By Bob Shell

Apache Junction, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- Ruger has been making some new types of handguns and one of their newer models is the Ruger 9E Handgun.

It is a full size model capable of 18 shots loaded. The market is saturated with DA 9’S so for one to be commercially successful it has to have some features to offer the consumer. Among them is a reasonable price and reliability.

A good trigger and sights are other features that a consumer would look for. As for looks, most of them leave something to be desired but that is the least important feature one should look for.

Even an ugly gun with good features would endear itself to me rather then a pretty paperweight.

One of the Ruger 9E Pistol features are is it is light and feels good in my hand. It has the typical 3 dot white sights which enables us to pick them up rapidly and a major plus in a defensive gun.

The two-position safety is located near the back end and is awkward to release. I am not crazy about its position, as it isn’t the best place for rapid use. It is however positive and prevents the gun from going off accidentally.

The magazine release is both very positive and convenient to use rapidly. The gun will fire with the magazine removed, which is a good feature in my view. It has a lug beneath the barrel, which will enable the owner to mount a laser or flashlight.

Personally I prefer the Crimson Trace system and hopefully they will be available for this model.

The recoil spring is strong and someone with small hands or not a lot of strength may have a little difficulty chambering a round. Shooting may loosen that up. It comes with one magazine but I strongly suggest an owner buy at least two more. The magazine is usually the weak link in a semi so a couple of backups are necessary. You can see a loaded round in the chamber and if it is cocked the back of the firing pin protrudes from the back of the receiver and moves rearward when the trigger is being pulled. The trigger is an improved striker fired mechanism and is better then many others I have shot. The manual covers everything well including dis assembly and cleaning. If I am reading correctly the length of the warranty depends on where you live. Interesting but I imagine Ruger would make good on any gun they produced unless it was abused.

The retail price (MSRP $429.00) is within the means of most consumers, another attractive feature.

As always other shooters will have an opportunity to try each gun as part of my review. Its a method I use when evaluating a gun. Everyone has different tastes so it is only fair to have shooters of both genders and different experiences to try it out.

Several shooters tried the gun and the comments were favorable. They liked the trigger and the general feel. The way the gun fits a shooter is a personal thing and any person contemplation on buying a serious gun should try various brands to see what fits them the best. Any personal defense gun should fit and be the largest that you can handle efficiently. Small guns are convenient to carry but are more difficult to shoot well. Small caliber guns may be more prone to malfunctions. The 9 isn’t my favorite caliber but with modern ammo and a high capacity magazine it will do well in a social situation. Of course it has to be 100% dependable otherwise it is a paperweight. This Ruger measures up.

Naturally, the bottom line is how does it shoot?

We started out with some Wolf steel case ammo which is perfect for practice. It shot well but if you limp wristed the gun they would occasionally stovepipe. Again, that may go away after a few hundred rounds. The Sig and Double Tap ammo performed flawlessly.

However, I had some cast bullet loads and it did not like them as they frequently jammed. Since they were just some left over ammo from previous tests I wasn’t too concerned. I will make up some newer cast loads and retry them.

I was running some test with Hodgdon HS-6 so I used it for these reloads. It is a mild powder for the 9 and if velocity is your goal another powder may be your choice. I use a lot of 231 and similar powders for most of my 9 mm loading. The 130 grain bullet was made for a 38 but since it is a round nose I sized to .356 and it works well.

Like any gun it is important to see which ammo runs best especially in a defense gun. The trigger pull is decent and shouldn’t give anyone a problem unlike some other 9 mm guns I have previously tested. It has some creep and travel but it is entirely usable.

A new brand of ammo well worth checking out is the Liberty Brand. They make a 50-grain bullet that clock in the neighborhood of 2000 FPS depending on the gun. Recoil is light and in every gun I have tried it in there have been no feeding problems. They make it in several calibers and I believe that it will catch on.

LOAD                                 BULLET                             VELOCITY                        COMMENT

7 grains HS-6                    115 grain cast               1187                              decent load

6.8 X HS-6                        115 grain FMJ                1095                               mild

Barnes                                115 grain Tac TP         1053                                mild

Blaser                                 115 gr FMJ                    1132                               consistent

Winchester                       115 gr FMJ                   1148                                nice

Wolf steel case                 115 gr FMJ                    1105                                consistent

SIG                                      124 gr JHP                     1103                               nice

6.5 grains HS-6                  125 gr Berry                953                                accurate

6 grains HS-6                     130 gr FMJ                    906                              consistent

Double Tap                       147 gr JHP                     988.1                                decent

5 grains HS-6                      147 gr Berry                 717                               mild

Double Tap                       165 gr                            868                                interesting

The gun has been shot several hundred times with no issues except those lead bullets, which isn’t a problem in my view. Everything else worked which would make it a good candidate for a carry gun.

Since it handles hollow points of various shapes, your social ammo shouldn’t be hard to get. As with any serious protection gun, you should try several brands of ammo to establish what you are comfortable with and what the gun likes. Other things to look for is availability of your ammo.

Handloads can be used but caution should be observed if you use them for self-defense. If you live in an area that has an anti-gun AG they may try and prosecute you for using handloads. Yes, it is ridiculous but so is every anti-gun argument but they will pursue it nonetheless.

Results: A good, reliable, simple to use weapon for self defense or sport shooting. Read more Ruger 9E Pistol specs here:  http://www.ruger.com/products/9E/specSheets/3340.html

About Bob Shell
A Custom Reloader of Obsolete and Antique Ammo, Bob Shell, writes about the subject of Guns, Ammo, Shooting and Related Subjects. Visit: www.bobshellsblog.blogspot.com

USA - -(Ammoland.com)- John Browning’s incredible Model 1911 pistol has been in service for 104 years.

Originally built for the US Army in the years before the First World War, it has served as a sidearm with the armed forces of as many as 70 different countries.

By our estimate, at least 50 different companies from Colt, Ruger, Springfield Armory, Remington and Sig Sauer to custom gunsmiths such as Wilson Combat, Nighthawk and Ed Brown produce at least one version of this classic design.

One shop stands out as a leader in building an excellent Model 1911: Wilson Combat of Berryville, Arkansas. Their flagship model is their CQB (Close Quarter Battle).

Wilson Combat’s CQB is a custom built 1911-A1. Every part on Wilson’s CQB is hand fitted by Wilson’s gunsmiths and the pistol ships with not only and break down manual but an excruciatingly detailed build sheet that lists the name of each smith who so much as touched the pistol along with a complete breakdown of all the work they performed on the pistol.

This ensures that all of Wilson’s exacting specifications are not only met, but are documented so that should the CQB be used in a self-defense shooting, the shooter can prove that the pistol was built in that manner at the factory.

Our CQB is a standard “Government Model” with a 5″ match grade barrel coated in Wilson’s Armor-Tuff coating. This finish protects the external parts from the elements and acts as a form of solid lubricant because it contains molybdenum disulfide.

The author has had extensive experience with this formula in coating bullets and can attest to its superb characteristics of countering friction between metal parts. It is likewise highly resistant to solvents, various acids and exceeds DoD (Department of Defense) standards with regard to immersion in jet fuel, salt water, trichloroethylene and can withstand temperatures from -250 degrees to 500 degrees.

When it came to sights, we opted for the fully adjustable target version with tritium inserts over the fixed variant. We went with Wilson’s “bulletproof” ambidextrous safety ( goo.gl/8qZTIH ) , which is the best ambi-safety we have seen in over 25 years of playing with 1911s.

The front strap features 30 lines per inch checkering and the grips are hardwood with double diamond checkering and Wilson Combat medallions. These two features simply make the CQB melt in the hand for a secure hold. Wilson offers other grips in various materials such as G-10, but the feel of hardwood stocks always seems just right on a 1911.

The trigger breaks at a crisp 3 pounds and coupled with the naturally short reset makes for one of the fastest shooting and most accurate pistols you can wrap your hands around.

Wilson offers numerous options with this pistol including lighter weight frames, rails on the dust cover, magazine funnels and a host of other choices.

Instead of a throwaway cardboard or plastic box the pistol ships in a Wilson soft case with a barrel bushing wrench, cleaning kit and the company’s proprietary magazines.

An MSRP at close to $3000 may come as a shock to those new to the world of custom 1911s, but Bill Wilson guarantees a 1” group at 25 yards and the CQB fully delivers on that promise.

We routinely shoot the CQB at 50 feet using a Scorpius Tactical target stand.

This is a locally made stand in Reno, Nevada, that offers a full IPSC silhouette and a steel gong in one combination.

You can literally get bored shooting small groups in the paper with the CQB and when that happens, we like to back up a few paces to ring steel for a while.

If you are only looking to own one 1911 type pistol, the author always recommends a US property-marked Colt, Remington Rand or other martial sidearm.

If you only want one as an accurate shooter that squeezes every last ounce of accuracy out of the old slab sided 45, look no further than a Wilson Combat CQB.

About Mike Searson

Mike Searson’s career as a shooter began as a Marine Rifleman at age 17. He has worked in the firearms industry his entire adult life as a Gunsmith, Ballistician, Consultant, Salesman, Author and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1989.

Mike has written over 2000 articles for a number of magazines, websites and newsletters including Blade, RECOIL, OFF-GRID, Tactical Officer, SWAT, Tactical World, Gun Digest, Examiner.com and the US Concealed Carry Association as well as AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.

• Home page: www.mikesearson.com
• FB: www.facebook.com/mike.searson
• TWITTER: www.twitter.com/mikesearson

By Mike Searson

USA - -(Ammoland.com)- The Ruger LCP (Lightweight Compact Pistol) represents Ruger’s first major attempt at making a lightweight concealed carry pistol in 380 ACP.

Long noted for their “sporting designs”, Ruger built this pistol with self-defense in mind.

When it first hit the market, the LCP delivered a fire storm of controversy as many gun owners felt it was too close of a copy of Kel-Tec’s successful 380 pocket pistol, the P-3AT.

On a casual inspection the two handguns look remarkably alike, with the Ruger gaining better points on final fit and finish.

Very few of Ruger’s ideas are completely original as they often hearken back to older designs with improvements in materials, sights and execution. The late founder, Bill Ruger, was noted for bringing to market the firearms that shooters actually wanted.

The main gripe here may have been that the Kel-Tec was a fairly recent design unlike the M14 (Mini-14), Japanese Nambu (Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3), Colt Single Action Army (Single-Six, Blackhawk, Vaquero), Colt New Service (Redhawk), or M1 Carbine (10/22).

Ruger offers dealer exclusive LCPs in a plethora of finishes from basic black to hot pink and various shades of camo in between. Our Ruger LCP is a special edition, an exclusive made for TALO, a firearms distributor which commissions many special versions of common factory handguns and rifles. In this case the stainless steel slide is laser engraved and features an inlay of the Ruger eagle in gold.

Like most embellishments of this type, it does not make for a more accurate pistol, but lends a touch of class.

The Good

At 9 ounces unloaded, the Ruger LCP lives up to its name of being lightweight and compact. A pistol this small tends to be carried more often than not, which is what we want in a CCW pistol.

Equally important are the external surfaces. There are no sharp edges, protrusions or areas prone to snag or otherwise impede the draw of the Ruger LCP.

This is not just with the special edition we purchased, but something we have seen on hundreds of LCPs over the past few years.

Aftermarket support in the way of extended magazines, lasers, holsters ( http://goo.gl/fMzgXi ) and even a pocket clip is very strong for the LCP. The author is not a fan of lasers on handguns, but can see their merit and there are several out there that work well with the LCP.

Finally, Ruger offers outstanding customer service should anything befall the pistol at the range or while maintaining it. Ruger literally treats their customers like royalty.

The Bad

The Ruger LCP uses very crude sights with the front being integral to the slide and the rear as a fixed notch. This is definitely not a handgun you would use for any serious target shooting but it is intended for distances within reach of bad breath.

Squeezing the trigger is not much better and yields a long pull with a longer reset. Not quite as bad as a kick start on a Harley Davidson, but nowhere close to what you would find on a 1911.

The Reality

Aside from the inherent flaws with regard to the trigger or the sights, the LCP’s accuracy is satisfactory. We were able to obtain a group of 3” at 25 feet while using the sights; moving closer at 5 and 10 feet did not seem to reduce the group sizes at all.

In a sense, the trigger may be ideal for this type of firearm as the shooter will be firing it under extreme stress if it fulfills its duty as a self-defense piece. That long deliberate trigger pull is to compensate for the lack of an external safety and for some shooters, this seems to fit the bill perfectly.

The Ruger LCP is not the pistol that you want to leave in your range bag for when you run out of 22s and want to enjoy the rest of your afternoon shooting.

On the other hand, this is the one you want to leave in a pocket holster ( http://tiny.cc/bvu1wx ) or an IWB holster and can easily forget that it is there so that you will have it, should you ever need it.

About Mike Searson

Mike Searson’s career as a shooter began as a Marine Rifleman at age 17. He has worked in the firearms industry his entire adult life as a Gunsmith, Ballistician, Consultant, Salesman, Author and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1989.

Mike has written over 2000 articles for a number of magazines, websites and newsletters including Blade, RECOIL, OFF-GRID, Tactical Officer, SWAT, Tactical World, Gun Digest, Examiner.com and the US Concealed Carry Association as well as AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.

