Gun World - March 2014 USA

GW_1403_COVER1 1/7/14 4:09 AM Page US_C1
FIELD TESTED 5 HOT ARs FROM DPMS
HARD-HITTING!
RUGERS SR-762 SPORT UTILITY RIFLE
ALL-STEEL
ACCURACY
RUGERS SR-1911 CMD
STEYRS AUG BULLPUP
DO IT
YOURSELF
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INSPECTIONE
UNIVERSAL ARMY RIFLE FOR CIVILIANS
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GW_1403_C2 1/2/14 10:28 PM Page C2
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GW_1403_3 1/2/14 10:22 PM Page 3
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GW1403TOC 1/3/14 3:27 AM Page 4
CONTENTS
MARCH 2014
FEATURES
DPMS
32
SPECIAL SECTION:
RUGERS DYNAMIC DUO
COVER STORY:
HARD-HITTING HUNTER
Rugers new SR-762, built for rugged outdoor
duty, is a modern sport-utility rifle with lots of
potential.
By Dave Workman
14
24
COVER STORY:
COMMAND AND CONTROL
Rugers stainless steel Commander-length
1911 is long on value, proving that good
things can come in smaller packages.
By Jerry Catania
54
SUPER SCATTERGUNS
Our hunting columnist offers his choices for
the four best hunting smoothbores ever produced.
Let the discussions begin!
By Thomas C. Tabor
TWIN TACK-DRIVERS
The Remington Model 700 SPS Tactical is a
no-frills, affordable version of this proven bolt-action
rifle, and we test it in both .223 Rem and .308 Win.
By John N. Raguso
64
THOMAS C. TABOR
54
PANTHER POWER
DPMS has produced innovative ARs for years, and their current
crop may be their best ever. We take steady aim at five of them.
By Brad Fitzpatrick
32
SHORT & SWEET

Steyrs AUG Bullpup, now assembled in Alabama and available
to the U.S. civilian market, offers proven maneuverability and accuracy.
By Todd Burgreen
46
GUN WORLD | MARCH 2014
GUN WORLD (ISSN 0017-5641) Volume 55,

Number 3 is published monthly, 12 times
a year by Beckett Media, LLC, 22840 Savi
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GW_1403_5 1/2/14 10:23 PM Page 5
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GW1403TOC.CX 1/9/14 10:02 PM Page 6
CONTENTS
COLUMNS
40 TODAYS HUNTER
Thomas C. Tabor
84 GUNSMITHING
Steve Sieberts
10 ASK THE EXPERTS

Gun World Contributors
72 RELOAD
James E. House
96 BACK PAGES
Craig Hodgkins
12 NEW PRODUCTS
Brad Fitzpatrick
78 CONCEALED CARRY
Dave Workman
JERRY CATANIA
8 UP FRONT
Craig Hodgkins
24
ON THE COVER:
Photographs by
Jerry Catania
and Dave Workman
Cover design by
Jesse Cao
www.gunworld.com
JOHN N. RAGUSO
32
GW_1403_7 1/2/14 10:24 PM Page 7
Load up with one of Hodgdons

27 smokeless powders. Match your gun, your game,
the weather youve got it bagged.
Phone 913-362-9455 www.hodgdon.com
GW1403UpFront.CX 1/9/14 10:03 PM Page 8
UP FRONT
A PERSONS
FANCY
By Craig Hodgkins
n spring, a young
mans fancy lightly
turns to thoughts
of guns?
Alfred Tennyson wrote all but one of

those words in 1835, and although I
admit to playing a bit fast and loose with
one of the most quoted verses in the
western canon, the poem from which
this line comes (Locksley Hall) represents the memories and musings of a
soldier marching past his childhood
home with his military unit.
In other words, our unnamed (but not
unarmed) protagonist probably did all of
his poetic pondering with a standard issue
weapon of the day slung over his shoulder.
No stranger to military narratives, Tennyson would later pen a paean of praise
to the ill-fated British cavalry troops who
rode to their deaths at the Crimean
Wars Battle of Balaclava in The Charge
of the Light Brigade.
But I digress.
Flash forward to spring, 2014. While
the onset of the warmer season still inspires visions of shiny new firearms for
fans of the shooting sports, those lightly
turned fancies no longer emanate solely
from the minds of young men. In fact,
according to recent surveys and studies
by Gallup, the NSSF and others, the percentages of both young (ages 18-34) and
women shooters continue to grow.
Young people taking up the shooting
sportsoften through the encouragement and example of older family membersis a time-honored tradition. In a
recent roundtable discussion I had with
five Gun World writers, I found that all
five had taken up hunting at age 12, and
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8
four of the five had gone on their first

hunting trip with a family member.
But according to the recentand oftquotedGallup poll data, the percentage
of American women who own a firearm
nearly doubled between 2005 and 2011,
rising from 13% to 23%. This past summer, the NSSF released a report revealing thatalthough they currently
comprise only 22% of the established
target-shooting population37% of new
Those lightly
turned fancies no
longer emanate solely
from the minds of
young men
target shooters are female, and this welcome trend is likely to continue.
According to recent (December 2013)
Department of Defense statistics, more
than 210,000 women currently serve in
the U. S. military, and another 590,000
serve in the National Guard or reserves.
The NRA, of course, has long supported women in the shooting sports
through education, training and events,
and more recently via their NRA Women
(nrawomen.tv) arm. Newer organizations
such as Shoot Like a Girl
(shootlikeagirl.com) and The Well Armed
Woman (thewellarmedwoman.com) are
just two of an increasing number of
groups designed to cater specifically to
this growing group of ammo aficionados.
Clearly, in 2014 and beyond, poets
and the rest of us will do well to consider the firearm fancies of all persons,
regardless of age or gender.
MARCH 2014 VOLUME 55 NUMBER 3
EDITORIAL
Editorial Director: Doug Jeffrey
Editor: Craig Hodgkins
Managing Editor: Breanna Armstrong
Art Director: Thomas Kimball
CONTRIBUTORS
Dave Emanuel, Lee Boyt, Todd Burgreen, Jerry Catania,
Mike Dickerson, Tara Dixon Engel, Jim Dickson, Abe
Elias, Brad Fitzpatrick, Richard Folsland, Paul Hantke,
James House, Dave Norman, Jameson Parker, Buck
Pope, D.K. Pridgen, Denis Prisbrey, John Raguso, Dave
Spaulding, Tom Tabor, Chuck Taylor, Leroy Thompson,
Martin Topper, Dave Workman
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GW_1403_9 1/2/14 10:24 PM Page 9
GW1403Experts 1/2/14 11:09 PM Page 10
ASK the
EXPERTS
We do the research so you dont have to.
Thompson firing a U.S. M1903 Springfield rifle, which saw at least limited use for more than 60 years.
LONG ENLISTMENT
QUESTION: A friend and I have been debating which rifle
served as a U.S. military rifle for the longest time. Can you
help resolve our discussion?
Steve N., Pierre, South Dakota
LEROY THOMPSON ANSWERS: Depending on how you
choose to define service, there are multiple possibilities. So
even though my answer may not completely resolve your discussion, youll at least have more information.
If you limit your discussion to the years that a rifle was actually the standard weapon, then the M16/M4
has now served for between 45 and 51
yearsdepending on how its date of adoption is determinedas AR15 rifles (not the
current semi-autos, but select fire forerunners to the M16) were ordered for testing in
Vietnam in 1962. Larger orders were placed in 1963, but the
M16 did not really replace the M14 in Europe until 1970.
Ironically, the M14 rifle, which was only produced from 1959
to 1964 and was already being replaced when production
ended, is still being issued to U.S. troops today as a Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR). As a result, it has been in service
for 54 years, though not as the standard issue rifle.
The M1903 Springfield served from 1903 until the adoption
of the M1 Garand in 1936. However, the M1903 was produced

