenarios without live fire but with role players for good and bad guys are the most stressful.)
Then we participated in the Team Tactics for Two class, which involved learning to address threats while teamed with another person – as in a spouse, partner, work colleague or family member. I learned that this class really stresses that communication with your partner is just as important as the actual firing of rounds. With two people staying in constant communication about when they shoot, when to move, and what they see, it raises your odds of surviving a gunfight tenfold.
The class was taught by veteran Gunsite instructors Mario Marchman, Il Ling New and Sheriff Jim Wilson, all of whom bring many years of teaching firearms training to the table. The Team Tactics class is usually done with handguns, but we attempted the class with shotguns, more specifically the Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical SPX.
A FEW YEARS ago, Mossberg devised a new gas system for the 940 Pro shotgun with a stepped and ventedspacer component, which keeps the gas system running fast by shedding any moisture or carbon buildup every time it cycles. This allows for over 1,500 rounds between cleanings –those who hate to clean guns even
more than I do can appreciate that. The 940 Pro Tactical will reliably cycle any 2¾- and 3-inch shotgun ammo you feed it. Because loading is such a concern with the defensive shotgun, the 940’s loading port has been upgraded to allow the user to efficiently quad load the magazine tube straight out of the box without any need of modification to the receiver. The elevator and shell catch have also been designed to eliminate common pinch points.
All of these improvements from its predecessor 930 model were great, but then the engineers really hit a home run. They created an optic-ready system with a receiver cut to accept the direct mounting of low-profile, micro
The tactics class stresses that communication with your partner is just as important as the firing of rounds.
Author Larry Case (left) and Melloni team up for the Team Tactics for Two class.
SCATTERGUN ALLEY
dot sights (Shield RMSc footprint; there’s a cover plate for when an optic is not in use). The receiver is also drilled and tapped for the option of adding rail-mounted optics. This cut revolutionized the optic-mounting world of shotguns and gets the red dot lower and into the shooter’s line of sight with the cheek welded to the stock (where it is supposed to be). The 940 Pro Tactical Holosun Micro Dot Combo comes out-of-the-box equipped with Holosun’s HS407K open reflex optic sight.
Now Mossberg has decided to improve on this very successful fighting shotgun with the advent of the SPX, or Special Purpose, series. The 940 Pro Tactical SPX is an optic-ready platform and available in
The Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical SPX’s loading port has been upgraded to allow the user to efficiently quad load the magazine tube straight out of the box without any need of modification to the receiver.
The 940 Pro Tactical Holosun Micro Dot Combo version of the Mossberg shotgun comes out-of-the-box equipped with Holosun’s HS407K open reflex optic sight.
SCATTERGUN ALLEY
eight- or five-shot versions with 18.5inch AccuChoke-compatible barrels. Initially, five models are available, including a Holosun Micro Dot Combo and optional Cerakote finishes.
Some of the new features on the 940 SPX include two QD mounting cups on the stock (right and left), allowing the sling mount to be positioned in 90-degree increments (3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions); a stabilizing barrel clamp with two-sided M-Lok mounting slots and swivel studs; and a redesigned one-piece magazine tube for ease of maintenance and improved reliability. The magazine spring is retained for ease of removal and attaches to the barrel.
Other features include a Vang Comp six-shotshell carrier card with Velcro mounting plate and hookand-loop card attachment system, and a rear ghost ring and front fiber optic sights with protective, low-
profile wings. You can remove the ghost ring sight and the receiver is optic-ready for the direct mounting of micro dot sights. Cerakote coatings (flat dark earth and OD green) on barreled actions are available on select models for added wear and corrosion protection.
ON THIS TRIP to Gunsite Academy,
we shot the 940 Pro Tactical SPX for three days. Besides range time burning powder in different drills (with birdshot, 00 buckshot and slugs), the instructors put us through the aforementioned three-day Team Tactics for Two class. We shot hundreds of rounds with the 940 SPX and if there was a malfunction with a gun during the class, I don’t remember it. If there was any doubt in anyone’s mind of an autoloading shotgun standing up to this type of test, or being adequate for a tactical shotgun, I
think this class put it to rest.
There is also no doubt that a trip to Gunsite is not only a lot of fun, but thoroughly educational for any shooter. If you want to be serious about defending home and hearth with a shotgun, you need to look into taking a class at Gunsite.
As for me, I look forward to my next trip to Gunsite Academy for worldclass training, and to see the ravens.
Editor’s note: Larry Case has been a devoted outdoorsman since he was a child. He will admit to an addiction to turkey hunting (spring and fall), but refuses any treatment. He enjoys the company of gobblers and cur dogs that are loud and people who speak the truth softly. Case served 36 years as a game warden in West Virginia and retired with the rank of district captain. You can check out his podcast and other stories at gunsandcornbred.com.
Case’s classmates from the Team Tactics for Two course at Gunsite Academy. Their three days of training with the 940 Pro Tactical SPX put the shotgun to the test.
Self-Defense TRAINING WONDER WOMAN
Meet fighter, martial artist, firearms instructor, professor and author Graciela Casillas.
STORY BY PAUL PAWELA
PHOTOS BY GRACIELA CASILLAS
n this column in the August 2024 edition of American Shooting Journal, I named some of the instructors who had influenced my study of martial arts and precisely edged weapons training. In that article, there are 15 pictures of legends who are known throughout the world for their expertise in both subjects. Of the 15, one is a woman – and she has been a mentor and personal sifu to me for decades.
IThat woman is none other than Graciela Casillas, who has her own self-defense column in this very magazine. To give you a little background on Casillas, I’ll quote Danny Inosanto (who was also included as one of my mentors in that August column). Inosanto was not only the protege for the late Bruce Lee, but he is probably the most influential martial artist in America and perhaps even the world. Here’s what he had to say about Casillas:
“Graciela was one of the first female pioneers to be accepted and recognized in a martial arts world dominated by male martial artists; her history of achievements in martial arts speaks for itself. Graciela retired (from kickboxing) undefeated with a reported record of 31-0, 18 by TKO. (She was) holder of the World Women’s Boxing Association bantamweight titles, 1989 Black Belt Woman of the Year, the holder of the title in boxing and kickboxing (world champion). Graciela has studied several martial arts, including sport jujitsu, BKF kenpo, escrima, jeet kune do, and
Graciela Casillas “is one of my alltime favorite selfdefense mentors and personal sifus,” or teachers, writes author Paul Pawela. (PAUL PAWELA)
SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING
muay Thai. These are but a few of her accomplishments. Her talent is Godgiven, and she has excelled in many martial arts ...
"Graciela was my student and trained with me during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Since then, she has continued to grow and develop her own ‘shen chun do’ system.”
