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SHOOTING JOURNAL Volume 11 // Issue 3 // December 2021 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Andy Walgamott OFFICE MANAGER / COPY EDITOR Katie Aumann LEAD CONTRIBUTOR Frank Jardim CONTRIBUTORS Larry Case, Scott Haugen, Phil Massaro, Mike Nesbitt, Paul Pawela, Nick Perna SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Jim Klark, Kelley Miller, Mike Smith DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker WEBMASTER / INBOUND MARKETING Jon Hines, Jon Ekse INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@americanshootingjournal.com

ON THE COVER Custom gun- and wildcat cartridge maker Gary Reeder bagged this record-book Cape buffalo in South Africa with two shots from a singleaction .454 Casull he’d built for a friend and which was loaded with hot .45 Long Colt ammo. (GARY REEDER CUSTOM GUNS)

Pistol Bullets and Ammunition Zero Bullet Company, Inc.

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American Shooting Journal // December 2021

P.O. Box 1188 Cullman, AL 35056 Tel: 256-739-1606 Fax: 256-739-4683 Toll Free: 800-545-9376 www.zerobullets.com

Website: AmericanShootingJournal.com Facebook: Facebook.com/AmericanShootingJournal Twitter: @AmShootingJourn

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 3

COVER STORY

28 MEET CUSTOM HANDGUN MAKER GARY REEDER

How did a self-described “jeans, T-shirt and ball cap guy” go from being a DJ to a gunsmith with 70 different custom handgun and rifle lines and nearly as many wildcat cartridges – not to mention experience a few death-defying moments along the way? Frank Jardim chats with a very busy Gary Reeder over his lunch break.

(GARY REEDER)

MORE FEATURES 23

TWICE AS NICE A year ago Austin Orgain took the Precision Rifle Series’ Open Division points championship, but came up just short in the Pro Series Finale. We caught up with Orgain after he faced 200-plus “elite, highly skilled shooters” last month in a bid to take both season-ending titles.

BULLET BULLETIN: WALT BERGER AND HIS LIFETIME QUEST FOR ACCURACY Last September’s passage of Walt Berger has Phil Massaro remembering the bulletmaker’s life and times, as well as his projectiles, which stand as a testament to Berger’s own adage, “If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.”

SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING: LESSONS FROM BLACK HAWK DOWN, PART II Paul Pawela offers more perspectives on translating lessons of combat into civilian safety tips, as viewed through Mark Bowden’s famous book on the Battle of Mogadishu. LAW ENFORCEMENT SPOTLIGHT: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALL TURNS DEADLY FOR OFFICER Nick Perna honors Deputy Matthew Locke, a Tennessee father and Afghanistan War veteran who was killed while responding to a domestic violence incident, “some of the most dangerous calls that officers respond to.”

SUPPRESSING WEST VIRGINIA’S PLENTIFUL PREDATOR POPULATION With their SilencerCo suppressors, AR-15s, night optics and calls, Connor Boothe and cousin Tyler Samms help keep the Mountain State’s game-gobbling and farm-raiding coyotes and foxes a little more in check. Our Larry Case rides along with the lads for a little cold-weather songdog shooting and to get their thoughts on the predator-popping equipment they run.

ROADHUNTER: HO HO HO! FIELD-TESTED AND SANTA-APPROVED HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS Wondering what to get the waterfowler in your life? Our expert Scott Haugen shares what shotgun, goose and duck loads, call, blind, wader and thermos picks you might put under the tree for hunters, and he’s got some stocking stuffer ideas for their faithful four-legged companions too!

103 BLACK POWDER: WHAT’S IN THE MUZZLELOADER’S POUCH? “It’s far better to be properly equipped with the things you might need right there in your pouch” than not. So counsels our resident black powder cartridge enthusiast Mike Nesbitt, who also shares how flintlock and percussion shooters pack their pouches differently.

AMERICAN SHOOTING JOURNAL is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Ave South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2021 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A.

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

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American Shooting Journal // December 2021

Gun Show Calendar Competition Calendar Precision Rifle Series Calendar, Recent Match Results Gift Guide

Correction: In the article titled “Giving Veterans Hope, A Safe Space” (American Shooting Journal, November 2021), it was stated that the PTSD Foundation of America launched in 2009. The life-saving organization officially began in 2005, but the name and mission were changed in 2009. Also, the article states that over 1,300 veterans have benefited from Camp Hope. In fact, the number is over 1,600. Thank you to executive director David Maulsby for the corrections.

americanshootingjournal.com 15

PRIMER

GUNSHOW C A L E N D A R

C&E Gun Shows

December 4-5

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio Expo Center

cegunshows.com

December 4-5

Fayetteville, N.C.

Crown Expo Center

December 11-12

Harrisburg, Pa.

PA Farm Show Complex

December 11-12

Sharonville, Ohio

Sharonville Convention Center

December 11-12

Winston-Salem, N.C.

Winston-Salem Fairgrounds

December 18-19

Dayton, Ohio

Montgomery County Event Center

December 18-19

Raleigh, N.C.

NC State Fairgrounds

December 18-19

Salem, Va.

Salem Civic Center

December 3-5

Phoenix, Ariz.

AZ State Fairgrounds

December 11-12

Reno, Nev.

Reno Convention Center

December 11-12

St. George, Utah

Dixie Center

December 18-19

Queen Creek, Ariz.

Barney Family Sports Complex

Florida Gun Shows

December 4-5

Tampa, Fla.

Florida State Fairgrounds

floridagunshows.com

December 11-12

Fort Myers, Fla.

Lee Civic Center

December 18-19

Palmetto, Fla.

Bradenton Convention Center

December 4-5

Knoxville, Tenn.

Knoxville Expo Center

December 4-5

Marietta, Ga.

Cobb Co. Civic Center

December 11-12

Topeka, Kan.

Stormont Vail Events Center

December 11-12

Oklahoma City, Okla.

Oklahoma State Fair Park

December 18-19

Somerset, Ky.

The Center For Rural Development

December 18-19

Atlanta, Ga.

Atlanta Expo Center

Real Texas Gun Shows

December 4-5

Harker Heights, Texas

Harker Heights Event Center

therealtexasgunshow.com

December 18-19

Belton, Texas

Bell County Expo Center

Tanner Gun Shows

December 10-12

Colorado Springs, Colo.

Colorado Springs Event Center

tannergunshow.com

December 17-19

Aurora, Colo.

Arapahoe County Fairgrounds

Wes Knodel Gun Shows

December 11-12

Redmond, Ore.

Deschutes County Fairgrounds

wesknodelgunshows.com

December 18-19

Centralia, Wash.

Southwest Washington Fairgrounds

Crossroads Of The West Gun Shows crossroadsgunshows.com

RK Shows rkshows.com

Note: With COVID-19 restrictions uncertain, always confirm events before attending. To have your event highlighted here, send an email to kaumann@media-inc.com.

americanshootingjournal.com 17

PRIMER

COMPETITION C A L E N D A R

December 5-8

2021 Pistol Winter Airgun National Championships Anniston, Ala. usashooting.org

MRA .22 Pistol PTO 1 Woburn, Mass.

December 18-19

December 10-12

January 14-16

December 4-5

January 22-23

December 11

December 12

December 18-19

December 9-12

December 18

December 25

December 18

December 20

Remember the Alamo Ballistic Challenge XXVI San Antonio, Texas

CMT 2022 Holiday Shoot Castle Rock, Colo.

2021 Sheepdog CCP Championship Valdosta, Ga. idpa.com

December 19

Team Shooting Stars Dec 2021 PTO Carrollton, Texas

2021 Rifle Winter Airgun National Championships Anniston, Ala.

uspsa.org

cmsaevents.com

LPDA PTO San Antonio, Texas

December 8-12

Florida Section New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

gssfonline.com

December 11

IDPA at Palmetto Gun Club Ridgeville, S.C.

2022 Florida State Championship Clearwater, Fla.

Smokin’ Glock Southwest Regional V Littlefield, Ariz.

Holly Jolly Shoot East Vale, Calif.

12/2021 Caliber IDPA Match Waukegan, Ill. Lowcountry Shooters IDPA Match North Charleston, S.C.

Jingle Bell Blast DeRidder, La.

IDPA Austin Rifle Club Manor, Texas December 26

IDPA Cedar Ridge San Antonio, Texas

Note: With COVID-19 restrictions uncertain, always confirm events before attending. americanshootingjournal.com 19

SCHEDULE Pro Bolt Gun Series January 29 February 19 February 26

2022 Leupold Steel Classic MDT Bomber Run Frontline Fury

Navasota, Texas Madison, Indiana Warrenton, North Carolina

For more information visit www.precisionrifleseries.com

RECENT RESULTS 2021 PRS PRO SERIES FINALE PRESENTED BY KAHLES OPTICS Raton, New Mexico November 6, 2021

1st Place AUSTIN ORGAIN Open Div. 171.000/200.000 2nd Place DAVID PRESTON Open Div. 167.000/195.322 2nd Place AUSTIN BUSCHMAN Open Div. 167.000/195.322 2nd Place MORGUN KING Open Div. 167.000/195.322 5th Place KEN SANOSKI Open Div. 166.000/194.152

2021 PRS PRO SERIES CHAMPIONS!

This weekend was another massive win for Austin Orgain! Austin retained his open division series title and is our new 2021 PRS Pro Series Open Division Season Champion for the second year in a row. In true champion form he also took home 1st place at the finale match! We are so happy for you, Austin — well done!

OPEN DIVISION TOP 10

(PRECISION RIFLE SERIES)

1st Place AUSTIN ORGAIN 500.000 2nd Place MORGUN KING 495.322 3rd Place KEN SANOSKI 494.152 4th Place AUSTIN BUSCHMAN 490.966 5th Place DAVID PRESTON 489.707

6th Place JAKE MILLARD 488.446 7th Place CLAY BLACKKETTER 486.094 8th Place ALLISON ZANE 483.626 9th Place BRANDON HEMBREE 481.486 10th Place CHAD HECKLER 480.055 americanshootingjournal.com 21

RECENT RESULTS (continued) PRODUCTION DIVISION 1st Place DOUG KOENIG 500.000 2nd Place KEN WHEELER 493.849 3rd Place LEON WEATHERBY 491.837

TACTICAL DIVISION 1st Place MARK COOPER 500.000 2nd Place JI ZHANG 489.552 3rd Place MATT STINER 485.075

GAS GUN DIVISION 1st Place TYLER PAYNE 500.000 2nd Place TRAVIS McCAMISH 493.421 3rd Place BUCK HOLLY 473.684

2021 CATEGORY CHAMPIONS

Top Am/Rookie of the year: NICHOLAS PADICE Top Marksman: SHELDON NALOS Top Semi Pro: JIMMY MOORE Top Senior: RUSTY ULMER Top Junior: JAKE MILLARD Top Lady: ALLISON ZANE Top Mil/LE: MARK LE

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

(PRECISION RIFLE SERIES)

After coming up just short in last year’s Precision Rifle Series Pro Series Finale, Austin Orgain led the pack this November with a score of 171.000. The competition was held at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico.

TWICE AS NICE

2020 PRS Open Division points winner Austin Orgain takes 2021 crown – and Finale that eluded him last year. PHOTOS BY AUSTIN ORGAIN

n early November, the country’s top Precision Rifle Series shooters took part in the PRS Pro Series Finale, held at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico. Of the 200-plus competitors who participated in this year’s finale, several of them have been featured in previous issues of American Shooting Journal (including Morgun King, Allison Zane and Doug Koenig) – and all of them are elite, highly skilled shooters. This extremely competitive sphere means that winning any given match, let alone the finale, is a difficult task. Just ask Austin Orgain. In 2020, Orgain won the Open Division PRS points race, but came up just short in the finale match, earning

a hard-fought second place. This year, however, not only did Orgain win the overall points race again, he dominated the finale to take home the gold. The finale was a “field match,” says Orgain, which in PRS-speak means longer ranges and multiple shooting directions. “It consisted of 20 different stages and had a good balance of prone and positional shooting,” he adds. Though the match was arduous, Orgain attributes his victory “to being very consistent throughout the entire match, to my wind-reading abilities, and to all my gear running flawlessly.” The finale win was a long time coming for Orgain, who started shooting competitively as a kid, first in local BB

gun matches, and then moving on to pellet rifle and pistol competitions in 4H. During junior high and high school, he also began to shoot trap in 4H. “Once I got to college, I didn’t shoot very much, as I was on the collegiate rodeo team for Southwestern Oklahoma State University,” he explains. “After I graduated college and began a career, I wasn’t able to rodeo much and needed something to fill the competitive gap. This is when I picked up precision rifle shooting.” Orgain shot his first PRS match in 2016 and just a year later won the 2017 NRL Series Championship. In just six years of PRS competitions, Orgain has won 16 national-level matches, and of americanshootingjournal.com 23

A competitive shooter from a young age, in six years on the PRS trail, Orgain has won 16 nationallevel matches, including the 2020 and 2021 Pro Series championships.