during World War II, as there were not enough Garands to
equip all troops. As a result, it had a frontline service life of a
little over 40 years. But, the M1903A4 sniper version of the
M1903 was used through the Korean War and even into Vietnam. As a result, the M1903 saw usage for somewhere around
60 years.
The M1 Garand was the standard service rifle from its adoption in 1936 until its replacement by the M14 in 1959. However,
the M1D sniping version of the Garand was used in Vietnam,
The answer to your question

depends on your definition.
10
and reportedly some were in National Guard armories at the

time of Desert Storm, thus stretching its military use to over 50
years.
So the answer to your question depends on your definition.
The M16/M4 has been the standard rifle/carbine for the longest
time and increases its tenure every year. However, if the answer is based on use, then the M14 is likely to continue in limited use and pass the M1903 in the next few years.
www.gunworld.com
GW1403Experts 1/2/14 11:09 PM Page 11
A SPECIAL
.38 SPECIAL
A S&W Victory model showing some service use.
QUESTION: I inherited a .38 Special revolver from an uncle

and wanted to find out some more about it. It has a four-inch
barrel with a ring for a lanyard in the butt. It is marked U.S.
Property and has a flat black finish. Was this a U.S. military
gun? My uncle served in World War II.
Walter M., Phoenix, Arizona
LEROY THOMPSON ANSWERS: It sounds as if you have
what is known as a Smith & Wesson Victory model. If you
check the serial number, there should be a V at the beginning for Victory. Almost all of the Victory Models had four-inch
barrels, though a small number were made with two-inch barrels. Since these are quite scarce, they are sought after and
bring substantially more than a four-inch model.
Victory models were produced between 1942 and 1954, with
over 242,000 having been manufactured. As you mentioned,
they had a lanyard ring and a sand blasted blue or black finish.
In addition to U.S. Property on the top strap, they will usually
also usually have the inspectors mark G.H.D. somewhere on
the frame.
An accident in which a sailor dropped a Victory model on
the deck of his ship, causing a discharge that killed another
sailor, resulted in S&W developing a more effective hammer
www.gunworld.com
block safety, which was used on post-war S&W revolvers.

About 40,000 Victory Models were sent back to S&W to have
the hammer block safety upgraded. These will have an S
next to the serial number.
Although most Victory models went to aviators and other
military personnel, occasionally getting an S&W factory letter
for $50 will show that one went to an interesting place. Some,
for example, were acquired by the OSS. GW
Victory models
were produced between
1942 and 1954
OUR MARCH EXPERT
LEROY THOMPSON is an internationally recognized authority on weapons and tactics, and is the author of 50 books.
His most recent feature was Selective Service, a history of
the military handgun, which appeared in our January issue.
MARCH 2014 | GUN WORLD
11
GW1403Products 1/2/14 11:11 PM Page 12
NEW
PRODUCTS
The Nikon Monarch 3 (shown here mounted on a Weatherby WBY-X .30-06 rifle) is available with the BDC reticle. It makes shooting at longer distances much easier with simple, circular holdover points.
NIKONS
BDC RETICLE
For years, determining holdover meant guessing,
or buying and learning to use a ballistic reticle.
Now, Nikon offers something in the middle
Story & Photos by Brad Fitzpatrick
ost rifle hunters have an encyclopedic knowledge of their guns

ballistics.
M
12
They know the velocity and the kinetic energy as the bullet
leaves the muzzle, and they know just how much their bullet
will drop at a given distance. Weve all heard (and perhaps
even given) that same speech, which goes something like,
www.gunworld.com
GW1403Products.CX 1/14/14 2:19 AM Page 13
The bullet leaves the muzzle at 3,213

feet per second, and when its sighted in
2.3 inches high at 100 yards its striking
dead on at 200 yards, which means its
6.3 inches low at 300 yards and its pre-
yards for cartridges in the 2,800 fps category, 200 yards for magnums) then each
circle on the wire below is the holdover
point for an additional hundred yards of
range. Thats just a rough estimate, but
In recent years, ballistic reticles

and scopes with resettable turrets
have become popular
cisely 21.7 inches low at 400

The speech is a sign that the shooter
has, at the very least, studied the ballistics that come on the box of ammunition. But there is a wide gap between
knowing that your bullet drops 21.7
inches at 400 yards and actually making
a 400-yard shot. With a simple, traditional crosshair, youre guessing what
21.7 inches looks like at that distance.
The depth of an animals body gives
some indication, as does the width of
their ears, but assuming that all mule
deer have ears that are 22 inches wide at
that range is a shaky standard.
There are other options, of course. In
recent years, ballistic reticles and scopes
with resettable turrets have become
popular, but learning to properly use a
true ballistic reticle takes time, and time
and time again Ive heard shooters with
ballistic reticles say that they go up a
line or two for every hundred yards
past zero sort of defeats the purpose
of all that technology.
Nikon has found some comfortable
middle ground between the straight,
holdover crosshairs and reticles polluted
with lines that many shooters never
bother to learn to use. The companys
BDC (Ballistic Drop Compensation) reticle
gives five holdover points (six if you count
where the bottom wire meets the post in
the bottom of the reticle) andget this
each circle in the objective is roughly 100
yards farther than the one above it.
Simple, straightforward holdover
points. Genius.
The BDC reticle is designed so that if
the shooter sights in a gun at the appropriate distance for the crosshairs (100
www.gunworld.com
you will be in the ballpark using that system. But Nikon didnt stop there. They
have set it up so that you know the exact
range for each holdover point. The companys Spot On website (see Contact
sidebar below) allows you to plug in information regarding your particular load.
On the website, I indicated which scope I
was using (Nikon Monarch 3 3-12x42)
and which load I wanted to test (.30-06
Nosler Accubonds at 2,750 fps), then
clicked the FIRE button. Instantly, I had a
printable code for the point of impact for
each circle in the reticle. The crosshairs
were centered at 100 yards, and for that

particular load, the first circle should be
dead on at 201 yards, the second at 296,
and the third at 377.
I didnt have a 377-yard range at my
disposal, but I did have a 200-yard
range. With the Weatherby Vanguard
.30-06 centered at 100 yards, I moved
back to test the accuracy of the BDC
holdover points. At 200 yards, the shots
were clustered around the one-inch circle at the center of the target, and the
group measured 1.6 inches in diameter.
Elevation was, well, spot-on.
Nikon had the right idea with the BDC
reticle. Make it simple, but make sure its
effective. GW
CONTACTS:
NIKON
www.nikonsportoptics.com
SPOT ON SITE
www.spoton.nikonsportoptics.com
The BDC reticle performed as promised with the .30-06 Nosler ammunition tested. The first round
holdover point was supposed to be centered at 201 yards, and this sub-MOA group shot at 200
yards indicates that the Spot On technology works.
13
GW1403SR762 1/3/14 12:56 AM Page 14
Built for rugged outdoors duty,

the SR-762 operates with a variety of ammunition, thanks to the
adjustable gas regulator.
14
www.gunworld.com
GW1403SR762 1/3/14 12:56 AM Page 15
Rugers SR-762 is a Modern Sport-Utility Rifle

