67fty jf t. by selenafresgo

More than a building...it’s a solution!

Manufactured in Sandy, Oregon

PRE-ENGINEERED STEEL FRAME STRUCTURES COST COMPETITIVE MAINTENANCE FRIENDLY

503.668.7211 | Toll-free: 855.668.7211 | www.wsbnw.com

WA’s #1 RVr Deale

TRAVEL TRAILERS EXPANDABLE TRAILERS TOY HAULERS

y l i m a f r u o y t r a St ! e r e h s e i r o m me

POP-UP TRAILERS FIFTH Our WHEELS

20th Year

12414 Meridian E Puyallup, WA 253-435-7751

1500 W Yelm Ave Yelm, WA 360-960-8141

southhillrv.com

Custom Guns

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

A MERIC A N

SHOOTING JOURNAL

Volume 10 // Issue 11 // August 2021

PUBLISHER James R. Baker

INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn

GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@americanshootingjournal.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Andy Walgamott

ON THE COVER

OFFICE MANAGER / COPY EDITOR Katie Aumann LEAD CONTRIBUTOR Frank Jardim CONTRIBUTORS Jason Brooks, Daniel Fye, Scott Haugen, Phil Massaro, Mike Nesbitt, Paul Pawela, Nick Perna SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold

With a boost from organizations like Outdoors For Our Heroes and Safari Club International, Air Force Technical Sergeant Daniel Fye (far right), who suffered a serious leg injury during a tour of duty in Afghanistan, was able to join Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy (far left) for a very successful Last Frontier moose and bear hunt last fall. (DAN OLSON/SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL)

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Jim Klark, Kelley Miller, Mike Smith DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker WEBMASTER / INBOUND MARKETING Jon Hines, Jon Ekse

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

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

MEDIA INDEX PUBLISHING GROUP 14240 Interurban Ave. S. Ste. 190 • Tukwila, WA 98168 (206) 382-9220 • (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com • www.media-inc.com

CONTENTS

VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 11

COVER STORY

76 MY HUNT

WITH THE GOVERNOR

As Air Force Technical Sergeant Daniel Fye slowly recovered from stepping on an IED in Afghanistan, he developed an interest in hunting that led to a chance to pursue moose and grizzly bears. By horse. In Alaska. With the state’s governor. Epic! Fye shares his remarkable all-around success story.

MORE FEATURES

MAN ON THE MOVE Utah’s Morgun King is a busy guy, balancing three different rifle competitions – Precision Rifle Series open class, National Rifle League open class and NRL Hunter open light class – with veterinarian school and family life, but we managed to catch up to him to find out how he manages to do it all.

BLACK POWDER: NEW RIFLES, NEW LOADS, NEW SCORES? Mike Nesbitt and a buddy upgraded their gear in hopes of changing their luck at this year’s Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match, the black powder cartridge competition in Montana inspired by the Tom Selleck movie character. Find out if they succeeded!

LIGHTWEIGHT RIFLES ARE FOR EVERY HUNTER Whether you hunt deer or elk in the backcountry or closer to the road, are an adult or a youth, there’s no need to lug a heavy rifle around, thanks to modern materials and manufacturing processes, as well as plentiful options from name brand companies and custom gun makers. Jason Brooks kicks off his three-part series on lightweight hunting rifles by highlighting some of the best on today’s market. ROADHUNTER: PRIMETIME PRONGHORN Have a tag to hunt those fleet, far-seeing icons of the American West, antelope? Scott Haugen offers expert tips for bagging a speed goat, plus field dressing advice for beating late-summer heat.

(DAN OLSON/SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL)

PROPER OPTICS MOUNTING “The best scope paired with the finest rifle is worthless if the optic has not been mounted properly.” So writes Nick Perna, who has topped a long gun or two in his time and shares how to get it done right the first time.

107 BULLET BULLETIN: PACK A ‘PUNCH’ WITH NEW BULLET LINE Punch, Federal’s diverse budget-friendly choices for concealed carry, check the boxes for our professor of projectiles, Phil Massaro – and they even come in .22 LR! 131 LAW ENFORCEMENT SPOTLIGHT: NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE In his relatively short 48 years on the planet, immigrant Joseph Petrosino became a crimefighting pioneer with the New York Police Department, taking on the Mafia. Proud fellow Italian-American Nick Perna details the life and times of America’s first gang cop. 135 SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING: WHERE ‘JEDI’ MEETS MODERN SAMURAI Between his background in martial arts and sidearms training system focusing on body mechanics, Scott Jedlinksi gets shooters on target ultrafast. Our Paul Pawela reports back on what he learned during a three-day self-defense course with the guy they call “Jedi.”

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

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

CONTENTS

NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits Featured Products 47 Gun Gear 63 Shotguns 73 Knives 89 Adventure 103 Ammunition 105 Reloading 119 Gear 145 Handguns

FEATURED Company Spotlight 33

IN THE FIGHT, FOR THE LONG HAUL ‘When it comes to lubrication properties, Seal 1 stands alone.’

DEPARTMENTS 21 23 25

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

JOIN US AT THE USCCA EXPO IN FT. WORTH, TX • OCTOBER 1-3, BOOTH #325

Leather Conceal Carry Bags, Purses & Earrings

New

HOLSTER INSERT FOR PURSES, BAGS, & BRIEFCASES

Firearms not included

WE CAN CUSTOMIZE BAGS AND ORDERS WITH OR WITHOUT HOLSTERS

Shop for a variety of pieces online at our Etsy shop or on our Website!

Free USPS first class shipping on orders $35 or more anywhere in the U.S. HANDCRAFTED IN THE USA

www.Etsy.com/shop/AlfordDesignsLTD | www.PaulaAlford.com | 434-386-7854 18

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

THE ONLY THING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GUN CLEANING

Goes on wet, cleans, bonds, turns DRY! DRY LUBRICANT • • • • • • •

Improves accuracy Prevents jamming Won’t flash off Will not freeze Non-hazardous Reduces fouling Won’t harm wood, primers, old guns, or stain clothing! • Bio preferred by USDA • Non-petroleum

Use Code #MPG21 For Shipping Discounts!

801-569-2763 800-248-LUBE (5823) prolix@prolixlubricant.com prolixlubricant.com

PRIMER

GUNSHOW C A L E N D A R

August 7-8

Harrisburg, Pa.

PA Farm Show Complex

August 7-8

Winston-Salem, N.C.

Winston-Salem Fairgrounds

August 14-15

Sharonville, Ohio

Sharonville Convention Center

August 28-29

Dayton, Ohio

Montgomery County Event Center

August 27-28

Farmington, Utah

Davis County Fairgrounds

crossroadsgunshows.com

August 28-29

Costa Mesa, Calif.

OC Fair and Event Center

Florida Gun Shows

August 7-8

Fort Myers, Fla.

Lee Civic Center

August 21-22

Orlando, Fla.

Central Florida Fair Grounds

August 28-29

Tampa, Fla.

Florida State Fairgrounds

August 7-8

Kingsport, Tenn.

MeadowView Convention Center

August 7-8

Oklahoma City, Okla.

Oklahoma State Fair Park

August 14-15

Neosho, Mo.

Newton County Fairgrounds

August 14-15

Knoxville, Tenn.

Knoxville Expo Center

August 21-22

Richmond, Ky.

Madison County Fairgrounds

August 21-22

Kansas City, Mo.

KCI Expo Center

August 28-29

Lawrenceville, Ga.

Gwinnett County Fairgrounds

August 28-29

Savannah, Ga.

Savannah Convention Center

August 7-8

Harker Heights, Texas

Harker Heights Event Center

August 14-15

Taylor, Texas

Williamson County Expo Center

August 21-22

Gonzales, Texas

J.B. Wells Expo Center

August 13-15

Denver, Colo.

Grizzly Rose

August 7-8

Centralia, Wash.

Southwest Washington Fairgrounds

C&E Gun Shows cegunshows.com

Crossroads Of The West Gun Shows

floridagunshows.com

RK Shows rkshows.com

Real Texas Gun Shows therealtexasgunshow.com

Tanner Gun Shows tannergunshow.com

Wes Knodel Gun Shows wesknodelgunshows.com

Note: Covid-19 restrictions were easing at press time, but always confirm events before attending. To have your event highlighted here, send an email to kaumann@media-inc.com.

americanshootingjournal.com 21

PRIMER

COMPETITION C A L E N D A R

August 14 LPDA PTO San Antonio, Texas

August 19 Grand Rapids Rifle & Pistol Club August PTO Wyoming, Mich.

August 21-22 Team Shooting Stars August PTO Carrollton, Texas

August 4-8 2021 Berry’s Area 1 Championship Puyallup, Wash.

August 14-15 BSPSC 2021 Treasure State Championship East Missoula, Mont.

August 26-29 2021 Area 8 Championship Hedgesville, W.V.

August 13-15 2021 Battle for the North Coast Hartsgrove, Ohio

August 20-22 West Liberty Practical Shooters Summer Classic West Liberty, Iowa

August 7-8 Magic City Glock Challenge VI Billings, Mont.

August 14-15 Eastern Nebraska Glock Classic VI Louisville, Neb.

August 21-22 Northern California Regional Classic XXVIII Richmond, Calif.

August 21-22 Keystone State Ballistic Challenge XXV Topton, Penn.

August 21-22 Midwest Regional Classic XXX Hallsville, Mo.

August 12-13 Missouri State Fair Classic Sedalia, Mo.

August 21-22 North Central Regionals Cedar Rapids, Iowa

August 7-8 Ohio State Championship Shoot Wooster, Ohio

August 14-15 2021 Minnesota State Championship Fergus Falls, Minn.

August 21-22 North Pacific Regional Shoot Hermiston, Ore.

August 8 Mississippi State Championship Shoot DeRidder, La.

August 14-15 NC State Championship Lumberton, N.C.

August 6-7 Nighthawk Custom Firearms Regional IDPA Championship Newburgh, Ind.

August 20-21 2021 Kentucky Classic Wilmore, Ky.

usashooting.org

uspsa.org

gssfonline.com

August 14-15 Rocky Mountain Regional Classic XXVII Greeley, Colo.

August 7 Massachusetts State Championship Norfolk, Mass.

cmsaevents.com

idpa.com

August 6-7 2021 Potomac Grail Thurmont, Md.

August 20-22 2021 New England Regional Championship Harvard, Mass.

August 27-29 2021 Illinois Sectional Havana, Ill.

August 28-29 WI State Championship Deerfield, Wis.

August 21 6th Annual Andy Garwell Memorial Match Portage, Wis. August 21-22 2021 Michigan State IDPA Championship Romulus, Mich.

Note: Covid-19 restrictions were easing at press time, but always confirm events before attending. americanshootingjournal.com 23

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

SCHEDULE Pro Bolt Gun Series August 7 August 14 August 21 August 28 September 4 September 10 September 11 September 18 September 25 October 1 October 9 October 15 October 16

Vapor Trail Bullets Steel Siege Impact PRC Magnolia Meltdown Okie Summer Showdown VPRC Rifleman’s Revival 2021 Federal Gold Medal Match Vortex Tactical Precision Rifle Challenge MDT Great Lakes Steel Challenge Road To Redemption Bushnell Tactical Gap Grind Pro Am Central Coast Chaos AG Kestrel Fall Classic AG Alderbrook “Fall Brawl”

Spickard, Missouri Wewoka, Oklahoma Carthage, Mississippi Ninnekah, Oklahoma Rocky Mount, Virginia Carbon Hill, Alabama Peoria, Arizona Lake City, Michigan Warrenton, North Carolina Finger, Tennessee San Luis Obispo, California Baker, Florida Littleton, New Hampshire

For more information visit www.precisionrifleseries.com

RECENT RESULTS (continued)

CANADIAN SHARPSHOOTERS CLASSIC PRESENTED BY CADEX Hanna, Alberta, Canada July 10, 2021

1st Place TANNER NEU Open Div. 147.000/100.000 2nd Place DAVID GHERIANI Open Div. 145.000/98.639 3rd Place JORDAN BOBOCEL Open Div. 138.000/93.878 4th Place CHAD GERARD Open Div. 133.000/90.476 5th Place NATHAN WIGGINS Open Div. 129.000/87.755

BIG SKY BRAWL Dupuyer, Montana July 24, 2021

1st Place NICK GADARZI Open Div. 157.000/100.000 2nd Place JAKE MILLARD Open Div. 146.000/92.994 3rd Place FRANCIS COLON Open Div. 146.000/92.994 4th Place TYLER HUGHES Open Div. 145.000/92.357 5th Place ERIC STEVENSON Open Div. 142.000/90.446 GREGORY BELL Open Div. 142.000/90.446

WISCONSIN BARREL MAKER CLASSIC – AG Cascade, Wisconsin July 31, 2021

1st Place KEN SANOSKI Open Div. 168.000/100.000 2nd Place CHRIS KUTALEK Open Div. 163.000/97.024 3rd Place CHAD HECKLER Open Div. 162.000/96.429 4th Place ALLISON ZANE Open Div. 161.000/95.833 5th Place SEAN NELSON Open Div. 161.000/95.833

(PRECISION RIFLE SERIES)

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

MAN ON THE MOVE Utah’s Morgun King balances three rifle competitions with schooling to become a veterinarian, family life. PHOTOS BY MORGUN KING

Morgun King participates in the Precision Rifle Series open class, National Rifle League open class and NRL Hunter open light class.

s an avid hunter and rifleman looking to continually improve his shooting skills, taking part in Precision Rifle Series competitions was a natural progression for Morgun King. His first PRS event was in early 2016 and after a few years of participation, he began ramping up his match schedule in the spring of 2020. “Before that, I did not travel nearly as much,” says the Kaysville, Utah-based King. “I would say that now I average two per month, sometimes more.” He now competes in PRS open class, National Rifle League open class and NRL Hunter open light class. What’s more, he is currently leading the standings in all three classes. If that wasn’t enough for King, he is also in veterinary school, “which can make fitting matches into my schedule during the semester complicated,” he says. King recalls a championship match this past spring that was particularly logistically challenging. “This year the National Rifle League Championship match was in May and fell on the Saturday and Sunday before finals week started,” he remembers. “I was not sure if I was going to be able to make it. I had a final Friday before I left, and Monday, Tuesday and Thursday when I got back. I knew making it work was going to be tricky, but I was leading the standings and I had a good chance of winning. I started studying a month in advance so I would be able to pick americanshootingjournal.com 29

MORGUN KING’S RIFLE & GEAR • Custom-built Preece Precision rifle chambered in 6mm Dasher • Lone Peak Arms Fuzion action • Masterpiece Arms Matrix chassis • Bix’n Andy TacSport Pro trigger • Strike Without Warning tuner muzzle brake • Leupold Optics Mark 5HD 5-25 with PR2 reticle • Masterpiece Arms 35mm optics mount • Alpha Munitions OCD brass • Armageddon Gear Gamechanger support bag • Two Vets QDT tripod • Berger LR Hybrid bullets

up in the middle of finals and take off to the match. I found a flight that left Friday night and one that got me home Sunday night.” “Usually competitors show up to check-in on Friday with everyone else, but my flight didn’t land until 1 a.m., and I didn’t get to bed until 3 a.m. I had called the match director ahead of time and made arrangements to check zero before shooting Saturday morning. When the shooting started, I was on autopilot for the first couple of stages until I actually woke up. After the dust settled on day one, I had a 5-point lead in the match. The next day we showed up and there was so much fog you could barely see 200 yards. In precision rifle competitions, fog is problematic because your average target distance is somewhere around 600 yards. We had to wait. I was sweating bullets because I

“My rifle is custom-built by Preece Precision specifically for precision rifle competitions and is chambered in 6mm Dasher,” says King.

knew I had to leave, whether I was done shooting or not, at 4:30 p.m. to make my 6:30 p.m. flight out of Tulsa that was an hour away, and that was cutting it close.” “After an hour of waiting for the fog to clear, the sun finally got high enough to start burning it off and we got to shooting. I got right back to watching bullets hit targets. There are some people that hate knowing their score when they are shooting, and then there is me. I figure I want to be in control of my own headspace at all times and I feed off of the pressure of knowing what I need to do to win. Going into the last stage, I knew everyone’s scores and knew if I got at least a six out of 10, I won the season championship and the championship match.” “Our last stage was pretty sporty and I knew I needed to pay attention to get the job done. I held too much wind on the

first shot, made a correction, and started counting impacts in my head. As soon as I hit the sixth shot, I couldn’t hold in the yell of victory. Honestly, I don’t know how I hit the next three targets. I ended up with a nine on that stage and knew I had won. Now the only problem was I needed to be on a plane in two and a half hours, so within two shooters I had said my goodbyes and was off to the airport. I ended up missing the awards ceremony that night, but I made it back and passed all of my finals.” King credits his supportive wife for helping him succeed in his endeavors, saying, “I could not handle a wild 18-month-old boy, vet school and shooting without her.” 