Orgain attributes his PRS field match finale victory “to being very consistent throughout the entire match, to my windreading abilities, and to all my gear running flawlessly.”

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

course the aforementioned 2020 and 2021 PRS Pro Series championships. He also won the 2020 AG Cup championship, which brought about one of his most memorable moments in competition. “I had a 4-point lead on the field going into the last stage, which was a 400-yard KYL,” he recalls. (Editor’s note: A Know Your Limits, or KYL, target is a series of small circles that get progressively smaller as you go. The shooter earns points for each target hit and can stop at any time to retain those points. If they miss, they lose all their points.) Orgain continues, “I started the stage knowing I needed to hit at least six targets to win $35,000 and, needless to say, the nerves were a little high. After the first pass through the targets and I had hit all

AUSTIN ORGAIN’S RIFLE & GEAR Starting from the base of any rifle, Austin Orgain runs: • Foundation Centurion stock • Impact 737 action • Proof Research barrels chambered in 6mm Dasher (Competition contour, 7.5 twist cut to 26 inches) • Hawkins Precision bottom metal and heavy tactical one-piece scope mount • Tangent Theta 5-25x50 scope with JTAC reticle • ACE Precision muzzle brake • Bix’n Andy Tac Sport Pro trigger with gator grip trigger shoe • Anarchy heavy Arca rail • Harris bipod with a Really Right Stuff SOAR Arca adapter, Really Right Stuff SOAR tripod and ballhead • Reloading components: Alpha Munitions 6mm Dasher brass and Hornady 6mm 110-grain A-tip bullets

“The best memories come from the camaraderie between friends and fellow competitors,” says Orgain. ”We have a lot of fun and we talk a lot of crap, which is the best part.”

five (including the fifth target, which was a 1.5-inch circle), I knew I had it in the bag.” “But really,” Orgain says, “the best memories come from the camaraderie between friends and fellow competitors and traveling the country with my friends and teammates. We have a lot of fun and we talk a lot of crap, which is the best part.” Look for Orgain to continue competing next year in the Precision Rifle Series, the AG Cup series, and the National Rifle League.  Editor’s note: For more on the Precision Rifle Series, visit precisionrifleseries.com.

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

americanshootingjournal.com 27

Lunch With Custom Handgun Maker & Lion, Cape Buffalo Hunter Gary Reeder Talkin' the 'whole enchilada' with Reeder about how he went from being a DJ to a gunsmith with 70 different custom lines and nearly as many wildcat cartridges – with a few death-defying moments along the way. STORY BY FRANK JARDIM • PHOTOS BY GARY REEDER

ary Reeder started customizing guns when Jimmy Carter was president. He went his own way then and never stopped going. Forty years later, his catalog includes 70 different lines of custom guns and 68 wildcat cartridges for them. While same ol’, same ol’ product lines have made a lot of firearms companies very successful, there will always be customers who want more. These imaginative, adventurous dreamers are the folks who keep custom gunsmiths in business. Say you want to go to Africa and hunt elephant with a pistol. That shootin’ iron is no problem for Reeder Custom Guns. If you can imagine it, they can make it. But you’ll have to get in line. As of this writing, there is a two-year waiting list. Reeder has always been a busy guy,

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

but the current Covid supply chain bottlenecks have made once simple things, like getting small parts and screws, absurdly time-consuming and jammed up his shop in the same way they’ve delayed anyone who makes anything, anywhere in the world. As busy as he is, he’s still got to eat; so, he agreed to visit with me by phone while he ate a sandwich at his workbench. American Shooting Journal You’re in your mid-70s now. Have you always been a gunmaker? Gary Reeder I actually never planned to be a custom gunmaker. I was a DJ in rock radio for almost 25 years. The last eight or nine years I was in radio, I also had a small garage shop where I built custom Contender barrels and XP100 pistols. Those were the premier platforms for long-range handgun hunters at the time. The Thompson/

Center Arms Contender was a breakopen, single-shot that you could adapt to several calibers by changing the barrel. Thompson still makes them, along with their newer Encore model, which can handle much more powerful cartridges. We do a lot of them in the shop. Since Remington stopped making their XP-100 bolt-action pistol in 1998, we don’t do many of them anymore, but they were beautiful guns. When I retired from radio in 1985 in Sarasota, Florida, I got into custom gun building mostly full time. I say mostly because I had a full-line gun shop and had a small machine shop in the back where I worked on and built the guns. My son Kase was working with me in the shop starting when he was 12 years old building custom 1911s. I got so busy making guns, my wife Colleen had to take over the retail gun shop and she still runs it to

Gary Reeder Custom Guns’ Howdah pistols are inspired by the close-range thumpers used by tiger hunters in days of old to deter the disgruntled beasts from jumping up on top of the elephant back with them. They come in two forms: the original single-shot pistols built on the Thompson/Center G-2 and Encore frame, and as revolvers.

Reeder’s Longslide Hog Hunter is full custom from the ground up. With the longer slide and barrel you get a bit more power out of either the 10mm or .45 ACP, which makes it great for wild boar or just feral hogs. Features include custom frame, slide, barrel, extended safety, extended slide release, trigger, beavertail, special sights, grips and more. americanshootingjournal.com 29

Reeder traces his gunmaking back to the late 1970s, when he had a small shop and built custom Contender barrels and XP-100 pistols. After retiring from a career in radio in 1985, it became a “mostly full time” occupation next to the family gun shop.

this day. Colleen and Kase are serious hunters too. Both have been to Africa several times.

Colleen Reeder, Gary’s better half, is a prolific African hunter and manages the family’s retail gun shop, the Pistol Parlor, in Flagstaff, Arizona.

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

ASJ What would you say you are most known for? GR Top-quality workmanship and customer service at a reasonable price. I have five of the most skilled gunsmiths in the business working in my shop and we take the time to do the job right the first time. In my shop, the customer is paying for the work, not the name on the building. This is not, and never has been, an assembly line production shop. That’s the custom firearms business. You can’t build the gun until the customer tells you what they want. I’m sure I have at least $20,000 in barrel blanks sitting on the rack ready to make into whatever we need. Most of our work starts with the customer’s stock firearm, but each one is a unique creation. I also keep on hand a supply of the special long

and extra-long single-action revolver frames, as well as the 1911 frames and slides we use for guns we build from the ground up. These are the foundation parts we build out from to meet the customer’s needs. ASJ Is there a particular firearm type you are known for? GR I hate to get pigeon-holed, but I build a lot of hunting handguns, and I’ve been wildcatting hunting handgun cartridges since the late 1970s … I wrote two books on hunting handguns and cartridges, and I love hunting with handguns. We book several hunts every year all over the world and usually take 10 or 12 handgun hunters with us. We also build custom cowboy action shooting guns, carry guns and, of course, hunting handguns and rifles. We are not the fix-yourbroken-gun gunsmiths, but we do the things the best old-school gunsmiths

Custom Guns

GRIM REAPER When you are looking for something special in a revolver, semi-auto or single shot handgun, look no further than GARY REEDER CUSTOM GUNS. Reeder Custom Guns has been building full-custom guns for 40 years with 70 different series of full-custom guns, like this special full custom Grim Reaper shown here. Full-custom and built the way you want and in the cartridge of your choosing. Let us build something special for you. Gary Reeder Custom Guns. Check our website or call 928-527-4100. 10- to 12-month delivery in most cases.

The longer barrel of this Longslide Hunter chambered in 10mm makes it a great deer or hog gun. Full custom from the ground up, it has a full action job including ramping and polishing, and it is very accurate. It has adjustable sights with a front night sight.

do: action jobs, engraving, polishing, bluing, color-case hardening, drilling, tapping and dovetailing for sight installations, rebarreling, rechambering, recrowning, porting, modifying grip frames, making and fitting custom grips – the whole enchilada. Single-action or doubleaction revolvers, automatics, lever actions, single-shots … we work on just about anything but polymer. If you can wait, we’re happy to do it. ASJ Tell me more about your hunting handguns. GR That’s really a two-part discussion because you can’t talk hunting handguns without talking hunting handgun cartridges. Handguns weren’t invented for hunting, and many of the standard cartridges wouldn’t be a first choice for hunting deer-sized game. A hundred years ago, plenty of small game was taken with .32 rimfire and deer with .44 rimfire, but that’s because they didn’t have anything better. Today, 10mm, .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .45 Long Colt and .44 Magnum can do the job on deer- and black bear-sized game, but none of them are designed for long range. That’s why I started experimenting with wildcats. I wanted to tailor the pistol cartridge to the needs of the hunter and that meant some cartridges for way out there. For example, the first wildcat I worked up back in 1979 I called the .41 GNR. It is a .44 Magnum case necked down to .41 caliber. Going to a smaller, lighter bullet you can pick up a lot of speed. Of course, it’s accuracy that kills, but velocity extends the range that the bullet can maintain the energy a hunter wants for a clean kill. Through an 8-inch-barrel Contender, I drove a 170-grain Sierra JHP to 2,100 feet per second. I’ve taken everything from 32

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

elk to caribou with the .41 GNR and recently I killed a 1,900-pound bison with one shot from an 8-inch-barreled Thompson/Center G-2 pistol, and more recently made a one-shot kill on a 2,000-pound water buffalo with the same gun. That’s just one example, but I’ve developed 48 specialty cartridges for hunting with revolvers and the Thompson Contender/G2/Encore single-shot pistols. My son Kase has created a few large-caliber wildcats of his own too that would be perfect in the fields of Africa. Now, we’ll make your gun in any caliber you want, but if you want to go with one of my wildcats, or any wildcat really, you need to expect to handload them. In the case of my wildcats, you can buy finished ammunition from Colorado Custom Cartridge Co. (coloradocustomcartridges.com) if you don’t want to handload, but most of our customers like to roll their own. We support handloaders with loading data and dies and our new third edition loading manual of all the GNR cartridges. Everything I’ve learned experimenting I share freely on our website. The whole reason for making a wildcat is to get something extra special you can’t get from standard loads. Every wildcat I offer is tested by me or one of my guys in the shop in real-world hunting. Nobody wants any surprises when they are hunting – especially if it’s dangerous game. ASJ You’re alive to tell the tale, so I guess your wildcats lived up to expectations.

GR Well, they aren’t all for dangerous game, and there have been a few that didn’t do what I’d hoped so I didn’t pursue them any further. There’s really no substitute for experimentation and real-world testing. You know, the first hunting test of my .510 GNR was one of the few times I was in a situation where I could have been killed. ASJ This, I have to hear. GR I was bear hunting in Alaska and hadn’t seen squat all morning. I get up from my fold-up camp chair to take a leak and this smallish black bear comes running by me like his ass is on fire. That’s not normal. I look over to where he’d come from and I realize why that little black bear is in such a hurry. Here comes a 600-pound bear crashing through the woods after him, intent on a lunch of baby black bear. The main bear we hunt in Alaska is the grizzly. The grizzly isn’t the biggest bear in North America, but short of a polar bear, there is none more aggressive. This bear might not have even seen me there relieving myself, but his body brushed up against my empty

camp chair, which snapped around and wacked him on the head and got his attention. Seeing me, I guess he rethought his menu, but by this time I had my .510 GNR in my hand. He was 3 feet away still looking toward that little black bear when I got my first shot off. It went in his shoulder, crossed his body, and came out the opposite side. He twisted a bit from the shock but kept on coming at me. I put my second shot into his other shoulder when he was a foot away from my revolver muzzle and that one came out the opposite flank. That took the fight right out of him. With two big holes criss-crossing his body, he turned and ran into the brush. He didn’t get too far. I found him 20 yards away on the ground and finished him off with a third shot. At that point, I knew the .510 GNR would be going to Africa with me. Obviously, this was no long-range marksmanship target gun, but it was perfect for the real-world nightmare

scenario that people in bear country want to be prepared for. ASJ Before we drift too far, let’s get back to your custom handguns. GR Hunting handguns are almost always single-shot break-action types like those made famous by Thompson/Center, or they are revolvers. Revolvers offer fast followup shots, which makes them the best choice, in my opinion, for dangerous game. The single-shot break-actions offer more powerful cartridge options and better longrange potential because you can go as long as you need to with the barrel to optimize performance, up to 15 inches or so. The stronger break-actions we have to work with now, the Encore in particular, can handle loads that would damage a Contender. Most of the revolvers we customize are based on the customer’s Ruger single-action. That’s because they are one of the strongest out there.

Second only to the fine Freedom Arms revolvers. But, as strong as they are, they are designed for commercial calibers. The cylinder size is a limiting factor when it comes to the physical size of the cartridge you can shoot in them. I’ve really pushed the envelope with my big wildcats, and to get the strength I need to contain the pressures they generate and accommodate cases and bullets larger than the guns were originally engineered for at the factory, it was necessary to switch from a six-round cylinder to a five-round cylinder. That gave me the room and metal I needed to make it work safely. But as normal, that didn’t satisfy me for long. It was clear to me that I needed longer, stronger frames to increase the hunting revolvers’ performance capabilities in the ways I imagined. Practically speaking, you can only make a cylinder so fat. A longer cylinder was needed to accommodate longer cartridge cases with more powder capacity. It takes a lot to take the fight out of an adult male lion. After three shots from a combination of Reeder’s .387 GNR and .510 GNR, this one finally had enough and beat a retreat.

