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GUNS & AMMO Nov ember 20 24 | VOLUME 68, NUM BER 11 | P UBL ISHED MONTHLY

C O N TE N TS

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X SERIES COVER PHOTOS: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ AND MARK FINGAR; ABOVE PHOTO: MARK FINGAR

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6 G&A | November 2024

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10 G&A November 2024
R E A D ER WRITE US! “Letters,” Guns & Ammo, 2 News Plaza, 3rd Floor, Peoria, IL 61614, or email us at gaeditor@outdoorsg.com.
B LOWBAC K Please include your city and state of residence. Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity.

50 YEARS AGO
NOVEMBER ’74

WINCHESTER MODEL 1904, .22 CAL.

IT’S STILL WITH ME Pete Grisel introduced their

Regarding Mr. Hunnicutt’s article in the May 2024 issue, I line of proprietary Dakota
was given a Winchester Model 1904 when I was 12 years cartridges based on a
old — 1944. My dad taught me gun safety with it and shortened .404 Jeffrey case
how to hunt squirrels. I shot .22 Shorts only. Eventually, I in 1992, which were made
changed the butt to fit my shoulder. My last hunt was at for the wonderfully engi-
age 80, and I am now 88. I still like to hold the old gun. neered Model 76 control-
Johnny Helton feed (CRF) bolt-action rifle.
Marceline, Missouri While Mr. Lazzeroni was
promoting his line of wild-
BARREL LENGTHS fouling. Little is gained by cats — often with exagger-
Over here, the only shooting a .22 LR in barrels ated performance — Allen
semiautomatic firearms longer than 18 inches. and Grisel were quietly
with a rifled barrel that — D. Emary producing a line of efficient
we can own must be in cartridges that I believe
.22 rimfire, and 12 inches SUPPRESSOR VALUE initiated the later develop-
is the minimum barrel I’m puzzled about the ment of all standard and
length for any cartridge use of suppressors. If my short magnums based on
chambering. Given these calculations are correct, the the .404 Jeffrey, in addition
restrictions, does a longer average suppressor reduces to producing what may be
barrel improve reliability decibels by around 18 per- the finest turn-bolt CRF
in a blowback firearm with cent. This seems minuscule ever made, the Model 76.
standard-velocity ammu- for the money laid out to Mr. Allen and Mr. Grisel shooting it. Does Guns &
nition? Are high-velocity obtain that level of perfor- deserve recognition as pio- Ammo have any sources for
loads the standard go-to? mance, not to mention the neers in their field. Thanks a replacement part?
What effect does barrel government’s involvement for a fine publication. Tom Minerick
length have on action for a permit. Where am I Donald P. Chase Lebanon, Pennsylvania
fouling? wrong? Email
David Thompson Gary Charleville Aside from the usual
United Kingdom Milford, Ohio STOEGER PARTS? sources for Stoeger spares
I need some help finding a — Numrich Gun Parts,
Reliability of .22 LR blow- DAKOTA recoil-spring assembly for a Midwest Gun Parts, MOA
back actions will benefit CARTRIDGES Stoeger 8040, formerly the Precision, Brownells, eBay
from longer barrels. The I just finished reading Craig Beretta Cougar in .40 S&W. and Gunbroker.com — let
longer the barrel, the longer Boddington’s “Too Many, My pistol has a plastic guid- us pose this question to the
the dwell time of the pres- Too Fast,” Part One, in the erod that has become bent. Guns & Ammo readership
sure pulse in the chamber. September 2024 issue of I can’t find a replacement, for assistance.
This will result in a longer Guns & Ammo. I was imme- and Stoeger indicated the — J. Kurtenbach
and stronger push on the diately struck by Mr. Bod- pistol has been out of pro-
cartridge case, and therefore dington’s omission of Don duction for 10 years. There ONE-SHOT WONDER
the bolt. The longer barrel Allen of Dakota Arms in his seems to be no recoil spring I’ve been shooting a Ruger
will also produce a larger dissertation of the devel- and guiderod assemblies No. 1 RSI in 7x57 for a
percentage of the propellant opments of short-magnum available. I really like the number of years, always
burning and less powder cartridges. Mr. Allen and pistol and hope to continue with a Nosler bullet. I either
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12 G&A | November 2024 | reAder blowbAck

use a Nosler 140-grain flat political cartoons and the of non-firearm-related and Both are excellent hunting
base or ballistic tip with opinions of some writers. non-Second Amendment bullets. They expand well
49-grains of IMR 4350. You need to understand topics, please don’t hesitate at 10mm velocities, and will
Last year, I got my 100th that all of G&A’s subscribers to send me a letter or penetrate a lot. I wouldn’t
whitetail using this rifle and are not Right Wing-leaning email. I respect all readers’ go below using the 180-
load, mostly neck shots. It “MAGAS.” I am an Inde- opinions, which should XTP or 140-grain TAC-XP.
presents low recoil and is pendent voter who votes be evident through every — D. Emary
very accurate. for who I think will do the issue’s “Reader Blowback”
Neil Blankenship best job — not who a party column. — E. Poole MORE KIMBER
Email says I should vote for. I am I’m a long-time reader and
debating whether I should 10MM HUNTER subscriber, and a huge
KUDOS SPRINGFIELD renew my subscription to I am an avid 1911 fan. I own Kimber fan. I really enjoyed
I recently purchased a pre- G&A. I am sure that I am quite a few in .45 caliber. I reading the article “Boots
owned Springfield Armory not the only subscriber who recently purchased another On The Ground” by Guns
M1A National Match. There does not belong to your in 10mm to try my hand at & Ammo Editor Eric Poole
was no owner’s manual preferred party, but who pistol hunting. What bullet in the August 2024 issue. I
or paperwork included. enjoys and owns firearms. type is the most effective? often see that Kimber has
I contacted Springfield Charles DeLong I primarily hunt whitetail the full back-page ad in the
about obtaining a manual, Ghent, New York deer and occasionally black magazine, but I rarely see
and the girl I spoke to was bear in my home state of as many articles about this
nice and helpful. I received Guns & Ammo is not a Virginia. Some say a 155- to brand. Thanks for the arti-
a manual four days later. politically affiliated brand. 180-grain hollowpoint is the cle, but I hope to see more
It didn’t cost me a dime Our concerns are limited to best, while others suggest a about Kimber.
except for the phone call. firearm reviews, shooting 200-grain hard-cast or even Domonic Mauro
Thank you, Springfield! activities, and commentary flat-nose projectile. Any North Carolina
Robert A. Rasmussen on Second Amendment- advice?
Hopkinton, related issues — regardless Scotty Osbeck 5MM BLUE STREAK
New Hampshire of politics. However, I do Red House, Virginia I am using Benjamin
not censor contributors cylindrical 5mm pellets in
NO POLITICS! for expressing themselves If I was hunting with a my 1970s-era Blue Streak,
I have enjoyed Guns & regarding firearm-related 10mm Auto, I would use 14.3-grain weight. These
Ammo magazine for many topics. If you identify cir- the Hornady 200-grain XTP pellets are more accurate
years, but lately I’ve taken cumstances where contrib- load or the Barnes TAC-XP than the original Sheridan
offense at the choice of utors stray into the realm 155-grain monolithic. 5mm pellets, for me that is
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(Benjamin product code P50A507). I

INTRODUCING purchased them from an outdoor store
in College Station, Texas. I hired Accu-
rate Airguns (accurateairguns.com) to
refurbish my Blue Streak. It came back
shooting hard and tight, and it now
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There’s no telling how many thousands
HSM brings you an extraordinary new of pellets have gone through it.
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hunting cartridge: Tipping Point2! Bryan, Texas

SPINNING BULLETS
An Exciting NEW! Mr. Schmidt’s comments regarding
Lehigh Bullets (August 2024), this is
Addition to the HSM a gentle reminder that there is no
Roster of Superior “Dremel effect” of bullets going
Hunting Cartridges! through flesh — no matter how fast
they are going. You can do a bit of
Accuracy is our moderately involved math, but the sim-
Business. ple answer is if the bullet is only rotat-
ing 1 turn in 10 inches in the pistol bar-
rel, it can only turn once in 10 inches
The magic in this new cartridge is TIPPING POINT2 is available in of flesh. Tissue damage is related to
the Hornady SST (Super Shock
® ® the following calibers: linear velocity, not the bullet’s rotational
Tip) bullet. Designed to deliver velocity (i.e., “spin rate”).
Jack Thorne
tremendous shock on impact while
Email
expanding quickly and reliably,
particularly at higher velocities. These bullets are spinning at many
Flat shooting and deadly accurate, tens to hundreds of thousands of
rpm depending on the twist rate
it’s an ideal bullet for whitetails,
and muzzle velocity. A pistol bullet
as well as most North American rotates probably 20 to 40 times while
game animals. The SST® creates a penetrating, depending on variables.
devastatingly large The spin causes the bullet to expand,
wound channel. faster or slower depending on the
rate of spin. The linear spin, coupled
with the amount the bullet expands
and how fast it expands, determines
the temporary wound cavity diameter.
— D. Emary

CALIBER RUGER’S 10/22

The article, “Sturm, Ruger & Co.” by
.223 Wylde /.223 Rem/ 5.56 NATO
Brad Fitzpatrick in the September 2024
issue of Guns & Ammo left the 1964
introduction of the 10/22 out of the
“Ruger Introductions” list. I’ll forgive
the oversight considering this is my all-
RECOIL MAGAZINE time favorite publication — this time.
“2023 BEST FIREARM OF SHOTSHOW!” James Smith
Spokane, Washington
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E DI TO R I AL

There was once a magazine for every pistol.

YSTERY SOLVED
@GUNSANDAMMOMAG

N A BOX of magazines at an estate auction, but aftermarket 7- and 8-round mags with “J&J” plastic bum-
he type you read. After losing the chance to own a pers screwed to the baseplate. The 9mm magazines were
er C96 (Model 1930) — and several desirables on easy to distinguish given the rib pressed vertically to align
ant list — I felt desperate while thinking that I might the bullet noses.
ea e with nothing. With the old Colts, Winchesters and Several magazines were blued with hardened feed lips,
other surplus firearms others phosphate finished,
sold to the deep-pocket suggesting pistols that
dealers in attendance, the could have been issued
crowd began to abandon during one of the 20th
the floor. The auctioneer century’s wars. One of the
quickly chopped the block most interesting maga-
through several small lots, zines was marked “COLT
so I raised my number to ACE,”and another with a
own a mystery box labeled Randall baseplate defaced
“parts” for little money. by a threaded hole to
That cardboard box moved support a screw-on bumper.
from storage at that estate I don’t often see original
only to be stored at mine. Randall magazines any-
Recently, I came across more; a few online sales of
that box while attempting Randall mags have brought
to reduce clutter in my as much as $75 apiece. Not
life. Still unopened, four this one.
overlapped corners and a I came across a few
strip of packing tape kept Bersa pocket pistol mags
the contents secure. Inside still in the packaging, .25
was a collection of spare caliber, magazines for a
magazines for pistols, some Beretta M1934, various
showing signs of corrosion. early Brownings autos, and
Few were easy to identify. some vintage rimfire mag-
For several weeks I spent my downtime randomly pick- azines for different Colt Woodsman series, High Standard
ing a magazine and then researching the gun library to Supermatics, and early Ruger rimfires. The magazines that
identify it. stumped me the longest, though, were for the Whitney
I had guessed that a magazine looking like an elon- Wolverine, the space-age-looking, investment-cast alumi-
gated steel mag for a Model 1911 was designed to feed a num rimfire pistol. Some 13,371 Wolverines were manufac-
clone in an odd caliber, perhaps a Belgian, Czech, Italian tured between 1956 and 1958. Not only did I discover an
or Spanish pistol I was unfamiliar with. It had a stubby anodized blue version, I found another that was nickeled.
lanyard ring on its baseplate, a clue suggesting the pistol Eventually, my thoughts turned back to the auction. I
was designed for military issue. Eventually, I learned that recalled seeing a Whitney Wolverine sell for $1,900 (plus
PHOTO: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

it went to a Soviet Tokarev TT-33 in 7.62x25mm. Two of fees) and thinking, That’s too much money for a pistol with-
those magazines were in the box. out a magazine. I went back to the auction list and realized
There were M1911 magazines, mostly steel, blued, that the “parts” I had purchased was a box of spare
seven-rounders, but also a few stainless eight-rounders, magazines intended for all the pistols that were auctioned.
some marked “COLT” and many made by Kimber. Among It was fun to sort through, but I am now faced with hunting
the 1911 magazines were Officer-model types, and some for several pistols I never intended to own.
G U N RO O M

“... while the guns are rare, they

are so large that collectors often
have a tendency to pass them by.”

GARRY.JAMES@
OUTDOORSG.COM

cially enjoy the section on that rifle for comparison.

“Identification & Values.” What do I have?
Several months ago, I sent Chris Webb
a letter with pictures to the Email
address in the magazine
hoping it would make its A: You have an Austrian
way to you. I am writing to WallGewehr Model 1872
see if you received it, and, (Wallrifle Model 1872), the
if so, if you had time to date of which is shown on
research it. It is a massive the lockplate as “872”,
rifle, weighing 18 pounds the usual Austrian method
with a length of 55 inches, of dating firearms. These
and a 2cm bore; I believe were 56 inches overall with
JAPANESE “TOWER” FLINTLOCK REPRODUCTION, 60%: $150
that translates to .85 cali- a 36.22-inch barrel. Caliber
ber. It has an action similar was 18.8mm (.74). The gun
to an 1873 Springfield, and weighed 8,230 grams (18.14
REPRO TOWER PISTOL the pictures I sent have it pounds). It was derived
Q: I purchased a Tower flintlock pistol in the early 1970s. alongside a specimen of from the earlier Model 1859
It is about .69 caliber, and it has been fired without any
issues, also in the early ’70s. I have attached photographs AUCTION BLOCK
of it, which show that the barrel is both round and then
appears to transition to be the shape of the upper portion
of a hexagon, but there are no markings shown. It has
“JAPAN M 309” markings and “TOWER” with a crown and
“GR” under it. I have seen numerous similar versions, but
all have only a round barrel. I am hoping you can provide
me with a little more about it and an estimation of its value.
B. N.
Email