• Home page: www.mikesearson.com
• FB: www.facebook.com/mike.searson
• TWITTER: www.twitter.com/mikesearson

By Mike Searson

USA - -(Ammoland.com)- One of the most anticipated new firearms of the past decade has been the Glock 43 single stack 9mm pistol.

It has been in the rumor mill for the past several years, so much so that at the 2015 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, an old associate who mans the booth saw me coming and said: “No carbine, no single stack 9 (mm) and no 1911!”

He showed me the new MOS Glocks and when I pressed on the single stack 9mm he said, “You might want to wait until the NRA Show.”

The NRA Show ran from April 10 to April 12 2015, but on April 6 2015 my FedEx Deliveryman left me a package from Smyrna, Georgia, containing a Glock 43. The company’s latest offering in 9mm with a 6-round single stack magazine.

The author’s first impression was not that favorable. The grip felt way too small and the slimline frame made the slide feel awkward and top heavy. Slightly larger than last year’s offering in 380 ACP (which had most folks were saying it was too big for the caliber).

I was starting to wonder, “What are they thinking?”

The Good

If you are a fan of the Glock system, you will like the 43. It retains all the classic lines, the same takedown method and has the look and most of the feel of just about any other Glock pistol. The author owns several Glocks without being a real “Glock Guy”, but honestly admired the looks of this one.

One of my initial complaints about the grip being too small is actually a good thing as historically this is the most difficult part of a pistol to conceal when carrying IWB. In spite of this, we felt no undue recoil imparted by the small grip and light weight. In fact the Glock 43 was quite pleasant to shoot.

There is no rail on this pistol, which means people will not be tempted to hang lights and lasers off the front end (not that aftermarket accessories are a bad thing, but keep in mind what this pistol is meant for). Likewise, Glock dispensed with their finger grooves on the 43. Both of these attributes help minimize the dimensions and make the G43 easy to carry and conceal. If you want a rail, go for something bigger.

The Bad

Some folks might be expecting a “Pocket 9″, but the 43 is just not that small. Someone with smaller sized hands who wears larger than normal pockets (Cargo Shorts or Windbreaker perhaps?) may be able to pull it off.

The author’s size XXL mitts can only successfully draw a Seecamp LWS from the pocket of my Levis while being able to bring it on target and hit what I am aiming at in one fluid motion.

The author found the grip to be too small at first.

In fact in all honesty, if my only exposure to this pistol would have been to handle it at a gun show or a gun shop, I would have walked away from it without giving it a second look. Shooting makes all the difference.

There are no extended magazines available as yet and as of this writing there are no magazine extensions. The pistol shipped with a flush base magazine and one with an “elephant foot” extension that allows a better grip. The extension was external only, but following that size might allow a proper extension that could give 1 or possibly 2 extra rounds.

Like most other Glocks it came with cheap plastic sights. When the author purchases one, tritium night sights will be on order as well.

The Reality

A sudden winter storm in the Sierra Nevada kept me from getting to shoot it earlier than anticipated. We had access to a shooting area for a brief window with an improvised target (Phone book cover), despite those shortcomings we were impressed with the initial performance and it gave us something to look forward to the next day.

Shooting the Glock 43 made the author a believer. Our initial group was unremarkable, but the more we shot it, the tighter we were shooting.

We used Winchester White Box 115 grain FMJ’s ( http://goo.gl/02ilYT )  to start with and then moved on to the same bullet configuration in CCI Lawman and a box of Remington UMC 115 FMC.

We tried some Remington subsonic 147 grain FMJ left over from a silencer shoot and since this will primarily be a defensive pistol for most shooters we stepped up to some various loads in JHP configuration for a magazine of each: Winchester SXT in 147, Corbon +Ps in 125 and a box of Federal JHP.

We experienced no malfunctions of any kind. Accuracy-wise, the pistol performed best with the CCI Lawman and UMC in 115 grain FMJ ( http://goo.gl/I9abRx ) . The Winchester ammunition gave us a group that was too big and was off from our point of aim significantly.

The small grip, flat profile and decent trigger make this a serious contender for concealed carry. Out of the box, it offers 2 more rounds than a J-Frame revolver and a familiar manual of arms to disciples of the Glock.

It will be a perfect handgun for most, probably lacking for some, but in our estimation, one that was well worth the wait.

About Mike Searson

Mike Searson’s career as a shooter began as a Marine Rifleman at age 17. He has worked in the firearms industry his entire adult life as a Gunsmith, Ballistician, Consultant, Salesman, Author and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1989.

Mike has written over 2000 articles for a number of magazines, websites and newsletters including Blade, RECOIL, OFF-GRID, Tactical Officer, SWAT, Tactical World, Gun Digest, Examiner.com and the US Concealed Carry Association as well as AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.

• Home page: www.mikesearson.com
• FB: www.facebook.com/mike.searson
• TWITTER: www.twitter.com/mikesearson

Want a second opinion? Check out our friend Massad Ayoob’s take on the Glock 43 Pistol.

By Mike Searson

USA - -(Ammoland.com)- Sometimes in the Gun Culture we come across a gun that seems to serve no real purpose, only to find out later we were totally wrong with our initial assessment.

Such is the case with the Bond Arms Cowboy Derringer.

Derringers have been popular for over 150 years due to their small size. Unfortunately most models are cheap and made out of questionable materials.

Additionally, their manual of arms is not the most intuitive and the extremely short barrels make their ammunition less effective.

Bond Arms, Inc., of Granbury, Texas ( www.bondarms.com ) , set out to change those perceptions by machining their derringers out of high quality stainless steel. They went further by adding unique and modern safety features and pushed the envelope further by using a system of interchangeable barrels, not unlike those of the Thompson Center Arms Contender and Encore.

Shooters have the option of running everything from 22 long rifle through 45 Colt or even 410 Shotshells through their derringers.

We opted for the Cowboy Model with Ivory grips in 45/410 as it showed up in a consignment case in a local gun shop at the right price.

The Good

On looks alone, the Bond Arms Cowboy Derringer is a winner. The bright stainless steel resembles an old time nickel finish and it is perfectly accented by either the factory rosewood or bonded ivory grips.

A cross bolt safety improves greatly upon the original design and makes this a safe pistol to carry.

The sights are simple, yet big, allowing for a good sight picture, but frankly, this is meant as a point and shoot defensive pistol. The Bond Arms Cowboy is big for a derringer, but it actually conceals quite well due to its profile.

The Bad

The Bond Arms Cowboy Derringer is a true heavyweight. In this size and weight category, a shooter can do better with a S&W J-Frame or one of the various single stack 9mm pistols like the new Glock 43 Handgun. Plus these other types of handguns provide more than the limited 2-round capacity of the derringer.

Reloading is slow, but an improvement over the earlier derringers, flip the lever, tip the barrels, dump the empties, slide two live rounds into place, lock it back up, point the derringer, cock the hammer and squeeze the trigger. Repeat.

To keep the styling in that of the trappings of the 19th century, the Bond Arms Cowboy Derringer has no trigger guard. Other models, like the identical Texas Defender, that the company makes incorporate a trigger guard, which is a must if the shooter wants to safely carry this on a daily basis.

The Reality

Picking up the Bond Arms Cowboy Derringer nearly five years ago was really an impulse buy for the cool factor of having a 45/410 derringer. The weight actually dampens the recoil of the 45 Colts or 410 shotgun shells. Its weight and slow manual of arms usually means it’s relegated to backup gun duty on very rare occasions.

The niche it is ideal for is the shooter who wants a classic derringer that is a shootable, safe and can convert calibers with a few turns of an Allen wrench.

The author lives in rattler country and finds it easier to avoid them rather than killing them, unless there are small children or dogs and cats around. The Bond Arms Cowboy Derringer is suitable for this role, too.

Despite the Bond Arms Cowboy Derringer being an extremely well made and robust handgun, in good faith, we cannot recommend this for consideration as a CCW piece. The size, weight, manual of arms and ballistics all come into play here. It can be handy to have while hiking and prove useful against feral dogs, coyotes, snakes, rats, etc. and maybe even a single human attacker.

Against more than one assailant, you are better served with a compact semiautomatic or revolver.

About Mike Searson

Mike Searson’s career as a shooter began as a Marine Rifleman at age 17. He has worked in the firearms industry his entire adult life as a Gunsmith, Ballistician, Consultant, Salesman, Author and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1989.

Mike has written over 2000 articles for a number of magazines, websites and newsletters including Blade, RECOIL, OFF-GRID, Tactical Officer, SWAT, Tactical World, Gun Digest, Examiner.com and the US Concealed Carry Association as well as AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.

• Home page: www.mikesearson.com
• FB: www.facebook.com/mike.searson
• TWITTER: www.twitter.com/mikesearson

Side Note: Do you like Shooting Gallery style plinking?

Then check out Bond Arms on line “Snake Slayer” video game it is easy and fun, timeless entertainment, you can even download the app to play on the go.

USA - -(Ammoland.com)- It has been referred to as the pistol that the late Col. Jeff Cooper would be forced to carry if he went to hell: a double action pistol with no sights, a magazine safety and chambered in 32 ACP.

Yet for close to 3 decades the Seecamp 32 LWS was the standard by which all “pocket pistols [mouse guns] were judged”.

The pistol was the brain child of Ludwig Wilhelm Seecamp who began his career in the firearms industry in the early 1970s as a gunsmith who was dead set on converting the Model 1911 into a double action pistol. In 1980 he set out to build the perfect pocket pistol.

The first pistol which bore his name was chambered in 25 ACP and called the LWS 25. This double action, stainless steel pocket rocket had no sights and would evolve into the Seecamp LWS 32.

Much like the A-10 warthog being a plane designed around a gun, the LWS 32 was designed around a particular type of ammunition: Winchester’s 32 ACP Silvertip ( http://goo.gl/WHkkWa ) . At the time it was the most potent cartridge developed for the 32 ACP. Before the end of the 1980s, the Seecamp was on a 3-5 year back order.

By the mid 1990s, shooters were paying 3 to 5 times the MSRP to have a Seecamp and avoid the wait as concealed carry reform began to sweep the nation.

Ludwig Seecamp went to the big gun range in the sky in 1989 and his son, Larry Seecamp, took over production of the pistol. In 2003 he unveiled a 380 ACP model of the same dimensions, but our focus will be on the Seecamp LWS 32 Handgun.

The Good

The Seecamp LWS 32 is a tiny gun with a two-inch barrel and weighs 10 ounces. This is one of the only pistols that the author can reliably draw and fire in one fluid moment from the front pocket of a pair of Levis. Fully constructed of stainless steel, it is highly resistant to rust and has been a daily companion in the 20 years that I have owned it.

The pistol, as we mentioned previous, has no sights to make for an easy and snag free draw. Likewise there are no sharp edges anywhere on the surface of the pistol.
Despite the lack of sights, they are very accurate with the axis of the bore so close to the centerline of the hand. Some shooters sight along the top of the barrel, but most shooters point shoot it.

This is not a target pistol, but meant as an up close (within bad breath distance) personal defense handgun.

The Bad

There are no external safeties on the Seecamp LWS. The primary safety is a long DA pull backed up by an inertia firing pin and a magazine safety.

The magazine safety unfortunately inhibits rearward movement of the slide, making clearing and unloading the pistol a bit of a complex manual of arms.

The magazine release is a heel type which makes changing the magazine a bit of a chore and slower than a conventional release, but for pocket carry it probably works better like this.

Recoil can be harsh for some with the Seecamp, but it is very manageable. The only real downside is the reliance on the more expensive brands of JHP instead of hardball ammunition.

The Reality

The modern Seecamp LWS pistol will feed more than just Winchester Silvertip Jacketed Hollow Points. PMC Bronze JHP, Federal Hydrashok, Magsafe and Glaser safety slugs have all functioned for the author.

Even though it is a true pocket pistol, you want to keep it in a pocket holster that covers the trigger guard for safety reasons.

The lack of sights troubles some shooters, but while qualifying for my Nevada CCW 5 years ago, I made headshots on a target at 50 feet prompting the instructor to ask, “How do you do that with no sights?”

Allowing him to shoot a magazine of 6 rounds at the end of the day made him a believer, too.

As an instructor and author, I m often asked what’s the best carry pistol out there. My answer is usually the Seecamp despite its size, perceivably weak cartridge and lack of sights. That answer is because the pistol is constantly in the front pocket ready to go.

Seecamp announced last October that Whalley Precision of Massachusetts would be taking over the manufacturing duties on behalf of Seecamp. The biggest hope is that this changing of the guard does not derail the quality and craftsmanship that owners of Seecamps have come to expect.

About Mike Searson

Mike Searson’s career as a shooter began as a Marine Rifleman at age 17. He has worked in the firearms industry his entire adult life as a Gunsmith, Ballistician, Consultant, Salesman, Author and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1989.

Mike has written over 2000 articles for a number of magazines, websites and newsletters including Blade, RECOIL, OFF-GRID, Tactical Officer, SWAT, Tactical World, Gun Digest, Examiner.com and the US Concealed Carry Association as well as AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.

• Home page: www.mikesearson.com
• FB: www.facebook.com/mike.searson
• TWITTER: www.twitter.com/mikesearson

Youtube’s ima4ster has this to say about the Seecamp 32 LWS Pistol:

Obsolete Arms and Ammo
By Bob Shell

Apache Junction, AZ –-(Ammoland.com)- Browning has been around for many years and they license and make Winchester rifles including the model 92.

