GUN_WORLD_September_2018

NOW STANDS FOR EVERYDAY CHOICES

The Ruger® EC9s™ comes with no gimmicks, rebates or mail-in offers for gift cards... just the rugged, reliability of the striker-fired LC9s®, now with integral sights and a no-hassle price point that won’t break the bank.

The Ruger® Security-9® is an affordable, rugged, mid-sized pistol that provides everyday security in the perfect caliber, size and price point.

WHY CHOOSE BETWEEN THEM WHEN YOU CAN HAVE BOTH?

RUGER.COM

© 2018 Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. 011118

SPECIALISSUE:

TIPS TO PREP YOUR RIFLE FOR HUNTING SEASON TRAINING SKILLS FOR THE HUNT LESS-LETHAL OPTIONS FOR SELF-DEFENSE

THE FIRST LARGE-CAPACITY MICRO-9MM

All the bullets in the world mean nothing if your concealed carry handgun fails when you need it most. The XD-S Mod.2 in 9mm is a less than one-inch wide pinnacle of reliability. 25K rounds without a stoppage and an integral grip safety for total peace of mind when carrying.

you aren’t out here to see raindrops.

O

Low-light and adverse weather can afect your hunt—if you let them. But our new line of Nitro optics are optimized with ED Prime Glass to enhance detail and EXO Barrier™ lens coating to repel rain, snow, dust and debris—so you can spend your hunt time focusing on what matters.

CLARITY IN ANY CONDITION

CONTENTS ON THE COVER GUN: SIG SAUER P365 PHOTO: ROBB MANNING (SPECIAL THANKS TO MJ GUNSHOP; MJGUNSHOP.COM)

COLUMNS 06 ......................................................... UP FRONT 10 ............................................................. KIT UP! 12 .............................................................. OPTICS 16 ................................................................. HUNT 20 ............................................. ARTEMIS ARMED 80 ................................................................... EDC 84 ................................................................TRAIN 88 ....................................................... AMMO 411 92 ...................................................CLEARED HOT 96 ............................................CHEWING THE FAT 98 ...................................................DOWN RANGE QUICK SHOTS 70 ...................... QUIZ: FIREARMS THAT FAILED GUN WORLD (ISSN 0017-5641) is published monthly in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December by Engaged Media Inc., LLC, 17890 Sky Park Circle, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92614.

Periodical postage paid at Irvine, CA, and additional mailing ofices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to GUN WORLD c/o Engaged Media Inc., VSI, Inc., 905 Kent Street, Liberty, MO 64068. © 2018 by Engaged Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of any material from this issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

GST#855050365RT001. Canadian Post: Publications Mail Agreement Pitney Bowes, Inc., P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2, Canada.

www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

GUN WORLD SEPTEMBER I 2018

COVER STOry

44

SIG SAUER P365 With twice the capacity of competitors and little discernable difference in size, it’s the first largecapacity micro-9mm with standard mag capacities of 10 and 12 rounds. It’s a game-changer.

By Richard Schutz

FEATURES

www.gunworld.com

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24

AMERICAN HUNTING PRIMER Fall is just around the corner. In anticipation of the season, we take a look at North America’s 10 most popular game animals, both large and small.

By Brad Fitzpatrick

34

TEHACHAPI HOGS Barnes and DRT Ammo handle the ultra-tough, tenacious and aggressive mountain boars of Southern California.

By Chuck Taylor

54

GUNSITE ACADEMY: “SEASONED CITIZEN” PISTOL COURSE Three years ago, recognizing a need, the legendary Gunsite Academy added an array of what its employees diplomatically call “seasoned citizen” classes.

By Jameson Parker

64

PREP YOUR HUNTING RIFLE FOR THE SEASON Hunting season is approaching fast. Don’t miss your once-in-a-lifetime shot—be sure your firearm is performing at its best before the fall opener.

By Brad Fitzpatrick

72

BEAR COUNTRY CAMPING For a weekend of hiking and camping solo in bear and mountain lion country in western Colorado, the Ruger .480 Bisley is the choice. It is a true, controllable hand cannon for dangerous “fur balls” of teeth and claws.

By Clint Thompson

SEPTEMBER I 2018

UPFRONT

BY ROBB MANNING RMANNING@ENGAGEDMEDIAINC.COM

GUN WORLD SEPTEMBER 2018

Volume 59 • Number 9

EDITORIAL Robb Manning Editor Kelly Nomura Executive Managing Editor Amy Maclean Managing Editor

DESIGN Julian Aviña Art Director

CONTRIBUTORS Steven Paul Barlow, Brian Berry, Chris Cerino, Michelle Cerino, Brad Fitzpatrick, Steven K. Ledin, Jameson Parker, Jeff Quinn, Richard Schutz, Patrick Sweeney, Chuck Taylor, Clint Thompson, Richard Venola

ADVERTISING Gabe Frimmel Ad Sales Director (714) 200-1930 gfrimmel@engagedmediainc.com Casey Clifford Senior Account Executive (714) 200-1982 Mark Pack Senior Account Executive (714) 200-1939 Spencer Redmond Account Executive (919) 771-8919 John Bartulin Account Executive (866) 866-5146 ext. 2746 Eric Gomez Advertising Traffic Coordinator

AUTUMN HUNTING PRIMER

A

MARKETING

utumn … my favorite time of year. Hard to imagine it’s fast approaching; it just doesn’t seem possible. Soon, the leaves will be changing, the air will get brisker, and the days will shorten. It will be time to inalize plans for the upcoming hunting season and put the inal preparations and maintenance into our guns and gear.

Michael Chadwick Digital Marketing & Media Coordinator

OPERATIONS Devender Hasija Newsstand and Circulation Analyst Shailesh Khandelwal Subscriptions Manager Alex Mendoza Administrative Assistant Victoria Van Vlear Intern Program Manager

EDITORIAL, PRODUCTION & SALES OFFICE 17890 Sky Park Circle, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92614 (714) 939-9991 • Fax (800) 249-7761 www.gunworld.com www.facebook.com/gunworldmagazine www.facebook.com/eembybeckett www.instagram.com/gunworldmagazine

This year will be a special one, because my middle son turned 10 and took hunter’s safety. This will be his first year hunting. I can hear the excitement in his voice every time we talk about it.

GUN WORLD (ISSN 0017-5641) is published monthly in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December by Engaged Media Inc., LLC, 17890 Sky Park Circle, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92614. Periodical postage paid at Irvine, CA, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to GUN WORLD, c/o Engaged Media Inc, VSI, Inc., 905 Kent Street, Liberty, MO 64068. © 2018 by Engaged Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

GST#855050365RT001. Canadian Post: Publications Mail Agreement Pitney Bowes, Inc., P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2, Canada

Our first trip will be to a couple of my favorite squirrel spots. Deer hunting requires lots of patience and sitting still. It can be disappointing if nothing is taken. However, squirrel hunting is always action-packed and fruitful.

Nothing stokes the fire and draws out the passion for hunting like seeing game and being able to take some good shots. And, squirrel hunting can be challenging in its own right, especially for a new hunter.

CUSTOMER SERVICE Engaged Media, Inc. 17890 Sky Park Circle, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92614 Subscriptions, Address Changes, Renewals, Missing or Damaged Copies (800) 764-6278 (239) 653-0225 Foreign Inquiries subscriptions@engagedmediainc.com customerservice@engagedmediainc.com Back Issues: www.engagedmediamags.com Books, merchandise, reprints (800) 764-6278 • Foreign (239) 653-0225 Letters to editor, new products or to contribute a story or photo: rmanning@engagedmediainc.com

Regardless of whether or not my son actually takes something, it will be time well spent in the woods, doing some father-son bonding. Nothing can beat that.

As a primer for the upcoming hunting season we packed several extra hunting features into this issue. “Prep Your Hunting Rifle for the Season” (page 64) offers some tips to give you the edge you need, come opening day.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES $17.95/1 year, $29.95/2 years. Outside the U.S.: $40.95/1 year, $75.95/2 years. Payable in U.S. funds. Single copy price is $4.99.

Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for new subscriptions to begin.

“American Hunting Primer” (page 24) talks about America’s top 10 most popular game animals, some tips on the how and where to hunt them, along with the best guns for the job. We also have something on hunting boar (“Tehachapi Hogs,” page 34), plus a little adventure in bear/mountain lion country with the .480 Ruger (“.480 Ruger Bisley,” page 72).

ENGAGED MEDIA, INC. Pinaki Bhattacharya CEO Tom Conradi Group President Jason Mulroney Content Director Syed Nazir Razik Digital Marketing Director Philip Trinkle Newsstand Sales Director

The Train column gives expert advice on gun training for hunting season.

Artemis talks about wing shooting and the path to falling in love with it; and Hunt looks at the often-misunderstood tradition of using hounds to hunt dangerous game.

This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the understanding that information presented is from various sources from which there can be no warranty or responsibility by Engaged Media, Inc., as to the legality, completeness or technical accuracy.

It’s not all about hunting, though: You won’t want to miss the review of the hot, new SIG Sauer P365 (page 44). In addition, regardless of your age, you’ll enjoy reading the witty Jameson Parker’s experience at the Gunsite “seasoned citizens” pistol course (page 54).

GST #855050365RT001 Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: PITNEY BOWES, INC., P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2, Canada

This season, stay safe, enjoy the woods, and if you have kids, take them hunting with you. GW www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

THIS IS MY P320 — Producer MODEL

SIZE

GRIP

CALIBER

P320 RX

Compact

Large

9mm

#

320

sigsauer.com

1 2 1

4

MAKE: Vulture Equipment Works MODEL: Vulture Field Cleaning Kit INCLUDES: Liquid Freakiness (Lf) Lube & Protectant, Liquid Chimera (Lc) Cleaner & Degreaser, 1 microfiber towel, 1 GP brush, 10 cotton swabs, resealable Mylar bag (Solid Funkiness (Sf) grease optional) MSRP: $35 ($5 extra to include 1-ounce jar of Sf Extreme Grease) URL: VultureEquipmentWorks.com The Field Cleaning Kit comes with everything you need to keep your irearm performing at top levels while out in the ield. The Lc cleaner/degreaser is odorless, with low toxicity and a noncarcinogen.

Spray and let soak for about 10 minutes. We found it cleans very well. It leaves very little surface residue but still inhibits corrosion.

The Lf Extreme Environment Lube & Protectant works well and induced no friction-related stoppages in our testing. It protects against wear, corrosion and rust.

The Sf Extreme Grease goes on and stays on, with an operating temp of -35 to 600 degrees (F).

Perfect for belt-feds, high-volume guns that get really hot and for guns on whose surfaces you don’t want to leave a lot of extra residue.

The resealable Mylar bag keeps any spills or leaks from spreading.

3

MAK MOD BLADE: 420HC stainless steel, Rc 58; satin finish MSRP: $68 (Realtree Xtra Green); $48 (black) URL: BuckKnives.com

3

There are better steels for edge retention than 420HC, but Buck’s proprietary heat treatment process is among the best—making this blade tough, corrosion and wear resistant, and easy to sharpen. It has a drop-point blade with a full belly. The spine is 0.14 inch thick and comes to a thick point for heavier chores, making it a great, all-around work/outdoor knife.

The ergonomic handle is made of Alcryon rubber, with contours and ridges for excellent handling and a secure grip—great for things such as skinning deer. We were impressed with how heavy-duty this knife is designed, considering its compact size. It comes with a pretty nice nylon belt sheath, making this the perfect OWB carry knife for in the woods or wherever legal. Another modern-day classic from Buck. Plus, it’s still made in the good, ol’ U.S.A. www.gunworld.com

MAKE: XTech Tactical MODEL: MAG47 30 RD AK Mag MSRP: $29 URL: XTechTactical.com Historically, not a lot of innovation has gone into new AK development, because they tend to work well and are tough. But not all polymer AK mags are created equal. For a long time, the former US Palm AK30 was one of the best. XTech Tactical has partnered with Molded Devices Inc. to bring it back— and it’s even better. Named the MAG47, it’s been updated with a modiied rile metal interface for compatibility with a wider range of AKs, metal-reinforced feed lips, improved internals for strength and to reduce loaded mag rattle, and a baseplate for easy ield strip.

It’s extremely well-built, rigid and tough. It performed lawlessly and with perfect reliability.

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

MAKE: Milwaukee Tool MODEL: M18 LED Search Light MDRP: $90 URL: MilwaukeeTool.com The ultimate prepper/utility light, it’s perfect as a truck light for bug-out or for the home for bugin. It’s extremely tough—impact, water and dust resistant—and has four light modes. The floodlight puts out a whopping 1,200 lumens and will light up a room, backyard, neighborhood or the Eastern Seaboard. The spotlight reaches out 700 yards. A combo mode, at 1,250 lumens, is both spot and flood, and a strobe mode is available by holding down the mode button. The head rotates 198 degrees so it can be hand carried, set up on its end or hung from the vertical hanging holes located on the underside.

6

8 7

5 tealth C G45NGX 22 MP (stills), 1,080P HD 00-foot flash; <.5 second

MAKE: Crimson Trace MODEL: CWL-201 Tactical Light (KeyMod/M-Lok) MSRP: $80 URL: CrimsonTrace.com Busting out 900 lumens (peak), the CWL-201 will brighten your night. It mounts directly to your KeyMod and/or M-Lok handguard, so there’s no need for Picatinny adapters. It comes in two activation modes—tail cap tap-on/tap-off and remote pad with tap-on/ tap-off or a pressure grip switch for momentary on. Three light modes include high beam, strobe and low beam. It uses a Cree XPL LED and requires two CR123 batteries for about 1.4 hours of run time on high and about 3.9 hours on low. The anodized aluminum body is impact resistant to 1 meter and waterproof to 1 meter.

It’s lightweight (4.9 ounces with battery) but tough and reliable.

trigger MSRP: $190 URL: StealthCam.com

MAKE: Black Rifle Coffee Company MODEL: Burr Hand Grinder MSRP: $95 URL: BlackRifleCoffee.com

Packed with the latest technology; retina-enhanced low-light sensitivity, Reflex Ultra-Fast trigger, matrix blur reduction, multi-zone detection, optional geo-tagging and range control.

It shoots still images, video and time-lapse photos. It’s energy efficient, with one set of batteries lasting all year. The Secure Lock feature offers password protection to prevent unauthorized camera access. The wide, 16:9 images provide an extended FOV, and image quality is excellent, with vibrant colors and sharp detail, even at night. Unlike other IR cameras, this one has no red glow to give it away. Setup is quick and easy: The LCD screen is backlit for nighttime setup and didn’t even require reading the manual.

It’s built well, resistant to the elements and easy to use.

Hunting season is upon us, which means deer camp and early rise. At a time when coffee becomes even more vital, don’t sacriice with weak camp coffee. This compact unit is small enough to take anywhere, but it’s built like a platinum outhouse. The heavy-duty housing is machined aluminum and has an integrated rubber grip that doubles as the handle holder. The conical grinder is stainless steel with precision ball bearings. Coffee grind coarseness can be adjusted to suit any brewing device and user taste.

It holds about 2.5 scoops of beans.

Grinding is fast and effortless, and the ground coffee is caught in the receptacle. Performance is outstanding and exceeds any hand grinder we’ve used. www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

S : $210 ($200 for field model: 6¾–29 inches) URL: SwaggerBipods.com Unlike the Marine Corps swagger sticks carried by the old breed, Swagger Bipods are for those who seek less rigidity and more flexibility—at least, in their bipods. With the legs extended, the Swagger provides stability like a traditional bipod, but the “Crazy Legs” technology allows for nearly infinite maneuverability: pan, traverse, twist, lean back, push forward, raise up or lower down.

Press a button in the front, and the legs lock into place for use as a more-traditional bipod. Legs extend to slightly more than 40 inches, and with the legs spread, it can go as low as the rifle, resting on the ground. The stowed legs are held in the chassis by a bungee cord. To deploy, pull the legs forward until they clear the chassis, rotate 90 degrees, and insert into the deployment slot.

The Treestand model is perfect for sitting in a chair, hunting from a treestand or anything in between.

SCOPE-EYE CHRONICLES

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY STEVEN K. LEDIN

ATN X-SIGHT I 4K PRO DIGITAL IS THE FUTURE. ATN IS WAY AHEAD OF THE GAME WITH ITS X-SIGHT 4K PRO.

This simple system allows countless performance options at your fingertips.

Firmware updates will continue to mature the 4K’s performance.

www.gunworld.com

’ve had more fun with the new ATN X-Sight 4K Pro digital riflescope than any product I can remember in the last several years. I have temporarily overlooked a few glaring issues with it that I attribute to growing pains, but I’m excitedly on board with this product

and am giddy with the reliable capabilities it should have upon firmware maturity.

I have been testing and destroying shooting sports products professionally for three decades, so this enamored view I have of the 4K is not a knee-jerk reaction to a new type of product.

In fact, it’s not really a completely new product, because it’s based on its predecessor, the X-Sight II. I’ve logged plenty of hours on the X-Sight II and have had more than a couple of debacles with it. I didn’t love it.

The 4K not only addresses the shortcomings of the X-Sight II, it improves it in such ways as to make the two seem only distantly related. They don’t even look the same.

DETAILS AND FEATURES My sample sight is the X-Sight 4K Pro 3-14x. It is a variable-powered digital daytime riflescope with nighttime P 12

SEPTEMBER I 2018

capabilities that mounts with standard 30mm rings. The outside diameter of the objective is 76mm. It does not use an image intensifier tube of any generation. Daytime viewing is color, and night vision mode is in black and white only.

The Pro model comes with three AR-height rings. One is a black-gun-appropriate cantilever that allows the scope a more-forward mounting position for proper eye relief.

Daytime images and movies are 1080p and colorful. The yellow sign is at 340 yards, and the house is 680.

However, in this setup, to get proper eye relief with the fixed A2-style stock, the scope had to be moved rearward.

So, I mounted the cantilever reverse of what is customary.

One of the ring tops has rails on each side to mount the

THE 4K NOT ONLY ADDRESSES THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE X-SIGHT II, IT IMPROVES IT IN SUCH WAYS AS TO MAKE THE TWO SEEM ONLY DISTANTLY RELATED.

included IR light. This powerful light clamps onto the ring top and is adjustable in direction and beam.

It’s a bit clumsy when installed, but IR or ambient light is absolutely required for use in complete darkness. In Texas, hunting hogs with a couple of 4K Pros this past May, I observed that with the IR light and some moonlight in those particular conditions, I could target pigs out to about 100 yards.

You can upgrade to one of ATN’s more-powerful IR lights for significantly more distance at night. If your target has some illumination by the impact area, you can shoot as far as needed.

Many folks assume that with such a product, the shooting distance might be limited; yet in daytime, you can shoot as far as you can see. I tried some targets at 1,000 yards, but the wind and the firearms I was using made these attempts ridiculous. Still, I easily picked off steel at up to 300 yards in gusty conditions.

It’s a second focal plane scope, so the crosshair stays the same size throughout magnification, although it’s a fairly heavy reticle and covers a lot of target at long range.

Included with the 4K Pro are an excellent screw-in accordion eyepiece, sunshade and IR lamp good for almost 100 yards in black-and-white night vision mode.

The X-Sight 4K Pro has a 4K sensor and records in 1080p.

Daytime movies and still pictures are delicious and colorful.

A remarkable attribute that the 4K sensor delivers is very good image resolution and edge-to-edge clarity from lowest to highest magnification.