FAMED KNIFEMAKER AND edged-weapons expert Ernest Emerson (another mentor of mine featured in the aforementioned article) has often stated, “If you know how to box, then you know how to use a knife.” I cannot emphasize that enough. One would automatically assume that Casillas, due to her excellent boxing record, would be very good with a knife, and
you would be correct. But it goes much deeper than that.
Casillas was the first and only woman to be certified to the advanced instructor level in serrada escrima under late Grand Master Angel Cabales. (Cabales is considered one of the most outstanding arnisador practitioners of Filipino martial arts.) Arnis, also known as kali or escrima, is the national martial art of the Philippines. It involves close-quarters, empty-handed, ground fighting skills, as well as weapon-based fighting with sticks, knives and bladed weapons. Arnis is very popular with Hollywood action films, which use kali or escrima as the primary source for knife-fight scenes.
Several years ago, Casillas won her third world championship in Spain in stick fighting. The official title is Global Stick and Blade Alliance Association World Stick Fighting Champion. In arnis, the stick can easily be replaced with a knife, as both have the same movements and techniques.
Casillas is also well versed in Bruce Lee’s methodology of jeet kune do, which is based on four ranges of combat: kicking, boxing, trapping and grappling.
I first met Casillas in summer 1987, at the annual Great Smoky Mountain Martial Arts Camp hosted by Vic and Anne Payne at their North Carolina estate. In attendance was a who’s who
Casillas has appeared in several martial arts publications and training videos.
The first female fighter to hold world titles in both boxing and kickboxing, over her career, Casillas won 36 fights (five in the former sport, 31 in the latter) – 20 of them by knockout.
SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING
of instructors who would become immortals in the martial arts industry, including Inosanto, Larry Hartsell, Tim Tackett, Francis Fong, Cliff Lenderman, Cliff Stewart, Paul de Thouars, Chatchai Kaewbaidhoon, and too many others to name. But few impressed me more than Casillas.
CASILLAS IS NOT just a phenomenal martial arts instructor with plenty of ring experience. Unfortunately, she has real-world self-defense experience in which she has had to defend her life against multiple assaulters. Without going into the specifics of that incident, let’s just say her resolve and the outcome are a textbook case study for any individual who wants to win such a confrontation.
Casillas is also proficient in various firearms and is a certified instructor in
many disciplines. As such, she is the lead firearms instructor for the country’s most prestigious private bodyguard school, Executive Security International.
In addition, she has a master’s degree from California Lutheran University, a master’s degree from Azusa Pacific University, and a bachelor’s degree from University of California, Santa Barbara. She is a tenured professor and counselor and has worked at Oxnard College for 20 years.
It should come as no surprise that Casillas has written a bestselling book on women’s self-defense. The Lioness Within: A Woman’s SelfDefense Survival Guide is one of the most definitive sources of its kind. While packed with information one would expect to come from an expert like Casillas, it is also filled with compassionate examples of the
suffering women have endured by their attackers.
Casillas is one of my all-time favorite self-defense mentors and personal sifus. I have had the honor of training with her and have known her for over 30 years. I would trust her with my life in a deadly-force encounter. ★
Editor’s note: Author Paul Pawela is a nationally recognized firearms and self-defense expert. For his realistic self-defense training, see assaultcountertactics.com.
Today, Casillas is a leading firearms instructor for Executive Security International and a tenured professor and counselor at Oxnard College.
SHERIFF FACES OUSTER VOTE
Bay Area county’s top cop accused of laundry list of alarming actions.
STORY BY NICK
“Sunshine is the best disinfectant.” I remember seeing that quote in a leadership book I was required to read many moons ago when preparing for my department’s sergeant test. Simply put, it means that wrongdoing needs to be exposed if it is to be eliminated.
Dragging those who abuse their power into the sunlight occurs at all levels. In the Bay Area of California where I reside, we recently saw the former mayor of Oakland recalled and indicted by federal authorities for allegedly taking kickbacks and other
illegal monies during her campaign. In the same county as Oakland, a “criminal justice reform” district attorney was recalled for not holding criminals accountable for violent crimes, going after political opponents and police officers criminally, and a laundry list of other issues.
IN SAN MATEO County, they are in the beginning stages of a disinfection that has been years in the making. This time it involves law enforcement. Most law enforcement managers are appointed. Police chiefs and federal law enforcement supervisors are picked by government leaders to run agencies. The exception to this, in most places, are sheriffs. The sheriff
of a county is generally elected by the residents of that area. Personally, I like the idea of getting to pick the “top cop” to protect us. In theory, an elected official should come with less baggage than one who is beholden to those who appoint them. But that’s not always the case.
San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus was elected in January 2023. She ran on a platform of doing away with the “good ol’ boy” system that she alleged was in place prior to her being elected. Sounds great, right?
In reality, it’s not.
In her relatively short time in office, Sheriff Corpus proved to be a cancer in the county she was sworn to protect. Complaints generated
PERNA • PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SAN MATEO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
An early March special election in San Mateo County, California, could lead to the ouster of Sheriff Christina Corpus following an investigation into alleged misconduct on her part. Pictured at left is Assistant Sheriff Ryan Monaghan, who was fired in 2024 by Corpus for participating in the investigation.
L.E. SPOTLIGHT
by members of the sheriff’s office resulted in county officials appointing an independent investigator, a retired judge, to look into the allegations. The investigation concluded that there are many alarming things going on under Sheriff Corpus’s tenure. They include:
• Having an inappropriate relationship with her campaign manager. Sheriff Corpus created a “chief of staff” position specifically for him, despite him having no qualifications to be in such a position.
• Firing employees who participated in the external investigation.
• Arresting the head of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sheriff’s Association for alleged timecard fraud. The charges were subsequently dropped by the district attorney’s office for lacking any probable cause. This occurred after the DSA held a “no confidence” vote against Corpus.
• Using homophobic and racist
slurs in official communications. The list goes on and on. Currently, there is a ballot measure that has been put forth that would allow the San Mateo County government to fire her. County residents get to vote on this March 4. Hopefully it passes.
THE SITUATION HAS garnered nationwide attention in the media. I believe it is an important story to tell in this forum as a reminder that our officials, even the duly elected ones, are not above the law.
I’m choosing to shine the “law enforcement spotlight” on Sheriff Corpus in hopes that it will expose her for what she really is and help begin the process of disinfection. I would also like to commend the members of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office who have stood up against Corpus. They’ve done so at great risk to themselves and their careers.