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

YOUR MUST-STOP BEFORE HUNTING & FISHING ON PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND, ALASKA KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF WILL LET YOU KNOW WHERE, WHEN AND HOW!

Reeder poses with the same lion, finished off with his .510 GNR revolver. This adult male weighed 400 pounds.

The first new frame I worked up was just a bit longer and beefier than the standard Ruger Super Blackhawk frame, but much stronger. Then came the stretch-frame that was even bigger and stronger. With its extra-large cylinder window and brute strength, this was the frame that let me push the revolver to the limit of its power potential. On that frame, I could build a handgun for any game we would normally hunt. Three customers have taken elephants with our stretchframe revolvers. This is the frame the Professional Hunter and Howdah series revolvers are built around. I introduced the stretch-frame in 1994, almost 20 years before S&W came out with their X-Frame Model 500 revolver in .500 S&W Magnum. Frame size and strength are critically important to safety and durability in my big bore handguns, but there’s also the ergonomics factor to consider. You can’t shoot a handgun well if you can’t hang onto it during recoil. Muzzle brakes and porting help everyone control recoil, but 36

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

grip frame and grip shape are really shooter-specific. That’s why we have so many different shapes to choose from. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I should feel pretty flattered. Ruger is using a couple of our grip frames on their factory revolvers. ASJ You mentioned you planned to take your .510 GNR revolver to Africa. How did it do? GR I got a lion with it a few months ago. Normally a lion hunt is going to cost you $85,000 to $100,000 if you’re successful. In Africa, you only pay for what you actually kill on the safari, but no matter how you look at it, this type of hunting is big, big money. I’ve been lucky to go on 16 safaris in my life. But don’t get the idea I’m one of the high-dollar hunters because of this lion hunt. I’m a jeans, T-shirt and ball cap guy and the circumstances of this lion hunt were unique. I learned from professional hunter and good friend John Abraham of Madubula Safaris in Africa that the population of big male lions in the North West

province of South Africa had gotten out of hand and they needed to cull five or six of them right away. The cost would be only $12,000 per lion. Within 48 hours, four friends and I were booked on our first lion hunt. The area the lions were in was extremely thick thorn patches and high, heavy brush up to our heads. The only way to get to the lions was to drive into the brush with a Land Cruiser and force them out into what little open space there was for a shot. I was carrying as my main handgun a fullcustom five-shot single-action revolver in my .510 GNR. That’s actually my largest bore handgun cartridge, as .50 caliber is the largest you can chamber in a handgun. The .510 GNR can be loaded down to .50 Special, or up to .500 Linebaugh ballistics. As sort of a backup or for longer shots, I had a custom Thompson/Center G-2 in my .378 GNR, a cartridge I had used extensively in at least half of my 15 previous safaris. This time I wanted to use my .510 GNR, as I was sure it would be close range and more than

one shot would be needed. The brush was extremely heavy and mostly thorns that took most of the lion’s thick mane off. The big black-maned lions aren’t found in that type of terrain. After driving for a while, one of the trackers waved for the driver to stop the truck. The cat had hidden himself so well in the heavy brush and thorns that our Land Cruiser was only 6 feet from him when our Zulu tracker spotted his eyes watching us approach. I hadn’t seen the animal at all! John Abraham stopped the truck and had the driver back up 6 or 8 feet to put some space between us and the big cat. John and I stood in front of the high rear seats of the Land Cruiser, outside in the open. Had we passed the cat that close, John told me the cat probably would have come up in the truck with us because it’s in their nature to pursue fleeing prey. John told The 1,800-pound bull Cape buffalo Reeder shot in his house shoes with a borrowed revolver. The guns he’d brought for the safari, as well as his clothes, were stolen during a layover on the way to South Africa.

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

me if I got a shot at the lion, he would jump up and do a big flip in the air, and when he hit the ground, I had better put another bullet in him. “Never let him get his feet back fully on the ground,” he warned me, “or he’ll come right up in the truck with us.” The tracker pointed out a thorn bush just ahead of us and said the cat was in that brush pile, and John said for me to put a bullet in one end of it. I still couldn’t see the animal completely, but could see an image that I knew was the cat. Switching guns, I went with my .378 GNR in the G-2, as it has a 4X scope on it and I could place the shot more accurately with it. Aiming for that dark spot, I shot where he told me to and a big male lion jumped up 5 feet in the air and did a big flip, just as John said he would. As the lion hit the ground, I quickly reloaded the .378 and put another bullet in him.

Now that I could see the cat, I grabbed the .510 GNR and hit him two more times before the cat staggered off toward a lone tree. I put one more shot into him as he ran off, which we found later was only a hip shot. I got out of the Land Cruiser and followed him. As he got to the tree, I hit him again with the .510 GNR from about 10 feet and that did it. My three previous shots were solid hits, but the last round broke his spine and finished him off. I had one bullet left in the gun. He was a big old male lion, close to 400 pounds, and in the prime of his life. The preliminary scoring of the skull the next day showed him to be possibly number one in the SCI record book, or at least in the top two. ASJ Again you cheat death. GR Maybe not death, but had he come up in the truck with us, someone would have been hurt. But that’s part

of the adventure. Seriously though, the professional hunters and trackers are looking out for you all the time. It was thrilling, but the pucker-factor was not the same as it was with the Alaskan bear when I had nobody backing me up. Confidence in your equipment and confidence in your marksmanship helps to steady the nerves. There was one time when I was hunting Cape buffalo where I was really concerned if I had enough gun for the job. ASJ Not bringing enough gun doesn’t sound like the kind of mistake Gary Reeder would make. GR Oh, I brought enough gun. It just got stolen, along with all my luggage. During 15 safaris to Africa, most have gone well with only a few hiccups here and there. But that was an odd one. With the Covid scares, Delta wasn’t flying to Africa so we had to find an alternate way to get there. That ended up being Qatar Airlines. On our flight over, we had to go through Qatar, The same bull, taken with just two rounds. Careful shot placement allowed Reeder to do the job with hot .45 Colt handloads driving a 300-grain jacketed soft-point bullet at 1,200 feet per second.

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

and during the two-hour layover, someone stole my guns, all my clothes and everything except what I had on me. When we finally arrived in South Africa, we waited a day or so for my gear to get there, figuring it was just misplaced. It never showed. After two days I decided to make do and continue my hunt. I borrowed clothes and a custom .454 Casull single-action I’d customized for a good friend who was with us on this hunt. Instead of .454 Casull ammo, he had only five rounds of hot .45 Long Colt ammo left from his hunting several animals the previous two days. They were loaded with heavy 300-grain bullets with a muzzle velocity of 1,200 feet per second. Those loads would sure ruin a Colt Single Action Army, but I was a bit apprehensive about hunting a Cape buffalo with them. Normally on a long overseas flight, I just wear some house shoes. Nobody in camp had an extra pair of

boots to loan me, so I hunted a week in the edge of the Kalahari Desert in my house shoes. I had to stop every few feet to empty the red sand out of them. I had come to Africa to hunt a Cape buffalo and wasn’t going to let having no boots stop me. John Abraham, my friend and my professional hunter and head honcho of Madubula Safaris, was hunting with me on this safari. He had heard from one of his tracker friends there was a huge Cape buffalo in an area on the edge of the Kalahari Desert about 50 miles from where we were. We decided to drive over to the area and glass the terrain, as that is always the best way to find the herd. The first day was a loss; nothing but a few small bulls. The next morning we were on the road again at daylight. This time we drove for maybe an hour in the area the buffalo was known to be before spotting a small herd of what looked like all bulls. We eased up slowly on them until we got to about 80 yards of them. In the

americanshootingjournal.com 41

tall yellow grass, it was hard to see the entire herd, as many had their heads down grazing. But as we got closer the young bulls in the herd scattered and ran off in several directions. That left two big bulls. One had a set of ragged beat-up horns, so we didn’t consider him. The other was bigger in the body and when he finally lifted his head, we could see a massive set of horns. John said, “This is your bull.” Most of the younger bulls had run off and stood a couple hundred yards away staring at us, but my big bull just stood there with his nose in the air, daring us to come closer. The grass was high, and I couldn’t make out a spot to put the bullet. We needed to do it with as few shots as possible, as we were on the ground 60 yards from him and I had a piddly little .45 Long Colt in my hand ... little when you consider what most folks use to hunt Cape buffalo with. John asked if I could see that perfect spot for the shot. I told him, “No, the grass is too high.” Then he said the thing I really didn’t want to hear: “Let’s walk up a bit closer.” I looked at

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

him like he had lost his mind. “Sure, let’s do it,” I replied. I wasn’t sure if he could detect my wavering confidence. I had hunted Cape buffalo with John before, and in my mind I knew that he knew what to do and when. We started walking straight at the buffalo, like a stroll in the park. The buffalo snorted and pawed the ground and grunted a few times, I imagine saying bad things about my mother. Finally, we got to about 25 yards from the big bull. John had his .475 Jeffery No. 2 double rifle on his shoulder and asked me again if I could see the spot from there. This time I could, and John said, “Put a bullet in that spot.” One shot on the point of shoulder with a 300-grain jacketed soft point caused the bull to stagger off with the left front shoulder broken and out of commission. John said, “He is going to stop and look back. When he does, put another in him.” He did, and I shot again. This time the bull went a few more feet and went nose down in the tall grass. We waited a bit until we heard that final bellow, then eased

up on him. The 1,800-pound buffalo was down with two shots of hot .45 Long Colt through a custom revolver. I would have bet against that happening, but I remembered what good friend and gun writer John Taffin always said: “Shot placement is the most important thing.” There were two holes on the left front shoulder, one on the point of shoulder and the other about 4 inches above, blowing up both lungs. Thanks to John and a borrowed gun, I now had two Cape buffalo in the top four or five in the Safari Club handgun record book. And on that high note, I’ve got to get back to work. I got a lot of people waiting on their guns for adventures of their own.  Editor’s note: Reeder Custom Guns is co-located with Gary Reeder's familyoperated retail store, The Pistol Parlor, at 2601 East 7th Avenue, Flagstaff, Arizona 86004. You can reach him at 928527-4100 or gary@reedercustomguns. com. Also visit reedercustomguns.com to get a look at the amazing variety of work they put out.

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REMEMBERING WALT BERGER AND HIS LIFETIME QUEST FOR ACCURACY

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fired the third shot in the group, and through the scope I could easily see that the group was less than ½-MOA and that it was on the bull’s-eye. This particular 6.5 Creedmoor is – oddly enough – a finicky rifle; it loves certain ammunition and despises others. But this particular load, Federal’s Gold Medal 140-grain Berger match load,

mates with this rifle perfectly. And based on the historical performance of those Berger match bullets, it’s really no surprise. Time and time again, I’ve seen those Berger match bullets print lovely little groups, putting smiles on many shooters’ faces. Sadly, on September 19, 2021, we lost the man behind Berger Bullets, famed bench rest shooter Walt Berger. I was fortunate enough to make Walt’s acquaintance at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas, and he was a humble

and open man, taking the time to talk shop with me despite being in his late 80s. He would hang around the Berger booth, greeting people and discussing his bullets, as well as sharing his passion for bench rest shooting. I’d like to take a look at the life of Walt Berger, and the successful bullet company that sprang from his garage.

WALTER SAMUEL BERGER was born in Easton, Ohio, on November 24, 1928, the third of five children brought into americanshootingjournal.com 45

bullet bulletin

Walter Berger, the man who started a bullet company in his garage. (BERGER BULLETS)

the world by Herbert and Lela Berger. He had an early interest in sports, including basketball, track and boxing, but his passions were competitive shooting and hunting. Young Walter and his cousin Harold had all the classic misadventures that young boys growing up in the Great Depression could have. On the return from a pronghorn hunt in South Dakota, a broken alternator in

his vehicle would help guide the hand of fate, and lead Walt to participating in his first competitive bench rest shoot. Walt would end up a lifetime member of the National Bench Rest Shooters Association, serving as its president for several terms, and was inducted into the US Bench Rest Hall of Fame for shortrange shooting in 1982. Berger, always an innovator and

Berger’s Elite Hunter has the accuracy of a target bullet but with the rapid expansion that hunters will appreciate.

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

constantly in pursuit of the ultimate in accuracy, began making his own bullets in 1954, eventually coming to rely on the now-famous J4 bullet jackets to achieve the accuracy he was after. Having produced small runs of projectiles for other shooters – including Dr. Lou Palmisano of PPC cartridge fame – Walt’s second wife Eunice prodded him to bring his bullets to the masses, and in the late 1980s Berger Bullets were introduced to the world. The target community was certainly pleased, and by 1996 Walt had moved the company from his garage to its first commercial facility in Arizona. The rest, as they say, is history: Berger Bullets has grown from hand-swaged projectiles to a well-respected company, expanding its bullet range, providing projectiles for ammunition companies like Federal Premium, and creating an ammunition line of its own. There was a move from Arizona to California, and then back to Arizona, so things have come full circle.