A PLETHORA OF INFORMATION The viewing screen provides loads of information. It shows compass heading, a status bar (with icons for battery level, SD card, ballistic calculator, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi), your zoom level, a pitch scale with detailed pitch value, wind direction and speed (manual input), reticle correction position, roll scale with detailed roll value, and rangefinder distance.

Alternatively, you can choose to show minimal widgets, with only the status bar and magnification level visible.

The operating system is the easiest I’ve ever used on such an electro-optic. Index your middle inger on the enter key, which acts as a home base. Press once for the main menu carousel, then use left and right buttons to navigate to the heading you want to go deeper into. Press “enter” for the submenu and use the magniication wheel to scroll to your desired selection. Your menu options in the carousel are night mode, rangeinder, advanced shortcut, distance entry, environment, Wi-Fi, recoil-activated video (RAV), ballistic calculator, zero reticle (for one-shot sight-in) and system settings.

www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

SCOPE-EYE CHRONICLES battery and a few cartridge loops. A paired Bluetooth remote and rangefinder are also available.

ABSOLUTELY WORTH THE PRICE Will I use the X-Sight 4K Pro on an elk hunt? Laughable.

Nevertheless, I could see the utility of it for pigs and other varmints and maybe on some easy deer hunts.

It’s not waterproof, and I wouldn’t want to be dropping it or banging it around, but recoil resistance should not be an issue.

ATN is way ahead of the game with the X-Sight 4K Pro. Digital is the future. Image-intensified night vision and

I could get much more granular in menu description and use, but a couple of parts deserve special comment. For one, the rangefinder is not a laser rangefinder; rather, it is a stadia line rangefinder that uses angles and a predetermined target height to estimate distance.

As an example, if you enter a value of 30 inches (from the belt

The 4K has more of a traditional riflescope look than its predecessor.

It comes with ARheight rings, but any standard 30mm rings will work. (NOTE: The cantilever mounts are being used opposite of convention to bring the scope rearward for the author’s preference.)

thermal IR devices are several times the price of the 4K, and the 4K delivers excellent recorded picture quality in a mindblowingly fun riflescope.

There isn’t enough space allotted in this article to further explain how enjoyable this product is to use and share with people, as well as its myriad attributes and capabilities. Even used only as an image-capturing/sharing spotting scope, the 4K is worth the price of admission. (Oh—and don’t forget the car window mount.) GW

ATN X-Sight 4K Pro

to the top of the head on a human), press the button to position a mark at the top of the head and then another at the belt.

The angle is computed to determine an approximate distance that is displayed in the upper left corner of the screen. It also automatically adjusts your reticle for the proper hold.

SPECIFICATIONS MAGNIFICATION (DIGITAL): 3x–14x FIELD OF VIEW (1,000 YARDS): 460 feet (3x) to 240 feet (14x) SENSOR: ATN 4K M265 Sensor, 3864 (H) x 2218 (V) CORE: ATN Obsidian Dual Core DISPLAY: 1280 x 720 HD EYE RELIEF: 3.5 inches MICRO SD CARD: Up to 64 GB BATTERY LIFE: Up to 18 hours WEIGHT: 2.1 pounds MSRP: $700

In addition, the unit is always buffering, so you can set the RAV to record how many seconds you want it to start recording before you shoot and for how long after. So, the whole scenario is captured in 1080p for your viewing pleasure later. However, you can also stream it to your phone or tablet to allow others to view it in live time through ATN’s Obsidian 4 app, which also allows you to adjust the scope’s functions through the same smart device. Beware: A .17 HMR and other rimfires might not have sufficient recoil to activate the RAV, but you can simply press a button to start recording manually.

OTHER FEATURES: 3D gyroscope, 3D accelerometer, E-barometer, smart rangeinder, recoil-activated video, electronic compass, smooth zoom, changeable reticle types and colors, microphone, water-resistant, included IR light and AR-height rings

The X-Sight 4K Pro is not perfect, but improvement will come from ATN in the form of updates, just as with your phone.

I’ve crashed the Pro plenty of times but got it back up with minimal issues. There are some bugs, for sure.

CONTACT INFORMATION Battery life is an incredible 18 hours, and you can plug in the accessory ATN Extended Battery Life Package that comes with a nicely executed, adjustable, nylon cheekpiece that holds the

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ATN (American Technologies Network Corporation) ATNCorp.com

Steven K. Ledin is a former U.S. Navy nuclear gunner’s mate and current director of a prominent online optics retailer. He’s a CCW and NRA instructor and has been a sponsored competitive shooter and private investigator. He has hunted (and gotten lost) from Alaska to Africa.

www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

RRA 1911-A1 PS2300 BASIC LIMITED PISTOL

MSRP: $1950*

HUNT

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY BRAD FITZPATRICK

GOING TO THE DOGS FOLLOWING A PACK OF HOWLING BIG-GAME HOUNDS IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING WAYS TO HUNT BEARS AND COUGARS.

Where the quarry leads, hound hunters must follow.

Be prepared to walk in some steep country and understand that the first animal you tree or bay might not be a shooter—and that you’ll have to start all over again. (Photo: Cliff Carney, Carney Hunts, Colorado)

www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

Seasoned hounds “ride the rig.” Rig dogs are the first to announce the scent of a bear. These well-trained dogs are extremely valuable.

I

f you were ever under the notion that hunting bears

IF YOU WERE EVER UNDER THE NOTION THAT HUNTING BEARS WITH HOUNDS IS EASY, LET ME ASSURE YOU IT IS NOT.

with hounds is easy, let me assure you it is not.

any game on Earth. But hound hunting has come under fire

Occasionally the process is simple; the dogs strike a bear,

of late, and some of the detractors are fellow hunters who’ve never even set foot on the trail behind a pack.

the animal trees quickly, and it’s exactly the boar you’ve

been waiting for. But that’s the exception to the rule, as I quickly learned while hunting with Heaven’s Gate Outitters in Idaho.

Contrary to what some believe, hound hunting is an ethical and challenging form of hunting, and there are far, far more

Andy and Karen Savage, who own and operate HGO, have

animals treed than are ever harvested. In fact, many hound hunters simply enjoy the chase and are more than happy to

exclusive rights to hunt the breathtakingly beautiful country

leash their dogs, head for home and leave the game animal

near Hell’s Canyon, which forms the border between Idaho

to run another day.

and Oregon. The area is remote and rugged, and that isolation makes it one of the best places to tag a record-book black bear or mountain lion in the lower 48. But getting that animal,

Chasing hounds is one of my favorite pastimes, and I look

even with the aid of expert guides and a superb pack of biggame hounds, can be a challenge.

all about the kill? No. Of all the animals I’ve treed, I’ve never actually harvested any of them—and that’s by my personal choice. I’ve been on hunts during which animals were taken, but I’ve never pulled the trigger myself.

We managed to strike a track early on our hunt. Andy’s hounds were “rigged,” which means they were riding atop a box in the back of his pickup. All at once, the dogs let out a chorus of howls and barks as we crept along a narrow two-track.

The dogs were released, they fell in line, and the whole mountainside rang with the sound of the chase.

And that bear, as bears so often do, went straight up the steep slope.

forward to these hunts as much as any that I take part in. Is it

A young hound barking, treed on a bear in Idaho.

Watching well-trained hounds work is one of the great joys of chasing big game with dogs.

We followed on foot for more than an hour, climbing, scrambling over deadfalls and working our way down steep, rocky faces as we followed the dogs. The irst rule of hound hunting—and this is very different than most big-game hunts—is that you follow the animal you are pursuing, regardless of where it goes.

I’m booked to hunt with dogs again next spring for bears, and even though I haven’t harvested anything yet (and might not then), I await these trips with great anticipation.

WHY HOUND HUNTING? There are a number of ways to pursue black bears—everything from baiting to spot-and-stalk to chasing them with dogs. So, why should hound hunting be at the top of your list?

For one thing, it offers a rare opportunity to witness well-trained hounds at work. The various hound breeds, from the smallest beagle to the various larger breeds (such as coonhounds,

I ind hunting with hounds to be one of the most physically challenging hunts anywhere in the world, and there’s no promise that the bear or cat you’re following is a shooter. When Andy’s dogs inally treed that bear in a narrow drainage by a river, we found that it was only a small sow in the tree, so we leashed the dogs and climbed back up and out of the canyon to start all over again.

ENJOYING THE CHASE Scientists believe that humans domesticated dogs tens of thousands of years ago, and since that time, we’ve refined these animals into breeds that are suited for hunting almost

A young Plott hound belonging to Heaven’s Gate Outfitters waits for a strike. Hounds have a sense of smell 40 times greater than that of humans.

www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

HUNT foxhounds and bloodhounds), have 220 million olfactory

GUNS FOR HOUND HUNTING

receptors in their brains. Compare that to humans— who only

Here’s a list of some of the most popular firearms for hunting

have ive million receptors—and you can quickly see why a

bears and lions behind dogs:

hound’s sense of smell is 40 times greater than our own.

hunt. The dogs have to follow the trail, often over dry, barren

WINCHESTER MODEL 1892: This John Browning-designed lever gun is light and is plenty for close-range shooting.

Choose a jacketed expanding bullet in either .45 Colt or .44

ground (the hardest for tracking) and stay locked on the scent for

Magnum. MSRP: $1,069; WinchesterGuns.com

But that impressive sense of smell doesn’t ensure a successful

hours at a time. They then have to tree the animal, and the hunters have to manage to reach their location, which is sometimes on a sheer rock face or in the midst of a tangle of dense forest.

At that point, you have to decide whether or not you’re looking

MOSSBERG 464: This is an affordable lever gun chambered

at a mature animal to harvest. Bears, in particular, can be very

in .30-30 that’s superbly suited for hunting behind dogs.

MSRP: $574; Mossberg.com

hard for new hunters to accurately judge; and having time to be certain of the animal’s sex and age reduces the odds of shooting an immature bear.

PLANNING FOR A HOUND HUNT My first bit of advice to anyone who plans on hunting big game

RUGER NO. 1: The short overall length of this rile makes it a

with hounds is to be physically prepared for the trip. Train as you would for a mountain sheep or elk hunt and carry a pack

favorite choice of those who follow a pack of dogs into rough, steep country. It’s durable and accurate, with iron sights—

such as the one you’ll carry in the field. In most instances, you’ll be walking in steep country, so add some hill workouts

exactly what you’re looking for. MSRP: $1,899; Ruger.com

and try to trim your body weight as much as possible.

There are many places you can hunt bears with hounds, including the Rocky Mountain states, Maine, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Michigan. If you’re after mountain lions, the hot spots are Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Montana.

Bears can be hunted in the spring or fall (depending on state regulations), but mountain lion hunting is typically a winter sport. And, the more snow, the better for the dogs, because it improves tracking conditions; and the size of the tracks offers some insight into whether or not it’s a mature tom.

SPRINGFIELD TRP 10MM: This 6-inch 10mm 1911 is very accurate, easy to carry and is chambered in one of the most versatile handgun hunting calibers of all time. MSRP: $1,842; Springfield-Armory.com

You can hunt bears and mountain lions behind hounds with any number of firearms, but remember that shots will be close, and you’ll be hiking in steep country. For those reasons, I prefer a short, handy rifle such as a lever-action or a handgun; in fact, many hound hunters I know feel the same way.

RUGER REDHAWK: This classic big-game wheelgun is extremely reliable and easy to carry in a shoulder or belt holster when you’re climbing over rocks and deadfalls. MSRP: $1,079; Ruger.com

Choose a good bullet that expands reliably—and make your irst shot count.

Can you eat these animals? Indeed, you can. I’ve had both bear and mountain lion. When prepared correctly, they are excellent table fare. GW

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brad Fitzpatrick is a full-time freelance writer based in Ohio. His works have appeared in several print and online publications, and he is the author of two books: The Shooter’s Bible

Guide to Concealed Carry and Handgun Buyer’s Guide 2015. He has hunted on four continents and was a collegiate trap and skeet shooter before becoming a writer.

www.gunworld.com

P 18

SEPTEMBER I 2018

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Artemis Armed

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY MICHELLE CERINO

WING SHOOTING ANDA SHOTGUNNING JOURNEY

IT’S ALL MIND OVER MATTER.

I

enjoy hunting deer and coyote; but honestly, sitting silently still—in cold weather and often alone—takes some of the fun out of the hunt.

Walking the fields on a bird hunt in the sun makes for a perfect day.

A few years ago, when the opportunity to experience wing shooting on a chukar hunt in a preserve came up, I jumped at the chance. This was a hunt that included walking with other hunters and allowing me to talk along the way … perfect! Plus, a preserve hunt guaranteed seeing game.

Heck, I might even be quick enough on the gun to have the opportunity to get some shots. www.gunworld.com

Shooting sporting clays is a great way to get in some practice time when bird hunting is not in season. p 20

SEPTEMBER I 2018

Now, let me explain something about myself. Whenever I try

THIS WAS A HUNT THAT INCLUDED WALKING WITH OTHER HUNTERS AND ALLOWING ME TO TALK ALONG THE WAY … PERFECT!

a new adventure, I study it to death. I want to make sure I know what I’m getting myself into, and—especially because firearms are involved—I want to be safe.

RULES AND REGS Before even considering heading into the field, I made sure I felt comfortable running my gun. Sure, when I compete in 3-gun, I’m very confident with my shotgun. However, this would be different. I didn’t want to fumble while walking through a field with other hunters and make anyone nervous. Also, so as not to appear stupid, I went online and reviewed the safety/etiquette part of the hunt, which is something not everyone discusses:

on. This would be the perfect opportunity (or excuse) for me to take the time to improve my shotgunning skills.

IMPROVING THOSE SKILLS In pursuit of my goal of learning to shoot better, the first thing on my list was joining the local outdoorsman club. I needed somewhere to shoot, right? Luckily, every Tuesday evening from May through August, the ladies of the club have the opportunity to shoot sporting clays under the watchful eye of an instructor. This sounded ideal. Not only would I enjoy the camaraderie, I would also receive instruction along the way.

1. Hunter orange and eye protection are mandatory.

2. Maintain a straight line, shoulder to shoulder, while walking through the field with the other hunters. This might mean adjusting your pace along the way.

3. Know where your muzzle is pointed at all times. In the excitement of a bird flushing, be careful not to shoot over or across another hunter.

4. Visualize the zone where you can safely shoot, and stay within it when a bird presents itself.

5. Don’t give commands to the dogs. Leave that to their trainers.

6. Be mindful of the dogs’ location(s) before taking a shot. No

Learning how to shoot sporting clays should help build confidence for wing shooting.

Wow, did I need instruction when it came to sporting clays!

Being more of a pistol and rifle shooter, I couldn’t wrap my mind around what I was supposed to see when I took the shot. Sure, some days I would get lucky, but other days, I felt myself aiming and just couldn’t hit anything. I needed another resource for learning the sport.

The next part of my shotgunning journey involved delving into a book. I hoped that by having pictures and words in front of me, perhaps I could have that, “Ah-ha!” moment. I just needed something to click in my brain.

shots should be below the horizon line. Make sure you can see blue sky under the barrel of your shotgun.

7. While walking, guns are on “safe;” hinge-action shotguns are kept action-open.

I had the greatest experience on my first bird hunt. Only one of the chukars we flushed managed to get away, and I managed to knock down my fair share of the birds.

As we walked through the fields, we even talked and giggled.

Most importantly though, I enjoyed hunting with dogs and wanted to bird hunt again. However, I knew I had a lot to work www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

Artemis Armed Well, as they say, “Easier said than done.” No matter how much I practiced, I still had issues hitting those darned orange disks.

However, my final hunt of the season (at the Kansas Governor’s Ringneck Classic) proved those little orange disks don’t always “translate” to the field: Although a few of the wild pheasants might have gotten away to live another day, let’s just say my freezer is now full.

Now … back to sporting clays and Ladies’ Night at the hunt club. So far this year, I’ve noticed quite a bit of improvement. I found a shotgun that fits better, and I’ve learned how to really focus on the clay. When I miss, I find out that I’m just shooting at the clay. It doesn’t quite work that way.

Recently, after I missed a crossing clay several times, the instructor said, “Miss in front of the bird (clay).” Guess what?

I hit that clay every time after that. It’s all mind over matter.

By pure chance, I found the book, Maine-Ly Wing Shooting, by Brad Varney, and I highly recommend it. He writes in a way I ind

A few pheasants from a local preserve hunt

easy to understand and relate to. It’s almost as if Mr. Varney is sitting in my living room and we’re chatting over a cup of coffee.

Yes, I learned quite a bit from his book. The following two excerpts helped me understand the importance of keeping my eyes on the target and not the sight: • “The hands and trigger obey the eyes of the good wing shot.”

• “Locking your eyes on the target gives the brain the correct information to direct the muscles to move the gun in a precise, subconscious manner.”

Shooting sporting clays and wing shooting can become a lifestyle.

Yes, I’ll admit, I’ve fallen in love with wing shooting and am even beginning to enjoy sporting clays. GW

… SO AS NOT TO APPEAR STUPID, I WENT ONLINE AND REVIEWED THE SAFETY/ETIQUETTE PART OF THE HUNT, WHICH IS SOMETHING NOT EVERYONE DISCUSSES.

The author’s favorite part of wing shooting is hunting over dogs.

They’re always so excited to work.

Michelle Cerino is both a irearms trainer and the president of Cerino Consulting and

ABOUT THE AUTHOR www.gunworld.com

Training Group, LLC—a irearms training company she built with her husband, Chris, in 2011. She writes, hunts and competes in major 3-gun matches nationwide.

p 22

SEPTEMBER I 2018

STAMP COLLECTOR.

Maxus Wicked Wing

browning.com FEDERAL DUCK STAMP IMAGES USED BY PERMISSION FROM THE USFWS

gun world

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY BRAD FITZPATRICK

AMERICAN HUNTING PRIMER FALL IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. IN ANTICIPATION OF THE SEASON, WE TAKE A LOOK AT NORTH AMERICA’S 10 MOST POPULAR GAME ANIMALS, BOTH LARGE AND SMALL.

B

y the time you read this, we’ll rapidly be approaching every hunter’s favorite time of year—autumn. Chances are, you’ve spent the dog days of summer checking trail cameras, planting food plots and waiting, perhaps impatiently, for the irst hint of cooler weather.

Congratulations! You’re almost there.

In preparation for—and in celebration of—hunting season’s return, we’ve come up with a pre-season primer to North America’s top 10 game species (listed here in no particular order). GW www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

MULE DEER A big mule deer buck has become one of the most coveted trophies in North America, and drawing a tag in units where big mule deer are common can be very tough.

Likewise, guided hunt s in the best mule deer areas are costly. But getting a good buck is still possible, even on your own and while hunting on public land. The vast majority of mule deer hunts are spot-and-stalk, so you’ll need a really good spotting scope or binocular, and you’ll need to scour the landscape for any sign of the animals.

Some hunters believe that mule deer aren’t as wary as whitetails, but big, old muley bucks are still masters at avoiding detection. A lot of pre-planning and scouting prior to opening day are keys to success.

WHERE TO HUNT: Muleys live in the Rocky Mountain states. Colorado, Arizona (especially around the Kaibab Plateau) and Utah have a history of producing really big deer. Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, New Mexico, Idaho, Texas and Washington all produce great bucks as well, and the most underrated mule deer areas in the country might be Nebraska’s Sand Hills, South Dakota’s Black Hills and northern Nevada.

GUNS: On average, mule deer are larger than whitetails; and there’s a good chance you’ll have to take a long shot. My favorite cartridges are the flat-shooting and mild-recoiling .25s and 6.5s such as the .25-06 Remington, .257 Weatherby Magnum, 6.5 Creedmoor, 26 Nosler and the new 6.5 PRC. DID YOU KNOW? One of the easiest ways to distinguish mule deer from whitetails is that a mule deer has a distinctive black patch on its forehead.