The voting measure this month
will determine the fate of San Mateo County’s attempt to eject a corrupt sheriff. For an individual who took an oath, it’s time for accountability. People like this taint the great work that law enforcement does and degrade the trust of the public. There are so many law enforcement heroes out there, yet all the great steps they take to create trust in the public cannot shine through when there is corruption in the ranks.★
Editor’s note: Author Nick Perna is a sergeant with the Redwood City Police Department in Northern California. He previously served as a paratrooper in the US Army and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also has a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco. He is a frequent contributor to multiple print and online forums on topics related to law enforcement, firearms, tactics and veterans issues.
The 20-inch, 1-in-7-inch-twist, chrome-lined barrel of the Springfield Armory SA-16A2 has the correct birdcage flash hider with a solid bottom that works as a compensator as well as reduces the amount of dust kicked up when firing prone.
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY
Homage to America's last Cold Warrior.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY FRANK JARDIM
ong before Springfield Armory in Geneseo, Illinois, was famous for their pistols, and their Saint and Hellion rifle lines, they had already made their reputation as gunmakers building quality civilian versions of United States military service weapons. They pistol and even a semiauto belt-fed M60 light machine gun. They know a few things about military guns, to say the least.
When they decided to do a replica of the last, and greatest, of the M16 rifles of the Cold War, I was eager to get my hands on one. The SA-16A2 is sure to appeal to a lot of military veterans from the last decade of the Cold War, the invasions of Grenada and Panama, the huge military deployment in Saudi Arabia (Operation Desert Shield), combat operations against Iraqi forces in 1991 (Operation Desert Storm and Desert Saber) and various peacekeeping operations around the world through the
At 39.5 inches long and 7.9 pounds unloaded, the M16A2 was the beefiest, and most accurate, of the M16 series rifles issued during the Cold War. Springfield Armory did a great job of recreating all its important characteristics in the SA-16A2.
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turn of the century. It will also appeal to serious marksmen. The development of the M16A2 was spearheaded by the United States Marine Corps and its iron sights were the best of the series, making it a popular high-power competition rifle for NRA and Camp Perry matches.
THE M16A2 WAS an improved M16A1. Many of the M16A2’s new features are still standard on current military and civilian AR platforms. Its 20-inch barrel was heavier, more rigid, and
round handguards.
resisted bending and heat better than the thin “pencil barrel” on the M16A1, and its faster, one-turn-in-seven twist (1:7 twist) rifling better stabilized the new heavier, longer bullets that remain the trend today. The lower receiver was strengthened at the front hinge pin holes and at the buffer tube mounting ring. The upper receiver included a case deflector so the rifle could be fired safely left-handed, and a simpler-to-manufacture round plunger head forward assist replaced
the old teardrop style. The elevationadjustable front sight post was changed from round to square, which made for a crisper sight picture.
The new A2 flash hider, unlike the A1 “birdcage” flash hider, had a solid bottom so that all gas was directed upward to help compensate for muzzle rise and prevent a tell-tale dust cloud from revealing your position to the enemy when firing prone. The stock material was upgraded from the old crack-prone cellulose-impregnated
Springfield’s improvements from the M16A2 include a flared handguard ring and easier-to-grip
Upgrades also included an excellent elevation- and windage-adjustable rear sight, an integral brass deflector behind the ejection port, and a roundheaded forward bolt assist.
The SA-16A2 accepts all STANAG magazines, and two aluminum, 30-round Duramag magazines are included.
The SA-16A2 field stripped for cleaning. Note the reinforced front hinge pin area of the lower receiver.
phenolic resin plastic of the 1960s to a modern fiber-reinforced polymer plastic that was virtually unbreakable. The A2 pistol grip introduced a finger ridge to help index the hand consistently for better trigger control. Smaller-diameter, round, ridged, interchangeable handguards replaced the original triangular style, and the shape of the spring-loaded delta ring that held them in place was changed from straightsided to flared, making it much easier to hold onto while changing handguards.
The A2 rear sight had windage and elevation adjustment wheels that allowed for quickly re-zeroing the sight for ranges from 200 to 800 yards with the new 62-grain NATO standard M855 ammunition. The adjustment clicks could be heard and felt and the ranges were marked on the dial. Like the M16A1, the A2 had a flip-type dual rear aperture, but it was not for changing elevation. The A2 had a large ring aperture to engage targets within 300 meters where a larger field of view was desirable, and
The standout feature of the SA-16A2 is the excellent adjustable rear sight. Outside of the US Marine Corps, many felt it was a bit too complex for the average serviceman, but competition shooters loved it.
The M16A2 had a longer, stronger buttstock than the M16A1. Springfield Armory recreated it beautifully and included the cleaning kit storage compartment in the SA-16A2.
This T&E rifle had a standard military-style single-stage trigger with a very nice 5.3-pound pull weight.
Note the square-faced adjustable front sight post. The flats made it easier to see, but required all elevation zeroing adjustments be made in full quarter-turn increments.
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a small ring aperture for more precise aiming at targets beyond 300 meters.
ALL OF THESE features, as well as “U.S. GOVERNMENT PROPERTY” and “BURST” markings on the receiver, an M16-style bolt carrier, and chrome lining of the barrel, are present in the new Springfield Armory SA-16A2. About the only thing I can see that they didn’t copy was the actual three-round burst capability that became the subject of so much controversy when it was substituted for full-auto on the selector.
But don’t let that get you down. Springfield Armory actually added three discreet improvements to their SA-16A2. Their upper receiver is relieved for M4style feed ramps, which permits better feeding; the magazine well is more flared to allow for easier insertion of magazines; and there’s a hidden AccuTite receiver tensioning screw under the pistol grip to remove any wiggle between the upper and lower receiver.
On the range, I had the rifle zeroed for testing in no time by bore sighting in on an 11 5-inch bull’s-eye target set 100 yards away. At that range, the bull’s-eye appears to be the same thickness as the front sight post, which minimizes windage errors in my sight picture. As per the military manual (TM 9-1005-31910), rear sight elevation clicks equaled 3 5 centimeters ( 13/8 inches) and windage clicks were 1 25 centimeters (½ inch) at 100 meters. The 5 3-pound-pull, singlestage military trigger broke cleanly. With the rifle rested on the bench and using the small sighting aperture, I was able to shoot five-shot groups averaging 2.47 inches with Black Hills Ammunition 62-grain Barnes TSX solid copper bullets. The rifle was made to shoot 62-grain bullets. Some fast-twist barrels shoot 55-grain bullet loads surprisingly well, so I tried two I had on hand and got exceptional
results. Hornady American Gunner 55-grain JHP and bargain Winchester white box 55-grain FMJ averaged fiveshot groups of 1 85 and 2 16 inches, respectively. When it comes to shooting with iron sights, vision is usually the limiting factor rather than the rifle or ammunition. When a rifle can shoot groups under 2.5 MOA at 100 yards with iron sights, it’s an accurate gun!