With Lots of Potential
Story & Photos by Dave Workman
www.gunworld.com
15
GW1403SR762 1/3/14 1:03 AM Page 16
lmost immediately
after wrapping my
sweaty little palms
around Rugers SR-556 a
few years ago, it occurred
to me that Ruger could really make some magic by
introducing a .30-caliber
AR-platform rifle.
Now, with the introduction of the SR762, they have.

Rugers new SR-762 is hardly the first
.308/7.62mm-chambered AR-type rifle to
hit the marketplace, but one could easily
say it is one of the most superbly executed versions of the concept, with a
new and improved action. Hitting the
scales at an advertised 8.6 pounds, the
SR-762 launches a .30-caliber bullet reliably and accurately.
It features a 16.12-inch hammerforged Mil-Sped 41V45 chrome-molyvanadium steel barrel cut with six lands
and grooves on a 1:10-inch right-hand
twist. The barrel is fitted with an A2-type
flash suppressor, and both the bore and
chamber are chrome-lined. Ruger designers added folding iron sights with
two apertures on the rear, which is adjustable for windage, and an elevationadjustable post up front, but it is clear
that this rifle was designed for maximum
use with optical sights.
THIS DOG CAN HUNT

Make no mistake, this is a modern
semi-auto hunting rifle, in a caliber that
can easily take down deer, elk, caribou,
black bears and just about anything else
on four legs that strolls across the North
American landscape. Soon after it was
announced, some people called this a
battle rifle, which I believe unfairly
paints the SR-762 into a corner where it
doesnt really belong.
Frankly, Im rather tickled with the SR762 for no other reason than its caliber
allows us all to laugh at gun critics who
have insisted that you dont hunt deer
with a and so forth. Well, you sure as
hell can hunt deer with this .308-caliber
Ruger. The .308 Winchester cartridge is
so well established as a buck stopper
that for anyone to dispute the Ruger SR16
Rugers new SR-762 is chambered for the 7.62mm/.308 Winchester, making it a serious big game
rifle and a defensive firearm.
www.gunworld.com
GW1403SR762 1/3/14 1:03 AM Page 17
762s potential as a hunting rifle would

be self-delusional.
Thats not to say the SR-762 could not
easily be adapted to an urban or rural
survival tool, because it definitely would
be up to that task. In an emergency situation where you need a rugged semiauto that can take being banged around
a bit, dropped in the dirt or mud, be
rained or snowed on and still come up
fighting, this new Ruger can easily fill the
bill.
I was particularly impressed with several features. For starters, it has a lightweight adaptable handguard with an
integral Mil-Spec 1913 rail on top that
marries up perfectly with the rail that is
milled into the receiver upper. This
handguard is drilled and tapped for
mounting additional rails on both sides
and/or the bottom (two come with the
rifle), so someone can trick out the SR762 with laser sights and/or lights. Ruger
also supplies three grooved attachments
that fit on all sides for an enhanced forward grip.
The six-position M4-style buttstock
seems very durable, and it has a milspec diameter tube. It features a Hogue
Monogrip with that distinctive bump textured surface that one really appreciates
in my native Pacific Northwest where, if
it is not raining, it is getting ready to rain.
Ruger also delivers this rifle with a trio
of 20-round MagPul PMAG magazines in
a soft-sided case that unzips totally to lay
flat and wide enough so that it could be
used as a ground pad for shooting
prone. And, if one has to bug out in a
hurry, everything you need in a firearm
is going to fit inside that zippered case.
The heart of Rugers SR-762 is this two-stage piston and regulator, which comes out easily for cleaning. Many AR fans consider this to be more reliable that a direct impingement gas recoil system.
THE BOLT & PISTON

Okay, lets get down to the details.
The SR-762 has got guts, grit, and everything else it takes to go anywhere. It has
a chrome-plated bolt and one-piece bolt
carrier with an oversized rear-bearing
surface that is radiused to eliminate
sharp edges.
Up front is Rugers patented two-stage
piston with a multi-stage regulator. It is
chrome-plated andaccording to my
younger son, who is such an AR fan that
he built his own from components a
couple of years agois ultimately a
cleaner setup than a traditional direct
gas system. Of course, he couched that
observation with the caveat that this is a
debatable issue, and that there are definitely two opposing camps.
www.gunworld.com
Simply rotate the knurled end of the regulator and pull it for cleaning.
Make no mistake, this is a modern

semi-auto hunting rifle
17
GW1403SR762 1/3/14 1:11 AM Page 18
Heres a feature Workman liked. The sights fold over when one adds a scope or electronic sight, getting it out of the way
And when theyre needed, the sights pop right back up with a single pul
18
The front sight also pivots down when not in use, but in the up position,
it is adjustable and just as reliable as any mil-spec front post sight.
www.gunworld.com
GW1403SR762 1/3/14 1:11 AM Page 19
This flash suppressor is a nice touch, though when firing full-house .308 loads, this rifle is going to show a lot of flame at the muzzle.
The traditional direct gas recoil system, he saysand his personal rifle utilizes that system, so I bow to his
judgmentis dirtier because gases and
powder residue blow back into the action.
Engineer Mark Gurney, Rugers director of product management, confirmed
this much. In a telephone interview, he
told Gun World that direct impingement
guns can be a bear to clean because
as the gas is bled off through the gas
port at the front of the barrel and piped
back into the action, the pressurized gas
that cycles the bolt also brings with it
hot and dirty gases.
The direct impingement action is the
original Eugene Stoner design, and Gurney said it was absolutely brilliant. But
it does leave that residue.
On the other hand, the two-stage piston design, Gurney added, takes the gas
that is bled off the barrel and immediately drives a piston above the gas block
in the barrel. This drives a rod that cycles the action. He said it shoots clean
enough that he once did a demonstration on the earlier 5.56mm model and
cleaned the bolt, carrier and extractor
with a tissue.
Its newer technology, he observed.
We tried to be cutting edge on this, instead of just a me too gun.
Thats an interesting note. It is true
that just about everyone in the firearms
industry is producing at least one model
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Fire controls are simple and right where they should be, as on any AR platform.
A FOUR-POSITION REGULATOR
Although Ruger ships the SR-762 with the regulator set at Position 2 (see below), it
offers four different and distinct settings (categorized from 0-3) to help shooters dialin the rifle based on their preferences and needs:
n Position 0 No regulation at all.
n Position 1 A small amount of gas is bled back into the system, which is
enerally the setting used for suppressed semi-auto fire.
n Position 2 The standard setting under which most ammunition is used for
ypical shooting and hunting endeavors.
n Position 3 For use with weaker ammunition, or when the field conditions are
adverse, such as a muddy or sandy environment.
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GW1403SR762 1/3/14 1:19 AM Page 20
This Hogue textured grip is also a welcome feature. Workmans Pacific Northwest is a wet, nasty environment about half the year; no place for wet
hands to be slipping around on a plastic grip
The six-position M4-style buttstock

