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CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2014
12
COVER STORY: M&P ON THE MARCH Smith & Wesson may have lost its dominance of the U.S. law enforcement market when Glock stormed onto American shores, but the iconic gun maker is quietly making a comeback. By Mike Dickerson LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT Weatherby’s Mark V Ultra Lightweight model is lighter than its counterparts, but is it still relevant in a world of $400 MOA rifles? By Brad Fitzpatrick
38
MIKE DICKERSON
FEATURES
12
54
ARMOR-PLATED WARRIOR Remington’s reliable and durable Model 887 Tactical is proud to carry on the legacy of the Model 870. By Jerry Catania
SPECIAL SECTION
22
A COMMANDING CARBINE Chambered for reasonably priced 9mm ammo, the Taurus CT9 combines minimal recoil and sufficient power beyond 100 yards to create a great tactical value. By Dr. Martin D. Topper
30
EARLY AR ADOPTER One of the first manufacturers to develop and market an AR rifle, Colt continues its 9mm relevance with the 6951. By Todd Burgreen
4
GUN WORLD | FEBRUARY 2014
RANGE REMINDER From cleaning kits and tools to gun cases and optics, here are 10 must-have accessories to help maximize your next trip to the range. By John Raguso
70
GUN WORLD (ISSN 0017-5641) Volume 55, Number 2 is published monthly, 12 times a year by Beckett Media, LLC, 22840 Savi Ranch Parkway, #200, Yorba Linda, CA 92887. Periodical postage paid at Anaheim, CA, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Gun World c/o Beckett Media,4635 McEwen Road, Dallas, TX 75244. Return undelivered Canadian addresses to: Gun World c/o Pitney Bowes, Inc. PO Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B GST#855050365RT001
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TW_1402_5 12/6/13 12:35 AM Page 5
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GW_1402-TOC.BA 12/8/13 10:25 PM Page 6
CONTENTS
22 DR. MARTIN D. TOPPER
NSSF
COLUMNS 8 Up Front Craig Hodgkins
64 Today’s Hunter Thomas C. Tabor
10 Ask the Experts Gun World Contributors
78 Concealed Carry Dave Workman
46 Gunsmithing Steve Sieberts
84 Reload James E. House
88 Q&A With NSSF’s Steve Sanetti. Craig Hodgkins 96 Back Pages Craig Hodgkins
88
ON THE COVER: Photograph by Mike Dickerson Cover design by Jesse Cao 6
GUN WORLD | FEBRUARY 2014
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UP FRONT FEBRUARY 2014 • VOLUME 55 • NUMBER 2
ENDURING WISDOM By Craig Hodgkins
’ve learned a good deal from fictional characters.
I
In fact, I’d rapidly run out of fingers and toes itemizing of all of my literary life lessons, but the one that came to mind this past month comes courtesy of a man named Sakini, an “interpreter by profession,” and an “Okinawan by whim of Gods” in John Patrick’s 1953 Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway play, Teahouse of the August Moon. Teahouse was also made into a 1956 film starring Glen Ford, Eddie Albert, Marlin Brando and Paul Ford. The play was based on Vern Sneider’s 1951 rollicking comic novel of the same name, which dealt with the American military occupation of the afore-mentioned island (specifically, the fictional Tobiki village) in the aftermath of World War II. In the play’s opening monologue, Sakini sets the stage with a simple tale of what it has been like for his people to survive—and thrive—under the pain of centuries of subjugation from pirates, warlords and invaders. In what has become one of my favorite quotes, he sums up his key learning: “Pain makes man think. Thought makes man wise. Wisdom makes life endurable.” I was reminded of that connection between pain, thinking and wisdom while doing some follow-up research to my interview with the NSSF’s Steve Sanetti (see Page 88 of this issue). During our chat, he discussed the importance of knowing our facts about firearms, especially in the midst of rising levels of emo-
GUN WORLD IN SOCIAL MEDIA: Website: www.gunworld.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ gunworldmagazine Twitter: @gunworldmag Instagram: @gunworldmag
8
GUN WORLD | FEBRUARY 2014
tion on both sides of the discussion. But when painful situations arise, we need to be more thoughtful and factual. One great place to get many of these facts is from various reports, studies and surveys found on the NSSF website. For example, the NSSF produces Industry Intelligence Reports on a variety of topics. According to the site, these are “designed to provide the latest research in a quick and easy-to-reference format
Pain makes man think. Thought makes man wise. Wisdom makes life endurable. to help members keep abreast of important topics in the industry. The topics for the reports are based on surveys conducted in-house as well as by using existing data sources with input provided by key member-companies. Industry Intelligence Reports are timely, relevant, cost-efficient research exclusively prepared for industry professionals.” Not in the industry? Not a problem. A huge number of NSSF fact sheets, backgrounders and booklets can get you up to speed and conversant on a wide variety of firearms topics, laws and regulations. I’m as guilty as the next person of assuming my information is always up to date, which has sometimes led to painful conversations and encounters. But when I allow my informed thinking to provide wisdom, I do my part to make life more endurable for all enthusiasts. And that’s not fiction. It’s reality. GW
EDITORIAL Editorial Director: Doug Jeffrey Editor: Craig Hodgkins Managing Editor: Breanna Armstrong Art Director: Thomas Kimball
CONTRIBUTORS Dave Emanuel, Lee Boyt, Todd Burgreen, Jerry Catania, Mike Dickerson, Tara Dixon Engel, Jim Dickson, Abe Elias, Brad Fitzpatrick, Richard Folsland, Paul Hantke, James House, Dave Norman, Jameson Parker, Buck Pope, D.K. Pridgen, Denis Prisbrey, John Raguso, Dave Spaulding, Tom Tabor, Chuck Taylor, Leroy Thompson, Martin Topper, Dave Workman
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EDITORIAL, PRODUCTION & SALES OFFICE 22840 Savi Ranch Parkway, #200 Yorba Linda, CA 92887 (714) 939-9991 www.gunworld.com www.facebook.com/gunworldmagazine www.facebook.com/eembybeckett GUN WORLD (ISSN 0017-5641) Volume 55, Number 2 is published monthly, 12 times a year by Beckett Media, LLC, 22840 Savi Ranch Parkway, #200, Yorba Linda, CA 92887. Periodical postage paid at Anaheim, CA, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Gun World c/o Beckett Media, 4635 McEwen Road, Dallas, TX 75244. Return undelivered Canadian addresses to: Gun World c/o Pitney Bowes, Inc. PO Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B GST#855050365RT001 © 2013 by Beckett Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.
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ASK the EXPERTS
We do the research so you don’t have to.
BONDED BULLETS
The quality of factory-loaded ammunition has improved dramatically in recent years, and can now frequently be found loaded with some of the best hunting bullets.
QUESTION: Bullet and ammunition manufacturers frequently advertise their hunting bullets as “bonded,” or write that they are of bonded construction. What does that really mean, and is it important when it comes to purchasing a good quality hunting bullet? —Kevin C., Grants Pass, OR TOM TABOR ANSWERS: Most hunters (big game hunters in particular) look for a bullet that expands well, retains a significant portion of its original weight, and has an ability to penetrate deep in order to reach the vitals of the animal. To accomplish those goals the bullet must hold together no matter what type of heavy bone or tissue it encounters along the way. The problem is when the bullet is made up of two vastly differ10
GUN WORLD | FEBRUARY 2014
ent types of metal. With jacketed bullets, for example, getting the jacket to adhere to its lead core provides a significant challenge for the manufacturers. The act of being able to attach or fuse those two metals together in a way that discourages them from separating has commonly become known “bonding.”
OUR FEBRUARY EXPERT THOMAS C. TABOR is Gun World’s resident hunting columnist, and routinely goes afield in pursuit of small birds, large game and good stories. His “Today’s Hunter” column may be found on Page 64.
www.gunworld.com
GW_1402_Experts.BA 12/6/13 2:24 AM Page 11
These bullets were extracted from game animals and are excellent examples of what you NEVER want to see in a hunting bullet.
Tom has pulled all of these high-quality bonded bullets from big game animals. The animals ranged in size from deer to elk, and all bullets performed excellently.
Of course, simply saying something is “bonded” doesn’t tell you how strong that bond is. And when bullet manufacturers first began using the term, it essentially meant little or nothing because it had no quantifiable standards behind it. Today, the good news is that bullet manufacturers have made great inroads into their bonding processes. That being said, a prospective bullet or ammo buyer cannot necessarily rely solely on that term as a qualifier of quality. And, the fact
Saying something is ‘bonded’ doesn’t tell you how strong that bond is.
NOSLER
Nosler’s relatively new AccuBond bullets provide a good choice when it comes to a bonded hunting bullet.
www.gunworld.com
that most manufacturers treat their bonding processes as secretly as if they were guarding a billon dollar stash of gold ingots only adds to the confusion. So where does that leave the shooter that wants to be assured that their bullets will hold together upon impact and do all the other things needed to ensure a clean and effective kill? Unfortunately, about the only way to be assured of those things happening, whether the manufacturer uses the term “bonded” to describe their bullets or not is through actual field use. I would never advise shooters to blindly accept that a bullet claiming to be “bonded” is any better than another bullet simply based on those claims. However, since you asked my opinion, there are some really great performing bonded jacketed bullets to choose from that are of exceptional quality. These would include the Nosler Partition, Nosler Accu-Bond, Swift A-Frame, Speer Grand Slam, Speer Trophy Bonded Bear Claw and Norma Oryx. I have used each of these bullets in the field on actual game kills and have found they perform excellently under diverse and varying conditions. Keep in mind, however, that top quality hunting bullets are expensive whether they are purCartridges of the World is an exchased as a handloading cellent (and often-updated) resource component or loaded in a from our friends at Gun Digest Books. factory cartridge. But, espeCurrently in its 13th Edition, and writcially in this instance, you ten by the late Frank C. Barnes, it is get what you pay for. It is now edited by Richard A. Mann and is my firm belief that this is an available, along with dozens of other area of hunting that you titles, via www.gundigeststore.com. never compromise on. GW FEBRUARY 2014 | GUN WORLD 11
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Story & Photos by Mike Dickerson
ost American police officers have spent the last two decades packing high-capacity, polymer-framed pistols on the job. If you ask them which gun maker has dominated the U.S. law enforcement handgun market longer than any other, many would point to the weapon in their holsters. And many would be wrong.
M 12
GUN WORLD | FEBRUARY 2014
www.gunworld.com
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M&P ON THE
MARCH The author puts his M&P40 through its paces on a cold day. He has thus far pushed several hundred rounds of law enforcement ammo through the barrel without a single malfunction.
Smith & Wesson may have lost its dominance of the U.S. law enforcement market when Glock stormed onto American shores, but the iconic gun maker is quietly making a comeback.
www.gunworld.com
FEBRUARY 2014 | GUN WORLD
13
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Glock claims the biggest LEO market share today, but the all-time champ of handgun sales to the U.S. law enforcement market is Smith & Wesson, the iconic, 161-year-old veteran of the American firearms industry. S&W’s dominance of that market began well over a century ago with the .38 Military and Police revolver, better known as the Model 10, which was used by almost every major police force in the world. Fast-forward from then and you’ll see departments in continual transition to one famous S&W handgun after another, from the models 19 and 66, which played a major role in popularizing the .357 magnum cartridge, to the models 586 and 686 of more recent vintage. Many departments also stuck with S&W during the transition to all-metal semi-automatic pistols, such as the model 4006 (which is still used by the California Highway Patrol). That all began to change in the late 1980s with the arrival of Gaston Glock and his polymer pistols. Cynics scoffed at the notion that plastic guns would succeed in America, but Glock pistols took the U.S. LEO handgun market by storm, thanks largely to their light weight and high capacity. Glock shrewdly offered departments significant discounts on the guns to build market share and establish credibility in the minds of
Smith & Wesson has been quietly making a comeback in the law enforcement market with its M&P line of pistols. Shown are, top to bottom, M&P40, M&P45 Dark Earth and M&P9c Compact.
To date, S&W has converted more than 1,500 LEO departments to M&P pistols…
The author’s full-size M&P40 has an external safety and came with 15-round magazines. Ten-round magazines are also available. The author added night sights.
14
GUN WORLD | FEBRUARY 2014
www.gunworld.com
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The M&P line has been widely praised for its ergonomics, with many law enforcement departments reporting that their officers shoot higher scores with the M&P. That’s partly due the three different sized palm swells provided with the pistol.
American gun buyers, and Smith & Wesson, the long-reigning monarch of the U.S. LEO market, was summarily dethroned. But the king did not go gently into the dustbin of history. It took some time, but Smith & Wesson carefully planned and launched a counterattack with its 2005 introduction of the M&P (Military and Police) line of polymer-framed pistols. “We wanted to take back that market,” says Paul Pluff, S&W director of marketing. “We weren’t the first ones out there with a polymer pistol, so we took a dif-
ferent approach than we normally do. We went out to a lot of departments and asked them what they wanted to see in a duty weapon. We took surveys, from department armorers to department trainers, and asked them to tell us what was critically needed in a dedicated LEO weapon. We knew it had to be polymer and lightweight. It had to be durable, accurate and reliable, and it had to be almost customized to fit individual officers’ hand sizes and skill levels. It took us three years before we even made prototypes be-
cause we really wanted to understand their needs.”
WHY THE LEO MARKET COUNTS The extent to which S&W got it right with the M&P series is evidenced by the company’s success in gaining back a significant and growing share of the U.S. LEO handgun market. Just how much is open to debate. It’s nearly impossible to validate competitors’ claims because several are privately held and not subject to the disclosure governance of publicly owned companies. Credible independent sources of accurate LEO market share data are virtually nonexistent.
Fans of the 1911 will find the optional external safety to be of the right size and in the right location.
www.gunworld.com
FEBRUARY 2014 | GUN WORLD
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The M&P’s integrated trigger safety has gotten mixed reviews, but the author reports the trigger is much like any other on modern polymer pistols. Once you get used to it, it’s easy to shoot tight groups.
There is, however, no denying the fact that M&P pistols have been on the march since their introduction. To date, S&W has converted more than 1,500 LEO departments to M&P pistols (and more than 1,500 to M&P rifles). Perhaps more impressively, S&W claims a winning percentage of 70-72 percent when bidding on LEO contracts, leading some to observe that S&W has been “out-Glocking Glock” in its LEO marketing efforts. S&W has also been on a roll lately with some large wins, such as those with the San Antonio Police Dept. and the Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Dept., which is well known for its stringent testing of candidate firearms. “I’ve been with S&W going on 36 years now,” says Pluff, who started with the company as a gunsmith. “I think the M&P line is the most significant thing
we’ve introduced since I’ve been here.” This may come as a surprise to some, but the LEO handgun market, from a pure sales perspective, isn’t what’s most important to pistol makers. That market is small change compared to the larger commercial market. The biggest reason manufacturers pursue the LEO market with zeal is for the impact that it has on the average gun-buying citizen. To a large extent, as goes the LEO market, so goes the commercial market. “It takes a lot more work and effort to penetrate the LEO market than the sporting market,” says Pluff. “But you chase the LEO market because of the credibility it gives you. It’s because police departments test so much— and demand so much— that a lot of people feel that if a
pistol’s good enough for their local law enforcement department, it’s good enough for them.” Make no mistake about it. America has become a nation of pistol shooters. U.S. pistol sales nearly tripled in the last seven years. Of the 6.5 million handguns sold in America in 2012, 5.6 million were pistols, and it’s a fair bet that a large percentage of those were the same polymer-framed, striker-fired models used by
The M&P’s slide has a unique angled wave design that provides a firm grip when cycling the slide.
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Shown Actual Size
CCO - A HANDFUL OF CONFIDENCE
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This M&P40, owned by the author, came with a hard case, two magazines and three palm swells to allow you to tailor the grip to your hand size.
law enforcement. The importance of that larger commercial pistol market to manufacturers’ bottom lines can’t be understated. Smith & Wesson’s earnings announcements in recent years have been peppered with references to record sales and profits linked to strong demand for the M&P line. S&W leadership stated in mid-2013 that S&W’s sales growth was exceeding the overall growth in the firearms market as measured by federal background checks, underscoring the fact that S&W is growing its market share.