IN 1997, THE more optics-flexible, flattop-receiver M16A4 began replacing the M16A2 as America’s standard-issue battle rifle, but the M16A2 was still in service in the early 2000s during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. By 2005, the supremacy of the rifle as the weapon of choice for US Army infantrymen was on the wane when the decision was made to issue the handier M4 carbine to combat units. In 2016, the Marine Corps did the same, ending
the age of the rifle for our troops. Though the M16A2 is pretty much retired from US military service, many of the improvements it ushered in remain relevant in the current generation of military and civilian AR platforms. Its heavy barrel and adjustable sights ensured it would have a place on the competitive firing line at Camp Perry and other high-power rifle matches around the country, and you’ll still see civilian versions of the rifles there today. I’d expect Springfield Armory’s SA-16A2 to take some places on those firing lines too. For more information on this and other Springfield Armory guns, visit them at springfield-armory.com. ★
The SA-16A2 has a bayonet lug and will accept all standard US military issue bayonets. This is an original M6 bayonet dating from the late Vietnam era.
Springfield Armory did a nice job of capturing the vibe of the original gun with their receiver markings.
CHIPS OFF THE OL' FAMILY BLOCK
Author's twin granddaughters thrive in military.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY PAUL PAWELA
he United States of America is the greatest country in the world for one main reason: our soldiers who stand at the ready to defend this great nation of ours. We must all remember it is the soldier, not the reporter, who gives us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who gives us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, not the lawyer, who gives us the right to a fair trial.
TAnd it is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves under the flag, whose coffin is draped by the flag – all while protesters burn the flag.
Contrary to popular belief, soldiers are made, not born. A soldier starts as an individual with a solid foundation of self-discipline, commitment, honesty, decent athletic ability, and aboveaverage intellect. Whatever a soldier’s job ends up being, he or she is first and foremost trained as a warrior. Warriors are fighters who will defend this country with their lives, if need be, constantly enduring and resolving conflicts and challenges.
But though the soldier is a true warrior, he or she does not fight out of aggression, but rather out of
MILITARY SPOTLIGHT
Author Paul Pawela with his twin granddaughters Faith (left) and Hope Angone.
Faith enlisted to become a federal police officer.
Hope signed up to become a communications specialist.
MILITARY SPOTLIGHT
selflessness. Putting others before oneself is the ultimate source of a warrior’s courage.
OVER THE PAST two decades (since 2001, to be exact), I have been blessed to watch two very special human beings come into this world – my granddaughters. Their mother appropriately named these wonderful gifts from God: Hope and Faith. They were born identical twins, best friends to each other, who constantly challenged themselves and the world around them.
All members of our family were in awe of them growing up. Both had their fair share of life’s hardships and pleasant times, but the glue that kept them together through all of it was their mother, who instilled ethics, confidence, self-discipline and a host
of other qualities that would prepare them for their journey in life.
As children grow to find their way in life, no mother – or any family member, for that matter – hopes that their children or relatives join the
military, due to the inherent risks and dangers of that job. But from day one of high school, Hope and Faith were not only part of their high school’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program, but they were also leaders, setting all kinds of athletic physical training standards and serving as examples for the rest of their JROTC cadre.
Despite the advice of close family members who tried their best to dissuade them from military service, Hope and Faith chose to follow their own destiny.
THE FIRST TO join, Hope enlisted to become a communications specialist. After that training, she volunteered for
After training, Hope volunteered for airborne school.
As part of her training, Hope had to make four parachute jumps.
Pawela pins Hope with his original jump wings, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, great grandfather and uncles.
MILITARY SPOTLIGHT
one of the most formidable military schools a soldier could sign up for: airborne school.
Airborne school is three weeks long and is not only physically demanding, but mentally demanding as well. The student must make four parachute jumps to become airborne-qualified eventually. Students jump from an altitude of anywhere from 11 to 1,200 feet, jumping day or night, with or without combat equipment. Not only that, but they must ride in a plane that is simulating avoiding enemy artillery, which makes for an incredible ride for the passengers getting ready to make
their airborne operation.
Hope graduated from jump school and served at Fort Bragg, where she was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, attached to an artillery battery.
When Faith enlisted, she chose to become a federal police officer. She joined the military police corps and spent eight weeks training in the classroom, in the field and on the road.
She has served with honors in almost every position she has held, whether winning top awards in physical training or leading her unit in marksmanship weapons training. Faith is a natural leader whose chain
of command has recommended her for officer candidate school, military police investigator school, and drug suppression team.
LEADERSHIP
EXPERT JOHN C. Maxwell
wrote a book titled Intentional Living: Choosing a Life that Matters. In the book, Maxwell states that your life can be a life that matters. He says that our stories tell us who we are, inspire others, and connect us to others. Our stories animate our reasoning process, permit us to do the things we do, fire up our emotions, and give us pictures of who we aspire to be.
Most of us want our lives to matter. We want our lives to have significance and meaning. To do that, we must be significant. This means we must make a difference with others, wherever we are and with whatever we have. When we intentionally use our everyday lives to bring about positive changes in the lives of others, we begin to live a life that matters.
So far in their short lives, Hope and Faith have made a huge impact on our family, our community and our country, as they bravely put their lives on the line. If anyone doubts our military’s courage, dedication and service, all they must do is have a little Hope and Faith –that will win the day! ★
Faith won several awards, as well as led her unit in marksmanship weapons training.
Faith spent eight weeks training on the road and in the field.
Ron Spada at 503-539-5396 with any questions or to set up a time to tour the club. siducks.com
ROAD HUNTER
HUNTING AFRICA’S PRIZED SABLE AND ROAN ANTELOPE
A longtime dream is fulfilled with a pair of remarkable bulls.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT HAUGEN
he sable is one of Africa’s most iconic animals. Referred to as the “prince of Africa,” the jetblack hides of bulls are accented with stark white markings on the belly and face. Sables’ scimitar-shaped horns sweep over their backs. Their thick chest, narrow waist and back
Tend, combined with sharply tapered legs, are unique, giving them a sturdy horselike appearance. Their beauty and physique command attention. A mature bull will weigh 500 pounds.
From the 1950s through the 1970s, tsetse fly outbreaks greatly reduced sable numbers throughout their range. By the 1980s, sable numbers were bouncing back.
Still, the price tag on a bull was steep,
upwards of $15,000 in the 1990s. I first hunted sable in the early 1990s. I connected with an outfitter along South Africa’s Limpopo River. He told me he had good sable and buffalo in a concession across the river in Zimbabwe. We didn’t see a single sable that trip.