TARGET PROJECTILES REQUIRE uniformity in shape, dimension and construction, and Berger match bullets offer what a

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Berger’s designs have come to include long, heavy-for-caliber bullets that maximize energy retention and minimize wind deflection, like the 133-grain .257-inch-diameter Elite Hunter.

Boutique ammunition companies like Choice Ammunition take full advantage of the Berger line, as shown here in their .243 Winchester ammunition.

The 250-grain .338-inchdiameter Berger is a great choice for the .338 Lapua and other large cases in that bore diameter.

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

target shooter needs. The J4 jackets offer minimal runout and the kind of concentricity that results in serious accuracy. Berger’s method of trimming meplats – their Meplat Reduction Technology – gives the level of uniformity that target shooters require. My first introduction to Berger Bullets was with their 60-grain Flat Base Varmint bullets in the .223 Remington; they gave fantastic results in my dad’s Savage .223 Remington, and have accounted for a good number of woodchucks and coyotes. It will print just over ½-MOA when seated over Hodgdon’s H335 in Norma brass, cruising along at 3,100 feet per second. We don’t really shoot much over 250 yards, so the flatbase bullet poses no handicap, and is a great blend of accuracy and frangibility. Applied Ballistic Munitions (ABM) was an early iteration of Berger Bullets, prior to the recent move from California back to Arizona, headed by Berger’s resident ballistic genius Bryan Litz. It was during the testing of ABM ammo a few years ago that I first met the Hybrid OTM (Open Tip Match) bullet, a fantastic design. The “hybrid” name stems from Litz’s blend of two bullet features, which make a very useful combination. You see, a bullet with a secant ogive (describing the shape of the curve of the bullet’s pointed nose)

Norma loads the 230-grain Berger Hybrid Target in their .300 Norma Magnum.

americanshootingjournal.com 49

bullet bulletin Federal’s Gold Medal ammunition line features the 130-grain OTM (Open Tip Match) Berger, and has proved to print ½-MOA groups from author Phil Massaro’s “finicky” rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor.

is one of the best choices for slicing through our atmosphere, but doesn’t like the violent transition from the cartridge case to the lands and grooves of the barrel. A bullet with a tangent ogive – my apologies for bringing you back to algebra and trigonometry class – handles the jump just fine, but isn’t shapely enough to be the best choice for long-range shooting. Litz melded the two curves, giving a tangent curve for that small portion that engages the throat, and a secant curve for the remainder of the bullet.

REMEMBER THAT I said Walt Berger

was an avid hunter? In 2009, Berger began to introduce their line of hunting bullets. These designs maintain the same excellent matchgrade accuracy as their target counterparts, and are well suited to thin-skinned game animals. They will transmit energy very quickly, which isn’t a bad thing unless you have high-impact velocities, where I have seen issues with premature breakup and poor penetration. The Berger

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Berger’s Extreme Outer Limits projectiles are heavy for caliber and usually require a fasterthan-normal twist rate to properly stabilize.

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

The Xtreme Defender is based on the popular Xtreme Penetrator product line. The XD ammunition has an optimized nose flute, total weight, and velocity to achieve a penetration depth up to 18 inches* with a permanent wound cavity (PWC) that is just simply enormous; no other expanding hollowpoint comes close to achieving anywhere near this diameter and volume. Not only is the PWC over 100% larger than any other expanding bullet, expansion is achieved despite being shot through barriers. The solid copper body ensures that wallboard, sheet metal, and automotive glass will have no effect on the PWC.

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The briefly lived ABM ammunition shot very well. Shown here is the .300 Winchester Magnum load with 230-grain Berger Match Hybrid OTM Target bullet.

Federal – having long been a proponent of other bullet companies – includes Berger projectiles in their lineup, as shown in the .30-06 Springfield load topped with 168-grain Berger Hybrid Hunter projectiles.

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

hunting bullets are a sound choice at longer distances, where they have a chance to slow down a bit, but at up-close-and-personal distances they have a reputation for being rather frangible. This, according to the Berger Bullets Reloading Manual, is intentional, as the firm believes in the effect of hydraulic shock. I like the Extreme Outer Limits Elite Hunter line, which are heavy for caliber and require faster twist rates. They not only offer the higher ballistic coefficient values needed for longrange work, but they increase the sectional density figures that help to alleviate the penetration issues. Berger’s catalog currently includes bullets from the tiny .17 caliber, up to the .375-inch bore, with choices

americanshootingjournal.com 53

bullet bulletin

Massaro’s 6.5-284 Norma is very happy when fed 130-grain Berger AR Hybrid OTM Tactical bullets, fueled by Hodgdon’s H4831SC; extreme velocity spread is often in the single digits and group size is below ½-MOA.

suitable for big game hunting, varmint and predator control, target shooters and even those designed for law enforcement and military work. And, in

a market where household names like Sierra, Nosler and Hornady represent excellent choices in both target and hunting bullets, Berger has a strong

For the target shooter who enjoys the accuracy of the .308 Winchester, the 168-grain Berger Hybrid Target over a suitable charge of IMR 8208XBR or Hodgdon’s Varget can give very impressive results.

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

and dedicated following. Federal Premium is not the only ammunition manufacturer that has chosen Berger’s projectiles; Black Hills Ammunition and Choice Ammunition both load Berger Bullets in their ammo lines. Berger’s brainchild now sells their component projectiles and loaded ammunition, in addition to supplying the J4 bullet jackets to those wishing to create their own projectiles. Walt Berger is quoted – on Berger’s own website – as saying, “If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.” I think it is more than fair to say that Walt Berger did it right, and that any man would be proud to have created a legacy like he did. Like John Nosler, Joyce Hornady and Vernon Speer before him, Walter Berger turned his passion into a successful business, exemplary of the American Dream. I am glad I had the opportunity to meet him. 

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FEATURED COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

Along with ammo for self-defense firearms, Underwood Ammunition of southern Illinois offers a vast array of handgun and rifle bullets for target shooting and hunting.

MORE THAN JUST USUAL LOADS ON TAP While Underwood Ammunition carries popular bullets for self-defense, hunting and target shooting, it’s specialized rounds for hard-to-get and high-powered cartridges that set Illinois company apart. PHOTO BY UNDERWOOD AMMUNITION

t Underwood Ammunition, their main goal is to load premium ammo. Over the past few years, this has become increasingly difficult to accomplish due to supply chain issues,

not to mention a global pandemic that unleashed a fear-based buying frenzy. But the folks at Underwood Ammo are up to the challenge. Although brass and primers have become a tough resource to find, through Underwood

Ammo’s due diligence, they have been able to find new suppliers and absorb nationwide price hikes, while maintaining their focus on existing customers to keep everyone satisfied. The company’s dedication has americanshootingjournal.com 57

Featured Company SPOTLIGHT

“We are driven to make the best ammunition in the market.” not only earned them a loyal base of customers, but has also awarded them contracts with both military and law enforcement agencies. “At Underwood, we are proud to be known for innovation and manufacturing premium products. We are driven to make the best ammunition in the market,” says Sande Wasson, the company’s office manager. “Underwood Ammo is rooted in a love for everything gun-related and that is carried into every product we make.” Underwood Ammo is a familyowned business started by Kevin Underwood in Charleston, West Virginia, over 10 years ago. A lifelong shooting enthusiast, Kevin began

reloading in his spare time. Quickly, a small reloading press turned into an entire loading operation, including presses and stations set up for over 60 calibers and counting. With a rapidly growing business, Underwood Ammo relocated and built a brand-new facility in Sparta, Illinois. Now the company offers a vast array of handgun and rifle ammo for self-defense, target shooting, and hunting purposes. Underwood Ammo carries all the popular handgun and rifle loads, but what sets them apart is their ability to offer specialized rounds for hard-to-get and other special highpowered cartridges such as 10mm. All of Underwood Ammo’s products

are manufactured with absolute care during the loading process to ensure consistent quality, and each round is individually sight-inspected before being packaged. Customer satisfaction is truly of the utmost importance. While the world still reels from the pandemic and the uncertainty of it all, Underwood Ammo understands their fellow shooters’ desire to hunt, shoot, and otherwise be able to protect themselves in these trying times. Thanks to the company’s dedication and perseverance, their faithful customers can do just that.  Editor’s note: For more information, visit underwoodammo.com.

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American Shooting Journal // December 2021

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Call us: (618) 965-2109 americanshootingjournal.com 61 www.underwoodammo.com

Self-Defense TRAINING

A helicopter lifts off from a US military base.

LESSONS FROM BLACK HAWK DOWN Part II: One instructor’s perspective on translating combat lessons into civilian safety tips.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY PAUL PAWELA

Author’s notes: In the first half of this two-part series last issue, I referenced nine key lessons learned from Mark Bowden’s book, Black Hawk Down, and applied them to civilian defense tactics of today. Below are eight more takeaways from the book, along with modern parallels, to ponder. I would also like to thank former Delta Force operator/sniper Jim Smith, who is now the CEO of Spartan Tactical, for providing many of the Delta Force images.

OINT 10: The book Black Hawk Down states, “Speed was critical. When a crowded house was filled suddenly with explosions, smoke, and flashes of light, those inside were momentarily frightened and

disoriented ... So long as Delta caught them in this startled state, most would follow stern simple commands without question.”

Parallel: “Stop! Don’t move!” When holding a bad guy at bay with a firearm, knife or protection dog, strong, short verbal commands work best. What you don’t want to get into is a long verbal barrage of words like, “Unpleasant citizen, please cease and desist all your unlawful and felonious activities. I am now placing you under a citizen’s arrest.” Remember, you cannot shoot and talk at the same time. Keep the dialogue short and authoritative. POINT 11: “Look, for the first ten minutes americanshootingjournal.com 63

SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING

Urban warfare scenes. Delta Force Assault Team Leader Sergeant First Class Norm Hooten.

Delta Force Sergeant First Class Jim Smith, an operator/sniper who was depicted almost falling out of the Super 61 Black Hawk that crashed in the movie Black Hawk Down.

or so you’re gonna be scared s***less. After that you’re going to get really mad that they have the balls to shoot at you.” Parallel: Get angry, and channel that anger into action. People perform better when angry than when scared. Get indignant – “How dare they attack/assault/hit/hurt me?” And if they persist, retaliate with everything you have at your disposal. Maintain the mindset, “I will not give up, I will not die, I will defeat you, I will survive!” Then do it! POINT 12: “It was a cardinal sin to shoot before identifying a target.” 64

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

Parallel: It amazes me that we even have to cover this again, because it is one of the most important safety rules in any basic hunting or shooting course. Yet we still have federal officers (elite guys, no less) shooting unarmed mothers holding babies in their arms, only to later claim it was a case of mistaken identity. If you cannot safely identify what you’re about to shoot, then you are dangerous and should not be anywhere around firearms. POINT 13: “(Captain Mike) Steele was standing in line with his men at mess, and spotted Delta Sergeant Norm

Hooten carrying a rifle with the safety off. Ranger rules required that any weapon, loaded or unloaded, have the safety on at all times when at the base ... He tapped the blond operator on the shoulder and pointed it out. Hooten had held up his index finger and said, ‘This is my safe.’” Parallel: Once again, it should not Correction: Last issue, in part one of this series, the bottom photo on page 48 misidentified the operators pictured as Rangers. They were in fact C Squadron of Delta Force. Our apologies for the error.

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SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING

Members of C Squadron of Delta Force, including (upper left, without helmet) posthumous Medal of Honor recipient Master Sergeant Gary Gordon.

be necessary to say this ... and yet it is. Keep your finger off the trigger unless you absolutely intend to make the gun go bang. In all elite units at least one person has been shot or killed because some negligent individual had their finger on the trigger when he shouldn’t. When a civilian Delta Force/ SEAL Team Six training course was put together by former members of those units, a civilian who had been told over and over again to watch his trigger finger ended up shooting himself in the behind while trying to holster his gun. Whether or not the gun is loaded, it cannot go bang unless a finger makes that happen. You have control of that situation. Use it.

Delta Force Assault Team Leader Master Sergeant Paul Howe (left).

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

POINT 14: “(Sergeant Paul) Howe was looking for people, focusing his eyes at midtorso first, checking hands. The hands told you the whole story. The only hands he found were empty.”

americanshootingjournal.com 67

SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING Parallel: The eyes may be the gateway to the soul, but real problems can start with the hands. Feet can be used for kicking, but as a rule, they cannot hold knives, clubs or guns. If someone is concealing their hands, it’s a problem. Always watch the hands! POINT 15: “As Howe moved he thought about making every one of his shots count, and keeping his back to a wall at all times. They were in a 360-degree battlefield, so keeping a wall behind him meant one angle he couldn’t be shot from. At each crossroads he and his team would pause, watch, and listen. Were bullets hitting walls? Bouncing off the streets? Were the shots going left to right or right to left? Every bit of experience and practical knowledge was useful now for staying alive ... The most important thing was to keep moving. One of the hardest things in the world to hit is a moving target.” Parallel: What could be more sound tactical advice than this? This advice pretty much covers everything tactical for the soldier, police officer or civilian.