WHY M&P? Numerous reviews have been published over the last eight years extolling the virtues of the numerous M&P pistol variants, but you might find it instructive to see what one of the nation’s most high-profile law enforcement departments has to say about the M&P. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department began transitioning to the M&P
9mm in 2013. The pistol is issued to all recruits at the Sheriff’s Academy, and a conversion program for in-service personnel is underway throughout the LASD, which fields approximately 13,000
The Dark Earth Brown color is just one of many options available for the M&P45, which you can get in full-size or compact, with or without a thumb safety, with or without night sights and with or without a magazine disconnect safety. This full-size pistol gives you 10+1 rounds of .45 ACP at the ready. 18
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The M&P9c Compact weighs just 21.7 ounces and is a good option for concealed carry. It has a 3.5 in. barrel, measures 6.7 in. overall and can be ordered with 10- or 12-round magazines. Those who prefer something smaller can opt for the M&P Shield. This version has no external safety.
sworn and non-sworn personnel who are issued duty handguns. The department conducted exhaustive testing, under a wide range of scenarios and environmental conditions, and chose the M&P based on several critical factors. These included, most notably, the pistol’s reliability. The testing protocol utilized test shooters with “a vast array of shooting experience and abilities,” according to department spokesperson Nicole Nishida. “It included firing thousands of rounds in a variety of conditions in order to test the endurance of the weapon,” she said. “It was fired during warm and cold weather conditions. It was also fired wet to simulate rainy conditions. The testing included firing the pistol in a clean and lubed condition, as well as in a dirty condition. We intentionally allowed the pis-
The author fired this 10-round group rapid fire from his M&P 40 at the commonly cited “average” self-defense range of seven yards. The pistol’s ergonomics enable quick follow-up shots, making it an excellent defensive weapon. www.gunworld.com
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One additional factor weighed in favor of the M&P. The sear deactivation lever was “extremely well received from a risk-management perspective,” says Nishida. Translation: you don’t have to pull the trigger in order to take down and clean the pistol. That’s always been one of the knocks on some other pistol designs, and there are enough stories out there about bullet holes in lockers—and worse—to make LEO administrators take notice of the S&W system. They know this simple truth: even the best-trained professionals may sometimes forget, and guns are terminally unforgiving.
DESIGNED FOR PROFESSIONALS
The gun on the author’s hip is a full-size M&P40. It’s his preferred backup when calling predators in South Texas, particularly at night.
tol to accumulate carbon buildup and it performed favorably. Overall, the M&P proved to be reliable in all conditions.” “We also conducted a series of shooting drills to evaluate the M&P’s performance,” continued Nishida. “All of the tests were conducted with right-handed and left-handed personnel, which included the M&P being drawn from the holster. The testing included slow-fire and rapid-fire drills. It was fired from both one- and two-handed shooting platforms. Speed and retention reloads were conducted along with disabled shooter drills. Once again, the Smith & Wesson
CONTACTS: SMITH & WESSON www.smith-wesson.com FEDERAL PREMIUM AMMUNITION www.federalpremium.com WINCHESTER AMMUNITION www.winchester.com NAGEL’S GUN SHOP www.nagelsguns.net
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M&P proved reliable.” Nishida said reviewers also gave the M&P high marks for its ergonomics. “The biggest factor here was the interchange-
“
My own experiences with the M&P line of pistols mirrors the performance experienced by the LASD evaluators. I’ve done quite a bit of shooting with the M&P Compact 9mm, full-size M&P .45 and full-size M&P 40. Many hundreds of rounds of LEO ammo have gone down the barrels of these weapons, including Federal HST, Hornady Critical Duty, Gold Dot and Winchester PDX1 (the FBI duty load), and I have yet to experience a single malfunction. Most of the bench-rested groups I’ve
Where the M&P pistols really shine is in rapid-fire, defensive shooting… able palm swell,” she said. “The M&P’s platform was able to accommodate small, medium and large hand sizes. Many shooters have complimented how well the gun fit their hand with the appropriate palm swell. We had students, from inexperienced recruits to in-service personnel, shoot a timed, scored course of fire, and the scores were significantly higher for individuals using the M&P versus our previous standard-issue Beretta 92F. We also had students perform disabled shooter drills, and found the M&P’s ambidextrous slide stop was a big plus in facilitating locking the slide to the rear. The striker-fired design of the weapon has allowed a consistent trigger press for all fired rounds and has enhanced shooter accuracy. Additionally, most students also mentioned the lesser felt recoil, which led to quicker follow-up shots.”
”
fired with the pistols came in under three and a half inches at 25 yards, which is about the best I can accomplish these days with eyes that don’t focus nearly as well on iron sights as they once did. Where the M&P pistols really shine is in rapid-fire, defensive shooting, thanks to their natural “pointability.” That’s a direct result of the pistol’s excellent ergonomics. As LASD happily noted, the interchangeable palm swells allow you to customize the fit to your hand size. The gun sits low in the hand. All controls are large and easy to manipulate, and the design is truly ambidextrous. As a result, I have little difficulty emptying a magazine, rapid-fire, into 5-inch groups or less at a realistic, commonlycited “average” self-defense range of seven yards. I put a lot more stock in a defensive gun that performs well in this www.gunworld.com
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type of shooting than one that drives tacks at the bench. And to my way of thinking, real-world performance trumps bench-rest performance every time. Another plus: you can get the M&P in just about any flavor you want. S&W currently lists dozens of M&P variants on their web site. You can get the M&P in full, compact and concealed-carry sizes, chambered in 22 LR, 9 mm, 357 Auto, 40 S&W and .45 ACP. You can get them with or without night sights, thumb safeties or magazine-disconnect safeties, and you can get versions that allow you to stay legal in states that enforce limited magazine capacities and other restrictions. I own and greatly admire a number of all-metal-frame pistols in ways that no polymer-frame pistol can ever match. The most accurate of the bunch is a target 1911 .45, but that expensive beauty is one pistol that I will never carry on my hip as a backup weapon in the rough country where I like to call predators at night. For that job, where you might encounter everything from poisonous serpents to predators of the four- or two-legged variety, the pistol that now rides on my hip, with two 15-round magazines, is the M&P 40. Judged in terms of weight, firepower and reliability, the M&P is simply a better choice for the job. Given its inexpensive price tag, I don’t lose any sleep over inflicting a few nicks and scratches on the finish, and there’s a certain comfort in knowing it’s backed by S&W’s lifetime service policy. Paul Pluff says he’s seeing a lot of fellow competitive shooters going through a similar thought process because of the pistol’s ergonomics and pointability. “We who have shot a long time are very traditional,” he says. “I love 1911s, but if I have to carry a gun and shoot it fast and accurately, it’s the M&P. It’s not because I work for S&W. It’s because of the success I’ve had with it.” He’s justifiably proud of S&W’s long legacy of supporting American police officers and the company’s success with the M&P line, which he attributes to S&W’s determination to provide a pistol uniquely tailored for professional users. “I have a lot of respect for what law enforcement officers do, and I take a lot of pride in the fact that we’ve won a lot of these departments because the M&P is something officers can count on when their lives depends on it,” says Pluff, “That’s pretty important.” GW www.gunworld.com
32 99
$
Dept #GW24
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A COMMANDING
CARBINE Taurus’ New 9mm CTG29 Carbine Delivers Solid 100-Yard Performance
Story & Photos by Dr. Martin D. Topper
T
aurus’ CTG29 (or CT9) is a thoroughly modern and well-made carbine chambered for the popular 9mm Luger cartridge.
This short, light rifle combines minimal recoil with sufficient power to neutralize threats at distances out to 125 yards. This makes it especially useful for camping and for families living in rural areas. Its utility is further enhanced because the 9mm Luger cartridge it fires is still available at relatively reasonable prices in a wide variety of stores and online despite the current ammunition shortage power.
OUT OF THE BOX The new CT9 carbine arrived at the Florida Gun Exchange in a wellpadded hard black plastic case suitable for shipping. Opening the case revealed a blowback operated semi-automatic rifle that fires from the closed bolt position. It is designed to fire both 9mm standard velocity and +P ammunition. Total capacity is 11 rounds with ten in the magazine and one in the chamber. Like many of its contemporaries, it is constructed from a composite of steel, aluminum and polymer. Major components include a steel 16-inch barrel and a hard anodized aluminum upper receiver which has a fulllength integral M1913 Picatinny rail. The lower receiver stock and forearm are made of polymer. The underside of the forearm has a 5-inch accessory rail at its tip. Two additional rails can be mounted on either side of the forearm. Those who like a vertical grip on the forearm will not need to add one because the front of the magazine well has an integral grip for the support hand. Taurus’ new CT9 is a light, handy carbine chambered in 9mm Luger. Its 16-inch barrel makes it very maneuverable in close quarters. Here, the author puts the CT9 through its paces during a shoot house tactical drill. Exiting the doorway, he engages an armed, hostile target 90 degrees to his left. A tactical situation like this is exactly what semi-automatic rifles are designed for. www.gunworld.com
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The CT9 is made of high-quality steel, aircraft-quality aluminum and space age polymers, blended into a gun with a futuristic look. With an over-all length of just 36 inches, it is easy to store, and it fits in the trunk of just about any automobile.
The CT9’s polymer sights are located on the upper rail. The rear sight is fully adjustable for windage and elevation and has dual rear sight blades. If the shooter decides not to use the rear sight blade with the white outline notch, he or she can simply flip up the ghost ring aperture blade. The front sight is a post that is topped with a white dot. A hood protects the front sight, and large ears protect the rear sight. Both sights can be removed from the rail or be repositioned along it, should the user desire to change the rifle’s sight radius. The CT9 is very handy. Its overall length is 36 inches, which makes it quite maneuverable when clearing buildings. In addition,
the skeletonized “thumbhole” stock helps keep the weight of the CT9 down to 6.6 pounds. This makes it about a pound and one-half lighter than most AR-type rifles that have forend rails. It’s quite easy to carry. The CT9 is also fully ambidextrous. The charging handle can easily be reversed for a left-
handed shooter. Finish on all components of the CT9 is a non-reflective matte black, and—even though the rifle is made up of polymer, steel and aluminum—all match quite well. All of these materials require different methods to produce the matte black color, so getting a close match can be challenging. A close examination of the exterior and interior of the gun revealed that all components were well fitted and there were no tool marks, razor-sharp edges, rough surfaces, or uneven lines. There was an area of slight discoloration on the right side of the upper receiver. Otherwise, the gun displayed excellent quality control.
Operating controls on the CT9 are conveniently located around the trigger.
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Like many contemporary rifles, the CT9 is built from steel, aluminum and polymer. about 3⁄8-inch and there was about ¼-inch of overtravel. Everything considered this is a well-made rifle.
SHOTS FIRED
The CT9’s takedown procedure is like an AR-type rifle. Drive out the takedown pin at the upper rear of the receiver and tilt the upper receiver and barrel forward. The bolt and the attached recoil spring are then removed from the rear of the upper receiver. Taurus recommends no further takedown. Simply clean the bolt with a solvent and toothbrush and
clean the barrel from the breach end. Any fouling on the trigger group in the lower receiver can be similarly cleaned with a brush and solvent. Remove excess solvent with a cotton swab and then lightly lubricate the trigger group and the bolt’s raceway in the upper receiver. The trigger pull on the CT9 was very good right out of the box. It measured a little over four pounds on an RCBS trigger pull scale and the travel was about ½-inch and very smooth. Take up was
The 9mm is a pistol cartridge designed for close-in personal defense. Therefore, live-fire testing was limited to 100 yards. The 9mm is not a very aerodynamic cartridge. When fired from a 16-inch rifle barrel, most 9mm loads lose about 30 percent of their energy by the time they reach a 100-yard target. When the bullet gets to 200 yards, it will have lost almost half its energy and be a little over 29 inches low. Given this, the CT9 was zeroed at 100 yards. This zero puts the bullet 1.5 inches high at 50 yards and
CONTACTS TAURUS INTERNATIONAL (800) 327-3776 www.taurususa.com BLACK HILLS AMMUNITION PO Box 3090 Rapid City, SD 57709 (605) 348-5150 www.black-hills.com CCI AMMUNITION 2299 Snake River Ave Lewiston, ID 83501 (866) 286-7436 www.cci-ammunition.com COR-BON AMMUNITION 1311 Industry Rd. Sturgis, SD 57785 (800) 626-7266 www.cor-bon.com EOTECH 1201 East Ellsworth Ann Arbor, MI 48108 (734) 741-8868
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FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY 900 Ehlen Drive Anoka, MN 55303 (800) 322-2342 FLORIDA GUN EXCHANGE 1050 S. Nova Rd. Ormond Beach, FL 32174 (386) 304-9499 LEUPOLD OPTICS 14400 NW Greenbrier Parkway Beaverton, OR 97006-5790 (800) 538-7653 HORNADY AMMUNITION 3625 West Old Potash Hwy Grand Island, NE 68803 (800) 338-3220 www.hornady.com HPR AMMUNITION Advanced Tactical Armament Concepts, LLC Payson, Arizona (888) 966-8477 www.hprammo.com
MTM CASE-GARD PRODUCTS 3370 Obco Ct. Dayton, OH 45414 (937) 890-7461 PACT CHRONOGRAPHS P.O. Box 535025 Grand Prairie, TX 75053 (800) 722-8462 VOLUSIA COUNTY GUN AND HUNT CLUB 4845 E. SR 44 New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168 (386) 717-1394 WINCHESTER AMMUNITION 600 Powder Mill Rd. East Alton, IL 62024 (800) 356-2666
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The CT9’s skeletonized stock is both rigid and lightweight. This places most of the carbine’s weight forward, and helps the gun swing quickly when engaging multiple targets.
The CT9’s magazine well doubles as a vertical foregrip. The gun’s AK-style magazine release is located just behind the magazine well in a shielded compartment that helps prevent the magazine from being unintentionally released.
almost 10 inches low at 150, which is the practical limit of the 9mm’s performance envelope. The CT9 was tested for velocity and accuracy with six different 9mm loads
that were generously provided by their manufacturers. They included: Black Hills’ 115-grain TAC-X +P, COR-BON’s 115-grain DPX +P, Federal’s 124-grain Hydra-Shok, HPR’s 124-grain load, Hor-
nady’s Critical Duty 135-grain Critical Duty FLEXLOCK and Winchester’s 147grain LE Ranger-T. In addition, tactical drills were run with CCI’s 115-grain Blazer JRN. All loads functioned reliably in the CT9. Accuracy tests were conducted at 100 yards using an MTM K-Zone shooting rest and a Leupold Kenai spotting scope. An EOTech XPS2-0 holographic sight was used for all shooting. The sight has a 1 MOA dot surrounded by a 65 MOA
TEST PERFORMANCE LOAD NAME
PROJECTILE WEIGHT
VELOCITY
MUZZLE ENERGY
BEST GROUP
AVERAGE GROUP
Black Hills TAC-X +P
115 gr.
1133 fps.
328 ft.pds.
2.75”
4.12”
COR-BON
115 gr.
1211 fps.
374 ft. pds.
4.45”
4.57”
Federa 124 gr. HS
124 gr.
1229 fps.
415 ft. pds.
3.15”
4.22”
Hornady 135 gr. CD +P
135 gr.
1078 fps.
348 ft. pds.
4.05”
6.13”
HPR 124 gr. XTP
124 gr.
1047 fps.
301 ft. pds.
3.53”
4.45”
Winchester 147 gr.
147 gr.
1034 fps.
349 ft. pds.
5.40”
6.14”
Average groups represent three 5-shot strings at 100 yds. Groups were fired using an MTM K-Zone Rest, and a Leupold Kenai spotting scope was used to score hits. Velocity was measured with a PACT 1 XP chronograph. Wind direction was gusting from behind the shooter at approximately 7-14 mph. Ambient temperature was 80 degrees Fahrenheit. 26
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circle. The EOTech was chosen because the CT9 is a personal defense rifle. Smaller groups than those recorded in the chart below might have been achieved by using a 1-4X scope, but the CT9 is a close to medium range defense rifle that serves its purpose best when mounted with a luminous red dot or holographic sight that quickly puts the shooter on target day or night. An EOTech M6X light/laser combination was used in tactical drills. The most accurate load was the Black Hills TAC-X. It averaged five shots in a 4.12-inch group at 100 yds. The best group with this load measured 2.75 inches. Some may feel that an average of 4 MOA is too big for a defense rifle, but a 4- to 5-inch group on a day when the winds were gusting between 7-14 mph, is more than acceptable from a handgun caliber carbine intended for personal protection. The 115-124-grain bullets were the most accurate. As bullet weight increased to 135 grains and 147 grains, the average group opened to 6 inches. This is probably because the heavier bullets were travelling at subsonic velocities by the time they reached the target. Bullets flying at less than the speed of sound tend to yaw more than those that are supersonic. The load that generated the most velocity and energy over the Pact 1XP chronograph was Federal’s 124-grain Hydra-Shok. This was a bit surprising, since this is not a +P load, and because most 9mm loads develop the vast majority of their velocity and energy in a 4www.gunworld.com
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The author’s EOTech sight fits snugly on the rail of the upper receiver. This sight allows rapid target acquisition in just about any lighting condition.
inch barrel. The Hydra-Shok developed about 100 fps. more velocity from the 16-inch barrel than from a 4-inch. Its velocity at 15 feet from the muzzle averaged 1229 fps. This generated 415 ft. pds. of energy, making it equivalent to a .357 Magnum 125-grain JHP fired from a 2.5-inch barrel. That’s good performance, especially when one considers that this load only generates 1.4 ft. lbs. of recoil energy in the 6.6-pound CT9.