AS WITH MANY hunters, my infatuation with Africa took root at a young age. Lion hunting topped the list. Kudu were
Dubbed the “prince of Africa,” the sable is one of that continent’s most striking antelope species, and populations are thriving throughout much of their range.
ROAD HUNTER
next, followed by sable. Throughout my 16 safaris to the continent, the ancient rock art of sable distinctly stood out.
Unlike many of Africa’s antelopes, sable routinely stand their ground when confronted by predators. They’ve been known to impale lions, leopards and other predators with their sharp, lyre-shaped horns upon attack. The fearlessness of standing their ground frequently leads to the sable’s demise at the hands of poachers.
Poachers hunt with dogs and spears. The dogs corner the sable, which are then killed with spears. Entire bachelor herds and matriarchal herds are often killed all at once. Poaching knows no limits and has wiped out sable in many of their native habitats over the decades.
A decade ago I hunted sable in Namibia. The area was experiencing an excessive drought and animals were scarce. I only saw one small bull that trip. I wanted a mature bull or nothing.
When I first hunted sable, a bull with
36-inch-long horns was the holy grail. Today, that number has pushed to 40 inches. I’ve photographed bulls that big in game parks throughout Africa, but have never seen one that large when hunting. On a hunt last spring, my luck finally changed.
I WAS HUNTING with Charl le Roux, owner and operator of Rosedale Safaris (rosedalesafaris.com) in South Africa.
I’d hunted with Charl before, near Port Elizabeth. He has access to some of the most diverse habitats I’ve hunted and the quality of animals is among the best I’ve seen. Giant East Cape kudu, nyala, waterbuck and eland are just the start. When I laid eyes on some massive sable the last time I hunted with Charl, I vowed to return. When I arrived, Charl and I set out a few trail cameras. The first night we caught young bulls on camera. Over the next two days we captured more sable as they came to drink in various areas. One
creek in particular became our target spot, as some big bulls routinely visited it at night and even during the day.
On day three, Charl took two friends for kudu in the mountains. I hunted with one of his top guides, Pieter Zwiegelaar. We were going after sable.
We hunted the Karoo region, a semiarid landscape covering over 150,000 square miles of South Africa, about one-third of its total area. Glassing with the rising sun at our backs, we watched a small herd of cows and calves feed from a wooded draw into nearby green grass. Then Pieter spotted two bulls over a mile away. He set up a spotting scope. We were in no rush. The land we hunted was rolling grasslands atop gently undulating hills with sparsely wooded draws. We looked at multiple bulls that morning.
As temperatures warmed and animals moved into cover, Pieter suggested we go for a walk. We concentrated efforts near where two
The habitat in which sable and roan antelope live is not hard to negotiate once a hunter and their guide glass up a bull worth chasing from the rolling hills.
ROAD HUNTER
trail cameras had been catching sable moving to water during the middle of the day. The experience reminded me of hunting river bottom whitetails back in the US – until we laid eyes on a big bull sable.
The majestic bull stood looking in our direction, head sharply turned over its right shoulder. It hadn’t seen us. “It’s a nice bull, about 40 inches, but let’s keep looking,” Pieter instructed. I didn’t argue.
We studied a couple other bulls in the distance. They were smaller than the one we’d passed. We hadn’t gone 20 yards when Pieter suddenly stopped. I almost bumped into him. He instantly started glassing. I had no view. “There’s a massive, massive bull,” Pieter whispered. “I need to see how long it is, though.”
THE BULL STOOD in a narrow trail in the trees. Looking at it through binoculars, its thick black horns caught my attention. It was the heaviest-horned sable we’d seen. The leaves on the trees hid over half the bull’s horns. Pieter got low and saw the complete headgear as the bull turned its head.
Slowly, Pieter stood and began erecting the shooting sticks. “This is a giant bull and you need to shoot it right now!” he whispered. With the Browning 6 8 Western solid in the sticks, I took a range. The bull was facing us, 177 yards away. Pieter confirmed the distance with his bino rangefinder. “Hit it square in the chest,” Pieter whispered. I did.
The whack of the bullet was solid, as it always is when entering the brisket. The bull took off running through the trees, then sprinted into the open. For the first time, I laid eyes on its horns. Long, sweeping, glistening in the sunlight, it was an image I’ll never forget. The bull ran 40 yards and tipped over.
Approaching the downed bull was surreal. There was no shouting. No celebrating. No animated high-fives. This was a moment I’d anticipated for over 40 years.
Wrapping my hands around the bases of the bull’s horns, it was even bigger than I imagined. The horns were sharp; its contrasting white and black features, striking. It was one of the most awesome-looking animals I’d ever seen. Pieter and I shook hands and embraced. It was a special moment for both of us.
“You know, in all my years as a professional hunter, this is the biggest sable I’ve ever seen taken,” Pieter shared with me. That’s when we put a tape to it. The horns measured an astounding 45 inches long with 10-inch bases. It was a true bull of a lifetime.
That night Pieter grilled fresh sable tenderloins over an open fire. It was delicious. Reliving the hunt under the starlit African sky, it was a fitting end to one of the most memorable hunts of my life.
BUT WE STILL had two days left. I set my sights on a roan antelope, one of the few African animals I’d yet to hunt. The timing was good and we were in the right place.
The following day, we searched for a big bull. We found what we were looking for moments before dark. We tried catching up to them, but failed. Sleep came slowly that night. The last day came and we got back after it. We saw some
Author Scott Haugen and professional hunter Pieter Zwiegelaar with an exceptional roan taken in South Africa. Haugen dreamed of hunting these grand antelope for years, and on this, his 16th safari to the African continent, it became reality.
ROAD HUNTER
THE GEAR
nice bulls, but not the big one we’d hoped for. Finally, with less than 30 minutes of daylight left, Pieter spotted the bull we’d seen the previous day. We scrambled, ran, crawled when necessary, and closed the distance. Two other bulls were with the big bull, as was the case the day before. They saw us, spooked, and ran. I thought it was over.
“Quickly, move up to that rise and get ready,” Pieter urged. “Your bull hung back and is standing behind those trees,” he pointed. We got set up, and through the scope I found the bull staring right at us. It was brushy. I had no shot.
We both got a range, 195 yards. Finally, the bull stepped out and again the 6.8 Western did the job. One bullet behind the shoulder did the trick, and the 600-pound bull roan was down. It was the biggest roan Pieter had ever guided a hunter to. I was more than honored, and overwhelmed with joy.
A trip halfway around the world. Two shots fired. Two of the most magnificent animals I’d ever laid eyes on. Life was good.★
Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s bestselling books, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott’s adventures on Instagram and Facebook.