A: These Japanese-made and the barrel is blued. Still,

“Tower” flintlocks, which I can’t see that adding much
somewhat emulate a British to the gun’s value. In fact,
1811 Pattern cavalry pistol, the purist would probably
as you note, were imported disdain it as it is not at all
into the U.S. in the 1970s like the 1811’s plain, round
to ’80s. Quality was OK, barrel. Value on these guns
though the lines are a bit off is rather low, running in the
and fit and finish usually left $150 to $200 range.
something to be desired. As
I recollect, they sold for less MASSIVE
than a C-note back then. BREECHLOADER
Yours is interesting in that it Q: I am a subscriber to
does have an atypical barrel, Guns & Ammo, and espe-
20 G&A | November 2024 | Gun room

that employed a pill lock. through it. The barrel is

The sight was graduated in blued, along with some of
Schritten, a “schritt” being the hardware, i.e., irons
a measurement based on and sling attachments. It
a “step,” approximately 28 has multiple markings on
inches. The Russians used the stock and receiver; the
a similar measurement, the kangaroo makers mark is
“arshin.” According to my somewhat faded, but it is
friend Tim Prince of Col- not unrecognizable. “BIR-
lege Hill Arsenal (college- MINGHAM SMALL ARMS
hillarsenal.com, 615-972- CO” is stamped in the left
2418), who helped me with side receiver and atop the
PISTOLET MODÈLE AN IX, 17.1MM (.67), <20%: $125
this investigation, while the barrel. The top rear of the
guns are rare, they are so receiver is pitted and worn
large that collectors have a down, and the forearm gun’s original caliber was
tendency to pass them by. has been dinged up quite .310 Cadet, but many were
Your Model 1872 is worth a bit. I would just like to rechambered for a variety
between $3,000 and $5,000. know more about this rifle of sporting rounds. The pro-
in general, and the possible portion of extant rifles indi-
AUSTRALIAN value of this piece. cate .32-20 Winchester was
MARTINI S. A. the most popular change-
Q: This is the first rifle I Email over, though it wasn’t
bought on my own. It is particularly accurate as the idea what we have here?
a 1928 (presumed) BSA A: You have an Australian diameter of a .310-caliber E. G.
Martini, an Australian Cadet Rifle. In service with bullet was “.323” and that Clifton, New Jersey
military-issue rifle, cham- the Aussies from 1891 to of a .32-20 was “.312.” The
bered in .32 Winchester 1955, thousands of these guns were built on the A: From your photos, I would
Special. The barrel is in guns were imported into Francotte-Martini action. opine you have the remnants
great condition, and I have the United States in the late The gun’s British makers of a French An IX (Year 9)
fired multiple handloads 1950s to early 1960s. The were Birmingham Small cavalry pistol manufactured
Arms Company and W. W. at Châtellerault. These were
HOLLYWOOD HARDWARE Greener. Many will be found produced in large numbers
with Australian-state mark- during the Napoleonic Wars.
ings and other stampings, Caliber was 17.1mm (.67).
some indicating emergency Normally, this piece would
use during World War II. I have a brass forend cap, but
can remember seeing these for some reason one of its
guns jammed together in owners figured it would be
barrels and sold at sporting handier (or more aestheti-
goods and surplus stores cally pleasing) if the cap and
for less than $50 a pop. the front of the barrel were
Today, a decent one will cut off. In its present shape,
bring $750 to $900, some- it has little value. Whatever
times a bit more depending worth it maintains would
upon condition, caliber and be as a source for parts. I’d
markings. say $100 to $150 would be
plenty for it.
CHOPPED
FRENCH FLINTER EASTERN
Q: A relative of mine was TRADE PISTOL
given this old flintlock. It Q: I was wondering if you
has French writing on the could give me some help on
lockplate. The caliber seems the history and value of a
to be about .65, but I have flintlock blackpowder pistol.
no idea what it is. All parts I received it in a family
move, but rather stiffly. Any estate a few years ago, and
22 g&A | November 2024 | gun room

have not been successful book of the recipients. People have told me it’s like they have been either
in finding much accurate Gold and silver decoration special. What can you tell heavily used or replaced,
information about it. It does was common. Others were me about it? plus the finish seems to be
have some silver work and actually made in-country and A. H. a bit on the cloudy side,
decoration, but there are no have many of the features Email though I’m going to assume
markings regarding caliber seen on Western guns, the finish and grips are prob-
or manufacturer. A family though, generally, quality A: Unfortunately, your ably OK. Its value would run
member said it was valu- was not quite as good. The photos are a bit murky, but between $850 and $1,250.
able, but that was based third types were turned out I’ll see what I can pull out of
on word of mouth and no locally, strictly for the tourist them: The “DWM” toggle- MORE ON UNIVERSAL
research. Just curious. market, and normally are markings indicate the gun M1 CARBINE
G. W. not of stellar quality. From was made by “Deutsche Q: I have been a Guns &
Email what I can make out from Waffen und Munitionsfab- Ammo reader for some
your photo, I would opine riken.” As it’s in 7.65mm time, and I especially like
A: You have what is loosely you have a nice, 18th-century (.30), it is relatively plain, the “Gun Room” column. A
termed an “Eastern Trade European-made flintlock has what appears to be a number years ago, I started
Pistol.” These guns fall pistol with silver work, classic 4-inch barrel and a 6XXX to put a collection of World
into different categories. spurred buttcap and early- serial number. It is slotted War II guns together. I
The best ones were made style curved lockplate. Value for a shoulder stock, so I’m now have a Universal M1
in Europe — Italy being a is in the $500 to $600 range, inclined to think you have Carbine, a Smith Corona
favorite spot — to be sold assuming condition is decent a Model 1920 rework made M1903A3 dated “1943”,
to discriminating buyers in and it functions properly. from an earlier military or and a CMP M1 Garand.
the Middle East and Balkans. police gun, and then reis- The M1 Carbine, with
Styling and embellishments .30-CALIBER LUGER sued. These are very com- serial number 23XXX, was
catered to the design Q: I have a Luger. It is .30 mon versions of the .30s. purchased in 2014. In the
sensibilities and pocket- caliber and has dark grips. The grips on your gun look Q&A, “Universal M1 Car-

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bine Serial Number” (July were mixed, in between

2024), you asked if anyone serial numbers 176,000 and
had a listing of the serial 187,000, continuing until
numbers. In researching production ceased. The last
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1873 “TRAPDOOR,” .45-70 GOV’T, 40%: $650
information about the Uni- serial number is unknown.
versal M1 Carbines, I found Hopefully, this additional
some material, which I have information will be of some cut down at all. The stock,
attached. By the way, my value to readers. however, has been heavily
M1 Carbine was purchased cleaned, and the metal
for around $450 in 2014. SPRINGFIELD doesn’t seem to retain
D. B. “MUZZLELOADER” much original finish. Some
Email Q: Attached photos show a 73,000 Model 1873 in
Model 1873 muzzleloader Rifle, Cadet and Carbine
A: Thank you very much that belonged to my son’s versions were manufac-
for the added informa- father-in-law, who recently tured between 1873 and
tion! From what you sent, I passed away. There was a 1877. These guns, perhaps
gleaned the following: The note in the stock, though, with the exception of the
first generation of Universal that indicated 12 inches Carbine and Cadet, have
M1 Carbines were mostly had been sawed off the A: Your rifle is not a muz- not been appreciating in
assembled, apparently, end of the barrel. We found zleloader, but a Model value of late. The condi-
with some surplus GI parts. some history of the rifle on 1873 Springfield “Trap- tion of your piece is going
Serial numbers ran between the web, but I wondered if door” breechloader. The against it. Assuming the
0 and 104,000; second it had any value, especially barrel’s chambering is bore’s decent and the
generations were from given the cut-down barrel. .45-70 Government. From mechanism functions OK,
serial number 176,000 and J. P. what I can see, it doesn’t I’d value it between $600
187,000; third generations Saint Leon, Indiana appear the rifle has been and $700.
H AN D G U N N IN G

The term “compact” doesn’t mean what it used to.

MIC OS & SUBS

UGH LIKED TO SAY, “Words mean things.” definition, should be the smallest pistols on the market. In
As a w who deals with words every day, this quote this category I would put all of the miniature single-action
eally re tes with me. One of my biggest pet peeves is revolvers from North American Arms (northamericanarms.
people w ntinually use words the wrong way. com), tiny semiautos such as the Beretta Bobcat, and some
“Decimate, or example, doesn’t mean “obliterate.” derringers — but not all derringers. Gordon Bond of Bond
Historically, it means “to Arms (bondarms.com) must be
reduce by one-tenth.” Cops having a laugh at our expense
often call private citizens “civil- while chambering some der-
ians,” as if they are not civil- ringers in calibers such as .44
ians themselves. Unless that Magnum .45-70, and .50 AE.
cop is also in the military, they Here I come to another
are a civilian. Lastly, it’s not “I dilemma: Does “micro-
could care less.” You meant to compact” solely refer to the
say, “I couldn’t care less.” dimensions of a pistol? Or
As for the great murky should the pistol’s weight be a
swamp that is the modern factor? How about its caliber?
firearms lexicon, firearm, optic The new Bond Arms Cyclops
and ammunition manufac- derringer is available in .50
turers’ often design stylized AE and weighs 28 ounces. As
words or ALL-CAPS names and a general rule, micros should
The Bond Arms Stinger is about as small as you can go with
acronyms to establish trade- a self-defense derringer. Available in .380 ACP, 9mm, and .38 be small enough to hold and/
marks and market products. Special, it weighs 12 ounces and measures 5 inches. $389 or conceal in the palm of your
Some acronyms reportedly hand. They should certainly fit
have no clear definition. Let’s examine the handgun terms into a pocket, which are meant to accommodate hands,
“sub-compact” and “micro-compact,” or “micro.” after all. “Micro” should mean something.
There are compact pistols on the market larger than What exactly are the dimensions for a person’s “palm?”
full-size models of other manufacturers. There are sub- What are a pocket’s dimensions? There’s a difference
compacts bigger than so-called “compacts,” and micro- between the pockets of a pair of skinny jeans and the
compacts bigger than “sub-compacts.” It appears that a baggy pockets of cargo shorts. Any pistol much longer
micro or a sub-compact pistol is whatever the manufac- than 5 inches overall, or 4 inches tall — which are the
turer says it is. I’m a writer who loves the flexibility of the average dimensions of a man’s palm — seems too large to
English language, but this makes my brain melt. be considered a “micro.” Overall length is more import-
I can come up with some more-or-less objective speci- ant than barrel length, but to my mind a micro-compact
fications for what I think qualifies a pistol as a “compact,” shouldn’t have a barrel measuring more than 3 inches.
“sub-compact,” or “micro-compact.” Some consider me Weight should be a factor, as well. How heavy is too
knowledgeable in the field, but most of it is just my subjec- heavy? A micro pistol that can disappear into a pocket
tive opinion. I mix the subjective with the objective all the shouldn’t be so heavy that it pulls your pants off the hip.
time, so allow me to start an argument. I think the unloaded weight of no more than 1 pound, or
PHOTOS: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

16 ounces, should take care of it. (That’s 3.7 kilometers for

MICRO-COMPACT those of you in the UK.)
The word “micro” means “especially small.” It was A micro should be chambered in a caliber suitable
originally used in conjunction with “microscopic.” A for a micro-pistol. I would suggest this means some-
micro-compact handgun should not be too big to fit into thing smaller or less powerful than 9mm. The .380 ACP
a pocket, and that’s a hill I’m willing to die on. Micros, by qualifies, of course, but so does .22 LR, .22 Win. Mag.,
26 G&A | November 2024 | hAndGunninG

size handgun. Confusing this logic, some compact pistols

arrived before the existance of a full-size model. Consider
the Kimber KDS9c. “KDS9c” stands for “Kimber Double-
Stack 9mm compact. I liked the gun, but the KDS9c was the
first of its breed, and Kimber has yet to introduce a full-size
version.
Is a pistol a compact, as in a noun? Or is it simply “com-
pact,” as in the adjective? The Oxford English Dictionary
defines “compact” as “something that is a small and
conveniently shaped example of its kind.” You can under-
“KDS9c” is short for “Kimber
Double-Stack 9mm compact.” stand why I want to pull my hair out! Whether or not it is a
However, it’s not a compact smaller version of an existing model, to my mind, if you’re
version of an existing model. calling a pistol “compact,” it should be small enough to
Without the Holosun sight, it
weighs 25.3 ounces and is 7.75 conceal with the right choice of cover garment. Yet, the
inches in length. $1,495 professionals’ standard carry pistol during the 1980s was
often the Colt Lightweight Commander. It is technically a
lightweight compact, but it’s
.25 ACP, .32 ACP, and a few other larger and heavier than many
oddballs. An example would be the modern full-size pistols.
proprietary bottlenecked .25 NAA If the P365 and Hellcat are
and .32 NAA. North American Arms the standards for comparing
took a .32 ACP and necked it down modern sub-compacts — you
to .25. For the .32 NAA, they took a know where I’m going next
.380 ACP and necked it down to .32. — the carry gun that all were
Beretta introduced the 9mm Nano Discontinued, the 111/2- judged against since 1988
in 2011, and the .380 Pico in 2013, ounce Beretta Pico .380 was the G19. It remains the
offered a thin, snag-free
both discontinued. I predict manu- profile for concealment quintessential “compact.” It is
facturers will soon introduce “nano- and pocket carry. a smaller version of the full-
compacts.” The guns won’t be any size G17. Glock cut the barrel
smaller than a micro, but they’ll sound to 4 inches from 4.4 inches,
smaller and cooler. Bet me! and about half-an-inch of the grip length was removed to
reduce capacity to 15 from 17 rounds. While not small, or
SUB-COMPACTS especially lightweight, it is definitely concealable with a
Even the vague specifications I listed to define “micro- quality holster and the right choice of covering garment. In
compacts” fail to categorize every small handgun. If a 2024, it is the size and weight of some new full-size pistols.
gun is just a bit too large or heavy to be classified as a Since it is almost impossible to come up with a clear set
micro-compact — but the manufacturer insists on calling of specifications for what constitutes micro versus sub- and
it one — I think we can all agree that it is probably better compact pistols, perhaps we should start employing termi-
described as a “sub-compact.” The original SIG Sauer nology that’s based on use rather than specific dimensions.
P365 9mm met the definition of a sub-compact perfectly: I propose, for your consideration: “Duty,” “Carry,” and
5.8-inches long, 4.2-inches tall with a flush magazine in “Pocket.”
place, less than an inch thick, and weighing 19 ounces Duty-sized pistol would be too large and/or heavy for
empty. The popular SIG Sauer P365 seemed to be a good any type of realistic carry other than in a holster worn on
standard to describe a sub-compact pistol. Does the a belt outside of clothing or in an off-body rig. A carry
current versions of the P365 still qualify as a sub-compact? gun would be sized for just that — concealed carry; carry
What if you attach a light and optic? A SIG Sauer RomeoZ- guns should be sized and weighted to be concealable with
ero adds 9 ounces and .93 inch in height. A Foxtrot1X the right holster and cover garment. Various guns fit into
adds 1.8 oz and 1.3 inches in height. The answer is no. this category, but that’s fine. Lastly, a pocket gun, i.e., a
“micro,” would — stick with me here — be small enough
COMPACTS to fit in a standard-size pocket.
A sub-compact could be a smaller version of an exist- It used to be a giant guy would be given the name
ing compact gun, a G26 to a G19, for example, but that “Tiny,” as a joke. Unfortunately, some gun companies
provides little objective data. It seems nobody can agree are doing it with straight faces. Maybe my chosen terms
on what “compact” means. Technically, a compact pistol aren’t perfect, but it seems like we need to come up with
should have a specific definition. Objective sizing aside, it a better naming convention than the arbitrary mess of
is supposed to be the compact version of an existing full- contradictory labels we’ve got now.
DEFEND AGAINST
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ENCLOSED CONDITION DEPENDABILITY