Editor’s note: For more on the Precision Rifle Series, visit precisionrifleseries.com

Unlike some rifle competitors, King keeps track of his and other shooters’ scores during events. “I figure I want to be in control of my own headspace at all times and I feed off of the pressure of knowing what I need to do to win,” he says.

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

FEATURED COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

STAYS IN THE FIGHT, AND FOR THE LONG HAUL ‘When it comes to lubrication properties, Seal 1 stands alone.’ PHOTO BY SEAL 1

rom competitive shooters to hunters to military and law enforcement personnel, every gun owner knows that they need the right gun care products to keep their weapon working properly. Offering a full line of products, including lubricants, cleaners, anticorrosion, antiseize and more, Seal 1 specializes in environmentally friendly options that are all natural, nontoxic and safe for all gun owners. Dwight Settle, managing director at Seal 1, explains the origins of the company: “My business partner, Scott Lee, wanted to create a product that would actually clean, lubricate and protect your firearms and not kill you in the process. Scott has developed many products over the past 35-plus years in the gun industry for many different companies. I’m sure that you have heard of Bore Butter and Wonder Lube, just to name a few.” In August 1990, Lee started research and development on his new formula. After years of tweaking and testing, he was ready to bring it to market. Lee and Settle launched Seal 1, LLC on July 5, 2011, along with their winning formula, called Seal 1 CLP Plus. “Seal 1 CLP Plus is a ‘green engineered’ biobased, nontoxic, complete gun care product,” says Settle. “Our formula is proprietary and is not vegetable oil- or vegetable ester-based. It will not dry out or get gummy over time. With Seal 1 CLP Plus there is no need for having to use multiple products. It has submicron

dry lubrication and protection characteristics and is very simple to use. Just remember: wipe on, wipe off!” Seal 1 products do not incorporate any petroleum, which is part of the reason they work so well. “Petroleum-based products actually increase the hard carbon build-up in firearms,” says Settle. When Seal 1 was in the latter part of its development stage, they knew that their products had better lubrication properties in real world testing, but wanted to see what independent lab testing would show. Seal 1 CLP Plus was sent to an ASTM-certified lab to have the four-ball wear test completed. During this test four ball bearings are lubricated with the product and then rotated under load; the load and speed is increased until the balls actually weld themselves together. At this point the load and speed at failure are entered into a formula that calculates the score. Seal 1 CLP Plus stayed in the fight until the machinery’s maximum load and speed were reached, without failure. No score was given, just “no fail.” When it comes to lubrication properties, Seal 1 stands alone. The Seal 1 team takes pride in knowing their products are safe not just for the Earth but for those who inhabit it as well. “It’s a dangerous world out there and if we can help get your mind off of it while you spend a little time maintaining your firearms, why not?” jokes Settle. “Seriously, though, if

A cleaner, lubricant and protectant all in one, biobased Seal 1 CLP Plus is as easy to use as “wipe on, wipe off,” says the company’s managing director, Dwight Settle.

we can help you have peace of mind while you, your kids, or grandkids are handling and cleaning your firearms, that brings a smile to our face.”  Editor’s note: For more information, visit seal1.com. americanshootingjournal.com 33

BLACK POWDER

Allen Cunniff tries his rolling block while sighting in at this year’s Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match, a competition inspired by the Tom Selleck movie character and held annually in southeast Montana.

NEW RIFLES, NEW LOADS, NEW SCORES? Two black powder cartridge shooters hope to change their luck at famed Quigley match. STORY AND PHOTOS BY MIKE NESBITT

o say things were hot at Quigley is putting it somewhat mildly. It was 115 degrees in the shade on a Tuesday afternoon when my shooting partner Allen Cunniff and I pulled into the camp, and the only shade available was what little you could bring with you. But that’s Quigley and we were eager to try both new rifles and new loads, perhaps

with “new” scores. We were lucky, at least, that Tuesday was the hottest day of the week. As we took our shots later in the week, the temperature had cooled to maybe 95. The Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match, held in Forsyth, Montana, is internationally famous, although this year travel restrictions from several countries kept our international shooters away. Even so, there were almost 600 registered shooters (553 actually shot), so during the

competition the firing line was full at all times. Even in the heat, which was greatly fought off with generous gulps of iced lemonade, being back at Quigley to hear the boom of the big .50s mixed with the sharper cracks of the smaller bores made the trip well worth the travel. For me, it was like a new beginning because I was using a new rifle that I hadn’t even fired before. In fact, I picked this rifle up from C. Sharps Arms Company in Big Timber, americanshootingjournal.com 35

BLACK POWDER

Pat Dulin “beats” on author Mike Nesbitt’s rifle in the C. Sharps Arms tent.

Montana, while on the way to the Quigley doin’s. That was just what I had planned on doing, so I had an abundance of ammo prepared, including some paper-patched loads with a lot of lube behind the bullets for some “breaking-in” shots. THE RIFLE IS an 1874 Hartford Model, much like an old buffalo gun. It has a 30-inch barrel with the No. 1¾ Heavy contour; this is the largest barrel that

can have the old Sharps Hartford collar just ahead of the action. This rifle is in .50-70 caliber and its only custom features are the color pack hardening on the action and butt plate, plus brass escutcheons. The wood for the stock is simply straight-grained walnut, beautiful but much like the “working guns” of the buffalo harvest. I was pleased and delighted with the rifle from first glance. That description can’t be complete without also mentioning that it has a

custom barrel made by Oregon Barrel Company (thegunworks.com), rifled with a 1-in-32-inch twist rate. That twist rate was selected because this rifle will generally be shot with bullets weighing less than 500 grains, and this twist rate should be right at home with the standard 450-grain bullets. When I first saw the rifle, it was actually all ready to go. But it had a Globe front sight on the barrel and I asked for that to be changed to another

Nesbitt’s new .50-70 Hartford by C. Sharps Arms, acquired on the drive to the Quigley shoot. Upon arrival, it was discovered that a tiny burr needed to be cut off the front sight to fit a sight aperture.

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

BLACK POWDER

The author takes an offhand shot at the bucket early in the morning.

Globe front sight with the spirit level. Those spirit levels earn their keep for mid- and long-range shooting because if the rifle is canted to the right or left, the shot will go to the right or left. So Pat Dulin at C. Sharps Arms (csharpsarms.com) quickly changed the front sight for me and with that, I was ready to go. The rear sight on this rifle is a Deluxe Mid-Range tang sight mounted on the rifle’s wrist; there is no rear sight on the barrel. Even as we left the shop, I had the feeling that I should have fitted an aperture to the front sight. Doing so would simply be a final check to make sure everything was ready to go. Later, when I did try to fit an aperture to the front sight, it wouldn’t fit. Something very tiny was preventing the thin 38

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

aperture from entering the tube of the Globe sight completely. Thank goodness for cell phones because a call was made to Pat back at the shop, asking him to bring another front sight when he came to the big camp at Quigley. Pat replied simply with “Yup.” But Pat wouldn’t be getting to the camp for another two days and my new .50-70 needed to be sighted in. No real problem there; I just used the Globe front sight as a super large aperture and went to the firing line for those first shots. Not too bad either. The targets were easily placed in the middle of that big circle for a front sight and that was all I needed while doing the shooting necessary to get the elevation settings for the rear sight. Those first shots were also for

breaking in the new barrel and I was using paper-patched loads with 425-grain bullets. For the actual match I used 450-grain grease-groove bullets and I was surprised to find that the heavier bullets, shot with the same 65 grains of Olde Eynsford 2F powder, needed an additional 10 minutes of elevation. WHEN PAT GOT to camp, he took my rifle and quickly used a very small saw to cut away the tiny burr that prevented the sight apertures from completely entering. In fact, he did it so fast that I asked him to pretend he was working on it so I could get a picture. That’s when he picked up the hammer and acted like he was beating the daylights out of my new rifle. Yes, that makes an

Cumberland’s Northwest Trappers Supply, Inc. Cumberland’s Northwest Trappers Supply is your one-stop trapping supply headquarters, featuring one of the largest inventories in the U.S. We are factory direct distributors on all brands of traps and equipment which allows us to offer competitive prices. Give us a try. Our fast, friendly service will keep you coming back. Over 50 Years Of Service To The Trap & Fur Industry

Request A Catalog Or Place An Order By Phone, Mail Or On Our Website If you get in the area, visit our store!

We are the new home of “Trappers Hide Tanning Formula” in the bright orange bottle. Retail & dealer inquiries are welcome.

P.O. Box 408, Owatonna, Minnesota 55060 • (507) 451-7607 trapper@nwtrappers.com • www.nwtrappers.com americanshootingjournal.com 39

BLACK POWDER

A Rosebud County fire crew puts out a grass fire that started on the shooting line.

interesting picture but it was all an act. And the quick fix was very good. C. Sharps Arms has a repair bench in their tent at Quigley just for those jobs and it’s often busy. During more practice, there was a fire on the firing line. The dry grass took off in a hurry but the Rosebud County fire crew was ready for it, and the blaze was extinguished very professionally. No one knows

the exact cause of the fire but I heard a rumor that a shooter was using smokeless powder loads with toilet paper wadded under the bullets to act as filler. If that is true, that would do it.

ALLEN CUNNIFF WAS using paperpatched loads in his .45-70 and competing with them at Quigley for his first time. With no lube in the loads, he was wiping his bore between shots

The Quigley crowd waits for awards under darkening skies.

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

and doing very well. The shooting at Quigley is done in squads of six and you need to be ready when the scorekeeper calls your name. That’s when it’s your turn to shoot. Allen was somewhat afraid that he’d be too slow while basically cleaning his rifle between shots. But that was no problem, and he was getting good hits. My own shooting during the match pleased me rather well. Our group started with the offhand shot at the 350-yard bucket on Saturday morning. That was when the winds were the most relaxed and I also got my first hit for score with the new rifle ... but it was only one hit. Then we moved to the 805-yard buffalo and the winds grew to serious speeds. My .50-70’s midrange tang sight was just about maxed out to reach that distance and I needed Kentucky windage to find the target. The tang sight is adjustable for windage, but that wasn’t enough. So Kentucky windage was used on the following targets too. Not too bad, all in all, and I got 22 hits for the match, which was one hit more than I got in

S R’ R E L LE UMMB THTU

BRASS MASTER ULTRA VIBE CASE CLEANERS

Made of durable steel construction - heavyduty, sealed ball bearing motors - thermally protected - fast, quiet operation - 3/4 to 4 3/4 gallon capacity - industrial and rotary models available. Send for our free brochure! TRU-SQUARE METAL PRODUCTS, INC. P.O. Box 585, Auburn, Washington 98071 TEL (253) 833-2310 or Toll Free 1-(800) 225-1017 www.thumlerstumbler.com t-tumbler@thumlerstumbler.com

“Manufacturers of quality case cleaners, deburring and tumbling equipment since 1959” americanshootingjournal.com 41

BLACK POWDER

Dave Gullo of Buffalo Arms was the top shooter at Quigley with 40 hits.

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

2019 while using my .44-77. The winner of the match was Dave Gullo, the friendly owner of Buffalo Arms Company, with 40 hits for his 48 shots for score. Dave is simply a great shooter and this is the second time he’s won the top honors at Quigley, winning the first time in 2017. In addition to that, he’s been in the top 10 at Quigley several times. Dave is more than a great shooter because he shares his knowledge and techniques with all who want to give this fine black powder sport a good try. So the hot shooting at this year’s hot-weather Quigley match is over. For more info about this year’s match, plus scores and pictures from previous years, go to quigleymatch. com. The Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match is one of the most wellattended black powder cartridge shoots you can find. I figure to be there again next year, but maybe not while using another new rifle. 

gun GEAR JONES ARMS jonesarms.com Introducing the Jones Arms Barricade Stop! This minimalist-style barricade stop is machined out of 7075 aluminum and uses M-Lok to attach to handguards. It provides excellent traction when braced along objects, thanks to the teeth that dig into the material. The curve of the BCS-1 allows for movement and adjustments for the shooter when needed. It can also be used forward or backward as a hand stop, finger rest or thumb rest. The lightweight, low-profile design doesn’t get in the way of other accessories and only needs one M-Lok slot to attach. Currently comes in two colors, black anodized or electric bronze. Made in the USA.

AMERICAN BUILT ARMS COMPANY abarms.com

KICK-EEZ kickeezproducts.com Kick-Eez sells a wide selection of rifle recoil pads and shooting supplies made of Sorbothane, which provides shock absorption and reduces recoil effectively and quickly. Less recoil reduces flinching, easing sore shoulders and cheeks, and eliminates it in all shooting conditions. All Kick-Eez products are proudly made in the USA.