TACTICAL DRILLS The CT9 was used in two tactical drills performed at the shoot house on the Woods Bay at the Volusia County Gun and Hunt Club. The drills were based on a home invasion scenario in a rural area. The scenario assumed that three invaders had broken the rear door and were in the process of entering the home. The fourth was acting as a lookout that ensured that the owner did not escape by another exit. All shots were fired offhand from the standing position. In the first drill, the owner tried to escape by a back door and immediately
was engaged by the lookout positioned 30 yards away. That target was engaged offhand by the homeowner as he exited. At that point the owner used the side of the building and a tree for cover as the next two targets were engaged as they moved from the door they had broken in toward the owner. The owner then moved quickly around the house to engage the last target. The second drill involved the targets in the same position, but the owner engaged them from cover within the house. The lookout and two of the intruders was engaged from inside the house using cover. The third home invader was engaged as the homeowner moved through the broken-in door. All shots in both scenarios were taken making maximum use of available cover. The minimum number of shots on each target was two. The CT9 performed without a hitch during all tactical drills. There were no failures to fire or stoppages of any kind. The 10-shot magazine was sufficient for both drills, but in a real-life situation 20
The skeletonized ‘thumbhole’ stock helps keep the weight of the CT9 down to 6.6 pounds. 28
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rounds would provide more tactical flexibility. The EOTech sight was very fast. This, combined with the CT9’s good trigger pull, produced very good tactical accuracy. Some shots on close-range targets were a bit low due to the 4-inch
SPECIFICATIONS TAURUS INTERNATIONAL MFG., INC. TAURUS CTG29 CALIBER: 9mm Luger BARREL LENGTH: 16 inches LENGTH: 36 inches WEIGHT: 6.6 pounds ACTION: Semi-Automatic CAPACITY: 11 rounds with loaded chamber SIGHTS: Adjustable Rear, Fixed Front with White Dot and Hood MSRP: $898 www.gunworld.com
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offset between the line of sight and the line of the bore. There is very little offset with handguns and with most shotguns, therefore it is important to include a certain amount of tactical practice with rifles to develop the habit of using offset when engaging targets at close range with ARs, AKs and other rifles that have significant offset.
The CT9 performed without a hitch during all tactical drills.
FINAL WORD The CT9 is a light rifle with sufficient accuracy and power to extend the effective range of the 9mm cartridge out to 125 yards, yet it generates much less muzzle blast and one-fourth the recoil of rifle chambered for the 5.56 NATO round. Those who are looking for a 9mm carbine should consider it. At $898 it’s not inexpensive, but it is very reliable and sufficiently accurate to meet the defensive needs of a large percentage of the population. GW The adjustable sights on the CT9 do not co-witness with the EOTech. This is not a significant problem, since the EOTech has a quick-release lever that allows for a quick transition.
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The Colt 6951 9mm AR is perfect for use as a handy patrol carbine for law enforcement or civilian. Beyond a doubt, it is much more potent than any handgun.
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One of the First to Market, Colt Continues its 9mm AR Relevance with the 6951 Story & Photos by Todd Burgreen
variety of manufacturers have recently jumped on the 9mm AR bandwagon. When they took a seat, however, Colt—which introduced its Model 635 9mm AR in the early 1980s— was already sitting way up front.
A
Any individual or organization can appreciate logistics of a 9mm carbine. For one thing, it is always prudent to diversify any collection of long arms, whether it is for law enforcement, military or civilian use. Since most armories already include rifles chambered in 7.62x51mm (.308Win) or 5.56mm (.223Rem), 9mm rifles add tactical flexibility, and the ability to train with a 9mm carbine on indoor ranges where rifle calibers are often taboo is an added bonus. For many, the first urge toward a 9mm carbine is a select fire short-barreled rifle (SBR). The reasoning behind it is simple: if one must use a 16-inch barrel, you might as well get a full-sized AR. However, many departments will not want to undergo the paperwork for a select fire SBR (Yes, even LE departments have requirements for BATF compliance, even if that are not as onerous compared to civilians). Fortunately, the 16-inch barreled Colt 6951 9mm AR retains the handling characteristics of its short-barreled military predecessor.
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The Colt 6951 9mm AR utilizes a blowback operation method, rather than the M16/AR15 direct-impingement gas system. Overall length is 35 inches with the stock extended, and it weighs slightly over 6 pounds. The collapsible buttstock offers a modicum of compactness, but more importantly ensures a user the proper length of pull no matter what gear or equipment is being worn. It also benefits from proven M16/AR15 ergonomics, operating controls, ease of accessorizing, sights, and other modifications that have evolved over the years since the original Colt 635 was introduced, not to mention broad familiarity with the M16/AR15 platform in the shooting culture.
Colt utilizes standard AR15 lowers, and adapts them into the 9mm role via the magazine well adaptor. The Colt 9mm magazine well adaptor stayed secure during testing, thanks to the way Colt pins it into place.
ERGONOMICS AND ECONOMICS Some may question the utility of employing a pistol cartridge in a shoulderfired weapon. But most engagements occur well within a 100-yard range, especially in law enforcement or civilian settings, with handling and reliability playing more of a factor in quick, reac-
THE 9MM DIFFERENCE The main differences between a 9mm AR and a 5.56/.223 AR
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The bolt carrier on the Colt 6951 is one piece as compared to the 5.56/.223Rem rotating bolt head. The 9mm AR bolt face is integral to the bolt, and totally different in configuration due to making room for ejector that protrudes up from magblock sliding along its length. Lastly, there are no rotating/locking lugs on the 9MM bolt-face.
The bolt still recoils into the buffer tube located in the stock,
are related to the 9mm AR utilizing a blowback operation com-
thus side-folding stocks are not an option with the 9mm ARs. The
pared to the gas impingement method for the rifle chambered AR.
9mm bolt face is integral to the bolt, and different in configuration
The bolt carrier on the 9mm AR needs to be much heavier due to
due to providing room for the ejector that protrudes up from mag-
this operating method, and it is in one piece as compared to the
block and sliding along its length. Lastly, there are no
5.56/.223Rem rotating bolt head.
rotating/locking lugs on the 9mm bolt-face.
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The Colt 6951 was tested with multiple types of ammunition and sights. A Magpul folding BUIS detachable rear sight complimented the fixed front sight and Redfield Counterstrike served in the red dot capacity.
tive engagements than the specific caliber used. Also, less experienced shooters will find the lower recoil impulse and muzzle blast of a pistol caliber fired from the shoulder easier to manage, which often will translate into better accuracy. A civilian concerned with home defense will find no compromise with Colt 9MM carbine, and he or she will appreciate its high capacity, great handling, and 150-yard range. Even though chambered in the 9mm pistol cartridge, the Colt 9mm is a much more potent package than any handgun. First of all, it is far more accurate compared to any hand-
gun, and more controllable. This comes from solid contact with the shoulder and cheek, and because the hands may be spread further apart for more stability compared to when handling a handgun. The muzzle blast differential between a 9mm carbine versus a rifle muzzle signature is further accentuated in confined spaces, such as inside a home during a raid, or if serving in personal defense role. The old standard touting the advantage of having both a carbine and handgun chambered in the same caliber should not be casually dismissed either.
In addition, many more 9mm rounds can be carried in less space compared to rifle rounds. Two slim Colt 9mm magazines fit into the same space as one M16/AR15 magazine, and the semi-auto pistol caliber carbine is lighter than its 16-inch rifle brethren. There is also an economic incentive in terms of the amount of 9mm rounds that can be purchased versus a rifle cartridge. This can be taken advantage of with more training by any department; not to mention the ability to access indoor ranges. A training regimen is further enhanced by the 9mm carbine’s ability to be used with steel plate targets without having to
One obvious aesthetic difference with the Colt 6951 (compared to a 5.56MM rifle) is the large shell deflector on the receiver. www.gunworld.com
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Colt 6951 9MM AR carbine handled quickly around barricades and would prove most effective as a handy patrol type rifle.
resort to specialty frangible rifle loads. The Colt 6951 9mm AR carbine tested featured a standard forend with an A2 fixed front post and A4 flattop upper receiver. An A1 style flash hider is threaded on the chrome-moly 16-inch barrel with 1:10 twist to stabilize the wide variety of 9mm bullet weights. The flattop receiver allows for easy mounting of optics, detachable carry handle or other form of iron rear sight. The Colt 6951 shoulders well, and it will be an easy transition for any shooter accustomed to rifle-caliber AR versions.
Colt also provided a folding Magpul BUIS detachable rear sight in lieu of a carry handle. This retains the capability to mount an optic on the upper receiver’s rail if a user wishes to co-witness optic and iron sights. The effective range of the 9mm carbine makes magnified optics pointless. If one is mounted it would take away from the intended role as a lightweight carbine. Indeed, some would contend that open sights are fine in their own right with nothing more required. However, a Redfield Counterstrike optic was mounted, which allowed
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for quick mounting/dismounting, while still retaining zero. The beauty of the Redfield Counterstike is that it offers both a red and green
SPECIFICATIONS COLT AR6951 CALIBER: 9mm WEIGHT: 6.35 pounds OVERALL LENGTH: (stock retracted) 31.5 inches (stock extended) 35 inches BARREL LENGTH: 16.1 inches MSRP: $1,293
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variable intensity dot as well as a laser, and is designed for hard use made from aluminum with hard coat anodizing. The Counterstrike’s dot also aided in acquiring a fast aiming point at CQB ranges. The dot in the Trijicon Redfield optic proved more than capable of allowing me to reliably hammer steel man targets out to 150 yards. The laser component of the Counterstrike was not utilized due to it impacting on the Colt’s fixed front sight post. Anyone wanting to use the laser could replace the front sight post with another style. As with most ARs, magazines are crucial to reliability. Colt supplies one 9mm magazine with the 6951, and I had several magazines already on hand to augment T&E. No problems were encountered in terms of reliability with the Colt 6951. A wide range of 9mm loads was tested consisting of multiple bullet profiles, including 115-grain and 124-grain JHP, TMJ, and FMJ loads from Black Hills, Federal, and Hornady. A BlackHawk magazine bandolier and thigh mounted sub-load SMG pouches were used to facilitate keeping maga-
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A wide range of 9mm loads were tested with multiple bullet profiles, including 115-grain and 124grain JHP, TMJ, and FMJ loads from Black Hills, Federal, and Hornady. A BlackHawk magazine bandolier and thigh mounted sub-load SMG pouches were used to facilitate keeping magazines handy during range testing and magazine change drills. zines handy during range testing and magazine change drills.
TESTING AND TRAINING Once the Colt proved reliable, it was
put through its paces on different rifle courses set up at Echo Valley Training Center for a previously held event. As most know, ranges permitting the type of evaluation required here are in short sup-
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Iron sights consisting of the fixed front A1 style and Magpul BUIS detachable folding rear were used for initial accuracy/function testing. ply, but the Echo Valley Training Center hosts numerous well-known training entities every year along with DoD personnel, Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies. Manufacturers are also finding their way to Echo Valley Training Center to take advantage of what the facility offers. Echo Valley Training Center has multiple 100-yard enclosed bays (with berms) capable of handling numerous students conducting “square” range drills or more dynamic/fluid types of training. In conjunction with the individual training bays, Echo Valley Training Center features multi-stepped target berms scattered with reactive steel targets, fluid drained automobiles, and moving targets at ranges varying from 150 yards out to 350 yards. My visits to the range supported all my expectations regarding the handling and reliability of the Colt 6951. I fired several hundred rounds downrange, and the brass-cased ammunition proved 36
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CONTACTS COLT DEFENSE, LLC 547 New Park Ave West Hartford, CT, 06110 www.colt.com ATK/FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY 900 Ehlen Drive Anoka, MN 55303 800-322-2342 www.federalpremium.com BLACKHAWK! PRODUCTS GROUP 6160 Commander Pkwy Norfolk, VA 23502 757-436-3101 www.blackhawk.com
BLACK HILLS AMMUNITION PO Box 3090 Rapid City, SD 57709 605-348-5150 www.black-hills.com ECHO VALLEY TRAINING CENTER www.echovalleytrainingcenter.com HORNADY MFG., INC. 3625 Old Potash Hwy Grand Island, NE 68802 800-338-3220 www.hornady.com
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AN M16/AR PATTERN The initial 9mm Colt Model 635 was patterned off of the M16/AR platform firing from a closed bolt, and had the same physical characteristics as the M16/AR15 including sights, operating controls, and trigger. Colt sought to capitalize on the AR’s
Strings of fire ranged from 15 rounds to 80 rounds with multiple targets placed at distances measured in feet out to over 100 yards. All in all, the Colt 9mm AR was pleasant to shoot, and capable of fast follow up shots with minimal sight displacement.
inherent modularity (in terms of its upper and lower receivers) by creating an AR
FINAL WORDS
chambered in 9mm. Many consider the Colt 635 as a response to the H&K MP5,
A pistol caliber carbine can never be compared across the board to a weapon firing a rifle round. This is due to the effective range and lethality of the pistol round versus a 5.56, 5.45x39, 7.62x39, 7.62x51, etc. However, a 9mm carbine (as typified by the Colt 6951 9mm AR) is not a weapon to be ignored for use as a handy patrol carbine for law enforcement, or for a home defense weapon. Beyond a doubt, the Colt 6951 9mm AR is much more potent than any handgun, and should not be underestimated for what it offers in terms of effectiveness. Colt was way ahead of the curve by introducing a 9mm AR in the 1980s, and the 6951 goes a long way to confirm their wisdom. GW
and the Colt Model 635 and its descendants are often considered a Fourth Generation SMG.
utterly reliable. An interesting ammo side note was the use of 9mm surplus acquired via Century International Arms some time ago. This ammunition had proved problematic in handguns due to high-pressure issues, but I experienced no such issues with the Colt 9mm AR. I’d run across accounts of “SMG only” 9mm surplus ammunition, but this my first direct experience. In short, I was pleased to find the Colt 9mm AR worked with the surplus ammunition as I had a couple thousand rounds stored.
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The Colt 6951 proved very capable at handling a CQB style course where most targets were 10-25 yards away, with the stop targets placed further downrange. Transition between the multiple targets was effortless, and the 9mm offered little in terms of recoil. As expected, the muzzle signature was minimal. Magazine changes, shooting from behind cover, transitions between shoulders and firing from unconventional positions all were utilized to put the Colt 6951 9mm thru its paces.
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Weatherby’s Mark V Ultra Lightweight Weighs Less than its Competition, but in a World of $400 MOA Rifles, is it Still Relevant? Story & Photos by Brad Fitzpatrick
The Mark V Ultra Lightweight weighs less than six pounds in non-magnum chamberings and less than seven pounds in magnum configurations. While it has a modern synthetic stock, it bears an unmistakable resemblance to other Mark V rifles with its Monte Carlo cheekpiece, ported bolt, and the Weatherby Flying W logo on the trigger guard.
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oy Weatherby liked powerful cartridges, and his company’s motto of “Nothing shoots flatter, hits harder, or is more accurate,” tells you all you need to know about his personal mission statement. Since the 1940s, the brand has been synonymous with cartridges that pushed the traditional limits of velocity while shooting flat enough to use on the wide-open plains or in the mountains.