T H E R O M E O -X E N C L O S E D

OUT NOW
28 G&A November 2024

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However, most light-ready holsters have been designed toward the gun until it contacts the top of the pistol’s slide.
around the SureFire X300 series. Why? The dimensions Tighten the retention screws and check firearm fitment
and defined edges of the X300 offered holster makers to ensure there is no wiggle or rock; the pistol should not
plenty of real estate and retention points to mold a holster move within the holster.
around. By contrast, compact, low-profile lights — such as Further holster adjustment is also available. A retention
the TLR-7 — offer few points for a molded holster to hold screw beneath the concealment strut is used to tune how
on to. The challenge shared by legacy offerings was size. tightly the holster grips the light. Ride height and cant
A full-size holster designed around a full-size light is more can be refined to the user’s preference by adjusting the
difficult to conceal belt-clip position
and less comfortable within its parallel
to carry, especially mounting channels.
inside the waistband Finally, the holster
(IWB). can accommodate
The Universal left-handed shooters
Light Holster from by simply swapping
Crucial Concealment the belt clip to the
evolves the category holster’s backside
through the use of a and flipping over the
moveable retention concealment strut.
shim that ensures a
secure, customized 30-DAY CARRY
fit for a variety of For the field review,
pistols. The hol- I opted to test a
ster’s single sheet TLR-7 model of
of .093-inch-thick the Universal Light
Kydex is folded and Holster with a Rost
molded to form a Martin RM1C pistol.
light-specific pocket, I was quickly able to
supporting Stream- fit the gun securely
light’s TLR-1 and and tune the draw to
TLR-7, as well as the my preference. I like
SureFire X300U. So to be able to hold a
long as the appro- holster upside down
priate light is used, without the gun
a single Universal falling free, but I still
Far removed from the older, loose-fit “universal” holsters, Crucial Concealment uses
Light Holster will a moveable, internal retention shim to create a secure hold. The “Kickstand” strut want a fast, smooth
accommodate a (above, lower left) pushes against the belt to keep the pistol close to the body. draw. With just
range of single- and two or three micro
double-stack 9mm and .40 S&W semiautomatics. adjustments, I achieved a Goldilocks fit.
Crucial Concealment also lives up to its name by prior- As soon as the gun was fitted, I was off to the range.
itizing concealed-carry considerations. The inclusion of a Thanks to its trim design, the holster felt like many other
TLR-7 model acknowledges that most shooters prefer to single-clip AIWB holsters I’ve worn. I really didn’t have to
pair compact guns with compact lights. As well, the holster fuss with or get used to the Crucial Concealment rig. I put
is trim and contoured, and includes IWB-centric features it on at the 12:30 appendix position, and then forgot it
such as an inverted wedge belt clip and added conceal- was there. No, it’s not going to get a perfect comfort score
ment strut — the “kickstand,” in company lingo — both from me — Kydex is still Kydex — but the Universal Light
helping to stabilize the holster and keep it close to the Holster was absolutely unobtrusive. That, alone, is a big
body, especially when worn in the appendix inside-the- improvement versus previous IWB light holsters tested.
waistband (AIWB) position. The holster was relieved above The holster was very fast for me, which makes sense
the slide to accommodate pistol-mounted optics, as well. since it reflects my typical everyday carry (EDC) setup, with
Fitting the holster to a light-equipped pistol is quick the addition of a pistol-mounted light. My draw time was
and simple. First, ensure the firearm is unloaded and the around 1 second, and my five-draw average included two
appropriate light is affixed to the rail. Prep the holster sub-1-second runs. The only limiting factor was me, the
by loosening the two retention shim screws, and ensure user — not the gear.
they slide freely within the adjustment channels. Then, After the 30-day stretch, I wanted to confirm the
insert the firearm into the holster. Move the retention shim holster’s firearm adjustability. I changed out the compact
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may find this an irresistible option. Rather than stocking cealment is the real deal. I
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36 G&A | November 2024 | Gun tech

Hold down the power When you see some-

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on. The button will flash a tap of the camera
blue. In your device button takes a photo.
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connected, the power Photos and video are
The mirror allows users to inspect Borecam can be used to inspect the
button stops flashing the condition of a barrel’s bore. Red- gas port for semiauto rifles. Erosion saved to the camera roll
and remains a solid blue. dish streaks indicate copper fouling. at the gas port can affect reliability. of your smart device
Remove the rubber cap for documentation and
from the end of the 26-inch rod and thread on the appro- future analysis.
priate mirror size, which is based on the bore’s dimensions. When the power button flashes quickly, it’s time to
Mirror sizes include .2 inch (.22 caliber), .24 inch (.243 cal.), charge. The power button lights up red when charging,
.28 inch (.30 cal.), .34 inch (.38 cal./9mm), and .4 inch (.40 and the light turns off after the unit is fully charged.
cal./10mm). The Lyman Borecam 2.0 is delivered in a cardboard
Insert the Borecam 2.0 into the barrel and use the case, which has a magnetized closure. The case is foam
brightness button to choose between one of three set- lined with cutouts to safely store the Borecam 2.0. A
tings, or to turn the light off. The 26-inch rod is marked plastic case is provided to contain the various mirror sizes,
with even numbers from 2 to 22 inches. If you spot a USB-C power cord, and instruction manual.
concern that warrants further inspection, the rubber stop Cleaning patches are for cleaning. If you want to know
at the base of the rod can position the camera at a desig- what’s actually going on inside the barrels of your firearms,
nated point. The rubberized grip allows the user to easily check out the Lyman Borecam 2.0. Visit lymanproducts.
rotate the camera and view 360 degrees inside the bore. com to order or for more information.
 WHERE COMPACT DESIGN MEETS
UNRIVALED PERFORMANCE
WORK HARD. LEAVE A LEGACY.

COLT VIPER
The Colt Viper is the ultimate carry revolver, boasting a half
lug design for enhanced concealability and reduced weight.
Crafted with precision from forged stainless steel and
chambered in 357 Magnum for unparalleled performance.
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COLT VIPER (VIPER-SP3WRR, VIPER-SP4WRR)

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R I F L E S & G LASS

Revic Radikl RS25b

SCOPES
A purpose is classically defined as “magni- or milliradians (mils) to correct elevation. This eliminates
and surrounding area while also providing the requirement that whoever is ranging the target has to
aiming point.” Scopes have advanced know the shooter’s ballistic solution in advance, a com-
models to variable power, and from plicated task when trying to work quickly in the field. The
point-of- adjustments required to zero, to fine shooter just has to know the range to the target, so a sim-
and repeatable adjustments done with a quick turn of an ple statement from a friend with a rangefinder, “472 yards”
exposed turret. The next leap forward for riflescopes in for example, provides the missing piece of information.

a Cody, Wyoming-
focused on long-
two decades.

and then don’t worry too much about

target distance when the range is 300
yards or less. This method is simple and
effective. It persists because it has been
proven to work again and again. The

when distances increase.

in, along with an inclinome-

edge the PMR scope

just asked where the shooter intended to hunt and what ounces. No hunter is excited about carrying a 3-pound
time of year. This allowed for precise shooting solutions. scope in the field. The PMR came out at the NRA Annual
PHOTOS: MARK FINGAR

What Gunwerks learned in a decade of teaching people Meetings in 2017. Once they saw the reception the PMR
to shoot with the outlined system was that the fastest and received, Gunwerks began working on the second genera-
simplest form of communication during a hunt was when tion immediately. The Radikl RS25b riflescope sent to Guns
speaking in terms of yards, not minutes of angle (MOA) & Ammo for testing is the result of those efforts.
40 G&A | November 2024 | rifles & GlAss

The ocular housing features sensors to deter- The RS25b accepts custom, laser-engraved
mine incline, pressure, temperature, cant, ballistic data rings. Available from Gunw-
positional rotation, direction and elevation. erks, they are easy to install.

REVIC RADIKL RS25B

POWER
OBJECTIVE
TUBE DIAMETER
ELEVATION
ADJUSTMENT
The Revic Radikl features a three-turn, WINDAGE
non-raising turret with an impressive 140-
MOA adjustment range. RETICLE
LENGTH
The new scope has a different WEIGHT
The HUD is not intrusive, taking up around
magnification range, but it weighs 10 EYE RELIEF a sixth of the field of view at the top. Ballis-
ounces less and significantly increases MSRP tic data is displayed with environmentals.
optical performance. There is an intu-
MANFACTURER
itive way to input wind values directly was surprised how quickly I became
into the scope for refined and fast comfortable behind the Radikl scope
shooting solutions, all while staying and how easy it was to use. It already
on the rifle and looking through the scope. While some had the rifle’s profile installed, and the OLED screen at the
will be shy about putting it on a lightweight gun, it is at top of the field of view had all the information displayed
home on most hunting rifles due to its many capabilities. in an easily understood format. What caught my attention
I saw first-hand just how effortless the Radikl RS25b the most — besides the image quality the scope provided
makes shooting at long distance on a recent South Africa — was the real-time wind holds calculated as I adjusted
plains game hunt. While hunting with Davidson, we com- for the target’s distance. I like to estimate wind speed and
pared riflescope set-ups and shared our thoughts on each direction at my location, and then look through the scope
other’s solutions. I used a system I’ve developed through to estimate what it’s doing downrange. A couple nudges
years of long-range shooting, and it worked well for me. and taps on the small joystick atop the ocular housing and
Each morning, I created a range card that covered dis- the scope calculated holds based on my latest read. No
tances from 200 to 800 yards using Hornady’s 4DOF solver. system is faster while still accounting for all the variables
I wrote the card out and carried it in an arm-mounted that impact long-range shooting.
sleeve or in my pocket. I created a second card at lunch to The Revic Radikl RS25b is as high-tech as scopes get.
reflect the change in temperature. It proved to be a highly sophisticated riflescope that
“That’s dumb,” said Davidson. I chuckled and decided shoulders almost all of the difficult technical tasks in
to watch how he solved his long-range problems. The getting to a ballistic solution quickly. The only efforts left
ease of his solution didn’t hit home until I borrowed his for the shooter are to determine the range, dial the turret,
rifle and Radikl scope for my last animal. The rifle won’t estimate wind, and pull the trigger. To date, no system is
be announced until 2025, so I can’t describe it here, but I faster and more accurate.
42 G&A NOVEMBER 2024

Q U I ET TI M E SureFire SOCOM556-RC3

$1,799

STANDARD
SUPPRESSOR DIVISION was established sors achieved a reputation for sub-1 MOA impact shifts after
Applying science to advance suppressor tech- reinstallation. This allowed end users to pack their deploy-
y, the first notable achievement was to improve ment kits in compact loadouts and attach suppressors when
potential and repeatability. At the time, U.S. needed with the confidence that their shots would be effec-
Operations units were the primary customers of tive against enemy targets. Engineers at SureFire continued
on carbines, but impact shift when removing to improve on that success as needs for full-auto, belt-fed-
and reattaching a suppressor in a combat environment rated cans that could offer sound-reduction performance
forced troops to leave cans on their muzzles or forfeit the on platforms ranging in caliber between 5.56mm and .50
sound-suppression benefits. Suppressors coming loose caliber. Lessons learned from designing and manufacturing
and changing the point of impact (POI) were concerns, as suppressors for the military advanced pistol-caliber and
were the effects of heat during sustained combat. As the commercial products for the division.
temperature rose, a lick of flame During the War on Terror, the
extending beyond the muzzle U.S. military surveyed the health
became a target identifier for the risks of its combat veterans, includ-
enemy. The Suppressor Division set ing Tier 1 operators who trained in
out to eliminate these issues with close-quarter environments such as
a Total Signature Reduction (TSR) shoot houses. Exposure to toxins
plan, which resulted in the Fast- during intense training and in com-
Attach mounting system and the bat environments revealed a need
PHOTOS: MARK FINGAR

SOCOM-556 and -762 series that for suppressor designs to address

earned the trust of the U.S. Special backpressure. The U.S. Govern-
Operations Command (SOCOM). ment opened its labs for suppres-
SureFire SOCOM-series suppres- sor manufacturers to analyze and
PREMIUM.
DISCREET.
VERSATILE.

FULL HOOK & LOOP

LINED INNER PANEL

RUGGED, ALL-WEATHER
BALLISTIC POLYESTER

DETACHABLE PLUSH
COMPARTMENT CASE

NEW

RANGE
PREMIUM MULTI-USE BAG

12 MOLLE-STYLE STRAPS
44 G&A | November 2024 | quiet time

ACTUAL SIZE

SUREFIRE
SOCOM-556RC3
CALIBER
DIAMETER
LENGTH
WEIGHT

MATERIALS

MOUNT

FINISH
MSRP
To ensure precise alignment, repeatability, and compatibility with pre-existing muzzle
devices, SureFire engineered the SOCOM556-RC3 to maintain use of the Fast-Attach mount- MANUFACTURER
ing system. The system features a notch inside the collar to index with the muzzle device.

study flow dynamics and backpressure using a supercom- a target for the enemy to engage. Though a suppressor
puter loaded with aerospace research software. SureFire may produce minimal flash when firing the first round, as
was the only company to hire scientists to interpret the it heats up the flash from the muzzle generally becomes
data used in the development of its digital-design proto- increasingly visible. The RC3 nearly eliminates the flash
types. Manufactured prototypes validated the discoveries from the first shot to the last.
when shot in a clone of the test-box used by U.S. Special The SOCOM556-RC3 remains a Fast-Attach design that
Operations at Crane to measure airborne particulate is compatible with existing SOCOM Fast-Attach accessories
matter in parts-per-million. When fired, particulate matter and muzzle devices. When you install an RC3 to a carbine
can envelop a shooter, especially in an enclosed environ- that already has a muzzle device such as a SureFire War-
ment. After lengthy research and significant investment, comp, you’re not simply replacing it, you’re improving its
the SOCOM556-RC3 was found to produce 60-percent performance. Measuring 6.3 inches in length, it possesses
less backpressure. While achieving its goals, the RC3 also the same compactness as the RC2 and similar sound levels.
reduced fouling inside the action and improved recoil It weighs 17 ounces. For those who have a carbine and a
control, even with full-auto small arms. previous generation SOCOM556 suppressor, upgrading to
The mixture of gas, unburnt powder and oxygen the RC3 presents the same feel, handling and maneuver-
typically results in a flash signature that is detectable in ability. Finish-wise, SureFire applies a black or tan Cera-
darkness, revealing the shooter’s location and providing kote to preserve appearances, but if you’re like the Tier 1

To mount the SOCOM556-RC3, slide the can over any compatible Fast-Attach mounting device such as the SOCOM 3 Prong flash hider
($169, surefire.com). With the suppressor indexed, rotate the Fast-Attach mounting ring to secure it. To unlock and remove, press the button
on the ring and unscrew the collar. SureFire engineering and machining ensure repeatable and precise alignment to the barrel’s bore.
46 G&A | November 2024 | quiet time

dot-tracking pattern is going to be the same.”