The Winchester Model 92 Rifle was originally offered in the 25-20 and 32-20.

The receiver is compact allowing for portability. It replaced the model 73 rifle and among the good features it is more compact and stronger then the older model. The Winchester Model 92 Short Rifle was one of the many rifles that John Browning designed in his lifetime. It is a scaled down model 86.

They currently offer this in 357 mag, 44 mag, and 45 Colt which is the one I have. My sample is in the 45 Colt chambering and with modern loads can be used for deer, pigs, and black bear. Mountain lions have met their match with this rifle.

Where legal a handgun in the same ammo caliber can be carried, a feature that is useful in isolated areas. If you have a strong revolver such as a Ruger then good hunting ammo can be carried in either.

The 45 Colt Ammunition ( http://goo.gl/APLCBH ) has been around since 1873 and was the most popular revolver round in the old west. There are many different loads available and ammo is available. Reloading components are plentiful so having a 45 Colt rifle is something worth owning.

Personally, I would like to see the 25-20 and 32-20 offered but I guess the demand isn’t there. Too bad. Also due to the perfect size of the action, the 38-40 and the 44-40 would be nice additions as there are handguns available for those offerings. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough demand to offer these chamberings.

Shooting this rifle is a pleasure. It is well balanced and the trigger is fine for this gun. Other people who shot it also were favorably impressed.

The ejection is very frisky kicking the empties some yards. When I first received it, the action was pretty smooth indicating some hand finishing. After some shooting it got even better. Since it has a higher price tag then some others you would expect that. The bluing and wood are well done, another feature expected on a gun at this price point, suggested MSRP $1069.00.

One way to test a gun is to let a verity of people shoots it including women and youngsters. Due to its size and weight almost anyone can handle it. That way several opinions are given and it doesn’t matter what level experience they possess. The important thing is how do they like it and would they buy it if they were looking for such a gun. Comments were favorable in regards to balance and trigger pull. Like the other political correct lever actions it has a safety located in back of the hammer. It is easy to use though not needed.

The only negative comment I heard was the price. It is higher than a couple of it competitors. Some of that extra cost can be attributed to the extra finishing and polishing which may not be visible. If you don’t mind the tariff then you will be happy with this gun as it does have good quality. Due to its good handling characteristics it should find favor with the cowboy action shooting matches.

Loads

As always, various loads will be tried and since it is primarily a hunting rifle and may be used in cowboy competition, those loads were tested as well. In addition it is able to take modern loads which will make it useful for game such as deer and black bear.

I have some 80 grain button bullets which I put 3 into a 45 Colt case. At close range they didn’t come apart much but at 35 yards they were hitting about 4 feet from each other. That would be a decent home defense load.

The rifle will handle a 300 grain bullet at 1500 FPS which would make it a decent close range hammer.

Accuracy with the open sights is good depending on how good your eyesight is. At 50 yards I can shoot a 3-4” group but my eyes are not as young as they were. A younger shooter with good eyes can expect to shoot a 2” group at that range and perhaps a little better. The sights are easy to pick up and shooting at 50 to 100 yards if you can shoot.

It would be possible to mount a scope though it would take some work however, it would ruin the balance. In my view a scope would not be a desirable addition.

Some loads were chronographed giving us an idea as to its potential. As can be seen some are powerful enough for deer sized game at woods ranges. I use some Ranier bullets but I have to put a cannelure in them to keep them in place. I tried crimping the case into the bullet but that does not always work. Since they are soft, be careful not to put the cannelure in too deep as that will weaken the bullet. A too deep cannelure can also destroy accuracy. Properly cannelured bullets usually give good accuracy.

Cast bullets work well and some of the heavier ones are good hunting bullets such as the LBT types. They have gas checks and are cast hard for heavy duty use. Cast bullets can be used in virtually all of your shooting. A quality cast bullet with the proper lube will be as accurate as any jacketed projectile. In addition, they cost less and you can mold them if you are so inclined. Those folks who turn up their nose at cast slugs are missing out on a lot of enjoyable shooting.

The Barnes all copper bullets are light but penetrate well plus reduce recoil some. Since Barnes bullets are all copper they will be more friendly to the environment and in California they are required for hunting. The only downside is they cost more than conventional cup and core bullets. The Colt round responds well to light loads but I would use a flake powder to take up space as it is a large case.

For real light loads Trail Boss is a good choice. The shorter 45 Schofield case can be used but it might not feed through the magazine tube due to its shorter length. Hornady makes 200 and 225-grain FTX bullets, which will give you some more range. The tip may also aid in expanding on a deer sized animal. Due to the plastic type tips, they should be safe in the model 92 magazine. With this gun you have a lot of viable options as to what you can do with it. If you don’t mind the mess black powder also does well as that was the original powder used in the 45 Colt round. With the vast selection of components, the reloader has never had it so good.

LOAD BULLET VELOCITY COMMENT

• Double Tap 160 grain Barnes TAC XP 1280 consistent
• Double Tap 185 grain Bonded Defense 1279 ok
• Barnes 200 grain XPB 1210 nice
• 24 grains of 2400 225 grain XPB 1683 hunting load
• Double Tap 230 grain Controlled EXP 1123 accurate
• Double Tap 255 grain hard cast 1057 deer
• 12 grains Herco 275 grain cast 1126 accurate
• 22 grains of 296 300 grain Ranier 1315 ok

Factory ammo is available thought not inexpensive. For this test I used some Double Tap ammo and as usual it performed well. They have an extensive line of ammo and for info you can go to http://www.doubletapammo.net/index.php?route=product/category&path=125

I used some Barnes ammo and bullets and while expensive it is an excellent choice for hunting. For info you can go to http://www.barnesbullets.com/

In spite of the popularity of the black guns, a few manufacturers offer guns in various calibers and models that duplicate the old designs but are affordable for the average shooter. Cowboy action shooting is a popular pastime and is getting more popular. Another upside of these guns is they are not as regulated in some states that have draconian gun laws. Most have good quality and are well worth owning. The Browning is a high quality gun and if the price doesn’t bother you it is a thumbs up as far as I am concerned. Taken care of it will last many years giving generations something to enjoy.

• Item Number 534162141
• UPC 048702003844
• Caliber 45 Colt
• Barrel Length 20″
• Nominal Overall Length 37 1/2″
• Nominal Length of Pull 12 3/4″
• Nominal Drop at Comb 1 1/8″
• Nominal Drop at Heel 1 3/4″
• Weight 6 lbs 0 oz
• Magazine Capacity 10
• Site Radius 16″
• Rate of Twist 1 in 26″
• Barrel Finish : Brushed Polish
• Stock Finish : Satin
• Wood Grade : Grade I
• Receiver Finish : Brushed Polish
• Chamber Finish : Polished
• Front Sight : Brass Bead
• Rear Sight : Semi-Buckhorn
• Barrel Material : Steel
• Barrel Contour : Sporter
• Stock Material : Black Walnut
• Recoil Pad : Crescent Metal
• Checkering : None
• Forend Cap : Polished Metal
• Receiver Material : Steel
• Trigger Finish : Brushed Polish
• Trigger Guard Finish : Brushed Polish
• Magazine Type : Full-Length Tube
• Trigger Material : Steel
• Trigger Guard Material : Steel
• MSRP : $1,069.99

About Bob Shell
A Custom Reloader of Obsolete and Antique Ammo, Bob Shell, writes about the subject of Guns, Ammo, Shooting and Related Subjects. Visit: www.bobshellsblog.blogspot.com

See what hickok45 had to say on the same gun:

Jerry Miculek, dubbed ‘The Greatest Shooter of all Time’ Reviews the Coonan .357 Magnum handgun.

USA – -(Ammoland.com)- Miculek is a professional speed and competition shooter known for his 20 world records, appearances on TV; and for starring on his YouTube Channel.

This week, Jerry takes a look at the Coonan .357 Magnum pistol- A traditional style handgun with a twist: It’s chambered in 357 magnum!

Now you can see him and his reactions to the Coonan .357 Magnum in this video.

You can check out the Coonan .335 Magnum in our new Pistol Showroom on the Coonan website here.

To learn more about Coonan, Inc., call 763.786.1720 or visit www.coonaninc.com

By Bob Shell

Apache Junction, AZ –-(Ammoland.com)- For generations many youngsters started out with an inexpensive shotgun to start their activity in hunting.

I was one of those youths that started out with a bolt action Mossberg shotgun.

It was a 12 gauge with a barrel longer then a week but it served for some years until I got a little older. It harvested some rabbits and squirrels among other critters. Years ago if you used a shotgun for large game that was considered a handicap but that is no longer the case.

Back in the day, I knew a guy that owned a large pig pen and my brother and myself shot many rats there using a Mossberg 12 gauge. Since I was rolling my own, cost were kept down. Throughout the years, I had a couple of pumps in 12 and 20 gauge.

The little 20 was my favorite dove gun for years until I was talked out of it. I still regret that mistake.

The one 12 gauge I had was bought with a barrel that someone sawed off. Though legal, it looked like they used a wood saw to accomplish that task. As bad, as it looked it was a good brush gun for rabbits.

The way we hunted rabbits was in thick brush and frequently close shots and moving targets was the order of the day. A short barrel with no choke was the other order of the day.

The other barrel had screw in chokes for other hunting chores. The bottom line is I have used Mossberg shotguns for years and never had problems with them. They didn’t look great but always performed which is by far more important. For info on their extensive line of products you can go to http://www.mossberg.com/products/shotguns

I originally came from an area that required slugs for deer hunting. Due to the flat terrain rifle, bullets were considered too dangerous due to the distance they can travel. ( This myth has been proven unfounded today. )

A couple years back I picked up a model 930 which is an auto loader and as in my experiences it is trouble free. I have used it on some dove hunts and obtained good results. It has the regular screw in chokes that are so common today which gives you many options.

Mossberg 500 Slug Gun

Recently due to an assignment request, I picked up another Mossberg 500 Slug Gun this one with a rifled barrel. I am running some tests on modern slugs so this is the perfect platform for this job.

Some years ago Mossberg started to produce a model 500 with a rifled barrel. That gives a hunter a better and more accurate slug gun. Normally about 100 yards was considered the max distance that you could reliably hit a deer. Like everything else, there has been some improvements with slugs. Some are effective out to a couple hundred yards due to velocity and aerodynamic design. To top it off a Hawke scope was mounted and my previous experiences with Hawke scopes has always been positive.

Hawke Endurance Scope

I requested and received a Hawke scope to enhance the utility of this shotgun. While the 500’s sights are good the scope is a 3 X 9 especially made for muzzle loaders and shotguns. It is the Hawke Endurance 3-9X40mm 30/30 Centre Cross Reticle ( http://goo.gl/JGn0dm ) model HK6356.

For someone who wants a quality scope at a reasonable price. It has clearly visible dots that have the ability to light up in red. The strength of the lighting is adjustable and the dots should help you out at various ranges. As with all Hawke products I use the optics are crystal clear. Based on my experience with this and other Hawke scopes I would definitely recommend it. The optics are first class and it held up its end during the tests. For info you can go to www.hawkeoptics.com

With a Mossberg 500 Shotgun and a good scope such as the Hawke, used in the test, you are on level ground with a rifle out to 200 yards.

Keep in mind shotgun slugs have a lot of recoil so a good quality scope is important. For info on their line of products go to http://www.hawkeoptics.com/

Slug Run Down

I have tested quite a few brands of slugs including some of the well-known names such as the Brenneke Slugs ( http://goo.gl/Xq0kou ). They have been around for over 100 years and are still one of the top choices for deer. Lightfield offers a full line of slugs including some big bear busters. Like any type of shooting you should try a few brands to see what you gun likes best.

With the Mossberg I was working with it shot all of them pretty well, though some better than others. If I was going to take it hunting the slug chosen would be the one to match the game and conditions. Since there is a good choice I would try several brands. Any one of the brands I tried could be recommended as they are quality products but need to be matched to the gun. Foster slugs are still available but probably don’t benefit from rifling but can be used. I have used them in smoothbores and they are good from 75 to 100 yards depending on the gun. To help out a little in trying some of these projectiles here is the contact info.

• For Lightfield go to http://www.litfld.com/products/hunting/
• Kent makes various types of shotgun ammo including slugs and various types of birdshot. If you are looking for some shotshell ammo you should check them out. For info you can go to http://www.litfld.com/products/hunting/
• Since 1895 Brenneke has been producing superior slugs and in fact they were the first company to make an effective slug. Many of their current slugs have the design that came out in the 1890’s and they still work for info you can go to http://www.brennekeusa.com/cms/

There are a number of other brands and such companies as Remington and Winchester make good slugs. There are some lightweight copper slugs, which I have shot in the past, and they are impressive. If you have a smoothbore and are on a budget the Foster slugs are still available and they still work. Some of the more potent rounds have muzzle energy that equals or exceeds the 30-06, though they don’t have the range.

To give you an idea as to what to expect performance wise here are some of the loads I tested and chronographed.