A BIG MULE DEER BUCK HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST COVETED TROPHIES IN NORTH AMERICA, AND DRAWING A TAG IN UNITS WHERE BIG MULE DEER ARE COMMON CAN BE VERY TOUGH. LIKEWISE, GUIDED HUNTS IN THE BEST MULE DEER AREAS ARE COSTLY. BUT GETTING A GOOD BUCK IS STILL POSSIBLE, EVEN ON YOUR OWN AND WHILE HUNTING ON PUBLIC LAND.

www.gunworld.com

p 25

SEPTEMBER I 2018

gun world

ABOUT FIVE OF EVERY SIX HUNTERS IN THIS COUNTRY PURSUE WHITETAILS, SO IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THESE DEER ARE THE MOST POPULAR OF ALL NORTH AMERICAN GAME.

WHITETAIL DEER About five of every six hunters in this country pursue whitetails, so it goes without saying that these deer are the most popular of all North American game. Whitetail populations crashed around the turn of the 20th century because of indiscriminate and unregulated market and sport hunting. Today, however, there are 30 million deer in the United States. Seasons start in late August in some states (such as South Carolina) and continue on through the end of January.

WHERE TO HUNT THEM: States such as Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri are known for producing big deer. However, there are some sleeper states that produce giant whitetail as wellâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;namely, Wyoming, Mississippi, Kentucky and Arkansas.

GUNS: Guns include just about anything, including .22-caliber (where legal) and larger centerfires, handguns, shotguns and even air rifles in some states. Modern muzzleloaders offer superb accuracy and allow you to extend your season.

DID YOU KNOW? A whitetail fawn can stand in as little time as 15 minutes after birth. www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

FERAL HOGS In the 1500s, Hernando de Soto and his conquistadores came to the Americas in search of gold. They brought along huge herds of domestic pigs that eventually escaped and became the breeding stock for our current wild hog populations. Pigs are found in at least 39 different states, and their status as an invasive species means that most parts of the country offer liberal (or no) bag limits and lengthy hunting seasons. Some states don’t even consider them game animals, so they’re not regulated. This means there are no bag limits, and you can hunt them all year. Wild pigs—especially smaller animals— can provide excellent table fare, and the cost to hunt them is very low. In fact, many landowners simply want hunters to come and remove as many pigs as possible.

WHERE TO HUNT: Southern states, such as Texas, Alabama, Georgia and Florida, all have high pig populations, and there are plenty of opportunities to pursue hogs there. The first step is to decide whether you want to pay for a guide or hunt pigs on your own on public ground. The second decision you’ll need to make is how and when to hunt them. You can hunt hogs over bait from blinds, with dogs and even at night. In some areas, you can even shoot them from helicopters, which is the fastest way to take home a lot of pork.

GUNS: Don’t underestimate the tenacity of wild pigs. A big boar can absorb a lot of punishment.

Wild pigs are some of the few North American game animals that are truly dangerous, especially when injured. ARs are a natural choice, and calibers such as .300 Blackout and 6.8 SPC are great choices. Lever guns work well too, and the classic .30-30 will work wonders. If you’re using a handgun, a .44 Magnum, .45 Colt revolver and 10mm semiauto will all do the trick.

DID YOU KNOW? A single sow can produce around 24 piglets a year, and females reach sexual maturity in about one year (although maturity can be reached in as few as three or four months). www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

gun world

... BULL ELK ARE THE SECOND-LARGEST DEER IN NORTH AMERICA, AND THERE IS PROBABLY NO WILD GAME MEAT THAT IS AS DELICIOUS AS ELK VENISON.

ELK

WHERE TO HUNT: Colorado has the largest elk population and offers plenty of public land and over-the-counter tags. New Mexico and Arizona are known for producing monster bulls, but the archery world record elk was harvested recently in Montana. Wyoming and Idaho both offer opportunities for huge bulls in some units. Utah is also excellent, but drawing a tag can be tough.

For many hunters, no sound symbolizes the wilderness like the raspy bugle of a bull elk. Weighing up to 800 pounds, bull elk are the second-largest deer in North America, and there is probably no wild game meat that is as delicious as elk venison. In most states where elk are hunted, the season begins in September and carries through to the winter; rile and muzzleloader seasons are often later in the year. Be prepared to hike while hunting these animals, because elk thrive in steep country. Understand that elk move great distances, and a particular patch of public ground or piece of private property might only hold animals at certain times of the year. When the animal is down, there’s a lot of meat to haul out of the ield—which generally means a lot of work—so be mentally prepared. In addition, have the tools on hand to accomplish a meat pack-out if you haven’t hired a guide or outitter. www.gunworld.com

GUNS: You can certainly kill an elk with a small-caliber rile, but don’t push your luck. The .280 Ackley Improved has gained a following among elk hunters in recent years, and I have every reason to believe that the 6.5 PRC will turn out to be an effective and eficient elk-killer. However, the .30-calibers are still the most popular option—from .308 Win. to the fast .300 Magnums.

DID YOU KNOW? Elk “ivories” are actually the vestigial remains of canine teeth. p 28

SEPTEMBER I 2018

COYOTES Despite consistent hunting pressure, coyotes have managed to spread across North America. These canines now thrive in wilderness areas, on city streets and everywhere in between. There’s no doubt that coyotes take a toll on other game. These predators are especially fond of eating whitetail fawns early in the season, so anyone who hunts whitetails or muleys would be well-served to spend a few days each year set up behind an electronic caller with a small-caliber rile. Coyotes are extremely intelligent and catch on quickly when they’re being hunted. Consequently, in areas where there are a lot of people, coyotes might not come in to calls at all.

WHERE TO HUNT: Anywhere. Coyotes are found from coast to coast and in every habitat, but my own experience has taught me that these animals prefer to use the path of least resistance when traveling from point A to point B. For that reason, I set up along game trails and creeks when I call.

GUNS: Shotguns, rimire and centerire riles all work for coyotes, but fast centerire .22s are the most popular option. There are plenty of bullet options, and these riles shoot lat and generate very little recoil. Optic selection is a major factor when hunting coyotes.

Choose a variable scope with a high upper-end magniication, great lens coatings and superb low-light performance (new thermal optics from companies such as FLIR make it easier and more successful to hunt these animals at night). That could mean you’ll have to pay a little more, but you’ll kill more coyotes.

DID YOU KNOW? Coyotes were originally found in the southwestern and western United States but moved farther east as other predators were extirpated there.

www.gunworld.com

p 29

SEPTEMBER I 2018

gun world

BLACK BEAR NUMBERS ARE ON THE INCREASE, AND AS MORE AND MORE STATES OFFER BEAR HUNTING SEASONS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR HUNTERS TO PURSUE BRUINS ARE EXPANDING AS WELL.

BLACK BEAR

Montana, New Mexico and other states also produce excellent bears. The absolutely biggest bears, though, come from Pennsylvania and North Carolina. It’s not uncommon to see black bears that weigh more than 700 pounds killed in coastal Carolina.

That’s more than the average interior Alaskan grizzly weighs.

Black bear numbers are on the increase, and as more and more states offer bear hunting seasons, opportunities for hunters to pursue bruins are expanding as well. Baiting bears is the most common method of hunting; when done properly, it is quite successful. In some areas, particularly the Rocky Mountain states, spot-and-stalk hunting is effective, and in other areas, you can chase bears with hounds—which is far more physically challenging than most hunters assume. The goal is always to take a mature boar. Bear meat, when handled and prepared properly, is delicious. Additionally, you can render the snow-white bear fat to use for making pastries.

GUNS: Bears are dense and can be dangerous if your shot is off even slightly, so it’s a good idea to choose a caliber that hits hard and leaves a large enough hole to produce an ample blood trail. For spot-and-stalk, the .308, .30-06 and various .300 magnums make sense, and when hunting over bait or with hounds, a .45-70 works wonders.

DID YOU KNOW? Bears don’t hibernate—they estivate. True hibernating animals enter a deep sleep from which they do not awaken until their body temperature rises. Bears wake up in winter and occasionally even leave their dens.

WHERE TO HUNT: Idaho offers lots of land, three different hunting methods, lengthy seasons and lots of bears. As a result, it’s my favorite black bear hunting destination. But Maine, Wisconsin, www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

birds are flocked-up and feeding in preparation for winter. The most common method to take fall turkeys involves running into a flock, scaring them into flight and then calling to bring stray birds back to the group. Wild turkey meat is darker than that of domestic birds, but when seasoned and smoked, wild turkey is among the finest of all wild game meats.

WHERE TO HUNT: You can hunt turkeys just about anywhere (including Hawaii), but I’ve just returned from central Nebraska and have to give that area a solid recommendation. There is lots of land and plenty of birds, and Nebraska offers hunters a chance to take three different subspecies (Merriam’s, Rios and Easterns) in a single state. (Then, again, Hawaii might be a great Plan B.) GUNS: I recommend a 12- or 20-gauge shotgun loaded with magnum turkey ammunition. I prefer semiautos and over/ unders, because they offer fast follow-ups. In addition, over/ unders are particularly appealing, because they have a short overall length and can easily be unloaded when crossing

WILD TURKEY

fences or ditches.

Yes, we’re approaching fall, but the wild turkey deserves a

DID YOU KNOW? Many of the wild turkeys in the United States have DNA from domestic birds. When Spanish explorers returned

spot on any list of the top North American game animals. While most people associate turkey hunting with the spring months,

home from Central and South America, they brought the irst

many states offer fall turkey seasons. Fall hunting requires different tactics: The breeding season is long over, and the

turkeys to Europe, and the offspring of those turkeys returned to the New World. Many of them subsequently escaped.

31

gun world

PRONGHORN ANTELOPE

WHERE TO HUNT: Wyoming. Sure, there are pronghorn in several other western states, but Wyoming is home to more than a half-million of these

The pronghorn antelope is the only true antelope species in North

animals. In fact, there are more antelope than people in this state!

America. Because they are creatures of the open plains, pronghorn rely on their sense of sight—and that means hunters need to stay out of sight.

However, pronghorn are also very curious and will sometimes approach a

GUNS: A lat-shooting rile is the key. The .243 Winchester, .25-06, 6.5 Creedmoor and .270 Winchester are all popular options—with good reason.

foreign object to determine what it is. That’s one of the reasons decoying these animals has gained in popularity. Some people claim that pronghorn meat doesn’t taste good, but my experience is that pronghorn steaks, when handled correctly in the field, are among the most flavorful and

DID YOU KNOW? Pronghorn are, by far, the fastest North American ungulates

delicious of any North American wild game.

now-extinct American cheetah) prior to the last ice age.

and are believed to be the second-fastest land animals—after cheetahs.

Why so fast? Because pronghorn were actually hunted by cheetahs (the

North America’s apparently endless supply of ducks and geese would soon dry up. But hunters helped lead the charge, and today, there are dozens of species of huntable waterfowl in every U.S. state. Early in the season, you can hunt small water for teal and timber for wood ducks. Later in the year, the annual migration will push mallards, gadwall, widgeon, pintails, redheads, goldeneyes and a host of other birds down from their summer range in Canada.

WHERE TO HUNT: Early in the season, I enjoy hunting along the northern tier states of North and South Dakota or in southern Canada. Later in the year, consider the Gulf Coast— particularly Florida—Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas. Texas’s Matagorda Island is my favorite winter duck hunting destination, because it’s warm, and you can combine hunting with excellent fishing for drum and sea trout.

WATERFOWL

GUNS: I prefer the convenience and comfort of a semiauto, but I’ve also used pumps and over/unders with great success.

You’ll also need to select a nontoxic load and then pattern it through your gun to be sure it works well. Winchester’s Blind Side, Kent’s Fasteel and Federal’s Black Cloud are all great options. Also, a camo gun is a great idea—not just because it offers extra concealment, but because it’s another barrier between your gun’s steel and the water.

North America’s current waterfowl population numbers prove just how successful hunter-based conservation can be. Around the turn of the 20th century, market waterfowl hunters had decimated bird populations, and it seemed that

DID YOU KNOW? The mallard is one of only two wild duck species (the other being the Muscovy duck) that has been domesticated. Almost all domestic duck species trace their lineages back to wild mallards.

www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

DOVES The mourning dove is America’s game bird, and when September 1 rolls around each year, it’s a safe bet that hunters are lining sunflower fields across the country, trying to shoot their limit. Dove hunting is accessible, affordable and very enjoyable, and it’s a great way to kick off the hunting season. Most hunters plant food plots—millets, sorghum, sunflower or some combination of those—and mow those fields just prior to season. But you can hunt around just about any agricultural field and expect to see at least a few birds. There might be no better wild game dish on earth than grilled dove breast poppers.

WHERE TO HUNT: Doves need a few things: roosting cover, water, forage and grit. Birds spend much of their day traveling from one of these resources to the next, so set up on a travel corridor with a few decoys and be ready to shoot. Many states offer excellent dove hunting, but none matches Texas.

GUNS: I recommend a smooth-swinging shotgun that you shoot well. I prefer a long-barreled 20- or 28-gauge over/under (which provides a smooth swing) or a 20-gauge semiauto. Doves are deceptively fast, so practice prior to season.

DID YOU KNOW? The traditional and recognizable “cooing” call is always uttered by male doves. www.gunworld.com

p 33

SEPTEMBER I 2018

gun world

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CHUCK TAYLOR

TEHACHAPI HOGS BARNES AND DRT AMMO HANDLE THE TOUGH MOUNTAIN BOARS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

I

t was a dark, crisp December morning as we motored

other animal, pigs must eat; but wild pigs eat a lot and breed

slowly along the dirt road leading up into the Tehachapi

virtually all year around, producing an average of four litters

Mountains southeast of Bakersfield, California. My two

per year, which makes for major crop damage for farmers and

companions, Norman Hanson and Alan Chandler, had

ranchers. They’re also highly social and organized, far more

picked me up at “zero dark 30,” cups of strong coffee

than other species, which makes their explosive growth in numbers easy to understand.

in hand (and one for me, of course—strong and black!), and we’d sallied forth on what was destined to become one of the

A DIFFERENT BREED OF TOUGH

most memorable hunts I’d ever experienced.

Yet, in hunting them over the years, I’d also discovered they I’ve hunted wild pigs all over the world—the southeastern

were relatively easy to kill. All you had to do was hit them

United States, Bavaria, the Philippines, southeast Asia, Africa

in their vulnerable areas, just as on any other critter. Thus,

and Hawaii. And in the process, I’d discovered a few things.

as a successful hunter of many years, I’d simply logged the information about them into my memory and let it go at that.

First of all, wild pigs are smart, fast and, if cornered, dangerous. In the United States, their range has steadily

But Norm and Alan had told me that Tehachapi pigs are different:

increased over the last three decades to the point at which

They are super-tough, tenacious and more aggressive than

they’ve become a major, and growing, problem. Like any

typical wild pigs. This is due primarily to the fact that they spend a great deal of time running up and down 60- and 70-degree mountain slopes and traveling great distances back and forth between their bedding and feeding/watering areas. As a result, their cardio-vascular systems are, of necessity, more highly developed.

On my first hunt with them several years earlier, I’d discovered (to my chagrin) that Norm and Alan were right. I’d never before seen pigs so tough! More than once, I’d perfectly placed my

Due to their extraordinary cardiovascular development from running up and down steep mountain slopes daily, the boars of California’s Tehachapi Mountains are big, smart and hard to put down.

(Photo: Neil Burton/ Dreamstime)

www.gunworld.com

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shot tight behind the front shoulder, only to see the pigs take off, often straight uphill, and disappear over the ridge top. This is something you simply don’t see with other critters, which,

... BARNES VOR-TX AND DRT TERMINAL SHOCK ARE, WITHOUT A DOUBT, GREAT CHOICES. MOREOVER, THEY’RE BOTH HIGHLY ACCURATE AND FUNCTIONALLY RELIABLE.

SEPTEMBER I 2018

gun world revolutionary retarded-frangible design that allows penetration to vital organs, breaks bones and then fragments, virtually destroying internal organs. I’d used both for years, with excellent results, on dozens of animals (mule and whitetail deer, elk, bear, mountain lion and a slew of small game critters), so my conidence in them was absolute.

The day before, Norm, Alan and I had decided they would use the Barnes VOR-TX ammo, while I would go with the DRT. Norm selected the VOR-TX 200-grain TTSX for his custom Winchester Model 70 .35 Whelen, while Alan had opted for VOR-TX 130-grain .308 Win. in his custom Savage M-110. I,

when seriously wounded, will nearly always turn abruptly downhill. I’d also seen other hunters place their shots the same way—with exactly the same results—necessitating a long tracking exercise to recover them.

BARNES & DRT: EFFECTIVE PILLS FOR TOUGH HOGS As a result, I’d decided that maximum penetration, bonebreaking ability and, of course, accuracy were all called for, so I opted to try both the Barnes VOR-TX and Dynamic Research Technologies (DRT) Terminal Shock factory fodder.

Rooted-up areas where the pigs have been digging up acorns and other succulents are evidence of active feeding. The wild barley that grows in profusion on the southern exposures of the ridgelines in the Tehachapi Mountains is another of their favorites.

VOR-TX ammo features the company’s tried-and-true Tipped Triple Shock X (TTSX) bullet, while DRT bullets feature a

... THE BARNES VOR-TX AND DRT TERMINAL SHOCK AMMO HAD DONE THE JOB PERFECTLY. NO ANIMAL HAD GONE ANY SERIOUS DISTANCE AFTER BEING HIT; NONE REQUIRED FOLLOW-UP SHOTS; AND ALL WERE EASILY RECOVERED.

The boars of California’s Tehachapi Mountains are tough.

They’re found as high as 7,000 feet and find snow to be no handicap.

(Photo: Anagram/ Dreamstime) www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

Wild boars also love to root and wallow in swampy places to cool off and coat themselves with mud. The many streams and artesian springs in the Tehachapi Mountains are, therefore, prime locations. (Photo: Neil Burton/Dreamstime)

All our rifles printed three-shot rested groups of ½ MOA or better, with mine the most accurate of them all, at ¼ MOA. So, whatever else might happen, we knew our rifles and ammo were fully prepared for anything. The only question, as always, was us—as hunters and shooters.

on the other hand, am a big fan of longer-range engagements to catch my game unaware, and this means potentially shooting across canyons. Consequently, I selected my custom-blueprinted, precision-conigured Winchester Model 70 in .300 Winchester Magnum and DRT’s 150-grain Terminal Shock ammo.

This particular rig had downed many big-game animals for me without failure and was calibrated to 1,000 meters in 25-meter increments; as a result, I reasoned that all the possible scenarios I might encounter were covered.

While compliant with the California law prohibiting lead-core bullets, ammo from Dynamic Research Technologies and Barnes “gets it done.”

Thus, with four tags in my pocket, and Norm and Alan with one apiece, we headed into the high country with high spirits.

From the moment I awakened that morning, I just knew we were going to have a great hunt, but I never realized how terrific it was going to be.

MBER I 2018

A wild boar’s thoracic organs are located more forward than most species and are wellprotected as a result.