VELOCITY PRECISION velocitytriggers.com Like all Velocity Precision products, their Recoil-less Bolt Carrier is designed with accuracy and performance in mind. Their unique patent-pending design is stronger than other low-mass bolt carriers and is one of the lightest bolt carriers on the market. The Recoil-less Bolt Carrier significantly reduces your rifle’s recoil impulse for faster follow-up shots and its Nano Diamond Nickel coating makes it extremely wear-resistant, easy to clean and uncompromisingly durable. This unique coating creates a very slick surface that reduces the probability of failures due to a lack of lubrication, reduces typical wear and tear on expensive parts, and truly makes shooting your AR-15 much more fun. The real value of lightweight bolt carriers comes when one is paired with an adjustable gas block, which is why Velocity Precision offers both in a bundled product package. Reducing the rifle’s returning gas, together with the reduced weight of the bolt carrier is what reduces the recoil and muzzle rise to nearly zero. Without both you’re really only going halfway! See us at booth #747

The A*B Arms A*B Pro 5.56 Bolt Assembly is built to MilSpec dimensions. Their bolts are specially made in the USA on high-end Swiss machinery to have exacting tolerances and surface finish.They are coated with nickel boron, allowing them to run longer and require less cleaning, maintenance and lubrication. The coating also enhances heat dissipation, allowing the bolts to run cooler. A*B Arms is known in the industry for manufacturing one of the finest quality bolts and extractors available. In turn, this has won them contracts with some of the highest quality AR manufacturers in the business.

americanshootingjournal.com 47

gun gear

GENTRY CUSTOM LLC gentrycustom.com Gentry Custom is known for the Quiet Muzzle Brake, which will make for a user-friendly rifle. The Quiet Muzzle Brake reduces recoil and muzzle jump so you can get that second shot off if needed, without the large increase of noise to the shooter. Many of the factory rifles have been threaded for a muzzle brake. Gentry Custom offers 5/8-24 threads and many others. Call them today and they can provide the proper Quiet Muzzle Brake for your rifle. Gentry Custom also offers a threeposition safety for the Remington family of rifles and the Mauser 98.

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

ANARCHY OUTDOORS anarchyoutdoors.com

TIMBER CREEK OUTDOORS timbercreekoutdoorsinc.com Take your build to the next level with the Timber Creek Outdoors Enforcer Kit. Available in multiple color choices, this kit features high-end performance parts and jaw-dropping looks. It’s perfect for sportsmen, competitors, firearms enthusiasts and people who trust their lives to their equipment. When combined together, these parts improve usability, ergonomics and dependability of any small-framed modern sporting rifle. Timber Creek products are manufactured in the USA by Americans, who implement uncompromising quality control and offer a lifetime warranty, making the Enforcer Kit one of the best investments a shooter can make in their equipment. MSRP: $749.99.

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

Speed your magnification adjustments with an optic upgrade to an Anarchy Outdoors Polymer Throw Lever. An Anarchy Outdoors throw lever is a key addition to any optic – from those used by top-level competitors to recreational marksmen. Increase your magnification without ever removing your eye from the reticle. AO scope throw levers are specifically designed for each scope model for a premium fit and feel. Their unique, high-quality throw lever designs allow you to see through the throw lever instead of blocking the elevation turret. Engineered using the latest in on-demand manufacturing, these throw levers are crafted out of an incredibly strong nylon 11 material and use a specially designed ceramic-coated thread insert for the most secure install.

gun gungear gear RECOIL BUFFERS buffertech.com Recoil Buffers are designed to minimize abrupt metal-on-metal impact of a firearms bolt or slide impacting the frame while firing. Their buffers help mitigate felt recoil and minimize component wear. Polymer (Estane 58130) material won’t be affected by common firearm cleaners, lasting for hundreds and hundreds of rounds. Lightweight, inexpensive inserts are available for a variety of rimfire and centerfire semiautomatic handguns and rifles, such as Ruger 10/22, CZ 75/85, SKS, 1911, S&W 41, Browning High Power, Glock, AR-15, Sig Sauer, AK and more. Buffers are easy to install (no gunsmith required) and installation instructions are included.

DEFIANCE MACHINE defiancemachine.com As Defiance continues to innovate and find new ways to better serve their customers, they have pushed the envelope again. The anTi X is an ultra-lightweight action (weighing as little as 22 ounces) with integral scope mounts and recoil lug that shares the same guaranteed head-space measurement as the Ruckus, Tenacity and anTi. Using prehardened 416R stainless for the receiver and a 4340 chrome moly bolt, customers get the smoothness, reliability and longevity that they have come to expect from Defiance.

STOCKY’S stockysstocks.com Check out Stocky’s new Accublock Long Range Thumbhole stocks! Touted as “literally the finest thumbhole stocks” the company has ever carried, unlike typical “one shape fits all” laminated stocks, these forends are cut, vented and tapered to precisely fit either the 700 Police/Varmint or 700 Sporter barrels in either long or short action. Save $50 now by going to Stocky’s website and ordering online for only $299!

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

DEAD FOOT ARMS deadfootarms.com The SCW 2.5 Tailhook is by far the most compact PDW-style pistol brace that the industry has ever seen, with a collapsed length of 2.5 inches. While compact, it is still very versatile, allowing for buttonfree brace deployment and five length-of-pull settings. See us at booth #746

gun gear ULTIMAK, INC. ultimak.com UltiMAK has become legendary for their forward optic mounting system for AKs, the M1 Garand, M14/M1A, Mini-14 and .30 M1 Carbine. It’s truly a system, incorporating features like simple user installation, rock-solid stability, a low optic height providing co-witnessing in many cases, and no added bulk to the firearm. The forward mounting position is perfect for a scout-style scope (9-inch eye relief ideal), a pistol scope (for AKs) or a reflex (red dot) sight. Discover the faster, easier target acquisition, expanded shooting hours (with an illuminated reticle optic such as a reflex sight), broader field-of-view in tactical situations and simplicity of use that the UltiMAK system provides.

CDNN SPORTS cdnnsports.com The Bushnell A17 3.5-10x36mm Matte Rimfire Scope is designed to meet the specific requirements of .17 HMR and .22 rimfire rifles. Bushnell optics are coated with Bushnell’s proprietary Dusk & Dawn Brightness (DDB) multicoating process, giving you the brightness and clarity you need to fill your tag in those critical first and last minutes of daylight. Includes three replaceable BDC turrets: 1 .17 HMR ammunition 1 MOA click values 1 customizable to the shooter’s needs Other features include: • Multi-X reticle • Fast-focus eyepiece • Adjustable parallax • Multi-coated optics • One-piece 1-inch tube • Dry-nitrogen filled • Dusk & Dawn Brightness (DDB) coatings • 100-percent waterproof, fogproof and shockproof • ¼ MOA fingertip windage and elevation adjustment

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

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

Lightweight rifles are often thought of as expensive and only for those who hunt far from the road. But thanks to advancements in materials and manufacturing, gun companies are making more affordable models that are easy to carry and extremely accurate, so every sportsman should look at hunting with one.

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

LIGHTWEIGHT RIFLES ARE FOR EVERY HUNTER

Whether you hunt backcountry or closer to the road, are an adult or youth hunter, there’s no need to lug a heavy rifle around these days, thanks to modern materials and manufacturing processes. There are plentiful options from big-name companies and custom gun makers. PART I OF III ON LIGHTWEIGHT HUNTING RIFLES STORY AND PHOTOS BY JASON BROOKS

limbing to the ridgeline, the altitude was making my lungs burn but the pinch on my shoulder is what hurt the most. Like most new hunters, when I was a kid and on my first deer hunt, I was using a rifle that was handed down to me. Turns out this rifle was a Remington Model 141 in .35 Remington. The all-American steel pump-action rifle, topped with a fixed 4-power Weaver scope and loaded with 200-grain roundnose bullets was a bit too much back when I was 10 years old. Even now, nearly 37 years later, I still detest carrying that heavy rifle into the backcountry. Luckily, since the Model 141 came out 85 years ago, gun companies have shaved the weight off rifles, making them much more comfortable to carry afield. Scaling miles of steep hills through all kinds of weather, from hot and sunny to freezing cold, a rifle will be on our shoulder or in our hands through it all. So why is it that most hunters don’t think about the weight of that rifle when purchasing a new one? Maybe it’s because it’s all the rage to shoot a country mile, or because of some new caliber that only comes in a few base rifles. More than likely, americanshootingjournal.com 55

it is because hunters often get too excited over features such as a superlong barrel, compensators, laminated stocks, bipods or a scope with megamagnification. All of this adds a lot of weight to a rifle, which is mostly unnecessary for normal hunting conditions. Thanks to the popularity of backcountry hunting in recent years, gunmakers are now offering quality rifles in ultra-lightweight configurations that meet the demands of all hunters, from those who prefer to hike miles into the high country to those who would rather return to the camper for a midday lunch. Whether you’re a hunter on a budget or you can afford a high-end custom firearm, there is a lightweight rifle for you.

WHEN MY OLDEST son started deer hunting, I made sure that I did not force him to carry a heavy piece of steel around. Instead, I opted to buy a rifle that would suit him as a young hunter in recoil, fit and ease of carrying in the mountains. With my son being left-handed, I thought this would be impossible to do, but this was in 2011, which just happens to be the year that Browning introduced the X-Bolt Micro-Midas at SHOT Show. The quality-built rifle has a shorter length of pull and is lightweight, but it has features that an adult shooter would prefer, such as a detachable magazine and rock-solid construction. The rifle is chambered in 7mm-08, weighs just 6.1 pounds and comes in both right- and left-handed versions. It was not only my son’s first rifle but also my introduction to lightweight hunting rifles. The next year I began my own search for a lightweight backcountry rifle. Many mainstream

Author Jason Brooks packs out a backcountry mule deer while carrying the light and accurate Kimber Mountain Ascent Subalpine in .300 WSM. The Savage 110 Lightweight Hunter is not only budget-friendly but a beautiful rifle that is lightweight. It is also offered in a stainless steel and composite stock version, but the author prefers his wood stock and blued model in 7mm-08.

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

americanshootingjournal.com 57

manufacturers offer lightweight rifles, such as the Browning Micro-Midas, Winchester Featherweight and Savage Lightweight Hunter, plus there’s the budget-conscious Mossberg Patriot. Specialty firearms companies offer even more options at a bit higher price, but they are well worth it; these include the Kimber Mountain Ascent and Montana series, as well as the Christensen Arms Ridgeline and Summit TI models. Settling on the Savage Model 11 Lightweight Hunter, again in 7mm-

08 and weighing a scant 5.5 pounds, the rifle accompanied me on several high-country deer hunts. The 20inch barrel, spiral-fluted bolt and skeletonized stock are topped with a Leupold VX-III 2-8x36mm to keep the overall weight to a minimum. The rifle has even accounted for three elk to go along with the many mule deer that were all taken in the backcountry. Regardless of which make or model of rifle you choose, manufacturers are making them lighter through modern milling and materials. One weight-

A high-country Idaho mule deer taken with a sub-6pound Savage Lightweight Hunter Model 110 in 7mm08. Steep mountains like in Idaho’s River of No Return Wilderness are where the light rifle shines most.

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

saving technique is carving out the bolt handle knob, fluting the barrel and making it pencil-thin. Another option is using a stock made of carbon fiber and an internal box magazine. Those that sport wood stocks are shaved down and non-use areas, such as under the forearm, have wood removed. Some rifles are so light that even small calibers can kick a bit, so it’s worth the extra few ounces for the muzzle brake and a good recoil pad.

A FEW YEARS ago, I was able to get my

1,500 lbs 12:1 Cow Mini Hoist

Like having 6 guys in your pack. Only quieter. 20 ounces 30 cubic in.

Ancient Technology Modern Materials

Build it Right Build it Once Build it Here

www.PocketOx.com

americanshootingjournal.com 59

The Kimber Mountain Ascent Subalpine in .300 WSM topped with a Leupold VX3i 4.5-14x50 is just under 8 pounds with ammunition and makes for a light and accurate rifle that is practical for hunting elk in any terrain.

hands on a Kimber Mountain Ascent in .280 Ackley Improved. Unlike the Savage and the Browning, each sporting a 20-inch barrel, this rifle has a full 24-inch barrel and is still only 5 pounds, 6 ounces. It quickly became my backcountry elk rifle, only to be handed down to my youngest son as his first rifle, which he has since used to take two elk and numerous other game, including a black bear. Needing another lightweight elk rifle, the choice was easily made: the Kimber Mountain Ascent Subalpine in .300 WSM. This rifle, again sporting a 24-inch barrel and weighing just over 5 pounds, meant heavy recoil. All of Kimber’s Mountain Ascent line of rifles come with a threaded barrel and muzzle brakes. They also have fully adjustable triggers and guaranteed MOA accuracy.

Lee Freeman, owner and gun builder of Oregon Mountain Rifle Company, shoots a Lonerock Ti chambered in 6.5 PRC that he built at his Corbett, Oregon, gun shop. This rifle weighs right around 5 pounds. OMRC makes some of the lightest and most accurate rifles on the market.

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

When it comes to the upper end of the spectrum for lightweight hunting rifles, the hunter has several options for a custom firearm. One such manufacturer is Oregon Mountain Rifle Company out of Corbett, Oregon. Lee Freeman is the owner and makes every firearm, one at a time. When you call the company to discuss a lightweight rifle, you will be talking to Lee himself. Utilizing his own handmade carbon-fiber-wrapped barrels – which is how the company started, by retrofitting your action with a new barrel – he now builds an extremely accurate and lightweight rifle on a modern bolt platform. The Lonerock Ti Chassis Rifle’s action is a mere 18 ounces and the overall rifle weight is insanely light, depending on your requests. This is a true custombuilt rifle to your liking and can even

include a folding stock to make it easier to load into a pack when bulk is a consideration. Last fall, Lee and I were hunting the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness in central Idaho. Flying in by bush plane meant bulk and weight were high on the priority list. When we landed, Lee pulled out a Lonerock Ti in 6.5 PRC that weighed right around 5 pounds. The week prior, he had it at his long-range testing area and was hitting a 12- by 16-inch steel plate at 1,115 yards. Turns out you can have your long-range and lightweight backcountry rifle after all. There really is no reason to lug around a heavy rifle on your next hunt. Instead, lighten the load with one of the many lightweight rifles, either a custom one or one right out of the box from your favorite gun company. 

The question is... Do you want to hunt ducks or be a duck hunter?

Natural Wonderduck Water Motion Decoys

The paddle in the back give the illusion of decoy feet paddling! Comes with rear mounted motors that run on two D-cell batteries, for up to 25 hours or more. Optional timer available. Orange weedless paddling feet and foot attachments, easy access for battery holder, waterproof switch and floatation insert.