Quality optics and a flat-shooting rifle are key pieces of gear for hunting sable and roan. They’re thick-chested antelope and their muscles are dense. Shots can easily range out to 400 yards.
I chose Browning’s new X-Bolt 2 Speed rifle in 6.8 Western. I’d seen this caliber perform well on Roosevelt elk. I’d also shot bear with it and seen kudu, gemsbok, wildebeest and other tough African game cleanly taken with it. I was impressed. It’s a tack-driver, one I have utmost confidence in, especially when shooting Browning’s Long Range Pro Hunter 175-grain Sierra Tipped GameKing bullets. My bullet was found in the hindquarter of the sable, having entered the brisket and traveled through the entire body cavity – including a stomach full of densely packed grass. The bullet in the sable was perfectly mushroomed under the skin on the opposite side.
The 6.8 Western was topped with a new Leupold VX-6HD scope with a customized CDS dial for this specific load. Just range, dial and shoot – it’s that fast and that accurate. The 3-18x44 scope was a perfect fit for an African plains game hunt. The clarity and ease of use of this scope greatly impressed me.
Leupold’s XS 4 Pro Guide 15-45x65 spotting scope was a valuable piece of gear on this hunt. Its clarity allowed the professional hunter to give me a crash course in judging sable and roan at great distances. “I’ve used a lot of spotting scopes over the years and this is the best I’ve seen,” shared PH Pieter Zwiegelaar more than once during our hunt.
Haugen has been fortunate to make a living hunting around the world. Last spring, after three failed attempts spanning many years, he finally connected on a sable, and what a magnificent bull it was.
Leupold’s VX-6HD scope with a customized CDS dial for the specific load and calibrated for the elevation the author was hunting in Africa. The precision of this technology is impressive.
ROYALTY FOR YOUR RIFLE
For hunter-handloaders, Sierra’s GameKing product line offers 'a very flexible projectile ... giving more than acceptable performance.'
STORY BY PHIL MASSARO • PHOTOS BY MASSARO MEDIA GROUP
You can bring out all the polymer tips, bonded jackets and monometal designs you’d like, but sometimes a good old bullet with a lead core and copper jacket, with just a hint of exposed lead at the nose, fits the bill perfectly. Now don’t get me wrong; I absolutely adore our modern projectiles, especially when the game animals get larger in size, or have the potential to send a hunter home in a jar. But when hunting whitetails and black bear at
home, more often than not I reach for a traditional cup-and-core bullet, and quite often those bullets come in a green and black box labeled “Sierra.”
Thirty years ago, when I honed my reloading skills because I could more easily make the premium ammunition that I couldn’t afford, I found Sierra bullets to be one of the best values on the market. They proved to be wonderfully accurate, were very effective on game, and were affordable to a young man who needed the best of all worlds with a minimal budget.
I can’t estimate how many boxes of 165- and 180-grain Sierra GameKings
I sent down the barrels of my .308 Winchester and .300 Winchester Magnum, happily watching the targets riddled with tiny little groups. Though we had the opportunity to shoot two, maybe three deer each rifle season in New York, the Sierra GameKing never failed me. Well, there was one instance when a bullet had hit a branch and created a superficial wound, but more about that in a moment.
SIERRA BULLETS CAME to light in 1947, when Frank Snow, Loren Harbor and Jim Spivey teamed up in a California Quonset hut to make the projectiles
Author Phil Massaro has long relied on the Sierra GameKing as his go-to deer hunting bullet in his .308 Winchester.
that were nearly unobtainable in the post-World War II era, so they could reload ammunition to keep shooting. The company grew considerably over the next couple of decades, as Sierra added names like Martin Hull and Bob Hayden, and the company was eventually acquired by the Leisure Group. By 1990, Sierra had left California for Sedalia, Missouri, yet the quality of the projectiles went unchanged; they were the same designs that shooters and hunters had come to rely on. It was in this era that I became rather familiar with their product line, in calibers from .224 inch to .375 inch, using them all around the globe.
The GameKing is one of Sierra’s bestselling hunting projectiles. Where the ProHunter designs are often a flatbased design, the GameKing offers a spitzer boattail profile. There are plenty of choices within the product line, with jackets of varying hardness, different meplat configurations, as well as a recently introduced tipped variant for those who just can’t live
without polymer tips. The most prominent design in the GameKing line is a spitzer boattail of cup-and-core construction, with a bit of exposed lead at the nose. The bullets have an ogive that is respectable, but not so flat as to elongate the projectile to a length that is
difficult for our most popular cartridges to use in a standard rifle design.
For example, the .30-caliber 180-grain GameKing – part No. 2160 – has long been a favorite choice of mine in the .300 Winchester Magnum. It has a G1 ballistic coefficient of just over .500, yet isn’t so long as to be a problem. You see, the maximum overall length of the .300 Winchester is 3.340 inches, but the case measures 2 620 inches, leaving just .720 inch of bullet outside the case. It is a tough bullet, and Sierra recommends velocities over 2,500 feet per second for this projectile. I’ve used it on deer and caribou, and have loaded it for friends and clients to take a wide variety of game around the world. It can be incredibly accurate, and is long enough to deliver deep penetration, even at .300 Remington Ultra Magnum velocities.
The 150-grain .30-caliber GameKing (No. 2125) has been a favorite of many whitetail hunters in the .308 Winchester, as it delivers the accuracy
A 220-grain Sierra GameKing in the beefy 8mm Remington Magnum is potent medicine for elk, moose, bear and large African antelope.
Sierra’s No. 2125, a 150-grain .30-caliber BTSP bullet, makes a great choice for the deer hunter in the .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield. (SIERRA BULLETS)
Shown here in 6.5mm and .30 caliber, Sierra’s GameKing hollowpoint has a crimped nose, a thick jacket, and is about as accurate as a hunting bullet should be.
BULLET BULLETIN
The Sierra GameKing shown in profile, section and upset form. Note the cannelure, which is generally reserved for those Sierra bullets sent to the factory ammunition companies.
(FEDERAL PREMIUM)
that the cartridge is known for, yet can attain the velocities desired for longer shots. That same bullet is a good choice for pronghorn antelope and other similar-sized game, though for elk, moose and even big-bodied mule deer,
I’d want just a bit more bullet weight. For those hunters who prefer to use a .22-caliber centerfire for deer hunting, Sierra offers a 55-, 62- and 65-grain bullet in the GameKing line, though the latter will require a 1-in-10inch twist rate to be properly stabilized. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the .375-caliber cartridges are well served by the 250- and 300-grain GameKing choices. I’ve used both in the .375 H&H Magnum, with wonderful results. My father took my Winchester Model 70 on his South African safari, loaded with 250-grain GameKings at a muzzle velocity of 2,700 fps, taking kudu, gemsbok and blesbok without issue. I also used this bullet to cleanly take caribou in Quebec before that hunt closed. That combo shoots surprisingly flat – much like a .30-06 Springfield with 180-grain bullets – and extends the versatility of the classic three-seven-five.