POINT 16: A quote from author Mark Bowden: “In my interviews with those who were in the thick of the battle, they remarked again and again how much they felt like they were in a movie, and had to remind themselves that this horror, the blood, the deaths, was real. They describe feeling weirdly out of place, as though they did not belong here, fighting feelings of disbelief, anger, and ill-defined betrayal.” Parallel: In armed conflicts, people will suffer some form of trauma and these are the common responses. Be prepared for them. • Denial: A life-threatening response to a situation that is so far from normal that people do not believe what is happening to them. • Tachypsychia: Under tremendous stress, the mind will speed up its processing time and give the illusion that everything is going in slow motion. If you don’t understand what is happening, it can impact your ability to react effectively. • Cortical perception: Extreme tunnel vision and increased magnification of points of focus. For example, a pocket-size small-caliber

gun in the hands of a robber but the victim swears it was a huge largecaliber gun. • Mental ability and memory distortion: During deadly encounters, the critical decisionmaking process becomes degraded. Complex tactics and survival techniques will be forgotten. This is the reason for the KISS principle: “Keep it simple, stud/ student.” • Auditory exclusion: Tunnel vision of the ears. Under stress, the body shuts out what it doesn’t need, i.e. loud explosions become softer, people shouting at you cannot be heard, etc. • Psychological splitting: Commonly referred to as excorporation, this is the sensation of seeing oneself in another area, i.e. an out-of-body experience. Under stress, the brain tends to overload with information, allowing the conscious mind to store what it cannot handle in the subconscious. • Logorrhea: Running of the mouth; a person talks rapidly about the extraordinary events they’ve just been in. The mouth tends to talk faster than the brain can think.

Members of an Assault Counter Tactics Counter Vehicle Ambush Class gather around guest instructor and Ranger Ground Force Commander Colonel Danny McKnight (retired), seated at center. Behind him is the actual shot-up window from his Humvee from the Black Hawk Down incident.

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

After traumatic events, people are advised not to make any immediate statements because they will say things out of sequence, and it may appear to be lying. • Cognitive dissonance: Cognitive dissonance is typically experienced as psychological stress when a person performs an action that goes against their beliefs or values. • Survival euphoria: The realization that one has survived a deadly encounter. Senses become more alert and a desire to enjoy life to its fullest potential becomes a priority. The symptoms that are common after a traumatic event include: nightmares, sleep disturbance, social withdrawal, flashbacks, appetite disturbance, aggression and avoidance, sexual impotence (for both sexes), and family stress. Having explained all this, I hope you are not only prepared for what could happen to you in a personal defense situation but also what the men and women in the military and law enforcement go through on a daily basis. We could all have a little more empathy for the professionals who have been trained to encounter such horrors but never really completely adjusted to them.

must re-fight every day of his life.” Parallel: Life is the ultimate battle whose drama plays out apart from broader issues. You can’t obsess over how evil forces might bring you into life-threatening situations or their aftermath. Once the fight of your life begins, you must fight to win at all costs. So many loved ones depend on you to be there for them. They need

you, cherish you and deeply love you. You must kill to protect if necessary. The story of survival is timeless. And that is my two cents. Editor’s note: For realistic self-defense training, see assaultcountertactics. com. Author Paul Pawela is a nationally recognized firearms and self-defense expert.

POINT 17: “Every battle is a drama played out apart from broader issues. Soldiers cannot concern themselves with the forces that bring them to a fight, or its aftermath. They trust their leaders not to risk their lives for too little. Once the battle is joined, they fight to survive as much as to win, to kill before they are killed ... The extreme and terrible nature of war touches something essential about being human, and soldiers do not always like what they learn. For those who survive, the victors and the defeated, the battle lives on in their memories and nightmares and in the dull ache of old wounds. It survives as hundreds of searing private memories, memories of loss and triumph, shame and pride, struggles each veteran americanshootingjournal.com 69

L.E. SPOTLIGHT

D.V. CALL TURNS DEADLY Prosecutor considers capital punishment for man who gunned down responding deputy –a father and National Guardsman. STORY BY NICK PERNA PHOTO COURTESY OF HARDIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

his month’s featured law enforcement officer is another military veteran. Matthew Locke was a veteran of the Tennessee National Guard, including a deployment to Afghanistan, and had served with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department for seven years. I use the word “was” because, unfortunately, Deputy Locke gave his life while serving his community. On September 25th of this year, Deputy Locke was assisting another deputy in investigating a domestic disturbance. A side note on these types of calls: Domestic disturbance calls are some of the most dangerous that officers respond to. Emotions are high, and often an act of violence has occurred between the parties. Victims, often the reporting parties in these types of disputes, frequently turn on officers when they are forced to detain or arrest a loved one. What makes these calls even more dangerous is that they are a routine, daily occurrence for most patrol officers

Deputy Matthew Locke, a Tennessee father and Afghanistan War veteran, was killed while responding to a domestic violence call, “some of the most dangerous calls that officers respond to.”

and deputies, increasing the likelihood of a violent encounter. ON THAT FATEFUL night, deputies responded to a residence in the city of Clifton, Tennessee, at around 8:30 in the evening. They made contact with Todd Alan Stricklin, a 48-year-old male. Stricklin was armed with a handgun. Responding deputies ordered him to drop it. Instead, he fired, striking Deputy Locke as he arrived on scene to assist. Stricklin took off running into the woods. He was located several hours later by Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers. Deputy Locke was taken to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. As is all too often the case, he was survived by a young daughter and his wife. He was 30 years old. The one bright side to this is that in Tennessee they value law enforcement and have no tolerance for violent criminals. Matthew Stowe, the Hardin County district attorney, took a hard stance. “Upon learning the details of the shooting, I have activated the death penalty team who will be reviewing the evidence and charges to determine if this shooting of a law enforcement officer meets the standard for a capital

murder crime,” he told WSMV News in Nashville. “While other parts of the country struggle with unlawfulness and activists who encourage violence against police, the people of our West Tennessee district stand firm in support for our officers and the rule of law.” Maybe if every jurisdiction took violence towards law enforcement as seriously as Hardin County does, we might see a decrease in felonious assault resulting in deaths. Unfortunately, they are the exception, not the norm. So, with the holidays fast approaching, keep the family of Deputy Locke in your prayers, along with all the other families that will have to endure their first holiday without a loved one who died protecting others.  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. americanshootingjournal.com 71

A dead red fox and coyote lie on a truck tailgate beside a SilencerCo Omega 300 Suppressor, one of several tools that help a pair of West Virginia hunters more quietly thin the predators’ numbers around local farms at night.

SUPPRESSING WEST VIRGINIA’S PLENTIFUL PREDATOR POPULATION With their SilencerCo suppressors, AR-15s, night optics and calls, a pair of local hunters help keep the Mountain State's game-gobbling, farm-raiding coyotes and foxes a little more in check. STORY AND PHOTOS BY LARRY CASE

“A

re you on him, Ty?” Connor Boothe is whispering in the darkness and I am leaning forward and straining to hear. Connor and his cousin, Tyler Samms, are murmuring about an approaching coyote. They are stationed on tripodmounted AR-15 sporting rifles with thermal imaging scopes. What sounds

like a nasty coyote domestic dispute is being blared out from the predator caller in front of us. Howls, barks and snarls echo into the cold night air and I grin to myself, thinking it sounds like my dog Callie when she is not having a good day. I’m watching and shivering on this beautiful Monroe County, West Virginia, night.

A DOG OF A DIFFERENT COLOR The eastern coyote is one tough customer. He has to be to survive, which he has been doing very well, thank you, for over 50 years east of the Big Muddy. There is much discussion and disagreement as to the origin and ancestry of this canine, and while we won’t go deep into a taxonomy lesson americanshootingjournal.com 73

Tyler Samms (left) and his cousin Connor Boothe pose with one of many songdogs they’ve removed. Boothe shoots a Savage MSR 15 Recon model chambered in .224 Valkyrie, while Samms runs an Aero Precision, also in .224 Valkyrie. Both rifles are mounted with Pulsar Thermion thermal imaging scopes and sit on top of BOG DeathGrip Carbon Fiber Tripods.

here, most wildlife biologists seem to think the eastern coyote has a varied DNA. Many scientists agree that the coyote that is now found throughout much of the east is a coyote and wolf mixture with maybe a touch of domestic dog mixed in. In truth, I have always been skeptical of the part-wolf theories, but DNA testing doesn’t lie. There is no doubt the eastern dog is much bigger than his relatives in the west and has a more varied fur color scheme. You may see coyotes here with the traditional brownish-gray with touches of red pelt, or a coat with dark patches all the way to an almost coalblack fur. The size thing is important as well; coyotes here in the east tend to run bigger – much bigger – than their western cousins. Why? Probably their 74

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mixed ancestry and the availability of more food. Wherever they came from, and whatever they are related to, the fact is that the eastern coyote is here and probably always will be. Predator hunters like my friends Connor and Tyler love to hunt them and they figure whatever coyotes they can take helps out with the deer and turkey population, not to mention aiding farmers with raids on domestic animals like cattle, sheep, chickens and other livestock. Also, in case you didn’t know, coyotes love to prey on housecats and small dogs, and they are not bashful about coming close to your house to do so. It could be said that the eastern dog is smarter or more wary than

those in the west and he is harder to call. Expert coyote hunters may tell you that the eastern version is simply not as plentiful in most areas and has a better food supply than his hungry cousins out west. Regardless of all this, the fact remains that the coyote in the east is an intelligent, highly adaptable predator that will do whatever it takes to survive. He has incredibly developed senses of smell, hearing and eyesight. To score regularly on these canines you need to have your act together; this goes for your hunting skills and equipment. Because they are so destructive to deer and other game animals, hunters in these parts may talk about “getting rid” of the coyote population. Connor and Tyler do not think that

will ever happen. “You won’t ever wipe out the coyotes,” Connor said. “If you eliminate some in a certain area, others will quickly fill in the void, and studies have shown if the population is reduced, coyotes will breed more and have larger litters to bring the numbers up.” LOCAL BOYS KNOW THEIR STUFF Connor Boothe bagged his first coyote when he was 7 years old, and he and his cousin Tyler Samms have been hunting and trapping them ever since. They both live in Monroe County, in southeastern West Virginia, which has a lot of farms and livestock. This area also has deer, turkeys and other wildlife, so Connor and Tyler figure they are helping out with predator control. “With coyote hunting growing in popularity and the easy access to

an electronic caller, it’s hard to find a coyote that has not heard some sort of call in their life,” Connor said. “Coyotes react instinctively; even if you have some ‘educated’ dogs around, there is some type of sound that will trigger something to pull them in. Time of the year plays a factor, whether it’s spring time when the pups are out, or late January and February during breeding season.” Connor and Tyler will typically hunt around pasture fields where cattle, sheep and other livestock are found. While there is some debate on coyotes attacking grown cattle, there is no doubt they are likely to be a problem during calving time. Coyotes are bad news with sheep, and more than one farmer has been put out of the sheep business by coyotes. “We set up and run the call using coyote howls and vocalizations, or prey-in-distress sounds like rabbit

Boothe and Samms hunt around pastures and use a mix of coyote vocalizations and prey-in-distress calls, depending on time of year. “If there is no response after about 30 minutes, we move to the next location,” Boothe says.

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

squeals, depending on the time of year and what seems to be working lately,” Connor said. “If there is no response after about 30 minutes, we move to the next location.” THE RIGHT GEAR FOR THE JOB “I’m currently running a Savage MSR 15 Recon model in .224 Valkyrie caliber,” Connor said. “Tyler is shooting an Aero Precision rifle in the same caliber, and we have Pulsar Thermion thermal imaging scopes on both. The thermal imaging riflescope allows us to hunt at night when, in my opinion, we can be much more successful. You can call some coyotes in the daytime, but coyotes are nocturnal, and that is when you will see more coyotes.” These hunters use standing tripods that lock onto the rifles, as this allows them to walk into a field, open the tripod, and start calling. Connor has told me for some

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Author Larry Case describes Boothe’s and Samms’ BOG tripods as an “integral part” of their approach. “The DeathGrip tripod stayed attached to the rifles and upon arrival at the next spot, the rifle was extracted from the vehicle, the legs of the tripod were extended, and they were back to scanning the area within seconds,” Case writes.

GEAR INFO

he SilencerCo Omega 300 Suppressor (silencerco.com) is the lightest, shortest, quietest, full-auto-rated, titanium .300-caliber (7.62mm) centerfire rifle silencer on the market. It’s also the bestselling rifle silencer in history. It comes complete with direct thread and fast-attach mounts, as well as a removable Anchor Brake to reduce recoil, which can be replaced with a flat front cap. The BOG DeathGrip Carbon Fiber Tripod (boghunt.com) is engineered to be the most stable precision tripod on the market. The carbon fiber legs reduce its overall weight, making it highly portable without sacrificing stability. The strength of the carbon fiber legs decreases the amount of flex, making this precision tripod extremely accurate for even the beginning hunter. Its patented clamp securely locks down any weapon for a hands-free, rock-solid rest.