R
But cartridges were not enough, and the company namesake needed a rifle that could harness the power of his impressive lineup of cartridges. Because of the fire-breathing velocities that the Weatherby cartridges could attain, the rifle had to be strong and safe as well as accurate. In 1958, the Weatherby team introduced a new rifle, the Mark V. The company claimed that it was “the strongest bolt action,” and it did have an impressive list of safety features that protected the shooter in the event of a case rupture. It was also accurate, and it had a good trigger and a smooth bolt that required less than two-thirds of the lift of a normal bolt action, reducing cycling speed and preventing rapping the
shooter’s knuckles on the scope mounts. It wasn’t the Mark V’s long list of safety features that endeared it to audiences of rifle shooters, though. It was, instead, the gun’s unique styling and the long list of high-performing cartridges for which it was chambered. From the beginning, the Mark V had a look that set it apart from other guns, and without a doubt the Mark V’s high Monte Carlo cheekpiece, white line spacers and highly polished walnut stocks prompted some other rifle makers to dress up their guns to compete. But despite this widespread imitation, the Mark V was always viewed as a step above most production rifles. Rifles and cartridges have evolved
greatly since the introduction of the Mark V. Synthetic stocks were introduced, which were impervious to weather and cheaper. Stainless steel finishes became popular, followed by options like Cerakote that were virtually immune to corrosion. Better triggers became standard in even the cheapest guns, and Remington introduced a line of Ultra Magnums that challenged the Weatherby cartridges. Competition even came from within; Weatherby’s own expanded Mark V line of rifles offered an accuracy guarantee and cost less. Faced with this challenge, the Mark V might have gone the way of the passenger pigeon and the dodo. Instead, these rifles have held on, and have evolved to meet the needs of modern shooters rather than allowing their reputation carry them quietly into obsolescence. Today, Weatherby offers a lineup of no less than 10 different Mark V models. With a starting price around $1,500, the Mark V is still in high demand.
With the Leupold VX-2 Ultralight scope mounted on Talley rings, the Mark V Ultra Lightweight is the perfect rig for mountain hunting. All metalwork has a matte finish to reduce glare. Loaded with 140-grain Nosler Accubonds, this rifle is light enough to carry all day and accurate enough for serious long-range work in the wilderness. 40
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The Mark V isn’t the cheapest rifle on the market, but you’re getting that storied Weatherby accuracy and reliability. It’s durable and solidly-built, and it has the feel of a custom rifle instead of an off-the-shelf production gun.
SPECIFICATIONS SAFE ACTION, EASY CHOICE I recently had the opportunity to test Weatherby’s Mark V Ultra Lightweight in .270 Weatherby Magnum, a gun with an MSRP of $2,100 dollars. It comes with an accuracy promise; Weatherby guarantees it to shoot 1 1/2 inches at 100 yards. But Weatherby’s lower-priced Vangaurd 2 lineup provides a better accuracy guarantee (1 inch at 100 yards) and is available in a wide variety of popular cartridges. In fact, over the past year I’ve shot a variety of rifles under $600 that produced groups under an inch, and all
of them had good triggers and durable synthetic stocks. So, why spend more money on the Mark V? For starters, the Mark V is one of the safest actions on the market, and has been engineered with several features that help protect the shooter in the rare but sometimes catastrophic event of a case failure. First, the bolt face is recessed and the base of the cartridge is completely surrounded by a ring of steel. Most traditional bolts have two locking lugs, but the Mark V has nine
From the beginning, the Mark V had a look that set it apart from other guns… www.gunworld.com
WEATHERBY MARK V ULTRA LIGHTWEIGHT ACTION Bolt Action Centerfire CALIBER 11 available (.270 Weatherby Magnum tested) WEIGHT 6 ¾ Pounds (5 ¾ for .240 Weatherby and non-magnums) LENGTH 46 5/8 inches as tested CAPACITY 3+1 MSRP: $2,100
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The two-position safety is located at the right rear of the action, and is large enough to be manipulated even while wearing gloves. Note the shroud at the rear of the bolt, just one of the many safety features on this gun. lugs for Weatherby cartridges of .257 and up. This provides three complete steel rings behind the cartridge. If that fails, there are three ports on the bolt, which vent gases away from the shooter’s face. The rear of the bolt sleeve is completely enclosed, and protruding from beneath the sleeve is a very prominent and easy-to-see cocking indicator. The safety disengages the sear, making the trigger inoperable when carrying the gun in safe mode. The two-position safety has a large, serrated, lever that rotates forward easily and a large red dot indicates that the safety is in the FIRE position.
TOP ACCURACY Besides hitting hard and being engineered to protect the shooter, Weatherby rifles are also accurate. After all, the Mark V models were designed around the Weatherby cartridge lineup that pushed the limits of speed, but speed is of little value unless the rifle is capable of producing outstanding accuracy. Mark V’s have long been a standard of accuracy, and the Ultra Lightweight model that I tested was no exception. The trigger on Weatherby’s flagship rifle has been good since before the current trigger renaissance. Back when factory guns almost all had heavy, creepy
triggers, the Mark V had a smooth trigger that was factory adjustable and that broke cleanly at about 3.5 pounds, which was right where the model I had was set. Factory sear engagement is set at .008 to .014, so the trigger breaks cleanly and smoothly. The nine locking lugs allow for a short (54-degree) bolt lift, which keeps the shooter’s hand away from the optic and reduces cycling time. The bolt face is smaller than the bolt body, so the bolt fills the action and creates a much smoother cycle than many other rifles that have thinner bolt bodies, and this feature combines with the cuts in the bolt
LEUPOLD GOES LIGHT While I was hunting bear, I topped the Weatherby Mark V with Leupold’s VX-2 Ultralight riflescope in 3-9x33. Weighing in at only 9.3 ounces, this is the perfect scope for a mountain hunt because it’s light enough for all-day carry in the mountains and yet offers the rugged dependability you’d expect from a Leupold product. It features Multicoat 4 lens coatings that provide a clear, crisp image no matter the light conditions and Second Generation Argon/Krypton waterproofing that means you won’t find your scope fogged or blurry when you have the chance at that once-in-a-lifetime animal. Eye relief is over 3 inches, and even on the hard-kicking Weatherby the scope never came close to pounding my eye. On this hunt, the scope was mounted on Talley rings and despite the serious beating this optic took as it was bounced around in a truck, dragged through brush and coated with dust, it performed like, well, a Leupold. MSRP is $439. For more information visit www.leupold.com. 42
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CONTACTS: WEATHERBY (805) 227-2600 www.weatherby.com
The trigger is crisp and clean directly from the factory, and there was no creep or take-up. The hinged floorplate’s release is located inside the front of the trigger guard.
The Weatherby Mark V’s action is among the toughest and safest on the market. Nine locking lugs result in a 54-degree bolt lift for faster follow-up shots, and the two-position safety is silent when moving from the SAFE to FIRE positions.
body itself allow it to run through the action with little slop, giving the Mark V the feel of an expensive custom rifle. A small extractor is located on the bolt face, and the ejector is a plunger-type
similar in function to the ejectors on other push-feed actions. The one-piece machined recoil lug adds strength and durability to the rifle, and the hammerforged barrel has a radiused field crown
or a recessed target crown, which is what the Ultra Lightweight gun I carried had. An aluminum bedding plate helps improve accuracy. To reduce weight, the Ultra Lightweight version that I carried has a lightweight but durable composite stock with a spider web pattern that provides enough texture for a positive grip. Like other Weatherby Mark V rifles, the stock has a flat bottom and a traditional Monte Carlo-style comb that brings the eye directly into alignment with the scope. One of the things I most appreciate about the Mark V is the angle of the wrist on the stock. Whereas many cheaper rifles have a thin, sharply downturned wrist, the Mark V Ultra Lightweight had a wide wrist that provided a sure grip when aiming the rifle. It wasn’t sharply angled, and most importantly, nothing on the stock feels hollow or cheap. The whole package is solidly built and the action is smooth, which is part of what you’d expect with a rifle in this price range. Everything about the Mark V felt durable and well built, and you won’t mistake its feel and quality construction for that of any base-price bargain rifle. The Ultra Lightweight has a #2 contour barrel with longitudinal flutes, which help reduce weight despite a magnumcaliber length of 26 inches (24 for nonmagnums). With a weight of 6 ¾ pounds (5 ¾ pounds for non-magnums and the .240 Weatherby), this gun is perfect for long shots in high country, and if you’ve
HUNTING WITH HEAVEN’S GATE OUTFITTERS Andy and Karen Savage’s Heaven’s Gate Outfitters offer hunting for big game and upland birds on 1,200 square miles in western Idaho. The region is known for big elk, and they offer both rifle and archery hunts in some of the most beautiful territory in the West. The area is also home to some outstanding mule deer bucks, and the opportunity to take a big muley from a wilderness camp in the Seven Devils is the experience of a lifetime. They also offer guided hunts for bighorn sheep and mountain goats if you’re lucky enough to draw a tag, and the opportunity to hunt color-phase bears using hounds, bait, or spot-and-stalk methods is one of the best values in the western U.S. If you want to take a really big mountain lion, this area is one of the prime locations, but these hunts sell out years in advance because of the quality and abundance of the cats in the area. No matter which hunt you choose, bring along your scattergun and be ready for some outstanding wingshooting. Heaven’s Gate offers hunting for 5 different species of wild upland birds, something you won’t find in other areas of the country. For more info visit their website at www.hgoid.com
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ever spent much time climbing into the high country in search of game you’ll understand why weight reduction is important to success. But despite the Ultra Lightweight’s lack of mass, the recoil from the .270 Weatherby Magnum was negated by a good stock and a cushy recoil pad that soaked up much of the blow. As with any hot magnum, muzzle blast is terrific, but recoil is surprisingly manageable for a rifle chambered for such a potent cartridge. Weatherby promises 1 ½-inch groups from their Mark V, which is less than a lot of cheaper guns promise. Then again, when I tested the Mark V Ultra Lightweight before my hunt, I found that the accuracy with Weatherby factory loads (140-grain Nosler Accubonds at 3,320 feet per second) far surpasses that. In fact, the average was just about an inch, and my best group was about .85-inches.
ONE DURABLE GUN With my rifle in tow, I headed to Idaho for the fall black bear season and booked a hunt with Andy and Karen Savage at Heaven’s Gate Outfitters. Heaven’s Gate leases 1,200 square miles of remote and beautiful country high in Idaho’s Seven Devils Mountains, and much of that country is prime bear habitat. It is also one of the few areas where you can take bears by three different methods (bait, spot-and-stalk, and hounds), which presents a unique problem; you may get your bear by following a pack of hounds into the high country or you may need to take a 250-yard shot across an open canyon. That type of disparity requires a versatile rifle, one that is light enough to allow for hours of climbing, yet has the accuracy and power to make a long shot and anchor a bruin. In addition, the rifle is going to take a beating. You can’t sub-
ject a gun to hours of climbing in that terrain and not expect it to meet with a bunch of bumps and bangs. I must commend the durability of the Mark V. On several occasions I looked at the barrel and the action with some hesitation, certain that the last elderberry bush was the one that scratched the bluing or loosened the scope. Unbelievably, the gun’s finish took the beating without a blemish. That impressed me, for the Mark V was bounced and thumped in, over, and across some pretty rough stuff, yet the non-glare finish withstood the pounding. Additionally, the Talley mounts held the Leupold scope in place firmly. In fact, the rifle came out at the end of the hunt looking just as it had when it started. It is a durable gun. The moment of truth came when a chocolate-colored bear stepped out of a choke cherry thicket 200 yards away. My guides Nick Gaddis and Wes Tillberg gave me the go-ahead and I shot. The bear dropped, rose, and ran into thick cover, where Nick and I found and finished him. The issue with the first shot had not been the fault of the rifle; I simply missed the point of the shoulder, but the bullet did ample damage to slow the bear and we managed to finish it in one of the roughest, steepest canyons I’ve ever climbed through, the poor Weatherby getting knocked and scraped the whole way. Is the Mark V worth the extra money? That decision is up to you, but understand that this isn’t an aged rifle that’s resting on its storied name. The Mark V is built to an exacting standard, and it will last for years and years. There are cheaper alternatives, but there is only one Mark V. GW
Cabela’s Zonz Camo matches the western landscape, and their lightweight hunting clothing will keep you cool even on the hottest days. If you’re planning an earlyseason Western hunt this is an excellent clothing option.
CABELA’S NEW CAMO Cabela’s has introduced a variety of new clothing options that will keep you comfortable and get you closer to game (see photo on page 44). The new Zonz camos offer three distinct patterns for both eastern and western hunting. For my bear hunt, I chose their lightweight hunting shirt and pants in Zonz Western Sage Brush, and it matched perfectly. This was an early-season hunt in September, and the temperatures in the canyons hovered in the mid-90s during the day. After my Idaho trip, I used this same clothing in Texas where temperatures where similar and was comfortable as well. This is a great addition for any hunter who hunts in hot weather, and with a variety of different Zonz camos the game will never see you coming. For more information visit www.cabelas.com 44
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Search. Find. Buy. PX4 Storm Sub-Compact
BP9CC Item #: BP9MCC Caliber: 9MM Sights: Fixed
Capacity: 8+1 BBL: 3.3”
Item #: JXS9F21 Caliber: 9MM Sights: Fixed 3-Dot
t .BUUF #MBDL 'JOJTI t %PVCMF "DUJPO 0OMZ t 4USJLFS 'JSFE t 1PMZHPOBM 3JøJOH
Tanfoglio Witness P Full Size Frame Item #: 999044 Capacity: 16+1 Caliber: 9MM BBL: 3.6” Sights: Low Profile Windage
Capacity: 10+1 BBL: 3.58”
t #SVOJUPO 'JOJTI .BUUF #MBDL
t %PVCMF "DUJPO t 1JDBUJOOZ "DDFTTPSZ 3BJM t *OUFSDIBOHFBCMF #BDLTUSBQT
Capacity: 10+1 BBL: 3.43”
t .BUUF #MBDL 'JOJTI t 4BGF "DUJPO t 1PMZNFS 'SBNF XJUI 'JOHFS (SPPWFT t .BEF JO 64"
26 t #MVF 'JOJTI t %PVCMF "DUJPO t 6TFT .BHB[JOF GPS 8JUOFTT $MBTTJDT .BOVGBDUVSFE 1SJPS UP
USP Compact Variant 1 Item #: 709031-A5 Caliber: 9MM Sights: Fixed 3-Dot
Capacity: 13+1 BBL: 3”
Item #: UI-26502-01 Caliber: 9MM Sights: Fixed
CM9 t #MBDL 'JOJTI t %PVCMF "DUJPO 0OMZ t 0WFSTJ[FE 5SJHHFS (VBSE t &YUFOEFE 4MJEF 3FMFBTF
Item #: CM9093 Capacity: 6+1 Caliber: 9MM BBL: 3.1” Sights: Drift Adjustable White Bar-Dot Combat
LC9-GL
M&P Military & Police
with Viridian Green Laser & Holster
Compact with Thumb Safety
Item #: 3226 Capacity: 7+1 Caliber: 9MM BBL: 3.12” Sights: Fixed 3-Dot/Viridian Green Laser
t #MVF 'JOJTI t %PVCMF "DUJPO 0OMZ t .BHB[JOF %JTDPOOFDU t -BTFS XJUI )PMTUFS 5IBU "DUJWBUFT -BTFS 8IFO %SBXO
Capacity: 10+1 BBL: 3.1”
Capacity: 12+1 BBL: 3.5”
t .BUUF #MBDL 4UBJOMFTT 4UFFM 4MJEF t %PVCMF "DUJPO 0OMZ t "NCJEFYUSPVT 4MJEF 3FMFBTF t 3FWFSTJCMF .BHB[JOF $BUDI
X-Treme Duty Sub Compact w/XD Gear System
CPX-2-TT Item #: CPX-2-TT Caliber: 9MM Sights: Fixed 3-Dot
Item #: 206304 Caliber: 9MM Sights: Fixed 3-Dot
t .BUUF 4UBJOMFTT 4UFFM 'JOJTI t %PVCMF "DUJPO 0OMZ t $VSWFE BOE 5FYUVSFE #BDLTUSBQ t 5FYUVSFE 'SPOUTUSBQ
t 4BUJO 4UBJOMFTT 4UFFM 'JOJTI t %PVCMF "DUJPO 0OMZ t 4USJLFS 'JSFE
Item #: XD9801HCSP06 Caliber: 9MM Sights: Fixed Dovetail
Capacity: 13+1,16+1 BBL: 3.1”
t .BUUF #MBDL 'JOJTI t %PVCMF "DUJPO 0OMZ
t (FBS 4ZTUFN JODMVEFT )PMTUFS %PVCMF .BHB[JOF 1PVDI BOE .BHB[JOF -PBEFS
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GUNSMITHING
TECHNICAL
TEST DRIVE 2
A well stocked and organized workbench helps you start every job with confidence. Note the Brownells catalog on the lower shelf…another essential tool.