The silhouette target featured an aiming point as big
as a thumbprint. Out to 20 yards using a Bravo Company
Recce equipped with an Aimpoint Micro red dot, my
groups measured between 1 and 2 inches. At 30, shooting
from an aggressive fighting stance, my groups opened to
about 3 to 4 inches. At 50, 5 to 6 inches.
After confirming zero, analyzing fundamentals, we
performed Doubles at close range to test our predictive
shooting capability. The aiming point disappeared before
performing Doubles at 30 yards, 40 yards, Triples at 10
Three days training with Matt Pranka of Xray Alpha pushed an RC3- yards with A-zone-only hits, then 20 yards, and four shots
equipped Bravo Company carbine through 1,000 rounds per day. in the A-zone at 30 and 40 yards with 85-percent accuracy
within 1.2 seconds. A com-
operators who deploy with petition between students
a SureFire, shooting enough walking back from 15 to 60
rounds will eventually dis- yards in 1½ seconds put
color the surface finish. the pressure on and forced
The RC3 is a line of low- us to be aggressive.
backpressure suppressors, Pranka wrapped up each
meaning that it will eventu- day, “How many noticed
ally be offered to support there was a suppressor
7.62mm calibers, and oth- attached to our rifles all
ers. The benefits of the RC3 day?” None. The RC3 may
extend beyond the sound as well have been invisible.
reduction, flash suppression, Training stepped up
Six inches long and weighing 17 ounces, the SOCOM556-RC3 pres-
controllability, effectiveness, ents similar characteristics as the RC2 models. Visually, the RC3 is intensity and complexity,
and service life of the host identifiable by its precision-welded, flared, flow-through muzzle cap. including drills to push
firearm. The mission now reloads, distance shooting
requires suppressors to safeguard the health of the opera- with an education about zeroes and bullet trajectories at
tor. SureFire remains the standard, in my opinion. different distances, and techniques to hasten our actions
and smooth our performance. Pranka required a lot of
AT THE RANGE mental focus, but having the RC3 attached to the muzzle
The SOCOM556-RC3 was evaluated during a carbine required no additional considerations. I could hear Pranka’s
class taught by Matt Pranka of Xray Alpha (xrayalpha. instructions during the course clearly. I never experienced
com). Pranka used a practical approach to training in order an impact shift or a need for maintenance to the carbine
to develop foundational skills. Training featured Doubles for three days and roughly for 3,000 rounds of Black Hills
drills and Practical Accuracy with a carbine, pressure tested 77-grain OTM. If you have experience shooting a sup-
against time, downrange results and competition. pressed carbine, you’re familiar with the gas and teary eyes
“If [you] leave the range and have a fist-size group, all that can result from shooting multiple shots. It’s like walk-
you prove to yourself is that you’re very good at doing what ing through a cloud, and you know that it’s not really good
you want to do,” Pranka said. “We have to set conditions for you. There was none of that when testing the RC3.
where we want to make mistakes; we want to fail. In the Pranka stressed “control, accountability, and per-
practical world, most of your formance.” Though he
training should be in a push, was referring to pushing
exploratory world. You’re ourselves to be predictive
trying to break foundational shooters, the same terms
skills, fundamentals, in order described our hardware.
to fix it. I like using predic- Our focus needs to be
tive shooting to do this. I’m on the target, and the
using historical information awareness of our dot’s
about how the gun behaves relationship to where we
in recoil as my aiming want to hit. The RC3 does
strategy. If I do my part, if I a better job of making that
hold the gun the same every happen.
time, I can expect that the — E. Poole
48 G&A | November 2024

KAHR’S X9 IS A DOUBLE-COLUMN WIN.

BY JAMES TARR | PHOTOS BY MARK FINGAR
November 2024 | G&A 49
50 G&A | November 2024 | X SERIES

The Kahr X9 has a profile and size similar to the

original K9 model, which was introduced in 1995.
The X9 is all new, featuring front and rear slide
serrations and texturing around the grip.

IT WASN’T UNTIL I HEARD that Kahr was releas- system than one
ing a new pistol that I realized I hadn’t heard from might expect.
them in a long while. Kahr roared onto the scene It has a 3.54-inch
almost 30 years ago, circa 1995, with the K9, an all- barrel, and overall is
steel single-stack 9mm that was nearly the same size 6.125 inches long,
as many of the .380s of the day. The 1994 Assault 4.375 inches tall
Weapons Ban (AWB) was in effect, so new maga- (with the flush magazine inserted), and 1.05 inches
zines holding more than 10 rounds were unavail- wide. Unloaded, with an empty magazine, it weighs
able for commercial sale. The crime rate went up, 20.2 ounces.
and a nationwide movement in support of con- In appearance, the X9 is clearly a Kahr. It sports
cealed carry shifted into gear. It was perfect timing the distinctive lines and curves of previous pistols.
for the single-stack K9. Additional models followed Both the barrel and slide are stainless steel, and
in different sizes, some with polymer frames. the slide is given a matte black finish. Between the
Kahr pistols were not just popular with private cit- stainless-steel and polymer construction, the X9 is
izens. The reliability, durability, and double-action- as corrosion-resistant and built for carry as you’re
only (DAO) trigger system earned it authorization likely to find.
by law enforcement for use as a backup and off-duty “Built for carry?” Yes, the X9 sports the same slick
gun. The entire firearms market seemed to pivot. With the exterior design as all Kahr pistols. One aspect that made
demise of the AWB in 2004, and the introduction of new the original K9 so trendsetting as a concealed-carry
designs with increased capacity and reduced weight, Kahr piece was the smooth exterior to minimize the chance of
was met with additional competition. The printing or snagging on cover garments. Still,
new-for-2024 Kahr X9 aims to reclaim some there is no external safety or trigger-safety
of that glory — and market share. lever. All controls are thin and low profile to
The X9 is the first in an all-new line of pis- make it as comfortable to carry as it is quick
tols from Kahr, the Premium X Series. These to deploy. Other pistols have followed suit,
are fed by double-stack magazines. As Kahr but the K9 used to be the exception.
has done with its previous models, different The slide sports wide, flat-bottomed serra-
versions of the new models will follow. The tions front and back. Between the serrations
initial X9, however, was sized to meet the and the matte texture, there are no handling
needs of the concealed-carry market. issues when racking the slide. Kahr pistols
feature the recoil-operated, tilt-barrel design.
FEATURES & SPECS There is a small cutout at the rear of the bar-
The X9 is a polymer-framed, optics-ready, rel hood that serves as the loaded chamber
striker-fired 9mm fed by 10-round maga- Ten-round magazines are indicator. Interestingly, the polished feed
zines, and utilizing what Kahr describes as its a staple of Kahr carry ramp on the barrel is “angled,” meaning the
pistols. Two are included,
DAO trigger system. In function and feel, it is one flush-fit and one with left side sticks out farther. I’m not sure I’ve
far closer to a traditional striker-fired trigger an extension. seen that before.
 X SERIES | November 2024 | G&A 51

The matte, stainless-steel barrel offers a

loaded-chamber indicator in the form of a
notch at the rear of the barrel hood.

KAHR X9

TYPE

CARTRIDGE
CAPACITY
BARREL
OVERALL
Slide serrations and low-profile controls LENGTH Steel, dovetailed sights are too low for
remain distinguishing characteristics of use with an optic mounted. The dove-
Kahr pistols, including the new X9. The WIDTH tailed dot-on-post arrangement can be
direct-mount, optic-ready slide is new. HEIGHT drifted to adjust left or right.
WEIGHT
Compared to many polymer, FINISH com). The Holosun EPS Carry is an
striker-fired pistols, the X9 locks up GRIP enclosed optic available with red or
tight, which is not surprising. Kahr green reticles. The version on G&A’s
SIGHTS
pistols are known to be “bank vault sample featured a 2 MOA green dot.
tough.” There was barely any play TRIGGER
Green dots are actually brighter to
between the slide and frame of Guns the human eye, which is why some
SAFETY
& Ammo’s test sample. When the bar- people prefer them. Others — myself
rel hood was pressed down, it didn’t MSRP included — prefer red dots simply
move at all in battery. MANUFACTURER
because that’s what they’ve grown up
Sights on the X9 are simple, but using; they just look “right” to our
robust. That’s what you want on a brains. (Actually, I prefer iron sights
concealed-carry gun. They’re made of steel and dovetailed on my carry guns, but that’s a discussion for another time.)
into place. The front sight sports a white dot, and the rear Whatever sighting arrangement you prefer, the Kahr X9
sight a notch. Underneath the notch is a vertical white can likely accommodate it.
line. Kahr has termed these “white bar-dot combat sights.” Inside the slide is a full-length steel guiderod; around
For many, iron sights are as out of date as AM radio. it is a single recoil spring. The spring is captured, but if
For those, the X9 slide was you look closely you’ll see
engineered to be optic- the rod was designed to
ready. Simply remove be disassembled, allowing
the coverplate to see that intrepid owners to swap
the slide was designed out recoil springs. I assume
to accept direct-mount this means different weight
optics having the Holosun springs will be offered at
K footprint. The footprint some point. The provided
is Holosun’s modified recoil spring is somewhat
version of the Shield RMSc stiff in order to absorb a
footprint; a number of broad span of 9mm recoil
affordable and popular forces in such a small gun.
Holosun optics use it. There is a three-slot rail
G&A’s sample was delivered at the front of the polymer
with a Holosun EPS Carry Kahr pistols are regarded for its minimalist-type controls. The X9 frame for mounting accesso-
on it ($470.58, holosun. is no different. They only add .05 inch width to the 1-inch slide. ries such as a light or laser.
52 G&A | November 2024 | X SERIES

The internal features are familiar to striker-fired semiautomatics, The takedown lever is not only serrated and low-profile, it is
but simpler. The safety plunger is adjacent to the slide’s striker. recessed into the frame. Rotate it 90 degrees for disassembly.

ible. All the controls — slide stop levers, takedown lever,

and magazine release — are steel. So is the trigger.
As for the trigger system, if you’re used to modern
striker-fired guns, you won’t be disappointed. The trigger
has a wide, smooth face, but no safety lever. There is about
half an inch of takeup — measured at the trigger tip —
and then the trigger moves less than .4 inch. The trigger
feel has a rolling break, smooth and with a total weight
measuring 7 pounds.
Kahr indicates that the X9 has a “DAO trigger system,”
which is not technically correct. With the slide of the X9
at rest, the striker is already partially, mostly, retracted, and
under tension. Pulling the trigger pivots the sear in a short
The DAO trigger is a proprietary mechanism actuated by the arc, moving the striker backward a little further. Then the
smooth, curved trigger. The triggerguard features an undercut. sear drops out of the way and allows the striker to snap
forward under spring pres-
The markings on the sure. Other than the trigger
slide are subtle. “X9” pull being longer than what
appears near the muzzle on you’ll find in most striker-
the left side, and “KAHR” fired pistols, the internal
is just above the takedown function is similar. Trigger
lever. The left side of the reset measured .4 inch.
frame is marked to note
that it was made in Kahr’s GRIP, SIZE SMALL/MEDIUM
Greeley, Pennsylvania, The big news is this: If
factory. you’ve got small hands, I
The X9 offers a bilat- think you’ll like how the
eral slide-stop lever. The X9 is laid out. The reach to
serrated pads are small and The X9 fills the hand despite its thin and compact size. To sup- the trigger is quite short.
nearly flush with the frame, port the pinky and improve control, use the extended magazine. After the takeup, the dis-
so utilizing them as slide- tance between the trigger
release levers may be tricky, depending on the size of your face and the backstrap is just 21 ⁄3 inches. That’s about
thumb and how tight your gun is. When in doubt, rack half-an-inch less than on a SIG Sauer P365. If you’ve got
the slide by hand to chamber a round. big hands, the X9 might not be for you. I’ve got smaller
The takedown lever is nearly flush with the left side of hands for a guy, and I was nearly pressing the trigger with
the frame. I found that I needed a tool — in my case, the the tip of my trigger finger. If you’ve got small hands and
tip of a pen — to rotate it down for disassembly. have always struggled to reach triggers, the X9 might be
The magazine release is also small and as low profile as the answer. On that note, the X9 includes two, 10-round
the rest of the controls. You will not be dislodging maga- stainless-steel magazines. One has a flush-type basepad,
zines unintentionally. Plus, the magazine release is revers- and the other a grip extension. I wear size Medium gloves
54 G&A | November 2024 | X SERIES

sides of the frame have more mild texture to the mold.

While the grip does feel a little chunky in my hand, a little
squarish, perhaps, it doesn’t feel bad. I found the X9 quite
shootable. You can choke up on it quite well.
Aesthetically, the only thing I didn’t like was the place-
ment of the serial number. It’s laser engraved into a nearly
square stainless-steel plate set into the left side of the
frame. I would have preferred it be out of sight, perhaps
within the frame rail underneath the dustcover.

AT THE RANGE
The Kahr X9 ran everything I fed it, including a mix of
hollowpoints and standard full-metal-jacket (FMJ) ammu-
nition. Except for the slide locking back on a full magazine
after the first shot — something that never happened again
PERFORMANCE
— the gun was 100-percent reliable. Seating fully-loaded
BEST AVG.
VEL. GROUP GROUP magazines on a closed slide took some effort.
LOAD (FPS) ES SD (IN.) (IN.)
I shot the X9 side-by-side with a SIG Sauer P365 to
compare recoil impulses. The P365 is marginally smaller
and lighter than the X9, so, unsurprisingly, the X9 dis-
played less recoil; the P365 was definitely snappier, espe-
cially when shooting defensive loads. The X9 was nicely
Accuracy is the average of five, five-shot groups at 25 yards from a sandbag rest.
Velocity is the average of 10 shots measured with an Oehler Model 35P chronograph accurate, too, especially for a subcompact pistol almost
set at 12 feet in front of the muzzle.
small enough to fit in a pocket.
While shooting, I saw
and I could only get all that if I wasn’t paying close
fingers around the gun attention, I pushed the
when I used the extended dot left while pulling the
magazine. With the flush trigger, a rookie mistake. I
magazine basepad, most finally realized it was due
of us will find that our to the short reach to the
pinky has to curl under the trigger; my finger had to
bottom of the magazine. curve in an unfamiliar way
The finger extension offers to work it, which caused
more gripping surface; the issue.
it shouldn’t compromise
concealability since it adds PARTING SHOT
no length at the butt of the In many ways, the X9 is a
grip, and that’s what prints mix of the old and new. It is
against a covering garment. The backstrap encourages a high grip. Two patterns of texture slightly chunky and heavy
It doesn’t add capacity. I help to prevent the X9 from rotating in the hand during recoil. compared to some compet-
would recommend to Kahr ing designs, but it offers all
that it ship the X9 with one 10-round magazine and two the modern features we now expect from a new subcom-
baseplates — flush and extended — and one higher capac- pact, striker-fired 9mm. And — please — note that I don’t
ity magazine, 12 rounds or so, for the same length as the consider the extra weight a negative! All of the alternatives
10 rounder with extended grip. It would be a win-win. to the X9 are available in larger and heavier versions of the
As this model seems to be the first in the new X-series, sub- and micro-compact pistols. People quickly discover
I expect future variants will be larger and offer longer and that shooting small light pistols isn’t usually pleasant. The
greater-capacity magazines. A prototype 15-round maga- extra few ounces in the X9 means that it is shootable for
zine with grip extension was shown during its soft launch its size. I suspect the follow-on models will prove to be
at the 2024 SHOT Show, but I’d like to see a shorter mid- absolute hammers.
length magazine offered, as well. One of those magazines Is Kahr late to the program with the X9? Yes, but it is
stuffed into the grip of this pistol would solve any control still a reliable performer. The extra weight reduces felt
issues for people with big hands while being concealable. recoil, and the short trigger reach makes the X9 one of the
There is raised rectangular texturing on the front and best options for people with small hands needing a quality
back of the frame that does grip the hand nicely. The carry gun.
 ©2023 O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc.

|
M O SSB ER G 5 9 0 ® SH O C K WAVE ®

BAD GUYS
DON’T
RING
DOORBELLS.