They also have massive bone structure and a breast plate of thick, leathery hide. They’re fast, tough, aggressive and dangerous at close quarters, so putting them down quickly is critical. (Photo: Neil Burton/Dreamstime)

... WILD PIGS ARE SMART, FAST AND, IF CORNERED, DANGEROUS. IN THE UNITED STATES, THEIR RANGE HAS STEADILY INCREASED OVER THE LAST THREE DECADES TO THE POINT AT WHICH THEY’VE BECOME A MAJOR, AND GROWING, PROBLEM. www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

A second later, I saw it hit right at the base of the pig’s tail—a pronounced puff of dirt and fur marking its impact. Another second later, a loud whop! reached us, and the pig tumbled, end over end, and never got up.

“Damn,” Norm said. “Now that was a good shot!”

I grinned, trying to be humble ... but inside, I was as tickled as he was.

THE HUNT— TAG #1 The sun had not yet risen above the horizon when the action began. Driving along the primitive dirt road leading into the mountains, we’d encountered a group of about 20 pigs moving briskly across the valley floor in that ground-eating trot common to the breed. Trailing a bit behind the others was a nice-looking boar, so Alan decided to go after him. Norm and I

Spectacular terminal ballistics without loss of penetration is a DRT hallmark.

Here is the wound cavity from a .308 Win. 135-grain DRT Terminal Shock bullet in a 6x6x16-inch FBI gel block.

continued along the road, hoping to intercept the group before its members started up the nearest mountainside.

We hurried back to see his trophy. He’d busted the boar from 300 meters with a nice quartering-away hit. Visual examination showed that the 130-grain TTSX had penetrated diagonally through the animal from its point of impact just forward of the pig’s right hip and exited in front of his left shoulder, leaving a 1½-inch exit hole. The boar had, Alan said, continued to run for about 50 meters and then piled up.

Weighed later, the pig dressed out at 190 pounds.

base of the spine and continued on through the abdominal cavity, passed through the diaphragm and virtually exploded in the thoracic cavity, shredding everything therein.

Terminal Shock, indeed!

“One down,” I said, with a smile.

We hadn’t gone more than 200 meters when a shot from Alan’s Savage M-110 .308 reached us. Then, a few seconds later, Alan’s voice crackled on the radio, “One down!”

Field-dressing disclosed that the DRT bullet had struck at the base of the tail, traveled though the pelvis, shattered the

TAG #2 The author, with his irst porker of the day—a nice 220-pounder. It was taken shortly after sunrise with Winchester M70 custom .300 Win. and a single hit with DRT Terminal Shock 150-grain ammo at a whopping 535 meters (585 yards) while running straight away.

Back in the truck and a half-mile later, the sun came up, and we found ourselves in the mountains. Marveling at the beautiful morning, I was amazed to see a large, lone pig up on a ridge several hundred meters above us.

Coming to a quick stop, Norm said, “Go ahead, amigo.”

I dismounted, found the wind and terrain to be favorable, and elected to do a quick stalk. However, when I was about 120 meters from the pig, the wind changed, and the pig took off.

Leaving Alan to field-dress and stow his pig on his Jeep Rubicon, Norm and I continued down the road. However, we hadn’t gone even a half-mile when another group of pigs crossed in front of us, heading for the mountainside to our right. Taking a small jeep trail that led generally in their direction, we turned off, hoping to get to a point at which we could intercept them before they reached the slope.

Wow! I thought to myself. Two groups of pigs already, and the sun isn’t even up yet!

Unfortunately, it didn’t look as if we were going to make it.

Nevertheless, some deft driving on Norm’s part brought us to a point at which I might be able to engage them, although they were now running dead-away from us.

I bailed out of the truck, quickly glassed them, spotted a nice pig and lased her, inding the range to be approaching 500 meters. Quickly setting the Leupold 6.5-20x40mm target scope on my Model 70 for 535 meters, I took up a rest across the hood of Norm’s truck, quickly took a couple of deep breaths and let ’er rip. The .300 Winchester shattered the early-morning calm, and the 150-grain Terminal Shock was on its way. www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

gun world Aiming a bit low for the steep downhill angle, I put my crosshairs low and just a bit in front of the pig’s shoulder, took a deep breath and squeezed the trigger. The .300 Winchester loudly belched its message, and I was again rewarded with a loud whop! The pig unceremoniously went down in a cloud of dust. After dragging the carcass (this one weighed in at 225 pounds) up to the trail and dressing it out, I grinned at Norm.

“Three down; one to go!”

As before, the DRT 150-grain Terminal Shock had done its work perfectly.

Alan, who had caught up with us, looked at my pig and the two others in the back of Norm’s Ford F-350, grinned and said, “Nice work!”

Continuing to drive the jeep trails during the afternoon, we saw pigs galore. Wherever we went, regardless of altitude, they were out and about—which isn’t typical. Normally, they move during the dawn and dusk periods like other game. But However, she had to cross several hundred meters of open ridgeline to get away. She didn’t make it.

I went prone, leaving the scope set at its zero range of 250 meters, took a quick breath and, aiming low behind the shoulder with a foot of lead, squeezed off a shot.

Once again, the Model 70 shattered the morning calm, and the 150-grain DRT was on its way. And once again, I heard the loud whop! of its arrival on target.

The author’s second pig was spotted about a half-hour after the first one.

It was stalked and taken while trotting, with a single, leftfacing broadside shot at 120 meters. Again, DRT 150-grain .300 Win. Terminal Shock ammo was utilized.

This boar weighed 240 pounds.

to find that the dressed weight of my pig was 240 pounds

TAG #3 With two of my four tags now filled, we continued to c higher, seeing pigs everywhere we went. But no shots possible. So, after stopping at around 7,000 feet for a q sandwich and a cup of coffee, we continued on.

In the early afternoon, we caught another group of pigs b us, climbing a draw.

to extreme range or unfavorable winds, no shots were possible.

FOUR TAGS, FOUR ACES Late in the afternoon, we found ourselves in the same area in which I’d bagged my second pig that morning. Our luck was holding, because as the afternoon sun began to set, we spotted a sounder of a dozen pigs feeding on top of an adjacent hill. At my insistence, Norm and I both went after them.

The pig I selected was quartering-on at about 175 meters, with another nice porker only 10 meters away from him. I nodded at Norm, who indicated he would take that one, while n with my back to a tree and slung up.

Without further ado, down she went. The DRT bullet had again struck on target. It penetrated deep into the thoracic cavity and destroyed everything.

Hmmm, I thought. This stuff works! And I was further delig

for some reason, there were out all day long. Unfortunately, due

Just after sunset, as the temperature cooled and gloves were again appropriate, the author bagged porker number 4—a 200-pounder— only a few hundred meters up the ridgeline from boar number 2.

This pig was taken with a single quartering-on shot from 175 meters with 150-grain .300 Win. DRT ammo.

I quickly glanced at Norm, who once again said, “Your shot, So, I dismounted, went prone on the jeep trail, lased the pigs and found them to be 300 meters below. I decided to let them come to us so I wouldn’t have to drag a carcass up a 70-degree slope. Nevertheless, at 225 meters, the pig I wanted spotted us and began to trot away parallel to the jeep trail. www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

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gun world conventional bullet designs. Time and time again, with perfect hits using traditional bullet designs, I’ve seen them either simply run off or somehow “come back to life” after lying still

Just at dawn, Alan Chandler bagged this 190-pound boar with his custom Savage M110, using Barnes VOR-TX 130-grain .308 Win. ammo. The pig was quartering away to the right, trotting, at 300 meters, but it was downed with a single hit.

for as long as 30 seconds (they leap to their feet and run away as if they had no injury).

So, if you’re looking for ammo that “gets it done,” even on tough critters such as the alpine boars of Tehachapi, Barnes VOR-TX and DRT Terminal Shock are, without a doubt, great choices. Moreover, they’re both highly accurate and functionally reliable. In short, they’re both excellent choices.

Try them; I think you’ll agree. GW

Norm gestured for me to go ahead ... and my fourth pig of the day was history. The 150-grain DRT struck her in the chest just to the left of the front shoulder, penetrated deep into the thoracic cavity and, as before, destroyed everything therein.

Another 200-pounder. Four tags, four pigs down—four aces!

As my rifle came out of recoil and I worked the bolt in case a follow-up shot was needed, I dimly heard the report of Norm’s .35 Whelen. After ascertaining that my pig was down, I stole a quick glance at Norm’s pig. It, too, was down.

The big, 200-grain Barnes TTSX boat-tail had traversed the entire pig from front to back, exiting from the animal’s rump, leaving a 1½-inch exit hole. It had collapsed instantly and weighed 200 pounds dressed.

As the author got his fourth big porker of the day, Norman Hanson simultaneously took this 200-pound boar with a single shot from his Winchester M-70 .35 Whelen, using Barnes VOR-TX 200-grain TTSXs. The pig was trotting broadside at 110 meters, but only a single hit behind the shoulder was required to down him.

TEHACHAPI PIGS ARE DIFFERENT: THEY ARE SUPER-TOUGH, TENACIOUS AND MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN TYPICAL WILD PIGS.

It was with great satisfaction that we field-dressed the last two pigs, packed them on to Norm’s truck and Alan’s Rubicon and began the slow descent out of the mountains. Six filled tags—a “full house” and a personal “four aces” for me. And what a pile o’ porkers it was! The freezers would be full for quite a while.

Now, with ample time to think about the day as we traversed the windy route back down out of the mountains, I realized we had just had the pig hunt of a lifetime—the likes of which we’d probably never see again.

I also realized the Barnes VOR-TX and DRT Terminal Shock ammo had done the job perfectly. No animal had gone any serious distance after being hit; none required follow-up shots; and all were easily recovered. This is something that doesn’t often happen on these critters with ammo utilizing www.gunworld.com

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gun world

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY RICHARD SCHUTZ

THE FIRST LARGE-CAPACITY MICRO-9 IS A GAME-CHANGER.

The trigger on the P365 does not have an integral safety. A large external extractor is provided for sure extractions.

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

gun world to conceal easily. With a sight radius of almost 5 inches and

to the rear. It does have a striker block that prevents the

SIG’s X-RAY3 Day/Night sights, getting a good sight picture is as easy as with a mid-sized or compact pistol.

striker from moving forward unless the trigger is pulled.

The real kicker is the P365’s magazine capacity. Two 10-round

The stainless steel slide has fore and aft cocking serrations.

There also is a rectangular opening at the top rear of the barrel

magazines are standard, for a loaded capacity of 11 rounds. One

hood that allows the operator to visually determine whether or

magazine has a lat base for better concealment, and the other has available for a loaded capacity of 13 rounds. This approaches mid-

not there is a casing in the chamber. In my mind, this feature negates the need for front cocking serrations, which are generally used to perform a “press-check” to determine the

sized/compact territory—but in a micro-compact size.

condition of the pistol. Generally, press-checks are not a good

All of this comes in a package virtually the same size and

idea: The slide might be left out of battery because it hasn’t had the full force of the recoil spring(s) to return it to battery.

a inger rest for a better grip. An extended, 12-round magazine is

weight as either a 9mm M&P Shield or a Glock 43.

WHAT MAKES THE P365 TICK?

A large, slide-mounted external extractor makes sure no cartridge is left behind in the chamber. The recoil rod

The basic design of the P365 is that of the now-common recoil-

assembly uses dual springs. I did find the slide easier to rack

operated, semiauto, center-fire, striker-fired, polymer-framed pistol. As such, it shares many features with its competition.

The one thing the P365 doesn’t have is a trigger safety. There is no blade in the trigger shoe, nor is there a pivoting trigger shoe that must be actuated to allow the trigger shoe to move

The SIG Sauer P365 comes with a flush-fit, 10-round magazine (shown) and a 10-round magazine with a finger rest.

than on either the Glock 43 or the M&P Shield.

Grip texturing on the polymer frame is adequate, but I added Talon black rubber grips to the P365 I evaluated, because I like their feel and stickiness.

... ONCE IN A WHILE, SOMETHING TRULY SPECIAL COMES ALONG. ENTER THE SIG SAUER P365 9MM, RELEASED IN JANUARY 2018.

HOLSTERS At the P365’s initial introduction, there were few holsters available for it, other than those offered by SIG Sauer and made by BlackPoint Tactical.

Those holsters consist of the IWB “Mini Wing” and DualPoint AIWB Kydex holsters. Both are very welldesigned and manufactured. I used the Mini-Wing version extensively for over a month and found it both comfortable and secure. However, I could not find a comfortable position for the DualPoint AWIB holster, so my experience with it was very limited. Both SIG Sauer BlackPoint Tactical holsters retail for $80 each.

in front of the slide lever. Neither is bilateral or reversible.

A contoured, triangular magazine release button is located at the lower rear of the trigger guard on the left side. It is somewhat protected in this position, and I found that I had to consciously press the button in order to release the magazine.

For left-handed shooters, the magazine release button can be relocated to the right side of the frame.

The tang is high, and there is a relief cut in the underside of the trigger guard to allow for a high hand position. Relief cuts have been molded into the upper part of the grip portion of the frame on each side behind the trigger guard to provide a thumb rest and to guide the trigger finger to the trigger.

The integral accessory rail is proprietary SIG Sauer and does not accept 1913 MIL-SPEC accessories. SIG has said that accessories are on the way; these include a laser and light.

The author integrated the SIG Sauer P365 into his EDC using the Black Point Tactical IWB MiniWing holster, (sold separately; available from the SIG store).

The spare magazine is a 10-round mag loaded with SIG Sauer 124-grain V-Crown JHP ammunition. Also shown is the author’s PowerTac E9R rechargeable tactical flashlight with 1,020 max and a Kershaw Link SpeedSafe assisted-opening, flipper-style folding knife.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the P365 is the desig of its magazine—rightly so, because SIG developed th magazine first and then developed the P365 around it. Whi many manufacturers of micro-compact pistols use true singl stack or slightly staggered magazines, SIG Sauer developed new “modified” double-stack magazine to allow for a high capacity without a wider grip.

The P365’s magazine is more of a double-stack magazine tha has been narrowed slightly so that casings are aligned close to side by side rather than vertically, like a “1.5 Stack”— “stack and a half.” The top of the magazine is narrow so tha the top two rounds are single-stack, and the third is just slight staggered. From there, the magazine widens to full width. T me, the magazine design is the key to the success of the pisto www.gunwo

47

Since the introduction of the P365, many other holster manufacturers have developed custom-fit holsters for it. By the time you read this, I’m sure many holster options will be available.

SIG’s decision to make the X-RAY3 Day/Night sights standard was a good one. I believe that an EDC handgun is ill-equipped if it doesn’t have night sights. The serrated black rear sight with twin tritium vials and front sight with a large, luorescent green dot with a tritium vial in the center are easy to pick up day or night. They provide an excellent three-dot sight picture at night and a standard post-and-notch (with dot) during the day. On most other EDC pistols, they are either a $100 option or they must be purchased and installed after the purchase of the pistol.

Takedown and reassembly are pretty straightforward, and it is not necessary to pull the trigger prior to disassembly.

However, there is one slight catch: When reinstalling the assembled slide onto the frame, before it can be slid all the way on, the slide lock lever must first be pushed up, and then, the takedown lever can be rotated clockwise a full 90 degrees

gun world from horizontal. Once the slide is on, it’s easiest to lock the slide to the rear and then flip the takedown lever rearward into the horizontal position.

OPTIONS Currently, the only model available is chambered in 9mm Luger. It has a Nitron finish and XRAY3 night sights. Line extensions are sure to follow. And SIG could easily knock $75 to $100 off the price by deleting the night sights.

I presume SIG will eventually offer the P365 in different color combinations. In addition, as far as chambering it for other cartridges, I don’t see that in the near future. The .40 S&W has fallen from favor recently, so why chamber it in .380 ACP when you have the same size pistol in 9mm Luger? Some might ask for .357 SIG, but I suspect that would be a bit of a stretch for the P365 and be of limited interest.

I think that SIG Sauer has hit the sweet spot just as it is.

AMMUNITION For this evaluation, I used more than 16 types of 9mm Luger factory ammunition. All functioned without any problems. Fourteen types of ammunition from four different manufacturers were evaluated for accuracy and velocity.

SIG Sauer rates the P365 for +P ammunition. Both defensive hollow-point and full metal jacket ammunition were used.

Bullet weights ranged from 115 to 150 grains.

I have chosen the SIG Sauer 124-grain V-Crown JHP load as my carry ammunition. I like the bullet design and velocity; plus, it has good accuracy. Most importantly, I shot enough of it to be confident that it will function without a problem if I ever need to use it in a defensive situation.

I also had the opportunity to shoot some of SIG Sauer’s new 365 V-Crown JHP 115-grain and 365 FMJ Elite Ammunition 115-grain.

This ammunition is formulated speciically for CCW handguns.

ITS MAGAZINE— RIGHTLY SO, BECAUSE SIG DEVELOPED THE MAGAZINE FIRST AND THEN DEVELOPED THE P365 AROUND IT. www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

TALON GRIPS

The slide assembly includes the slide (with internal parts), barrel and dua spring/recoil ro assemb

The grip surface on the P365 is adequate for self-defense purposes, but I chose to install a Talon grip surface for a better feel. I prefer the Rubber-Black version for

found the lim

concealed-carry purposes. Rubber-Moss (think “coyote” color) and Granulate-Black versions are also available.

to load, not the recoil o the inger rest and the extended inger rest deinitely made the P365 more p

Installation is much easier than the instructions might lead you to believe. I have installed a dozen or more over the past two years; it takes me about 15 minutes to install one.

I have used Talon grips on both Glock G42 and G43 EDC guns, and they show no signs of wear or of coming loose. (MSRP: $18; add $2 for Rubber-Moss)

RANGE TIME The irst P365 I received had a minor early-p “teething” problem, but the slightly later production p for this evaluation operated lawlessly. All 16-plus ammunition I ired functioned lawlessly, and all the m fed properly and dropped free when the magazine re pushed. No magazines were dropped inadvertently.

As on any micro-compact handgun, there isn’t a l estate to hold onto, so it is imperative that the op cognizant of their hand position. I have small hands, a problem for me, but many shooters have a tenden the slide lock lever and/or takedown lever on a sm such as the P365, thus creating a user-induced mal The P365 is a bit snappy, but not as much as I thou be the case. I actually found it quite easy to control sessions at the range shooting the P365 were not a www

I found the accuracy of the P365 to be quite good. Freedom Munitions’ Pro Match 135-grain XAP ammunition proved to be the most accurate factory load at 15 yards. The average

slide moved,

for three five-shot groups was 1.43 inches, with the smallest group measuring 1.33 inches. Federal Premium 150-grain HST JHP defensive ammunition came in second: 1.61 inches

sear

for three five-shot groups. I consider all the ammunition used acceptable for use in the P365. For concealed-carry purposes, however, I would only use the defensive ammunition.

TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THIS ONE From the first time I fired the P365 at SIG Sauerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Range Day the Sunday before the 2018 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, I knew the P365 was special. That was substantiated when I later put more than 1,500 rounds through two different P365s.

In early May 2018, SIG S

The fact that I have replaced my Glock 43 with the SIG Sauer

new line of 9mm Luger ammunitio

P365 as my everyday-carry gun says it all. I can now carry 23

for use in the SIG Sauer P365 micro-co

nd

rounds (10+1 in the pistol and 12 in one spare magazine in

other short-barreled, concealed-carry pistols. Two types are currently available. One load is a 115-grain full metal jacket training round; the other is a 115-grain V-Crown JHP CCW personal-defense round.

These loads are not only optimized for use in the P365, they are also designed to perform complementarily to each other ballistically, with a muzzle velocity of 1,050 fps and with the same recoil and point of impact.

This allows a seamless transition from the 365 FMJ (#E9MMB1) training ammunition to the 365 V-Crown JHP (#E9MMA1) personal-defense load.