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Initial Disassembly and Inspection (Field Stripping) of an M1911A1 (Part II) Story & Photos by Steve Sieberts
y previous column covered the initial inspection and function testing of a new or used 1911A1 pistol. This month, we’ll cover basic and detailed disassembly and inspection.
M
Some of the disassembly steps outlined in this entry may or may not exactly match your pistol, depending on things like what type of recoil spring it has, etc. For our purposes here, I’m going to assume that you have a basic 5inch Government Model in .45 ACP. There is a couple of ways to field strip this pistol, and as always, having the right tool for the job is critical. A nylon or steel bushing wrench is essential for a pistol that has a fitted Match barrel bushing, but the pistol can be disassembled without one if you have a pistol with a loose or factory barrel bushing. I have several bushing wrenches that suit a par-
ticular barrel/bushing configuration, and most pistolsmiths will have more than one if they work on the pistol for any length of time. Starting with an unloaded pistol, and assuming that you have a standard-issue model without a fitted bushing, retract the slide rearward so that the slide release lines up with the disassembly notch on the slide. Push out the slide release from the left to the right. Once it pops up, remove the slide release, keeping control of the pistol. Let the slide go forward with the right hand, while controlling the recoil spring as the slide comes off the frame.
Stock 1911A1 with a nylon bushing wrench, mainspring housing disassembly tool, and a screwdriver with replaceable bits are some of the basic tools needed to disassemble the pistol.
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GUNSMITHING
Retract the slide to the slide stop notch and push out the slide stop from the right side of the gun.
Ease the slide off the frame while trapping the recoil spring with the left hand. Remember, the spring is under great pressure.
Be careful: the spring is under pressure. One of the hazards of working with firearms is that there are many parts under spring pressure, and if that pressure is not controlled, springs will go flying! At best, you will lose a spring and have to get on your hands and knees and do the “gunsmith’s crawl” in order to find it or buy another one. At worst, however, you can damage your eyes, or the eyes of someone else. Always be careful when working around firearms for this reason. Eye protection is mandatory at all times at every gunsmithing school in the country. I’ve had metal embedded in my eyeball on two occasions, and I’ll just say that the doctor will remove it with a hypodermic needle. Not fun! Anyway, once I have the slide off the pistol and have removed the recoil spring and recoil spring guide, rotate the bushing clockwise and then remove the recoil spring plug. Then rotate the bushing counter-clockwise and remove the barrel and bushing from the slide. If you are working on a pistol with a fitted Match barrel and bushing, and are doing repeated assembly and disassembly, always rotate the bushing around the smaller diameter area of the barrel, this will reduce the wear and tear on the bearing surface of the barrel and bushing. In a Match barrel, the last ½-inch of the barrel is .005 larger than the rest of the barrel. This is where the barrel and bushing are tightly fitted for greatest accuracy. I always slide the barrel forward so the muzzle sticks out the end of the bushing, which enables the bushing to be rotated around this smaller area. So now we have the pistol partially disassembled, or “field stripped.” At this point, I can perform a detailed inspection of the external parts of the pistol, prior to detailed disassembly. Looking at the barrel, there are many areas that need inspection, and there are two important questions to consider when inspecting a new or used pistol. First, do the parts have cracks in critical areas? And second, has a previous owner worked the pistol? One of the first areas of the barrel to look at if the pistol has seen any use is cracks. It doesn’t matter if the pistol has only been shot a few rounds; I have seen barrels crack after only 10 to 15 rounds.
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Having the right tool for the job is critical.
Removing the bushing. Rotate clockwise to remove the recoil spring plug, and then rotate counterclockwise until the bushing tab is exposed. Finally, slide the bushing out. I usually inspect a part from front to back and side to side and top to bottom. Look at the muzzle and check for nicks and damage, and look to see if the pistol has been the recipient of a previous job of re-crowning. Especially look for nicks and damage that extends into the rifling. For example, I have re-crowned a Match
The bushing tab exposed. www.gunworld.com
barrel on a lathe with an 11-degree target crown (see lower photo on page 50). The other barrel is factory original. Going back to the top locking lugs, look for rounded edges on the leading edge of the top locking lugs. I have seen where the front corners on these top locking lugs were completely filed away.
Very unsafe! These lugs lock into recesses cut into the corresponding locking lugs in the slide. Also inspect the corners of the barrel hood and look for cracks in the corners of the hood. Another good spot to look for previous repair work is by opening up the barrel ramp. This is probably one of the most botched jobs in all of pistolsmithing. Done correctly, it can ensure that the pistol feeds reliably with almost all types of ammunition. Remember, when the original pistol was developed, the 230-grain round nosed hardball projectile was standard. Since then, there are myriad types of bullet nose configurations. The problem
Slide the barrel out the front of the pistol. FEBRUARY 2014 | GUN WORLD
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The pistol is field stripped.
Side by side comparison: factory barrel throat on the left, Match barrel professionally throated to feed wadcutter ammunition on the right. This is one of the most botched jobs performed on the 1911A1 pistol. It can also make it unsafe if the throating extends too far into the chamber, leaving the back of the cartridge case unsupported. It can cause the case to blow out.
This is pointing to the breakover point, where the angle on the barrel throat and the chamber meet. This edge should be slightly chamfered to help the gun feed better. If you are having feeding malfunctions, this is one area to look. I usually use a Foredom tool with a hard cratex tip. You just want to barely break the edge so that the cartridge eases over the hump. Do NOT touch the chamber walls with any tooling other than a chambering reamer. (I will show how to do this when I get into barrel fitting) For now, it’s just an inspection. 50
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is that many times, people do not have the experience to properly diagnose malfunctions, or might jump to conclusions as to a pistol’s failure to feed or chamber a round, and immediately think that the pistol needs to be throated, where it might be a case of a bad magazine or a burr in the firing pin hole, or the breech face is too tight, or the extractor is not fitted properly, or the bullet is seated out too far, or a hundred other reasons for the pistol malfunctioning. I have seen some truly horrendous jobs, and many times, the barrel cannot be salvaged. Any pistol that has been modified to the point of being unsafe should be fixed immediately. This is where a pistolsmith earns their money. A good one will know what is and what is not a safe modification, and when to replace the part or parts. One thing to look for is whether or not there is a change of angles. If the angle on the barrel throat is changed, it’s usually a case where the barrel is modified in an unsafe manner and is beyond being salvaged and should be replaced.
Eye protection is mandatory at all times at every gunsmithing school in the country. Check the headspace with a headspace gauge. I have one that is a no-go gauge that has a step surface ground into it to make a go/no-go gauge. The bottom locking lugs should also get special scrutiny. These are where the barrel sits on the slide stop when the pistol is in full battery. It is one of the three areas of barrel fit that directly affects the accuracy of the pistol, the other two being the top locking lugs and the barrel bushing/ bushing to slide fit. Look at the rear of these bottom lugs. Look at the slot for the barrel link. That slot is a prime area for cracking. Anytime a part is machined with a sharp corner, it creates what’s called a “stress riser” and www.gunworld.com
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GUNSMITHING is a likely spot to look for anytime pressure or force from repeated impacts takes place. When the pistol is fired and recoils, the barrel is pulled down out of battery by the barrel link, and comes to a stop on the frame bed. Another area to look for on the bottom lugs is if the barrel lugs are crashing into the slide stop pin. This area needs to be cleaned up so that is doesn’t hap-
This is pointing to the lower locking lugs on the barrel. This is a common point where the barrel crashes into the slide stop at the radius of the lugs. This is another area that is modified incorrectly and will usually result in making the barrel unserviceable, and needing to be replaced. (I will show how to fit this properly when I get into barrel fitting.)
This is the area of possible stress risers, where cracking usually occurs.
Look for a .050 gap between the frame ramp and the barrel throat. Many people incorrectly think that this gap is a cause of malfunctions, and then try to remove this gap by modifying the frame, resulting in a ruined frame.
My Go/NoGo Headspace gauge. Measuring against the barrel hood. This is a quick check for headspace. The barrel hood is not a reliable or an actual reference point of measurement, but it serves as a quick check. 52
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Another good spot to look for previous repair work is by opening up the barrel ramp. pen. I’ll cover how to do this in future columns on barrel fitting. The link has to clear the front area of the bottom locking lugs for best functioning. One check I always do is to take the frame, barrel and slide stop and insert the slide stop through the barrel link without the slide. Set the barrel down onto the frame bed as if the barrel was in the unlocked position. There should be a gap between the barrel mouth and the feed ramp on the frame of about 1/16th of an inch. THE TWO ANGLED SURFACES SHOULD NOT MEET! Many people will try to grind away the feed ramp to take away this gap in the mistaken notion that it is causing feeding malfunctions. In reality, if that step is taken away, it will CAUSE malfunctions. Another check is to look down the inside of the barrel. I realize that most home gunsmiths don’t have a borescope, but try to look down the barrel with a strong light and look for sharp rifling. .45 ammunition is pretty low pressure, in the neighborhood of 21,000 psi, where centerfire rifles go around 50-65 psi. So there probably won’t have erosion from extensive shooting like you would see from a high-powered rifle, but the rifling at the tops of the lands should still be sharp. www.gunworld.com
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Look to see if the front sight has been staked in repeatedly. Lastly, make sure the barrel-link pin is staked in with a center punch. You don’t want this pin walking during firing. The bushing gets a quick check to make sure that the locking tab is not damaged. Also ensure that the bushing skirt is not cracked, as can sometimes happen if the bushing has been expanded in an attempt to accurize the pistol. That’s it for now. Next month I’ll take apart the lower half and perform a com-
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A proper inspection always includes looking to see if the pistol has been worked on by other pistolsmiths, and if so, determining the quality of their work. For example, this magazine well has been beveled—a common modification—but it has been done poorly. Notice the beveled angle has two facets, an indication that the mod was performed by hand and very sloppily. plete inspection on those parts. I will also disassemble and inspect the slide, then reassemble the pistol and perform a final function check. In future columns, we will build a custom carry 1911 starting from a box-stock pistol. Stay tuned!
The author would like to thank Antique and Modern Firearms, 2263 Nicholasville Rd., Lexington, Kentucky, for providing the project M1911A1. Find them online at AM-Firearms.com or by phone: (859) 276-1419. GW
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ARMOR-PLATED
WARRIOR Remington’s 887 Nitro Mag Tactical Adds to the Model 870’s Legacy
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The author’s son Gabe firing the 887 with the Carlton Long Range tube in place.
Story & Photos by Jerry Catania
f the “sawed-off” shotgun was a person, it could be a real name-dropper.
I
In the 1800s, John Henry “Doc” Holliday carried a double version with 10-inch barrels on a lanyard under his coat, a method he borrowed from the legendary “Mormon Avenger,” Porter Rockwell. Early in the next decade, it was one of the first weapons the Germans tried to ban in WWI as being “inhumane” (read: really effective). Some soldiers reportedly could shoot thrown German grenades out of the air with their 1897 Winchesters. Still later, as technology marched on, the double eventually gave way to the pump action.
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The Remington 887 Nitro Mag Tactical shotgun, a hardworking and easy-handling successor to the Model 870.
Today, the short-barreled pump shotgun remains one of the most feared weapons around, and is standard issue in the U.S. Military as well as many law enforcement agencies. Remington has been a leader in producing short-barreled shotguns for police, military, and civilians for decades with their flagship Model 870, which is still available in a vast variety of configurations with many options.
Now, Remington is making what they say may be the successor to the 870 legacy, as well as the most reliable and durable shotgun ever built: the 887 Nitro Mag Tactical.
OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS The Remington Model 887 Tactical is a fighting shotgun clad in their proprietary ArmorLokt process, which covers the barrel and receiver in a weather-im-
pervious, rustproof coating that is “as tough as nails.” Underneath, the receiver is crafted of solid steel and the barrel is hammer-forged. Twin steel action bars ensure smooth, positive chambering and ejection. The synthetic stock and forearm are both rugged and ergonomic, with positive, effective, and comfortable checkering molded right in. The 3.5-inch chamber—coupled with the pump action—enables the 887 Tactical to reliably
The right side view of Breaching tube, light rail, and fiber optic front sight.
Top view of Tube, fiber optic sight. Light rail on right and sling swivel stud on the left. 56
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CONTACTS: SHOTGUNS www.Remington.com SIGHTS www.Aimpoint.com/us ORDNANCE www.Winchester.com www.Hornady.com www.Hevishot.com
Side view of Recoil Pad.
The only pump shotgun I ever used that handled as good as the 887 was an 1897 Trench gun.
feed any 12-gauge shell on the market. The 887 Tactical features an 18.5-inch barrel, a two-shot magazine extension (for a 6+1 capacity), built-in (or boltedon) sling swivel studs, a light rail on the right side, four inches from the muzzle, a really handy slide-release button, and a weight of only 6.8 pounds. Recoil is attenuated by the excellent stock design and the Super Cell recoil pad. The barrel is cut and threaded to accept various Rem-choke tubes. This, in itself, is a huge tactical advantage over the usual straight cylinder bore normally found on short-barreled combat shotguns. The 887 comes with Remington’s Ported, Extended Tactical choke tube, sometimes called a “Breaching” tube.
Right side view of the receiver and optics rail.
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Left side view of an Aimpoint Micro H-1 sight with 2 MOA Red dot.
Right side view, showing 12-position Intensity dial.
SPECIFICATIONS REMINGTON NITRO MAG 887 TACTICAL The idea behind it (for Military and Police use) is to have a choke tube for blowing doors off their hinges, with the “teeth” providing a sure grip against slippage, and the ports preventing the blast from damaging the barrel. For civilians, it works well on zombies, too. The barrel also features a raised, solid rib with an interchangeable fiber optic sight. The receiver is drilled and tapped and includes a Picatinny/Weaver rail for mounting red dot sights or low power scopes.
SUBJECTIVE VIEWPOINT I have no affiliation with Remington, Inc., and I’m fairly certain they don’t know I exist. I bought the 887 Tactical for my personal use from Sportsman’s Warehouse on lay-a-way at full retail price, after a long and careful look at what was available and the various prices of the different short-barreled shotguns. What cemented the deal for me was how fast it handled. Most shotguns are too long for me in the butt stock. Most of them (this one included),
OAL: 39-inches WEIGHT: 6.8 pounds BARREL 18.5-inches CAPACITY: Up to 6+1 shells (depending on length) SIGHTS: Fiber Optic Front Bead on Solid Rib; Optics rail functions as extra wide open sight CALIBER: 12 GA., 2.75-, 3- and 3.5-inch shells OTHER FEATURES: Barrel threaded for Standard Rem Choke tubes, Super Cell Recoil Pad, Sling Swivels, Light and Optics rails,|ArmorLokt exterior surfaces. MSRP: $524
The Remington Model 887 Tactical is a fighting shotgun clad in their proprietary ArmorLokt process… www.gunworld.com
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Top view of Picatinny/Weaver Optics rail
With the right load (Hevi-Shot Dead Coyote®) and tube, the 887 can reach way out there.
THE MODEL 870 Long considered a classic, the Remington Model 870 pump action shotgun first burst on the shooting scene in 1950. In the decades since, it has earned scores of converts from all over the world. If you’re interested in the history of this fine family of smoothbores, check out the Gun Digest Book of the Remington 870 by Nick Hahn. Published in 2012, this hardcover volume is chock-full of facts, photographs and reproductions of everything 870, from old advertisements to internal company memos.