LOAD, BULLET, VELOCITY, COMMENT

• Kent 2 & ¾”, 5 star, 1678, nice
• Kent 3”, 10 star, 1640, consistent
• Brenneke Green Lightning, 1 & ¼ oz, 1418, accurate
• Lightfield Hybrid, 546 grain, 1450, consistent
• Lightfield 3”, 1 & ¼ oz., 1558, powerful
• Lightfield 2 & ¾”, 1 & ¼ oz., 1423, accurate
• Lightfield reduced recoil, 1 & ¼ oz., 1339, pleasant
• 46 grains Blue Dot, 480 grain, 1696, potent

The Lightfield slugs regardless of the load hits to the same point of impact at 50 yards which is unusual. That is a handy feature especially if more than one person uses that gun as ammo can be matched to recoil tolerance of the shooter.

Like all types of ammo slugs have improved in the last few years. They are more streamlined, in some instances, and are more accurate especially in a rifled barrel. I picked up a verity of them for testing purposes.

Hunters have never had so good especially if you like to shop for a variety of different Slug Ammo.

 

Mossberg 500 Model Features

• Gauge : 12
• Chamber Size : 3″
• Capacity : 6
• Barrel : 24″ Fluted
• Sights : Rifle Sights
• Chokes : Fully-Rifled Bore
• Overall Length : 43.5″
• Length Of Pull : 13.875″
• Barrel Finish : Blue
• Stock : Wood
• Weight : 7 lb

FEATURES

• Mossberg’s Most Diverse Collection of Stock, Barrel, Finish and Sighting Options
• 3″ Chambered models in 12ga./20ga.; .410 Bore (21/2″)
• Field, Turkey, Waterfowl, Slug & Multi-Barrel Combo varieties; Models with LPA™ Adjustable Trigger
• 20/22/24/26/28″ Barrels; and 24″ Slug Barrel Options
• Free Gun Lock/10-Year Limited Warranty included

RESOURCES

• Slug Ammo: http://goo.gl/MxOgW6
• Mossberg 500 Slug Gun: http://tiny.cc/wlbzxx
• Hawke Endurance Scope: http://goo.gl/JGn0dm

About Bob Shell
A Custom Reloader of Obsolete and Antique Ammo, Bob Shell, writes about the subject of Guns, Ammo, Shooting and Related Subjects. Visit: www.bobshellsblog.blogspot.com

By John Farnam

Ft Collins, CO –-(Ammoland.com)- Robinson Armament, XCR-L

I’m currently using, and traveling with, a copy of the RA/XCR-L rifle in 300Blk.

I have several other XCRs, in 5.56mm, 308, 30/Soviet, and 6.8Spc. The XCR is a gas-adjustable, gas-piston, military rifle, and all my copies run superbly, or I wouldn’t own them! All feature a folding stock that is also length-adjustable, so they are well-suited to travel, particularly by commercial air!

My new XCR-L can be quickly converted from 300Blk to 5.56×45 (223 Rem), via simply changing the barrel. The process does not require a gunsmith. Even I can do it in less than a minute!

My copy is equipped with a forward-mounted Aimpoint H1, as the XCR has a full-length rail on top. Co-witnessed BUIS, a BFG two-point sling, and a co-axial 900 lumen Powertac Flashlight mounted forward on the left side.

The forward sling-mount I moved to the right side, as I want the area directly in front of the left-side bolt handle unobstructed, for obvious reasons.

My only modification was to remove the “ambidextrous” manual safety lever on the right side of the lower receiver. Being right-handed, it just gets in my way. Fortunately, it is designed to be easily removable.

The rifle’s forend features “keymod” mounting/vent points on the sides and bottom. Keymod was invented by MagPul, but has since become universal on military rifles, because it makes a slim and convenient forend, and one can still securely mount accessories (on short sections of rail) without having to dissemble the rifle.

The bolt-handle (left side) is non-reciprocating, per modern military requirements. However, it still functions as a bolt forward-assist. You push it in, then forward. Pretty clever!

The XCR field-strips quickly, with no small parts. It cannot be reassembled incorrectly.

Gas-adjustability means the XCR can be set to run dependably with both sub-sonic and supersonic ammunition. I personally have little interest in sub-sonic. But, when that is all I can get, I still have a rifle that will run it, even without a suppressor can!

Like the Kalashnikov, the XCR has a spike-ejector, so ejected cases are flung well away from your position. By contrast, the Stoner-style plunger-ejector does not fling ejected cases nearly as far.

My XCR-L (stock folded), along with several extra magazines, fits conveniently in Blackhawk’s wonderful “Skateboard Case.” Perfect for low-profile transport. The Skateboard Case is a little too short for most M4s, but it is just right for the XCR-L. Nice combination! See it at:http://tiny.cc/iicqyx

In 300Blk, the XCR-L in light, compact, slick, slim, reliable, durable, and fast. Yet, it is a legitimate 250m rifle with excellent penetration. It makes an ideal patrol rifle, particularly in rural areas where range and penetration are needed. It is also a comforting travel companion for the modern American Operator, as noted above.

Recommended!

I’ve long admired Alex Robinson, whom I rank with Stoner, Garand, and Kalashnikov. He had the vision and guts to design and manufacture a modern military rifle in America. His XCR Rifle, and his company and manufacturing methods that produce it, are a current American success story, and he deserves much credit.

I am honored that he counts me among his friends!

Go to http://xcr.robarm.com/

/John

About John Farnam & Defense Training International, Inc
As a defensive weapons and tactics instructor John Farnam will urge you, based on your own beliefs, to make up your mind in advance as to what you would do when faced with an imminent and unlawful lethal threat. You should, of course, also decide what preparations you should make in advance, if any. Defense Training International wants to make sure that their students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or inactions.

It is our duty to make you aware of certain unpleasant physical realities intrinsic to the Planet Earth. Mr Farnam is happy to be your counselor and advisor. Visit: www.defense-training.com

By Mike Searson

USA – -(Ammoland.com)- Sig Sauer’s first pistol design was the now legendary P210, a single stack 9mm pistol that served the Swiss Army for years but was at a price point many times higher than its contemporaries.

In order to compete in the marketplace for a quality duty sidearm in 1975 SIG redesigned the pistol and came out with the Sig Sauer P220 Pistol.

Forty years later, the P220 still sets the standard by which other pistols chambered in 45 ACP are judged.

Superficially the P220 looks much like a typical Browning designed semiautomatic pistol. Operation is via a link less barrel, but without the locking lugs. Rather, the P220 relies upon an enlarged breech block to keep the slide and barrel together during the firing sequence.

The P220 is typically configured as a double action / single action pistol and makes use of a de-cocker to lower the hammer for safe carry and uses no external safeties. For law enforcement and military officers who are concerned about accidentally holstering a pistol with a cocked hammer there is a double action only version sold by SIG known as the DAK variant (Double Action Kellerman).

Other versions of the P220 include the P220R which incorporates an accessory rail on the dust cover in order to attach lights and lasers.

Our test pistol is an older Two-tone version with an electro-less nickel slide and controls (hammer, de-cocking lever, slide stop, take down lever and trigger) and black frame accented by silver colored grip screws.

The Good

The pistol fits the author’s hand extremely well and imparts a feeling of confidence and stability. It feels slightly larger than a Colt 1911 and not quite as large as a Browning Hi-Power or Beretta 92 pistol.

Sig’s de-cocking lever makes this an extremely safe pistol to carry. There is no worry for a new shooter about carrying a cocked and locked 45 with a relatively light single action trigger.

As far as accuracy goes, the P220 is more accurate than 90% of the shooters who point one down range.

The Bad

Perhaps the major drawback to the Sig P220 is that the pistol is large and heavy and best suited for home defense or open carry in a duty holster. With the right holster and clothing it could work for concealed carry, but there are infinitely better options than a full sized all steel pistol for this role.

The first round with a double action pull that is heavier than the subsequent single action pulls can take some getting used to for users of the Glock or even 1911 where each squeeze of the trigger is consistent. Some agencies and individual shooters have addressed this by going the DAK route, but this is still considered to be too heavy for some shooters to be consistently accurate and is really a holdover from the days of transition from revolvers to semiautomatic pistols.

A common complaint about most pistols from Sig’s classic “P-series” is the relatively high bore access. Typically this is a training or “failure to adapt issue”. Oftentimes a shooter new to the P220 wil find it shoots too high or recoil feels different from what they are used to. Fortunately this is a problem that goes away the longer the shooter is behind the trigger of the firearm in question.

The Reality

Sig’s P220 is simply a handgun that “wants to be shot”. The 45 ACP round leaves a nice crisp hole in the target that is easy to see at long distance and felt recoil is noticeably mild when compared to other pistols chambered in 45 ACP.

We consistently shoot “one-hole groups” at 25 and 50 yards respectively and consider the P220 to be one of the best duty pistols ever made.

The pistol is ideal for home defense, IDPA competition, open carry and as a general use outdoor pistol if not for concealed carry. The one drawback here is the single stack magazine and its low capacity, but that can be a benefit to shooters who live in states that impose unconstitutional linits on standard capacity magazines. [screw you NJ state]

Pricing on a new Sig P220 may seem high, but that is the price of quality. As Sig is constantly improving their product line, used models often show up at a discount as well as law enforcement trade in models.

Some shooters are hesitant to pick up a preowned handgun, but Sig has a successful program, the SIG Service Package, that is perfect in this regard. They take the pistol, professionally clean it, replace the springs and other small parts and even install a set of night sights for a little over $100. Other modifications and improvements can be made at the factory for additional costs, too. Contact the SIG SAUER Customer Service Dept. for further information and shipping instructions: Phone: (603) 418-8102

For 2015 Sig has released three models in the powerful 10mm cartridge which should make an interesting pistol for hog hunting. Check out this great video review below by Jeff Quinn at GunBlast.com.

About Mike Searson

Mike Searson’s career as a shooter began as a Marine Rifleman at age 17. He has worked in the firearms industry his entire adult life as a Gunsmith, Ballistician, Consultant, Salesman, Author and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1989.

Mike has written over 2000 articles for a number of magazines, websites and newsletters including Blade, RECOIL, OFF-GRID, Tactical Officer, SWAT, Tactical World, Gun Digest, Examiner.com and the US Concealed Carry Association as well as AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.

• Home page: www.mikesearson.com
• FB: www.facebook.com/mike.searson
• TWITTER: www.twitter.com/mikesearson

Sig Sauer P220 Pistol Owner Manual Follows:

SIG Sauer P220, P224, P226, P227, P229, and P239 Pistol Owners Manual

SIG Sauer P220, P224, P226, P227, P229, and P239 Pistol Owners Manual

By Norman Gray, POMA Member
The Varmints never hear it coming!

Arizona –-(Ammoland.com)- Many summers ago as a young boy, social networking simply meant getting in the family car, driving across country and ending up at the family picnic that was held each summer.

But what made it all worthwhile was watching my two uncle’s debate for what seemed like hours on the speed of the bullets fired from their 22-250 Remington and 220 Swift rifles.

Knowing what I know now, I’m thinking it would have ended everyone’s misery sooner if they had just ran them through a ballistic chronograph.

But then again, I wouldn’t have these fond childhood memories to speak of and it was those events and others like them that incited my lifelong love of firearms.

Today those arguments are a moot point since I can just fire ten rounds and lay to rest those nagging questions about cartridge velocities. In this writer’s humble opinion it already been resolved by the many sportsman who use the 22-250 Remington in the field every day.

You have only to go to your local gun shop or sporting goods store and examine the shelves to see what caliber dominates the shelves.

Sure there are new varmint calibers flooding the market every year, but the 22-250 Remington still holds its own. That’s simply because of the vast choices of manufactured ammo and its re-loading flexibility with the many types of bullets and powders on the market.

The 22-250 Remington has an interesting past that dates back to 1915 and its parent cartridge the 250-3000 Savage. Unfortunately there has also developed a blur in history about the original date of origin of the first 22-250 cartridge. Harvey Donaldson, Grosvenor Wotkyns, J.E. Gebby, J.B. Smith and John Sweany all worked on versions of the 22-250. J.B. Gebby and J.B. Smith are commonly credited with present configuration in 1937. What made it confusing was the different versions of the 22-250 that existed then, Gebby’s version was named the .22 Varminter and he held a copyright on that name. The Wotkyns cartridge was the forerunner to the 220 Swift and Winchester used the 6mm Lee Navy case rather than the 250 Savage for their version.

So we may never know who is wholly responsible for the 22-250 Remington cartridge, but I expect to see it for many more years to come.

In the end, time washed out most others, but firearms manufacturers know the 22-250 sells rifles. In fact it’s so popular that all American, English and European firearms manufacturers have at least one model chambered in the 22-250 Remington in their inventory.

Of course the cartridge is nothing without a delivery system to send it on its way and Mossberg’s 4×4 Rifle does this job quite well.

Now I have always been a fan of beautiful wood stocks and gun metal, so it was only natural that the laminate stock and marinecoat configuration of the Mossberg 4×4 caught my eye. Polymer and stainless have their place, especially in rough and wet environments, but these two esthetic features combined with the Hawke Optics matt black Sidewinder 30 SF 8-32×56 SR Pro ( tiny.cc/ykr0yx ) made for a work of art you can hunt with. But not to worry, if you are a fan of the conventional walnut or black synthetic stocks and matt blue finish, they have that too.