To order or for more information – wonderduck.com 1-800-876-1697

SHOTGUNS DICKINSON ARMS dickinsonarms.com Dickinson’s Plantation Series Over & Under shotgun brings timeless beauty and precision performance within range of more hunters and shooters. Each model combines the latest CNC technology and CNC-machined lever mainsprings with old world craftsmanship, materials and attention to detail. Available in all gauges and .410, the Plantation Series features premium trigger plate mechanisms with cosmetic side plates. True bone-charcoal casehardening makes each Plantation a unique work of art, while hand-engraved English scroll delivers an air of distinction. Handcheckered, premier-grade Turkish walnut completes this premium-quality O/U that retails for $2,499. See us at booth #1349

JTS GROUP jtsgroup.us The JTS AK pattern shotgun has been touted as the ultimate home defense gun. With confidence, power and precision, the ever-reliable JTS shotgun has allowed household protectors to sleep more comfortably than memory foam. Yet this nimble optics-ready shotgun can do far more than guard the gate. Designed for reliability and speed, the JTS AK is the perfect companion for the blind, stand or on the stalk. Hog, deer, boar and turkey hunters are finding that the same gun they have to protect the ones they love works just as well to pursue the game they love to hunt. See us at booth #414 americanshootingjournal.com 63

ROAD HUNTER

Decoying pronghorn can be very effective, but be ready when you set up, as bucks can come charging in at top speed.

PRIMETIME PRONGHORN

How to successfully hunt and field dress those fleet, far-seeing icons of the West, antelope. STORY AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT HAUGEN

y dog wouldn’t even eat that stinkin’ thing,” scowled the rancher as he looked over a pronghorn I was skinning. It was an old, record-class buck I’d taken during the peak of the rut and you could smell it from 10 paces away. But once the hide was removed and the buck quartered and in cold storage, the clean, odorless meat was sure to yield

“

many great meals, and it did. The key to optimizing the flavor of any big game taken in hot conditions is quickly removing the hide and cooling the meat, and this is especially true with pronghorn. In addition to great tasting meat, pronghorn hunting throughout the West has much to offer. During the August and September hunting seasons, the weather is warm with the high desert often ensconced by stunning blue skies. It’s a great time to be afield.

Pronghorn are also plentiful, meaning if you blow one opportunity, there’s likely another around the next corner. Nothing quite cleanses the soul like being in our West’s vast desert, a habitat full of life the closer you look, and so rich in history. OPTIMIZING THE MEAT For many of us, drawing a prized pronghorn tag is the biggest challenge of hunting them. This is especially true if applying in trophy units, where many preference points must first be acquired americanshootingjournal.com 65

ROAD HUNTER cover the meat, as air must circulate around it.

An icon of the American West’s high desert, pronghorn can be hunted in multiple states.

in order to have a chance at winning a coveted tag through a lottery system. Once a tag is in hand, however, rest assured you’ll be pursuing one of the tastiest, most tender big game animals out there, no matter how strong they smell on the hoof. Despite what many people claim, pronghorn meat is excellent and many seasoned hunters rank them atop the most flavorful of all North American big game. My family has enjoyed eating numerous pronghorn over the decades, both bucks and does, and they are among our favorites. The key to optimizing the quality of pronghorn meat comes in quickly taking care of it in the field. Avoid driving around with the hide on, showing friends or continuing to try and fill a buddy’s tag. In order to make the most of that meat, the moment your pronghorn is down, snap photos and immediately get to field dressing. Get the animal into the shade, peel off the hide and quarter the entire thing – fast. Take a couple big coolers with ice and quickly get the meat cooling; don’t kill an animal and then drive to a little town in search of ice. Remove the backstraps, fillet the neck meat, grab the tenderloins and 66

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

break down the rib cage. Pronghorn are surprisingly small and will easily fit into one large cooler or a couple midsized ones once quartered and cut. Age the meat five to seven days in temperatures between 33 and 42 degrees Fahrenheit. An antelope is small and its parts will easily fit into a refrigerator. Be sure not to stack or

After sitting in a ground blind for five days straight and not getting a shot, rains came and author Scott Haugen stalked to within bow range of this great buck. As with any big game, patience and timing are important when hunting pronghorn.

HUNT PREPARATION Once you draw a pronghorn tag, start scouting. Even if drawing a tag out of state, it’s a good idea to scout your hunting area at least once before the season begins. Another option is to get to the hunting grounds a few days before the season so you have time to scout for a good buck. Whether you scout in late spring or anytime in the summer, bucks won’t be far from where you find them come August or September. By late spring, pronghorn bucks are starting to mark their territories. They do this by rubbing scent glands and saliva on brush, typically beginning in May. They’ll keep marking these scent lines all summer long, often urinating and defecating in places where they paw the ground with their feet. Search for a buildup of droppings and fresh urine in these scrapes. Setting up trail cameras along scrape lines, as well as waterholes and on trails leading to and from waterholes, can provide a great deal of information. Many pronghorn are hunted on

ROAD HUNTER public land, and learning as much about the terrain and the animals as possible is key to success, making scouting crucial. If, however, you’re looking for permission to hunt on private land, make phone calls and knock on doors early, not a few days prior to the season. While many property owners might not allow strangers to hunt on their land for deer and elk, pronghorn can be a different story. By the time August pronghorn seasons commence, the pre-rut will be taking place, so search for bucks and does when scouting. August is when mature bucks begin to separate from one another and hang around does. They’ll cover more ground and make more frequent scrapes, and large bucks will start chasing off smaller bucks. While many hunters drive roads searching for pronghorns, most big bucks are taken by hunters who are willing to walk and glass hidden pockets. Being in good shape while scouting and hunting raises success rates, as the more ground you can cover on foot, the better. Pronghorn hunting takes place in very hot conditions, so make sure all your gear is in order. Having a hydration system that holds plenty of water is important when scouting and hunting. Prior to the hunt, practice shooting and know your effective range. Shots at pronghorn can be long, so know exactly what your shooting capability is, and practice shooting from various positions. Pronghorn aren’t very big animals, and a flat-shooting rifle in a small caliber, topped with a powerful scope, can aid in shot accuracy. Make sure your vehicle is in good condition and has proper tread for rugged, rocky terrain. Carry extra water, a cooler of food, a big cooler with ice and two spare tires. Hunting from a mobile camp in the field is much more efficient than staying at a distant motel. Ideally you’ll know the location of multiple bucks by the time hunting season arrives. While many archery hunters target waterholes, it’s not uncommon for mature bucks to drink 68

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

The thicker – and usually darker – the bases of a buck’s horns are, the older the animal will be. Search for these features, along with a prong that starts splitting above the ear tips and projects far forward.

at night, meaning sitting at a waterhole and waiting for them to arrive can be valuable time that’s wasted. THE HUNT When rifle hunting for pronghorn, spot-and-stalk allows hunters to cover much more ground than sitting in one or two spots and glassing.

Pronghorn occupy a range of habitats, from farmland to sage, river bottoms to timber. Due to the varied terrain in which pronghorn live, glassing is an efficient way to find them. Invest in the best glass you can afford, including binoculars and a spotting scope. You’ll also want a rangefinder. Early morning and evening are best to

ROAD HUNTER find pronghorns on the move. During the heat of the day, pronghorns often bed down in shade, broken ground or even in open flats with a commanding view; it’s impressive the hot conditions these animals can tolerate. Pronghorns can easily hide in uneven terrain, grass and amid bushes, so cover ground in order to see all the land you can. Due to a pronghorn’s two-tone coloration, the way they reflect light can make them surprisingly challenging to find. Pronghorns have exceptional vision, so locating them before they see you is important. If you spot an animal with your spotting scope 1,000 yards away, don’t get careless, and rest assured they can see you too. Field judging a pronghorn buck is not easy, so don’t get in a rush. If hunting for a trophy-class buck, look for a dark face that runs from the Shots can be long at pronghorn, and shooting from a solid rest is important. If you can’t get prone, be sure to have shooting sticks that allow you to set up above the brush, as the author did on this Wyoming buck.

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

nose to the base of the horns, which indicates a fully mature buck. On a trophy buck, the prongs start forking above the tips of the ears and they appear very large while protruding far forward from the horn. Overall horn length should be 2½ to 3 times the length of the ear; the average ear length is about 6 inches. The thicker the horns, the more mature the buck. Horns with a base circumference of 6 to 7 inches indicate a trophy-class buck. When looked at from the side, a buck’s eye is about 2 inches wide, and because it sits directly under the horn, it’s a good reference point with which to gauge horn circumference. When it comes to the shot, take your time and shoot from a solid resting position. If you can’t shoot from a prone position, a tripod shooting stick will help steady the shot. Range

a pronghorn before shooting, as their small size and contrasting colors result in shots often being missed high. Finding a trophy pronghorn requires effort, and dedicated scouting greatly improves the odds of locating what you’re after. When on the hunt, be patient and enjoy what many hunters praise as the West’s most relaxing, enjoyable big game hunt, amid some of the country’s most breathtaking land.  Editor’s note: Want to learn how to quickly break down a pronghorn in the field and cape a buck? Order Scott’s popular DVD Field Dressing, Skinning & Caping Big Game at scotthaugen.com or send a $20 check to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489. Follow Scott’s adventures on Instagram and Facebook.

TOUGH • DURABLE • LIGHT Easy Loader, Deuce & EZ-XL Models

• • • •

Easy Loader & Deuce accommodate • 2 dogs up to 65 lbs each EZ-XL accommodates 2 dogs over • 65 lbs each Made from High Density • Polyethylene with UV protection Easy Loader fits most full size pickups, SUVs & large UTVs

Deuce fits smaller pickups, SUVs & UTVs EZ-XL is for larger breed dogs & full size vehicles Vents, cold weather door covers, insulated covers & custom kennel pads available

Introducing the EASY XL. For large breed dogs. EASY-LOADER Dog Kennels

w. e as

yloaderkennel

s.co

Bartlesville, OK • 800-853-2655

Call 800-853-2655 Check out our website for new accessories www.easyloaderkennels.com

KNIVES EXQUISITEKNIVES.COM exquisiteknives.com Exquisiteknives.com offers the finest of collectible custom knives. This fine Subhilt fighter is from a threebrother team from Argentina, CAS. The Damascus steel blade is breathtaking, and the fittings are blued as well as textured with tasteful gold accents. Stag handle is expertly shaped and feels great in the hand. Youngest brother Marcelo makes the sheaths and he is really putting out some awesome stuff! Exquisiteknives.com is your one-stop shop online for hunters, fighters, Bowies, high-end folding knives and many of the hardest-to-find knifemakers.

ZERO TOLERANCE KNIVES ztknives.com

KERSHAW KNIVES kershawknives.com

For the first time ever, Zero Tolerance is using a black-oxide BlackWash finish with its classic tiger stripe pattern. The 0308BLKTS features a beefy 3.7-inch tiger stripe blade with premium CPM 20CV blade steel, which offers exceptional hardness, wear-resistance and edge retention. The handle features black G10 on the front scale with a titanium back. Both the front and back are heavily 3D-machined for an ultra-secure grip. The .25-inch solid pivot features a custom nut that enables it to be adjusted in the field with a 1/2-inch wrench. The pocketclip hole pattern is compatible with many after-market clips. Made in the USA.

Kershaw Knives’ Launch 13 combines the best of both slimness and full-sized cutting ability. Its Wharncliffe blade is perfect for fine work, yet it’s slightly angled for more versatile cutting. The CPM 154 powdered metallurgy blade steel takes and holds an excellent edge, providing corrosion-resistance, wear-resistance and toughness. The narrow profile and deep-carry pocketclip let the Launch 13 easily ride in the pocket. Design details round out the package, including an integrated lanyard hole, a two-tone blade and a custom triangular pivot. Made in the USA.

americanshootingjournal.com 73

MY WIT GOV Air Force Technical Sergeant Daniel Fye, who in 2011 suffered a serious leg injury during a tour of duty in Afghanistan, has developed a passion for hunting. With a boost from organizations like Outdoors For Our Heroes and Safari Club International, Fye was able to join Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy for a moose and bear hunt.

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

MY HUNT WITH THE VERNOR

A wounded warrior is joined by Alaska’s chief executive, Mike Dunleavy, for a memorable moose and bear hunt out of a historic lodge. AS TOLD BY AIR FORCE TSGT DANIEL FYE PHOTOS BY DAN OLSON/SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL

wanted to serve my country after 9/11, so I joined the Air Force. There were a lot of hunters in my unit and I found myself developing an interest in hunting, but I did not come from a family of outdoorsmen and most of my friends did not hunt. I spoke about it and my wife even bought me a Winchester Model 70. I had a rifle and I wanted to hunt, but I struggled with figuring how to get started, and that rifle sat unused for many years! Then on May 27, 2011, during my fourth deployment, this time in Afghanistan, while conducting a joint dismounted operation with the Army, I stepped on an IED and was severely injured. I lost my left leg below the knee and my right leg had extensive damage. I was medevaced to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, where I spent two and a half months as an inpatient at Brooke Army Medical Center, and then a couple years of therapy and learning to walk again at the Center for the Intrepid. The damage to my right leg required the use of a halo system, called the Taylor Spatial Frame. They used this device to straighten and stretch my leg to repair the damage and grow back most of the bone that was lost in the blast. I spent 13 extremely painful months with that device bolted to my leg, and within a week of its removal my leg broke again. I had to wear a very painful hard plastic clamshell brace for over six months before my leg would heal and I could be fitted with a IDEO brace, which finally allowed me to walk without the assistance of crutches or americanshootingjournal.com 77

Fye’s hunt took place out of Rainy Pass Lodge, located 125 miles northwest of Anchorage amidst the spectacular landscape of the Alaska Range.

canes. With the new brace and the use of a prosthetic leg I was finally able to get around a lot better.

SOON AFTER THIS, I started receiving invitations for some of the hunting opportunities offered to wounded servicemen and veterans, but I had just gone through a long, painful recovery process and was not ready for it.

Then one day a friend I had met at the gym asked me if I liked to hunt. I told him I had never been hunting. He told me that he owned 400 acres of land on which he took veterans hunting and he invited me to come along. I decided it was time to try and overcome my anxieties, get out of my comfort zone and go hunting! His property was set up to take anyone hunting, no matter his or her abilities. I was able to harvest a nice

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

nine-point buck, and that was my first animal I ever hunted. I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to finally hunt and provide meat for my family. I was hooked! Then in the fall of 2019, I was contacted by my good friend Jason Brown from Outdoors For Our Heroes (OFOH). Jason had heard of an amazing moose hunt in Alaska and asked if I would like for him to put my name in for it. Heck yeah, I would! Alaska has always been on the top of my list of places that I’ve dreamed of visiting, and so I jumped at the chance to hunt moose there. Several months went by and I had pretty much forgotten about it until Jason called to tell me that I was being considered for the hunt; and it was not just any hunt. It was a hunt based out of the

oldest hunting lodge in Alaska, on horseback, and it was with the governor of Alaska. I thought there was no chance I would be the one selected for this amazing hunt. I felt that there were many veterans far more deserving of the opportunity. Jason put me in contact with Cody Scriver of the Northwest Chapter of Safari Club International to help me with the next step, a video conference interview with representatives from SCI Alaska Chapter, and Steve Perrins of Rainy Pass Lodge (907-770-6304; theperrinsrainypasslodge.com), located 125 miles northwest of Anchorage. I did not know what to expect with the interview, but I was going to do my best to impress them in hopes of having a chance to go on this amazing hunt. I was honored to be considered for

Fye (on his horse, Strudel) was joined by Dunleavy (right) for the hunt and guided by Stevie Perrins (center).

this hunt, and after I had mentioned this during what I thought was the interview, SCI Alaska Chapter director John Sturgeon told me that there must be a misunderstanding: “This is not an interview; you have already been selected. This is just our way of introducing ourselves and getting to know you!” Jason and Cody had known that I had been selected for some time, but they saved the honor of telling me for the hunt donor Steve Perrins and representatives from the hunt sponsor, SCI Alaska Chapter. I was beyond excited to be going on this once-in-alifetime experience.