SAFETY TIP
Store firearms securely, inaccessible
to children and unauthorized users.
Consult and comply with any and all applicable federal, state,
and local: laws, regulations, requirements, and/or restrictions,
including but not limited to those regarding the purchase,
ownership, use, transport, and carrying of a firearm.
Not all products are available in all states or jurisdictions.
 WALTHER
PDP PRO-X
TYPE

CARTRIDGE

With reliability and accuracy CAPACITY

established, a pistol in my “John
Wick” box receives an upgraded BARREL
trigger, upgraded sights, a red-dot
LENGTH
optic, flared magazine well, several
WIDTH
spare mags of different capacities,
and a compensator for the muzzle. HEIGHT the alternatives are the Canik TTI
The Walther PDP Pro-X 9mm has Combat ($949, canikusa.com); FN
WEIGHT
(almost) all of these included, but 509 CC Edge XL ($1,629, fnamer-
I typically attach a pistol light and FINISH ica.com); Shadow Systems XR920P
order a custom holster to complete SIGHTS
($1,293, shadowsystems.com); SIG
the package. Sauer P320 Spectre Comp Blackout
Let’s consider the value proposition TRIGGER ($1,400, sigsauer.com), and Smith
of the PDP Pro-X. The manufacturer’s & Wesson Performance Center M&P
SAFETY
suggested retail price (MSRP) for the 2.0 Competitor ($999, smith-wesson.
base PDP model is $649. (Most gun MSRP com). The only current-production
stores sell them for less.) The PDP IMPORTER
factory compensated Glock is the
Pro-X includes an optic cut. All PDP full-auto G18C, but that’s not a read-
models are optic ready, but if you ily available model.
wanted to have the slide milled, a reputable shop such
as C&H Precision (chpws.com) will charge around $100 THE GOODIES
for the service, excluding additional nitriding or Cera- The Walther PDP was named 2021 Guns & Ammo Hand-
kote finishing. Finishwork to a slide adds another $60 to gun of the Year. Even after several thousand rounds fired
$100. Then, to add a barrel and compensator, the price is through our PDPs, we stand behind that award. It’s a great
around $350. How about an aftermarket match trigger? gun, and I’ve never heard anyone criticize it.
$180, not including installation. A magazine funnel? $90. The pattern of new releases we saw with the outgoing
Extended basepads? $35 each. And let’s not forget custom PPQ model has been applied to the PDP platform. As of
grip texture: $250. To configure a Walther PDP with these this writing, there are 25 varieties of PDP. It’s available
add-ons, the sum comes to $1,714 — on the low-end. in compact and full-size models; with extended barrels;
(The cost of the optic and light are not included.) The PDP two-tone versions with either gray, green or tan frames; a
Pro-X comes with these features and a factory warranty. Professional model with an Aimpoint Acro; and Match and
Walther’s MSRP for the PDP Pro-X — both full-size and Pro versions with Walther’s Performance Duty Trigger.
compact models — is $999. If a pistol configured such as The Performance Duty Trigger made the PDP one of the
this makes sense for you, Walther is saving you a couple best striker-fire pistols available — but it gets better. The
 going pro | November 2024 | g&A 59

The triggerguard isn’t exactly square. It has a checker-textured With the slide to the rear, it is easy to detect the anti-rotation
front touchpoint for the support-hand index finger, an undercut shape of the PMM compensator. It is threaded on, timed with a
for high grip. Inside is Walther’s Dynamic Performance Trigger. single shim and secured in place with Rocksett.

while achieving the same accuracy with the PDP Pro-X. A

new shooter might not discern the difference, but a com-
petitor or seasoned law enforcement professional would.
The performance improvement is due to a combination of
enhancements, one being the trigger. Next, let’s consider
the comp.
Started in 2012 by Jarod Legsdin, Parker Mountain
Machine (PMM) has made a name for himself. Based in
New Hampshire, his products and services have been
responsible for steering trends with firearms. Many know
PMM for aftermarket compensators, and if you have a
Walther PPQ or PDP, PMM makes a comp for it ($100).
He also offers a barrel-and-comp combo ($360). The
Even the coverplate complements the slide’s protruding Super-
Terrain serrations. Cover removed, an optic can be installed. PMM compensator on the PDP Pro-X, however, is unique
Send in the “redeem-a-plate” form for one free optic adapter. and exclusively provided to Walther. Made of anodized
aluminum, it is threaded
PDP Pro-X comes with on the barrel and secured
Walther’s Dynamic Perfor- by Rocksett adhesive. I
mance Trigger, which is contacted Walther for more
lighter and has a shorter information.
travel and reset than the “We worked on the
Performance Duty Trigger. compensator together,” said
What’s the difference? The Cody Osborn, director of
Dynamic Performance communications for Walther.
Trigger has a hand-tuned “We matched up the thread
sear engagement; it’s tuned options so that it would only
at the factory to offer an need one shim to properly
The standard sights are polymer, and a three, white-dot system.
excellent trigger feel. Guns Walther designed sights for the PDP on the Glock pattern for clock it. It attaches like the
& Ammo received three convenient replacemnt. They “low-witness” with a red-dot sight. muzzlebrake of an AR, so it
samples of the PDP Pro-X will be reliable.”
in Compact and Full-Size forms. Using a Lyman Digital If you look at the top of the slide, where the slide and
Trigger Pull Gauge, the Dynamic Performance Trigger mea- compensator meet, you’ll notice an arched interface that
sured 4 pounds, 12.5 ounces, a half-pound less than the interlocks the compensator to the slide when the slide is
Performance Duty Trigger. (Walther’s advertised 5½-pound in battery. This detail is unique to the PDP Pro-X and pre-
trigger weight estimate was conservative.) vents twisting. It’
s an “anti-rotation” feature, if you will.
Though accuracy results were similar between the PDP “When installed, it precisely aligns with the barrel,
and PDP Pro-X, the Pro-X is easier and quicker to shoot. ensuring perfect timing and optimal performance,”
On a timer, our splits improved an average of .03 seconds Osborn added. “When the slide is forward, the compen-
60 G&A | November 2024 | GoinG pro

Three magazines are provided, two 18-round magazines and a The grip is contoured to fill most hands, comfortably with
20-round magazine. The full-size PDP Pro-X includes short base- optional backstrap arches. The aluminum magwell not only
pads (shown). The compact Pro-X features extended basepads. improves feeding, it supports the firing hand.

Controls were designed with purpose. The reversible magazine Both full-size and compact models of the PDP Pro-X feature a
release button is intuitive to find and operate, and the lever five-slot accessory rail that extends to the PMM compensator.
above the grip was serrated to be a slide lock and a slide release. Streamlight’s TLR-7 HL-X was used during low-light shooting. $165

sator and barrel is locked optic, because that commit-

nice and tight.” ment is forever,” Osborn
added. “If a better optic
ADD AN OPTIC comes out in two years,
As a cost-saving measure, I don’t want to have to
Walther chose to install replace the entire slide or
standard-height polymer buy a new gun to use it.”
sights. Though it does The PDP was designed
come with a three-white- specifically for mounting
dot system — post front, a red-dot sight. You’ll note
adjustable rear — these are that the optic doesn’t extend
easily replaced with Glock- over the ejection port or
Walther provides a free optic-mounting plate with the purchase
pattern fiber-optics, tritium of a PDP. Six plates are available to accommodate the majority of barrel hood, and the slide
night sights, or adjustable pistol optics, but the Redeem-A-Plate program keeps cost down. serrations are still useful,
steel match sights. The PDP even with an optic in place.
slide prioritizes optics. “We’re optics people,” Osborn said. The optic is sunk down for a low witness. “Low witness”
The PDP Pro-X features Walther’s 2.0 optic-mounting sys- is a more accurate term than “co-witness” because the
tem, which accepts plates to accommodate most options. standard-height sights are useable at the very bottom of
Optic technology continues to advance, so Walther engi- an optic’s window. Walther didn’t install suppressor-height
neered the slide for plates rather than direct mounting. sights because they didn’t want sights obstructing half of
“I don’t like having a slide machined for a particular the window. It’s just visible in case something happens to
62 G&A | NOVEMBER 2024 | GOING PRO

release button, magazines eject immediately and with speed.

The magazine release button is reversible for left-hand use,
but I would suggest seeking someone with a mechanical
skillset for assistance with changing its orientation.
The difference between the initial PDP Pro-X models are
the grip frames. These will be available in either a full-size
(tested) or compact frame with the same 2.7-inch five-slot
rail. Unlike modular chassis pistols with removeable grip
modules, the PDP Pro-X polymer grip frame is a serialized
t
component. (Like the P99 and PPQ, the serial number is
at the back of the frame above the beavertail.) Initially, the
t PDP Pro-X will only be available in black.
The full-size frame is magazine specific. Whereas the com-
pact models of the PDP Pro-X will accept either the shorter
18-round magazine with
the dot. PERFORMANCE extended basepad, or the
Behind the ejection port VEL.
BEST AVG.
GROUP GROUP
18- and 20-round magazines
is a coverplate secured by LOAD (FPS) ES SD (IN.) (IN.) that are included with the
two Torx fasteners. Remove full-size, the full-size frame
it to install one of Wal- will not accept the 18-round
ther’s adapter plates. The magazine with the extended
PDP series comes with a basepad due to the length-
“Redeem-A-Plate,” another ened grip. Additionally,
cost-saving effort. Including for jurisdictions subject to
all six available adapter-plate magazine capacity restric-
footprints would raise the tions, Walther will provide
price significantly, and you 10-round magazines with
would likely only need one. the PDP Pro-X.
When you have your optic selected, fill out the Redeem-
A-Plate form and send it in for one free plate. The Trijicon AT THE RANGE
RMR footprint is Walther’s most redeemed style. Also, C&H The Walther PDP Pro-X shoots great. Of note is the ejector
Precision and Holosun offer direct-mount optics for the PDP system. Regardless of the load, cases are extracted and
that don’t even need a plate. ejected with authority. The ejection port is generously
sized, wrapping over the top to the left side. The right
OTHER FEATURES sight of the port is steeply angled and beveled at the rim
Besides the PMM compensator, Walther Dynamic Perfor- and the case, and the pistol runs perfectly reliable with any
mance Trigger, the last new add-on is the magazine funnel. grain weight of 9mm.
It is secured with the same roll-pin that secures the back- Shooting standard 115-grain ball ammunition through
strap in place. Three rubberized backstraps are provided, the PDP Pro-X will produce no different results than
which absorb some recoil against the palm of your hand. shooting it against the base PDP. To experience the ben-
The backstrap that comes on the PDP Pro-X is a medium efit provided by the trigger, compensator and magazine
size. The small backstrap funnel, you really to shoot
is thinner with less of an defensive or +P ammu-
arch, but the large size has nition through it. Due to
a pronounced arch and a the comp, hot loads push
beavertail. the muzzle down more
The magazine funnel is effectively than lightweight
aluminum and helps to keep range ammo. Add an optic
the hand in place during to eliminate the process of
strings of multiple shots, sight alignment, and you’ll
preventing the pinky finger find the PDP Pro-X enables
from sliding down. It also a “Race Mode” you never
makes reloads a little easier realized you were capable
and intuitive to perform of. Shooting it certainly
blindly. When you press the brought the best out of
checkered-style magazine me.
64 G&A | November 2024

SIG SAUER
P226 THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY
OF A COLD WAR ICON.
BY JAMES TARR | PHOTOS BY MARK FINGAR
November 2024 | G&A 65
66 G&A | November 2024 | SIG SAUER P226

For 2024, SIG Sauer released a 40th Anni-

versary tribute to the P226. Its features,
including controls, hammer, grips, grip
screws, sights, trigger and markings were
inspired by the 1984 design tested during
the U.S. military XM9 pistol trials.

SIG SAUER
P226 40TH ANNIVERSARY
TYPE
THE SIG SAUER P226 is an import- CARTRIDGE
erische
ant pistol in history, a stalwart of the CAPACITY
Industrie
Reagan era that was narrowly beat by BARREL
Gesellschaft”
the Beretta 92 SB-F for the U.S. military OVERALL LENGTH
translated
M9 contract to replace the M1911. The HEIGHT
“Swiss
P226 turned 40 in 2024, and while WIDTH
Industrial
it has been overshadowed by striker- WEIGHT
Company.” In
fired models such as the P320 (which 1975, SIG joined German gun manu-
MATERIAL
won the M17/M18 contract in 2017), facturer J. P. Sauer & Sohn to develop
it is still in production and remains GRIP and market a new handgun, which
an excellent choice for duty or self- TRIGGER
became the P220. The P220 was an
defense. To commemorate the moment, aluminum-framed double-action
SIG Sauer created a 40th Anniversary SAFETY (DA)/single-action (SA) semiautomtic
collectible that resembles the original meant to replace the SIG P210 in use
FINISH
P226. It includes retro packaging, man- by the Swiss Army. The P220 was a
ual, and limited-edition “History of the SIGHTS refinement of the Petter-Browning
P226” booklet. MSRP design used in the P210.
Allow me to offer my bona fides; I’m MANUFACTURER
John Browning designed the
not simply jumping on the anniversary M1907, which has a barrel bushing
bandwagon. I’ve been a fan of the gun and tilting link for lockup. For the
since I went through the police academy with a borrowed French Model 1935 — which became the SIG P210 —
P226 in 1992. One of the classifiers I shot that bumped Charles Petter refined the effort, removing the bushing
me up into United States Practical Shooting Association’s and link, but leaving the grooves in the top of the barrel
(USPSA) Grand Master class, to engage the grooves in
Production Division, was the top of the slide. The
done with a P226. And, for result became known as
most of the last 2 years, my the Petter-Browning design,
carry gun has been a P226R later the SIG Sauer Sys-
Elite, which I carried in a tem. SIG refined the design
Safariland 5198 holster. by removing the grooves
The “226” is actually a entirely. Instead, an enlarge-
variation of the SIG P220, ment of the chamber locked
so I need to start there if directly to the ejection port
I’m going to review a little in the slide. The P210 was
history. The first word in a single-action-only (SAO)
the name is an acronym, pistol, and the P220 became
Removing the retro-styled aluminum grip panel from the 40th
“SIG.” It’s not “Sig.” The Anniversary SIG Sauer P226 reveals the classic hammer, strut and a DA/SA system using the
initials stand for “Schweiz- mainspring assembly, as well as the decocking lever and spring. new lockup. DA/SA pistols
 SIG SAUER P226 | November 2024 | G&A 67

The P226 was distinctive for its sweep-down, decocking lever. Like the original P226, the frontstrap wears horizontal serrations
The Beretta 92 required shooters to break their grip in order to on the frontstrap and a slight flare to the magazine well for
press down on the decocking safety positioned on the slide. improved control of the grip. The M1911 did not have these.