seems very durable, and it
has a mil-spec diameter tube.
20
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GW1403SR762.CX 1/9/14 10:24 PM Page 21
of the modern sporting rifle, in various

calibers that are adequate for big-game
hunting.
As noted, Rugers system is adjustable, with the knurled front end that
rotates to one of four positions (from 0
to 3) and locks into each position.
Ruger ships the SR-762 set at Position 2,
which allows the rifle to cycle most commercial ammunition, according to the
owners manual. For one who loads his
own, it may take some experimentation,
but that is part of the fun of shooting.
This four-position regulator, according
to Gurney, addresses all kinds of challenges and uses. In the 0 position,
there is no regulation at all, and in Position 1, the smallest amount of gas is
bled back into the system, which is generally the setting used for suppressed
semi-auto fire.
As noted above, Position 2 is the standard setting under which most ammunition is used for typical shooting and
hunting endeavors, and moving the regulator to Position 3 allows the rifle to be
used with weaker ammunition, or when
SPECIFICATIONS
STURM, RUGER & CO., INC.
SR762
CALIBER:
7.62mm NATO/.308 Winchester
CAPACITY:
20 rounds
ACTION:
Semi-auto
BARREL:
16.12 inches
RECEIVER:
Forged aluminum
FINISH:
Matte black
SIGHTS:
Folding, front and rear
WEIGHT;
8.6 pounds
STOCK:
Six-position telescoping M4-style
GRIP:
Hogue Monogrip
MSRP: $2,195
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GW1403SR762 1/3/14 1:26 AM Page 22
the field conditions are adverse, such as

a muddy or sandy environment.
Suffice to say that when we fired the
ST-762, it ran like a Benz, and that is all
that counts. My limited range experience with the rifle confirmed this. Every
round I ran through the gun worked.
Cleaning this piston is a simple
process. Rotate the knurled knob until it
can be pulled with the regulator, and
then rotate the rifle until the pistol
comes out. Wipe it clean with a cloth,
and then reassemble in reverse order.
WHAT IT TAKES
Ruger supplies three magazines with the SR-762 in a rugged nylon carrying case. Notice that they
come with caps to protect the magazines from dust and grit.
To put it as briefly as possible,

Rugers SR-762 has what it takes. Its
that simple. Here is a modern sport-utility rifle that truly delivers the goods in a
serious business caliber. I dont disdain
the 5.56mm/.223 Remington the way
some folks do, but it certainly isnt my
first choice for an all-around rifle.
But a .30-caliber? You bet. The .308
Winchester/7.62mm is a round that can
really reach out and touch something, or
if necessary, someone. It does not strike
Like any other AR, this one is cycled with a pull on the charging handle!
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GW1403SR762 1/3/14 1:27 AM Page 23
The Ruger is going to lock up tight when this

bolt moves forward into the breech, completely
surrounding the cartridge case head.
me as unthinkable that some enterprising handloader could tinker at the loading bench and develop a load for his
personal Ruger SR-762 that would deliver accurate shots to several hundred
yards, especially if the rifle is topped by
a good scope.
One thing to note about a .30-caliber
AR platform is that one doesnt feel the
same recoil as with a bolt-action rifle, be-
wipe with a cloth patch should maintain

the SR-762 adequately under all kinds of
conditions.
While it is a little heavier than I prefer
for a rifle, the SR-762 justifies its weight
by being the kind of firearm someone
would comfortably knock around with
where a traditional bolt-action sporting
rifle might be inadequate. While not impervious to the weather, Rugers semi-
This four-position regulator

addresses all kinds
of challenges and uses.
cause the cycling of the semi-auto sucks

up a lot of the punch that is pushed
backward from a bolt-action rifle.
The cycle is quick, so follow-up
shotsif necessarycan be rapid and
accurate.
Cleaning this rifle should be a snap, as
noted earlier by Gurneys demonstration
with the tissue. Thanks to the availability
of modern aerosol cleaners, keeping this
rifle gunk-free will take a few moments.
A drop of oil here and there and a good
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auto might handle drastically changing

conditions better than grandpas classic
deer-killer.
Whats more, with its modern design
and rapid-fire capability, in a social
emergency, it would provide a distinct
advantage over lighter-caliber weapons
in terms of range, energy and stopping
power.
As a rifle for all seasons and all purposes, Rugers SR-762 addresses multiple needs and delivers on all counts. GW
23
GW1403R1911 1/3/14 1:47 AM Page 24
COMMAND
AND
CONTROL
A comparison of the full size Ruger 1911 (top)

and Rugers SR-1911 CMD (bottom).
24
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GW1403R1911 1/3/14 1:47 AM Page 25
The Ruger CMD comes with two mags,

soft case, and take-down tool.
Rugers Stainless Steel Commander-Length

1911 in .45 ACP is Long on Value
Story & Photos by Jerry Catania
ood things sometimes come in

smaller packages. Just ask Napoleon.
And while the Commander-length
1911 doesnt date back to the revered and/or
reviled French general, it does have an interesting history of its own.
In 1911, when the U.S. military adopted the Browning-designed, Colt-produced .45 ACP pistol, it had a barrel length of
five inches. Throughout the next three decades (and two world
wars), changes in safeties, triggers, housings, and hammers
were made, but the barrel length remained the same.
In 1949, the U.S. government issued a call for a new pistol
that had to weigh less than 25 ounces, not to exceed seven
inches in length, and be chambered for (horrors!) 9mm Parabellum. Coltamong other makersanswered the call with an
aluminum-framed 1911 with a barrel shortened to 4.25 inches.
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When the U.S. military didnt follow up, Colt put its new
Commander into production for the civilian market in 1951
and wisely chambered it in .45 ACP as well as in 9x19mm
and .38 Super.
The aluminum framed 1911 in .45 ACPthe only caliber
considered a man-stopper at the timewas never really
trusted by those in the know, including Colonel John Dean
Jeff Cooper, who cautiously stated that it was a pistol that
should be carried a lot, but fired little. Seemingly in response
to this, Colt brought out an all-steel Colt Combat Commander
in 1970, and began calling the original aluminum-framed 1911
the Lightweight Commander.
The demand for the Browning 1911 has remained very
strong, with dozens of quality manufacturerslarge and
smallcontinuing to produce myriad versions of them. So-
25
GW1403R1911.CX 1/9/14 10:15 PM Page 26
The titanium firing pin and the

extra strength firing pin spring
provide safety against accidental discharge.
The Ruger field-strips easily.
26
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GW1403R1911.CX 1/10/14 3:00 PM Page 27
called improvements have also been