Omega 300 suppressors from SilencerCo are another mission-critical piece of equipment, not only muffling shots around farms but disguising the hunters’ location to any more coyotes that might be coming in, as well as reducing their muzzle flashes.

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

time how much of an advantage a suppressor is for coyote hunting. “First, we often hunt around farms where we could be near the farming family’s house,” he said. “This, along with there is usually cattle and other livestock close by, makes the SilencerCo suppressor a huge advantage. We could show up on a farm in the middle of the night and we don’t want to be disturbing the farmer and his family or the livestock.” Another point here is that the suppressor saves the shooters’ hearing, as they often set up close together, and if there are multiple shots involved, this can leave your ears ringing. Also, the suppressor really helps with recoil. “The suppressor is a big advantage in the actual hunting of the coyote as well,” Connor explained. “I was surprised how much the actual noise of the rifle was reduced with the Omega suppressor from SilencerCo; these rifles are loud. Besides the actual noise reduction, we believe the suppressor also directs the noise of the shot away from the coyote and this really helps. In a calling session it is not unusual to call in multiple coyotes, and the noise reduction can be very helpful in getting shots off at more than one coyote. We find if you call a coyote in, we want to take it out. If you call a coyote in and miss it or spook him, he is educated and may be very hard to call in again.” The suppressor does something else most hunters may not know about. It greatly reduces muzzle flash at night, much more so than with a flash hider. Much of what the suppressor does for noise reduction when a rifle is fired goes along with diminishing the flash in low light or darkness. The gases that are released when a round is fired are captured in the baffles, the internal workings of the suppressor. These gases are cooled through turbulence and heat exchange within the suppressor. The lower the temperature of these expended gases, the less glow you will see when the rifle is fired. On this night with Connor and Tyler, we shot a suppressed rifle beside an unsuppressed rifle of the same caliber

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Members of Boothe’s and Samms’ team pose with coyotes taken during a contest last year.

and saw a great difference between the two. The two experienced coyote hunters saw the suppressor as a great advantage for this type of hunting. An accurate rifle, thermal optics and suppressors are an advantage no doubt, but they are almost useless if you do not have a steady rest for your rifle. The BOG DeathGrip Carbon Fiber Tripod is used by both of these

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

coyote hunters, and I witnessed how important it was to their success. Many times during the evening, Connor and Tyler would change locations, move to a new area, and quickly set up. The DeathGrip tripod stayed attached to the rifles and upon arrival at the next spot, the rifle was extracted from the vehicle, the legs of the tripod were extended, and they

were back to scanning the area within seconds. It became obvious that the DeathGrip tripod was an integral part of their operation. The eastern coyote is a survival expert that hunters, game managers and farmers will always have to deal with. The random shooting of a coyote by the occasional deer hunter will not be enough to keep their numbers down to make it a little easier for the deer, turkeys and the livestock. Dedicated coyote hunters like Connor Boothe and Tyler Samms may even the odds a little.  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.

americanshootingjournal.com 81

ROAD HUNTER

Author Scott Haugen put High ’N Dry Breathable waders to the test in many conditions, including three weeks in Alaska, where he took these brant.

HO HO HO! FIELD-TESTED AND SANTA-APPROVED HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS

Wondering what to get the waterfowler in your life? Expert shares picks for hunters and their dogs. STORY AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT HAUGEN

s a columnist for more than 20 years, when it comes to gear picks and suggesting items I think fellow hunters would appreciate, I don’t write about anything I’ve not personally used. Heading into my favorite time of year – Christmas and waterfowl season – here are some gifts to consider.

BROWNING MAXUS II I shot the original Maxus for four seasons. I loved it. This year I went to the Browning Maxus II and loved it even more. I used the II in extreme conditions in Alaska, throughout the Pacific Northwest, on a winter hunt in Utah, and it’s going with me to Texas for sandhill cranes right after the New Year. The power drive gas system rocks, cycling all sizes and brands of loads I used, up to 3½ inches. It shoulders fast and the overall ergonomics make for

easy handling. Thanks to the rubber overmolding in multiple locations, it’s easy to grip in all conditions and it’s comfortable all-around. It’s easy to strip down and clean and it just keeps working. MSRP: $1,979.99; browning.com. BROWNING WICKED BLEND For a shotgun shell that gets it done in a range of conditions, on any waterfowl you want to hunt, Browning’s Wicked Blend is a solid pick. I’ve shot just about every type of duck and goose americanshootingjournal.com 83

ROAD HUNTER Haugen loves Browning’s Maxus II, along with the Wicked Blend load. The Slayer Duck Calls are worth checking out, as are the fully flocked Final Approach mallard decoys, which he’s still testing.

in the Pacific Flyway with it, save for eiders, which I wouldn’t hesitate using it on. The penetrating power of Browning shells have always pleased me, but the new Wicked Blend has taken my appreciation to another level. Wicked Blend is a combination of 30-percent precision round bismuth stacked atop very meticulously rounded steel, which makes up the remaining 70 percent of the load. The bismuth not only increases the load’s pellet count, but it offers more energy downrange. 84

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The tight pattern and knockdown power of this load is consistent and impressive. Whether I’m hunting late-season puddle ducks, divers on the coast, geese in Alaska, or big honkers in the West, this is the load in my bag. It comes in a BB and size 1 bismuth for geese, and size 2 and 4 bismuth for ducks. Learn more at browningammo.com. SLAYER DUCK CALLS For the past three months I’ve been using the Drake Slayer Double- and Single-

Reed acrylic duck calls. They’ve both performed flawlessly on multiple hunts in multiple states for a mix of species in a range of weather conditions. Slayer duck calls are some of the easiest calls I’ve run, and beginners will love the Double-Reed. The SingleReed reaches high volumes, tones and pitches that seasoned hunters will appreciate. No matter where in the world you duck hunt, these calls are worth checking out. MSRP: $120; slayercalls.com.

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ROAD HUNTER FINAL APPROACH KNOCKOUT BLIND This is the most comfortable layout blind I’ve ever used, period. Not only that, it’s the quickest set-up-and-takedown layout blind I’ve seen, and the most durable. It’s roomy for a shell bag and a dog, and is easy to move around in. I’ve had older hunters use the Knockout Blind and they all agree it’s the sturdiest, easiest layout blind to get in and out of. The durable frame and support bars of the Knockout Blind are designed so you can put pressure directly on them when getting in and out. There are no pin hinges, and the takedown and headrest bars add even more durability. I’m also a fan of the back mesh that offers concealment from circling birds. It features a waterproof floor and water-resistant outer fabric. MSRP: $250; fabrand.com. HIGH ’N DRY BREATHABLE WADERS The first time I wore these waders

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

The best, sturdiest and roomiest layout blind the author has used. The Final Approach Knockout Blind is easy to transport and brush-in, too.

was for 20 days straight in Alaska. Since then, they’ve been on multiple hunts in many places. They’ve held up great in saltwater, rivers, marshes and ponds. They’re comfortable and roomy,

and the simple design offers ease of movement. The Neoprene-reinforced knees with external Kevlar protection worked great against the sand and volcanic rock beaches I hunted on. I’m

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ROAD HUNTER We wouldn’t keep going back to Yeti drinkware if we didn’t like it. Every component is easy to clean, won’t leak, and is incredibly durable. The doublewall vacuum insulation keeps liquids hot, or cold, on those morning or afternoon outings. Learn more at yeti.com. YETI DOG BED Since Christmas is a time of giving, who better to get gifts for than our best friends? Our dogs. So, while we’re on a Yeti fix, take a look at this! Yeti’s Trailhead Dog Bed is the best dog bed I’ve used. Both of my dogs love it. After a hard day of hunting or a rigorous workout, it’s a race to see who gets the bed first. Thankfully the bed features a removable travel pad so each dog can enjoy it, but I bet they’ll be getting another one for Christmas so they don’t have to share. We’ve had the bed almost a year, have washed the removable liners many times, and it’s still like new. The pillow bolster is sturdy and hasn’t broken down one bit. The tough bottom easily handles our 65-pound dog, and the waterproof outer cover is great for road trips. With a threeyear warranty, you can’t beat this bed. MSRP: $299; yeti.com.

The Rambler is just one of many Yeti products Haugen has used and been pleased with.

a fan of the quality boot material and dependable suspender design. MSRP: $339; hndoutdoors.com. YETI TUMBLER & RAMBLER Last season I got a 20-ounce Yeti Tumbler with the MagSlider lid, and love it. But I usually had my coffee downed by the time I started the hike to the duck blind. So I got the 26-ounce Rambler, which features a Chug Cap, meaning I could drink directly from 88

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it so I didn’t have to take my Tumbler afield. I liked it so much, my wife and I got the half-gallon Rambler Jug for hikes, snowshoeing trips and crosscountry skiing adventures. Then, of course, we had to get a couple 14-ounce Rambler Mugs with the MagSlider lids. Then our sons joined us on a hike and wanted their own mugs, so we picked up two 10-ounce Ramblers, also with the MagSlider lids; yes, the MagSlider lids are efficient and worth it.

DIRTY DOG DOORMAT We loved our Dirty Dog Doormat so much, we got a second one, then a third. Not only does this miracle mat collect water, mud, dirt, seeds, hair and drool, it’s so comfortable our dogs often curl up on it for a nap. The microfiber technology of these mats allow them to absorb up to seven times their weight in water. Millions of soft microfiber strands feel and act like a soft sponge, keeping floors clean. We use them both inside and outside entryways, even in our truck on road trips; they’re great for human foot traffic, too. They work year-round, be it wet and snowy in the winter, or hot and dry with lots of grass and dust in the summer. The nonskid backing sets it apart from competitors and it works great on wood and vinyl floors. MSRP

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ROAD HUNTER When it comes to keeping your dog physically and mentally healthy, don’t skimp on food. The author has been thoroughly impressed with the performance his pudelpointers have shown while on NutriSource.

$39.95 for large; dgspetproducts.com. PAW WATERPROOF THROW We ordered the 60-inch-by-50-inch throw, and a week later ordered a second one. Not only are these throws waterproof, they’re stylish and come in a range of sizes and designs to go with a range of home decor. The blanket is washable and dogs love laying on them. Be it after a bath, coming in from the rain, or absorbing accidental potty leaks, the Waterproof Throw protects furniture, beds and car seats. Give it a good shake outside once a week and you’ll be amazed with how much dirt and hair it also collects. MSRP: $129; paw.com. Paw also has a back seat dog car cover I love. It’s only $44, is easy to clean and simple to install and remove. The two handles on the underside tuck between the seats, ensuring the cover stays in place and remains safe for dogs. 90

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

NUTRISOURCE DOG FOOD Every time I see a gun dog on a diet of cheap food, I cringe. That’s like feeding professional athletes junk food. Hunting dogs are high-level performers and providing them with high-quality food should be a top priority. For 11 months I’ve been feeding my female pudelpointer, Echo, NutriSource’s new Element Series, and the results of this high-protein diet continue to amaze me in her daily performance and rapid recovery times following hard hunts and intense training sessions. Element has three times the protein of most foods (up to 90-percent animal protein) and it supports nitrogen and ammonia utilization, meaning there is no extra gas or diarrhea that can occur with other high-protein diets. Kona, my 5-year-old male pudelpointer, eats Element during winter hunting season, as it makes an obvious difference in his recovery

times on cold, wet-weather hunts. The rest of the year he’s on a diet of standard NutriSource food. Visit nutrisourcepetfoods.com to find a dealer near you. And don’t forget those stocking stuffers for your pup. Yes, dogs love opening little gifts, too. Smoked cow bones that contain marrow, Benebone’s new salmon-flavored chew, Earth Animal’s No-Hide chews, and healthy treats – my dogs love NutriSource soft treats and jerky – are all excellent choices, as are sturdy balls and other toys. The list goes on, but these are items we’ve put to extensive use and have been very pleased with. Have a joyous Christmas and great rest of the waterfowling season.  Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott’s bestselling books, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott’s adventures on Instagram and Facebook.

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aaapolicesupply.com This holiday season, consider the gift that always fits: an AAA gift certificate! Now through December, purchase $200 in gift cards and get a $50 bonus.

Nowlin Arms

nowlinarms.com Proven reputation. Eight world championships and 22 national titles, all won by competitors using Nowlin. Today, you can elevate your own 1911 to this level of performance, with Nowlin’s ECM Match Grade barrels. Made from 416 rifle-quality bar stock, with ultrasmooth ECM rifling, 40 RC hardness and an 8 RMS bore finish, Nowlin 1911 barrels deliver maximum accuracy. Nowlin’s unique precut barrel locking lug design ensures precise engagement, while centering the firing pin on the primer. Under 1 inch at 25 yards and under 1½ inches at 50 yards in the company’s barrel testing fixture.