The P226 40th Anniversary model features The triggerguard features a serrated front Two 15-round steel magazines are
a classic three-dot iron-sight arrangement. for the support hand’s index finger to included with the P226. These are reminis-
These include tritium for low-light use. press against to increase stability, a two- cent of the military type, including base-
The original sights were three white dots. hand shooting technique of the era. plate, finish and stylized SIG Sauer logo.

had been around since at least 1908 with the Czech Little bered in 9mm, .38 Super, 9mm Steyr, 7.65x21mm, 10mm,
Tom pistol, but SIG added a firing pin safety and a frame- .45 ACP, and .22 Long Rifle.
mounted decocker. Originally, the slides were stamped sheet metal. A
The original version of the P220 was chambered in 9mm steel breech block assembly was pinned in place, and
and featured a heel-mounted release for the single-stack the front of the slide welded on. Those older slides had
magazine. It quickly became popular with far more than breech blocks that could be removed and replaced if they
the Swiss army, though. The P220 became excessively worn. Current-
was initially sold in the U.S. as the manufacture P-series pistols have
“Browning BDA,” and that’s what Don slides completely machined. The
Johnson, as “Detective Sonny Crock- M1913 “Picatinny” rail was added to
ett,” was carrying in the pilot episode pistols in 2007 (following a propri-
of “Miami Vice,” which aired in 1984. etary SIG rail), and those pistols have
Alternate caliber versions were an “R” suffix, i.e., P226R, P229R, etc.
soon available, and the most popular The SIG Sauer P-series pistols are a
version of the P220 in America — by lot like the Glock in that, while you
far — was in .45 ACP, which originally can find them in various sizes and
sported a seven-plus-one capacity. calibers, they all look similar and
Since its introduction, the P220 has function similarly.
been available, at various times, cham- The P226 is the full-size, double-
68 G&A | November 2024 | SIG SAUER P226

The P226 has been the subject of custom

treatments through the years, including
the rare P226 S X-Six Blue Pearl 9mm,
which was hand-built in Eckernforde, Ger-
many at the SIG Sauer Mastershop.

weighs 34 ounces with an empty

magazine inserted. The standard
P226 is equipped with a decocker
positioned on the left side of the
frame above the magazine release,
forward of the slide-release lever.
Current models have a machined stainless-steel slide
with a matte, corrosion-resistant Nitron finish. Standard
magazine capacity is 15 rounds in 9mm, although Mec-
Gar has made original-equipment factory magazines for
SIG Sauer through the years and currently offer a flush-fit
The P226 X-Six featured a blue-pearl ilaflon coating, gold-accent 18-round magazine. (It’s just as reliable as a factory mag.)
controls, grip screws, adjustable rear sight, and laminate grips. A brief word on reliability: The P226 is still offered after
40 years because, above all else, it has proven itself to be
stack version of the original P220. The P226 in 9mm was dependable. I’ve been shooting these guns for more than 30
developed in 1984 to compete in the U.S. military “XM9 years, and the only problems I’ve experienced were due to
Service Pistol Trials” to replace the M1911. The Beretta ammo. The P226 is as proven a handgun design as exists
92 and P226 were the only pistols to complete the tests. in the world. While there are aspects that people don’t like
Beretta was awarded the contract, officially because the about them — i.e. high bore, DA/SA transition, etc. — no
package cost of that gun was lower than that of the SIG one complains about its reliability or durability.
due to magazine pricing, but there have been persistent The P226 has been offered in 9mm, 9x21, 7.65mm,
rumors that Beretta won the contract because the U.S. .357 SIG, and .40 S&W. The 9mm models have been most
military wanted to build a base in Italy and Beretta would popular in the U.S. commercial market, but the .357 SIG
manufacture the M9 in the U.S. Even during testing and .40 S&W models were nearly as popular with Amer-
many preferred the P226, and ican law enforcement from the
it found its way into military 1990s through 2000s.
and police holsters, both in full In the 1980s, and into the
size and compact (P228) form, ’90s, SIG Sauer pistols were pre-
designated the M11 in 1988. In ferred among U.S. law enforce-
1989, the U.S. Navy SEALs also ment versus the Beretta 92 series.
adopted the P226 in 9mm as the While the P226 is full size, the
Mk 25. The current iteration of Beretta 92 felt huge; the reach to
the Mk 25 differs only slightly the trigger of a 92 to make that
from the original model, the first DA pull was longer than the
most notable difference being the P226. The U.S. Secret Service
frame rail used to mount a light. was known to carry P226, P228,
The P226 has a 4.4-inch barrel P229 models chambered in .357
The P226 was adopted as the Mk 25 in 1989, and
and an aluminum frame. It is 7.7 served Naval Special Warfare (NSW), including SEAL SIG. Only since the FBI adoption
inches long and 51/2 inches tall. It teams. The commercial MK25 was introduced in 2011. of the G17M/G19M in 2016
70 G&A | November 2024 | SIG SAUER P226

This P226 S X-Five was pro-

duced by the Mastershop,
featuring an elegant two-tone
slide, chrome controls, adjust-
able target sights and grips.

The flawless slide-

to-frame fit was the
result of laborous
handfitting by a
Master Gunsmith in
Germany. Custom
machine-work
appears on the
inside of the slide,
as well.

have many departments finally retired the aluminum frame of the E2 was the
the P-series. same shape; only the hammer strut
The compact P228 was adopted by assembly was different. With replace-
the U.S. military as the M11. When ment parts, one can change a standard
upgrades were made to U.S.-produced P226 to the E2 version, or vice-versa.
models, the P-series benefited from About 20 years ago, SIG Sauer
a stainless-steel slide and short reset introduced the Elite version of its
trigger. A military commemorative P-series. While the details have
was labeled the M11-A1 in 2013. changed slightly through time, the
During the last four decades, there Elite pistols wear checkered front
have been improvements to the P226 straps and triggerguard, forward
design. Originally, the front sight was cocking serrations, and a beavertail on
machined as an integral part with the frame.
the slide; now sights are pressed into The P226 was designed thicker
dovetails. SIG Sauer added a small than most modern pistols are — 11/2
hump to the takedown lever, making inches wide at the decocking lever.
it easier to manipulate. The frame was The slide is more than an inch thick.
redesigned in the mid-1990s which The hammer at rest is not all the way
altered the internals, including the forward, which is why the DA trigger
hammer spring strut and the trigger stroke of the P226 is often shorter
return spring. The trigger contour was than that of other DA/SA pistols. The
changed so it did not require as much P226 presents, arguably, the shortest
of a reach; it became the short reset DA pull of any DA/SA pistol. Where
trigger (SRT). The DA trigger weight you see the hammer positioned,
was reduced, as well, from 12 to 14 cocked in SA mode? When firing DA,
pounds to as little as 8 pounds as the hammer only travels back two-
tested on my example. thirds the distance before falling.
In 2010, the “Enhanced Ergo- When compared to modern,
nomics” version, or “E2,” spoken polymer-framed striker-fired pistols,
“E-squared” was introduced. It offered older all-metal guns seem to cycle
the P226 a narrower grip. However, smoother, in my opinion. The P226
HIGH PERFORMANCE FIREARM LUBRICANTS 72 G&A | NOVEMBER 2024 | SIG SAUER P226

PROTECT
YOUR
FIREARMS
Wide operating temperature range
FMO GUN OIL: -5°F to 430°F
SFL GUN GREASE: -50°F to 350°F

Lubricating film remains after

being wiped away.

Fortified with extreme pressure

and anti-wear additives.

Provides high boundary lubrication

film protection.

Includes oxidation inhibitors

to prevent gumming.
still offers one of the smoothest cycling slides of any non-
Anti-corrosion additives protect
against rust and corrosion. competition pistols I’ve ever fired; the more you shoot it,
CELEBRATING OVER the smoother it gets.
150 YEARS
OF CONTINUOUS
OPERATIONS
Some law enforcement agencies insisted on DAO ser-
vice pistols, so SIG Sauer developed the Double Action
Kellerman (DAK) trigger, which was developed in the
early 2000s and adopted by the Department of Homeland
FIREARM LUBRICANTS
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DA/SA design in the form of a DAO system. Though the
DAK trigger reduced the first DA trigger stroke to around
6½ pounds, these type of trigger
systems did not reduce negligent
discharges as law enforcement agen-
cies hoped. Rather than improving
officer training, an effort, particularly
by federal agencies and metropolitan
police, just made pistols harder to
shoot. This occurred with a push to
adopt striker-fired platforms. While
a lot of users prefer the same-trigger-
pull-every-time design of striker-fired
pistols, another reason many small
departments moved away from the
P-series was cost. Federal agencies
were slower to do this, in large part
due to the difference of budgets.
The P226 has been wrongfully
ignored in favor of polymer-framed,
striker-fired pistols. That’s a shame
because it is still a superior pistol to
many new options. The P226 lives on
in limited production, and possibly
the finest version are the Legion mod-
els: P226 Legion Full-Size and P226-
XFIVE Legion. Other versions are in
circulation, but the P226 is no longer
as famous as it was when it graced the
cover of Guns & Ammo in May 1985.
Maybe the 40th Anniversary throw-
back will help change that.
 AFFORDABLE
DOESN’T MEAN CHEAP

T A U R U S ® G 3 F A M I LY O F P I S T O L S

TaurusUSA.com
 THE
PROMISE
KEPT
HANDLOADED WITH CARE AND PRECISION,
FEDERAL’S CUSTOM SHOP BUILDS AMMUNITION
FOR DREAMS.
BY D. FAUBION | PHOTOS BY MARK FINGAR

ONE TRAGEDY OF LIFE is when children make promises they never fulfill
as adults. We’re all guilty. As a youngster in the late 1990s, my aspirations were
simple. In order of difficulty, I vowed to win over actress Julia Roberts, become a
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say that I was a dreamer.
In the fall of ’98, I was living that dream, hunting British Columbia moose
with my family. There, I saw my first grizzly. I didn’t know when or where, but
I made a promise to hunt a great bear of my own. Even at 13, I was a ballistic
geek, and I knew exactly what I’d use: .338 Winchester Magnum, North Ameri-
ca’s premier dangerous-game cartridge.
“Pretty Woman” never panned out, and the funds earmarked for Dall sheep
went towards diapers for two kids, but last fall, in a remote bay in Southeast
Alaska, I fulfilled a childhood promise. My 13th North American big-game ani-
mal was a brown bear felled by a 200-grain Trophy Bonded centerfire rifle or shotgun load built by our ammunition
Tip loaded by the experts in Federal’s Custom Shop. experts,” said Vanderbrink. “If it’s not in Federal’s vast
catalog as factory loaded ammo, we may have it listed on
FEDERAL’S FINEST our website as a load we will custom handload for you.
Federal has been in the ammunition biz for 102 years. We now have a specific selection of rifle and TSS shotshell
First shotshell, then rimfire. Centerfire rifle loads joined loads that we will build on-demand.”
the portfolio in 1963, a time when factory fodder was
nothing special. Manufacturers loaded standard cases INSIDE THE CUSTOM SHOP
with vanilla projectiles and gave them riveting names Federal’s factory in Anoka, Minnesota, is a 700,000-
like “pointed soft-point.” In 1977, that changed with the square-foot facility where 1,400 employees produce mil-
introduction of Federal Premium, the first high-grade lions of rounds of centerfire, rimfire, and shotshell ammu-
factory ammo. nition per day. The Custom Shop has its own room inside
Pairing the best powders, primers, and cases with Sier- the plant, a reloading Mecca staffed by an elite group of
ra’s boat-tail spitzer soft-points and hollowpoints — the Federal’s most experienced employees who use the best
best bullets of the day — Federal Premium was ground- components available to handcraft unique ammunition for
breaking. “Premium” not only inspired the name, but it each order.

Not everyone has the time, desire or

expertise to reload, though. Luckily, weight. A comment section enables notes
hunters and shooters who demand the for handloading technicians.
finest ammunition tailored to their needs All components are hand-selected for
each order. If Federal produces the brass,
Shop. According to Federal Ammunition they use it. If not, the Custom Shop
President Jason Vanderbrink, the Custom sources brass from Lapua, Norma, Nos-
Shop is a turnkey solution for custom- ler, Weatherby, and others, so headstamps
loaded ammunition.

to deliver your preference of the perfect

 the promise kept | November 2024 | G&A 77

R1 magazines hold three rounds of .338 Win. Mag. One

comes with each gun. Spares are sold at shopbenelli.com. $85 The R1 received an updated gas piston design in 2015. The
cylinder and collector assemblies are an upgrade.

The R1 features a continuous top-rail for mounting

optics to accommodate any eye relief or maintube.

accuracy for the application.

Technicians check multiple specifications to
maximize this ammo, beginning with a case/
The author used a Trijicon AccuPoint riflescope to
hull inspection to weed out defects. Next, they take an Alaskan brown bear in 2023. The green trian-
examine bullet-to-case concentricity, along with gle-post reticle provided pinpoint accuracy. $1,055
overall length, and base-to-bore dimensions.
Quality checks at every stage of the loading DOWN WITH THE BROWN
process produce consistent velocity, accuracy Anderson and I hunted with Parker Guide Ser-
and safety for each round. If there’s any doubt vice (alaskaboathunts.com). We stayed aboard
about the pride that goes into Federal Custom Bruce Parker’s 80-foot luxury yacht, the
Shop ammo, check out the box. It’s signed by
the employee who handloaded it.
Lead time on orders is 3 to 4 weeks. Price BENELLI R1
is $100 per 20 rounds of centerfire rifle, but TYPE
there’s no need to order a lifetime supply of your CARTRIDGE
preferred load. If you create an account when CAPACITY
ordering, the exact load data is saved for future hunts. BARREL
Speaking of hunts, my first experience with Custom LENGTH
Shop ammo was on desert mule deer in West Texas. High WEIGHT
West Outfitters exclusively runs Custom Shop 6.5 PRC STOCK
ammo through its Mesa Precision rifles. It’s not cheap, but LENGTH OF PULL
to ensure clients have a successful hunt, the $5 cost per
FINISH
round is insignificant.
I assumed that mulie would be my one and only Cus- TRIGGER
tom Shop kill. Then, Guns & Ammo Editor Eric Poole SIGHTS
sent an invite to join Federal’s Brian Anderson in south- MSRP
east Alaska for a September hunt. The target animal was MANUFACTURER
brown bear.
78 G&A | NOVEMBER 2024 | THE

“Alaskan Harvest.” It was incredible. After

half of the 10-day hunt due to ferocious
skies parted. We hit the beach in Parker’s
Anderson brought a Gunwerks Skuhl
which he used to clobber his mature
yards. One down, one to go.
True to my promise, I went with a
R1 in .338 Winchester Magnum, topping
it with a Trijicon AccuPoint 3-9x40mm
in Seekins Precision rings. It was the
bulletproof autoloading setup I
The Benelli R1 is a unique design with
ation, and a takedown process like a
ration for this dream hunt, I fired 60
Shop 200-grain Trophy Bonded Tips to confirm function stream and watched multiple bears gorge on sockeye. It
and zero. The R1 never sputtered. As for accuracy, how was incredible. Eventually, a dark spot emerged on the
well it shoots depends on barrel heat. With a cold bore, beach of a horseshoe bay. “That’s your bear,” said Parker.
it grouped well for three shots. After additional magnum “Let’s cut across and intercept him.”
powder charges scorch it, the skinny barrel quickly heated Hiding the skiff in a narrow cut, we scampered through
up. Five-shot groups grew to 3 inches. a ribbon of trees and emerged on the beach. The bear was
Before departing for Alaska, I disassembled the R1 and chest-deep in saltwater, so we hustled to a driftwood log
stuffed it into my Pelican luggage. Once on the Alaskan 50 yards ahead that would offer a rest.
Harvest, I reassembled the R1 and hit the beach to confirm As the Benelli’s forend touched the log, the bear
zero. Resting over a driftwood log, I fired three rounds at stopped, swung his large head, and stared at us. The last
100 yards using the tip of Trjicon’s tritium and fiber-optic thing I recall was pasting the green chevron on his vitals.
green triangle/post reticle. The group was 1½ inches. After that, nothing. No safety removal. No trigger squeeze.
 ®

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 80 G&A | November 2024 | the promise kept

No recoil or noise from the Custom Shop cartridge. In the

heat of the moment, human brains do funny things. Time
slows. Memories evaporate — or become etched in stone.
My guide said the 200-grain Trophy Bonded Tip collapsed
the bear without a step, but I have no recollection of that
either.
On that remote beach in southeast Alaska during
the summer of 2023, I likely just went on autopilot.
Then again, maybe it wasn’t me pulling the trigger but
a 13-year-old kid fulfilling a 25-year promise. If so, that
young man finally has a great bear of his own.