made for decades, such as external extractors and full-length recoil spring
guide rods.
Years after the military originally
adopted the pistol, Sturm, Ruger, and
Co., Inc. entered the market with their
SR1911 100, and it was an immediate
hit. A top-end pistol with a low-end
price, it was (and is) much in demand.
Now, Ruger has brought out the
SR1911CMD, their all-steel Commanderlength pistol.
COMMANDING ATTENTION
The new Ruger SR1911 CMD is an allstainless steel .45 ACP semi-automatic
pistol that echoes the 1970 Colt Combat
Commander with its 4.25-inch barrel.
The gun also follows the same Series
70 design with no firing pin safety,
which makes for a clean and easy takedown and re-assembly. The titanium firing pin and the extra strength firing pin
springa system that was combatproven in two world warsprovide
safety against accidental discharge. The
Ruger also has an internal extractor, just
like the original 1911.
The stainless steel barrel and solid
bushing are machined from the same
bar stock as the slide on the same machine for a superior (even precision) fit
and better accuracy. In fact, the fit on
mine was so good that the pistol did not
rattle in the slightest. Better still, after firing 100 rounds or so of full-power ammunition, it showed virtually no wear on
any moving parts. Both the frame and
SPECIFICATIONS
1911CMD
WEIGHT:
36.4 ounces
BARREL LENGTH:
4.25 inches
SIGHTS:
Novak windage-adjustable, 3-dot
CALIBER:
.45 ACP
MATERIAL:
Stainless Steel
MSRP: $829
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27
GW1403R1911 1/3/14 2:02 AM Page 28
barrel are ramped, throated, and polished to ensure reliable feeding of all
bullet shapes. A real plus is the recoil
spring system. No full-length guide rod
herejust adherence to John Ms original recoil spring system, as it should be.
If it works perfectly in actual warfare,
how can one improve it?
The front strap was smooth, but the
steel mainspring housing was sharply
checkered. An oversized beavertail grip
safety provides positive function and reliability. The thumb safetyalways such
a personal thingwas nicely contoured
and not too long or too wide. It functioned smoothly and easily and clicked
positively in and out of position. The
wood stocks were precisely checkered
for a secure grip. The lightweight, aluminum skeletonized trigger features an
adjustable over-travel stop and provides
a very crisp, no creep trigger pull with a
fast, positive reset. The skeletonized
hammer is lightweight and provides fast
cycling.
A Novak LoMount Carry rear and standard front sight are dovetailed into the
slide and use the 3-dot system. The
Ruger CMD field-strips easily thanks to
its Series 70 system and goes back together the same way. Even pushing the
slide stop into its final position was easier than with any other 1911 I have used.
A wrench is provided by Ruger to facilitate removing the barrel bushing but
was not needed. It was just overall precise fitting.
Close-up of well-contoured thumb safety.
SHOOTING THE RUGER CMD

The Ruger CMD functioned with 100percent reliability. All three types of
ammo I used fed and ejected with no
bobbles. A couple of empties hit my hat
in the first 20 rounds, but this stopped
CONTACTS:
www.ruger.com
HORNADY
www.hornady.com
Close-up of enhanced grip safety and

skeletonized speed hammer.
28
DOUBLETAP AMMUNITION
www.doubletapammo.com
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GW1403R1911 1/3/14 2:03 AM Page 29
Skeletonized trigger is user adjustable with Ruger-provided tool.
OUR SCCY
WILL BACK YOU UP.
And well back up your SCCY.
SCCY CPX-2
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In fact, we actually back up our new 9mm

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29
GW1403R1911 1/3/14 2:10 AM Page 30
Both barrel and frame are contoured

and polished for reliable feeding.
After over 100 rounds of full-power 45 ACP ammo, the Ruger

CMD shows very little wear. Thats precision fitting.
30
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GW1403R1911.CX 1/9/14 10:16 PM Page 31
by itself and the pistol behaved in a most

satisfactory manner. The sights were
well regulated with the heavy bullets I
used. Point of Aim and Point of Impact
coincided very well at 20 yards or so.
Chronograph results were generally as
good as expected for two loads, and better with one: Hornadys Critical Duty Law
Enforcement load. This load features a
220-grain hollow point with a soft flex
tip insert that both keeps the hollow
point from plugging up with debris
(clothes, sheet rock, etc.) and initiates
Point of Aim
and Point
of Impact
coincided very
well at 20 yards
or so.
Ruger 1911s are built on the clean Series 70 frameno extra levers, parts, or widgets. The results? Better trigger, easier take-down and re-assembly.
expansion through virtually all tactical

barriers. The Critical Duty loads exceed
all the latest FBI protocol for Law Enforcement bullets. You can go to the
Hornady website and see the results of
this bullet in bare gelatin as well as after
penetrating various types of clothing and
hard materials. The .45 ACP version expands up to .90 caliber.
The Ruger CMD is an easy to control,
flawlessly functioning 1911 that is a little
shorter than a full-size 1911 for ease of
carry. Precise fitting and all the usual upgrades are provided at no additional
cost. At an actual retail price of under
$800, it is truly an outstanding value. I
Rugers CMD does NOT have a full-length guide rod.

really felt confident carrying the CMD
around the mean (and not-so-mean)
streets and desert of Arizona. The inch shorter barrel really made a difference in comfort, especially when seated.
The only thing I can imagine Ruger
doing to improve it would be to offer a

bobtail versionits that good.
If an all-steel 1911 is your preference,
you definitely cannot go wrong with this
latest offering from Sturm, Ruger, and
Co., Inc. GW
CHRONOGRAPH DATA
LOAD
Hornady 230gr. XTP +P
Hornady 220gr. +P Critical Duty
DoubleTap 230gr. FMJ
MUZZLE VELOCITY
871 feet per second
988 feet per second
932 feet per second
ADVERTISED MV
950 feet per second
975 feet per second
950 feet per secon
Muzzle velocities are the actual results obtained using the Ruger 1911CMD (4.25-inch barrel) with an Oehler Model 35P chronograph in the field at 1200 feet elevation, and a temp of 81 degrees F. Advertised velocities were taken with 5-inch barrels under laboratory conditions.
NOTE: The Hornady Critical Duty load surpassed the factory specs even in the shorter barrel.
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GW1403DPMS 1/3/14 3:02 AM Page 32
The author firing the Compact Hunter. For

hunting in heavy cover in Texas, this was
an ideal rifle: light, accurate, and durable.
And, since the Compact Hunter is chambered in .308 Winchester, it is versatile
enough for use on almost any game.
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GW1403DPMS 1/3/14 3:02 AM Page 33
PANTHER
POWER
DPMS has produced innovative ARs for years,
and their current crop may be the best ever.
Here are five great ARs from the Panther People.
Story & Photos by Brad Fitzpatrick
t was a hot October afternoon, even by