I HAD TO prepare for this hunt. I had only ridden a horse once – a short trail ride during one of my daughter’s birthday parties – and I didn’t have the

hunting gear necessary for this type of Alaskan hunt. SCI Northwest and OFOH both helped me select the gear I would need, and they set me up with riding lessons.

I learned quickly and found that I enjoy working with and riding horses. At first I struggled with mounting the horse, but I overcame this with a little practice, and after only a few lessons I was ready to experience Alaska, on horseback. I would come to learn that riding on a trail and riding across the Alaska wilderness is a whole different story! Then the day finally came for me to begin my journey from Seattle, Washington, and embark on one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Just seeing the raw and rugged beauty of Alaska from the plane would have been enough for me, but

Anchorage was just my first stop! I was met by Joel Helgerson of SCI Alaska, and after a quick stop to check into my hotel we spent the evening touring Anchorage and visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center for my first look at a bull moose and other local wildlife. The next morning, I met Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy at the float plane dock where we would be departing for our flight to the Perrins’ Rainy Pass Lodge. Meeting the governor was a huge honor. He towered over my 6-foot-1 frame, but he was incredibly nice and I liked him right away. We had a short weather delay and I had to remove my prosthetic leg to cram into the front seat, but before too long we were loaded into a 1950s DHC-2 Beaver for an amazingly americanshootingjournal.com 79

scenic flight into Rainy Pass Lodge. We landed on the lake in front of the lodge, where we received a warm welcome from Perrins, his family and all those who worked at the lodge. It was nice to finally meet the family who had made my dream of coming to Alaska a reality. We offloaded gear and got settled into our cabin where I was able to really get to know the governor, who is very personable. It quickly went from hunting with the governor, to just me and a friend on a hunting trip. I had the same experience with the Perrins family and the entire Rainy Pass Lodge team. All of them are the most gracious and friendly people you will ever meet. I was already having an amazing experience and we had not Glassing early in the hunt turned up some smaller moose and a black bear sow and her cub. But there were bulls nearby.

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

even left the lodge yet! The next morning, guide Stevie Perrins took us out to sight in our rifles and familiarize me with my horse, Strudel, a beautiful Alaska mountain horse of the shorter, sturdier Norwegian fjord breed that I had no problems mounting or riding. From there, we packed our lunches, loaded gear and made our way up to a lookout point with a view of the whole valley. We spent the day glassing, spotting a few smaller moose and a black bear sow with cubs. And later that afternoon I found a bull with several cows across the valley – about 5 miles away. It was getting late but we had a chance, so we mounted up and attempted to close in on him over rough terrain filled with thick brush,

swamps and a river crossing. We gave it our best effort, but there was just not enough time to reach him before dark. He would have to wait!

IN THE MORNING, we headed back up to the lookout spot. Our guide quickly located the bull through his spotting scope and the stalk was on – back over the swamps through the brush and making our way down to and crossing the river.

The water was up to our saddlebags and I could not help but smile at this amazing experience – riding horses through the wilderness of Alaska, crossing rivers and rough terrain while going after a monster bull moose. I do not think I could have foreseen this ever happening nine

years ago when I was laid up in a hospital bed, trying to survive my injuries, but that too has passed and here I was in Alaska! We got within 500 yards of where we had last seen the moose, dismounted and grabbed our rifles, making our final approach on foot. I was so excited that in the thick brush my feet sank a foot deep in the swamp, but the difficulty of the trek was barely noticeable. As we closed in on my bull, Governor Dunleavy pointed to one of the cows. She was standing on full alert and had us busted dead to rights. Once alerted, the bull we were looking for stood up. He was 293 yards on the rangefinder, but the bull had us locked down tight and we could not get any closer. It was shoot from here or pass him up, so we set up a tripod, hoping to get the solid rest we would need for a steady shot. My nerves were really starting to set in, and I’d never shot at that distance before, let alone on uneven ground and through thick brush.

We counted at least five cows with the bull and I had to make sure I had a clear line of fire before I shot. I took aim and I pulled my first shot. The adrenaline had gotten to me and I heard the governor say he thought I had shot high. I saw that the bull was still standing there, and with my next and final shot, I finally took down my first bull moose! We gathered our horses and made our way down to my moose. This was my first time to ever walk up to a bull moose, and it was a huge mature bull, with antlers measuring 60 inches wide. I will never forget the feeling when I walked up to this monster bull. I stood in awe of the sheer size of him and in the realization that I had taken this amazing trophy. Once we had returned to the lodge to gather more pack horses for the pack out the next morning, we spent the rest of the day skinning and quartering the bull and prepping the meat to pack out. This completed the moose hunt and marked the time that Dunleavy had to head back to town.

MASTERING THE SECRET GRIP

“I could not help but smile at this amazing experience,” Fye says of the hunt. “Riding horses through the wilderness of Alaska, crossing rivers and rough terrain while going after a monster bull moose.”

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

NOW IT WAS just me and my guide

Stevie, who is my own age and a great person to hunt with. We really hit it off, and at this point, hunting with Stevie was more like hunting with a friend than hunting with a guide. The two of us headed up to the lookout spot hoping to find a grizzly.

Later that afternoon Stevie spotted one close to where I had taken the moose, but it would be dark before we could make it to him. We called it a day and hoped that we could find him early the next morning. We loaded our horses early and headed toward the spot where we had last seen the bear. I was getting much more comfortable on the horse and more confident in the saddle. I wasn’t as nervous crossing over the same terrain where I had taken my moose or managing the steep descents into the valley. I was even starting to feel like I was meant to be on a horse. The river crossing was still the best part and we were going to have to do that at least two more times to make our way to within 350 yards of the

americanshootingjournal.com 83

bear. He had found the moose carcass and was dragging it into the brush. We dismounted, hitched our horses and made our way on foot to the edge of a small swampy clearing that was 78 yards wide. We set up to wait for the bear on the opposite edge of where I had taken my moose and where the bear had entered the brush. About 15 minutes later I saw him come through the brush towards the remaining moose carcass. This was my first chance to really get a good look at him. He was beautiful, and he

looked huge. I waited until he turned broadside and shot, hitting him just behind the left shoulder. He reared up, turned to run into the brush and Stevie placed a backup shot into his right side. I went to take a second shot, but he was already gone. Stevie tracked the bear, which had only gone about 15 yards, and found him piled up in the brush just a few minutes later. I could not believe I had taken not only a monster bull moose but also this incredibly beautiful brown bear. We skinned my bear, then

headed back to the lodge. I had tagged out and this completed my amazing Alaskan hunting adventure.

WORDS TRULY CANNOT express how amazing this experience had been for me. To be able to say that I hunted the pristine wilderness of Alaska on horseback, slept in the historic Rainy Pass Lodge, plus enjoyed an adventure with the governor of Alaska, is something I will cherish, remember, and talk about for the rest of my life! I got to meet the most amazing The governor (far left) and Fye (far right) celebrate the hunter’s prize.

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

Supporting shooters around the world

www.precisionriflesolutions.com precisionrifle@yahoo.com americanshootingjournal.com 85

people, I made new friends, and, again, words cannot express my gratitude to all of those who created this experience on my behalf. Steve Perrins and his family are amazing and they run a first-class hunting operation. I deeply appreciate and I am forever grateful for their kindness and generosity in providing me this hunt. I would also like to thank my guide Stevie Perrins for taking me on a oncein-a-lifetime hunting experience. He is

an incredible guide, and I am happy to have him as a friend. Another thank you goes to Governor Dunleavy for carving some time out of his busy schedule to join me on this amazing Alaskan adventure. Alaska is a beautiful state, and I hope to return to visit with my family someday. I would also like to thank SCI Alaska Chapter for sponsoring this amazing adventure, for taking care of me in Anchorage, and for making sure that

Fye and guide Perrins also teamed up to score a bruin. “I could not believe I had taken not only a monster bull moose but also this incredibly beautiful brown bear,” the hunter says.

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

my meat and trophies made it home with me. It was great to meet and get to know directors Joel Helgerson and Chad Riedel, and president Jeff Garness. You have helped change my life and given me an experience I will never forget! 

Editor’s note: For more information on Safari Club Alaska’s outdoor adventures with veterans, check out aksafariclub.org/sci-alaska-chapterwarriors.

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

Adventure/INDUSTRY DETAIL COMPANY ADVENTURES detailcompany.com Detail Company Adventures is an all-inclusive travel advisor that specializes in international hunting and fishing vacations all over the globe. Their world-class destinations offer some of the most luxurious 5-star accommodations, food and wine. Simply choose your destination, pack your bags, and they will do the rest. Airline tickets, license, lodging, meals, gun rentals, travel paperwork, travel insurance and much more. All at no additional cost to you! Act now before the travel floodgates open and the year 2022 is sold out. Mention this ad for a discounted rate on your travel insurance purchase. See us at booth #1757

SAUVIE ISLAND DUCK CLUB siduckclub.com

RATTLESNAKE HILL OUTFITTERS rattlesnakehilloutfitters.com Rattlesnake Hill Outfitters is about having a great time shooting feral pigs at night with thermals. Their number one goal is safety and a good time!

Duck club members have access to several acres of private hunting area. Blinds are located in three main areas (and three smaller areas) within the property to help maximize hunting potential and minimize member contact. Sauvie Island Duck Club is located on a great flyway and is a mallard haven! The following memberships are available: Day, Week, and Season. Sauvie Island Duck Club is a private waterfowl hunting club located approximately 10 miles northwest of Portland, Oregon, along US Route 30. Call Ron at 503-539-5396 or check out the website for more information.

americanshootingjournal.com 89

Adventure/INDUSTRY ROBERTSON ENTERPRISES robertsonenterprises.net Your Dandy Camp Kitchen is built to last for a lifetime of fun. This highly organized and well-designed mobile kitchen will have you cooking in 10 minutes anywhere your outdoor adventure takes you. The bear-proof design and aluminum construction make it your best choice for the lake or backcountry. The kitchen utensils are stainless steel to keep you enjoying them for many years. Order yours with all the high-quality items already assembled for you, or order it empty, ready for your own gear.

JOSEPH CHIARELLO & CO., INC. guninsurance.com Joseph Chiarello & Co., Inc. is a family-owned and -operated business founded in 1934 that has specialized in insuring the firearms industry since 1979. Throughout those years many competitors have come and gone. For over 40 years, Joseph Chiarello & Co. has stood by the firearms industry. The insurance coverage they provide is an important tool for managing one’s exposure to risk. They strive to provide the best products and services available to their clients, at reasonable prices. Their primary focus is on commercial general liability and property coverages. This program is underwritten by the Granite State Insurance Company. Policies are written on admitted paper in all 50 states.

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

THE MICHLITCH COMPANY spokanespice.com The perfect spice and seasoning gift ideas for any professional or home chef. The Michlitch Company’s gift packs include freshly ground spices and handcrafted seasonings that showcase their signature blends and gourmet spice collections. MSRP: $19.98. This gift box contains: 5-ounce jar of Blackened Red Seasoning 5-ounce jar of Chili Chipotle Lime Seasoning 5.5-ounce jar of Chipotle Fire & Smoke Seasoning 5.4-ounce bottle of Fletcher’s Hot Sauce

americanshootingjournal.com 91

WA’s #1 RVr Deale

TRAVEL TRAILERS EXPANDABLE TRAILERS TOY HAULERS

y l i m a f r u o y t r a St ! e r e h s e i r o m me

POP-UP TRAILERS FIFTH Our WHEELS

20th Year

12414 Meridian E Puyallup, WA 253-435-7751

1500 W Yelm Ave Yelm, WA 360-960-8141

southhillrv.com

PROPER OPTICS MOUNTING How to do the job right the first time and maximize the performance of both your scope and rifle.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY NICK PERNA

ny job worth doing is worth doing right, the first time. A poorly or improperly mounted optic will cause the user endless frustration. The best scope paired with the finest rifle is worthless if the optic has not been mounted properly. Here’s the good news: It’s pretty easy to do it right. Here’s the bad news: It’s even easier to do it wrong.

FIRST THINGS FIRST, let’s talk about

equipment. I’ve mentioned in previous articles the need to purchase quality gear. A good rifle is important, obviously, but the scope and mounts are just as important. If you decide to go cheap on either of these items, prepare to be frustrated. A good optic should cost as much (if not more) than the rifle you are mounting it on. The mounts, not as much, but plan on shelling out $100 – or more – for them. On the topic of scopes, decide what you ultimately desire your optic/rifle combo to do. Once that is decided, research the optic. Is this going to be a basic mid- to large-size game rifle?

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

If so, look at scopes with a variable power of 3 to 12. You can go down to a maximum magnification of 9-power, but you might need a little more power at distance. For tactical applications there are many considerations. Is your weapon strictly a close-range, or close quarters battle (CQB), gun? If so, maybe no magnification (referred to as 1-power) will work. A red dot, or holographic, sight will do the job. Aimpoint, EO Tech and many others make great “running and gunning” optics. If you need that plus some magnification, consider a low-power variable optic, or LPVO. On the 1-power setting, they work like a standard holographic sight. Add some magnification and they can be used at longer distances. The “L” in LPVO is somewhat of a misnomer. Early LPVOs were usually 1- to 4-power. Many now go up to 6- or 8-power, with a few models reaching 10-power. For long-range target shooting, a super high-power optic would be necessary. This is an incredibly unique sport with specific guns, calibers and

“A good rifle is important, obviously, but the scope and mounts are just as important,” says author Nick Perna. americanshootingjournal.com 95

An Aimpoint 1-power CQB optic. It has its own attached quick detach mount, connected to a Picatinny rail. The knob on the right is for connecting and disconnecting the optic from the weapon.

optics utilized. Be prepared to spend serious money on these. Then there’s mounts. There are basically three types: mounts already built into the optic (this is common in 1-power holographic types), quick detachable (QD) mounts and standard mounts. QD mounts are great, allowing the user to quickly mount or detach them. They generally work in conjunction with a Picatinny rail system. They are used mainly in the tactical world for operators to quickly switch from one style optic to another, depending on 96

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

a mission. Operators also like them because they can quickly remove a broken or nonfunctioning optic and switch to a backup iron sight system. Quality QD mounts allow the user to maintain the same zero when removing and replacing the optic to a rail. QD mounts are expensive, though. For most nontactical uses, regular mounts (think scope rings with mounts that screw onto a rail) are more than sufficient.