Diversified Innovative Products

diproductsinc.com The folks at DIP Inc. are not content with the cheap plastic parts that many firearms companies produce to cut production costs for rimfire firearms. At DIP, they make drop-in metal replacement parts and accessories that are both high quality and affordable. All products are made in the USA. DIP manufactures parts for the following brands: CZ, Marlin, Savage, Ruger, Remington, Tikka, Steyr, S&W, Howa, Marlin, Sako, Anschutz, Henry and others.

Full Forge Gear

fullforgegear.com Bags, gear and packs. Full Forge Gear is bringing quality and affordable nylon gear for everyday life, from multipurpose bags to one-day backpacks to pistol and rifle cases. Whatever your needs are, Full Forge Gear has something to offer you. americanshootingjournal.com 93

2021

Black Hills Ammunition black-hills.com New for 2021 is the Black Hills Ammo 6.5 Creedmoor 130-grain Dual Performance. Upon impact, the bullet expands quickly; the petals then fracture and continue penetrating, cutting through stressed tissue. Adequate penetration is assured by the projectile’s solid copper shank, retaining a uniform weight, which continues on to a depth of up to 27 inches. Velocity is 2,800 feet per second from a 22-inch barrel.

Davis Tent

davistent.com Find canvas hunting tents, stoves, cots, panniers and accessories at Davis Tent.

Triple K

triplek.com It’s hunting season, so put a scope on your “Big Iron.” Triple K Manufacturing offers the No. 485 Space Cowboy, a strong-side vertical-carry holster for the long-range handgun hunter. This holster will fit any waist belt or cartridge belt and has a latigo leg tie for added stability. The Space Cowboy holster can also be added to Triple K’s popular Wyoming drop loop belt. Features rich walnut oil vegetable-tanned leather with solid brass snap hardware. MSRP: $180.

Stocky’s Stocks

stockysstocks.com At under 24 ounces, Stocky’s new Carbon Hunter is sure to find its way into some very nice rifles. The UltraLite NextGen CF Hunter is a full-size hunting stock designed for any barrel you might want to run on it, from sporter to M24/Proof carbon (or even larger). Truly the next generation of carbon fiber layup: they are stronger, lighter and more precisely machined than ever before.

Rick Young Outdoors LLC

rickyoungoutdoors.com There are several suspension systems on the market today for binoculars and range finders, but none like this one. The shock cord grips, or hugs, your body and transfers the weight of your binoculars equally around your shoulder and chest without digging into your body. The round shock cord will not vibrate or flutter in the wind. Patented singlepoint adjustment allows you to quickly fit the harness to your change of clothing. Worn in five different positions and very affordable for stocking stuffers this holiday season. 94

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Kershaw

kershaw.kaiusa.com/launch-13.html The made-in-USA Launch 13 combines the best slimness, design details and cutting ability. Its Wharncliffe blade is perfect for fine work, yet it’s slightly angled for more versatile cutting. The narrow profile and deep-carry pocketclip let the Launch 13 easily ride in the pocket.

CDNN Sports

cdnnsports.com The GForce Arms GFZ is a 12-gauge semiauto bullpup shotgun with the following specs: chamber: 3 inches; barrel length: 18.5 inches; overall length: 28.25 inches; chokes: modified, full and cylinder; capacity: two five-round MKA 1919 magazines; system: gas system; stock material: aluminum; body material: aluminum; recommended shell velocity: 1,300 feet per second or higher; finish: matte black; sights: flip-up; stock: black bullpup; weight: 9 pounds; overall length: 28.25 inches.

Timber Creek Outdoors

timbercreekoutdoorsinc.com Your next AR build starts here. Customize your AR with Timber Creek’s Upper Parts Kit, Lower Parts Kit or the Full Enforcer Kit. All build kits are available in multiple color options. All Timber Creek products are proudly made in Springfield, Oregon, and are backed by a lifetime warranty.

V-Line Security Cases and Cabinets

Woodman’s Pal

woodmanspal.com Made in America since 1941, chop, clear, blaze, build and more with the lightweight, compact and superbly balanced Woodman’s Pal. Unique land management and outdoorsman’s multi-use tool. MSRP: $175.

vlineind.com V-Line’s Slide-Away model features a convenient pull-out drawer design, making it handy for securing not just your firearm but other items as well. The drawer springs open a little bit when you unlock it and rides on smooth, heavy-duty ball-bearing slides, rated to 100 pounds. The body and door are made of 12-gauge steel, with a black textured powder coat. This case can accommodate two full-sized pistols and is lined with a bottom layer of thin foam and another layer of Pick N Pluck Foam. americanshootingjournal.com 95

2021

AlumaGrips Vortex Optics

vortexoptics.com Western hunting demands an optic built for long range and the long haul, and the Razor HD LHT 4.5-22x50 FFP delivers. You still get the core of the Razor HD LHT, including a stunning HD optical system and rugged build, in a scope that’s among the lightest in its class.

alumagrips.com The Tactical grip is designed with the no-snag checkering used on all checkered AlumaGrips. The big difference on these grips is the smooth section on the back half of the grip. This combination of a smooth and checkered section allows for a very good purchase.

Shell Shock Technologies Alford Designs Limited

alforddesignslimited.com The new 1312 line of embossed leather concealed carry crossbody purses are leather-lined. The inside of the bag includes a patent-pending V-shaped holster pocket and cut-resistant strap. Outside pocket for additional storage and easy access. The bag is available in a variety of colors and textures of fine leather. Handcrafted in the USA. 96

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shellshocktech.com If you loved Shell Shock’s lightweight 9mm cases, wait until you try their new calibers coming soon. Lighter than brass, more powder capacity, greater consistency between rounds, and can be picked up with a magnet. Satisfies global military mandates to reduce ammunition weight and increase performance. All Shell Shock’s cases are proudly made in the USA. Shell Shock … Shoot it, Love it!

JL Billet

jlbillet.com JL Billet’s MBS (Modular Billet Stock) is a patented all-aluminum modular buttstock designed to fit AR-15 and AR-10 Mil-Spec collapsible buffer tubes. They start with chunks of 6061 T6 aircraft-grade aluminum and precision CNC machine each piece to ensure an exact fit and perfect function. The MBS is a modular design that allows all components of the stock to be replaced if damaged. You can also change up the color and design to set your AR-15 apart. They don’t use any plastic on this stock, other than the rubber base and cheek pads; this allows you to Cerakote or anodize whatever color you like to accessorize and customize to your specific needs. The MBS is skeletonized to reduce weight while maintaining strength and giving a look like nothing else on the market. Weight without a buffer tube installed is only 16 ounces. It’s not for the weak guys who can’t handle a few extra ounces in their rifle. Of note, for those of you in California, the MBS can be used as a fixed stock as well with the use of a longer trigger set screw.

Brooks Tactical Systems

brookstactical.com AGrip is the revolutionary new custom-fit, wrap-around, nonslip tactical grip that works even better with wet and especially sweaty hands, and is made exclusively by Brooks Tactical Systems. AGrip is super easy on the hands, is nonabrasive, and incredibly durable. This “multipurpose hybrid material” was created to be nonslip even with hot, sweaty, dirty hands, or with cold, wet hands underwater. AGrip even works with oil on your hands!

ADCO Arms Co., Inc.

adcosales.com Many consumers in states allowing 10-plusround magazines are delighted to hear of the 20-round-capacity magazines offered for ADCO’s Best Arms magazine-fed shotgun. Of course, these will fit the Best Arms models; however, the same MMXX item will work in a number of other brands of the Turkish mag-fed models. The MSRP is $139 post paid. For further information, contact 800-775-3687.

Underwood Ammunition

underwoodammo.com From Illinois-based Underwood Ammunition, the Xtreme Defender projectile uses optimized flute geometry, total weight and velocity to achieve a penetration depth up to 18 inches with a permanent wound cavity that is simply enormous. The non-expanding solid copper body ensures no adverse effects occurring to the projectile itself, despite encountering common personal-defense obstacles such as wallboard, sheetrock, sheet metal and automotive glass. americanshootingjournal.com 97

2021

MDGrips

Peet Family Dryer

peetdryer.com Introducing the only shoe dryer on the market that dries three pairs of boots or shoes at once. New multiport base with pushbutton digital display allows for easy operation. Works with all DryPort accessories (excluding Helmet). Dries in one to four hours with heat/no-heat settings. Up to four tubes can be shut off manually when not in use. Doing so will increase fan velocity of tubes in use. New handle and space-saving design make for a more portable unit.

mdgrips.com Why use stock materials for your pistol when you can personalize your experience with quality handcrafted custom grips? MDGrips specializes in creating beauty, exuding old-world charm in a functional and practical way to enhance the look and feel of your pistol. To find out more about how they can create grips for your gun, call MDGrips today at 615-613-3552.

Xsteel Targets

xsteeltargets.com The most affordable AR500/AR550 steel shooting targets in the industry!

Exquisite Knives

exquisiteknives.com Exquisiteknives.com has been offering custom knife enthusiasts a selection of some of the finest collectible knives for over 20 years. With names like Loveless, Moran, Lake and Michael Walker, you can be assured that your wildest dreams can come true! They also carry a nice selection of reasonably priced forged pieces. Be sure to ask as their website has a small sample of Exquisiteknives.com’s extensive inventory. Knife pictured is by CAS of Argentina. 98

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Gentry Custom LLC

gentrycustom.com New quiet muzzle brakes with suppressor-length threads. Call Gentry Custom today at 406-3884867.

PrOlix Lubricants

prolixlubricant.com Even Santa would love to see a bottle of PrOlix in his stocking this holiday season! There is no product on the market to date that works like PrOlix; just see their ad in this publication and learn more over at their website! Let PrOlix make it a joyful holiday!

The Buffalo Wool Co. Kick-Eez

kick-eez.com Kick-Eez is a family-owned and -operated company that manufactures recoil pads and accessories to make shooting more comfortable. Kick-Eez recently moved from Washington to Lexington, Kentucky. They proudly source and manufacture all of their products in the United States.

thebuffalowoolco.com American bison luxury in an over-the-calf and fatigue-fighting compression sock. Their most requested sock ever, ready to ship. URfit System provides arch support and memory-knit construction fights fatigue by increasing blood flow up the leg from the ankle with 15 to 20 mmHg of graduated compression. Smooth, flat comfort toe seam.

RE Camp Kitchen

robertsonenterprises.net The RE Camp Kitchen is the result of many years spent in the backcountry, where safety and well-being rely heavily on functional and durable equipment. The box is constructed of aircraft aluminum. The practical design makes it convenient to use for everything from a family lunch on the lawn to an extended stay in the backcountry. The wheeled “suitcase” mode allows you to choose your cooking spot without being tied to your vehicle. The Camp Kitchen may be purchased with all the extra kitchen items or just the boxes. With the RE Camp Kitchen, you really can start cooking in 10 minutes.

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2021

Redding Reloading Equipment

redding-reloading.com Redding Reloading has reached full production on the highly innovative Redding Slant Bed Concentricity Gauge. The uniquely angled ergonomic design of the slant bed better positions the dial indicator for easier reading as opposed to older designs. Additionally, the gauge can be transitioned from right-handed use to left-handed by using a provided set of mounting holes on the base. To learn more about Redding’s ongoing commitment to the precision handloading enthusiast and to request a copy of the company’s current catalog, visit their website.

Nutmeg Sports nutmegsports.com Beautiful handmade giraffe bone 1911 grips. Highly polished, beautifully finished and fully stabilized, this material is rare and in limited supply. The grips pictured feature nickel Colt medallions, but the grips are made to order and you can choose either gold or nickel medallions, or you can choose to keep them plain. These grips will fit all Colt 1911s and clones. MSRP: $275. Nutmeg Sports offers a variety of handmade grips, as well as custom engraving projects. Gift certificates can also be purchased and applied to all of their grips and services.

InvictaSafe

invictasafe.com InvictaSafe is a revolutionary “firearm display safe” that offers the advantages of a traditional firearm safe, with the added benefit of “safely showcasing your firearm like a work of art.” Their display safes utilize see-through protective ballistic glass with stunning LED lighting that makes your firearm stand out like an amazing work of art.

Handleitgrips

handleitgrips.com Handleitgrips is a veteran-owned and -operated company that manufactures textured rubber, sandpaper and vinyl grips/wraps for firearms, as well as other products. Pictured is the Springfield Hellcat textured rubber grip enhancement. Their products cover more surface area, are more versatile and more innovative compared to similar products offered, and are 100-percent made in the USA. 100

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BLACK POWDER

“It’s far better to be properly equipped with the things you might need right there in your pouch” than not, writes muzzleloading aficionado Mike Nesbitt. His pouch (right) carries necessary shooting accessories.

WHAT’S IN THE MUZZLELOADER’S POUCH?