I compared both the FMJ and V-Crown 365 loads to their non-365 115-grain counterparts and to each other. The 365 ammunition definitely has less recoil and made less noise than its non-365 counterparts. The 365 FMJ and 365 V-Crown loads averaged 1,064 and 1,075 fps, respectively, at the muzzle and were quite close to the 1,050 fps advertised by SIG from the 3.1-inch barrel of the P365 pistol. The muzzle velocity of the 365 115-grain V-Crown ammunition was 56 fps slower than the non365 115-grain V-Crown ammunition. The 365 115-grain FMJ was 54 fps slower than the non-365 115-grain FMJ ammunition when fired out of the P365.

The blac rear sigh tritium v front sig large, flu green do tritium v center, a pick up d with a st and-notc for daylig

I also fired both types of 115-grain 365 ammunition at dusk with the P365 and experienced almost no muzzle flash. Smoke from all the SIG Sauer 115-grain ammunition was light and roughly equivalent.

Without looking at the terminal performance of the 115-grain 365 and the 115-grain non-365 ammunition, I would say that the 365 ammunition is roughly equivalent to the non-365 ammunitionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but with less noise and recoil. The SIG Sauer P365 handgun functioned flawlessly with all four SIG Sauer 115-grain 9mm loads that were evaluated.

The key of t P365 is i

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mag with a neck t a stagg an mod

51

gun world my pocket), versus 19 rounds (6+1 in the pistol and two spare 12-round magazines in my pocket) for the G43.

I carried a G42 or G43 for several years, mainly because of their similarity to the other Glocks I shoot almost daily. Due to

P365 Versus the competition Dimension

P365

G43

S&W M&P Shield

10/12

6/6

7/8

the similarities between the majority of the polymer-framed, striker-fired, micro-compact EDC pistols today, I don’t feel I am giving up anything by carrying the P365 in return for extra capacity. I also didn’t have to install tritium night sights after

Magazine capacity (standard/extended) Overall length (inches)

5.8

6.26

6.1

Height (inches)

4.3

4.25

4.6

Thickness (inches)

1.0

1.02

0.98

Barrel length (inches)

3.1

3.39

3.1

18.5

17.95

19.0

I purchased the P365.

Anyone looking for an EDC pistol would be remiss if they didn’t take a hard look at the P365. Shoot a friend’s P365, or go to a range at which you can rent one for an hour and give it a good workout. Then, make your decision. GW

SIG Sauer P365 NITRON SPECIFICATIONS CALIBER: 9mm Luger ACTION TYPE: Semiauto, striker ired GRIP MATERIAL: Polymer FRAME AND SLIDE: Stainless steel with Nitron inish OVERALL LENGTH: 5.8 inches BARREL LENGTH: 3.1 inches OVERALL HEIGHT: 4.3 inches WIDTH: 1.0 inches WEIGHT: 18.5 ounces (with empty 10-round, flush-fit magazine) TRIGGER PULL: 6 pounds, 15.5 ounces (average of 10 pulls using a digital Lyman Trigger Pull gauge) RAIL: SIG Rail SIGHTS: SIG X-RAY3 Day/Night sights CAPACITY: 10+1 (12+1 optional) MSRP: $600 CONTACT INFORMATION SIG SAUER SIGSauer.com

Weight, unloaded with magazine (ounces)

Performance Results Ammunition

Avg. Velocity (fps) E.S. 851

73

21.3

1.33

1.43

1,131

45

13.9

1.32

1.56

853

71

22.9

1.50

1.61

SIG Sauer 124-grain FMJ

1,048

55

25.0

1.83

1.86

Federal Premium H-S Deep 135-grain

1,005

83

27.6

1.48

1.86

SIG Sauer 124-grain V-Crown JHP

1,086

41

13.7

1.37

1.92

SIG Sauer 147-grain FMJ

939

41

11.5

1.63

2.02

SIG Sauer 115-grain FMJ

1,118

35

13.5

1.69

2.02

896

60

16.8

1.33

2.09

Hornady Critical Defense 115-grain FTX

1,048

78

23.6

1.74

2.12

SIG Sauer 365 115-grain V-Crown JHP

1,075

35

12.7

1.47

2.19

998

20

6.1

1.84

2.21

American Eagle 124-grain FMJ

1,037

118

32.2

1.88

2.22

SIG Sauer 365 115-grain FMJ

1,064

40

14.3

1.48

2.42

Freedom Munitions Pro Match 135-grain XAP SIG Sauer 115-grain V-Crown JHP Federal Premium 150-grain HST JHP

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Federal Premium 124-grain H-S JHP

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Sm. Grp. Avg. Grp. S.D. (inches) (inches)

TALON GUN GRIPS TalonGunGrips.com

NOTES: The velocity, extreme spread (E.S.) and standard deviation (S.D.) were measured/calculated at the muzzle using a LabRadar device and are an average of 10 shots. Group average is in inches, taken from three ive-shot groups ired at 15 yards using a sandbag rest.

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gun world

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY JAMESON PARKER

GUNSITE: SEASONED CITIZEN T COURSE

“THE SPIRIT IS WILLING, BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK.” —MATTHEW 26:41

Shooting a drill as Instructor Bobby Schneider (foreground) and Lead Instructor Steve Hendricks (in back) observe

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he flesh might be made weak by temptation, but time and fate also have their effects.

My heart is a frisky 28 or thereabouts. My brain, as my wife would be the first to tell you, is an

exceptionally immature 14. But my body… well, suffice it to say that very few bits of it work as they were intended to with the original parts, and I have now reached the age at which none of it is still under warranty.

SEPTEMBER I 2018

THREE YEARS AGO, RECOGNIZING A NEED, GUNSITE ADDED AN ARRAY OF WHAT ITS EMPLOYEES DIPLOMATICALLY CALL “SEASONED CITIZEN” CLASSES. Gunsite Academy has been around a long time by recognizing and adapting to the needs and wants of its clientele. There are pistol classes, carbine classes, bolt-action rifle classes, precision rifle classes, shotgun classes and more. Within each of those categories, there are specialized classes geared to almost every conceivable scenario: church defense, defensive vehicle classes, pistol team tactics for two, armorer’s classes, night-vision classes, house-clearing classes, tactical medicine classes, hunting rifle … . The list goes on—extensively.

The class taking turns at the barricades.

(Note the lady with the cane. There were two “seasoned citizens” tethered to canes; the other one was taking the photograph!)

We might have been made weak by time and fate, but what we brought with us was a spirit willing and eager to learn, to improve and to have fun. And, oh, boy, did we ever!

ABOUT GUNSITE Gunsite Academy is the irst, foremost and oldest civilian shooting school in the world. But it’s not only civilian: It also teaches law enforcement, military and various governmental agencies (some of which are not discussed). However, as Gunsite COO Ken Campbell, himself a retired sheriff, pointed out, budget constraints limit the number of military units or law enforcement agencies that can afford to send personnel to train at Gunsite. Personally, I want the men and women who risk their lives in order to save mine to have the very best training possible. That not being the case, I will take the training myself.

Gunsite offers free classes to veterans of the current war. In addition—in response to recent events—Gunsite also offers free classes to school board presidents, superintendents and assistant superintendents.

Three years ago, recognizing a need, Gunsite added an array of what its employees diplomatically call “Seasoned Citizen” classes. I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to take a “Seasoned Citizen” 250 pistol class. I jumped at it.

Founded in 1976 (originally under the name The American Pistol Institute) by the father of modern pistol technique— the legendary Col. Jeff Cooper—Gunsite is now owned by businessman Owen “Buz” Mills. And it takes a good businessman to run such an operation, because the cost and sheer logistics of maintaining the many shooting ranges, roads and buildings (not to mention coordinating the schedules of the numerous instructors and even more students) must be almost overwhelming.

What assembled at Gunsite’s Paulden, Arizona, 3,000-plusacre flagship facility on a cold spring morning was a motley collection of artificial joints, broken and degenerating spines, gout, diabetes, chronic arthritis, rebuilt rotator cuffs, hypertension, artificial heart valves, stents, macular degeneration, titanium pins/screws/discs/rods (two of us held up by canes), a cancer survivor and a survivor of www.gunworld.com

hepatitis C, as well as enough prescription medicine to open a small pharmacy.

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in parts of the world you don’t want to visit and served in more

Above: Instructor Chris Currie advises one of the students.

operations than I can list. He trained advisors at Twenty-Nine Palms for three years, taught mounted and dismounted patrols with the ATG advisor training group and was a security specialist with SOC, the company that provides security for the U.S. government and private companies. After leaving the Marine Corps, he served as an independent contractor—again, in countries where it’s safer not to be.

Bobby Schneider is a retired Denver police officer who served 17 of his 21 years with that agency on its SWAT team. He, too, has taught a dizzying array of domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies and military units.

(Right now would be a good time to point out that the ability to do something and the ability to teach that skill to others are two very different animals. All these men have the teaching skill at least as much as the doing skill.)

Lead Instructor Steve Hendricks

GUNSITE INSTRUCTORS It is the instructors who make the school. Let me give you a taste of whom you might meet when you take a class at Gunsite.

Our chief instructor was Steve Hendricks, whose résumé includes working for an “alphabet soup” of governmental agencies; law enforcement in both California and Colorado; 30 years as a martial arts instructor; competitive shooting; and teaching firearms, special security and protection tactics to both law enforcement and various high-security personnel at those alphabet soup agencies. Reading between the lines during a private conversation with him, he has also served as a security specialist overseas, but because that’s not listed on his résumé, I won’t presume to detail it.

Chris Currie was a gunnery sergeant with 21 years in the Marine Corps, through which he worked with special reconnaissance units

IT IS THE INSTRUCTORS WHO MAKE THE SCHOOL.

Instructor Bobby Schneider restricts the view of the target to force a shooter’s eyes to focus on the front target.

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Although geared toward â&#x20AC;&#x153;seasoned citizens,â&#x20AC;? the only noticeable concession to age was that certain tactical positions, such as prone and kneeling, were scratched.

K 9 E l i te

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gun world 250-PISTOL CLASS The 250-pistol class is numerically designated, because it used to be taught as an adjunct course at a local college.

It is a five-day class, making it the most intensive and comprehensive introductory shooting class offered to civilians anywhere in the world.

It begins with the basics, which are broken down into stepby-step functions: proper grip; the five stages of drawing the gun properly; getting on target; trigger press; follow-through; staying on target until there is no more threat; and so on.

Then, students are guided through more-advanced steps as speed and stress are both gradually increased. And in the last two days, indoor and outdoor simulators, along with night shooting, are also introduced.

Above: Student Steve Moore clears a wash under the watchful eye of Instructor Chris Currie.

Throughout it all, from the first morning in the classroom to the last afternoon, the four basic safety rules are repeated ... over and over and over. They are posted on signs everywhere—in the classrooms, the lunch area, the ranges, the simulators, the various offices, even the bathrooms. Safety comes first.

It might be a function of having trained and taught martial arts for 30 years, or it might be a function of his having to think each step through to improve his competitive shooting, or it might just be how his mind works, but Steve Hendricks broke down movements more thoroughly than any other instructor I have met.

He also utilized what he called “Jedi tricks” to fool students into doing the right thing, because he had them concentrating on something else entirely. I won’t give his tricks away, but it is one of the most effective training tools I have ever experienced.

Student Steve Moore clears a house.

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In theory, the “Seasoned Citizen” class is supposed to be a stately, gentle event geared to those of us who are giving Methuselah a run for his money. I thought it might be a civilized, 9-to-5 affair and perhaps even include siesta time. Ha! The only concession to age I could detect was that certain tactical positions, such as prone and kneeling, were scratched (I suspect that was only because the instructors didn’t want to throw their backs out by repeatedly picking up overweight senior citizens).

SEPTEMBER I 2018

THE INSTRUCTORS WORKED US ALL LIKE RENTED MULES, BUT, TO BE FAIR, WE WERE TOLD MULTIPLE TIMES THAT WE COULD TAKE A BREAK WHENEVER NEEDED. NONE OF US DID.

59

gun world After the first morning, bottles of pain-killers were added

during an emergency reloading drill. Because ammunition is

to the pharmacy, but not even groaning joints and whining muscles could diminish the enthusiasm of the ancient. There

the most likely cause of malfunctions, I owe a tip of the hat and a thank-you to Black Hills for zero failures.

were 13 of us—11 men and two ladies—and the only one who couldn’t go the full distance was an unfortunate lady

At the end of the last class, after certificates had been handed out—with the usual good-natured razzing mingled with

who came down with the flu. The instructors worked us all like rented mules, but, to be fair, we were told multiple times

sincere applause—a bonus was given in the form of tea and

that we could take a break whenever needed. None of us did.

HANDOUTS AND FIREARMS

brownies and a tour of the late Col. Cooper’s home there on the ranch. We were greeted with courtly elegance and grace

by Mrs. Cooper, who is 97 years old. If I were as fit and sharp

One other thing Gunsite does that I found very helpful is to

now as she is, I’d be a happy man.

hand out booklets outlining each step of instruction. Because each night results in a 50 percent loss of what one has learned during the day and a 75 percent loss by the end of the week, the booklets help those of us who go home and practice and try to retain what we’ve learned.

(Gunsite also hands out copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States—items most college graduates and half the scoundrels on Capitol Hill are unfamiliar with.)

Striker-fired pistols predominated, but there were two 1911s and two Berettas, one of which was my PX4 Storm Compact Carry 9mm. I put approximately 1,000 rounds of Black Hills 115-grain FMJ through it, and the only malfunction I had was the very predictable result of sand in one of my magazines

Using a barricade.

Note how far away from the barricade the students are standing.

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GUNSITE ACADEMY IS THE FIRST, FOREMOST AND OLDEST CIVILIAN SHOOTING SCHOOL IN THE WORLD. BUT IT’S NOT ONLY CIVILIAN: IT ALSO TEACHES LAW ENFORCEMENT, MILITARY AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES ...

SEPTEMBER I 2018

The last day consisted of friendly competition— another way of adding stress.

RSH E IN THE MA E ADVANTAG TH F EL S THE R — U GIVE YO E PLANET T PUMP ON TH ES LT ST FA B E E ROTARY O WITH TH X® PUMP. TH R PE U S ® R EA FFER N R WINCHESTE BAR SETUP O N IO CT A L A U ING SPEED. AND RIGID, D ISTED PUMP S S A ATI ER IN PETITION EFFORTLESS NCE THE COM A M R FO R PE D OF CAN’T BEAT. IT’S THE KIN , AND BIRDS CAN’T MATCH

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The house was fascinating, but what really struck me was the image of 15 dirty, sweaty, tired people, each one with a loaded pistol on their hip, talking to the slim and elegant Mrs. Cooper and her daughter, Lindy Cooper Wisdom. The conversations ranged from guns to travel in foreign lands; from museums visited to books read (the late colonelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s library is extensive and extraordinary); and from anecdotes about famous men to the recipe for the brownies Mrs. Cooper served us.

GUNSITE ACADEMY HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME BY RECOGNIZING AND ADAPTING TO THE NEEDS AND WANTS OF ITS CLIENTELE. THERE ARE PISTOL CLASSES, CARBINE CLASSES, BOLT-ACTION RIFLE CLASSES, PRECISION RIFLE CLASSES, SHOTGUN CLASSES AND MORE. www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

Lead Instructor Steve Hendricks confers with one of the ladies in the Seasoned Citizen class.

Right: Shooting against the clock.

Adding a timer adds stress.

63

It all made me wish that some of the current anti-gun politicians could be present to witness firsthand the bloody violence and mayhem that inevitably ensues when armed and deplorable NRA members gather. (For additional information, contact Gunsite Academy; Gunsite.com). GW

gun world

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY BRAD FITZPATRICK

BE SURE YOUR FIREARM IS PERFORMING AT ITS BEST BEFORE THE FALL OPENER.

Kneeling is a useful ield shooting position, but it requires practice.

The meat of the upper arm should rest on the kneecap to help stabilize the rile.

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PREP YOUR HUNTING RIFLE FOR THE SEASON I

tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s customary on any hunt to check the zero on your rile before heading to the ield. Usually, the process is just a simple step to verify that the gun is performing the same way it was when you left home.

There are times, however, when the simple task of doublechecking your zero becomes a monumental chore.

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gun world I got off easy. A gentleman I knew—a world hunter with a lifetime of experience on big game—took his .460 Weatherby Magnum to Africa for an elephant hunt some years back and noticed that, as with my deer rifle, the shots were drifting. But the .460 Weatherby Magnum, a potent pachyderm-stopper, pushes back with roughly 100 foot-pounds of felt recoil. This is far more than most shooters can handle for a single shot, let alone an extended sighting session. As it turns out, the scope rings had broken; and because they were in the hinterlands of Botswana, there was no way to fix the problem.

Rifle problems can be a real problem. There are enough variables in the world of hunting, and because you can’t control the weather, temperature, moon phase or the game animals, themselves, you should, at the very least, be certain your rifle is living up to its end of the bargain.

TAKE THE TIME BEFORE THE OPENER THIS FALL SEASON TO BE CERTAIN YOUR RIFLE IS READY TO PERFORM. WHEN THAT OPPORTUNITY AT A BIG BUCK OR BULL PRESENTS ITSELF, YOU’LL BE GLAD YOU DID.

Learning trigger control requires dry-firing practice, but it will pay big dividends in the field—especially if you’re shooting at extended ranges.

I had just such a dilemma on a deer hunt in Montana. I’d found a factory load that agreed with my rifle, and I had mounted a premium scope on the gun. But when I fired the first shot from sandbags at the 100-yard target on that hunt, the shot was low and left. Odd. I sent another round downrange; to my terror, the bullet hit 2 inches to the right of center. This is a gun that had been printing sub-MOA groups at that range just a few days before. But now, it would take a bit of luck to even hit a cantaloupe at 100 paces.

Knowing your hunting rifle will perform is critical to success in the field. Before the season opens, take the time to be certain your hunting rig is up to the task.

WHAT HAPPENED? It turns out that the rear base screw had worked its way loose. I remedied the problem and managed to get the gun back to zero, but I lost a half-day of hunting in the process, because we’d recognized the problem the night before and set out on the first morning of the hunt to correct it. That was a four-day hunt, so I lost about an eighth of the budgeted time I had to hunt fiddling with a mechanical problem on my rifle.

Here’s a checklist to help you ensure your gun is performing properly before the upcoming fall season.

ZERO CHECK There are some hunters—many hunters, perhaps—who shoot a rifle once a year and call that adequate. If you’re shooting at short-range, stationary targets, that will sometimes work.

However, you need to understand that zeroes can drift over time.

It might be something as dramatic as seared scope rings, but it often takes far less than that to shift your gun’s point of impact.

If you own a rifle with a wood stock, you’ll have to contend with the natural swelling and shrinking of the wood with regard to ambient humidity and temperature. You can also have shifts in point of impact due to altitude changes, so it’s vitally important to confirm the zero on your gun when you’re climbing or descending from where you last checked it. Sure, if you’re flying from New York to Alaska, you’ll naturally want to verify point of impact, but something as simple as a day’s drive into higher altitudes with lower humidity can affect how the gun shoots.

Even if you don’t change locations, you need to check to make sure your gun is performing as it should. Ideally, you’ll be practicing all year with your rile, but if you’re a deer hunter who shoots from the

Practicing mechanics is critical, especially when hunting dangerous game.

Here, Safari Shooting School’s Monty Kalogeras practices quickly and efficiently reloading his double rifle—an essential skill when he’s hunting Cape buffalo.