Texas standards.
Trevor Umnus and I were stalking
whitetail deer in the thorn scrub at Mellon
Creek Ranch, so I held my rifle close to my
chest and tried to ignore the buzzing cloud of
mosquitoes that circled my face, carefully
choosing each step because wed already run
into a handful of rattlers.
Visibility was limited amidst the thornswe could only see a few
yards ahead in many placesso we had to guess where the buck
was going. Fortunately, Trevor is an experienced whitetail hunter,
and he guessed right. We set up at the end of an alley in the brush
and just as I slipped the DPMS Recon .308 onto the shooting sticks,
the cull buck appeared forty yards ahead of us, standing perfectly
broadside. The buck paused for just a moment, and that was enough
time to settle the horseshoe reticle of the Trijicon ACOG scope on the
deers shoulder.
I pressed the trigger and the buck went down.
The DPMS Recon I carried worked extremely well for my Texas
cull hunt because of its short overall length, portability, ergonomics
and accuracy. I used it to take other deer as well as hogs on that trip,
and was continuously impressed with how well the rifle performed.
As the AR market continues to expand, and more and more manufacturers vie for space in the market, were seeing a wider selection of
modern rifles with innovative features.
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33
DPMS
GW1403DPMS 1/3/14 3:02 AM Page 34
The compact, lightweight Sweet 16 rifle is fun to carry and fun

to shoot. This uncomplicated AR rifle earns praise both as a
varmint gun and a fun target rifle.
DPMS (Defense Procurement Manufacturing Services) is one of the leading

AR manufacturers. Founded in 1985 as a
government contract consultation firm
by Randy Luth, it has since developed
into one of the most successful modern
sporting rifle manufacturers in the country. Today, DPMS products (and their familiar panther logo) can be seen at just
about any major competitive AR shooting event, and their products are among
the most sought-after by serious AR
shooters. DPMS offers an extensive rifle
lineup, and it was hard to narrow this
line overview article down to my five favorites. But each of these guns that follow bring something special to the
growing Panther line, and if youre in the
market for a new AR, this will be a good
place to start.
THE SWEET 16
The name says it all. With its 16-inch
stainless steel free-floated bull barrel
and a fixed stock, the Sweet 16 has an
overall length of less than 35 inches

and weighs 7 pounds. Unlike some
new AR-15 rifles that are overloaded
with tactical rails and other add-ons,
the Sweet 16 is simple and straightforward. If youre learning to shoot an AR,
aluminum handguard, its natural balance and its compact design. It also
happens to be a very accurate rifle, and
it will work well for long-range varmint
shooting.
A growing number of AR users are
purchasing these guns for home defense, and the Sweet 16 is a great carbine for protecting yourself and your
family. The simple design makes it easy
to operate in the worst scenarios, and
its small size and lightweight make it a
Today, DPMS products

can be seen at just about any major
competitive AR shooting event
this is a great platform because its uncluttered and simple to use. Thats not
to say that experienced shooters wont
appreciate the Sweet 16s lightweight
handy, effective defense rifle. Its combination of quality design, small size and
accuracy make the Sweet 16 a sweet little rifle. MSRP: $939
HUNTING AT MELLON CREEK RANCH

Mellon Creek Ranch, which is located near Refugio, Texas, is comprised of 110,000 acres of low-fence hunting ground and
pastureland and is home to a large number of trophy whitetail deer. When I arrived at the airport at Corpus Christi, manager Jimmy
Brown informed me that I would see more deer on the ranch in a day than I would in Ohio during the entire hunting season. I
thought that was a pretty bold claim, but I can promise you that I saw at least 200 deer by noon on the first day of the hunt. Because
there are so many deer on every corner of the ranch, Jimmy offers cull hunts, where hunters can take up to six deer, as well as management and trophy hunts. If you arent interested in antler length and youre looking to fill your freezer for the year, I recommend
the cull hunt. In addition to your deer, you can take wild hogs as well, and who doesnt like a fresh deer tenderloin grilled and
wrapped in bacon? While youre on the ranch you can also hunt coyotes, bobcats, doves, and ducks as well.
For more information visit www.melloncreekoutfitters.com.
34
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GW1403DPMS 1/3/14 3:02 AM Page 35
THE LONG RANGE LITE
CONTACTS:
DPMS
www.dpmsinc.com
(320) 345-9223
bonus: the carbon fiber tube is quieter

than an aluminum tube, especially if you
happen to be married. On more than one
occasion Ive forgotten to remove my
wedding ring while shooting an AR with
an aluminum handguard and the resulting PING! is enough to scare the daylights out of any game in the vicinity.
The LRL is longer, heavier, and bulkier
than the Sweet 16, but its also a different animal. While the Sweet 16 is de-
DPMS
DPMSs original LR-308 was a fantastic long-range rifle capable of excellent

accuracy. The only problem was its
weight. If you were planning on sitting in
one place all day and didnt have far to
walk it worked fine, but hunters who
hike a little bit wanted something lighter.

Enter the Long Range Light, which
shares many of the same design elements of the original LR-308, but without
the heft. This weight reduction comes as
a result of replacing the aluminum handguard tube with a light, durable carbon
fiber model, and switching the heavy 24inch bull barrel for a lighter barrel of the
same length. The resulting gun is just as
accurate and dependable as the original
LR-308, but the Long Range Light
weighs two pounds less.
I tested the LRL at the shooting range
at Mellon Creek Ranch and found that it
was indeed very accurate. With 150 grain
Remington loads it produced sub-MOA
accuracy at 100 yards and was an excellent long-range hunting rifle. One added
The Long Range Light has all of the qualities that made DPMSs original
Long Range Hunter a favorite of both hunters and competitive shooters, but
a smaller diameter barrel and the use of carbon fiber help make this a
much more portable gun. Accuracy is still excellent.
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35
DPMS
GW1403DPMS 1/3/14 3:02 AM Page 36
A growing number of AR users

are purchasing these guns
for home defense
With an ACOG 3.5x scope, the Recon is a great brush hunting rifle that also doubles as a competition or target gun. Its a very flexible platform, and if
you need an AR that can accomplish a variety of tasks, this is it.
36
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GW1403DPMS 1/3/14 3:03 AM Page 37
The Recon is a very versatile rifle, with a Magpul MOE adjustable stock and Mapgul iron sights
as well as a four-rail handguard. Its also light enough to make an effective hunting rifle.
signed to be a short, handy rifle that is

highly maneuverable and easy to carry,
the LRL is designed for serious longrange work. Whether youre a hunter
looking to fill the freezer or a competitive
shooter trying to win a competition, the
Long Range Lite is a good choice.
MSRP: $1,499
THE RECON
More than any other firearm class on
the market, ARs have to be versatile
enough to perform an assortment of
tasks for a variety of consumers. Some
want a tactical rifle with plenty of rail
space for mounting lights, lasers,
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scopes, and grips. Others want an accurate gun that shoots well from 100 to
1,000 yards. Some want a hunting gun,
and some want a gun they can rely on to
save their life when theyre on duty. It
can be really hard to find a gun that can
do all of that, but the Recon would be
my choice for the most versatile of all
Panther AR guns.
Tactical shooters will be thrilled by the
four-rail, free-floated handguard that offers plenty of space for mounting accessories. The Recon comes with flip-up
Magpul front and rear sights, but there is
plenty of space to mount another optic
as well. The Magpul MOE stock is easy
to adjust, and the Recon comes with an