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82 G&A | November 2024
 November 2024 | G&A 83

SPRING
SNOWBIRD
MERRIAM’S TURKEY IN A
SPRING SNOWSTORM TAKEN WITH
A 20-GAUGE BENELLI M2 COMPACT.
BY DONNA BODDINGTON | PHOTOS BY MARK FINGAR
84 G&A | November 2024 | sprinG snowbird

I WAS THRILLED to be planning BENELLI

M2 FIELD COMPACT
a spring turkey hunt, scheduled to
take place in Wyoming, in May 2024. TYPE
Okay, I’m neither an adept nor expert
GAUGE
turkey hunter, but I love it more all which, according to the Weather
the time. I’ve been fortunate to hunt CAPACITY Channel app, was looking great. Not
spring gobblers in several parts of the BARREL
too hot, not too cold. The forecast
country. In Wyoming, the birds are was “just right” with spring days and
OVERALL
Merriam’s turkey. I’ve hunted them LENGTH
cool mountain air at night. I was
before in southeastern Colorado, but WEIGHT
looking forward to a mellow hunt.
this would be my first hunt for genu- STOCK
Birds gobbling back to calls, strutting,
ine mountain birds. LENGTH OF PULL
and amusing behavior make gobbler
Thanks to Aimpoint and Benelli, season what it is.
FINISH
the hunt was with a group of women, At Rapid City, I meet Lanny Barnes,
all involved in the outdoor and shoot- SIGHTS three-time Olympic biathlete. Barnes
ing sports industry in one form or MSRP and I were the last to arrive. Through
another. I knew I’d be in some tough IMPORTER
most of a long day, it was uncertain
company. Was I intimidated? Maybe, if I’d make it there at all. We rode
but it didn’t stop me from saying, together, about a 2½ hour jaunt to
“Sure, I’m all in!” I had no clue who any of the other Trophy Ridge Outfitters (trophyridgeoutfitters.com) in
women were, but I found out soon enough. Carlile, Wyoming. Located along the Bell Fourche River,
During SHOT Show in January 2024, I connected with a tributary of the Cheyenne River, we hunted the western
a few of the ladies going on the hunt. They were team edge of the Bear Lodge Mountains. It was a beautiful back-
members of ALPS Out- drop for the hunt. Merri-
doorZ, Aimpoint, Benelli, am’s turkey are also found
and Fiocchi. Unsurprisingly, out on the high plains, but
their equipment is what this would be a real moun-
we would use on the hunt. tain turkey experience.
I was pleasantly surprised We unloaded and met
to learn I was already up with the rest of the
acquainted with a few of the hunters: Andrea Cerwinske
participants. My intimida- of Aimpoint; Diana Rupp,
tion was gone; I knew this editor-in-chief of Sports
was gonna be fun. Afield magazine; Rose Bier,
NRA; Anna Eckelcamp
GETTING THERE of ALPS OutdoorZ; and
I arrived in Rapid City, Kim Calahan and Mark
South Dakota, on May 1st. The recoil tube and spring can be accessed by removing the Sidelinger of Media Direct.
I checked the weather, recoil pad. The grip features Benelli’s AirTouch checkering. Sidelinger billed himself
SEE BETTER. HEAR BETTER. SHOOT BETTER.

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86 G&A | November 2024 | sprinG snowbird

With the charging handle, handguard and barrel removed, the

bolt assembly can be extracted from the front of the receiver.

Pressing the button releases the bolt to move forward. A

spring-powered rotating bolt head assists in operation, making
sure that a shell seats even when the action is closed slowly.

as an “Honorary Woman Card Holder.” Excluding the The loading port wears a brass finish, and grooves at the front of
guides, he was the only male in the hunting group. I was the triggerguard guide shells into the magazine tube.
happy to be there.
Since Barnes and I ica’s turkey population
arrived well after dark, was still in a comeback
there was no chance to mode. There was less
confirm our zeros and opportunity, few turkey
pattern. We need to be hunters, and little thought
afield before daybreak, so as to what constituted a
Sidelinger sighted in our “turkey gun” or a “turkey
M2 Compact 20 gauges on load.” Benelli was founded
loan from Benelli. in 1967, the year Bruno
Civolani’s Inertia-Driven
SHOTGUN, SIGHT, & AMMO System was introduced. It
The M2 patterned well, earned — and has retained
and was zeroed using the — a reputation for being
new Aimpoint Acro S-2 Controls around the triggerguard are simple. Behind the trigger one of the most reliable
9-MOA red dot for a sight is a crossbolt safety. At the front is the bolt catch. semiautomatic shotgun
($755, aimpoint.us). It was actions ever developed.
mounted to the rib. With spring gobbler season now a main event for mil-
Another hiccup: I’m a southpaw. The Benelli M2 Field lions of American hunters, the 2013 launch of the M2
20-gauge shotgun wasn’t available in a left-hand config- Field shotgun was impactful to middle-class America.
uration, so I used the M2 Field with a compact stock. Among semiauto shotgun enthusiasts, Benelli shotguns
They make a left-hand M2 in the Field Classic config- are revered for upland game, waterfowl, and turkey.
uration utilizing Benelli’s ComforTech stock ($1,499, With turkey hunting continuing to grow in popularity,
benelliusa.com). chokes and ammunition got better. Not so long ago,
American hunting has changed. In the 1960s, Amer- turkey guns were at least 12-gauge and hunters sought
88 g&A | November 2024 | spring snowbird

Aimpoint Acro S-2 mounts to most shotguns with ventilated ribs. Using a red dot
extends eye relief, providing increased situational awareness and precise aiming. $755

the heaviest loads, and only expert wasn’t the plan, but that’s hunting.
shooters would have considered We silently navigated our way to a
hunting turkey with 20-gauge guns. pop-up blind and settled in. The fog
A Georgia bird using another 20- changed the birds’ schedule, too. We
gauge Benelli was my first expe- called, sat and waited — the usual
rience with Tungsten Super Shot things you do on a turkey hunt. But
(TSS). It’s game-changing. the birds weren’t vocal. Apparently,
Cerwinske and I hunted with Eric they weren’t interested in what we
Dunn, our guide. The “get-in-the- had to offer.
truck” time was 3:30 a.m. (Ugh.) We Well, there were still another
needed to drive to another area in the couple of days to hunt. When we
mountains about an hour away. Dunn got back to camp, three of the ladies
wanted to be in place an hour before had tagged out. Gorgeous Merriam’s
the birds would come off the roosts. gobblers with that breed’s beautiful
We loaded up and drove through an white-tipped tail feathers. Good for
unexpectedly dense fog. them! The rest of us looked forward
It took longer than expected to get to waking up for more brutally early
there, so daybreak was just start- mornings. Maybe I’d luck out tomorrow,
ing when we were in position. That I thought.

The top of the M2 receiver sports serra- The front sight is a red fiber-optic made
tions that guide a shooter’s eyes to the rib by LPA in Italy. Flush Crio chokes and a
in alignment with the front bead sight. wrench are included with the M2 Field.
 spring snowbird | November 2024 | g&A 89

NOT AS FORECASTED
The next day, the weather refused to comply with the gobbler responded and came our way — gosh, they move
optimistic forecast. Cerwinske went with one of the other fast — I kept him in my sight and squeezed the trigger. He
guides since some hunters were done, and Wyoming is dropped right there and didn’t move.
a one-bird state. The next morning was much the same
routine: Up a little earlier in case of fog, and drive to the FIELD TESTED
same area in the mountains. There was no fog, so that was The Wyoming turkey hunt wasn’t my first experience
encouraging. We actually got there with plenty of time, using an Aimpoint red-dot sight. I’ve used an Aimpoint on
so we made our way hiking in pitch dark. After hiking a rifle to take Cape buffalo — a big and dark target — and
up and down a few hills, we settled into a grove of trees. I’ve used them at the range on various pistols. The Acro
I was set up leaning against a tree trunk, feeling steady S-2 is a small design that will attach to most shotguns’
and ready. Daybreak started out calm
and quiet, but the wind kicked up
by sunrise, making sure we knew it
was there. Sunshine never made an
appearance, and I was downright
flabbergasted when it started to lightly
snow! The possibility of snow on
a spring turkey hunt never crossed
my mind. Sadly, conditions only got
worse as the morning progressed.
Even so, we stayed put, called and
shivered for about 3 hours. Dunn
made the decision to move; I was
happy to get back to the truck to
warm up.
We drove around and stopped.
Dunn called while I thawed. We even-
tually heard a hen cluck back, so we
decided to park and walk to an open
meadow. The treeline was about 60 to
70 yards. We anchored ourselves in
a small group of saplings. Dunn was
facing one way, and I another, back to
back, but on two different small trees.
It was snowing hard and crossways
with fierce wind. After about an hour
of freezing, while sitting still and
trying to stay alert, Dunn tapped my
shoulder. Turning around was a task,
but I managed somehow and saw a
nice gobbler strutting in the storm.
He was 30 yards away, maybe.
All I could think was, How am I going
to do this without spooking him? With not
much cover, gradually, I got up on my
knees and hid partially behind Dunn
and the trees. Applying maximum OUTLAWS & LAWMEN SERIES
effort to be motionless, Dunn called
again to get the bird to move in our
direction. I still needed to shoulder
the Benelli with as little movement as
possible. Luckily for me, the gobbler
wasn’t focused on us. Steadily, I shoul-
dered the compact shotgun and found
the gobbler with the red dot. As the
90 G&A | NOVEMBER 2024 | SPRING SNOWBIRD

ventilated rib. The mount features smaller shot sizes, more pellets in
interchangeable baseplates. The sight a pattern, and produces amazing
mounts very low. The idea is, once penetration. Costing around $50 for
mounted, there is no change to how a box of five, TSS is expensive. I val-
the shotgun feels or how you obtain idated the expense when considering
a sight picture. When you mount the the investment made to hunt spring
shotgun, instead of the looking down turkey. You may only have a one-shot
a rib to see bead, you only place the opportunity, and I don’t want to trust
bright red dot over the target. Oh, that to an inferior shotshell.
yes, it’s bright! Most upland bird and many
Aimpoint’s previous shotgun sight, waterfowl hunters consider TSS shells
the S-1, had a large 6-MOA dot. The too costly, but turkey hunting is a
Acro S-2 is even larger, featuring a different game. All that’s needed are a
9-MOA dot. With 10 settings, the couple of shells to verify the pattern
highest, brightest setting is great for and zero, and one for the bird. A
sunny days and bright-white condi- spring gobbler is more of a trophy
tions. Using the Acro S-2 on a turkey hunt than a meat hunt, and some of
hunt made it much faster to acquire us have to travel halfway across the
the big dot — despite the extended country to for that one-shot opportu-
eye relief for being on the rib — place nity at a gobbler.
it on the target and get the job done. out with one, though!) Still, I tested Dense, heavy TSS shot means that
and shot the 20-gauge M2 with and loads can carry smaller pellets, creat-
MORE TESTING without the Acro S-2 at the Cameo ing denser patterns than ever possi-
Unfortunately, the latest M2 Field Shooting and Education Complex in ble. The Fiocchi Golden Turkey TSS I
shotguns are not available with a left- Grand Junction, Colorado. The new used, killed my bird instantly. It was
handed action. (I hope Benelli comes stock features Benelli’s micro-cell dead as any turkey I’ve ever seen. It
recoil pad, allowing adjustments for went straight down without a kick.
length of pull. The longer grip surface This girls’ hunting trip ended with

Christmas Gift on the forend facilitates people of all

sizes with a supportive grip. I also
great success. Despite unexpected
weather, six out of seven hunters had

For Him! found the M2 20-gauge easier to

load due to the expanded port on the
bottom metal.
killed nice gobblers. All-around, the
outfitter was good, the country was
good, and we each had quality gear.
Using the same Fiocchi Golden That’s not to mention the skills of a
Turkey TSS shotshells I hunted with, lively group of ladies.
$49.95
Exp. Dec. 31
I successfully confirmed zero and
tightly patterned the barrel — with
and without the red-dot sight — from
20 to 40 yards.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE SHOT.

State bans on lead shot for waterfowl
hunting started in the late 1980s.
That drove innovation for new types
of shot. Today, there are various lead-
free options, several using alloys of
tungsten, which is denser than lead.
Fiocchi — and other firms — are
incorporating Tungsten Super Shot
(TSS). I used Fiocchi’s Golden Turkey
TSS 3-inch load in my 20 gauge,
which sends a 13⁄8-ounce payload
PHOTO: MEDIA DIRECT

of No. 9 out of the barrel at 1,225

Wild Shot ®
Deluxe Aluminum
feet per second (fps). It may be the
   deadliest bird-hunting package ever
conceived for a 20 gauge. TSS allows
92 G&A November 2024

PR O OF H O U S E Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy Comp AOS 9mm

MASTERCLASS
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY’S 1911 pistols Though forging steel is a traditional
continue to evolve as a testament to the method used in firearm manufacturing,
genius of John M. Browning and the compa- Springfield Armory precisely shapes the
ny’s ability to adapt the fundamental charac- corners and flats through modern CNC
teristics of the design with modern man- machining. The carbon-steel forged slide
ufacturing to maintain its relevance. The features tight tolerances that require
1911 DS Prodigy Comp AOS in 9mm is new little fitting, which is protected by a black
for 2024 and is an interesting development. Cerakote finish. As is the trend, the 1911
Though it is a 1911, Springfield Armory DS Prodigy Comp features an optics-ready
has equipped it with every contemporary slide, incorporating the Agency Optics
demand of a pistol that could be used in System (AOS). Its billet steel plates accept
competition or drawn from a duty holster. most popular optics. The optics cut and
The slide, frame and barrel are all made plate were designed in collaboration
of forged steel. “Forged steel” means steel with Agency Arms, which has
billet that’s shaped using mechanical force. proven to be one of the
Crushed by hammers, the structure of the strongest and most
steel is denser. Forging is an ancient pro- adaptable mount-
cess, but it continues to offer benefits such ing systems
as improved strength and wear resistance. available.
At the molecular level, the steel fibers are
tight and uniform in direction. The forged
steel skeleton makes the 1911
DS Prodigy a durable
platform.
 November 2024 G&A 93

A standout feature
of the 1911 DS
Prodigy Comp AOS
is the large, ported
muzzle. Aside from
the practical benefit
of reduced muzzle
rise, it adds an inter-
esting aesthetic to
the gun’s styling.

The slide is deeply

cut to accept optics,
using the Agency
Optic System
(AOS). AOS features
multiple mouting
plates with rear
sights to accept
most popular optic
footprints. Without
an optic, the cover-
plate with rear sight
is used.