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Scopes must be securely positioned to ensure they can withstand field use.

This Weatherby Vanguard is chambered in .375 H&H, but the Leupold bases, rings and scope are capable of withstanding a high level of recoil.

same stand in the same patch of woods every year, I sincerely doubt

HUNT FIT

you’ll set aside the time for monthly tune-ups.

A single range session before the opener will usually suffice, but be sure to shoot the same loads you’ll be using to hunt. You can save a few bucks by buying cheap practice ammo. However, anyone who has ever tested multiple loads in a single rifle will attest to the fact that not all rounds shoot the same, even if they’re the same grain weight.

FIELD POSITIONS I’ve had to shoot from some pretty awkward and uncomfortable positions in the field, and if you’ve done a lot of hunting, you’ve probably found yourself in the same situation.

Benches are great places to verify your zero, but once your rifle is shooting the way it should, it’s time to shun the shooting bench. The primary shooting positions include kneeling, prone and standing, and your only option for a rest might be the items that surround you in the field—a rotted stump, a backpack or a lump of dirt.

Field shooting is more challenging than benchrest shooting, so you’ll need some practice. I shoot with sticks more frequently than I used to, and they help a great deal, but you have to know how

Loose scopes account for a number of failed shots, and this is generally the result of not following manufacturer guidelines. Be sure to pay close attention, and check mounts often.

The more closely you mimic field conditions, the better equipped you’ll be while hunting. At Monty Kalogeras’ Safari Shooting School in Texas, students learn to stalk, spot, shoot and reload on targets that mimic real animals in natural settings.

Your rifle’s ready, but are you? One of the primary complaints I hear from guides and outfitters is that clients aren’t able to physically do what they said (or think) they can.

This doesn’t mean that physical limitations always hold hunters back: If you’re honest with yourself and your outfitter, you can generally set up a hunt that works for you. But don’t assume you can climb an 11,000-foot peak in sheep country if you haven’t been off the couch in six months.

Eating a good diet that is free of low-quality carbohydrates is a good start, and that will give you more energy to work out and help you lose weight.

Cardio work is good, but be certain it mimics the hunt.

I was in shape for a half-marathon prior to an elk hunt but found that the same muscles that carry a runner from mile 12 to 13 aren’t the same ones that help you carry a pack up a steep incline for hours on end.

Weight training is very beneficial for almost all hunting, and don’t forget to stretch. Flexibility will reduce the odds of an injury in the field.

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gun world That last part is the key. I don’t want this to sound like a rant against the manufacturers of scope rings and bases; quite the opposite, in fact. Modern machining and metallurgy have

Don’t assume your rile will shoot the same way this year as it did last year, and always recheck zero when traveling. This Ruger American didn’t shift at all during transit, but it’s always good to verify.

allowed scope rings and bases to fit more precisely and withstand a serious beating.

However, the key is that you must follow proper procedures for mounting the scope. That deer camp fiasco I had a few years back in Montana? My fault. I didn’t follow company guidelines for scope base installation. As a result, my optic broke free.

There are plenty of bases and rings that work, and I’ve had success with Leupold Dual Dovetails, Talleys and plain Weaver bases and rings. Some scope base manufacturers suggest the use of an adhesive such as blue Loktite, while other manufacturers might not recommend it. If you don’t know how

to use them. Standing on a ridge above a bugling bull elk you’ve

to properly mount a scope, find someone who does, and they should be able to help you. When properly installed, scope bases

lown halfway across the country to ind is not the right time to learn to do so.

and rings can last for years.

Your go-to field position should be prone, because it is the most stable, but because of terrain, I’ve shot more game from a kneeling position than anything else. If possible, use your strong-side foot as a prop to support your backside and your opposite (front) knee as a rest—remembering that the knee

Although it’s not absolutely necessary, it’s a good idea to check the barrel channel before the season. Debris can accumulate there, and that can affect overall accuracy.

bones should be placed against the soft, lower portion of the triceps muscle. It’s surprising how far you can accurately shoot from a field position if you get into proper position and practice frequently. It’s not natural, but if you learn the proper technique and—most importantly—consistently position yourself in the same way, kneeling allows you to shoot accurately in the field.

your optics, they should last. Still, it’s a good idea to check for problems such as fractured main tubes and fogging.

Your whole rifle should be inspected and cleaned as needed.

That means the finish should be examined for corrosion, the bolt should be removed for inspection, and the gun should be cycled while unloaded to verify that everything is working properly.

One thing I always do before my first shot with a rifle that’s been stored is to remove the bolt and look down the bore to make sure it’s clear. Is it likely that, over the course of a gun’s time in storage, anything worked its way down into the bore? Of course not. But anything I can do that takes a few seconds and ensures I have a safe and properly functioning gun is worth the time.

MECHANICS AND MAINTENANCE Modern hunters, by and large, carry scoped rifles while hunting.

Scopes offer a real advantage in the field. Even so, as previously mentioned, a scope is only effective when it is securely affixed to the hunting rifle. Any slop or play is going to send your shots everywhere, so be sure your scope is properly mounted; and frequently check for tightness—even during extended shooting sessions. Even relatively mild-recoiling rifles such as the .270 Winchester produce enough recoil to shake rings loose if they’re not properly mounted.

The same goes for optics. I’ve had a couple of scopes fail, but not many, and if you take even a minimal amount of care of

Don’t be afraid to test different loads before hunting season. It might cost a little extra, but you’ll be certain the load you are using shoots well in your rile.

There are many different philosophies about bore cleaning. Some serious rile shooters clean after every shooting session. Others will clean their bore and then ire a single shot to “foul the barrel.”

Some shooters prefer to clean the barrel infrequently, believing that the buildup offers a more-consistent bullet light. Personally, I’m somewhere in the middle: I like to clean the bore after every box or two of ammunition, and that works well for me.

A three-shot group such as this 100yard cluster offers peace of mind. Don’t overlook this small step prior to the opening of hunting season.

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Routine inspection of the rifle is important. Check the stock for any signs of breakage or cracking, and double-check the sling studs. A sling stud pulled away from my rifle on an elk hunt, and my gun went over backward, leaving a deep gouge in the scope and marring the barrel. But, as it turns out, I got off lucky. There was a case a few years ago in which a sling broke and the rifle fired when dropped, severely injuring a professional hunter.

The author with a big Wyoming muley.

The rifle is a Dakota Model 97 with a Trijicon AccuPoint scope—one of the author’s favorite setups and one in which he has complete confidence.

MENTAL PREP Mindset training might sound a bit far-fetched, especially to the serious rifle “crank” who measures elevation in mils and success or failure in tenths or hundredths of an inch. But proper mindset is key—specifically, retraining your brain and muscles to perform important tasks involved with accurate shooting.

Practice trigger control by dry-firing the rifle, and work on proper sight alignment. I like to cycle the action and dry-fire at least a half-dozen times before any shooting session. It helps me refamiliarize myself with the mechanics of my rifle and become mentally prepared to take a shot.

When you’re in the field, you’ll have to shoot from awkward positions, so practice at home prior to the season opener.

Using available cover as a rest is critical, especially when shooting from a standing position.

Don’t overlook this key element of shooting success. There’s a reason the top shooters work so hard to improve their focus and mechanics.

Hunting season is my favorite time of the year, but frankly, it’s

The author checks zero on his rifle before a Wyoming mule deer hunt. Traveling takes a toll on guns, so be certain you’re still on target when you arrive. This small step can prevent missing—or worse, wounding an animal.

more enjoyable when my firearm performs as it should.

Take the time before the opener this fall season to be certain your rifle is ready to perform. When that opportunity at a big buck or bull presents itself, you’ll be glad you did. GW The author practices shooting off sticks prior to an Africa hunt. Shooting sticks are invaluable when hunting, but you must know how to use them properly.

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QUICK SHOTS

TEXT BY RICHARD VENOLA

FAI COMPLEX MANUFACTURING, BAD MARKET TIMING, LACK OF RELIABILITY; IT’S HARD TO PREDICT WHY SOME FIREARMS FAIL IN THE MARKETPLACE.

T

8. Based on a highly successful target rile, the failure of this rile in the trenches of World War I was a political disaster: A. 1911 Schhmidt-Rubin B. 1895 Steyr C. 1910 Ross Mk III D. 1905 Ross 9. This select-ire Soviet automatic rile was withdrawn from service almost immediately after its combat debut: A. Simonov AVS-36 B. Tokarev SVT-40 C. Dragonov SVD D. Degtyarev DP 10. The irst of a new generation of military irearms and built with aviation industry technology, this rile was adopted by several small nations but languished due to lackluster performance: A. Kalashnikov AKM B. Armalite AR-10 C. Breda PG D. M1941 Johnson

his quiz is

ANSWERS

guns that either failed spectacularly or just plain

1. A. Remington Model 51. Although designed by genius John Pedersen, the Model 51 was overly complex and potentially dangerous. A recent improved version—the R51— also failed after a brief introduction in 2014. The other three pistols were all highly successful.

withered. At one point, all of them were approved by

knowledgeable manufacturers. GW 2. C. India’s INSAS. Designed and built by veteran manufacturer Ishapore Arsenal, the INSAS should have been a runaway success. Some reviews suggest that poor quality control was the problem. The other three riles have been very successful.

1. In the 1920s, this ergonomic pistol turned out to be a nightmare for operators when they tried to reassemble it after cleaning: A. Remington Model 51 B. Walther P38 C. Mauser M1934 D. MAS M1935S

3. C. Colt Lightning. From irst to last, the Lightning proved troublesome.

Although built for 20 years, it developed and sustained a bad reputation for disfunction. Exact replicas and “improved” versions can’t seem to shake the cloud the Lightning has lived under.

2. This Kalashnikov variant included features from other military designs but never lived up to expectations: A. Mexico’s FX-05 B. Finland’s M95 C. India’s INSAS D. Germany’s G36

4. D. Madsen M47. An excellent design and well-made, the bolt-action M47 was introduced into a world awash in post-war bolt-actions. Plus, its .30-06 cartridge beat up the smaller soldiers it was designed for. Only Colombia bought some— and quickly sold them to the American sporting market. The other riles listed were all fantastic successes.

3. Produced from 1884 until 1904, this carbine was plagued by reliability problems and never sold well, either to law enforcement or the public at large: A. Spencer B. Winchester WSL C. Colt Lightning D. Remington Rolling Block

5. A. Smith & Wesson i-Bolt. When introduced just over a decade ago, the homely i-Bolt was an immediate disappointment. Then, an urgent safety recall offered the venerable manufacturer an escape route. The other modern irearms listed are all highly successful.

4. This handsome rile was built for export to nations with soldiers of smaller stature but only landed one government contract: A. Mosin-Nagant M44 B. M1 Carbine C. MAS 49-56 D. Madsen M47

6. B. 6.5mm Deaudateau. This short-lived rile was a product of interservice rivalry. The same issue created the U.S. Navy’s failed 6mm Lee-Navy. The Japanese Arisaka was used as a substitute standard by the Royal Navy, and the 6.5 Mauser was a Swedish cavalry carbine.

7. A. 1883 Winchester-Hotchkiss. This excellent .45-70 rile was “too complicated,” according to U.S. Army evaluators. The other riles listed are all successful single-shots.

5. A surprising entry into the sporting marketplace, this rile was plagued by an unappealing appearance and was then doomed because of safety issues: A. Smith & Wesson i-Bolt B. Browning A-Bolt C. Kimber 84 D. CZ 550

8. C. 1910 Ross Mk III. Based on the straight-pull 1905 Ross, failure of its bolt lugs led to a failure of conidence in the mud of Flanders. The other two straightpull riles listed had long, successful lives.

6. Shortly after France’s army adopted the 8mm Lebel rile, its navy adopted this lighter weapon: A. 6mm Lee-Navy B. 6.5mm Deaudateau C. 6.5mm Arisaka D. 6.5mm M94 Mauser

9. A. Simonov AVS-36. Unlike most Soviet riles, the AVS-36 was beautifully inished. However, after just three months of service against the Finns, they were withdrawn. The Finns discarded captured riles as well. The other riles and the DP LMG listed were excellent combat weapons.

10. B. Armalite AR-10. Built of aluminum and plastic, the AR-10 yielded mediocre service in several African brushfire wars. It’s distinctive “waffle-patterned” magazine stands out in photos of the era. The other rifles listed were all successful and were manufactured with conventional steel and wood construction.

7. This robust repeating rile was sold to diverse nations and smaller state military units but never got the approval of major armies. When offered commercially, it failed to generate much interest: A. 1883 Winchester-Hotchkiss B. Martini-Henry C. Berdan D. Westley-Richards www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

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gun world

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CLINT THOMPSON

FOR A WEEKEND IN MOUNTAIN LION AND BEAR COUNTRY, I SAY:

.480 RUGER BISLEY I

A TRUE, CONTROLLABLE HAND-CANNON FOR DANGEROUS “FUR BALLS” OF TEETH AND CLAWS

had been considering taking a solo backpack walkabout

in the canyon country in western Colorado. Midsummer in this part of Colorado commands some hot weather.

But there is a tradeoff: no armed hunters.

The vast majority of hunters are responsible and make sure of what they’re shooting at; however, a few bad eggs will shoot at anything that moves. Knowing this, I err on the safe side and avoid firearm season for my backpacking adventures.

I was aware of the recent increase in bear and lion populations in this area, and I needed to determine the adequate firearm for this trek. I ruled out an offense-type firearm, such as shoulder-fired rifles or shotguns. Hiking in semi-arid, hot canyon country requires the added weight of water. Due to the weight of a shotgun or rifle, I chose to take a handgun—in particular, a magnum revolver. But which one?

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

CHOOSING THE BEST HANDGUN

I am budget minded and not able to pay the $2,000-plus for

In choosing a magnum revolver, I considered possible

the excellent Freedom Arms and Linebaugh single-action

threats. I pictured a 400-pound ball of fur, teeth and claws

magnums, so the clear choice was the .480 Ruger.

thundering toward me with lunch on its mind. Because I prefer single-action revolvers and have had many years of

Ruger is an excellent firearms manufacturer that offers

experience in the wilderness using them, this would narrow

high-quality products. The only Ruger single-action revolver

down my choice.

chambered in the .480 Ruger is the New Model Super Blackhawk Bisley. This was great for me, because I have

After more years than I care to remember as a law

always wanted to try the Bisley-type grip. The New Model

enforcement officer, I know that in times of stress, you revert

Super Blackhawk Bisley is offered exclusively from Lipsey’s

to muscle memory or memory through repetition. I have a

Wholesale and is shipped to your local gun store. The

single-action Ruger Vaquero in .45 LC. However, I felt this was barely adequate for dangerous big game. Through research, I knew I wanted a big-bore magnum—but with more power than a .44 Remington Magnum. I didn’t want the excessive recoil of the .454 Casull, .460 S&W and .500 S&W, because a fast second shot might be necessary.

The Ruger New Model Blackhawk Bisley is truly a "manly” handgun.

Nevertheless, there are ladies out there who would be able to handle this singleaction revolver. The revolver just drips with the essence of power and respect. This is a true, controllable magnum well-suited for big game such as bears and lions.

Blackhawk Bisley is a five-shot, single-action, stainless steel revolver with a 6.5-inch barrel. Unloaded, this beast tips in at a little more than 3 pounds. I knew this would be perfect for my trip, so I talked to the great people at Ruger and requested the Bisley .480 Ruger.

TESTING THE BISLEY .480 Once I received the Bisley test gun from Ruger, I went to my local big box store and bought a box of 20 Hornady 325-grain HP for $35. This is about the average price for these rounds.

Shortly thereafter, I received several boxes from the folks at Hornady and my new “BFF” Tim at Buffalo Bore.

DOES THIS HANDGUN POSSESS THE ACCURACY NEEDED TO HIT A MEDIUM-SIZED, LIVE TARGET AT 25 YARDS? WITH PRACTICE, THE RUGER BISLEY .480 WILL TAKE ANY LARGE ANIMAL IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

gun world A test of the average ive-shot grouping of the .480 Ruger in each of the two brands and ive different rounds.

The 12-inch bullseye was placed at 25 yards and shot with a 6 o’clock benchrest hold. Pictured is the ive-shot grouping from the Hornady .480 Ruger 325-grain HP/ XTP round. There is a double at the 10 o’clock position on the red bullseye.

RUGER BISLEY POWER To satisfy my curiosity, I acquired a 50-pound block of modeling clay. After setting it up, I shot one round of the Buffalo Bore 275-grain Barnes XPD hollow-points into the intended target.

What happened next was almost spiritual.

I instantly knew I should have used a 75-pound block. The 275-grain, lead-free projectile entered the clay at about 1,600 fps and penetrated about 5 inches before it instantaneously expanded. This extremely bad boy created a 10-inch cavern in the clay. The round then traveled another 4 inches before veering downward and out through the 8-inch plywood base. The casualties were the clay, plywood and one of the sawhorses they were sitting on. I was, well, awestruck.

After the conclusion of this long day of fun with the hand-

With a big-bore revolver and ammo in hand, I headed off to the range to test the Bisley .480 and to familiarize myself with its newfound power.

I tested the velocity of each type of round, as well as five-shot groups for accuracy. I fired a total of 120 rounds in the testing stage to familiarize myself with the Ruger Bisley .480 (see the performance results on page 78). All the Hornady and Buffalo Bore loads that were tested performed very well. Each round possessed unique and favorable qualities. As a result, I am a big fan of them both.

Hornady produces only one weight and type of bullet in the .480 Ruger—the Hornady 325-grain HP XTP, which has a good weight and design. Due to this, the Hornady 325-grain would drive deeper into a large-framed fur ball than, say, a lighter bullet. This Hornady bullet ripped along at an average of 1,290 fps, with an impressive 1,201 foot-pounds of power. It gave the best accuracy, with a 3.02-inch group at 25 yards that was shot on a 12-inch black bullseye.

All rounds fired were in the black. I shot these with a sighted-in 6-o’clock hold. Different bullet weights and velocities resulted in different strike areas. As I shot the five-shot groups, I would stack the next target on top of the previous perforated one.

The Bisley placed 80 percent of the rounds in a group at the top half of the 8 and 9 rings of the bullseye. I was impressed.

A single round of the Buffalo Barnes 275-grain hollowpoint was shot into 50 pounds of clay.

The results were amazing and shocking.

Setting this clay on end caused it to slump, because the 275-grain bullet, traveling at about 1,600 fps, created a 10-inch crater inside.

The author can only imagine the damage it would do to a medium- or largesized game animal.

cannon, it was time to put it away and head to the casa to rest, reflect and ponder the day with some Crown.

In reconstructing the shot angle of the 275-grain Buffalo Barnes bad-to-thebone hollow-point, the round punched to a length of about 12 inches and then angled downward and destroyed a 1/8-inch, 4x4 plywood sheet and the top of a sawhorse. The author never recovered the entire projectile, but in this photo, you can see some copper fragments.

The Buffalo Bore ammo preformed equally well. Buffalo Bore has four different loads for the .480 Ruger. One load is the 370-grain LFN, which is purposely loaded lighter for target shooting and plinking but is still deadly enough to take medium-sized game. This round tested at 1,090 fps, with 976 foot-pounds of power and a 3.8-inch group. I love Buffalo Bore ammunition and the great people working there. In particular, I was amazed they produce a wicked, 275-grain Barns XPD Lead Free bad-boy hollow-point. Now, just how could I test this interesting round? www.gunworld.com

To complete the “autopsy,” the author gingerly pulled back the clay laps and exposed the massive cavity. He placed the Buffalo Barnes 275-grain, lead-free hollow-point in this cavity to show the relationship of the bullet to the damage done. Just amazing!