My sample 4×4 starts with a 24” brushed nickel fluted barrel and free floats it in their laminate stock. This barrel has a 1:14 inch twist rate for stabilizing bullets from 50 grains and up and Mossberg also offers you the choice of a 1:10 and 1:9.5 twist. The purpose of the fluting is to lighten the barrels weight slightly and to aid in cooling during extended firing sessions. The muzzle crown is recessed to give your rifle the most protection possible in the field, so if dropped on the muzzle it will help protect your accuracy.

The stocks forend has five vent holes strategically placed on both sides to aid in barrel cooling as well as checkering for a positive grip with or without gloves.

The stock is very ergonomically cut to feel good in your hands and the rear of the stock has a cheek rest built in to raise your head for use with optics. It is completed with a well fitted recoil pad and two black sling studs.

The 4×4’s action is right handed and controls are simple and easy to reach with the shooting hand. We start with Mossberg’s LBA (Lighting Bolt Action) trigger system which allows the shooter to adjust the trigger pull from 2 to 7 pounds. This is a great feature for long distance shooting and allows you to focus on the target not the trigger pull. The trigger is factory set to two pounds and is crisp and short and greatly enhances the shooters experience in the field or range. The trigger guard is generous enough for a gloved hand to operate the trigger. At the rear of the bolt on the right side is the safety lever, a small red dot is exposed when the lever is forward indicating FIRE and to the rear it is covered indicating SAFE.  The left side is where the bolt release lever is located and is protected from accidental release by a shield that extends off the rear of the bolt.

To release the bolt, drop the magazine and clear the rifle of any live ammunition and while retracting the bolt press the bolt release lever and remove the bolt, and to replace it just reverse the operation. Also on the rear of the bolt is a cocking indicator, when the round flat end of the striker is flush with the end of the bolt it’s cocked and when it is recessed it’s un-cocked. The top of the receiver is drilled and tapped to accept weaver style mounts and rings and does not come with any factory sights. At the bottom of the rifle in front of the detachable 5 round magazine is the magazine release lever, simply pull forward and the magazine will drop free. With one round in the chamber the total capacity is 5+1 rounds were allowed by law.

Hawkes Sidewinder 30 SF 8-32×56 SR Pro

With a varmint rifle capable of shooting a 55 grain bullet almost 4000 feet per second out to ranges of 200 yards and beyond, great optics are not necessary there mandatory. I learned early about the value of a high quality optics in Sniper School and when varmint shooting this is where great glass proves its worth. I worked with Hawke Optics to find the perfect long distance scope that would allow me to wring out the full potential of the 22-250 cartridge.  I choose their new Sidewinder 30 SF 8-32×56 SR Pro for many reasons but my top five were, magnification, illuminated reticle, 4” side wheel for parallax adjustment, adjustable sniper style turrets and the Ballistic Recital Calculator software.

There are so many great features built into Hawkes Sidewinder 30 SF 8-32×56 SR Pro but using it with the Mossberg 4×4 for varmint hunting, magnification was my first concern. 8x to 32x magnification gives you all the power you will ever need at whatever range you feel comfortable engaging your target. And with their clear 30mm body and high quality optical system with Fully Multi-Coated glass, you get a sharp, bright and high resolution viewing in all light conditions. The lens configurations offers optimum performance in low light conditions and gives excellent range finding properties. The illuminated reticle offers five red and five green setting that provide you with dawn to dusk illumination to help place that bullet on target.

The Sidewinder features a large side focusing wheel designed to parallax from 10 yds. to infinity and is easy to adjust in the field. The easy to read turrets allow for fast windage and elevation adjustments. After you zero the scope to your favorite load you can return the turrets to zero by simply loosening the hex screw and pulling up on the turrets, turning to zero and push down and re-tighten the hex screw with the provided Allen wrench. As an added feature Hawke provides free to their customers the BRC or Ballistic Reticle Calculator. Simple download to your laptop, tablet or smartphone and enter your variables and apply them to your targets. The BRC accommodates 18 different Hawke reticles, the Sidewinder 30 SF 8-32×56 SR Pro reticles being one of them. The scope retails for $549.99 and you can purchase optional accessories such as flip up covers and a honey comb sunshade.

Shooting the Mossberg 4×4 Rifle

Shooting the Mossberg 4×4 was very pleasant as the 22-250 is not a hard recoiling cartridge. The rifles combined weight with the Hawke Sidewinder 30 SF 8-32×56 SR Pro and five rounds of ammunition comes in at 10.5 lbs. Since most varmint hunting is done from a stationary position the weight makes the rifle more stable for longer distance shots.

While shooting at the range I often found someone was watching me shoot my groups. The first thing they usually said was how beautiful a setup it was and jumped at the chance to shoot it when I offered.

I never experienced a single ammunition related stoppage or rifle malfunction during the testing and I fired over 100 rounds thru the Mossberg 4×4 without cleaning it. Hawke’s optics also performed as expected and made hitting steel varmint targets out to 200 yards a breeze.

Overall I was very pleased with fit and finish. Mossberg spiral cut the bolt, also known as bolt flutes and this offers a very nice esthetic touch to the rifle. As time rolled on the bolt became more fluid and smoothed out nicely, something I can imagine will get better with age and use. As I said earlier I appreciate a great trigger pull and at two pounds it makes each shot better than the last.

This is a rifle that you can not only be proud to own, but with proper care will serve your shooting and hunting needs for many years. And you need not worry about the humble 22-250 Remington going the way of the dodo.

RCBS X Die Full Length Die Set

Something I feel is worth honorable mention in conjunction with this article and providing you shoot a lot of rifles cartridges and hate trimming them because it slows down the re-loading process, this may be for you. This is taken from the RCBS website and helps describe the process: Trim a bottleneck case once—and never trim again with the RCBS X Die Full Length Die Set ( http://goo.gl/d988hA ), which includes an X Die Sizer and Standard Seater Die. The sizer features a specially designed mandrel with an expander ball and decapping pin attached. The patented design eliminates the need for repeated trimming after an initial trim of .020 inch off the maximum length to standardize the case.

The X Die doesn’t shorten the length of the case: The mandrel reduces the growth caused by the case mouth contacting the mandrel during sizing. Because of an extremely close tolerance between the mandrel and die neck wall, the neck wall of the case does not thicken as the case length is pushed back. Cases repeatedly sized in the X-Die will initially grow a few thousandths of an inch, and then stabilize below the maximum case length with no discernible loss of accuracy or case life. Note: Reloaders who already own a regular set of dies for the chosen caliber need only order the X Die Full Length Sizer.

ACCURACY RESULTS | FACTORY LOADS | 22-250 REMINGTON

MANUFACTURER:  WEIGHT/BULLET TYPE:  VELOCITY:  SD:  GROUP @ 100 Yds.

• American Eagle            50 Gr. JHP        3756        18    1.25”
• Barnes VOR-TX            50 Gr. FB        3845        20    1.10”
• DoubleTap            55 Gr. Nosler BT    3874        32    2.11”
• Hornady            55 Gr. V-MAX        3143        32    1.13”

Notes: Accuracy results are from three – three shot groups at 100 yds. from a Caldwell Matrix rest. Velocities figures are from 10 shots fired through a CED M2 chronograph placed 15 feet from the muzzle. Abbreviations: JHP: Jacketed Hollow Point, BT: Ballistic Tip, FB: Flat

MOSSBERG 4X4: 22-250 REMINGTON   

• TYPE: Bolt Action
• CALIBER: 22-250 Remington (Tested) Six Long-Action Calibers from .25-06 Rem. to .338 Win. Mag.; Four Short-Action Calibers from .22-250 Rem. to .308 Win.; and Three Short Magnum Calibers: .270 WSM, 7mm WSM and .300 WSM.
• CAPACITY: Five round magazine
• BARREL: 24” fluted
• TWIST: 1:14
• OVERALL LENGTH: 46”
• WEIGHT: 7.5 lbs.
• FINISH: Marinecote
• SIGHTS: None provided, accepts Weaver style base and rings
• SCOPE: None
• TRIGGER: LBA Lightning Bolt Action Adjustable Trigger
• TRIGGER PULL: 3 lbs.
• SAFETY: Manuel
• STOCK: Laminate classic style
• LENGTH OF PULL: 13.25
• PRICE: $693.00

MANUFACTURER: O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc. 7 Grasso Ave. North Haven, CT 06473 Telephone: (203) 230-5300 (8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. E.S.T.) Fax: (203) 230-5420 For Service Inquiries: 800-363-3555 .

SOURCES:

• O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc.        www.mossberg.com
• American Eagle                www.federalpremium.com
• Barnes Bullets                www.barnesbullets.com
• DoubleTap Ammunition            www.doubletapammo.net
• Hawke Optics                www.hawkeoptics.com
• Hornady                www.hornady.com
• RCBS                    www.rcbs.com
• Mossberg 4X4 Rifle Manual PDF: Mossberg 4×4-Bolt-Action-Centerfire-Rifle Manual

About Norman Gray

Norman Gray has been involved in the shooting sports for well over 30 years. He has served in both active duty and reserve component of the United States Army as an Infantryman and was honorably discharged at the end of his service. Moving to Arizona, he began assisting his long time friend and mentor Bob Shell, an accomplished writer and author in his own right. Norman is freelance contributor with Handguns Magazine, Canadian Firearms Journal and Manzano Valley Outdoors. He is also a member of (POMA) The Professional Outdoor Media Association, the (NSSF) National Shooting Sports Foundation and a Life Member of the (NRA) National Rifle Association. Visit: http://www.unleaded-ink.blogspot.com/

Geneseo, IL – (AmmoLand) The threaded barrel is a game-changer for suppressor fans.

I’m no expert when it comes to suppressors, although I did help select 100 suppressors for the police department patrol rifle program for which I instruct. I also have a few of them for my own rifles.

They are a ton of fun to shoot. And it has to be said – there’s something great about being on the range and not having to wear ear protection.

(Read the full article on Springfield-Armory.com)

Gut Reaction

I recently had the opportunity to shoot the new XD(M) 4.5″ threaded barrel pistol in .45 and 9mm. It was only my second time shooting a pistol with a suppressor installed, and my verdict?

Total BLAST. And now I have to add at least one pistol suppressor to my currently modest collection of suppressors.

First thing’s first – it’s in FDE (Flat Dark Earth), which is always cool. The only difference between the threaded-barrel pistols and previous models is the slightly longer barrel. But that slight change makes a big difference – it provides the threading you need to install a suppressor. And if suppressors aren’t your thing, the barrel has a thread protector for when you’re shooting suppressor-free. Plus, its taller sights allow you to see your sights even when the suppressor is installed.

Breaking it Down

Performance

While I liked how both the .45 and 9mm felt and shot with the suppressor, I really preferred the .45 – it seemed to tame the recoil a bit and made for a very soft shooting platform. Function was flawless and the muzzle blast was quiet – I tested it out with no ear protection and the sound was not at all irritating.

(You’ll definitely never catch me suggesting anyone not wear ear or eye protection while shooting – in this case, it was simply to hear how loud the gunfire would be.)

With the right loads, it’s possible to fire without hearing pain or damage. Due to the reduced recoil and diminished muzzle blast, most people actually shoot silenced pistols better than their unmuffled counterparts.

And thankfully, accuracy wasn’t affected at all – not that I performed any formal accuracy testing. But when shooting targets at 15 yards with my buddy Rob heckling me, I couldn’t miss – which is not always the case with me!

Installation

It probably goes without saying, but installing the suppressor was very easy. It was as simple as threading it on the muzzle and tightening by hand. I gave it all I had when tightening and didn’t have any issues with it loosening while firing.

And unlike rifle suppressors, it did not become too hot to touch after a few rounds. However, after a magazine or two, it got a bit hot.  Be sure to use gloves to remove it and watch where you’re setting your pistol down to avoid possibly damaging the surface.

At one time, the trickest and most expensive thing you could do to your combat / competition pistol was installing an extended barrel. With the new XD(M)^® model, it’s built in for added velocity and increased accuracy.

Buying

Sales and popularity of suppressors are growing rapidly. New models that are more affordable than before are showing up on the market all the time. And, while it used to be a bothersome and expensive process to acquire a suppressor, it really isn’t that bad anymore. States that allow their sale and ownership have seen huge increases in legal, civilian transfers of suppressors.

When shopping for a pistol suppressor, it’s a good idea to make sure you choose one with a built-in recoil booster. Most will have one, but it’s wise to ask before buying.

Verdict

When I was first introduced to suppressors years ago, I remember asking myself, “Why?” But having experienced them on rifles and now pistols, I’m more in the “Why not?” camp. They take the loud, explosive-like report of the firearm to a more enjoyable noise level, are a ton of fun to shoot and can be used on different, caliber-compatible guns.

Between the longer barrel and taller sights, the XD(M) Threaded Barrel pistols perform on par with all the guns in the XD(M) line. You get the same great accuracy, reliability and durability you’d have with any XD(M) model.

So what’s not to like?

More From Springfield Armory

• Check out the XD(M) Full Size 4.5″ .45ACP Threaded Barrel Pistol
• Shooting Stance – 7 Key Components Of The Upper Triangle
• 6 Tips To Getting A Better Grip On Your Gun

By Marc Cammack

Bangor, Maine – -(Ammoland.com)- The Mosin Nagant rifle today is well known to American shooters.

It is often thought of as being the rifle used by the Red Army during World War Two.