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The Remington 870, by Nick Hahn is available from our friends at Gun Digest Books via www.gundigeststore.com.
supposedly have a 14-inch length-ofpull. The 887 length-of-pull felt much shorter than the other shotguns. In addition, the recoil pad was superb. It was very soft, yet had a kind of hard coating. The result was a non-stick pad (no tangling in my T-shirt) that provided superfast mounting as well as superior recoil reduction when fired. The semi-pistol grip was near perfect for one hand, while the fore-end was not too far away for the other. The 887 Tactical balanced (empty) right at the barrel/receiver junction and when quickly mounted, the fiber optic sight was resting right on the solid rib. In addition, the Picatinny rail provided kind of a wide open rear sight, which is useful for shooting stationary targets, whether use shot or slugs. Loading the magazine was easy, and the balance was not adversely affected. In fact, it sort of felt like an over/under shotgun, and could easily do double-duty as a quail gun. The slide-release button was nicely located in front of the trigger guard. The only pump shotgun I ever used that handled as good as the 887 was an 1897 trench gun. That one, however, had a steel butt plate and was chambered only for 2.75-inch shells, and the new 887 is a clear upgrade on both counts. There are so many 12-gauge loads on the market that you can pretty much find anything to suit your desires, and the 887 Tactical can handle them all. Functioning was perfect with a variety of loads, and the Tactical tube performed as good as a straight Cylinder with most loads. It did not like the Hornady “Zombie” load, however, although all my other shotguns do. Other Rem-Choke tubes can be purchased to give you a short-barreled hunting or tactical edge for your needs,
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In the author’s humble opinion, the best home defense load is the standard 2.75-inch Winchester #4 Buck Shot load. This one fired at 35 feet with the Breaching tube. The big hole is from the plastic shot cup. and I fired a couple of Hevi-Shot “Dead Coyote” out to 50 yards with good results. While police and military use their own standard loads, civilians have to select their own. My opinion? The two most useful loads for home or camp defense are 00 Buckshot (reduced recoil are best) for big houses or campsite defense, and #4 Buck shot for small homes or apartments. Outdoors, 00 Buck works for lions, and slugs can be added for bear country if desired. #4 Buck also works great on big varmints
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The fiber optic sight was easy to see, and really stood out under virtually all light conditions… like coyotes. The Breacher tube works best indoors, while a modified or tighter choke tube is just the ticket for the great outdoors. The fiber optic sight was easy to see, and really stood out under virtually all light conditions, but if that’s not enough, you can easily mount a Red dot for more precision. I like the Aimpoint Micro H-1 with 2 MOA dot. It’s built to military specs, comes with its own mount, weighs only three ounces, has 12 intensity levels, is by far the brightest red dot sight on the market (even at noon in the Arizona sun), and if left on, the battery will last for five years! Nothing else comes close. So there you have it…my choice for an ideal CQC or personal defense shotgun that can be used for hunting, and its indestructibility makes it ideal for an “End-of-the-Age” survival gun as well. Try one soon at a dealer. Chances are you’ll buy it too. GW www.gunworld.com
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TODAY’S HUNTER
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EARLY SEASON
WALLAPOLOOZA In Warm Weather or Cold, A Goose Hunt Can be Good for What Ails You Story & Photos by Thomas C. Tabor
John Englert’s homemade blind blended in extremely well with the natural grasses of the fencerow bordering the corn stubble field. With the beautiful Bitterroot range in the background, the author anxiously awaits the first flocks of the morning. www.gunworld.com
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TODAY’S HUNTER unters seem to appreciate the coming of winter a little more than other folks.
H
For the avid hunter, there is no greater pleasure than to experience the burning sensation of an arctic blast of cold air while they anxiously await their game and the possibility of a shot. Waterfowlers also fall into this category, believing that cold and nasty weather is often synonymous with good times and shooting excitement. But in many areas of the country, duck and goose season doesn’t necessarily wait for the nasty cold to arrive, and that is the way it usually is in the American west. In fact, the opening of waterfowl season frequently begins weeks before the mercury has had a chance to plummet, and I always find it hard to sit idly by waiting for that change to arrive.
AN IRRESISTABLE PROPOSAL My hunting buddy, John Englert— who views duck and goose hunting as
an intravenous transfusion necessary for his survival— contacted me recently with a proposal I found extremely hard to resist. Even though we were only a couple of weeks into the Montana season, meaning that the warm weather was keeping the migrants fat and happy in the lands to the north, we were both looking forward to a day afield whether we would get any shooting in or not. But John had been watching one of his favorite goose hunting corn stubble haunts and, having found plenty of local geese moving in the area, he suggested that we give it a try. I dug my Remington Model 870 pump 3-inch 12-gauge out my of gun safe, where it had taken up residency in a far corner since the close of the last duck and goose season, and rummaged through my stash of shotgun shells. I quickly picked out a couple of boxes of my favorite Federal Premium Black Cloud FS Steel Shells loaded with 11⁄4 of ounces of BBs. Bringing down a big Canada (which in some cases can tip the scales upwards of 20 pounds) takes a lot
of firepower, and I knew that the Federal Black Cloud rounds—exiting the muzzle at an impressive 1,450 fps—would be up to the challenge.
PERMANENT REST STOP The valley between the Sapphire and Bitterroot Ranges acts as a magnet for drawing migrating ducks and geese as they seek a place to rest and feed on their long journey south. The rich valley farm ground, once marketed by unscrupulous real estate agents as being world class for growing apples, now features crops like corn, wheat and alfalfa, each much more favorable to growing fat honkers and other robust waterfowl. But like so many other areas of the country, there are also a substantial number of year-round resident geese that refuse to take part in the annual migration. While these local birds frequently get a bit of pounding from local hunters early on, these geese can sometimes still provide some excellent shooting opportunities when approached properly. Our goal was to make the valley a per-
In the early season, local birds sometimes are subjected to quite a bit of gunfire. This exposure can make them weary and more cautious than usual. Large decoy spreads are a real advantage when attempting to coax these shy birds close enough for a shot. 66
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The author’s black matt finished Remington Model 870 is a durable weather resistant shotgun that can withstand the sometimes abusive conditions of waterfowl hunting and did an excellent job on the wallapalooza Montana geese.
manent rest stop for as many geese as our limits would allow. John is well acquainted with the landowner of the property we intended to hunt. The corn crop had been harvested a few weeks prior, leaving in its wake the typical short stubble that would eventually be turned under in anticipation of its next seeding. The field certainly looked to me to have great shooting possibilities, but as any waterfowler knows, geese don’t always look at things the same way that a hunter does.
sisted of a partial roll of chicken wire interwoven with dry grass. When used in conjunction of the wild grasses of the fencerow it blended in perfectly and set the scene for a great goose ambush.
PATIENCE PAYS OFF Frequently I’ve found the best waterfowl shooting takes place at the first hints of daylight, and we had arrived well before that magic time of day. John cautioned me not become discouraged too quickly. He had hunted this area
and wondering if it was a safe area or possibly a well-laid trap. The geese were initially a bit shy, possibly as a result of having a few steel balls bounced off their
A BASIC BLIND An easy to construct portable waterfowl blind, like the one we used, can be constructed from a partial roll of 4-foot chicken mess wire. By fastening some sort of a pole or metal bar on each end of
Duck and goose season doesn’t necessarily wait for the nasty cold to arrive…
the wire it allows it to be secured in place. Then weaving and tying some dry natural grasses through the mess it makes a very portable, lightweight camouflage barrier that can be used in conjunction with the natural surroundings
We were sure that the mild weather and the attention that the birds had already received from local hunters would be working against us, but John brought along an elaborate and impressive number of decoys to help compensate for that. Those included a substantial supply of silhouettes, shells, a few full-bodies and—to better attract the really sharpeyed birds—he even mixed in some fake corncobs. John had also brought along his homemade blind, which simply conwww.gunworld.com
many times before and had developed a very good understanding of the geese’s normal patterns of flight. So, after getting the decoys placed and our makeshift blind erected, we settled in for a bit of a wait. Just as John had predicted, the flights were slow in arriving. But shortly after 9 a.m. we began hearing the distant sounds of honking, and the birds started to fill the sky. Soon, a few flocks began to turn their heads downward, eyeballing our deeks
found in your hunting area. In our case we placed the blind in the fence row in order to take advantage of the uncut grasses that had grown up there, but we also frequently add a bit of the local vegetation for even a greater camo affect. For transporting the blind it can easily be rolled up and fastened with a couple of pieces of string or wire. FEBRUARY 2014 | GUN WORLD
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TODAY’S HUNTER Canada geese can sometimes weigh upwards of 20 pounds and they can pose a real challenge for hunters.
bellies over the preceding weeks. However, a few began circling our spread and showing signs of a commitment, and for those it only took a little calling to entice them in. As wingtips were dropped and the geese began their sideways shuffle descending into our spread, our gunfire erupted, and birds began hitting the hard ground of the cornfield. And as the sun reached higher into the sky, the action only intensified, eventually culminating in a wallapalooza of a goose-hunting day that neither of us will soon forget. As we each began approaching our four Canada goose limit—now made up of all large bodied honkers—we spotted a high flying flock of snows obviously intent on reaching the warm climate of the south as quickly as possible. John saw that as an opportunity to relate to me the day when he took one
and before long they were overhead and showing a limited amount of interest in our decoys. Like our previous visitors, they were reluctant to commit at first, but after circling overhead several times their wingtips finally began to drop and they started to drop into our spread. The shooting action was over within a matter of seconds, leaving behind two of the beautiful white birds for John and
DECOY DETAIL When placing your goose decoys, or even your duck decoys, it is important to think in terms of how the birds see and will react to your spread. Like people looking for a parking place at their local shopping mall, they analyze the available spaces then select one that is both convenient and large enough to get in and out of easily. Birds are no different.
Our goal was to make the valley a permanent rest stop for as many geese as our limits would allow.
They fly over, examine where the best place is to set down may be, and then begin their descent. All too many inexperienced waterfowl hunters simply spread their decoys out directly in front of their blind, essentially forming a barrier dis-
of these beautiful snow-white birds on a Montana outing. Unlike many areas of the country where snows are quite plentiful, even to a point of being considered inferior to the Canada geese, in Montana they are often looked upon as a trophy worthy of bragging about. It was obvious that single event in John’s waterfowling career was one of his most memorable for him. Delighted at the thought of possibly repeating that accomplishment, we both wished we’d had the foresight to put out a few snow goose decoys, but knew it was too late to try. Then, to our surprise, the unimaginable started to unfold. A smaller flock of a couple dozen snows started to look us over, 68
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one for me. That was the first snow I’d ever shot, and it was only the second Montana snow for John. The jubilation that followed as those birds hit the ground was as if we had just won the lottery. We soon filled our Canada goose limit with a couple more birds, and began picking up the decoys and breaking down the blind. Ironically, even while we worked in the open, the geese continued to fly around, acting like they still wanted to drop into what remained of our spread. Apparently they had put their earlier shyness aside. It certainly would have been nice to shoot more, but laws are laws. After getting our gear picked up and
couraging the birds from landing there. No matter what layout I choose to use— whether it is a type of “J” formation with the bottom part of the letter falling well within the firing range, or in clusters—in every case I always leave an obvious open area directly in front of the blind, well in range and where I prefer to birds to land. packed, we headed into town for a late breakfast, and, perhaps more importantly, an opportunity to share the stories of our wallapalooza goose hunt with those buddies that weren’t fortunate enough to have been along. GW www.gunworld.com
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RANGE
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www.gunworld.com
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REMINDER Don’t Forget: 10 Must-Have Accessories for Your Next Trip to the Range
Story & Photos by John N. Raguso
et me come clean here. “Educated” outdoor writers are like everyone else...especially when it comes to packing up for a range trip with your favorite rifle, carbine, shotgun or hand cannon.
L
The author zeroes in on his local range, surrounded by several of the items on his “musthave” list. Here, he utilizes a Caldwell basic front rifle rest, which has a malleable shape and is just the right height to help him hold steady shot strings on a range bench.
www.gunworld.com
Family, emails, text messages, cell phones, telemarketers, incessant babble and background noise from the media all collaborate to distract us from complete focus when preparing to throw a few (hundred) rounds down range. Invariably, something gets left behind. Sometimes it’s a simple oversight, like leaving one of your weapons at home. Other times it can be more critical, like forgetting eye and ear protection, magazines, ammo, targets, or water and sunscreen on a hot day. You’ve been there. I’ve been there. Heck, even the Boys Scouts have been there, so we all can use a better system to help us “be prepared!” In the following pages, I’ve painfully recounted decades of uttering “oops,” “duh,” and “#*&!!,” in an effort to give you a working checklist of critical accessories that you simply “must have” (and must remember) for your next range trip. Some of these may make you say, “duh,” but if I can give you at least one new idea, my work here is done. Let my pain be your gain. Here’s my hard-earned list, in no particular order.
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Your range bag should include basic eye, ear and hand protection like the UnderArmor and Mechanix gloves, Peltor Ear Muffs and enhanced visibility range safety glasses shown here.
1
PROTECTION
“R
ange Protection” comes in two basic formats, and I’m not talking about having a few buddies whose names end in vowels (like mine) or an armed posse tag along on your next trip. The first of these is for the eyes, ears and hands, and comes in the form of eyewear, sound attenuating earplugs or muffs (both foam and electronic) and gloves. These are absolutely mandatory for your safety and cannot be ignored. I keep extras of these in my vehicle at all times and not having them or taking them off at the wrong moment when at the range (wait for the cease fire!) can really ruin your day. Gloves are the least critical of this trio, but can keep your hands and fingers from getting beat up and burned from hot brass, slamming bolts, sharp extractor claws, etc., plus they’ll keep you warm when it’s cold outside. I use the same gloves for shooting that I do for cranking in a 200-pound mako or a big tuna on my offshore charters, so they
perform double duty for me year-round. Some of the best (and least expensive) gloves that will last for years are the Mechanix FastFit synthetic gloves that you can get at Home Depot, WalMart and Lowes for less than $15. I purchased my last pair three years ago, have washed them dozens of times in saltwater or laundry soap to get out tuna blood, gun grease or powder residue and they are still going strong…and they are thin enough to allow you to pick up a penny! The other form of protection is more subtle, but no less important. It includes a hat to keep the sun off your face, sunglasses to reduce squinting and improve your sighting vision, sunscreen to shield you from the potentially harmful rays of the sun, and hydration that can be a lifesaver in the middle of a hot summer weekend. I can distinctly recall a trip to the Calverton Range located on the east end of Long Island, earlier this year in mid-July when it was 90-degrees at 9 a.m. and over 105-degrees at noontime…it was totally brutal out there and I had to abandon the place in the middle of a Mossberg shotgun field test at 12:30 p.m. when my heart started racing and I was losing focus…and that was after I had consumed four ½-liter bottles of water, so be advised that radical environments like extreme hot or cold will take their toll.
2
SHOOTING REST
H
This Harris bi-pod comes in handy if you want to avoid using range sandbags, which can eventually jam up the action of your rifle or carbine. 72
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ave you ever put your rifle, carbine or shotgun on a dirty range sandbag for a more stable sight picture and later found a crunchy residue worked into your action, barrel, trigger group or sundry other sacrosanct places not meant for abrasives? I was as guilty as anyone of this sin, but no longer. Nowadays I always throw a lightweight Harris 6- to 9-inch adjustable bi-pod into my gear bag, along with a malleable Caldwell “bean bag” rifle/handgun rest. These affordable accessory items ($70 for the bi-pod and $17 for the beadfilled canvas forearm rest) improve the consistency of my shot strings, and help keep the sand out of my weapons. www.gunworld.com
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3
CLEANING KIT & LUBE
A
basic cleaning kit and a bottle of gun lube is something that gets used EVERY trip to the range, either to clean up one of my weapons or a neighbor’s. The cleaning kit doesn’t need to be fancy, and there are many priced under $20 from all the major players (such as Otis, Winchester, Outers, Hoppes, etc.). Just be sure the kit includes brushes, jags, an assortment patches, plus a multi-piece cleaning rod that will fit in the barrel of ALL of your weapons, not just to swab the bore after a rapid string, but to also be able to pop an empty cartridge case that might be stuck in the chamber. Many a fun day at the range has been terminated with extreme prejudice, by a stuck case that has to be extricated with tools sitting at home or in your garage. Bring a capable cleaning kit with you and at least keep it in the car. My choices of lube include CLP/Breakfree, Rem Oil, Birchwood Casey Synthetic Oil and Mobil 1, all of which will work in a pinch when your fave weapons system is getting a snooty attitude from grit and powder residue. It’s absolutely amazing
4
This Winchester Travel Cleaning Kit (less than $20) has all the basic components to clean and lube your barrel, action and bolt, in addition to popping out a stuck cartridge case in a pinch. what a few well-placed drops of CLP or synthetic oil will do when inserted into the gas ports of an AR-15 or AR-10 bolt carrier…it will keep it running like a champ, even after hundreds of rounds of dirty Russian ammo.
BASIC TOOL KIT
Y
ou don’t need to lug along a 126-piece Craftsman tool kit on your next range trip to handle the usual maintenance chores and unexpected emergencies. In fact, as little as four simple tools can probably handle 90 percent of your needs. Those four are: • 4-in-1 screwdriver, with removable small/large Phillips and slot head inserts • 6-inch adjustable wrench • An Allen wrench tool with multiple keys, and… • Leatherman, Gerber, Stanley, or whatever stainless steel multi-tool with built-in pliers. You can definitely add to this short list, but start off with these and take it from there.
Four simple tools, like a 4-in-1 screwdriver, a stainless multi-tool, an Allen key set and a Torx set will handle the majority of your needs when heading out to the range.