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY
1911 DS PRODIGY COMP AOS
Recoil operated, single action,
TYPE
hammer fired, semiautomatic
CARTRIDGE 9mm
17 rds. or 20 rds.
CAPACITY
(10-rd. magazines optional)
BARREL 5 in., ported, 1:10-in. twist
OVERALL
8.5 in.
LENGTH
HEIGHT 5.5 in.
WIDTH 1.5 in.
WEIGHT 2 lbs., 1 oz. (tested)
FINISH Cerakote, black (steel)
Post, tritium (front), U-notch,
SIGHTS
serrated (rear); AOS optic ready
TRIGGER 5 lbs., 4 oz. (tested)
MSRP $1,599
Springfield Armory,
MANUFACTURER 800-680-6866,
springfield-armory.com
94 G&A | November 2024 | SPRINGFIELD ARMORY 1911 DS PRODIGY COMP AOS 9MM

Though the 1911 DS Prodigy Comp frame was designed to accept 17- The grip and flared magazine well is polymer. A molded stippling
and 20-round magazines, it maintains familiar controls and function. covers the entire grip surface including the sides, frontstrap and
Being a 1911, it can be safely carried “cocked and locked.” backstrap. The high-grip, middle-finger touchpoint is smooth.

of the barrel and through

the slide at the 12 o’clock
position, just ahead of the
front sight. When fired, gas
vents upward through the
compensator to counter
muzzle rise. The benefit
keeps the slide level during
cycling, permitting faster
aiming and follow-up shots.
Recently, compensators
have become very popu-
lar, even on carry pistols.
Back-up iron sights co-witness in
the lower-third of the optic. The The 17-round magazine offers nearly a flush-fit. The 20-round Springfield Armory took an
front is a tritium night sight. extended magazine extends below the magazine well. extra step by incorporating
the feature into its Prodigy
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES pistols. These are one of the few comp’d 1911s costing
AOS steel adapter plates sport integral rear sights that less than $2,000. Unlike pistols having external compen-
align with the front sight and co-witness with the optic in sators, the integrated compensator retains the look of the
the lower third. The front night sight is dovetailed into the gun and supports compatibility with the plethora of 1911
slide behind the port, shortening the pistol’s sight radius. holster options.
Through the years, the 1911 has changed to embrace The Prodigy barrel design and guiderod assembly
certain trends. Springfield Armory has been one of the are examples of the departure from Browning’s original
trendsetters on this subject. Its intent. Gone is the traditional barrel
Prodigy slide offers both front and bushing. The 1911 DS Prodigy Comp
rear angled serrations. The ejection carries a bull barrel and full-length,
port has been lowered and flared, a two-piece guiderod. Field stripping
modification popularized in the 1970s is straightforward, but different than
and ’80s. The Prodigy also features traditional 1911s that sometimes
an internal extractor, which highlights require a bushing wrench. Here, a 5⁄32
the ongoing “Internal vs. External Allen wrench is used to disassemble
Extractor” debate. It’s safe to say the guiderod assembly. With the guid-
that a quality internal extractor, when erod and spring out, the barrel can be
properly fit, functions reliably. It also removed. The 1911 DS Prodigy Comp
streamlines the look of a 1911, adding pistols are available with either 41/4- or
to its overall aesthetics. 5-inch barrels. For those who don’t
The 1911 DS Prodigy Comp is dis- The triggerguard features a screw that have time to perform a press check to
secures the polymer grip module to the
tinctive for its integral compensator. frame. The front of the triggerguard is tex- inspect the chamber’s condition, the
It’s a cutout machined into the front tured. A high-grip undercut is underneath. barrel does feature a notch cutout at
96 G&A | November 2024 | SPRINGFIELD ARMORY 1911 DS PRODIGY COMP AOS 9MM

the rear of the barrel hood to glance Armory’s partnering with DuraMag
for brass. Underneath, Springfield was a wise choice.
Armory’s approach retains Browning’s The 1911 DS Prodigy grip mod-
swinging barrel link. The 1911 DS ule is molded with the company’s
Prodigy Comp is chambered in 9mm Adaptive Grip Texturing (AGT),
so it also utilizes a ramped, forged which first appeared on the Hellcat
stainless-steel barrel with a 1-in-16- models. When viewed under magni-
inch twist rate. The muzzle is com- fication, AGT looks like the surface
plete with an 11-degree target crown. of a studded tire. The “adaptive”
design locks tightly into the hand
MORE AMMO the harder it is squeezed, but it isn’t
The primary feature that makes 1911 as aggressive as the blockier texture
DS Prodigy series a standout in patterns of older XD pistols. AGT is
the market is the double-stack (DS) more effective. AGT acceptance on
design. The Comp version includes the Hellcat prompted the company
the polymer grip module to accom- to add it across the line of Prodigy
Angled front slide serrations allow for a
modate the double-stack mags. “press-check,” partially retracting the slide pistols. Except for a smooth section
Where legal, the 1911 DS Prodigy is to inspect for a cartridge in the chamber. on the trigger undercut, and under
delivered with 17- and 20-round metal the middle finger of the strong-hand
magazines made in the U.S. by DuraMag (https://dura- grip, AGT wraps around the grip module.
mag.com) exclusively for Springfield Armory. For restricted
locations, 10-round magazines are provided. Inside, the RANGE EVALUATION
magazines feature Everflex springs and advanced geome- If you’ve fired a 1911 before, you’ll have no trouble adapt-
try followers, which are advertised to be more reliable than ing to the 1911 DS Prodigy Comp’s controls. There’s an
other magazines of this type. Understanding that a double- extended bilateral thumb safety and a reversible magazine
stack 1911 is only as good as its magazine, Springfield release located just behind the triggerguard. There’s also
Sub MOA accuracy, advanced ergonomics and recoil-
reducing comfort are engineered into this innovative
chassis-style rifle. Now, with the addition of Benelli’s
industry-leading BE.S.T. treatment, it is unmatched
when it comes to corrosion and abrasion resistance
in the field. To find out more, visit Benelli USA.com.
98 G&A | November 2024 | SPRINGFIELD ARMORY 1911 DS PRODIGY COMP AOS 9MM

a grip safety with extended beavertail and memory bump, well offered just enough feedback to perform rapid, blind
classic design cues for 1911s made since the ’70s. The magazine changes.
hammer and trigger are skeletonized, too, and the Vide- G&A’s test gun arrived with a Vortex Defender-ST 3
ki-type trigger includes an adjustable trigger stop. More MOA red dot installed on an AOS plate ($470, vortexop-
of a trend since the availability of dedicated pistol lights in tics.com). However, if an optic ever fails, the back-up iron
the mid-2000s, there 1911 DS Prodigy offers a full-length sights on the AOS plate and coverplate are excellent.
dust cover with a five-slot accessory rail. Reliability was excellent with this gun, as well. The trig-
The grip module is excellent, and the AGT texture pro- ger was, well, “meh.” The trigger measured at 5 pounds,
vided a secure hold. This was appreciated while trying to 4 ounces, heavier than all of us expected. It may lighten
play a fast-paced tune on steel plates. Even the most ham after a longer break-in period, but it didn’t for G&A’s staff
handed among found a good grip. The subtle magazine after nearly 1,000 rounds of testing. The pistol appeared
to have been shot prior to its arrival,
so it should have worn in. Accuracy
WWW.RITONOPTICS.COM
wasn’t significantly affected, though.
The smallest five-shot group at 25
yards measured 1.4 inches. Three of
the loads tested managed at least
one group under 2 inches.

TAKEAWAYS
To sum up the shooting experience
in a single word, one Guns & Ammo
staff member described the 1911 DS
Prodigy as being “smooth.” Slide-to-
frame fit on our sample was superb. In
fact, the slide on the 1911 DS Prodigy
Comp AOS cycled as if it was hand fit
—but it’s not. The only secret is very
good machining.
Aiding the experience was the
integral compensator. It hampered
muzzle rise, allowing shooters to
stay on target. The 1911 DS Prodigy
Comp is a very flat-shooting pistol, so
it was easy to maintain sight picture
during rapid-fire drills. The comp
was most effective when shooting +P
loads, due to the added pressure and
velocity. Recoil felt similar to shooting
standard-velocity rounds. In the give-
and-take world of physics, there was
increased muzzleblast, but, despite
the loud bark, the 33-ounce 1911 DS
Prodigy Comp was one of the easiest
guns to shoot accurately and quickly,
which added to our enjoyment. You
If you’ve been waiting to enter the world of pistol-mounted optics,
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Open and closed emitters, common footprints, and prices that
The real shocker isn’t that there is
eliminate any excuse you have to be tied to your iron sights.
a double-stack 1911 pistol available.
We fondly remember the defunct
Para Ordnance 1911s. However, this
gun carries an MSRP of $1,599, which
is substantially lower than most of
its competitors. The Staccato P has
S EE T H E D I FF ER EN C E
an MSRP of $2,499. The 1911 DS
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100 G&A | NOVEMBER 2024 | SPRINGFIELD ARMORY 1911 DS PRODIGY COMP AOS 9MM

PERFORMANCE
BEST AVG.
VEL. GROUP GROUP
LOAD (FPS) ES SD (IN.) (IN.)

Notes: Accuracy is the average of five five-shot groups at 25 yards from a fixed rest.
Velocity is the average of 10 shots recorded by LabRadar adjacent to the muzzle.

The 5-inch version of the 1911 DS Prodigy Comp AOS

weighed 33 ounces, unloaded. The 4¼-inch-barrel version
weighs 32½ ounces. It is slightly more than the competit-
ing alternatives. Others weigh around 30 ounces. All of
Prodigy Comp AOS lacks a few of the Staccato P features, these pistols weigh far less than a traditional steel-frame
such as the clever tool-less takedown guiderod. And there single-stack Government Model, which typically averages
are other alternative double-stack 1911s: Kimber KDS9c around 39 ounces. Dimensionally, the 1911 DS Prodigy
Rail ($1,903) and the Military Armament Corp. MAC 1911 measured 8½-inches long, 5½-inches tall, and 1.45-inches
Double Stack 9mm ($1,099); neither available with a 5-inch wide across the controls.
barrel. Though other 1911s are less expensive than the Overall, the Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy Comp
1911 DS Prodigy Comp, the polymer grip, optic interface, AOS proved itself to be an excellent pistol. It offers the
and sights inferior to Springfield Armory’s. The Kimber handling characteristics that shooters like about the single-
is more expensive and weighs a little less. In favor of the action 1911, but with modern amenities that allow it to
Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy Comp is the integral aggressively compete with today’s trending, optic-ready,
compensator, which makes it shoot flatter, faster. double-stack 1911s.

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C ON N EC T

Shining the spotlight on shooting sports.

GOLD
OLYMPICS have come
one, and with it came a surge
in the overlooked fields of
In particular, Olympic shooting ships, also. Olympic shotgun shooting
with some credit to may be more familiar to the average
televised coverage of five events: Air American, given the over/under
Pistol and Air Rifle, Smallbore, Trap 12-gauge shotguns appear similar to
and Skeet. However, Turkish national conventional versions. USA Shooting
Yusuf Dikeç went viral online and excelled in this category, winning
found himself the topic of mainstream four of its five medals in Skeet. Sagen
news and social media for his unorth- NONCHALANT SILVER MEDAL Maddalena won silver in the Women’s
odox appearance during the 10-meter Representing Turkey, Yusuf Dikeç gained 50-meter Smallbore Rifle event.
recognition for his relaxed, casual attire and
Mixed Air Pistol event. While other demeanor while winning a silver medal in While some guns are niche to each
shooters wore specialized eyewear, the 2024 Olympic 10-meter air pistol event. event, Olympic-style shooting can
ear protection, and clothing, Dikeç offer great opportunities to pro-
won a silver medal in a t-shirt, glasses, magazine with a custom hand-shaped spective students. Learn more about
and with some earplugs, all while grip. For both standard and air pistols, competitive shooting programs at
striking a relaxed pose with one hand shots are taken using one hand and a https://competitions.nra.org; https://
in his pocket. The juxtaposition of bladed stance to minimize the body’s usashooting.org; mysctp.com; https://
these competitors lent to jokes and influence of one’s natural point of aim. sssfonline.org; and nssf.org.
memes, but it also brought shooting International competition rules What shooting sports do you feel
sports into national conversation. are different than conventional sport are too often overlooked? Send us
The guns we tend to use for practice shooting in the U.S. Unlike competi- your thoughts by emailing gaeditor@
or recreational shooting often cham- tions such as the Precision Rifle Series outdoorsg.com.
ber more powerful cartridges than (PRS), calibers are are smaller and
the match rimfire and air-gun pellets. distances shorter. The results from TOP COMMENTS
Smallbore rifle competitors use unusual Olympic competition are compared in
bolt-action .22 rifles with adjustable the thousands of an inch.
diopters for sights — no magnification. Manufacturers want to lower
Similarly, smallbore pistol competitions the barrier to entry to competitive
feature a semiautomatic five-round shooting to attract more shooters.
Students can still become involved
and compete for collegiate scholar-

SOUND OFF
Respond to articles, find community and join the conversation in the Guns & Ammo forums and by engaging with us on social media:
Guns & Ammo Magazine @gunsandammomag @GunsAndAmmoMag gaeditor@outdoorsg.com
 SPENT CASES

Ammunition is a commodity.

MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

BAYSIDE MAN pays the price for hoarding shooter, told me that he shot some 25,000 rounds per
huge weapons and 50,000 rounds in his home,” year. Twenty-time Bianchi Cup Champion and PRS shooter
the ad. New York police had raided a man’s resi- Doug Koenig reported shooting as many as 60,000 rounds
45 rifles, 23 handguns and a pair of pel- in years past; these days he’s down to shooting 20,000.
with the aforementioned ammo. I recognize The reality is that shooters shoot, and shooting requires
that, to the casual reader ammunition. Those
of “QNS” in Queens, this of us who have been
might seem like an unfath- through more than one
omable collection of fire- ammo shortage tend
arms, but among many of to buy a bit more than
my friends this individual’s we need, just in case
stockpile wouldn’t raise an future supplies dry-up.
eyebrow. During the shortages
Just as I sat down to that began in 2020, I
begin writing this column, was shocked to hear that
UPS delivered 5,000 many hunters couldn’t go
rounds of .22 LR ammo to afield because they were
my front door. It was on unable to buy the proper
sale — with free shipping. ammunition. That will
(I couldn’t resist the deal.) never happen to me.
Earlier during the week, I’m not aware of any
while looking around my laws restricting the
office for a book that I’d misplaced, I found a dozen boxes amount of ammunition that an individual can own, but I
of .450-400 Nitro Express in a cabinet, 3-inch Hornady did locate a model bill drafted by the Public Leadership
Dangerous Game Series (DGS) loads. According to PETA, Institute called the “Firearms Arsenal Disclosure Act.” The
there are only 69 circus elephants living in the U.S., so an language is based on a failed U.S. Senate bill drafted by
anti-hunter might argue that I’m a tad over-stocked in that Bernie Horn, a political consultant and former lobbyist for
department. Handgun Control, Inc., now known as the “Brady Cam-
I don’t have a clue how much ammunition I own. Reload- paign.” The bill would restrict individuals from owning more
ing supplies? Forget it; I’ve been picking up brass and than 20 firearms or more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition
buying components since I was a teenager. unless they are an FFL holder or file an annual Firearms
A good friend of mine, who is by no means wealthy, Arsenal Disclosure form with the attorney general. Horn has
had so much ammo in his townhouse that when he moved advocated that, if Congress doesn’t pass such a law, the
cross-county for a new job, it required its own moving states should move ahead. Don’t worry, the proposed pen-
truck. Once loaded, the tires looked as if they were about alty caps out at a mere 1 year in jail and a fine of $50,000.
to pop. (He buys Chapstick in-bulk, too.) Folks like Horn don’t understand shooters, and they
ILLUSTRATION: A. F. BRANCO

My niece, who shoots sporting clays at the collegiate certainly don’t understand what it takes to compete in the
level, goes through as many as 25,000 rounds per year shooting sports. For many of us, keeping an adequate
between practice and competition. That’s a single target supply of ammunition is a practical convenience and not
load through one shotgun in the pursuit of excellence for something sinister. How much ammo is too much? I say let
her sport. A few years ago, Dave Sevigny, champion pistol your budget decide.
 ®

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