There is also the perception, among some American shooters, that the Mosin Nagant is a cheap inaccurate rifle. However the rifle was also used by Finland in a great number of variations. The Finns improved the Mosin design in many ways and made it shoot much better than the standard Russian Mosins.

In this article we will take a look at three of the most commonly encountered Finnish Mosin Nagant variations the M27, M28/30, and M39.

Following a civil war and the Finnish independence of December 1917, the new Finnish government would set about rearming. Many Mosin Nagants in their inventory were in bad shape, and Finland needed to setup production of new barrels for their existing receivers. This is important to note that Finland never made their own receivers and recycled existing receivers.

The Finnish had a habit of grinding off Russian symbols on their weapons since most were built from captured rifles. The best way to determine the receiver maker is by looking at the tang stamp. This requires that you take apart the rifle but it is easily done on all Mosin Nagants.

The early Finn Mosins would have barrels made in Switzerland and Germany.

Mosin Nagant M27 Rifle

The regular Finnish Army would get a new rifle in 1927 that was a break from the old M91 rifles.

This rifle’s barrel would be produced by Tikka and state rifle factory Valtion Kivääritehdas. (VKT) This rifle was designated the M27 and would be shorter than the older M91 rifles.

The trigger was also improved over the older Russian rifles, and the rifle retained the same type of sights as the M91.

The M27 would see much use both in the Winter War of 1939-1940 and the Continuation War of 1941-1944. The rifle remained in production until 1940.

Mosin Nagant M28/30 Rifle

The Finnish Civil Guard had several types of rifles starting with M24, largely an upgraded M91. Later they adopted a design of their own called the M28. The M28 would be improved upon with new sights and the new rifle would be called the M28/30. The M28/30 was made by Sako, and shot well in competitions. The Mosin Nagant M28/30 Rifle would also be used heavily during the Winter War of 1939. In total the M28/30 Rifle was produced from 1933 until 1940.

Mosin Nagant M39 Rifle

The most famous and widely produced of all Finnish Mosin Nagants was the M39. The M39 represented an attempt at standardization between the Civil Guard and the regular army. It used the same rear sight as the M28/30, and also featured a pistol gripped stock.

A few early guns made by Sako did have a straight stock however. Very few M39’s were made for the Winter War of 1939, but many were produced and used during the Continuation War of 1941-1944. During this period they were made by Sako, and VKT. Post war the M39 continued in Finnish service with some barrels being made into the 1970’s.

Today Finnish Mosin Nagants are highly sought after by collectors, and they come in many different variants.

The Finnish line of Mosins represent a great improvement in fit, finish and accuracy over the standard Russian rifles. If you find an example of a Finnish Mosin I highly recommend picking it up or trying it out, as they are great rifles.

About Marc Cammack
Marc Cammack has been collecting firearms since he was 14 years old.

His interests are primarily military surplus firearms of the late 19th into the 1950’s. He has studied these in depth, and currently volunteers at two local museums providing them with accurate information about their firearms.

He is a graduate of the University of Maine with a bachelor’s degree in history. He has studied modern European and American history since the age of 9, and has been shooting since the age of 11. He currently resides just outside of Bangor, Maine.

by Dr. Jim and Mary Clary

Los Lunas, NM -(AmmoLand.com)- The original version of the Optima was introduced back in 2002 and immediately took the muzzleloader world by storm.

It was the first break-action that was affordable. Until that time T/C pretty much had a “lock” on the break-action market, but they were priced beyond the budget of most muzzleloader shooters. With the entry of the Optima into the market place, everything changed. Muzzleloader shooters could now afford a break-action gun that was reliable and did not break the bank.

It wasn’t long before other companies “jumped” into the market with break-action guns, but CVA had such a lead that in the twelve year period from 2002 to 2014, despite very intense competition, they sold more muzzleloaders than any other brand in the country.

I loved the original Optima, although I did find myself hoping that they would change the breeching lever from in front of the trigger guard to the rear. They must have been listening, because at the 2013 SHOT Show, CVA introduced the Optima V2 (version 2). It had everything that a hunter could ask for. It incorporated the trigger guard breeching system, trigger design and internal parts of CVA’s top of the line Accura. It did cost a bit more, but not when compared to its competitors.

I have hunted with the CVA Optima V2 Rifle, topped with Toby Bridges’ Leatherwood/ Hi-Lux TB-ML 3-9X40 scope, for three years and it has never let me down. I was a very happy camper and had no issue with the fact that my bride preferred her Accura V2. Our discussions as to which was the better gun were routine on every hunting trip. However, she was never able to convince me to change my mind.

That was until I shot her new Accura MR with its black nitride barrel. Now, that is a fantastic gun. I found myself thinking that maybe I should change to the Accura MR.

Well, the folks at CVA must have recognized that they had a winner with the black nitride barrel because at the 2015 SHOT Show, they introduced the new Optima V2 with a black nitride barrel. I didn’t have to change after all, I simply traded my original Optima V2 for the new CVA Optima V2 Black Nitride Rifle.

Testing the CVA Optima V2 Black Nitride Rifle

The following are the results of our testing with the black nitride Optima V2 over a two month period. With all of the bullet/powder combinations below, we were able to shoot three and four shot groups from 3/4″ to 1″ at 100 yards, more than adequate for all hunting conditions. On some days, when our shoulders were especially sore and we were not holding as steady, the groups opened up to 1 1/4″ to 1 1/2″, still adequate for harvesting your game.

Your muzzle velocities will vary depending on how you compress the load, air temperature and elevation, etc. The following values, recorded by our Caldwell Chronograph ( tiny.cc/5uw1zx )  at an elevation of 5,232′, are posted to give the reader an idea of the approximate velocities to expect.

Velocities with 100 gr. Blackhorn 209

• CVA AeroLite 300 gr. – Mean MV 1,819 f.p.s. / 2,204 f.p.e.
• CVA AeroLite 250 gr. – Mean MV 1,977 f.p.s. / 2,170 f.p.e.
• Harvester Scorpion PT Gold 300 gr. – Mean MV 1,907 f.p.s. / 2,422 f.p.e.
• Harvester Scorpion PT Gold 260 gr. – Mean MV 1,987 f.p.s. / 2,279 f.p.e.

Velocities with 2 IMR White Hots pellets

• CVA AeroLite 300 gr. – Mean MV 1,650 f.p.s. / 1,813 f.p.e.
• CVA AeroLite 250 gr. – Mean MV 1,780 f.p.s. / 1,758 f.p.e.
• Harvester Scorpion PT Gold 300 gr. – Mean MV 1,625 f.p.s. / 1,759 f.p.e.
• Harvester Scorpion PT Gold 260 gr. – Mean MV 1,720 f.p.s. / 1,708 f.p.e.

The composite picture that follows clearly illustrates the accuracy of the Optima V2 with the new black nitride barrel with both CVA Aerolite and Harvester Scorpion PT Gold bullets.

By now, you are probably wondering why the black nitride barrel is so special.

Quoting from the owner’s manual: “The Bergara barrel has been treated with a process known as ‘Salt Bath Ferritic Nitrocarburizing’. This process is widely used in modern military weapons. This steel treatment hardens the outer layers of the steel, substantially increasing corrosion resistance, wear resistance and lubricity.”

From personal experience with the CVA Accura MR Black Nitride rifle, the nitride process eliminates the need for swabbing while you are hunting and need to reload for a second shot.

Nitride treated barrel surfaces will not chip, peel or scratch like many painted-on exterior finishes. Most importantly the process also protects the inside of the barrel, forming a barrier in the bore that is impenetrable to rust. Any surface rust that does develop inside the barrel will wipe away easily with a bore swab.

In fact, CVA Nitride barrels are so tough that they are guaranteed for life against rust pitting. If the barrel ever develops permanent damage due to corrosion, just return it and CVA will replace it FREE.

The specifications for the Optima V2 Black Nitride are:

• .50 caliber
• 416 Stainless Steel, Fluted, 26″ Nitride Barrel with 1:28″ Twist Rifling
• Bullet Guiding Muzzle – insures level and easy of loading bullets
• Trigger-guard actuated breeching lever – provides a positive lock/unlock of action
• 100% Ambidextrous Realtree Xtra Green stock
• Solid Aluminum Palmsaver ramrod – the cap makes field loading easy
• DuraSight Integral Scope Mount or DuraSight Fiber Optic Sights
• QRBP -Quick Release Breech Plug – finger removable, no tool required
• Reversible Hammer Spur – great for lefties like Jim
• “Neutral center-of-gravity” trigger – reduces the likelihood of an unintended discharge
• Trigger pull set at: 2 1/2 lbs – crisp with no creep
• CrushZone Recoil Pad
• 41″ Overall length
• 6.65 lbs.Total Weight
• 14″ Length of Pull
• Lifetime Warranty

With a 2015 MSRP of $416 equipped with the DuraSight Fiber Optic Sights or $425 with DuraSight Scope Mounts, this new Optima V2 may well be the best muzzleloader buy on the market today.

James R. Clary, Ph.D.
Contributing Editor, Guns & Shooting Online
Field Editor, Universal Hunter Magazine
Associate Editor, N.A. Muzzleloader Hunting Assoc.

Mary H. Clary, B.S., R.N.
Women’s Editor, Guns & Shooting Online
Associate Editor, N.A. Muzzleloader Hunting Assoc.
Field Editor, Universal Hunter Magazine

By Dr. Jim & Mary Clary

Los Lunas, NM -(AmmoLand.com)- CVA went all in with the Accura MR Black Nitride, deciding to base it on their premium Accura V2 rifle with its Bergara Barrel. And why not?

If you already have a top selling, full featured rifle, it just makes sense to add a bit more to make it even better. The black nitride process has greater wear, corrosion resistance and lubricity when compared to blued carbon steel or untreated stainless steel. The lubricity aspect is what appealed to us, given the potential for an increase in muzzle velocities and greater ease in reloading for second or third shots.

For those not familiar with black nitride metal treatments (the technical description of the process is salt bath ferritic nitrocarburizing), they are used in many industries to significantly harden the outer layers of steel parts to make them more durable and more corrosion resistant. In fact, when used for rifle barrels, it is more corrosion resistant than chrome lining. The same black nitride process is used by several automobile manufacturers to harden the moving parts in their engines, rings, pistons, etc. Because muzzleloaders are susceptible to corrosion, this treatment goes a long way in substantially reducing the possibility that your gun will be ruined by corrosion.

Features and Specifications:

• 416 Stainless Steel 25 inch Fluted Nitride-treated Bergara Barrel with 1:28 inch Twist Rifling
• Bullet Guiding Muzzle
• QRBP – Quick Release Breech Plug
• DuraSight DEAD-ON One-Piece Scope Mount
• Ambidextrous Realtree MAX-1 Composite Stock with rubber grip panels
• CrushZone Recoil Pad
• Quake Claw Sling
• Solid Aluminum PalmSaver Ramrod
• Adjustable Neutral Center of Gravity Trigger
• Trigger Guard Actuated Breeching Action
• Reversible Cocking Spur
• Drilled and Tapped for Scope Mounts
• 40 inch Overall Length
• 6.35 pounds Total Weight
• 14.5 inch Length of Pull
• Lifetime Warranty
• 2015 MSRP : $584

Before we get into how this rifle shoots, we would like to talk about the Bullet Guiding Muzzle. Having shot CVA’s on our last hunt, we kind of took for granted its benefit: i.e., no canting or deformation of the bullet as you load it into the barrel prior to using the ramrod. However, on the range earlier this month we had the opportunity to load and fire several other brands of muzzleloaders (they shall remain nameless except in personal communications). With the sole exception of the Savage 10ML II, which is no longer made, all of the others required us to literally pound the bullet starter to get a second and third round loaded.

Not only was it hard on the hands and a pain in the butt, but it required far too much time for there being any possibility of an effective second shot. Not so with the Bullet Guiding Muzzle, on our Prickly Pear hunt, we both reloaded in plenty of time for a second shot (which wasn’t needed). In our tests on the range with the Accura MR, we’ve loaded and fired ten rounds, without swabbing and without any difficulty. You can’t appreciate the bullet guiding muzzle until you’ve had it and then don’t have it.

Another feature we like on the Accura MR is the DuraSight One-Piece Rail Base/Ring System.

Again, it is something that we took for granted as being a really cool extra benefit on CVA rifles. The DuraSight mount makes it very easy to mount a scope and is inherently more stable than standard mounts. The reason being is that there are fewer screws involved that can come loose over time. It just makes sense… a one-piece base mount with two top rings versus a system with two bases, two ring bases and two tops…… three to six. No contest on that point.

If you get the idea that we are really impressed with this gun, you are right. All that remains is to see if it shoots like it handles. The trigger pull on the Accura MR was 3 lbs out of the box, very crisp and without creep.

Here are the loading components that were used to test the .50 caliber CVA Accura MR rifle.

We adjusted it down to 2 lbs to match our target rifles. CVA should be commended for not installing a “lawyer’s trigger” on their rifle. With a target rifles’ trigger pull, it was easy to shoot accurate groups.

During this testing, we fired multiple three 3-shot groups (and a couple of 4-shot groups) at 100 yards with each bullet listed below, letting the barrel cool between shoots. In our first tests we used two IMR White Hots pellets and standard Winchester 209 shotgun primers. We used a Sinclair tripod front rest and rear bag for stability to get the greatest possible accuracy from our testing. With the black nitride treated barrel, we did not have to swab between shots. However, we did clean the barrel between each group.