What to carry varies for flintlock and percussion firearms, but here's how one shooter packs his pouch. STORY AND PHOTOS BY MIKE NESBITT

hen first thinking about writing this story, I wasn’t going to include balls and patches in my list of muzzleloader must-haves. But because there is a good chance that at

least a couple of the folks who read this article have never fired a muzzleloader before, everything that we’d want in our shooting pouches will be discussed, including balls and patches. My favorite method of carrying patches in the pouch, whether my rifle has a patch box or not, is to pack them in empty percussion cap tins. Hey,

those have to be considered primitive and traditional, at least for a person roaming the West after 1825 or so. For my .54-caliber guns, which use .020inch patches, each empty cap tin will hold about 25 lubricated patches. And if my rifle has a patch box, I most often use the patches while I’m shooting out of the patch box. Then I refill it by americanshootingjournal.com 103

BLACK POWDER Patches and bullets are needed in the pouch, in addition to shooting tools. The author stores his patches in empty percussion cap tins.

A pile of pouches as you might find for sale on traders’ row.

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emptying a cap tin. A powder horn isn’t usually carried inside the pouch, but some small “pocket” horns certainly could be. While hunting, I usually don’t wear a powder horn, but I do use the pocket horn. For more bullets, my haversack, which is often left back at camp, will have some bar lead and a ladle along with a bag mould for making more bullets. Likewise, I often have a powder “storage horn” back at camp too, which is simply a powder horn that is bigger than what I like to carry. Such a storage horn, however, is very fine for refilling the pocket horn. Sometimes the smaller horns are called “day horns” because they hold just enough powder that a hunter might use in a day. Let’s get back to what we should have in our pouches. For describing the next batch of plunder, I’m going to divide the necessary shooting accessories into flintlock and percussion items. We’ll consider the flintlock items first.

EVERY FLINTLOCK SHOOTER should carry some extra flints. That might seem like a given, but too many times extra flints are forgotten. One of the best ways to carry extra flints is in a flint wallet. This protects the flints from hitting other tools in the pouch that might chip them, as well as protects the shooter from cutting their fingertips when they reach into their pouch. While I recognize that flint wallets are the way to go, I have never really appreciated carrying one of them in my shooting pouch. Even so, I do carry extra flints, at least a couple of them, often in the bottom of my pouch’s ball pocket. Also, because the flints are held in the jaws of the cock with pieces of leather, it’s wise to carry a couple extra flint leathers, already cut to shape. Too many times when a flint is lost out of the lock, the flint leather is missing too. Extra flint leathers will keep you shooting. In order to change or just maintain that flint in the jaws of the cock, we need “flinter’s tools” in our pouches.

BLACK POWDER

Shooting accessories include (foreground, left to right): short-starter, flint knapper/screwdriver, flash-hole pick, and a “primitive” pair of pliers.

This tool is a combination flint knapper, resembling a small hammer, and a T-handled screwdriver. Both aspects of this tool get used a great deal; basically, a flintlock shooter without a knapper or a screwdriver will not be shooting for long. A flash-hole pick is also an absolute necessity. I don’t pick the flash-hole on my flintlocks every shot, but I do pick them every time I feel there is a question. And when you pick a flashhole, if the gun is already loaded, don’t just jam the pick through the hole and consider that good. You must feel dry powder crumbling as the pick is pushed into it. If you don’t feel powder, it isn’t there. Maybe the gun was dryballed (loaded without the powder) or something in the barrel won’t allow the 106

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powder to fall back to the breech. And if that powder feels mushy instead of dry and crumbling, then the powder is wet from either water or oils and that can lead to other problems. If picking the flash-hole discovers problems, the best solution is to pull the ball, so ball-pulling gear is needed too. Always have that in the pouch. One more item I will mention, because I won’t leave home without one, is an auxiliary priming tool. For my flintlock shooting, I usually carry a priming horn on a necklace, but sometimes that doesn’t get refilled as often as it should. When that happens, I fall back on my reserve priming in the small brass spring-valve priming tool deep in the pouch. At least it is deep inside the pouch by the time

I need it, as other tools and items get used much more and are closer to the top, but that extra priming is there and it has saved me from embarrassment more than once. SHOOTING PERCUSSIONS, WE might say, is a whole different ball game because some different tools are needed. The first of these tools is a nipple wrench. A percussion shooter simply must be able to remove that nipple for a variety of reasons. The nipple might be plugged and the best way to find out is to remove it and look. And if the shooter is having trouble getting the gun to fire, the problem might be in the breech of the gun and not in the nipple. Either way, the nipple needs to be removed so corrective action can

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BLACK POWDER

Nesbitt prefers to carry his flint knapper, flash-hole pick and short starter outside of the pouch where they can be grabbed quickly when needed.

be taken. Along with that nipple wrench, the percussion shooter needs a nipple pick that can be passed all the way through the small hole in the nipple. That’s simply the best way to clear a plugged nipple. If the nipple pick is too big to go all the way through, as most of them are, that will often result in making the plugged nipple worse. Finding a nipple pick that can go all the way through the nipple can be difficult – you might need to make one – but having that small nipple pick will pay off nicely. And be sure your pouch is carrying an extra nipple. One big problem almost all percussion 108

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shooters encounter, sooner or later, is when two hammer blows or more are needed to fire the cap. That happens when the nipple gets battered down just a little, but enough to make it wider than it originally was so that the percussion caps can’t be put all the way down. Then the hammer’s first blow simply seats the cap on the fat nipple so the second blow should be able to fire it. This, at best, is a terrible irritation to the shooter, and the quickest way to solve the problem is to replace the nipple. By the same token, it’s important to carry extra percussion caps in the pouch as well. When I shoot my percussion rifles, I carry caps in a Cash

capper that is hung around my neck. That usually carries enough caps, but extra caps are always in my pouch. There are some items needed to equip both flintlocks and percussions, foremost of which is a powder measure. None of us should ever try shooting our muzzleloading arms without a powder measure. Use the powder measure of your choice, be it one you made out of bone or antler, or a storebought fixed or adjustable measure. Guessing at a powder charge is not a good idea. It is far better to use a powder measure for every shot, just like it’s far better to be properly equipped with the things you might need right there in your pouch. 

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COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

A .45-caliber Colt Single Action Army revolver features exquisite engraving and custom grip, both handcrafted by Connecticut-based Nutmeg Sports.

NO CNC MACHINES NEEDED HERE!

Nutmeg Sports prides itself on its custom Colt grips from raw materials, exquisite engraving. PHOTOS BY NUTMEG SPORTS

or nearly two decades, Nutmeg Sports, LLC has been producing handcrafted, engraved and fully customized Colt grips from their shop in Tolland, Connecticut. “My father James Alaimo started our company in 1993. He had just finished his 20-year career with Colt Firearms and was ready to start out on his own,” explains Nutmeg Sports owner Emily Alaimo Cusson. “The Samuel Colt legacy was something that inspired my dad, and he wanted to take that inspiration and use that as the basis for Nutmeg Sports.” Alaimo’s goal was that any gun

sold by Nutmeg Sports would equal or surpass the quality standards of the Colt Custom Gun Shop. Whether customers were looking to spruce up an old Colt Single Action or they wanted to buy something brand new and fully customized, Alaimo aimed to provide the finest in engraved guns and ivory grips on the market. Following her father’s passing, Cusson is now at the helm and continues his legacy proudly. “My husband Tyler and I took over fully in 2016,” she explains. “However, he and I worked closely with my dad for about 15 years prior to that. In January of 2020, Tyler accepted a position

with Colt’s Historical Archives, and I started running things here at Nutmeg primarily on my own.” As a woman in an obviously maledominated industry, Cusson has had her share of awkward encounters with customers who “assume that I am the secretary.” “(They) are surprised by my knowledge and are also amazed to learn that I am the one in fact getting my hands dirty and crafting the grips myself,” she adds. “We don’t have a CNC machine, or any automatic equipment. I make each one of our grips from raw material and completely by hand.” Because everything is done by hand, americanshootingjournal.com 111

Company SPOTLIGHT

“We don’t have a CNC machine, or any automatic equipment. I make each one of our grips from raw material and completely by hand,” says owner Emily Alaimo Cusson, the daughter of the company’s founder. Custom engraving projects can take six to eight months to finish.

a custom engraving project usually takes around six to eight months to complete. Cusson says this timeframe allows Nutmeg Sports to deeply connect with each individual customer and “do everything we can to ensure that they get exactly what they have been dreaming of.” “Many times, people need some guidance in the decision-making process on the details that they would like to have in their project,” she explains. “When someone calls me, I take as much time as is needed to fully answer questions, make suggestions, and help to steer them in the direction of being sure to have everything turn out as they imagined it.” Cusson adds, “We don’t take for granted the trust and faith that our clients place in our hands. When the client receives the finished product, and lets us know that we have exceeded their expectations, that is the best part of my job.” At Nutmeg Sports, they truly love what they do and it shows. Says Cusson, “From the smallest to the larger, more complicated jobs, each one is just as important. I hope that all our customers feel that from us.”  Editor’s note: For more information, visit nutmegsports.com. 112

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GRIPS GALLERY

Hillbilly Grips

Nutmeg Sports, LLC

Hillbilly Grips are custom-made by hand in Kentucky. Specializing in revolver and 1911 grips from natural materials such as Turkish walnut, giraffe bone, mammoth ivory, ram horn, stag and more. These custom grips are guaranteed to have a perfect fit and beautiful finish. hillbillygrips.com

Nutmeg Sports offers the finest custom grips, like this one featuring giraffe bone. Highly polished, beautifully finished and fully stabilized, this material is rare and in limited supply. All of their grips are made individually and by hand to fit each and every gun. This gun, the Elizabeth Colt Legacy Foundation show gun, was to be raffled off at the Colt Collectors Association Show in Noblesville, Indianapolis. nutmegsports.com

Anarchy Outdoors MDGrips Why use stock materials for your pistol when you can personalize your experience with quality handcrafted custom grips? MDGrips specializes in creating beauty, exuding old-world charm in a functional and practical way to enhance the look and feel of your pistol. To find out more about how they can create grips for your gun, call MDGrips today at 615-613-3552. mdgrips.com

The Penguin Precision Rifle Grip is designed to allow for true thumb rest positioning while allowing the index finger to align with the trigger, reducing shooter fatigue. The palm swell allows for greater control and manipulation of the firearm while the palm shelf allows the shooter to rest their hand or instantly transition. anarchyoutdoors.com

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GRIPS GALLERY

Handleitgrips Handleitgrips’ Hybrid Grips are like nothing you’ve seen before! Their hybrid grips are designed with the best of both worlds: the comfort of textured rubber and the grit of sandpaper with interchangeable grip panels and backstraps. The interchangeable side grip panels/backstrap can easily be changed without removing the main grip. More options for different colors and materials will be available soon. The grip panels can be configured in many different ways. If you conceal carry, they include the original textured rubber panels/backstrap that are less abrasive against your skin. The perfect gun grip is here! handleitgrips.com

HOGUE INC. Hogue’s Beavertail HandAll Grip Sleeves feature models specifically designed for today’s polymer-framed handguns. They engage with the textures and contours of the firearm frame to stay firmly in place over the lifespan of the grip. Six colors available. hogueinc.com

Alumagrips Alumagrips’ ultrahigh-quality handgun grips are designed to fit the single-stack, full-size Colt 1911, Commander-size 1911, Officer’s Model-style and most Colt clones, such as Kimber, Springfield Armory and a number of custom pistolsmiths. Options include ambidextrous safety cuts and mag well cuts for any size grip. Select the options you need from the drop down menu on the company’s “Order Product” page. Sturdy and corrosion-resistant, they will serve you well for years to come. Precision machining from high-grade T-6 aircraft aluminum, on state-of-the-art CNC equipment, assures you the finest fit and finish possible. Your complete satisfaction is Alumagrips’ goal. Try a set today and you won’t be disappointed. alumagrips.com

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Brooks TActical Systems AGrip is the revolutionary new custom-fit, wrap-around, nonslip tactical grip that works even better with wet and especially sweaty hands, and is made exclusively by Brooks Tactical Systems. AGrip is super easy on the hands, is nonabrasive, and incredibly durable. This “multipurpose hybrid material” was created to be nonslip even with hot, sweaty, dirty hands, or with cold, wet hands underwater. AGrip even works with oil on your hands! brookstactical.com

American Shooting Journal - Dec 2021

Articles inside

BLACK POWDER: WHAT’S IN THE MUZZLELOADER’S POUCH?

Nutmeg Sports, custom Colt grips exquisite engraving on tap

Gift Guide

SUPPRESSING WEST VIRGINIA’S PLENTIFUL PREDATOR POPULATION

TWICE AS NICE

American Shooting Journal // December 2021

ROADHUNTER: HO HO HO! FIELD-TESTED AND SANTA-APPROVED HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS

Underwood Ammunition, much more than just the usual loads

BULLET BULLETIN: WALT BERGER AND HIS LIFETIME QUEST FOR ACCURACY

SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING: LESSONS FROM BLACK HAWK DOWN, PART II

LAW ENFORCEMENT SPOTLIGHT: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALL TURNS DEADLY FOR OFFICER