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

SOLO BACKPACKING INTO LION AND BEAR COUNTRY My choice of adventure was in the semi-arid canyon country of western Colorado about 20 miles southwest of Grand Junction. This is a vast, open area with wildlife that ranges from ground squirrels and snowshoe rabbits to coyotes, badgers, elk, mule deer, lions and bears.

My plan was to pitch my four-season Hewolf Outdoor one-person tent at around 6,200 feet. I was transported to the general area, where I geared up and hiked into the predetermined isolated location. I gave exact grid readings to my family so that if I didn’t show up at the road, they knew where to start looking. I had planned for a two-day solo trip, but due to things beyond my control, this turned into a two-day mini-adventure.

Once I hiked back into the canyon area, I moved to the predetermined location and set up camp. I then stowed away my gear, including a tactical tomahawk and camp knife. I had my New Super Blackhawk Bisley .480 Ruger strapped to my gun belt on my hip in its Bianchi Lawman holster.

A view of a canyon the author passed by while on his trek. The area he hiked is about 16 miles southwest of Grand Junction, Colorado.

There are many canyons of varying sizes. Water is scarce there, unless you know where to ind a spring. Wild life— deer, sheep, lions and bears—abounds there.

The author plans to return to this spot soon.

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ALL THE HORNADY AND BUFFALO BORE LOADS THAT WERE TESTED PERFORMED VERY WELL. EACH ROUND POSSESSED UNIQUE AND FAVORABLE QUALITIES. AS A RESULT, I AM A BIG FAN OF THEM BOTH.

SEPTEMBER I 2018

gun world Not long ago, Ruger came out with its own line of knives. It partnered with CRKT for knife needs. The folding knives pictured here are (left to right) the Bad-Boy 2-STAGE with VEFF serrations, the Hollow-point small and Hollow-point medium.

These knives are some of the authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite folding pocket knives.

My intention was to scout around my campsite, looking for signs of who my neighbors would be that night. I walked up the hill toward the escarpment. At an old jeep trail, I saw week-old lion and coyote tracks. It seemed to be a very large coyote; possibly a wolf. This did not surprise me, because I was told by some locals that the lion population was high and that there were even rumors of some wolves.

Still-walking up the hill, I kicked out a snowshoe rabbit wearing its summer coat. Further on and within 75 yards of my tent, I

A section of the escarpment near which the author camped.

This escarpment rings a small valley that is about 6,000 feet above sea level. The valley is approximately 11 miles long and 3 miles at the widest. In the winter, this area is salted with snow.

While exploring, the author checked for signs of elk and mule deer.

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saw fresh, moist dirt slung all over a mound of loose debris at the base of a large, gray granite boulder. I closed in. I initially thought the dirt-slinging was done by a badger. However, when I moved to my right to face the excavation or hole, I saw it was big enough for me to crawl into. It was a den.

At that very same moment, I heard the distinct sound of a bear expressing its displeasure at my presence. Now, even though I knew there were bear around, I never thought I would run into oneâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a cornered one. Luckily, it stayed in the den. I drew my

SEPTEMBER I 2018

BECAUSE I LOVE BIG-BORE, SINGLE-ACTION HANDGUNS ... I CAN SAY THAT THE NEW SUPER BLACKHAWK BISLEY .480 RUGER IS PERFECT FOR ME. AS ARE ALL RUGER PRODUCTS, THIS REVOLVER IS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY AND DESIGNED WITH THE SHOOTER IN MIND.

As the author rested under a juniper tree, this desert ewe walked by, grazing on the sparse grasses. He observed several other ewes but no rams. They are there, but they are cautious.

KNIVESFORALLREASONS Ruger .480 Bisley and backed away. I did not want to cause a deadly confrontation, and I certainly did not want to have to explain to a Colorado game ranger why I shot a bear out of season ... and without a license.

I backed down my trail, being careful not to stumble over the rocky slope. I felt confident and secure with my Bisley in my hand. After feeling sure the bear and I had agreed to a peace deal, I moved on down the escarpment, looking for sign. While I rested in a well-sheltered spot, a desert bighorn sheep ewe walked by me. She was beautiful. By this time, it was getting dark, so I returned to camp.

Once there, I sat down and had an MRE for dinner: It was not only a dry camp, it was also a no-fire camp, because there was a campfire ban for this area. I used my Gerber Center Drive multi-tool to open the MRE and a can of pork and beans.

I was hungry from a full day of hiking and high adventure.

The cougar or mountain lion (aka puma, panther and catamount) ranges from Canada to central South America. It is the second-heaviest cat, next to the jaguar.

Mountain lions are prevalent in the western United States, as well as North and South Dakota, Nebraska and Texas.

Small populations can be found in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana.

There is a very rare population (called “Florida panthers”) in the extreme southern Florida Keys. Attacks on humans are increasing each year.

WINKLER KNIVES: WK Wild Bill Axe Daniel Winkler is an American patriot. He provides the special cutting tools for our American special operators. I know several former Seals and SF American heroes who have, and still use, Winkler tools.

I highly prize my WK Wild Bill Axe for many reasons, including tactical use. (MSRP: $600) UTICA CUTLERY: UTK-S4 Utica Cutlery makes cutting tools for home and in the ield.

Utica’s outdoor line is made under the KutMaster division, with most of its products made in the United States.

The Utica UTK-S4 is the perfect big-game hunting knife and is ideal for all outdoor uses. This knife is strong but not heavy. Its 4.5-inch blade is at my upper limit on blade length but is very functional. A ire starter and sharpener are integrated into the sheath. (MSRP: $115; KUTMASTER.COM) GERBER: Center Drive Gerber is one of the foremost knife and tool companies in the world. Its multi-tools are legendary. Gerber products are carried by American heroes.

The Gerber Center Drive Multi-tool is no exception. It takes the multi-tool concept to a new level. I used this tool during my trip for everything from opening a can of beans to straightening a bent tent peg. (MSRP: $119)

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

gun world

Performance RESULTS Ammunition

While exploring the area around his campsite, the author noticed this dug-out area under a large granite bolder. He saw fresh, wet dirt slung all over the tailings. He thought it was a badger ... but he found a bear, which quickly growled to let him know it was not happy. The author drew his Ruger Bisley and backed away. After some time to let things cool off, he then returned to take this photo. He slept 75 yards from this den.

Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk Bisley SPECIFICATIONS CALIBER: .480 Ruger ACTION: Single action BARREL LENGTH: 6.5 inches; 6 grooves, 1:18-inch, RH WEIGHT: 49.2 ounces (slightly more than 3 pounds) OVERALL LENGTH: 12.40 inches SIGHTS: Adjustable rear; ixed front TRIGGER PULL: 3 pounds, 7 ounces (with a slight creep) FINISH: Stainless steel GRIPS: Hardwood CAPACITY: 5 rounds MSRP: $999 (Lipsey’s)

Velocity (fps)

Muzzle Energy (foot-pounds)

Group (inches)

Hornady 325-grain HP/XTP

1,290

1,201

3.02

Buffalo Bore 410-grain LBT-WFN GC

1,241

1,402

3.75

Buffalo Bore 370-grain LFN (Light Load)

1,090

976

3.80

Buffalo Bore 370-grain LFN

1,243

1,270

4.50

Buffalo Bore 275-grain Barnes XPB Lead Free 1,557

1,481

3.75

NOTES: Accuracy is a ive-shot group at 25 yards. Velocity is an average of ive shots measured using a Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph at 5 yards.

The better the gear you can afford, the better it will serve you. The author chose the Bianchi Lawman leather holster for the Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley .480. The gun belt is a Bianchi 1880 model that is heavy duty and keeps his Bisley in check. This type of rig will make carrying any largeframed firearm much more pleasurable.

The next morning, I popped out of my tent and searched for tracks of unwanted visitors. I found none. I then broke camp and hiked a new trail toward some interesting rock structures.

I saw signs of doe mule deer and one elk cow. I did not see any signs of bear. About mid-afternoon, I angled back to my predetermined pickup point using my GPS. I saw numerous old campsites but no human tracks. I dropped my pack and relaxed at the pickup point. In fewer than 30 minutes, I saw my wife and daughter four-wheeling their way to pick me up. It had been a short adventure—but a very rewarding one. As a result, I plan on returning to this area to explore further and will be sure to bring the Ruger Bisley .480 for those creatures that might do me any harm, whether two or four legged.

CONTACT INFORMATION STURM, RUGER & COMPANY Ruger.com BIANCHI HOLSTERS Safariland.com BUFFALO BORE AMMUNITION BuffaloBore.com DANIEL WINKLER WinklerKnives.com GERBER GerberGear.com HORNADY Hornady.com LIPSEY’S Lipseys.com UTICA CUTLERY COMPANY UticaCutlery.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

IN CHOOSING A MAGNUM REVOLVER, I CONSIDERED POSSIBLE THREATS. FINAL EVALUATION In order to make my final determination of the New Super Blackhawk Bisley .480 Ruger, consideration was given to several attributes I require for my lion/bear country handgun: Does this handgun have the quality and strength to withstand years of use with fullhouse loads? The answer: a solid yes.

Does this handgun have the stopping power needed to take down an angry bear or lion?

The answer: again, a solid yes.

Is the recoil of this handgun controllable for a second quick shot? For me, the answer is yes.

For others with less experience and strength, the answer is probably no; not likely—unless they get the Buffalo Bore 370-grain light load or use light hand loads. But for the average shooter, I believe the .480 Ruger in the Ruger Bisley is perfect.

Does this handgun possess the accuracy needed to hit a medium-sized, live target at 25 yards? With practice, the Ruger Bisley .480 will take any large animal in the Western Hemisphere.

Is the weight of this magnum handgun light enough to carry all day while hiking? Yes. I carried the .480 Ruger Bisley all day for two days with 24 extra rounds; and even at my tender age, I had no problems. The key is a highquality holster, such as the Bianchi 1L Lawman Holster mounted on a Bianchi California Outlaw gun belt. Cheap holsters and belts that are too small will wear you out quickly.

Because I love big-bore, single-action handguns— and speciically, single-action handguns—I can say that the New Super Blackhawk Bisley .480 Ruger is perfect for me. As are all Ruger products, this revolver is of the highest quality and designed with the shooter in mind. In addition, I think the .480 Ruger round has been overlooked and under-explored. I love the .480 round and the Ruger New Blackhawk Bisley single-action revolver. GW HOGUEINC.COM 1-800-438-4747 P.O. BOX 91360, HENDERSON, NV 89009

EVERYDAY CARRY

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY STEVEN PAUL BARLOW

The Ruger SR1911 Oficer’s Style in 9mm would make an excellent EDC handgun.

It features attractive G10 grip panels with the textured “wings” of the Ruger eagle.

REASSESSING MY CONCEALED-CARRY CHOICES ... YET AGAIN

PICK ONE, ALREADY! I

STREAMLIGHT TLR-8

tend to be skeptical of “new-and-improved” products, especially when it comes to EDC gear. When I find something that works for me—a knife, flashlight, holster—I tend to stick with it and often buy two or three of them before they’re discontinued.

“Why are you so grouchy?” my young grandson asked one day.

He’d obviously been listening to his dad—my son—who, at times, has been the reason for my being grouchy.

Reflecting on the subject, I found that too often, I lament that things aren’t as good as they should be—that is, something closer to perfect. That applies to the car I drive, the political party that gets my vote and, yes, even the handgun I carry every day.

But I do pay attention to new gear introductions, and lately, it’s been an old-dog-new-tricks type of situation for me with some of the gear that has caught my attention. www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

Sticky Holster can sed as a pocket er; alternatively, it be tucked inside the tband.

I still have that Glock G19 (an old Gen2 model), and it’s still a great handgun. And I carried the Glock G26 with me on errands before sitting down to write this today. But I came to like some of the other guns I tested. And several became my EDC choices.

There’s the Oriskany Arms 1911 425FP (Commander-sized .45) with FDE Cerakote finish and Trijicon night sights. What a great gun! But I mounted a Streamlight TLR-6 light/laser on it and liked it so much that I didn’t want to take it off. So, I thought, This will be my house gun.

Besides, by that time, my Ruger American Compact .45 arrived.

In my opinion, it’s one of the most underrated handguns out there. It fits my hand better than any other polymer-framed pistol; and, as a result, sight acquisition is very fast. It’s in that midsized class that I believe is best overall. It’s rugged, reliable and accurate, and it became my EDC gun.

But then, the hunting season came around, and I was spending more time in the woods. And Ruger had come out with a stainless 1911 in 10mm. It offered a lot more power for wilderness carry.

I thought, Why shouldn’t this make a good EDC gun all year?

Getting the chance to shoot and evaluate new handguns might seem like a close-to-perfect job, but … . Okay, there’s really nothing to put after the “but”; it’s a pretty cool job. The result, however, is that I’m continually reevaluating my EDC choices.

ONCE UPON A TIME It wasn’t always so. For years, I carried a full-sized Glock G17 on duty, a compact Glock G19 off duty and a subcompact Glock G26 when traveling light. All were loaded with Speer 9mm 124-grain Gold Dot hollow points. What more did I need?

The Ruger SR1911 Oficer’s Style features a bull barrel and fulllength guide rod.

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IT’S ACCURATE AND RELIABLE AND ABOUT AS SMALL AS I’D WANT TO GO FOR AN EDC GUN. IT’S ALSO A CLASSY-LOOKING PISTOL.

SEPTEMBER I 2018

EVERYDAY CARRY he Galco Summer omfort is a quality ather holster with a einforced rim to allow or easy re-holstering.

CARRY VERSATILITY Whenever I purchase a new gun, I immediately look for an assortment of holsters for it so that I’ll have options in how I carry.

Two of the holsters I have for this Ruger are made by Galco. The irst is the Corvus, with a carbon-iber inish that can be converted from a belt holster to an inside-the-waistband holster with the included hardware. The second is the Summer Comfort, an opentop leather IWB holster with a reinforced lip for easy re-holstering.

It’s held in place by two belt loops, with snaps itted to allow for easy removal of the holster.

A third holster I have is a Sticky Holster. It has no loops or clips.

.357 Magnum revolver when it was introduced with a 2.75-inch

The idea is to tuck this inside your waistband and simply cinch

barrel. And the HK VP9SK still holds a dear place in my heart.

your belt over it. I will have to spend more time with it before I have full confidence carrying it this way. However, you can use it

WHAT’S IT THIS TIME?

as a conventional pocket holster.

The gun that has most of my attention now is the Ruger SR1911 Officer’s Style in 9mm. It has a stainless steel slide with a 3.6inch bull barrel over an aluminum frame that sometimes looks

The Ruger is a bit big for pocket carry, but it would work fine with some of my pants that have deep pockets.

gray. At other times, depending on the light, it has a blue tint. The grips are G10, gray and textured with the stylized wings from

KEEP MY SECRET

Ruger’s eagle logo.

Your own handgun choices might differ from mine, but it’s hard to argue that the ones I’ve mentioned here aren’t all quality guns.

It has full-sized, three-dot metal Novak sights. It comes with two eight-round, stainless steel magazines. It’s accurate and reliable

So, do I really have the right to be grouchy? (If you can keep a

and about as small as I’d want to go for an EDC gun. It’s also a classy-looking pistol. That won’t mean much in a defensive situation—but just looking at this gun makes me feel, if I say so myself, less grouchy.

Other benefits as a carry gun include its naturally slim, singlestack 1911 design and an excellent single-action trigger— probably one of the primary reasons the 1911 has stayed popular so long. Takedown is easier than with traditional 1911 pistols because there’s no barrel bushing.

secret, I’ll tell you that I’m really smiling like a crazy man on the inside!) GW CONTACT INFORMATION STURM, RUGER & CO. Ruger.com Because it’s a singlestack design, this slim 1911 is easy to carry ncealed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR www.gunworld.com

GALCO GalcoGunLeather.com STICKY HOLSTERS StickyHolsters.com

The Ruger features a rounded hammer, left-side thumb safety and a grip safety with beavertail and “speed bump.”

Steven Paul Barlow is a retired sergeant/station commander and former firearms instructor with the New York State Police. He has been writing on outdoor topics for more than 30 years and has served as the editor for a number of Engaged Media special publications, including Gunslingers.

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

TRAIN

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CHRIS CERINO

SKILLS A FOR THE HUNT

HUNTING SEASON IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, AND YOU’RE GONNA NEED SKILLS. TRAIN FOR THESE THREE SKILLS AND MAKE YOUR TIME AFIELD A SUCCESS. timeless sport—hunting and pursuing big game—entices many of us.

Between the time spent waiting for hunting season to start and the money we spend on

licenses, travel and equipment, we should arrive prepared for the moment of the shot. Not to have trained for that moment would be a shameful waste of time and money—not to mention the risk of a wounded/lost animal.

Because I am a police officer, competitive shooter and whitetail deer hunter, I know there are certain skills necessary for long-gun success. You should know how to run your gun and keep it running; manipulation skills should be systematic and pre-programed. Making quick shots from off-hand positions

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instills confidence in your rifle and yourself. Creating a hasty, supported position when you have a little time to make the best-shot possible can get you that trophy you’ve dreamt of.

Here are three skills to work on toward proficiency in order to increase your success rates.

SNAP SHOOTING While you are stalking or merely walking to a hunting spot, a shot could present itself. Don’t be caught off guard and unskilled, should that opportunity arise. Being skilled at making quick shots accurately is essential.

Whichever method you use to carry your rifle—elbow carry, trail carry, two-hand ready, cradle carry or sling carry— practice getting your gun into action, pointed downrange and on target. You should also think about what distances you are likely to have to make a quick off-handed shot.

This 3-gun target mounted to a backer is perfect, with its 8-inch center for snap shooting from the cradle carry position.

Plenty of target around the center gives you a chance to see just how far off you are.

Standing supported on the side of a tree is a common position.

Keeping knees, hips and shoulders square to the target helps manage recoil. Be sure to practice from both sides of the tree so you know how to place your hands to support the rifle in a hurry.

On your own or with a friend, practicing can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. Simple targets, such as a sheet of cardboard with an 8-inch paper plate stapled to it, is sufficient. The 8-inch paper plate is a good approximation of the vital area for deer and larger game, and the large cardboard backer shows how far off you are if you miss.

No more than one or two misses is acceptable, and that depends on how far off target it is. It also matters if you called the miss or if you have no idea what happened.

Try this drill from 50 yards to about 125 yards out and move in increments of 10 or 15 yards. You can go closer or farther, depending on your skill level and competence.

BRACED/SUPPORTED SHOOTING Knowing how to use your environment to brace for a precise shot makes sense. Whether it’s a hasty position or a slow, methodical position, you need to have the skills to get locked in and on the target for the most ethical kill. If there’s enough time to “scope-out” a particular animal, there’s certainly enough time to brace up to make a good shot.

Choose a carry position and a distance. On your own command, a friend’s command or timer signal, practice getting your gun into action: Shouldered, on target, safety off … make the shot.

Practice each distance for eight to 10 repetitions. www.gunworld.com

KNOWING HOW TO USE YOUR ENVIRONMENT TO BRACE FOR A PRECISE SHOT MAKES SENSE. WHETHER IT’S A HASTY POSITION OR A SLOW, METHODICAL POSITION, YOU NEED TO HAVE THE SKILLS TO GET LOCKED IN AND ON THE TARGET FOR THE MOST ETHICAL KILL.