Accuracy With 2-50 grain IMR White Hots Pellets

• Harvester Scorpion PT Gold 300 Grain: Smallest Group 1 1/4″ – Largest Group 1 1/2″
• Harvester Scorpion PT Gold 260 Grain: Smallest Group 3/4″ – Largest Group 1 1/8″
• CVA AeroLite 250 Grain: Smallest Group 1.0″ – Largest Group 1 1/4″
• Hornady SST* 250 Grain: Smallest Group 7/8″ – Largest Group 1 1/4″

*Note: The bullet shot was the Traditions packaged version of the Hornady SST, sold as the “SMACKDOWN SST”, with a yellow polymer tip.

We repeated our tests with two Hodgdon Triple7 pellets and standard Winchester 209 shotgun primers. The results were very similar. Once again, with the black nitride treated barrel, we did not have to swab between shots, only cleaning the barrel between each group.

Accuracy With 2-50 grain Hodgdon Triple7 Pellets

• Harvester Scorpion PT Gold 300 Grain: Smallest Group 1 1/2″ – Largest Group 1 5/8″
• Harvester Scorpion PT Gold 260 Grain: Smallest Group 7/8″ – Largest Group 1 1/8″
• CVA AeroLite 250 Grain: Smallest Group 1 1/8″ – Largest Group 1 3/8″
• Hornady SST* 250 Grain: Smallest Group 1.0″ – Largest Group 1 1/4″

*Note: The bullet shot was the Traditions packaged version of the Hornady SST, sold as the “SMACKDOWN SST”, with a yellow polymer tip.

With its black nitride Bergara barrel, the Accura MR leaves nothing to be desired. Even if you already have a favorite muzzleloader, you should consider buying this one. You won’t regret it.

James R. Clary, Ph.D.
Contributing Editor, Guns & Shooting Online
Field Editor, Universal Hunter Magazine
Associate Editor, N.A. Muzzleloader Hunting Assoc.

Mary H. Clary, B.S., R.N.
Women’s Editor, Guns & Shooting Online
Associate Editor, N.A. Muzzleloader Hunting Assoc.
Field Editor, Universal Hunter Magazine

(Read the full article on Springfield-Armory.com)

Geneseo, IL – -(Ammoland.com)- What do you think of when you hear the term “midsize?”

My personal definition? It’s larger than the smallest and smaller than the largest. Yeah, I know it’s a smarty-pants answer. But it is a good way to define it.

Midsize pistols are among the most popular in the handgun market because they offer a greater range of versatility than either full-size or subcompacts. But since there are so many midsize pistols from which to choose, you have to base your purchase decision on what you want to use your pistol for.

To illustrate this point, let me show you how I evaluate two of Springfield Armory’s flagship midsize pistols in a head-to-head comparison. 

The two pistols that I’ll compare are the 1911 Range Officer (RO) Champion and the XD-S 4″ pistol.

Here are the major considerations I will use to evaluate these models. They may differ from yours:

1. Performance in a competition environment: I don’t care if it is concealable or light or easy to carry. I don’t care if it is inexpensive or easy to operate. I just want it to allow me to achieve my highest score possible.
2. Versatility: This may be the most important factor for my midsize pistol. Namely, “do it all.” I want a gun with high performance but is still light and small enough to carry, to be both concealable and still fun to fire hundreds of rounds through on a range day.
3. Concealability: At the opposite end of the competition spectrum, its only purpose is to be the easiest thing I can carry discreetly. I will gladly give up a little shootability to be able to have it when I need it.

Between these two very different formats of midsize guns, it’s important to remember that each has its own strengths. To help figure out which might be the best, I evaluated each pistol with the following criteria:

1. Intended purpose – Ease of use, comfort, versatility, etc.
   
2. Rating – Scored 1-10 on each intended use and averaged the ratings.
3. Category – I broke their ratings into two categories – measurable specifications and subjective preferences.
   

Here are the specific parameters by which I will judge:

1. Size and weight based on the spec sheets: When it comes to concealment and carry, smaller is better; bigger is usually better for everything else.
2. Outright performance based on speed and accuracy: I look at how well it shoots and how well I can shoot it. They are not always the same thing.
3. Fulfillment of my priorities:
   • Priority No. 1 – Recreation
   • Priority No. 2 – Defense
   • Priority No. 3 – Concealment

My plan is to use my new midsize pistol for many things, but I have prioritized it mainly for recreation – meaning sport, competition, and range practice.

This won’t be my default, everyday concealment gun. For me, that is an XD-S 3.3, but this gun must still fulfill the concealment role. It also won’t be my daily competition or range gun, which is an XD(M) 5.25″ or 5″ 1911.

SEE ALSO: XD-S Single Stack Summer 

My second primary usage for this gun is an all-around defense role – meaning personal, home and auto. To fulfill this requirement, the pistol I choose needs to be portable, light and compact enough to carry and move around easily from vehicle to open carry but still allow for concealment use if needed.

Let’s start by evaluating the size and weight from Springfield Armory’s spec sheets on both pistols. 

Midsize Pistol Spec Comparison

After comparing the weights and sizes, it’s clear the XD-S 4″ is shorter, thinner and lighter and the hands-down winner for concealed carry.

The 1911 Range Officer Champion 4″ is taller, wider and heavier and has a higher magazine capacity, which usually helps a gun’s performance on the “competition side”.

Many people may very well make their decisions on these criteria alone. But I also consider the following aspects.

Subjective Rankings

Before we jump into my subjective rankings, here’s a little info on how I went about evaluating each of these areas. I start with the intended purpose and create specific criteria with which to judge and establish a kind of “matrix” to compare subjective rankings around areas that I feel are important.

Each area receives a 1-10 rating (10 being the highest) on each subject. I total the scores at the end and compare.

Your ratings might be different from mine, but here’s what I put together. 

Based on performance testing of both guns, I’ve managed to get a feel for what the strengths of both guns are.

So where do both pistols fall within my personal evaluation priorities?

1. Recreation: I score a little better with the 1911 Range Officer Champion in a competition environment.
2. Defense: It’s a tie – I can’t make up my mind on this one, as both do some things better than the other.
3. Concealment: An easy win for the XD-S – it’s smaller, flatter and lighter and packs the same punch.

When it comes to slow-fire accuracy, the guns are equals. The 1911 Range Officer Champion is virtually indistinguishable from any other full-size 1911 in terms of optimum usable accuracy, and the XD-S is exceptional for such a compact, small gun. I’ve never seen anything this small shoot so well.

For me, the difference comes down to size.

The larger grip of the 1911 Range Officer Champion makes it easier to manipulate which plays nicely in a competition setting where fractions of a second matter. Also, the added weight and size of the 1911 Range Officer Champion make it my winner.

Bottom Line: It Comes Down To Use

If you prioritize carry or concealment… go with the XD-S 4″. 

If you prioritize competition… go with the 1911 Range Officer Champion.

I made my own personal matrix to subjectively rate each gun. I suggest you do the same, prioritizing what is most important to you and see which comes out on top.

This much is for certain – both are excellent pistols. You can’t make a wrong choice.

MORE FROM SPRINGFIELD ARMORY

• First Suppressions: Shooting an XD(M) Threaded Barrel Pistol
  
• Why I Choose to Carry a Full-Size 1911
  
• Range Report – Springfield Armory MC 1911 Operator

USA – -(Ammoland.com)- In a market completely saturated with AR-15 rifles is it possible that a manufacturer could offer something that has never been seen before or repackage the rifle in a way that those of us who own over a dozen of them could stand up and say, “I need that one!”?

The answer is a resounding “Yes” when the rifle in question is the Battle Rifle Company Paratrooper Rifle.

On paper, the Battle Rifle Paratrooper sounds like another 16″ direct impingement AR15. That is, until you get your hands on one.

This lightweight rifle uses a Keymod rail, installed flip up sights, a comfortable pistol grip, newfangled muzzle brake and a sliding stock with shortened bolt and buffer.

Finished in a tan Cerakote this is one sexy looking rifle when taken out of the box!

A few words about Keymod

Sure Fire may have been the first to make use of the Keymod system and this was what was used on the 5.11 Tactical rifle built by JP Enterprises we reviewed for RECOIL Magazine. At first, the author was not very fond of the Keymod due to the price and lack of accessory mounts, but that has changed in the past year.

Some of the benefits of the Keymod system include a much stronger attachment interface between the rail and the upper receiver, a very quick and easy way to change rail lengths and ease of maintenance. Another benefit that is not so obvious is that there is no more need to time the barrel nut and no need for anti-rotation tabs. The rail simply slides onto the upper itself and screws hold it in place.  Because the rail doesn’t just fit onto a round barrel nut there are no worries about the rail rotating during use and the 12 o’clock rails line up perfectly on their own.

The best part is that it keeps the forend clear. The ample space on a four-sided Picatinny rail mostly goes wasted, attracts “rail clutter” or makes for a heavier rifle. With the Keymod, only mission specific essentials need to be added and the ability to hold the forend like a proper rifle without a vertical fore grip makes for more accurate shooting.

If you just need to add the basics like a sling and a flashlight, you can add the appropriate length rails in the position where you want them.

The top rail on the receiver and hand guard is all Picatinny, which makes sense as most optical equipment now defaults to this standard.

The Good

The Paratrooper rifle is an extremely well-built AR15. The fit between the two upper and lower receivers is outstanding and the looks are top notch.

We were originally hesitant about the stock. It looked dead sexy but had an uncomfortable look about it all the same.

Over the years we have heard horror stories from all over the internet, gun boards and gun shops about the treachery of wire stocks, collapsible stocks, etc.

Stocks like those found on the Uzi, various Heckler and Koch rifles, under folder AK’s and this one on the Paratrooper seem to be the stuff of nightmares for most shooters.

Personally, we only had an issue with the AK under folder until we wrapped the stock in parachute cord to keep it from pulling out beard hairs.

The Paratrooper had that chunk of bolt carrier housing right where you put your face and once you get past that, the rifle shoots as soft as any other 5.56 AR rifle once you throw it into your shoulder.

Part of this may be the brake mitigating some of the recoil, but a large part of it has to do with the bolt and carrier not having to travel as far rearward as a typical AR.

Acquiring the right cheek weld on this stock takes a little getting used to, but by no means should you be intimidated by it at all.

The rifle is so lightweight it can be fired accurately with one hand either shouldered or with the stock collapsed and the ar, fully extended.

The Bad

We only had two complaints about the rifle and one was superficial.

The Cerakote on the numbers and letters was a bit sloppy and reading the serial was a bit distorted. This could cause confusion for dealers, but in all likelihood, I probably received a “second” for my test that was not cosmetically perfect.

Our second gripe was that despite the amazing proprietary muzzle brake, we did not have the option to use a silencer on this rifle. As a slave to the 51T system, our only spare mount was a brake that would need to be timed. In addition to a paratrooper rifle being added to our collection in the near future, a direct thread ½ X28 silencer will need to join the club as well!

The Reality

After building over 200 AR pattern rifles, including 90% of my own ARs, this is probably the third factory rifle the author has ever test fired that he wanted to buy. The other two were a JP rifle and a Noveske Afghan.

Accuracy is on par with other rifles of the type, but the lighter weight, shorter length and a $1300 price point make this a very tempting “Next rifle“.

Lucid Optics was kind enough to send out some sights to test on the Paratrooper and we will run through a few of them in part two of this article.

With so many companies making AR-15s and their components these days, Battle Rifle Arms is definitely in the top 10.

About Mike Searson

Mike Searson’s career as a shooter began as a Marine Rifleman at age 17. He has worked in the firearms industry his entire adult life as a Gunsmith, Ballistician, Consultant, Salesman, Author and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1989.

Mike has written over 2000 articles for a number of magazines, websites and newsletters including Blade, RECOIL, OFF-GRID, Tactical Officer, SWAT, Tactical World, Gun Digest, Examiner.com and the US Concealed Carry Association as well as AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.

• Home page: www.mikesearson.com
• FB: www.facebook.com/mike.searson
• TWITTER: www.twitter.com/mikesearson

Editors Note: We only found one other video review on the Battle Rifle Company “Paratrooper”, guns that new..?

By Bob Shell

Apache Junction, AZ –-(Ammoland.com)- At various times during their history Colt has produced rifles for the sporting market other then the various m-16 products.

Their newest venture Colt has teamed up with Cooper Firearms of Montana on a bolt action called the Colt/Cooper M2012  model.

Cooper Firearms of Montana has been around for over 20 years and they are known for producing quality rifles. Like most Colt products, it is not a low dollar item.

For more info on their line of fine products you can go to www.colt.com/Catalog/ColtBoltActionRifles.aspx

Some of the features include a laminated stock and a muzzle brake. With the .260 caliber rifle as my sample, I feel that the muzzle brake is not necessary. That caliber doesn’t have a lot of recoil to begin with and the brake will just add to the noise. The 22” barrel is grooved which will lighten it a little and will aid in cooling it down.

The bolt possesses three locking lugs which makes the lift 60 degrees as opposed to the normal 90 degree lift. It is a personal choice as to which system you prefer as each has its advantages and disadvantages.