AAC BLACKOUT suppressor adapter
and flash hider that doesnt affect accuracy. With an overall weight of less than
nine pounds, it isnt the lightest rifle in
the DPMS lineup, but the Recon is capable of doing a variety of things well. It
was the perfect rifle for my Texas deer
and hog hunt because it was accurate
enough to be used at long range and yet
light enough to carry. MSRP: $1,559
THE COMPACT HUNTER

If youre a serious big game hunter
who isnt afraid to walk a few miles in
search of game, then this might be the
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DPMS
GW1403DPMS 1/3/14 3:03 AM Page 38
Varmint and predator hunters have long appreciated the AR platforms

many qualities, and the Prairie Panther is designed specifically for
hunting small game out to extreme ranges.
rifle for you. The Compact Hunter in

.308 offers the accuracy and dependability youd expect from a DPMS rifle
in a lightweight, compact package. One
of the best features of any AR-style
hunting rifle is that you can easily remove the upper and place both the
upper and lower receivers in a shoulder
bag for long hikes into camp. Weighing
less than eight pounds, the Compact
Hunter helps lighten the load during
long walks and yet offers features
youd expect from a premium-hunting
rifle. The 16-inch barrel has a stainless
steel Teflon coating that wont produce

glare and scare game. The carbon fiber
handguard is both lightweight and
tough and, as previously stated, it is
quiet. The extruded T6 aluminum A3
flattop receiver is perfect for mounting
a light, compact scope, and the B5 Systems Sopmod buttstock that is lightweight, easily adjustable, and
extremely durable. Weighing in at just 7
pounds, the Compact Hunter is comfortable to carry, and its short overall
length (33-36 1/2 inches) makes this a
great gun for dense cover.
The Compact hunter isnt just a great

gun for hunting, though. Like the Sweet
16, it is short, light, and accurate, making it a great defensive rifle or target
gun. Its light enough to carry comfortably and hits hard enough to take down
the largest game. MSRP: $1,499
THE PRARIE PANTHER

Varmint hunters have helped popularize AR-style rifles, and there are
many reasons why these guns are ideal
for prairie dogs, woodchucks, coyotes,
hogs, and the like. Varmint hunters ap-
The Compact Hunter has a clean receiver with a Picatinny rail for mounting optics. This sleek design and use of a short barrel and a carbon fiber
handguard help keep weight under 8 pounds.
38
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GW1403DPMS 1/3/14 3:03 AM Page 39
The Recon
would be my
choice for the most
versatile of
all Panther
AR guns.
preciate the ARs reliability, adaptability, accuracy, and the ability to deliver
fast follow-up shots, and the Prairie
Panther line of rifles are DPMSs take
on the trend toward sporterized, camo
ARs purpose-built for varmint hunting.
With its carbon fiber handguards,
Teflon-coated, fluted, 20-inch barrel,
and camo coatings (available in Mossy
Oak Brush, Kings Desert Shadow and
Kings Snow Shadow patterns), the
Prairie Panther has all the trimmings of
a true varmint gun. The fixed stock is
skeletonized to reduce weight, and the
2-stage match trigger helps make long
shots on small game. The flat top receiver makes it easy to mount optics
with large objectives, and at just over
seven pounds this is one of the lightest,
most portable varmint AR rifles on the
market. Its also very accurate, allowing
you to reach varmints at long ranges.
MSRP: $1,289 GW
The Prairie Panther is available with three different camo patterns that will allow you to blend in
no matter where you are hunting. This level of concealment will keep predators from spotting you
as they make an approach.
The Compact Hunters carbon fiber handguard is extremely light, quiet to the touch and durable.
The free-floated barrel helps make this one of the most accurate hunting ARs available.
ACOG OPTICS
While hunting on the Mellon Creek Ranch, the DPMS Recon I hunted with was topped with a Trijicon ACOG, the popular battle sight for the U.S. Military. ACOG (Advanced Combat Optics Gunsight) scopes have fixed magnification (mine was 3.5x,
and worked perfectly in the thorn forests of Texas) and allow the shooter to keep both eyes open to focus on the target. It is available
with bullet drop compensating and ranging reticles and the military grade aluminum alloy housing makes this one of the most
durable scopes on the market. Also look for the VCOG, the variable-power version.
For more information visit www.trijicon.com or call 248-960-7700.
www.gunworld.com
39
GW1403Hunter 1/3/14 2:35 AM Page 40
TODAYS
HUNTER
40
www.gunworld.com
COYOTE
UGLY
Whitetail Excitement
& Disappointment
in the Sooner State
Story & Photos by Thomas C. Tabor
f Id been playing a three-handed card

game, the score would have been:
hunter-1, deer- 0and coyotes- 10.
Unfortunately, I wasnt working a deck of cards.

Instead, I was hunting whitetail deer on Oklahomas historic
Chain Ranch when I drew the dreaded coyote card and things
turned ugly.
The Chain Ranch is a massive working cattle spread with
holdings stretching across parts of Oklahoma and Kansas.
Aside from raising prime quality steaks on the hoof, it also offers free-roaming trophy-quality whitetail deer hunts on a limited basis. Hunters frequently encounter multiple bucks in the
B&C score range of 125 inches to 145 inches at Chain, and
sometimes even have a chance at a 170-inch or larger trophy.
As a side benefit, wild hogs also abound in this area, providing
the hunters even more exciting hunting opportunities.
On this particular hunt we were each allowed to take one
buck, one doe whitetail and as many hogs as we encountered
and chose to shoot. Of course, there was the possibility for other
critters like armadillos, porkies, raccoons and coyotes. After this
particular hunt, I would certainly encourage hunters to draw a
bead on virtually every coyote they happen to run across.
Youll be doing me a big favor.
TWO FIRSTS
You know you are in

good deer country
when you are greeted
like this at the Chain
Ranch Lodge.
www.gunworld.com
The hunt was unique due to a couple of firsts: it was my

first hunting adventure in Oklahoma, and it was my first time
to use an AR for hunting deer. Ive used a variety of ARs for
hunting many species of varmints and predators, but never
for game animals like deer. So, when I received the invite to
do bothwhile testing out Smith & Wessons newest M&P
Model 10 series rifle in camoI didnt have to think too long
and hard about accepting the offer.
Our hunting party was comprised of folks eking out a living
putting ink to paper (or at least before computers found their
way into our business), those who choose to tell their stories
41
TODAYS
HUNTER
whitetail was already hanging in camp
by the end of that first day, as well as a
really nasty looking curly-haired hog that
would tip the scale at somewhere
around 300 pounds. Id seen several
bucks that I would have been quite
happy to send a shot to, but the rut was
in full swing, and the animals were moving quickly throughout the area, limiting
the possibility of getting a shot off.
DAY 2 DILEMMA
Mark Chestnut, Editor of the NRA First Freedom, took this fine 4x4 whitetail buck with his .308
Winchester Smith & Wesson camo M&P Model 10 AR.
The vast majority of the deer hunting on the Chain Ranch is done from blinds. Some are elevated
like this one, while others are ground blinds.
on camera, and a group of S&W employees and associates. After meeting up at
the Oklahoma City airport, we loaded
our gear quickly and were soon on the
road for the 90-mile drive to the ranch,
arriving just in time to take advantage of
the last remaining light to get the sights
of our S&W M&P Model 10 ARs fine
tuned. Each AR had already been
42
equipped with a Bushnell Elite Tactical