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

To properly mount an optic, you will

need the following items: • Plum line. A plum line is a simple method used to ensure that the scope is mounted properly and the crosshairs are properly oriented. In other words, the up/down crosshairs are aligned north/south and the left/ right ones are on an even plane as well. Here’s how you do it. Get a piece of string, rope, fishing line or something similar and attach a weight to one end. Take the other end and tie it to something that allows the weight to swing freely. Mount your optic to your weapon but don’t tighten down

The author’s simple plum line setup. Early-generation Leupold 1.25 by 4-power low-power variable optic with an American Defense quick detach mount. This scope/ mount pair is virtually indestructible.

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

the mounts completely. Look through the mounted optic at the plum line, ensuring that the north/southrunning crosshair lines up with the plum line. Once that’s done, tighten up the mounts. You can confirm your optic is mounted correctly by placing a level on the top turret. • Torque wrench. Most scopes and mounts will list a specified torque pound amount for tightening. It is important to adhere to this. Too loose and the optic will not be properly secured, will move around in the mounts and not maintain a consistent zero. Too tight and you can damage the scope tube. Read the instructions. • Loctite. Loctite can be useful when mounting rails to guns. Like torque rates, read the manufacturer’s

recommendation about when to use it. Generally, I’ve seen it recommended to be applied to screws and bolts that hold rails and, in some cases, mounts in place.

BORE SIGHTING

Once your optic is properly mounted, you can save yourself some range time by bore sighting it. This is a good way to initially check to dial in your scope. There’s two ways to do this. The oldfashioned tried-and-true way is to remove the bolt from a bolt action or the entire bolt carrier group from an AR-15. Place a target a short distance away. Look through the bore from the receiver end at the target. Safety alert: Make sure the gun is unloaded. You will know if it isn’t if,

americanshootingjournal.com 99

when you try to look down the bore, all you see is a primer and the rear of the casing. Once you look through the unobstructed bore, line it up with the target center. Brace the weapon in a vise or something similar once it’s lined up. Then adjust the scope until it lines up with the same location on the target. The easier way to do this is to use a laser bore sighter. This is a nonprojectile shaped like a round that fits in the chamber. It emits a laser towards

the target, through the bore. Once the laser is on target, dial the scope in.

TIME MASTERING THERANGE SECRET GRIP Bore sighting is no replacement for zeroing on the range. It is just a technique for trying to line up the optic with the bore prior to shooting it. When you go to zero the scope initially, do two things: 1) Do it at a close distance of, say, 20 feet for a nonmagnified optic and

Vortex hunting scope on a Ruger .308 Scout rifle, attached with an American Defense QD mounting system.

100

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

no more than 50 feet for a magnified optic; and 2) Use the biggest paper or cardboard target you can find! This will save you a lot of time, trust me. A scope may have had its turrets zeroed out by the manufacturer. A previous shooter may have been shooting targets at 600 yards and had the elevation set for that distance. Whatever the case, it is important to see where your rounds are hitting so you can make the necessary adjustments. Also, make sure you know what types of adjustments you are making. I have written in previous articles about minute of angle and what increments your scope adjusts at. Does one click move the point of impact ¼ inch at 100 yards or ½ inch? What does that mean to me at 50 feet when I’m zeroing it? If you are on your own personal range, you can fire a set number of rounds, say three, then check your target to see where they impacted. Make adjustments and shoot three more rounds. If you are at a gun club where going down to check your target is not an option, use a spotting scope. If you have the luxury of being able to go to your target to check it, or if you are at a range that has a target retrieval system (think Mel Gibson shooting his smiley face in Lethal Weapon), mark where each series of shots lands. That way you will know which series you already shot when making additional adjustments. Once you are zeroed at close range, place a target at the distance you intend to shoot at, and zero it again. Try shooting from different positions, too, since this will also affect where the rounds impact. Whether it is a tactical weapon, hunting gun or personal defense piece, check your zero often. Optics and mounts get banged around when transported and this can affect them. For hunters, make sure you did not leave your scope on the setting from a shot from the previous deer season. So when choosing and mounting your optics, spend the necessary amount of money, use good mounting and zeroing techniques, and do the job right, the first time. 

AMMUNITION BLACK HILLS AMMUNITION black-hills.com Black Hills Ammunition’s .300 Blackout 198-grain Subsonic Dual Performance round not only expands to provide good terminal performance, but after expansion the three expanded petals separate from the shank of the projectile to cut three separate wound tracks, further increasing terminal effectiveness. The shank of the projectile then continues on to penetrate to around 20 inches as demonstrated in 10-percent ballistic gelatin. With precision machining of solid copper, it’s possible to produce projectiles that accomplish things not possible with conventional leadcore projectiles. For missions requiring quiet performance, look to Black Hills Ammunition’s .300 Blackout 198-grain Dual Performance round.

SHELL SHOCK TECHNOLOGIES shellshocktech.com If you loved Shell Shock’s lightweight 9mm cases, wait until you try their new calibers coming soon, including 5.56x45mm, .300 BLK, .380 ACP, .40 S&W and others. Shell Shock’s cases are lighter than brass with more powder capacity, greater consistency between rounds, and they can be picked up with a magnet. Satisfies global military mandates to reduce ammunition weight and increase performance. All Shell Shock’s cases are proudly made in the USA. Shell Shock…Shoot it, Love it!

americanshootingjournal.com 103

104

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

RELOADING REDDING RELOADING EQUIPMENT redding-reloading.com

ENTERPRISE SERVICES, LLC cartridgeanneal.com Enterprise Services is the manufacturer of the Anneal-Rite cartridge case neck annealer. Starting at $116.95, this is a very affordable unit that guarantees 500 to 600 perfect annealed case necks per hour. New holders are now available for the .22 Hornet and .43 Swiss. See product video at the website, or call 479-629-5566.

Redding Reloading has reached full production on the highly innovative Redding Slant Bed Concentricity Gauge. The uniquely angled ergonomic design of the slant bed better positions the dial indicator for easier reading, as opposed to older designs. Additionally, the gauge can be transitioned from right-handed use to left-handed by using a provided set of mounting holes on the base. To learn more about Redding’s ongoing commitment to the precision handloading enthusiast and to request a copy of the current catalog, visit their website. See us at booth #2147

LITTLE CROW GUNWORKS littlecrowgunworks.com What do you get the rifle shooter who has everything? Little Crow Gunworks would suggest the Original World’s Finest Trimmer. With nationwide ammo shortages, the WFT speeds up the most tedious part of reloading: trimming cases. The WFT attached to your hand-drill can trim up to 600 cases per hour with match-worthy precision. There are 200-plus calibers available, from .17 Hornet to .50 BMG. Check out the website for a complete selection of precision reloading and gunsmith tools.

americanshootingjournal.com 105

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

BULLET BULLETIN

Federal’s Punch line is designed with the concealed carry permit holder in mind.

PACK A ‘PUNCH’ WITH NEW BULLET LINE

Federal’s diverse budget-friendly choices for concealed carry check the boxes – even come in .22 LR. STORY BY PHIL MASSARO • PHOTOS BY MASSARO MEDIA GROUP

ot all handgun bullets are created equal. My dad – Ol’ Grumpy Pants – still relies on a mixture of lead flatnosed bullets and military ball ammo to feed his .38 Special

and .45 ACP, and while I certainly don’t want to be shot by either of the classic bullet designs, I am well aware that modern designs have a multitude of advantages. While I also enjoy the full metal jackets and cast lead bullets – though I usually use them for target practice unless we’re talking about hard-cast

hunting bullets – I rely on premium handgun bullets in my everyday carry guns. The majority of my handgun ammunition consists of Federal’s Hydra-Shok and HST, as the pair have proven to be the most consistent in the FBI protocol testing, and they shoot accurately in my handguns. But as wonderful as that pair are, they americanshootingjournal.com 107

BULLET BULLETIN are expensive to produce and equally expensive to purchase. Maybe there is room for a middle-of-the-road choice that blends the best features for the citizen to carry in a defensive weapon – a bullet that will save your bacon yet both penetrate and expand reliably. Federal checked that box with the release of their Punch ammunition line. Relying on the wealth of experience gained during decades of building what law enforcement considers to be the best handgun bullets available, Federal set out to produce a simple, effective and affordable handgun bullet for the masses. The goal was one that will feed properly when it has to, and give the necessary accuracy in addition to the blend of expansion and penetration needed to stop a threat. Assessing the Hydra-Shok, Hydra-Shok Deep and HST, and removing the costly features that the FBI and other agencies require to pass their protocols, Federal wiped the slate clean and developed the Punch bullet. THE PUNCH LINE is rather diverse,

The Federal 124-grain 9mm Luger load is a great choice for a lowrecoiling, short-barreled carry gun.

The Punch line includes many popular handgun calibers, including the beefy 10mm Auto. (FEDERAL PREMIUM)

108

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

REVOLUTIONARY NEW 2-PIECE NAS3 CASE TECHNOLOGY: 50% LIGHTER THAN BRASS Coated Aluminum Base

High Tensile Nickel-Alloy Cylinder

• Less wear on ejector pin • Can be color coded for ID/branding

• 2 x pressure rating (over 70k PSI) • Higher tensile strength and elasticity • Corrosion resistant • Reloadable using S3 Reload dies

WWW.SHELLSHOCKTECH.COM

CA LIB

UNLOADED CASES AVAILABLE FROM SHELL SHOCK SOON... TECHNOLOGIES. 9MM CASES AVAILABLE NOW, ING M OTHER CALIBERS COMING SOON. CO SEE WEBSITE FOR MANUFACTURERS S R OF LOADED AMMO

BULLET BULLETIN The Punch .38 Special +P load complements the classic snubnosed revolver very well.

Federal Punch in 9mm Luger; note the skived copper jacket to initiate expansion. (FEDERAL PREMIUM)

110

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

including the classic autoloading cartridge like the 9mm Luger, .40 S&W, 10mm Auto and .45 ACP, as well as the .38 Special in the +P guise and, much to my surprise, .22 Long Rifle. The projectiles designed for the centerfires all have common traits: they are copper-jacketed hollowpoints with the jacket skived to initiate expansion. The entire product line is loaded in nickelplated cases for smooth feeding and long-term corrosion-resistance. My own hands, replete with acidic sweat, can tarnish a brass case quickly when I handle them often, and I appreciate the benefits of a nickel-plated case, whether on a safari in the heat of Africa or in my everyday carry gun. “Concealed-carry permit holders, especially new shooters, need an uncomplicated answer to the

p fl d ( i t 1 i i a

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

5730 Bottom Rd. Sparta, Illinois 62286

*Falling within FBI guidelines This round offers: A permanent Wound Cavity (PWC) that is 2 times greater than any expanding bullet reduced recoil. CNC machined from solid copper to overcome barriers to penetration Radial flutes that force the hydraulic energy inward to build pressure Minimal surface area to increase the force at the point of contact and sharp cutting edges that defeat barriers.

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

BULLET BULLETIN question, ‘What ammo do I need for self-defense?’” said Chris Laack, Federal handgun ammunition product manager. “Things to consider such as function, reliable ignition, barrier performance, terminal performance, ballistics and other considerations are a lot to digest for most people. What consumers really need to know is it will function in their gun every time

and that it will be effective stopping a threat as quickly as possible. Punch is our easy answer for them.” Added Laack, “Punch is the first Federal Premium-branded personal defense line we made that was not specifically designed for law enforcement. Punch ammo was created based on what we’ve learned over 30plus years of being the leader in law

A federal Punch bullet recovered from bare gel; note the wide expansion. (FEDERAL PREMIUM)

The frontal view of a Punch bullet upset, expanded to a wide diameter for energy transfer. (FEDERAL PREMIUM)

enforcement handgun ammunition.” Unlike Federal’s law enforcement bullets, which are designed to perform well when fired through a variety of barriers like steel and plywood, Punch ammo is a Federal Premium product designed specifically with the personal defender in mind. During the development of Punch ammunition, Federal’s engineering team set out to create a brand-new Federal Premium bullet that excelled in evaluations that were most relevant to typical selfdefense scenarios, primarily bare gel and heavy clothing. They used what they’ve learned about jacket skives, which metals to use and other aspects of handgun bullet design, and applied that to engineering the optimum selfdefense bullet. “Many personal defenders think, ‘If it works for law enforcement, 112

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

Custom Rifle Actions www.defiancemachine.com 406-756-2727

americanshootingjournal.com 113

BULLET BULLETIN

Five shots from author Phil Massaro’s Sig Sauer 1911 in .45 ACP at 10 yards in a tight group builds all sorts of confidence.

then it’s good for me.’ That is a great guideline and still our ultimate recommendation,” said Laack. “But that may add features not necessarily required for everyone’s daily carry.” What are the major differences between the premium designs and Federal’s new Punch? Well, due to the requirements of the various law enforcement offices, the HST and Hydra-Shok need to perform in a number of different mediums, including solid barriers, heavy clothing, auto glass and more, resulting in a stiff bullet with fantastic penetration. Make no mistake, there is absolutely nothing wrong with relying on these bullets, but if you look at the most common defensive situations – those in which the goal is to either neutralize the threat or to get yourself to safety – this level of bullet may not be needed, and in some circumstances can result in over114

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

penetration. The right and need to save one’s own life, or the lives of family and others, is undeniable, but the risk of hitting an innocent bystander should be a concern. And just as when using a rifle in a defensive situation, the risk of wounding or killing someone behind the perpetrator when using too stiff a bullet is a reality. The Punch is designed for the citizen who needs to use their handgun to save themselves or others, and it concentrates on that situation. I USED A few different handguns to test the Federal Punch, including my dad’s Colt Officer’s Model Special .22 LR revolver, a Sig P938 subcompact 9mm, my Smith & Wesson Model 36 snubnose .38 Special, and my beloved Sig Sauer 1911 STX in .45 ACP. Field results: the Federal Punch just plain shoots. I put targets out at 10 and 15 yards – further than the 7-yard

standard – to assess the accuracy results, and came away very happy. Of the lineup, I spend the most time with the S&W .38 and the Sig Sauer STX .45 ACP, and the targets confirm that, though the other guns were more than accurate enough. In the autoloaders, there were no feeding or extraction problems at all, and the revolvers all ejected smoothly with no pressure signs whatsoever. What Federal has done is create a bullet unique to each cartridge, changing the geometry of the hollowpoint and jacket thickness to best serve each design. The six Punch centerfire options include a .380 Auto 85-grain offering with a muzzle velocity of 1,000 feet per second, a .38 Special +P 120-grain load at 1,070 fps, a 9mm 147-grain load at 1,150 fps, a .40 S&W 165-grain load at 1,130 fps, a 10mm Auto 200-grain load at 1,100 fps,

americanshootingjournal.com 115

BULLET BULLETIN This Colt revolver gave consistent results with the Federal Punch .22 LR 29-grain load.

and a .45 Auto 230-grain load at 890 fps. All the ammo I tested hit the target at point of aim, with the sole exception of the .38 Special +P load, which hit a couple inches high from my gun. The .22 LR Punch load features a 29-grain lead-core bullet with a heavy nickel jacket – not plating – and a flat meplat. The lead core is specifically engineered to perform well out of the

shorter barrels of defensive handguns. “We’ve talked about making a .22 LR defensive load for some time,” said Dan Compton, Federal’s manager of shotshell and rimfire ammunition. “We finally decided that people are already carrying .22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection. We’re not trying to replace the 9mm. We decided that for a .22

Few would consider the .22 LR for a defensive gun, but the specially designed bullet, with its hard lead core and thicker jacket, gave excellent penetration. (FEDERAL PREMIUM)

116

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.” The 29-grain bullet outpenetrated the .25 Auto with a 50-grain bullet and the .32 Auto with a 60-grain hollowpoint; the .22 LR Punch load gave a penetration depth of 13.75 inches in bare gelatin. Federal’s Punch line looks at results in bare gel and through heavy clothing only; those are the parameters most closely associated with defensive situations. At roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of the price of the premium stuff, it can stretch your shooting dollar considerably without compromising effectiveness. Considering the day-to-day rigors of carry ammunition – daily exposure to weather, heat, air conditioning, sweaty hands, etc. – the sealed primers and nickel cases of the Punch ammo will certainly show the advantages. As ammo hits the shelves again, thank goodness, try a box of Punch in your everyday carry gun. I think you’ll be happily surprised with the results. 