The bolt also has spiral grooves, which may aid in cooling it down. The action looks strong and safe as befitting a modern rifle. There are gas ports which would protect a shooter in the very unlikely event of a case rupture. There are 5 and 10 round magazines available so it will be legal in most areas.

With all of these laws being passed you should check in your state to make sure the 10 round magazines are legal. Checking a head of time might save you from an expensive and embarrassing mistake.

The release button located in the back of the magazine is quick and easy to use. The magazine is metal rather then plastic used on some less expensive models. Time will tell but it should be more durable but I would definitely have a spare or two if it was going to be a primary hunting rifle. Normally the magazine is the first thing to go on a gun. So with any detachable magazine rifle that I own there would be a couple of spares.

Personally, I am not a big fan of detachable magazines as it is just something else that can get lost. My first choice is a blind magazine but I am from the old school way of thinking.

No sights come with the rifle but it has a picatinny rail for scope mounting which is a plus. Mounting a scope proved to be extremely easy. The finish is a matt color, which is an advantage for hunting since there is no glint given off. It has a thick and soft recoil pad which would make it more desirable for people who might be recoil shy. In addition, the rubber might grip on the jacket quicker which would aid in getting off a quick shot.

It has some good features for a hunting rifle. Naturally, there are some factors in selecting a hunting rifle and price would be one of them.

One of the family of cartridges based on the .308 Winchester case, the .260 enjoys a modest popularity. Everyone who makes bullets makes them in 6.5 caliber. Weights go from 85 to 160 grains in various styles.

With that selection deer sized game can be successfully hunted out to 300 yards or so. Black bear and wild boars are on the menu using the proper bullets. For the handloader there is the added benefit of reduced loads for small game that you might be inclined to eat. Like many other similar calibers the .260 benefits from the better bullets that have been designed in the last 20 years or so. With the modest size case, cast and reduced power loads will work well. With the lighter weight bullets varmints such as coyotes are on the menu. With the rifle, a factory target was provided using a 120 grain Sierra and the group at 100 yards was about ¼” which shows excellent accuracy potential. I have some factory loads plus some handloads to start testing. Since I have a bunch of .243 cases, I necked some up to use for the testing. The .243 cases work well giving good accuracy and service. While not necessary I used them because I have so many, more then I need for my .243. The 6.5 caliber has been around for many years starting with some military rifles in the 1890’s. Today there are many aerodynamic bullets, which aids in long range shooting without using calibers that have excessive recoil.

The 6.5 caliber is popular so consequently bullet selection is good. There is a verity of weights from 85 to 160 grains and the .260 can handle all of them. For instance, Barnes makes several weights and styles that will handle any hunting situation that a .260 has any business encountering. They have both loaded ammo and bullets for the reloader and in my years of using Barnes products they always perform well. For info on their line of fine ammo and bullets you can go to www.barnesbullets.com They have a good selection of lead free bullets for those areas that require those type of bullets plus there is an extensive loading data info on their bullets.

Like most other bullet makers Sierra offers various styles and weights. It became apparent early on that the Sierra bullets would provide excellent accuracy. If fact the rifle I received came with a target shot with Sierra bullets and it was almost a one hole target. If extreme accuracy is your goal then this is a good place to start. For more info you can go to www.sierrabullets.com.

Hornady offers a good selection of bullets but I don’t see a listing for .260 ammo though there are other 6.5 rounds listed. Bullet selection is good and for hunting Hornady bullets always have done well for me. If you want a 160 grain round nose they have them. For info you can go to www.hornady.com and get a listing plus other good info.

If you are a non reloader another viable option for factory ammo is Double Tap. They make fine hunting loads in many calibers and their line of ammo is always expanding. That is another product that I have used for some years with complete satisfaction For info you can go to their site at www.doubletapammo.net

 LOAD                                      BULLET                                           VELOCITY                       COMMENT

10 grains HS-6                       85 grain Sierra HP                      1402                               nice

44 grains RL #  15                 85 grain Sierra HP                         3180                             fair   

10 grains HS-6                      100 grain Sierra HP                       1522                           decent

39 X 4064                              100 grain TSX                               2880                            inconsistent   

Barnes                                   120 grain tipped                          2909                             fair

37 grains 4064                    120 grain TSX                                2664                               ok                      

38 grains RL # 15                130 grain Sierra HP                       2660                              consistent

40 grains H-4350                130 grain Sierra HP                      2568                    super accurate

Double Tap                           140 grain Nosler Accu                 2632                                 ok

9 grains HS-6                         140 grain cast                              1253                         very consistent

Double Tap                           140 grain HP                                 2614                               consistent

42 grains H-1000                 140 grain trophy                         2264                            very mild

43 grains H-4350                 140 grain trophy                            2781                              HOT !

47 grains H-4831                 160 grain Hornady RN                2538                           Near max

The 6.5 caliber is a good big game choice because there is a good selection of hunting and target bullets and with the high sectional density of the heavier bullets, large animals can be dispatched with proper bullet placement.

The Colt/Cooper possesses a strong and safe action so it can take advantage of any reasonable load. In addition, since it isn’t a magnum size case reloading isn’t particularly hard. It isn’t fussy like a larger case may be. It is adaptable to reduced loads which is an important feature in my view. Brass life is good partly because I didn’t try to squeeze every last foot second out as there is nothing to be gained by that. If you want more speed then the .260 offers there are plenty of good options. In addition, the chamber is tight and well cut which contributes to accuracy and case life. A loose or poorly cut chamber contributes to short case life and poor accuracy.

Shooting the Colt was a mixed bag. The trigger pull is very nice which makes it easy to shoot accurately as it breaks cleanly at 4 LBS on my rifle. Some might consider that heavy but I had no difficulty and it can be lightened.

Since it isn’t my rifle I chose not to adjust the trigger pull though if it was I might be tempted to lighten it to 3 LBS. There is no over travel or creep, very desirable features on a precision rifle which this is. In other words it breaks like glass.

The magazine proved difficult to load and a couple of shooters complained about that, With a gun in that price range a problem such as that shouldn’t occur.

The magazine is easy to remove and replace. We shot at least 300 rounds and there were no malfunctions due to the magazine or anything else. The safety works fine but sometimes we had some difficulty in closing the bolt. I am not sure if it is because it is new or some other problem but again that is a problem that shouldn’t occur on such a rifle. It did become easier as more ammo was shot in it.

This rifle’s pricing puts it out of the range for the average hunter. A buyer would have to make a decision as to whether they want to spend that amount of money on this product. A sturdy and well-built rifle should last a lifetime, which this rifle is. This rifle is well built and I wouldn’t expect any breakage with normal use. So if you look at this product as an investment then it might be a good choice for you.

I mounted a Hawke 3 X 9 scope ( http://tiny.cc/2xtjfx ) as I am looking at it as a hunting rifle. Upon getting it sighted in one thing became apparent right away. It is accurate with the loads that I tried. I have shot and tested a lot of rifles through the years and this is one of the most accurate I have found. In fact, it will out shoot me or just about anyone else from a bench. The heavy weight and muzzle brake aid in reducing recoil though with a .260 caliber I don’t see any problem in that regard. You can shoot this gun all day and not get a sore shoulder.

For hunting it has its uses but isn’t an all around rifle. For carrying, it is on the heavy side and the magazine projects quite a bit so carrying it one handed isn’t the ideal situation. It does have studs for mounting a sling for shoulder carry. If you are sitting in a blind and need good accuracy out to three hundred yards or so then this might be just the rifle you need. Accuracy at three hundred yards or more is good enough to hit any deer size animal and in fact small game such as woodchucks are in serious jeopardy at extended ranges. While a bit large for ground hogs accuracy allows such shooting and it is never a bad thing to have more practice with your big game rifle.

As always, the Hawke scope I used gives good clarity at all ranges. It is a deer pass EV 3 X 9 X 40 and while a basic model it is worth the price. Hawke has a great selection of scopes and other optics and for more info and prices you can go to www.hawkeoptics.com/hawke-riflescopes.html

Some of the features for this rifle:

• 22” fluted barrel with a 1 in 8 twist with 6 grooves ER Shaw barrel
• Timney custom trigger breaks @ 4 LBS
• Weight 8.5 LBS
• Custom gray laminated stock
• 5 or 10 round magazine
• Suggested retail price $2795.

About Bob Shell
A Custom Reloader of Obsolete and Antique Ammo, Bob Shell, writes about the subject of Guns, Ammo, Shooting and Related Subjects. Visit: www.bobshellsblog.blogspot.com

By Mike Searson
Traditions / Pietta 1873 Single Action Revolver .45 LC 5.5″ Barrel Color-Case Hardened SAT73-003 Review

USA – -(Ammoland.com)- The most iconic American revolver is without a doubt the Colt Single Action Army (SAA), also known as “The Peacemaker” or the Model of 1873.

This large frame single action revolver was designed for the US government service revolver trials of 1872 by Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company, and was adopted as the standard military service revolver until 1892.

Because of its history and Colt ceasing its production several times, prices for a “Genuine Colt” have sky rocketed.

As a result, most modern shooters who are intimidated by the 4 to 5 figure price tag turn to imported models from Italy such as the 1873 imported by Traditions and manufactured by Pietta in Italy.

History of SAA manufacture

Colt began manufacture of the Single Action Army revolver in 1873 at its plant in Hartford, Connecticut. As the machinery began to show its age in 1940 and Colt was working night and day to produce arms for the US Military for World War 2, the old revolver was dropped from production.  These models are known as the first generation.

The SAA was resurrected in the 1950s as the public clamored for the handguns featured in movies and television shows, but by this time reproductions were being made in America by Ruger and in Italy by firms like Uberti and Pietta for the Italian film industry, but these lower cost handguns soon found their way to America.

The six-guns manufactures in Italy have come a long way in 50 years in both looks and construction. Our Pietta was no exception.

The Good

From a safety standpoint, the 1873 Single Action Revolver .45 LC 5.5″ Barrel Color-Case Hardened SAT73-003 uses an internal firing pin and a transfer bar safety. This allows the shooter to load all six rounds in the revolver without risking an accidental discharge. Traditional Colt SAAs are loaded with the hammer resting on an empty chamber and the firing pin slightly retracted. A cowboy (or anyone for that matter) who would load all six rounds risked the firing pin striking a primer and firing a round if the revolver was ever dropped or struck in a violent manner.

On appearances alone this revolver is a winner with its striking case hardened frame and 2-piece checkered walnut grips.

We tested the trigger pull with an RCBS Trigger Gauge ( http://goo.gl/ftvlo3 ) and it breaks at a consistent 3.25 pounds.

Initial shooting at 10 yards gave us a 6-shot string with all rounds touching in a 2.75” group through the 8 and 9 rings a few inches to the left of our point of aim. Second six shot string brought us back to center but a little low. As this was a loaner we did not take a file to the front sight or the rear notch, but knowing where we were hitting and adjusting the point of aim had us ringing steel for the rest of the afternoon with our remaining 238 rounds.

The issue we had with the sights may be more related to our shooting style when it comes to single action revolvers; we shoot them one-handed as they were intended to be shot.

The Bad

As a Colt purist and owner of several 1st generation SAAs, we realized that the manual of arms and the operation was more similar to Ruger’s New Model Vaquero as opposed to being a pure “Colt Clone”. This is not a bad thing as much as the author prefers historical accuracy over modern safety.

Just because this is a modern revolver, does not mean it will fire all 45 Colt loads. If the factory ammunition says “For Ruger or Thompson Center Only” and is made by Buffalo Bore, CorBon, etc. do not fire it in this revolver. All other modern ammunition and reloads will be safe if they are loaded to the SAAMI specifications for the 45 Colt ammunition .

The 5.5” barrel may seem a traditional length and it was the length used on Colt’s artillery model, but it does not balance well for the author. For us the 4 ¾” or 4 5/8” seems more natural and well balanced and we have been shooting, carrying and twirling this configuration for over two decades. This is a personal thing, though and should not take away from the build of this revolver in any way.

The Reality

This is not the revolver you want as a sidearm in the Big Bear country of Alaska.

For an entry level revolver into the Cowboy Shooting Sports, this revolver is on the money. Likewise if you are an Old West reenactor and want a reliable, dependable pistol without breaking the bank, this may be your revolver. Or if you always wanted a Peacemaker but can’t pony up $3000 for a Second Gen or $5,000 for a decent First Gen; this one will look close enough from 5 feet away.

Resources

• Traditions Performance Firearms 1873 Selection: http://tiny.cc/li940x
• Pietta website in Italy: http://www.pietta.us/
• Colt 45 Ammunition : http://goo.gl/CMnlQ8
• Single Action Shooting Society : http://www.sassnet.com/

About Mike Searson

Read more of Mike’s firearms reviews on AmmoLand.com

Mike Searson’s career as a shooter began as a Marine Rifleman at age 17. He has worked in the firearms industry his entire adult life as a Gunsmith, Ballistician, Consultant, Salesman, Author and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1989.

Mike has written over 2000 articles for a number of magazines, websites and newsletters including Blade, RECOIL, OFF-GRID, Tactical Officer, SWAT, Tactical World, Gun Digest, Examiner.com and the US Concealed Carry Association as well as AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.

• Home page: www.mikesearson.com
• FB: www.facebook.com/mike.searson
• TWITTER: www.twitter.com/mikesearson

Want a Second Oppion on the Traditions 1873 Revolver? Watch Mike Beliveau’s video review.