Shots as close as 50 yards can be missed due to “buck fever,” and getting solid hits with advantageous body placement p 85

SEPTEMBER I 2018

TRAIN More than just keeping the rifle mounted and in your shoulder when working the bolt, you need to stay on the gun for multiple reasons. Firing at game that is far off or in a busy, cluttered background requires sight to track your quarry after a hit.

If a miss happens, you might get a chance to send another round and make a correction based on what you saw in the optic reference to the impact. Don’t shoot at a trophy and lose sight of it in recoil. You might have to reacquire it by backing off the magnification. Remember: The field of view gets smaller the higher we turn up the magnification. Increase the chance of success by managing your rifle correctly.

TRAIN FOR IT Training with long guns for hunting or competing involves way more than zeroing and firing from bench rests and prone positions. Long guns are fun, and training with them can be from a support doesn’t happen without practice. As distances increase, you will want more support and to get closer to the ground. Standing, high-kneeling or kneeling on two knees are positions that can beneit from support. Kneeling (with your butt resting on your foot) and sitting positions don’t require external support, but it can only help to have it. However, you need to practice shooting from these positions before the hunt.

If you have woods to shoot in, you’re lucky. Shoot from the right side and the left side of a tree. Knowing how to place your hand to create support on both sides of the tree is mandatory, because you might not get the opportunity to shoot from your favorite side of a tree. Foot placement can aid in managing recoil to view the bullet impact, as well as to track an animal you hit.

Using your arms and legs together can help you create a supported position that allows for elevation adjustments.

Bring knees in and elbows to thighs for high shots, and lower your legs and stretch out on the backs of your upper arms to lower the gun. Of course, seated is even more stable than kneeling.

even more fun if you use your imagination.

So, get out this fall and work on your snap shooting, being sure to keep it in the vitals. Practice hasty shots, supported positions and bolt-gun skills, and you’ll end up being a wellrounded long-gun operator who is ready for the field. GW

TRAINING WITH LONG GUNS FOR HUNTING OR COMPETING INVOLVES WAY MORE THAN ZEROING AND FIRING FROM BENCH RESTS AND PRONE POSITIONS.

In the absence of a supportive structure, there are always “seated” and “front-knee-up” supported kneeling options. Knowing how to drop down to these positions is important, but understanding how to use your limbs (legs and arms) to increase or decrease elevation is important in wild country. Uphill, downhill and shots in tall scrub will dictate the inal iring position.

BOLT-ACTION GUN SKILLS Modern sporting riles are more present than ever in hunting today, but much of big-game hunting is still done with bolt-action riles.

Having good bolt-action skills is an art. Working a bolt gun while maintaining a sight picture and tracking a target is something that many don’t do well. Shooters iring bolt guns, even from a rested or prone position, often lift their heads off the stock and away from the optic every time they work the bolt.

Knowing how to shoot over a support seems simple, but not everyone knows to keep the rear knee up to support the elbow and the shooting arm on the gun. And, of course, don’t rest the barrel on the support because of impact shift from flexing against the hard surface.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR www.gunworld.com

P 86

Chris Cerino is a 25-year law enforcement and training professional. He competes in shooting sports to validate his skills. Chris writes on the topic of training and can be seen on a variety of TV shows.

SEPTEMBER I 2018

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AMMO 411

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY PATRICK SWEENEY

ROMAN KNOWLEDGE W THERCBS PRO MELT 2 SIMPLIFIES THE LEAD-MELTING PROCESS FOR CASTING YOUR OWN BULLETS.

e make bullets out of lead for good reasons.

Because of its ease of shaping, along with

a low melting point, easily-shaped ductility, lack of work-hardening and its density, lead has been the choice for a long time.

The Romans made pipe out of it (the Latin, plumbum, for lead,

gives us “plumbing”). And, despite the move toward copper for modern bullets, lead still has its place.

The two methods of shaping a bullet are casting and swaging.

Unless you happen to have a hydraulic press good for tens of tons of pressure, swaging is out. The rest of us have to cast to make bullets.

Back when I started, the choices were not very good, and getting skilled enough to make cast bullets that worked and cost less than factory wasn’t easy.

The RCBS Pro Melt 2 has all the bells and whistles—complete with a digital readout and a mold guide to keep your mold positioned.

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

WHOLE LOTTA THINGS TO LIKE The irst thing that drew my attention is its 25-pound capacity.

That’s 875 .45-caliber bullets of 200-grain weight. Not that you’ll get all of those out of 25 pounds, but the fewer times you have to “reload” the melter, the better.

Before you do anything else, you need a way to melt lead. The light bulb moment for me for getting back into casting was to see the RCBS Pro Melt 2 on display. This is a machine that, had it existed a couple of decades ago, would have been just the thing to prevent me from walking away from casting. www.gunworld.com

Those 25 pounds come out the bottom. There are those who prefer a dipper—a ladle to spoon out the molten lead—but that’s not me. I want gravity to help me. The side handle is adjustable so you can control the pour rate of molten lead; that’s a good thing. Depending on the mold size and capacity, p 89

SEPTEMBER I 2018

AMMO 411 FEEDING THE PRO MELT Now, depending on the bullets you are casting, if you change alloys, you simply hold the spout handle open, with an ingot mold underneath, and keep track of which ingots are which.

You’ll have to let the ingots cool before you can mark them, but mark them you must. All lead looks the same when it is cool, so keep track.

When I was casting back in the “Dark Ages,” all I ever used as a source of lead were vehicle wheel weights that I bought by the 5-gallon bucket at various tire stores in town. Back then, it was all lead, with a few percentage points of antimony thrown in.

You’ve got to be a lot more careful these days. Now, wheel weights come as iron (which won’t melt; it will just loat on top), zinc (it poisons your lead, so all the molten lead in the pot

you might want a narrow stream or a robust one. There’s a cover over the molten lead, so you don’t have to worry about splashes (always a bad thing with molten lead), and it also helps keep the heat in—at least a little bit.

Set the temperature, leave it alone, and you know it will always be the temperature you want. For the author, 700 degrees (F) is perfect.

When you do get to casting, here’s a tip: Keep the next ingot of lead on the machine to warm it up. You want to evaporate

These days, I just go online and order up 10-pound ingots of 92/6/2 alloy, because my casting needs are a bit specialized.

With an RCBS pro Melt 2 and mold, some lead and a place to melt it, you can make your own bullets. What those bullets are, and how you’ll be using them, can add complexity to the process (but that’s more than we have room for here. In fact, it could ill an entire book—which many have done already).

any water that might be there. If you don’t, the water will be instantly turned into steam on contact with the 700-degree lead, and that means a potential volcano of lead.

And the temperature? There is no dial rheostat and no trusting to a built-in “good-enough” temperature. Instead, there is a digital rheostat/temperature selector, and you can dial it up or down to your needs. Plug it in, program the temperature, and add in the lead to be melted. Once the lead is hot, you can get started.

At a bit more than $300, it will take a bunch of casting to recoup the investment, but you’ll have access to bullets you simply can’t buy. GW

THIS IS A MACHINE THAT, HAD IT EXISTED A COUPLE OF DECADES AGO, WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST THE THING TO PREVENT ME FROM WALKING AWAY FROM CASTING.

When you get started, you’ll ind that RCBS has added another trick to the setup: There’s a mold guide underneath the melting pot. You can adjust the mold guide so it will hold your mold in just the right location and at the correct height to the spout for you to cast. Once you get it set up and adjusted, you don’t have to eyeball the location each time you put the mold under the spout. This speeds things up and also makes the casting sessions less messy.

With two power choices, 120V or 240V, you can plug it in pretty much any place you do your casting. When you are done, all you have to do is turn it off and let it cool down. This will take a couple of hours (unlike the heating up, which takes about 15 minutes).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

must be discarded) and various polymers (which will burst into lames when they hit the molten lead). So, if you opt for wheel weights, sort them before melting.

Patrick Sweeney has been a decades-long reloader, competition shooter, gunsmith and firearms writer. He is also a state-certified law enforcement firearms instructor, a court-recognized expert witness—and winner of much more than his fair share of loot and glory.

www.gunworld.com

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

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CLEARED HOT

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY BRIAN BERRY

The right to self-defense is a given.

Whether you chose a lethal or lesslethal alternative, you should always be prepared. The Taser Pulse can provide you with the peace of mind in most selfdefense situations. (Photo: Axon)

OPTIONSFOR F LESS-LETHAL SELF-DEFENSE

or many, the idea of carrying a firearm is more than they are ready for when it comes to self-defense. I have no problem with this, because I do not wish to force something on someone who is not prepared to use it.

MAKING AN INFORMED DECISION Luckily, there are self-defense alternatives to a firearm. That being said, becoming a martial arts expert or knife fighter at a skill level that moves the odds in your favor during a violent encounter takes considerable time.

In addition to those who are reluctant to carry a firearm, there are those who are not able to carry a firearm due to reasons

“SELF-DEFENSE IS NOT JUST A SET OF TECHNIQUES; IT’S A STATE OF MIND, AND IT BEGINS WITH THE BELIEF THAT YOU ARE WORTH DEFENDING.” —RORION GRACIE

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that might be related to either legal troubles or restrictive laws in their community.

WHY “LESS-LETHAL”?

For most who opt for a less-lethal form of self-defense, it is likely due to either moral reasons (unwilling to take a life), religious views or possibly the fear of a costly aftermath that could include both mental and financial costs. p 92

SEPTEMBER I 2018

While these are all good reasons, it should be noted that even

The Taser Bolt is packaged similarly to the Pulse: two cartridges, battery, soft case, target and guide. Less obvious as a weapon, this Taser could be more easily carried in your hand and ready to go when you are caught in a sketchy area or situation.

“non-lethal” defense (more accurately called “less-lethal”) methods could cause death or serious bodily injury, depending on the assailant’s health or other circumstances.

MAKING A CHOICE One of the most popular forms of non-lethal defense is the Taser, manufactured by a company called Axon. “Taser” has become a generic name for most stun devices.

Make no mistake: The Tasers made by Axon are the ones you most likely see strapped to police officers’ belts. While you can’t get an X2 or X26 for personal use, you can get one of this company’s Pulse and Bolt models.

control for 30 seconds and enabling the user to get away from the attack. In addition, the Bolt can be used in a contact stun after the Taser has been ired or without a cartridge installed.

SIMILAR TO AN LE TASER Providing similar defensive power trusted by law enforcement, the Taser Pulse is designed for civilian self-protection. It is lightweight, easy to wield and is an excellent choice as an

HOW IT WORKS

alternative or addition to self-defense with a firearm. It fires two electrodes into an assailant up to 15 feet away. You can

might work, it’s fairly simple.

If you are not familiar with how the different forms of a Taser

drop the Pulse once you fire it and escape while it continues to incapacitate for 30 seconds. You can also shorten the exposure

The striking of the probes completes the electrical circuit, allowing a high-voltage, low-amperage current to pass from the Taser to

by flipping the safety lever to “off.”

One of the nice features from Axon is that if you use your device in a self-defense situation and are unable to recover it, Axon will replace the device at no cost.

LESS LIKE A HANDGUN The Taser Bolt is similar to the Pulse—without the look or outline of a handgun. It provides the same functions as the Pulse and uses a laser sighting system for accurate shot placement. It offers a 15-foot standoff (the same as the Pulse) that temporarily overrides an attacker’s central nervous system, limiting muscular

The Taser Pulse comes packaged with the Taser device, two cartridges, a battery good for up to 50 activations, target, soft case and QuickStart guide.

Hard holsters are available from several companies, including Blackhawk! and BladeTech.

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the person. The results are uncontrollable muscle contractions that will result in instant loss of neuromuscular control and the failure of the person to perform any voluntary actions, which immobilizes them. It can also cause considerable pain.

The immobilization and pain associated with Tasers end as soon as it is deactivated. It is for this reason that you would either drop the Taser and run as it continues its cycle. The second option is that once it stops, if the threat is still real, you can activate a second charge.

LIGHTWEIGHT AND EASY TO WIELD, THE PULSE IS AN EXCELLENT CHOICE AS AN ALTERNATIVE OR ADDITION TO SELF-DEFENSE WITH A FIREARM.

SEPTEMBER I 2018

CLEARED HOT The Taser cartridge is packed with the probes and 15 feet of wire. When fired, there is a small popping sound as the probes seek out their intended target.

The manufacturer warns to not exceed the 15-foot distance, because the probes could reach the end of the wire and bounce back at the user.

While it might not be feasible for most people to carry both a Taser and a firearm, it is something to consider. Abraham Maslow once said, “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”

The same can go for your self-defense methods: If all you have is a gun, deadly force might be your only option. Consequently, the Taser Pulse is definitely getting added to my kit. GW

The probes of the Taser have a small barb at the end to make sure they remain in place, even if the target moves.

Another issue that comes up in other products is the requirement to penetrate the skin. However, according to Axon representatives, the Pulse and Bolt do not require skin penetration. On all but the heaviest of outerwear, the probes can still transmit their charge up to 1 inch from the end of the probe—more than enough for even heavy winter clothes.

DON’T “TAZE” ME, BRO! Having been “tazed” during military training, I can attest that it

THE LEGALITY OF STUN DEVICES

is not something I would want to do often (or ever again)! While the effects were not lasting, they were quite painful during the action, so you get a healthy respect for the device.

As with any weapon, you need to check your local laws to see whether it is legal for you to own, carry or use a Taser.

ADDITIONAL EFFECTS While the Taser is considered “less-lethal,” it could still cause additional injuries as a by-product of using it. The assailant could incur injury from the fall or an infection from the contact

Axon provides a page on its website for state laws related to ownership and use of the Taser.

site. Repeated or prolonged use on the assailant could also cause physiological, metabolic or cardiac issues. Axon provides a warning card with the devices; it should be read and followed by the user.

ADJUST YOUR TACTICS The tactics of using one of these devices is different than if you were using a handgun.

You will not have standoff distance beyond the 15-foot range of the projectiles, which means you do not have the additional range that a firearm might have. What you do get is the ability to defend yourself in a less-lethal manner and avoid the possible mental/emotional effects of having to kill an assailant.

At a distance of 12 feet, the spread of the Taser probes was slightly more than 19 inches.

The manufacturer recommends shot placement just below the chest in the front and anywhere on the back of an assailant.

Some states might allow you to carry it, but not concealed.

For instance, ive states require a permit to purchase them, three states ban them completely (New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island), and two states require concealed-carry permits (West Virginia and New Mexico).

Many allow you to carry openly but not concealed.

Each of the current state laws regarding the use of the Taser or other stun devices can be found at the Axon website: axon.com

Brian Berry is a retired Army Special Forces Command sergeant major. He is a former Special Forces weapons sergeant and has multiple combat tours under his belt. Brian is the co-founder of Spartan Defensive Concepts, at which he teaches concealed carry and defensive marksmanship courses. Brian retired in 2014 and is now a consultant currently working for the Special Operations community, as well as a senior instructor for American Survival Guide University.

about the author www.gunworld.com

p 94

SEPTEMBER I 2018

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Chewing the Fat

TEXT BY JEFF QUINN

ILLUSTRATION BY TRIS MAST

’COON HUNTING YOU WOULD ASSUME THAT “’COON HUNTING” WOULD REFER TO THE ACTIVITY OF HUNTING THE WILD RACCOON. NOT SO.

went ’coon hunting, I was invited by an uncle of mine to join him

T

house (such as bringing in wood for the stove) and eat supper.

here are many types of hunting to enjoy in the United States these days, with several seasons on game and vermin taking place all over the nation at various times of the year.

Most types of hunting are named appropriately according to the particular species of animal hunted. For instance, hunting of deer is called “deer hunting,” hunting of ducks is called “duck hunting,” and hunting of turkeys is called “turkey hunting.” See how simple that is?

One would then logically assume that “’coon hunting” would f t th ti it f h ti th ild N t ‘C

and one of his sons. The idea sounded good to me at the time, so I accepted the offer—only later inding out that this activity takes place at night, starting about the time that most working humans go to bed.

Throughout that irst ’coon hunting season, most every hunt was pretty much the same. After working hard all day, I would come home, do whatever chores needed doing around the Then, the other hunters would show up, and off we would go in a pickup that carried the three of us and a couple of dogs.

In ’coon hunting, the dogs are the stars of the show, and ’coon hunters are very proud of their dogs, which can be the subject of intense arguments.

’COON HUNTING IN THE LBL Typically, we would travel about 15 miles to the south entrance of an area created when the Tennessee Valley Authority dammed the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, creating Kentucky and Barkley lakes. The land between these two lakes is called, interestingly enough, “The Land Between the Lakes”—locally referred to as “LBL.”

… ’COON HUNTERS ARE VERY PROUD OF THEIR DOGS, WHICH CAN BE THE SUBJECT OF INTENSE ARGUMENTS.

LBL was designated a national recreation area by President Kennedy in 1963 and consists of roughly 17,000 acres of what was previously good bottom land for farming, along with timber on the ridges.

The farmers and others were forced out when the TVA dammed the rivers. That area is now a multi-use recreation area for hunters, ishermen, campers and hikers. It features many miles of hiking and ATV trails. And, it is also well-suited for the activity of ’coon hunting.

Two things make LBL a great place for ’coon hunters: There is a lot of forest area habitat for raccoons; and there is plenty of room to chase the dogs without having to trespass on private land, thus avoiding inally inding them a couple of days later.

GO GET ’EM! This brings us to the part about how ’coon hunting is actually dog hunting.

While the dogs might be in pursuit of a raccoon, they also might be chasing a deer, a skunk or another dog. The humans are just chasing the dogs.

The dogs used for this sport are very special dogs that have the ability to cross the roughest terrain available in any given area. They do so as if they believe it is required of them.

Typically, when the pickup is parked in the darkest hollow in three counties, the tailgate is lowered, and the hunter gives the command, “Go get ’em!” The dogs then leap from the truck bed, cross the nearest stream and immediately head straight up the steepest bluff in the state (Tennessee has plenty of steep bluffs in the dense woods. Much of Tennessee is vertical, with hills, ridges and hollows running in every direction. I do believe that if the state were mashed out lat, the total acreage would exceed that of Alaska!). In fact, one could turn loose a pack of ’coon dogs in the middle of the driest, flattest part of the Mojave Desert, and they would immediately find a deep stream to cross and a bluff to go straight up. ’Coon dogs have this unique ability.

WHICH WAY DID THEY GO? It is at this point in the hunt that the hunters stand semi-quietly for a few minutes. They listen intently to try to figure out which way the dogs went as the sounds of their howling echo throughout the hollows and ridges—making it difficult to determine the direction of the sound. There seems to be an unwritten rule that no two hunters will come to the same conclusion regarding the direction in which the dogs went.

Thus begins a long night of pursuing the dogs through ice-cold streams, muddy creek banks, briar patches that could serve well as a perimeter fence at a maximum-security prison and across slippery rocks. If you believe it is impossible to sweat profusely in single-digit temperatures, you are wrong: ’Coon hunting provides the opportunity to be hot, cold, wet and lost, all at the same time.

Several hours go by as the hunters struggle to make it across every stream, up every hill and be lacerated by every patch of briars in the Western Hemisphere. With any luck at all, the dogs will be waiting by the pickup truck as the morning sun rises, allowing the hunters to arrive back home just in time to put in another hard-day’s work after surviving the night—exhausted and bleeding, in pursuit of the elusive racoon. GW

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jeff Quinn is a full-time writer/reviewer on Gunblast. com, an online gun magazine started in 2000. He has also written for the Gun Digest Annual and enjoys living life in the woods of Tennessee, where he raises Longhorn cattle … and his grandkids.

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SEPTEMBER I 2018

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