GEAR

CLIPDRAW

HUNTER COMPANY LEATHER

clipdraw.com

huntercompany.com

Clipdraw offers slim and secure holsterless concealed carry for inside-the-waistband carry. Proudly made in the USA, Clipdraw is the original clip carry since 1995. For more information, contact Skyline Toolworks LLC at 800-869-7501. See us at booth #3833

Hunter’s new 4700 Universal inside-the-waistband leather holsters are designed to become your favorite everyday concealed carry holster. They fit most small- and medium-frame firearms and are made with American full-grain leather. The 4700-style holsters are handcrafted to hug your hip comfortably and fit universally so that one size fits most. It is available in two-tone color, with durable nylon stitching and metal belt clip, and a metal screw set is available for smaller-frame firearms to adjust to different firearms. Designed for all-day carry for both left- and right-handed users.

TRIAD HOLSTERS LLC triadholsters.com Triad Holsters LLC produces holsters that are a result of nine years of fabrication experience. Their holsters have evolved, similar to the way the concealed carry weapon has evolved into a 15-round-capacity, high-lumen-light-capable, red-dot-optic-sighting ultracompact-designed firearm. The Glock 43X MOS with the Surefire XSC accompanied by a Triad holster is arguably the finest example of the effort to perfect the capability of a person to carry a personal protection weapon comfortably in their everyday life. There are many configurations available and the custom options are extensive.

TRIPLE K MANUFACTURING triplek.com Triple K Manufacturing’s No. 671 Crossdraw Holster is designed for gun owners who prefer a dedicated crossdraw-style carry. The open-top design allows for easy draw and features an adjustable tension screw that ensures proper gun retention. Made in the USA with premium vegetable-tanned leather and heavy nylon stitching. MSRP: $53. See us at booth #4333

americanshootingjournal.com 119

gear RUFFIANO INTERNATIONAL ruffianointernational.com Ruffiano International, an authorized distributor, is proud to offer you The Original Dirty Harry Shoulder Holster! From the original company and made for every gun in the world. “The most comfortable I have ever tried for heavy guns,” says Elmer Keith, father of the .44 Magnum cartridge. Now go shoot!

MERNICKLE HOLSTERS mernickleholsters.com If your cowboy gun is what you shoot the most, why not make it your daily carry? Mernickle Holsters’ PS06SA is made of the highest grade Hermann Oak leather. This holster can be carried in the strong side position or a crossdraw. Holsters are handmolded to your model of gun to ensure a perfect fit every time.

TUCKER GUNLEATHER tuckergunleather.com “So good-looking, I don’t know whether to wear it or frame it.” Tucker Gunleather often gets similar customer reviews. Made of famous Hermann Oak leather and handcrafted, the Tucker Gunleather HF1 remains their most popular belt holster because it’s highly customizable and extremely functional. The HF1 rides close and secure like a pancake holster and stays open for easy reholstering. Customers often comment on how easy it is to break in, yet the HF1 has great retention. The unique design brings the holster in close for easy concealment and all-day comfort. Over the years, more than a dozen Texas Rangers have purchased the HF1.

KUSIAK LEATHER kusiakleather.com By now most people are familiar with the holster claw. If you are not, the claw helps conceal the pistol by applying pressure to the inside of the belt and rotating the grip of the pistol towards your body for maximum concealment. Kusiak Leather has integrated this claw technology into its American IWB holster. The claw is made up of three layers of rosewood and 10 layers of carbon fiber, with an overall thickness of about .2025 inch. Kusiak uses Shellac all-natural sealant and it makes the wood as waterproof as you would expect leather to be. Paraffin wax and silicone lubricant are added to the inside to make your pistol glide in and out easily and also to further protect the finish of your pistol. An all-American product, the American IWB features a second layer of 5-6 ounce leather over the upper section and sweat guard for added reinforcement. This not only makes it stronger, but also allows it to stay open, making reholstering easier. Other standard features include: Hide made from American leather (premium steer cut 6-7 ounce Grade A, exclusively from Hermann Oak) and a sweat shield to keep the pistol away from the body. Optional features: Extra mag added to the holster; tuckable option allowing you to slide a shirt between metal clip and holster; and RMR/red dot cutout.

120

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

gear R GRIZZLE LEATHER rgrizzleleather.com The GS2 (Georgia Snap 2) is a pancake-style holster designed to be worn behind the hip. It holds close to the body and has an approximate 15-degree forward cant for a smoother draw and better concealment. It uses a Pull-the-Dot snap on each side in addition to a standard durable snap. The GS2 can easily be put on and taken off without having to remove your belt. It has a molded sight track and comes standard with leather reinforcement on the front/mouth to aid in reholstering.

FULL FORGE GEAR fullforgegear.com A new affordable tactical bag line for all of your needs. Using high-quality water-resistant materials, Full Forge has you covered with a line that ranges from the Torrent double rifle case to the Storm utility range bag. This gear was made by shooters and is specially tailored for shooters’ needs. See us at booth #1947

SKINNER SIGHTS skinnersights.com The Skinner Sights HTF bag allows your firepower to be “concealed in plain sight,” yet ready in case of an emergency. Holds up to a 40-inch long gun and two handguns. Room for three rifle and eight pistol magazines. Knife, flashlight and accessory pouches. Cordura construction with heavy-duty stitching. (Firearms and accessories in photo are not included. For illustrative purposes only.)

ALFORD DESIGNS LIMITED, LLC etsy.com/shop/AlfordDesignsLTD An up-and-coming fine leather accessories company since 2015, all Alford Designs products are made in the USA. Their newest products include an option to add RFID into the lining of concealed carry bags, purses, satchels and wristlets, and they now offer cut-resistant straps. Alford Designs also has new lines of holsters, jewelry and custom shooting vests for individuals and team sports. They sell both retail and wholesale; contact Dr. Alford directly for wholesale pricing.

ZERUST CONSUMER PRODUCTS zerustproducts.com The Zerust VCI Rifle Bag is specially designed to shield your rifle from the harmful effects of rust and corrosion during storage. Time and the elements can be rough on metals. Your firearm is no exception, and damage can occur rapidly. The Zerust VCI rifle bag is heavy-duty, affordable and fleece-lined with a zipper closure. It’s made to release a nontoxic, anti-rust vapor to coat all exposed metal surfaces, providing up to five years of protection against rust and corrosion. No residue is left on wood or metal surfaces. Once the bag is opened, the vapor harmlessly dissipates. Zerust protects your precious metals. See us at booth #1243

122

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

gear BLUE WONDER GUN CARE bluewonderguncare.com Blue Wonder offers a complete lineup of cleaning, lubrication and refinishing products for firearms. Those include the award-winning Gun Cleaner and Gun Blue kits. Blue Wonder Gun Cleaner gets out the copper and lead left behind by other cleaners, while the Gun Blue and now their Gun Black kits will touch up wear spots or entirely reblue any carbon steel firearm. All products are made in the USA by a veteran-owned business.

SEAL 1 seal1.com The Seal 1 Complete Tactical Gun Care Kit includes: 4-ounce container of multipurpose CLP Plus Gun Care Paste 4-ounce container of multipurpose CLP Plus Gun Care Liquid 1 package of Seal 1 CLP Plus PreSaturated EZ-Cloth 4 6-inch square cleaning cloths presaturated with Seal 1 CLP Plus 12-inch by 12-inch square microfiber cloth Double-ended nylon utility brush 2 6-inch hardwood cotton swabs 2 5-milliliter tubes of Seal 1 CLP Plus paste MSRP: $32.99. See us at booth #3405

SLIP 2000 slip2000.com

PROLIX prolixlubricant.com PrOlix is a penetrating solvent/dry lube product that was lab-developed and tested by law enforcement, military and commercial shooters over many years. The citrus-based biodegradable cleaner, pioneered in 1995, is the first successful “all in one” gun care product, now deemed “BioTechnology.” Their recyclable (strain and reuse) products are made of 89 percent or greater renewable resources, a true commitment to sustainable practices and caring for the environment. As such, the USDA has listed PrOlix as a BioPreferred Product since 2012. The solvent “goes on wet, cleans, bonds, and the lube turns dry to the touch.” It removes carbon, copper, lead, shotgun plastic residues and black powder. PrOlix will not damage wood, freeze or flash off, and it can be used for commercial and industrial applications as well. To complement the PrOlix Cleaner/ Lubricant (Dry Tech) line, shooters can use the equally superior “gun-oil and grease replacer” PrOlix Xtra-T Lube for a total care product.

124

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

Slip 2000 Extreme Weapons Lubricant (EWL) is a 100-percent pure synthetic gun lubricant, designed for use on chain guns, machine guns and AR platforms. EWL contains a proprietary anti-wear agent that reduces friction and wear by 90 to 95 percent. It will last 2,000 to 4,000 rounds before additional lubrication or cleaning is required. EWL does not contain any teflon, silicone or petroleum distillates, so it will never gum up or become tacky. It does not freeze in cold weather and does not attract dust, dirt or sand. Helps keep carbon, lead and copper fouling from building up. Can be used on all firearms. See us at booth #4802

Quality Handmade Holsters, Knife Sheaths, & Accessories

Crafted by: Ryan & Kay Grizzle

706-265-0118 • ryan@rgrizzleleather.com

www.rgrizzleleather.com americanshootingjournal.com 125

gear V-LINE INDUSTRIES vlineind.com The Top Draw XD is an upgraded version of V-Line Industries’ original Top Draw 2912-S BLK. The upgrade includes a heavy-duty internal steel lock cover bolted to the lid with ¼-inch bolts secured to 3/8-inch steel-welded blocks. This upgrade makes it extremely difficult to punch out the lock from the outside. The interior is lined with thick foam on the top and bottom to secure your firearm while traveling. The top opening case features an easily programmable five-push-button Simplex mechanical lock that does not require batteries. The Top Draw XD can accommodate up to two pistols, depending on their sizes. It is nicely textured in a semi-gloss black powder coating and accented with a silver V-Line logo and stainless steel faceplate. The Top Draw XD has predrilled holes in the bottom and can be secured on top of most surfaces with bolts or by using V-Line’s optional Quick Release mounting bracket (part no. 2912/3912-MB BLK).

POCKET OX PocketOx.com The Pocket Ox mini-hoist has been specifically designed to become part of the serious hunter’s all-day everyday pack. Sized to meet the minimal storage constraints of snowmachines, STOLs and ATVs. Offered in three standard sizes: the 16:1 Bull, weighing 24 ounces; the 12:1 Cow, weighing 20 ounces; and the 8:1 Calf, weighing 16 ounces. All models have a block-to-block reach of 12 feet and each block has 2½-foot Vectran attachment bridles. The Orange Spectra haul line is rated at 800 pounds. Even the smallest hoist has seven standing lines for a theoretical strength of 5,600 pounds. Something else will break.

RICK YOUNG OUTDOORS rickyoungoutdoors.com

MOORE SECURITY mooresecuritysafes.com Moore Security has a patent on a safe that has one, two or three sides that have ballistic glass, and that is also fire-resistant. The safes are all handmade and custom-made to the customer’s needs or wants. Basically, if you want to show off your rare gun collection or guitars or anything, you can display them in a safe that you can see through.

126

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

Swarovski harness adapters are designed to protect your binocular’s construction and make it easy to connect an RYO harness and other aftermarket harnesses to the binoculars. Machined to a perfect fit for the Swarovski EL, NL and ELR binocular models with the newer mounting system. Their new aluminum hub will outperform plastic components and last a lifetime and longer. Anodized black and made here in the USA. Available only on the Rick Young Outdoors website.

gear OCTOBER COUNTRY MUZZLELOADING octobercountry.com Back in 1977 when the company was in its infancy, October Country Muzzleloading was a hunting bag. One product. Today, the northern Idaho-based outfit offers a complete and thorough line of muzzleloaders and muzzleloading accessories, including ramrods, Pushing Daisies patches, Blue Thunder solvent, Bumblin’ Bear Grease, quality leather shooting bags, powder horns and hand-forged shooting tools. All exceptional quality goods for the hunter, shooter, collector and history reenactor enthusiast. October Country features products specifically designed and manufactured for cowboy action and black powder cartridge shooters. October Country has new products that include PowerBelt Bullets, Birchwood Casey, Uncle Mike’s, Ballistol, Hoppe’s, Cash Manufacturing, Hornady, Lyman and RCBS muzzleloading and black powder cartridge ball and bullet molds, as well as Lee Bullet Molds, to name a few.

PRESENT ARMS presentarmsinc.com

THE BUFFALO WOOL COMPANY thebuffalowoolco.com The Buffalo Wool Company’s newest technical sock is a bison/merino blend fully terry looped footbed, with a 100-percent merino wool shaft. Graduated compression (15 to 20 mmHg) improves blood flow and reduces swelling and the risk of DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). Superior fit and stretch offer all-day comfort. • American bison down and Merino wool blend foot, provides superior wicking and controls moisture. • No foot funk – ever! Naturally antimicrobial and anti-fungal. • URfit System provides arch support and memory-knit construction. • Fights fatigue by increasing blood flow up leg from the ankle with 15 to 20 mmHg of graduated compression. • Smooth, flat comfort toe seam.