WITHIN THE GAMEKING projectile line, there are a couple of hollowpoint variants. The smaller calibers – .22, 6mm and .25 – have a conventionallooking profile, but the hollowpoint bullets in 6.5mm, .277, 7mm and .30
Massaro’s 6.8 Western was very happy with the 150-grain Sierra GameKing and a healthy dose of IMR 4955; group size was under ¾-MOA.
A 117-grain Sierra GameKing in the .2506 Remington makes an effective choice for whitetails and pronghorn antelope.
BULLET BULLETIN
While the .375 H&H Magnum might not be thought of as a long-range hunting cartridge, when loaded with an efficient bullet like the 300-grain GameKing, it gives a surprisingly flat trajectory.
caliber are a unique and very useful design. This latter group of bullets features a thick jacket for deep penetration and a crimped meplat over a hollow cavity to ensure expansion.
The 165-grain .30-caliber bullet (No. 2140) came first, designed to offer the fantastic accuracy of the 168-grain Sierra MatchKing target bullet in a design stiff enough for big game. It did just that; in fact, the 165-grain GameKing HPBT in the .308 Winchester was my deer load for years. I’m not sure how many whitetails fell to that load without issue, but it was all but one.
On a beautiful November morning, an eight-point buck had picked the wrong logging road to wander along, and I settled the crosshair of the Leupold scope just inside the shoulder on a quartering-toward shot. I didn’t see the limbs that were between the buck and me, and it didn’t matter, as the buck dropped to the shot. However, as I approached that “dead” deer, he stood and ran, leaving me slack-jawed and rather embarrassed. A very long tracking job ensued and one followup shot sorted the deer out, showing me that the initial bullet broke up and caused only superficial wounds.
I have never experienced that again with the 165-grain HPBT, so I wonder if it was just one of those weird things that make hunters scratch their heads. That is a tough bullet, having performed very well on big-bodied deer at just about every shot angle, and I wouldn’t hesitate to use it on black bear and elk. Sierra offers that crimped HPBT in 6.5mm caliber at 130 grains, .277 caliber at 140 grains, 7mm caliber at 140 grains, and 30 caliber at 165 grains.
Sierra offers the GameKing in calibers from .22 to .375, including a 220-grain 8mm bullet, a .35-caliber bullet at 225 grains (perfect for the .35 Whelen), 215- and 250-grain offerings in the .338-inch bore diameter, and a good selection of 6.5mm, .277, 7mm and .30 calibers. For the .300 Blackout crowd, there is a 205-grain bullet designed for optimum performance at subsonic velocities.
THE NEW TIPPED GameKing is considered an update of the GameKing series, giving an improved ballistic coefficient and a more uniform meplat. This series is, generally speaking, comprised of bullet weights from the middle of the spectrum to the heavier side of things, with the exception of the 125-grain .30-caliber TGK. There are two 180-grain .30-caliber bullets:
the No. 4681T, designed for the .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield (where the seating depth isn’t compromised), and the No. 4680, which has a shortened ogive, designed for use with the .300 Winchester Magnum. These projectiles are very consistent, and can deliver fantastic accuracy.
The Tipped GameKing is available in component form and loaded in
The .30-caliber 180-grain GameKing is a good choice for close shots, where the sectional density will handle high-impact velocities, and for longer shots, where a flat trajectory and good resistance to wind deflection are desirable.
Sierra’s GameChanger ammo line in .223 Remington, .243 Winchester, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .270 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, .300 AAC Blackout, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, and 300 Winchester Magnum. The original GameKing was, up until recently, loaded in Federal Premium ammunition. It was one of the original projectiles offered in
The Sierra GameKing was one of the first bullet choices in the original Federal Premium line back in the 1970s, and has only recently been discontinued. (FEDERAL PREMIUM)
The 165-grain .30-caliber GameKing hollowpoint has performed wonderfully in a number of cartridges, including .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield and .300 Winchester Magnum. It is a tough customer.
BULLET BULLETIN
Federal’s Premium ammo line introduced in the 1970s, and before my dad and I began handloading all our ammunition, he swore by the performance of the 165-grain .308 Winchester load. It is also loaded by Browning – albeit with a signature gold tip – in the 175-grain weight for the 6.8 Western.
I love the design and performance of Sierra’s GameKing, up and down the product line. I’ve handloaded thousands of them, and have found that they are a very flexible projectile for the handloader, giving more than acceptable performance with a number of powders. You could find a Sierra GameKing suitable for 95 percent of the world’s species, save the African heavyweights like elephant, hippo and rhino, as the 300-grain .375-inch-diameter Sierra GameKing has accounted for more than a few Cape buffalo, and they are a great choice for both of the cats.
Grab a box of GameKings, a set of your favorite dies, and head to the bench to whip up a custom load that makes your rifle happy. And make sure you smile in the picture with your trophy. ★
Browning uses the Tipped GameKing in their Long Range ProHunter line, but with the Browning gold tip instead of the signature green tip from Sierra. It is shown here in 6.8 Western at 175 grains.
Both .30 caliber, both 180 grains, but the differences between the Sierra ProHunter (left) and GameKing (right) are visually evident.
BLACK POWDER
WHEN THE GRIPS MAKE THE GUN
The addition of Triple K grips on a replica revolver not only created the right look, but they stood the test of time and improved accuracy.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY
MIKE NESBITT
One of the revolvers that I use the very most is a Uberti replica of the Smith & Wesson New Model #3 Frontier in .44 Special, which was imported by Taylor’s & Company. I’m very sad to report that this fine revolver is no longer available, or at least it isn’t listed currently.
While I highly appreciate the guns of the Old West, I’ll admit that I like them to look more like the “real thing” rather than an obvious replica. To me, that simply adds to the aura or the personality of the gun, or revolver in this case. This is why I decided to add grips from Triple K Manufacturing to my Uberti New Model #3 Frontier. With the Triple K grips, this gun most certainly looks like the real thing. I’m occasionally asked at the
shooting range if my gun is an original. I like to reply to those questions with a wink, saying, “It is to me.”
Putting new grips on a revolver is almost like getting a new gun. Those grips will really change things. In this case, the new hard rubber grips from Triple K have a far different feel than the wooden grips that came with the Uberti revolver. Getting familiar with that new feel was very easy and I’ll
Installing Triple K grips on his Uberti replica Smith & Wesson New Model #3 Frontier added an authentic finishing touch for author Mike Nesbitt, a devotee of the guns of the Old West.