5
STAPLER, STAPLES & PINS
I
t’s a desolate feeling to realize that your range trip might be cut short when your staple gun starts shooting blanks while hanging your first target. It’s happened to me more than once, and I finally got wise. I’m done sifting in the sand pits on my knees under downrange targets during a cease-fire to scrounge for precious pushpins to keep my targets on the board. I now carry a relatively new chrome-plated stapler ($10 at Home Depot), two spare boxes of staples, plus a container of pushpins just in case.
A simple $10 staple gun like this lightweight Arrow and some plain vanilla push-pins are just the ticket for pinning your targets to the usual range backboards. www.gunworld.com
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6
EXTRA AMMO & MAGAZINES
T
o avoid disappointment after you’ve driven to the range and paid the entrance fee—only to realize that you will be shooting invisible bullets single-shot in your auto loading rifle, carbine or handgun—be sure to pack all of the magazines and ammo that you will need. And be sure that it’s the right caliber (Glock and other manufacturers’ mags can look very similar, and it’s easy to mix up a 9mm and 40 S&W mag…I’ve done it more than once) for the weapons that you brought to the party. Also, in these days of government intervention on our 2A rights, determine that your magazines meet all legal standards of the moment BEFORE they leave the privacy of your house, lest some plain clothes agents of the law infiltrate the range grounds and The following are some useful websites are looking to that will allow you to shop online for cause problems.
CONTACTS
many of the range accessory items detailed, discussed or depicted here:
Be sure to pack a variety of ammo and mags for your various weapons as part of your mandatory range kit. I recommend taking a good supply of ammo with different types of bullet styles and projectile weights for each caliber that you will be shooting, just in case your baby has hiccups with an unproven brand that you might have lugged along in your range bag.
MIDWAY USA www.midwayusa.com AIM SURPLUS www.aimsurplus.com BASS PRO SHOPS www.basspro.com CABELA’S www.cabelas.com GANDER MOUNTAIN www.gandermountain.com CHEAPER THAN DIRT www.cheaperthandirt.com
Flip-top ammo boxes are a handy and inexpensive solution for storing remnant rounds for your next range trip.
WILEY X IMPACT-RESISTANT SUNGLASSES www.wileyx.com NEVCO STEEL TARGET STANDS www.nevcotargets.com BULLDOG GUN CASES www.bulldogcases.net PELICAN HARD CASES FOR RIFLE & PISTOL www.pelican-case.com SPOTTING & RIFLE SCOPES www.opticsplanet.com BURRIS SCOPES www.burrisoptics.com NIKON SCOPES www.nikonsportoptics.com 74
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7 I
SPARE AMMO BOXES
t’s always a great idea to take along a few flip-top plastic ammo boxes in different calibers when heading to your favorite shooting emporium. With all of the starts and stops at an active range— especially when you are initially sighting in your optics—it’s often challenging to shoot a full box of 20 rifle rounds or 50 pistol rounds in one relay. You’re likely to have a few left over cartridges of one type or another at day’s end. Enter the very portable, convenient and secure plastic ammo box to solve the problem. I prefer the see-through types, since it’s easy to identify the contents inside without opening up the box. The snap
lids on these affordable ($2 to $4) and reusable plastic containers also offer a bit of extra security compared to the usual ammo boxes, so you’re less likely to drop the contents in the sand, which can really muck up your weapon’s action. For pistol shooters, I’ve found that the 45ACP box will handle 45, 40 S&W and 9mm with equal efficiency, so you only need to bring one and you can sort them out back home. Since I’m also a big .223/ 5.56mm and .308Win fan, I’ll throw an empty flip-top box for each of these calibers into my bag before heading to the range, and both of these will handle other calibers of similar length in a pinch. www.gunworld.com
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8
TARGETS AND TARGET STANDS
D
epending on which outdoor local range you call home, you need to know which ones offer excellent backboards to pin your targets to, and which ones don’t. Having made the 90-mile round trip to my “fave” east end range more than once and having been burned with a less-than-stellar target board, I now bring my own stands on every trip to go bang-bang. The best portable stands that I’ve found for my hardearned money are those manufactured by Nevco (www.nevcotargets.com). I use both their Mega Target Stand ($50), a 25-pound bruiser that employs standard stud lumber 2x4s, and their more portable and relatively lightweight Drive-In Target Stand ($40) that accepts furring strips. I’ll just staple a piece of cardboard or oak tag to the wooded studs, put on adhesive targets and I’m ready to rock. And speaking of adhesive targets, I always pack a variety of those manufactured by Champion or Birchwood Casey in my range bag. What good is remembering to bring everything else if you forget your targets? I prefer hi-vis targets (easier to see in all light conditions)
This variety of Champion targets offer high visibility and the ability to stick onto most background surfaces. positioned on a white background (like oak tag stock), which makes hits and misses easier to see with your spotting scope, thus conserving costly ammo. Have you ever tried to pick out 5.56mm or 5.45mm hits on an all-black NRA target center from 200 or 300 yards away? It’s almost impossible, even with 45X optics.
It’s always a good bet to bring your own target stands on your range trips, like the Nevco Mega Target stand (left) and the Drive In Target Stands (center & right).
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FEBRUARY 2014 | GUN WORLD
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9
RANGE BAG & GUN CASES
W
ith so much gear to carry, where do you put it all? Simple answer…in a dedicated range bag that makes transport easy…just don’t leave it at home! Range bags can come in all shapes and sizes, from a simple carryall canvas bag, to one with dozens of different compartments. The key is to get one that works for you and grows with your needs. It doesn’t have to be huge, but needs to carry all of the essentials already mentioned here in a neat and organized fashion. Prices can range from $20 to $100, depending on what floats your boat. And speaking of carrying, if I had a Gun cases come in many different forms. The common bond they all share is discreet transport in addition to protecting your rifle, shotgun or handgun from bumps and bruises. nickel for every time I spotted a firearm enthusiast taking a weapon out of a cardboard box, brown bag or some other nondescript container at the range…well, you get my drift. Get bine cases ($20-to-$30) are made by Bulldog (www.bulldoga carry case for it, so you can transport it discreetly and safely cases.net), Allen and others, but you can also go down the and not freak out your neighbors when loading it in and out of hard plastic case route with Rock River, Plano, Pelican, etc. Botyour vehicle! Weapons cases can come in conspicuous and intom line, whichever type you prefer, get one for each of your conspicuous forms, depending on your needs. weapons and keep them safe and secure during transport (and Some of my fave economical cushioned canvas rifle and carlocked up in a gun safe in between range trips).
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SPOTTING SCOPES & OPTICS
N
ot having my spotting scope in my kit has ruined more range trips for me than any other reason. What good is wasting ammo on targets that are 100 to 200 yards downrange, if you can’t see where you are hitting the paper? To prevent total meltdowns, I will usually keep a set of 10x50 marine binoculars in my vehicle at all times as a backup plan (they can also come in handy for observing many other things), which will work in a pinch on 25-, 50- and 100-yard target ranges if I leave my spotting scope at home. For longer-range duty, I employ a relatively affordable (about $230) Burris Landmark 15-45x 60mm spotting scope that does the job for me out to 300 yards and is easy to transport in its dedicated hard-shell travel case. You can procure spotting scopes for less and you can also pay a The Burris Landmark 15-45X60 spotting scope kit includes a hard carry case to protect lot more for superfine quality optics, it just depends on your needs, budget and what your eye- your investment when in transit, in addition to a 2-piece tripod mount. sight can handle. Weapon optics is another topic that I can literally write a book about. If you are going to sight in a new scope, be sure to Hopefully I’ve given you a few new ideas to consider when bring everything you will need to take care of business, includsetting up your next range trip, or at least provided a big reing scope bases, scope rings, adjustment tools, a DOPE book minder of what not to forget. Remember: above everything to take notes and be sure to bring one of those aforemenelse, be safe out there, and please continue to support our 2A tioned spotting scopes to make it happen. rights. GW 76
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CONCEALED CARRY Charter Arms’ Pit Bull in .40 S&W is a well-built revolver that carries five rounds and delivers them with a punch.
NOT AUTOMATIC
Millions of Armed Citizens Still Carry Revolvers, which Remain Effective for Home and Personal Defense Story & Photos by Dave Workman
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R
evolvers revolutionized armed self-defense.
Even today, they are formidable defensive tools in the hands of people who may not feel comfortable with—or have the muscle skills to use—a semi-auto. From the days when Texas Rangers armed with Walker Colts surprised outlaws and marauding Comanches with firepower and right up to the present day, revolvers remain dependable sidearms in all kinds of scrapes. Occasionally, I carry a wheelgun rather than a semi-auto, especially for defensive purposes in the backcountry. All one needs to make a revolver function is loose ammunition, while someone who loses a magazine for his or her semi-auto suddenly has a single-shot pistol that is not easy to reload. This past hunting season, I left my Colt Commander at home and carried either a vintage Smith & Wesson Model 19 with a 2 ½-inch barrel in a DeSantis holster, or a Ruger Blackhawk in .41 Mag-
num on a cartridge belt. Would I use the latter for self-defense? Damn straight, especially if it is the only gun I had at the time I needed a gun, and the .41 Magnum is a proven fight-stopper against man and beast. Where I hunt in Washington State, there are things with teeth that tend to view me as either food or competition. On the street, millions of Americans feel entirely comfortable with a five- or
rify some thugs, and give the rest an opportunity to seriously re-think their choice of occupation. I’ve also had the opportunity to test revolvers chambered for rimless cartridges, particularly the 9mm and .40 S&W. Those guns were impressive, though the cartridges do suffer some in the performance department because they’re used in a wheelgun where they lose a bit of energy and velocity due to
Millions of Americans feel entirely comfortable with a five- or six-round revolver. six-round revolver. Chambered in .38 Special, .357 Magnum or something larger, these handguns will definitely get someone’s attention in close quarters. The muzzle flash alone is enough to ter-
barrel length and the gap between the cylinder and forcing cone. While the modern double-action revolver is definitely my first choice for a defensive chore if the revolver is what I
Workman uses HKS speed loaders and recommends carrying them whenever packing a revolver as a defensive handgun. www.gunworld.com
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CONCEALED CARRY
Practice with speed loaders, because it takes familiarity with the exercise to do it quickly.
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If you don’t have speed loaders, at least carry spare ammunition like Workman does on this belt slide cartridge carrier attached to the strap of his vintage Safariland holster.
must carry, I know guys who are quite content with single-action .44s and .45s. It stunned me once to be sitting with a pal—a retired Midwest police officer, mind you—who revealed that his carry gun at the time was a .45 Colt single action with a short barrel. Naturally, having seen this guy shoot, it never occurred to me that he might be at a serious disadvantage in a gun battle. It was one of those moments where I looked at his piece, acknowledged with a “hmm,� and asked him to pass the salt and pepper. Now before some mall ninja sneers down the .45 Colt or the .44 Special, let me point out that the ballistics of these two rounds in defensive loadings are comparable to the .45 ACP. Years ago, another law enforcement pal casually observed that a “big, slow-moving bullet� is devastating at gunfight ranges. Old West cemeteries are full of evidence about the lethality of both rounds, and that was in the days when they were loaded with black powder. I’ve hinted more than once to my pals at Ruger that they should consider building a Sheriff’s Model on the New Vaquero frame. I might be inclined to carry such a heater because there is a significant deterrent factor to looking at the muzzle of a big bore sixgun and hearing that hammer cock back. I believe a lot of people in the single-action crowd would likewise warm right up to such a model, primarily because one can carry a Ruger with all six chambers loaded.
CARRYING SPARE AMMO The biggest disadvantage of revolvers versus semi-autos is the speed with which one can reload. Back in the day when I used to compete with either a 6inch Model 19 or Colt Python, I could pop empties and drop six fresh rounds into the cylinder with an HKS speed loader in less time than some of my competitors could swap magazines. But that was years ago, and unless one stays in practice, it is easy to lose the knack. Still, the revolver-armed citizen is foolish if he or she does not carry at least one full speed loader or speed strip, or even spare cartridges on a belt slide. www.gunworld.com
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Some people even carry a single action revolver, like this Ruger New Vaquero in .45 Colt, and they should have spare cartridges.
When I carry my Ruger New Vaquero around for daily routine activity—which admittedly isn’t often—I always have six spare Gold Dot 250-grain JHPs on a cartridge slide. With the Model 19, my Python, a Colt Diamondback or some other revolver, I always have speed loaders and/or extra rounds on a cartridge carrier. You may not need the spares, even in a gunfight,
cause I’ve gotten used to them, and I’ve never had one fail, whether carried in a coat pocket or in a double belt carrier.
NEW INTRODUCTIONS This year, there will undoubtedly be new introductions, along with proven models, from such companies as Taurus, Rossi, Charter Arms, Smith & Wesson and others. The most popular caliber for
I have been particularly impressed with the quality of new small-frame revolvers over the past few years. but it is far better to not need them than to not have them! But one needs to practice, either at the range with live reloads or at home using dummy rounds, to get this maneuver down pat. There are lots of good speed loaders around. I like the HKS brand simply be82
GUN WORLD | FEBRUARY 2014
most of these concealment handguns is, of course, the .38 Special, a round that has gotten a bad rap over the years for sometimes anemic performance. That was before people at Hornady, Remington, Winchester, Federal, Speer and other companies began working with new propellants and bullet designs.
I carry lead semi-wadcutter hollowpoints in my 4-inch Colt Diamondback and my Model 442 S&W J-frame hammerless. I have been particularly impressed with the quality of new small-frame revolvers over the past few years. Some of these guns are chambered for the .32 H&R Magnum or the zippier .327 Federal—the Ruger SP101 comes to mind— but still, the .38 Special seems to have the edge. When I teach new shooters, I typically start with a .22-caliber revolver and work up to centerfire models. Revolvers are simple, they are less likely to malfunction than a semi-auto in the hands of a novice, and they do not overwhelm new shooters as self-loaders sometimes do. At the end of the day, of course, revolvers require practice, the same as a semi-auto. One simply cannot take a revolver home, throw it in the drawer and expect miracles in an emergency. So whether you choose a revolver or semi-auto, get a good holster, a few boxes of ammunition, some speed loaders and make frequent range visits part of your emergency preparedness routine. GW www.gunworld.com
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RELOAD
For many years, Winchester 231 has been one of the most widely used powders for loading handgun ammunition.
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My intent was to arrive at a couple of loads for each caliber using W231.
Winchester’s Popular Pistol Powder Continues to be a Versatile Propellant Story & Photos by James E. House
t’s easy to take Winchester 231 for granted, something that occasionally happens to products that quietly do their job for a long period of time. But despite a spate of newer items on the market, W231 remains one of the emblematic powders for use in handgun ammunition.
I
For this project, the calibers loaded were (left to right) the 9mm Luger, 38 Special, and 45 Auto. www.gunworld.com
According to Hodgdon (which has distributed Winchester powders for nearly a decade), W231 is “a pistol powder ideally suited to the 38 Special, 45 Auto, and 9mm standard loads. Consistency, clean burning, low flash and a broad range of applications make this powder a choice for any pistol cartridge reloader.” That certainly sounds like a powder suitable for a lot of uses, and, as you’ll see from my tests below, it is. As I began this project, I consulted several of my usual handbooks and other data sources regarding suitable loads. What I found was that this is a powder for which there is a considerable difference between charges recommended in different loading manuals. For example, one manual recommends a maximum charge of 4.7 grains of W231 for the 9mm Luger with a 115-grain bullet whereas another source recommends 5.1 grains. This difference is only 0.4 grains, but that amounts to a difference of 8.5%. In the case of the 38 Special with a 125-grain bullet, the same two sources recommend 5.4 grains and 4.9 grains, respectively, as the maximum charge, and this is almost 10-percent difference. In the 45 Auto with a 185-grain jacketed bullet, one sources lists a load of 5.9 grains of W231 whereas the FEBRUARY 2014 | GUN WORLD
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Ammunition in calibers that include (left to right) the diminutive 380 Auto, 38 Special, 357 Magnum, 45 Auto and the voluminous 45 Colt can be produced using appropriate charges of W231.
other recommends a maximum charge of 7.2 grains. With a 200-grain bullet, the charges are 5.9 and 6.3 grains, respectively, of Winchester 231. This is in no way a reflection on the reliability or accuracy of data sources. Experimenters use different firearms, different components, different loading procedures, and different lots of powder. I shoot a lot of 9mm, 38 Special, and 45
Auto, which tend to be the three calibers I use most. My intent was to arrive at a couple of loads for each caliber using W231. However, looking at the data I could not be sure what those loads should be. The only way to know is to try some loads. When faced with data that differ significantly, I always start on the conservative side and this case was no exception. The
bullets that I intended to use were the 115-grain Nosler HP in 9mm, the 125grain Winchester JHP in 38 Special, and the 185-grain Rainier HP plated bullet in 45 Auto. Because W231 is a relatively fast burning powder, it is suitable for “standard loads” in these calibers, so that influenced my choice of bullets. For the 9mm and 38 Special loads, I used Winchester cases trimmed to the
VELOCITY DATA FOR LOADS UTILIZING WINCHESTER 231(R). Bullet, wt & type
Case
Primer
Ctg. length, inches
Charge, grains
Av. Vel. ft/sec
9mm Luger 115 Nosler JHP 115 Nosler JHP 115 Nosler JHP
Win. Win. Win.