ACCELERATED FIREARM TRAINING acceleratedfirearmtraining.com Train using your own firearm with the new RedShot laser cartridge and top-rated Shooter Make Ready laser targets from Accelerated Firearm Training. RedShot laser cartridges feature a bright red laser housed in a high-quality brass casing with an activation pad designed to absorb the impact of the firing/striker pin for safe, dependable operation in your firearm. The laser has a wavelength of 635 nm, which is designed specifically for consistent, reliable operation with the widest range of dry fire target systems that use visible red light, including AFT’s Shooter Make Ready laser targets. Available in 9mm, .380 ACP, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP calibers. Visit AFT’s website to order.

128

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

Another “third hand” from Present Arms is their Small Sentinel Plate and Universal Barrel Block (SP1K-UBB). All semiauto pistol barrels have a lug, and some, such as the 1911, have the lug and a link. This makes for a convenient stop when the barrel is set on Present Arms’ Universal Barrel Block, a machined V-cut polymer block that plugs into their small or large sentinel plate. The UBB holds the barrel while pushing the brush or jag; the Sentinel plate holds the patches and solvents, keeping your bench or tabletop free and clean. Present Arms is veteran-owned and all products are American-made.

L.E. SPOTLIGHT

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE After coming to America, Joseph Petrosino became the country’s first gang cop, taking on Mafia targeting his fellow Italian immigrants. STORY BY NICK PERNA

riminal gangs are a neverending problem in America and elsewhere. I have spent a good chunk of my career investigating gang crimes and putting these dirtbags in prison. They prey on the weak and defenseless, and oftentimes, each other. I take pride in calling myself a gang cop and take pleasure in going after gangsters. Criminal gangs are nothing new. They have been in this country – in some way, shape or form – for hundreds of years. For example, the 2002 movie Gangs of New York chronicles the activities of gangs during the American Civil War. Back then it was the Plug Uglies and Dead Rabbits. Now it’s Norteños, Sureños, Bloods and Crips. The names change but the violence and malevolence remain the same. Some of the worst gang members are members of organized crime. Often glamorized in movies, television and video games, they are no better than the gang members who run the streets. As an Italian American, I loathe the members of my community who make up the Mafia. These drug dealers, pimps, loan sharks, extortionists, racketeers and murderers in no way represent what my

In his relatively short 48 years, immigrant Joseph Petrosino became a crimefighting pioneer with the New York Police Department. He was killed in Italy investigating gangsters.

people have done for our great country. In fact, America’s first gang cop was an Italian American who, like me, took offense at fellow Italian Americans who targeted honest, hardworking people. JOSEPH PETROSINO WAS born in Italy in 1860, with his parents sending him to the United States to seek a better life. He initially was taken care of by his grandfather, but when he was killed in a streetcar accident, a teenage Joe was left to fend for himself. Authorities in New York made him a ward of the state. A kindly Irish judge took a liking to young Joe and took him in and raised him until other members of the Petrosino clan arrived in America and could do so. In 1883, Joe joined the New York Police Department and was the first Italian language speaker in the department’s history. He was fluent in multiple Italian dialects. This allowed him to interact with the close-knit Italian

community in New York, which made him successful in solving cases in those neighborhoods. He worked primarily in areas where Italians had immigrated into the city. Joe quickly moved up the ranks, becoming a detective sergeant in 1895. He was later promoted to lieutenant and placed in charge of the newly formed “Italian Squad.” The Italian Squad targeted the fledgling Mafia, referred to then as the Black Hand. The Black Hand primarily targeted hardworking Italian immigrants, extorting money from them and committing acts of violence. Lieutenant Petrosino worked many notable cases, including arresting a blackmailer of opera singer Enrico Caruso. Joe also infiltrated radical groups that targeted political leaders, including the country’s president at the time, William McKinley. Some of Joe’s methods were a little on the rough side, but they were in line americanshootingjournal.com 131

with how most cops of that era operated. He only stood at around 5-foot-3, but he was as tough as they come. He was known for being brutal with organized crime types, but generous and caring with others. Lieutenant Petrosino met his fate doing what he loved most: going after Mafia gangsters. Interestingly, he did not die here in the U.S. Rather, he was killed in Italy. He went to Sicily on a secret mission to work with Italian law enforcement to find out which Italian gangsters now living in America had criminal records in Italy. The plan was to deport them. On March 12, 1909, he was gunned down in Palermo by members of the Black Hand. Petrosino’s body was taken back to the country he loved. Approximately 200,000 people took part in a funeral procession. He was laid to rest in New York, the city he fought to protect. So, here’s to Lieutenant Joe Petrosino, a proud Italian American who hated criminals but loved and cared for his countrymen.  Editor’s note: Author Nick Perna is a sergeant with the Redwood City Police Department in northern California. He previously served as a paratrooper in the US Army and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also has a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco. He is a frequent contributor to multiple print and online forums on topics related to law enforcement, firearms, tactics and veterans issues.

S R’ R E L LE UMMB THTU

BRASS MASTER ULTRA VIBE CASE CLEANERS

“Manufacturers of quality case cleaners, deburring and tumbling equipment since 1959” 132

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

Hand Built For Hardcore Use (559) 478-5475 www.taprackholsters.com

Tap Rack Holsters is a leading provider of premium American-made gun holsters and knife sheaths. Our products are the result of 40 plus years of combined experience in the military and law enforcement field using American made materials. Every Tap Rack holster and sheath is handcrafted using extreme care, precision and built to last because we’re dedicated to providing premium quality products our customers can rely on.

a PREMIUM QUALITY a FULLY FUNCTIONAL a LIFETIME WARRANTY a CUSTOM BUILDS a BUILT FOR EXTREME USE a MADE IN AMERICA a BUILT WITH AMERICAN MATERIALS AND PARTS a MADE BY AMERICANS AND VETERANS

Self-Defense TRAINING

Instructor Scott “Jedi” Jedlinski aims during his three-day self-defense course on appendix carry and red dot sights.

WHERE ‘JEDI’ MEETS MODERN SAMURAI Between his background in martial arts and sidearms training system focusing on body mechanics, Scott Jedlinksi gets shooters on target ultrafast. STORY AND PHOTOS BY PAUL PAWELA

amurai: a Japanese noble warrior. Jedi: a noble order of protectors unified by their ability to tap into the power of the force. At the invitation of Kent Hower, CEO of Green Mountain Defense (greenmountaindefense.com), I recently attended a self-defense class held at the beautiful West Shore Sportsmen’s Association in Lewisberry,

Pennsylvania. Lewisberry is just 43 miles from the famous Gettysburg battlefield, where over 8,900 men fought to the death and over 22,000 more were wounded. In the end, our country was formed on the premise that our Declaration of Independence was conceived in liberty and that all men are created equal – a principle men and women fight and die for to this day. The class, led by Scott “Jedi” Jedlinski, centered around appendix carry and red dot sights on pistols. Originally, I was against both concepts

for concealed carry until my friend Ken Estes, who is one of the most analytical men I know in the business, reminded me to keep an open mind. Twenty-four red-blooded Americans of different backgrounds and ethnic nationalities signed up for this three-day course being taught by Jedlinski, who is part-Polish, part-Korean, and 100-percent pure American. JEDLINSKI WAS A very upfront and honest man right out of the gate. He explained that he had no law enforcement or americanshootingjournal.com 135

SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING military background, which I thought was very interesting considering he had just been awarded a contract by one of our most elite counterterrorist units in the country. Jedlinski is booked two years in advance for both civilian and law enforcement agency classes throughout the country, so I figure he must be doing something right. So he had my immediate attention from the get-go. After being in martial arts for over 50 years, I pegged Jedlinski for a grappler or jiu-jitsu guy due to his size, not a stretch as he is 6-foot-2 and around 250 pounds. My instincts were spot-on. He is religiously devoted to the art of jiu-jitsu and it shows, as he teaches his gun methodology from a martial arts perspective. Now I was hooked! When training for deadly-force encounters, the general rule is that all techniques should be evaluated on two overall principles. These are: 1) Economy of motion: Where the body under duress can complete tasks that are direct, simple and quick, and 2) Efficiency of action: every technique used in saving your life must work with as little complexity as possible and must

Jedlinski emphasizes the “proprioception index”– the sense of self-movement and body position as it relates to drawing the gun, bringing the gun to eye-level, and shooting quicker and smoother.

deliver as much energy or power into the target – the opponent. Based on Jedlinski’s martial arts background, his training system focuses on body mechanics, eliminating unwanted motion in acquiring the gun, which translates to being smoother in getting the weapon out of the holster, bringing the gun to eye-level, and

Why they call him the master. Shooting from the draw, in under two seconds Jedlinski had three hits, two in the same hole.

136

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

shooting one round in one second – or six rounds in two seconds – at 7 yards. Scoffers will say, “Who needs to shoot that fast in a second?” In pure Jedi wisdom, Jedlinski will tell you, “If you have a one-second problem, you need to fix it in one second!” IF YOU ATTEND one of his classes, you will notice Jedlinski’s wisdom on the subject of shooting parallels another great Asian master martial arts instructor, Miyamoto Musashi (15841645). Musashi was Japan’s greatest samurai, who was undefeated in over 60 duels to the death and the author of The Book of Five Rings. The first thing Jedlinski explained is that it is more important for the body to have structure versus strength when it comes to shooting. Why? Because it helps with both recoil and movement. He also emphasized the importance of the “proprioception index” – the sense of self-movement and body position as it relates to drawing the gun, bringing the gun to eye-level, and shooting quicker and smoother. Jedlinski demonstrated the draw with his appendix holster and gun centerlined to his belly. In the demo, his hands are up in a defense position until he needs to make a move for his

SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING

Course participants included a body guard (center back) and school teacher (front).

gun. At that time, he grabs his shirt with his nondominant hand and pulls it straight up. With his dominant hand, he firmly grasps the gun and his thumb is positioned over his red dot, as it is out of the way. He stands in the on-guard position – where the left leg (for right-handed shooters) is slightly forward and bent – bringing the gun to his eyes with elbows slightly bent, working as shock absorbers and helping with recoil to the body.

138

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

Even with torn shoulder issues, skeptical author turned believer Paul Pawela shot accurately and fast.

In the isosceles stance, which is what most shooters use today, your muscles tighten on the body and tense as you lean forward. But with Jedlinski’s method, it is one efficient fluid motion, which means faster shooting and the first shot on target usually wins! Compare this to what Musashi describes as hitting the enemy “in one timing” in The Book of Five Rings. He writes, “‘In one timing’ means, when you have closed with the enemy, to hit

him as quickly and directly as possible, without moving your body or settling your spirit, while you see that he is still undecided. The timing of hitting before the enemy decides to withdraw, break or hit, is this ‘in one timing.’ You must train to achieve this timing, to be able to hit in the timing of an instant.” AS JEDLINSKI POINTS out, eyes dictate posture and stance, and this is one of the reasons he favors red dot sights on

SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING

Nearly all attendees in this particular class “were ordinary people who were just interested in improving their shooting abilities,” per Pawela.

pistols. He stated, “Father Time catches up with all of us and our eyesight gets weaker.” The red dot has one focal plane, as opposed to three from front sight, rear sight to the target. Now let’s compare that to what Musashi said about the “gaze in strategy”: “The gaze should be large and broad. This is the twofold gaze ‘perception and sight.’ Perception is strong and sight weak. In strategy it

140

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things. It is important in strategy to know the enemy’s sword and not to be distracted by insignificant movements of his sword.” Jedlinski pointed out that red dots on pistols will help you avoid being distracted by those insignificant movements; with one focal plane, you will focus solely on the target at

hand. He also went into full depth on the subject of appendix carry – what he likes in a holster and why. He did the same for pistol-mounted red dots, going into detail about the guns he likes using as well. OVER THE LAST 35 years, I have been trained by just about every gun school in the country, including several military counterterrorism and police

americanshootingjournal.com 141

SWAT teams, and never have I witnessed people shoot so fast and accurate at both close and far distances in such a short time. With the exception of one military colonel, a retired police officer and an active bodyguard, the rest of the 24 men in the class were ordinary people who were just interested in improving their shooting abilities. Jedlinski said, “Be a craftsman of your trade; put the time and work in. If you can’t shoot under pressure, you can’t do it – period.” Musashi said, “To train in Kendo one must subjugate the self, bear the pain of grueling practice, and cultivate a level mind in the face of peril.” I don’t know if Jedlinski is a reincarnate of Musashi or if he read his book and applied his training principles. Either way, for me, his training is a modern-day game-changer and I am proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks. I was so impressed with his training that I am nominating him for induction to the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame as Tactical Police Trainer of the Year and I can’t think of a finer endorsement than that!  Editor’s notes: For more information on Scott Jedlinski’s classes, contact beverly@modernsamuraiproject.com or visit modernsamuraiproject.com. Author Paul Pawela is a nationally recognized firearms and self-defense expert.

c 142

American Shooting Journal // August 2021

Rust Protection for Firearms, Weapons, and Ammo Use Zerust20 for a 20% discount when ordering online

If you’re looking for the ultimate solution to protect metal from harmful rust, look for Zerust.

Includes a VCI Weapon Protection Bag, Tube & Barrel Strip, latex gloves & a zip tie

Rifle Kit

VCI Rifle Bag

Gun Oil & Gun Cleaner

Tube & Barrel Strip

VCI Weapon Protection Bags

www.zerustproducts.com customerservice@zerustproducts.com • 330-405-1965 9345 Ravenna Rd. Unit E • Twinsburg, OH 44087-2465

Custom Guns

HANDGUNS GARY REEDER CUSTOM GUNS reedercustomguns.com When you are looking for something special in a revolver, semiauto or singleshot handgun, look no further than Gary Reeder Custom Guns. Reeder Custom Guns has been building full-custom guns for 40 years with 70 different series of full-custom guns, like the special Rekon Kommander shown here. Full-custom and built the way you want and in the cartridge of your choosing. Let Gary Reeder Custom Guns build something special for you. Check their website or call 928-527-4100.

SMART FIREARMS TRAINING DEVICES smartfirearms.us Smart Firearms Training Devices are the world’s most advanced training weapons. From their proprietary trigger guard incursion sensor reinforcing safety in new and experienced shooters alike to their ability to interface with virtually every simulator and laser target on the market, Smart Firearms is the choice for both instructors and anyone serious about their firearms proficiency. With removable magazines, adjustable sights and a realistic trigger break, they provide training weapons with the functional features of the Glock 17/19, S&W M&P, M4 and the Axon X2. Proudly made in the USA. See us at booth #457

americanshootingjournal.com 145