BLACK POWDER
even call it an improvement, which is in addition to the gun’s appearance.
FOR VINTAGE-STYLE GRIPS, San Diegobased Triple K offers a very wide assortment, along with color options. While I will only focus on the grips I fitted to my S&W replica, my comments are intended to cover their whole line. Speaking of that line, they offer replacement hard rubber butt plates too. In fact, I may revisit their website (triplek.com) to look for a butt plate for an old Model 62 Winchester .22 – but that might be another story.
Now let me tell you more about the grips for my Uberti-made New Model #3 revolver. The grips from Triple K are made in the shape and style of the old hard rubber grips that Smith & Wesson put on their revolvers. S&W actually had two colors for those grips. Black was the most common, although they also had mottled red rubber grips (and forearms), which I believe were used on the Model 320 revolving rifles. (Those are rare birds!) Triple K’s black grips are priced at $41 50 per pair and a screw and escutcheon kit is an additional $16 Triple K makes these replacement grips for the original Smith & Wesson guns – they are not specifically made for the replicas or reproductions. In their lineup of S&W grips, they also included grips for the top-break double-action .44s, and those needed a slightly smaller grip. The grips I bought were identified with Triple K’s part number 3917G.
Because these grips are made for the original Smith & Wesson guns, there seemed to be some slight fitting that needed to be done. On the grips pictured here, the right grip needed to have the lower “shoulder” cut down just a little bit before the “half-moon” at the top of the grip would fit more closely to the gun’s frame.
A BIGGER PROBLEM requiring attention was the indexing hole near the bottom of the grip, on the inside. When being fitted to this Uberti replica, those
indexing holes were not in the right place, nor were they the right size, for the indexing pin on the bottom of the gun’s grip frame. This must simply be a difference between the old Smith & Wesson revolvers and the newer replicas. The fix for this was to simply fill the existing holes in the grips and carefully drill new holes for the larger indexing pin.
Doing that can be tricky because the inside of the grips at that point have a slant to them, which could invite the drill to wander rather than bore straight into the material, sort of sliding downhill. Added to that is the fact that the face of the grips – the outside – is rounded, so trying to drill the next indexing holes without having the grips “teeter-totter” could be tough.
Friend Allen Cunniff solved this problem as we worked on the gun and grips in his shop. He removed the indexing pin from the gun’s grip frame, then selected a drill bit that was just about the same size as the pin. Next, he positioned one of the grips to the gun where it should be fitted and then both the gun and the grip were
A very thin edge of the gun’s grip frame can be seen behind the new grips. Triple K’s replacements aren’t specifically made for replicas, but Nesbitt couldn’t feel a difference on his Uberti.
The grips are styled like the old S&W originals.
BLACK POWDER
held in a padded vice. With a hand drill, he bored the new indexing hole in the grip, then took that grip off and replaced it with the grip for the other side and drilled the hole in the second grip. That put the new indexing holes into the grips in the proper place and at the proper size.
Attaching the grips was then easily completed with the installation of the escutcheons and the longest grip screw from the kit. Then it was time to admire the “new gun” look that the Triple K grips made possible.
The fit of the grips is not exactly perfect. I’m guessing this is because the replica’s grip frame is a very tiny
bit larger than the original Smith & Wesson’s. Notice in the photos that a sliver of the grip frame can be seen along the forward edge of the grips. In my opinion, this is nothing to worry about and it certainly cannot be felt while holding or firing the gun. With those black rubber grips, my .44 looks more like the real thing, and I couldn’t be more pleased.
I put these grips on my gun about four years ago, which shows how well they’ve held up while seeing quite a bit of use. To me, they still look new, and in fact, I recently won an “after-match” at one of our Old West Centerfires shoots where we used six-guns with
black powder loads for 10 shots on a bull’s-eye target, posted at just 10 yards. My gun was loaded with .44 Russian cartridges, using 18.5 grains of Olde Eynsford 2F powder under the 250-grain cast bullets. My score, which these grips helped me get, was a 99-7X. Once again, these replacement grips for the Smith & Wesson New Model #3 revolver are just one of the many styles of grips and butt plates that Triple K offers, and they have several other products as well. They have a truly wide assortment and the best way to look at their offerings is to visit their website or contact them at 619-232-2066 or sales@triplek.com. ★
Nesbitt’s good-shootin’ gun, shown with a recent target scoring 99-7X. In part, he credits the grips he had installed on the revolver four years ago for his high mark.
HERE’S TO THE SECOND
A shot of Constitutional Spirits’ 2A Bourbon goes towards veterans, wildlife and other causes.
PHOTOS BY CONSTITUTIONAL SPIRITS LLC
im Oates has had a long, successful and varied career. In past lives, he has run a realty and insurance company, started his own law firm and become a successful trial lawyer, and launched an entrepreneurial endeavor to help businesses grow. Throughout it all, Oates has been a lifelong hunter
Twith a passion for the outdoors, Second Amendment, and helping others.
His latest venture, Constitutional Spirits LLC, combines all of these passions – with a shot of bourbon to boot. Oates introduced 2nd Amendment Bourbon as not only a classic Kentucky concoction for the discerning outdoorsman, but also as a way to give back to charities close to his heart.
“I created 2A after my son-in-law and his identical twin went to Iraq,” explained Oates. “His twin brother was killed there. I decided to start a company to give to military and 2A causes.”
For every bottle sold, $2 is donated to the Second Amendment Foundation, while another $2 is donated to Folds of Honor, a nonprofit that according to its website provides “educational scholarships to the children and
Tim Oates holds a bottle from his spirits company’s 2A Gun Collection, a new line of bourbon that features different toppers.
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
spouses of America’s fallen or disabled servicemembers and first responders.”
“I have donated and helped raise over $120,000 toward my mission in 17 months,” said Oates.
In addition to the two organizations mentioned above, Constitutional Spirits has also donated portions of their sales to groups such as Gun Owners of America and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, as well as colleges that have gunsmith schools, VFWs, local firearm forums, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, youth shooting leagues, and many more. In addition, 2A Bourbon is the charter sponsor of the annual Anthony Muhlstadt Defender Ruck Walk to help raise money and awareness for the prevention of soldier suicide.
Next up, according to Oates, in April they will be launching the 2A Gun Collection, which will feature different toppers. “We will be changing the tops every 10,000 to 20,000 bottles, thus creating a collection of toppers for gun supporters.”
If you’re looking for a classic Kentucky bourbon with a bonus way to give back to gun rights and military groups, look no further. Visit 2abourbon .com for more information. ★