Win. SP Win. SP Win. SP
1.113 1.113 1.113
4.5 4.7 4.9
1,066 1,112 1,139
38 Special 125 Winchester JHP 125 Winchester JHP 125 Winchester JHP
Win. Win. Win.
Win. SP Win. SP Win. SP
1.433 1.433 1.433
4.7 4.9 5.1
952 963 989
45 Auto 185 Rainier HP 185 Rainier HP 185 Rainier HP 185 Rainier HP
PMC PMC PMC PMC
Rem. LP Rem. LP Rem. LP Rem. LP
1.220 1.220 1.220 1.220
5.6 5.8 6.0 6.2
794 831 850 898
These loads were safe and reliable in the author’s handguns, but neither the author nor the publisher accepts any responsibility for their preparation and use by others.
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Winchester 231 is a versatile powder, so many combinations of case, primer, and bullets work well. recommended lengths. The loads in 45 Auto were assembled using once-fired PMC cases having a length of 0.893-inch. Winchester small pistol primers were employed in the 9mm and 38 Special cartridges whereas Remington large pistol primers were used in the 45 Auto rounds. Five cartridges were assembled for each load, and the velocity at 10 feet from the muzzle was measured with a Competition Electronics ProChrono chronograph. The handguns used in
signs of high pressure. Moderate loads sometimes do not cycle in autoloaders, but there was no failure to cycle with any of the 9mm or 45 Auto combinations. Both the Ruger P345 and P95 operated flawlessly with all of the cartridges. Although accuracy with any handgun depends on numerous human factors, I was particularly impressed with the accuracy of some of the loads. In every case, the accuracy was more than ade-
Because W231 is a relatively fast burning powder, it is suitable for standard loads‌ testing the ammunition were a S&W Model 15 (4-inch) 38 Special, a Ruger P95 (3.9-inch) 9mm Luger, and a Ruger P345 (4.2-inch) 45 Auto. Load parameters and the results obtained are shown in the accompanying table. As mentioned earlier, W231 is best suited for standard loads rather than trying to wring out the last bit of performance. With that in mind, I made no attempt to achieve the highest velocity but rather tried to produce general-purpose loads. In that connection, the results show that the project was successful. It should be mentioned that some factory 38 Special ammunition with 125-grain bullets that have an advertised velocity of 945 ft/sec are classified as +P loads. Although I easily reached that velocity (even with the starting load that I used), there were no www.gunworld.com
quate for plinking, practice, and general use. Moreover, with the 125-grain Winchester hollow point at a velocity of over 950 ft/sec, I would have no reluctance to use a 38 Special so loaded for home defense. If a 45 Auto were to be used for defense, I would select one of the excellent jacketed hollow point bullets, but with 6.0-6.2 grains of W231 in the cases I would feel far from unarmed. Winchester 231 is a versatile powder for handguns that fulfills most requirements for standard calibers with moderate loads. In addition, a pound of the powder can load over 1,100 of the heaviest load listed in the table and over 1,500 of the lightest loads. Given the limited availability of reloading components as this is written, I plan to always keep a can of W231 on hand because it goes a long way. GW FEBRUARY 2014 | GUN WORLD
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QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
TOP
SHOT
Steve Sanetti, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation
An Exclusive Interview with Steve Sanetti, President of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) Interview by Craig Hodgkins. Photographs by NSSF
t’s a classic good news-bad news scenario for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), with perhaps a little Pavlov thrown in for good measure. The good news? A mere mention of the organization conjures up thoughts of the SHOT Show, the “once-a-year, can’t miss it” trade exhibition extravaganza that draws tens of thousands to Las Vegas to see, select and shoot the latest and greatest guns and gear.
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The bad news? SHOT Show lasts five glorious days, but the NSSF spends the other 51 weeks developing and facilitating dozens of programs and communications tools to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports…all worthwhile efforts which do not often receive enough of our attention. To help us shine a brighter beam on those other fifty-one weeks, we placed a call to NSSF President Steve Sanetti. A former firearms instructor, firearms conservator and JAG officer at Ft. Hood, Sanetti served more than two decades as an attorney for (and eventually, president of) Sturm, Ruger and Co. before taking the reins of the NSSF in 2008.
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The opening day crowd at the 2013 SHOT Show sets out in search of the latest and greatest guns and gear.
GUN WORLD: What are the origins of the NSSF, and how did it become the industry trade association? STEVE SANETTI: The NSSF has been around since 1961. Originally, the industry trade association was SAAMI, the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manu-
in case of a national emergency or time of war. SAAMI still exists, but as a standards setting organization. When I came into the industry in early 1980, the National Shooting Sports Foundation was three people, and was essentially addressing issues concerning
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The SHOT Show was begun in 1978 because…we were tired of being shunted to the back of the auditorium behind the tennis rackets and the surfboards. facturers Institute, founded in 1926 at the request of the U.S. government to standardize production of small arms and ammunition to insure interchangeability
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hunting. Just to show you how far this goes back, we used to do filmstrips to show to schools and community groups to educate people that hunters were
conservationists, that species were not being endangered because of hunting, that hunting was a good thing for Americans to continue enjoying. At that time, the feeling was that the future of hunting was the future of the industry.
GW: How did the SHOT Show get started? SS: In the 1970s, as society became more urbanized and began moving away from its rural hunting roots, the shooting sports seemed to be getting pushed aside at the big sporting goods and outdoor trade shows. The SHOT Show was begun in 1978 because industry executives felt that we needed our own show. We were tired of being shunted to the back of the auditorium behind the tennis rackets and the surfboards. I think there were less than 100 exhibitors in the beginning. Now there are over 1,600. It’s the largest outdoor trade show in the world, and it’s the 13th largest trade show in all of North America.
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QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
Project ChildSafe disseminates firearm safety kits (which include a gun lock and safety education brochure) through law enforcement agencies across the country. It is one of dozens of free educational programs administered by the NSSF. ers, gun clubs, ranges, outdoor media, hunter safety instructors, conservation groups, critter groups…you name it.
GW: And employees? SS: About 50 employees. Most recently, we have been staffing up our government relations efforts.
A group of First Shots participants proudly display their targets after attending an event at Atlanta Range and Ordnance in Newnan, Georgia.
GW: Since you mentioned numbers, how many NSSF members are there currently? SS: Five years ago, we had about 4,000 members. We now have 9,500, and I’m 90
GUN WORLD | FEBRUARY 2014
pretty confident we will be close to 10,000 by the time of the SHOT Show. It’s not an open membership, of course. Everyone is involved somehow in the trade…manufacturers, wholesalers, retail-
GW: There must be several supportive elected officials and other influencers who we may not hear about in mainstream media. SS: I’m on the board of the Congressional Sportsman’s Foundation, and we meet regularly. The NSSF also has a flyin every year. We meet with friendly legislators, as well as some who we think are on the fence and even some who are against us but who we think are responsible and have enough integrity to at least listen to our side of things. The Congressional Sportsman’s Caucus is the largest bi-partisan caucus www.gunworld.com
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there is in Congress right now. The appeal of firearms, ammunition, outdoor recreation, and hunting goes way beyond just a small group. It’s a very, very popular activity. We’ve seen it in the last four years…the numbers of gun owners in this country has really gone up, and it’s gone up in a lot of demographic groups that you wouldn’t necessarily expect. Women, for years and years, never got above 12% participation in the shooting sports, and less in hunting. Now, you see dealers and retailers reporting sometimes close to 50% of new customers in their stores are women.
THE NSSF ONLINE The NSSF has a very informative and robust website, offering everything from the latest firearms-related news to how to locate a range, outfitter or taxidermist. For more details on the National Shooting Sports Foundation and on their many programs, research projects, government relations efforts and educational activities—and yes, even on the SHOT Show—or to sign up to receive one of their many informative newslet-
GW: Beyond SHOT, in what ways has the NSSF’s role expanded to keep up with and encourage these changes? SS: With the growth of the SHOT Show, the industry realized the benefit of having a trade association to help promote participation in all the shooting sports, not just hunting. For example, as I mentioned, we took on more government relations activity to protect the industry from the legislative, regulatory and legal attacks which were beginning to happen against members of the industry, and in some cases against the entire industry. We created or took on programs to retain shooters in the shooting sports, to get more shooters—including young people, women, and minorities—involved. These included programs like First Shots, which gets new people involved who have perhaps never even held a gun before, to demystify firearms and get them understanding what firearms are all about. We have programs like Families Afield, created with other groups, to get a lot of young people out hunting who may never have thought about trying it before. We have expanded our electronic media to reach a wide universe of people who are not reading traditional firearms magazines. We’ve also been offering more services to our members like research, so they can make decisions based upon data and not conjecture to help expand their individual businesses, whether they be wholesalers, retailers, shooting ranges, manufacturers…even the various critter organizations which represent anything with wings or legs. Also, very important now, are our efforts to improve the public’s understanding of the positive, safe and responsible use of our industry’s products. GW: What sort of results are you seeing, such as with First Shots for example? SS: We found that 43% of people who take a First Shots seminar return to the host range or store where the class was held within the next 12 months. They also tend to be women, who tend to return with other women.
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We feel we have a duty to uphold this great American tradition and keep it going.
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ters or email blasts, visit their website at www.nssf.org, or call (203) 426-1320. GW: How important are these types of training and education programs for future generations? SS: In any activity, you have to get new people involved, and this is not just a selfish business proposition. This is a lifestyle we all love and treasure and want to see propagated and nurtured for the next generation. The passion we have for this at the National Shooting Sports Foundation goes from the top down to the bottom of the organization. We all want this to succeed. We all want to get new people involved in the shooting sports, and enjoy what we’ve enjoyed. Whether it’s hunting, or target shooting, or collecting, or being able to protect your family in those kinds of situations…we feel we have a duty to uphold this great American tradition and keep it going. Remember, our mission is to promote, protect and preserve
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QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
Steve Sanetti, President/CEO of NSSF (left), and Larry Keane, Senior Vice President & General Counsel (right), present the organization’s 2012 Legislator of the Year award to South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.
A parting SHOT from one of the largest trade shows in the country. 92
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hunting and the shooting sports. That’s what the industry has told us they want us to do as their trade association.
GW: We’ve made it this far not really mentioning SHOT 2014, but I’m sure people will want to know what’s new for 2014 to make it bigger and better. SS: Actually, we’ve been trying to downsize it somewhat, to “repurpose and rationalize” the SHOT Show. [In previous years], we’d gotten up to a million square feet, and that meant that if you got there at the opening gun and you were there every second the show was open until it closed, you could spend a maximum of twenty seconds at every booth, and that’s crazy, that was way too big. We’re now about 620,000 square feet. We still have a waiting list of more than 400 people who would like to be
“
We have to be vigilant, to keep protecting the industry.
”
exhibitors at the show. We’re trying to add more seminars at the show to educate retailers on how to conduct their business in a better and more effective fashion. We’re trying to keep the show vibrant by ever increasing the experience, and I think it’s working. Last year, our post-show polls show that attendee and exhibitor satisfaction has never been higher, and we have more attendees signed up than ever before.
GW: Any final thoughts? SS: I think that we all have to keep working together. We have to be vigilant, to keep protecting the industry. From the individual standpoint of your Gun World readers, they should check out our fact sheets so they are armed with the facts, whether it’s in social conversations, or from conversations with their legislators or representatives…from the Town Council all the way up to senators and congressmen. The more of us that speak up on behalf of the lawful, responsible ownership of firearms, the better off we’ll all be. GW www.gunworld.com
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BUSINESS DIRECTORY David Beckler 972-448-9173 dbeckler@beckett.com
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BACK PAGES
“If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” —Rudyard Kipling
By Craig Hodgkins
50 YEARS AGO (FEBRUARY 1964) – A halfcentury ago, our Gun World cover firearm was a Russian-built .22 Margolin target automatic. Although the gun performed admirably in testing, acquiring one proved to be an adventure. After placing on order through a British firm at what they considered to be a fair price, the staff learned that there would be an added 50% tax because the gun was Russian-made (this was during the Cold War). After paying the tax and additional import duties, the gun arrived on U.S. shores only to be locked up at U. S. Customs while staffers were asked to explain their interest in acquiring a Russian weapon. By the time the issue hit the stands, more than eight months had elapsed since the initial order. 45 YEARS AGO (FEBRUARY 1969) – And while we’re on the subject of mail delivery, E. B. Mann’s “The Mann Says” column reported on the passing by the United States Congress of the mail order and interstate-sales ban on A .22 Margolin target guns and ammunition (Public Law 90automatic appeared on our cover in February of 1964. 618, 90th Congress, and H. R. 17735). Several well-known politicos appear throughout Mann’s narrative, including outgoing President Lyndon B. Johnson and the man who succeeded him in office, 40 YEARS AGO (FEBRUARY 1974) AND 35 YEARS AGO (FEBRichard M. Nixon. RUARY 1979) – Although they appeared five years apart, our February 1974 and February 1979 covers both heralded the “NEW” line from Winchester. In 1974, something “new” was the Super-X Model 1 shotgun (which sought to emulate the Model 12) and their Model 490 rifle, designed to handle .22 long rifle ammunition. In 1979, new meant the Model 23 sideby-side in 12-gauge and a Model 94 Limited Edition II (only 1,500 were made) lever-action rifle in .30-30.
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30 YEARS AGO (FEBRUARY 1984) AND 25 YEARS AGO (FEBRUARY 1989) – Remington was the featured line both years as new models were again introduced. In 1984, editor Jack Lewis reviewed the Sportsman 78 bolt-action rifle (built on the Model www.gunworld.com
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Advertiser Index ADVERTISER
Both of these issues (from 1974 and 1979) touted something “New” from Winchester.
700 action, it replaced the Model 788) and (among many others) the pump-action Model 870 Special Field in 12gauge. In 1989, the new line of guns also included what Remington deemed “the first new dangerous game cartridge in thirty-one years: the .416 Remington Magnum.” A second glance at our February 1989 cover reveals a feature on “Kurt Russell’s Celebrity Big-Game Hunt.” Among those joining Russell for the first-annual event
at the Celebrity Ranch outside of DeBeque, Colorado were Cy Young awardwinner Steve Carlton and Yankee manager Billy Martin, racing greats Johnny Rutherford and Danny Sullivan, actors Bruce Boxleitner and Lee Horsley, rockers Ted Nugent and Steve Ferris, and film director Bob Zemeckis. All game taken during this competitive hunt was donated toward feeding the homeless during the holiday season. GW
PAGE
Ambush Arms .............................7 American Tactical Imports........59 ATK - Savage Arms .....................2 Barnes Bullets Inc .....................93 Battenfeld Technologies............53 Black Hills Ammunition ............37 CZ-USA....................................61 Daniel Defense .........................69 Davidson's.................................45 DeSantis Gunhide .....................21 Double Tap Defense, LLC........95 DoubleTap Ammunition.....94, 99 European American Armoury ..60 GTUL........................................93 Guncrafter Industries, LLC ....................................17, 94 IWI US ......................................75 Jantz Supply.................................3 JDA & Associates, LLC .............91 Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc .....35 Les Baer Custom,Inc. .................5 Mec-Gar ...................................27 Numrich Gun Parts Corporation..............................81 Redding Reloading Equipment..21 Rio Grande Custom Grips........87 S&K Scope Mounts ...................94 SCCY Industries .......................29 Secure Medical .........................27 Shield Public Safety...................83 Sig Sauer ...................................77 Springfield Armory......................9 Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. ........................100 TOPS Knives.............................51 Tormach LLC............................81 ULTIMAK .................................87 Umarex USA, Inc......................57
In our anniversary covers from the 1980s (1984 and 1989, respectively), the something “New” came from Remington. www.gunworld.com
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