LRS 3-12x44mm scope, held firmly in
place with Warne Skel rings and mounts.
Day 1 began with us fighting an ice
storm and extreme wind, which wasnt
exactly advantageous to good hunting.
Fortunately, reports were that better
conditions were on the way. But even
with the poor weather, one fine 4x4
That all changed on Day 2 when a nice

representative 4x4 came near my stand
and lingered just a bit too long for his
wellbeing. Since I prefer broadside shots,
I patiently waited (well, maybe not too patiently) for several minutes before finally
deciding the critter simply wasnt going
to cooperate. Instead, I did it his way, and
sent the 150-grain .308 Winchester AR
missile directly through the chest and into
the heart/lung area. It wasnt the shot I
would have preferred, but I was confident
that it would get the job done in an expedient and effective manner.
At the shot, the buck hunched up and
lunged forward, almost collapsing on its
front hunches, then quickly vanished
from sight. A short distance away, the
land dropped off into to small riverbed
where the water was only a few inches
deep due to a couple of recently built
beaver dams. Confident that I would find
the buck piled up just over the edge of
the bank, I climbed out of my blind and
made my way in that direction. To my
surprise, when I peered over the edge of
the embankment, there was no deer to
be seen. The area appeared to be an active deer crossing with plenty of deer
sign, but there was no blood trail to follow. He had somehow been able to
climb out of the river bottom and was
now somewhere on the brush-infested
flatland on the opposite side of the river.
Darkness was quickly descending, so
after taking a quick look around I called
my guide, Clint, who showed up about
15 minutes later to help in the search. It
is always difficult for me to wait at times
like these, but we thought it best to allow
a few more minutes in hopes of the buck
bedding down. I was confident that my
shot was terminal, but the brush was
dense, making spotting a downed animal
extremely difficult. Unfortunately, darkwww.gunworld.com
Much of the deer habitat on the Chain Ranch consisted of broken cover, which occasionally was dense and thick. While this made excellent habitat
for the deer, it could at times make finding downed game a bit difficult, as in my case.
ness descended before we could thoroughly cover the area, and we were
forced to give up the search for the night.
NATURES WAY
As most hunters know, choosing to
abandon game in the field is a difficult
decision, but in this case we really had
no choice. After a restless nightand
skipping breakfast the next morningwe
were on the road long before sunrise
with renewed hopes. With the entire day
ahead of us, wed planned a more or-
ganized and methodical search, but as it

turned out, none was necessary. After
only 20 minutes or so, I heard Clints signal, followed by the news that he had
found my buck. I was initially elated, but
knowing full well that plenty of predators
also made their home in that area, the
first words from my mouth were, Did
the coyotes find it?
Clints reply was simple. Yeah, you
could say that.
Those five words certainly didnt prepare me for what I was about to find. I
have no idea how many dogs were on

that carcass, but it must have been some
party. Within those few hours of darkness they had managed to completely
strip the buck of all meat, even to the
point of hollowing out under the neck
cape all the way up to the jawbones.
Amazingly, even if there had been as
many as a dozen coyotes in that pack,
each would had to have devoured well
over 10 pounds of deer meat apiece. I
suppose that is natures way, but frustrating just the same. Disappointed and
S&W/BLUE HERON COMMUNICATIONS
The new camo version of the Smith & Wesson

.308/7.62x51 M&P Modern Sporting Rifle (AR) makes
a good match for many hunting applications.
S&WS M&P MODEL 10 SERIES

Smith & Wessons M&P Model 10 ARs have been around for a few years now, but only recently have they included this camo version .308 Win/7.62x51. The 1:10-inch 5R twist rate barrel was 18 inches long, and the rifle came with a total weight (without the
scope) of 8.1 pounds with an overall length is 37.5 inches.
The unique Magpul Moe stock is both attractive and well designed for hunting purposes. The bolt material is 9310 steel, the barrel
is 4140 steel and the receiver is made from 7075 T6 aluminum. I found the triggerset at the factory at a pull weight of 6.15-pounds
to be sharp and crisp, and overall the rifle handled exceptionally well. In short, it was a perfect match for hunting that can sometimes
require fast and quick shooting. MSRP: $1,729
www.gunworld.com
43
TODAYS
HUNTER
INSET: I absolutely couldnt believe
the damage the coyotes did in a few
hours of darkness. Fortunately for
me, they were unable to devour the
horns. Virtually no meat remained
on the buck after the coyotes got
done.
RIGHT: I was happy with this buck,
but it would have been nice to have
a little meat left over for human consumption.
disheartened, we took the

only viable part of the deer
that remainedthe head
and made our way back to
camp.
Although I came away from
my Day 2 misfortune a bit
frustrated, the overall experience of hunting on the Chain
Ranch turned out to be a positive one.
By the time our four actual days hunting
were over, all six of us had taken very
nice whitetail bucks, consisting mostly of
4x4s and 5x5s. Like me, most were able
to take a doe along with their buck, and
when all was said and done, there were
three hogs hanging on the meat pole as
well, with my contribution being a fat
sow possibly a little over 100 pounds
(considerably more than the remaining
weight of my buck).
The Smith & Wesson M&P Model 10
ARs performed their duties perfectly for
everyone in camp. In every case they
functioned flawlessly, highlighting just
how versatile this firearm platform has
become to hunters. ARs should no longer
be limited to military and police usage. In
the right calibers, they are effective rifles
for hunting a wide variety of game animals, and as far as Im concerned, the
S&W M&P series rifles are some of the
best available anywhere. GW
THE CHAIN RANCH

The Chain Ranch was established in 1893 when Oscar Chain traded a shotgun
and $50 for a quarter of a section (160 acres) of land. The ranch has been in the
Chain family for six generations, and consists of holdings in both Oklahoma and
Kansas. Much of my hunt took place in the northwest portion of Oklahoma, about 40
miles from the Texas panhandle. Deer hunts typically consist of five full days of hunting with a 2 to 1 hunter to guide ratio. In addition to trophy whitetail hunting, the
ranch also offers hog hunting trips and hunts for a variety of exotic game animals.
44
CONTACTS:
SMITH & WESSON
1-800-331-0852
www.smith-wesson.com
CHAIN RANCH
Main Office:
(580) 886-2541
(9 a.m. to noon, Monday-Friday)
Hunting Office:
(580) 886-5985
www.chainranch.com
www.gunworld.com
GW_1403_45 1/2/14 10:25 PM Page 45
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GW1403Steyr 1/3/14 2:43 AM Page 46
The Steyr AUG with a Schmidt & Bender

optic was evaluated at Echo Valley Training Centers behind simulated cover
using dynamic training evolutions.
46
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GW1403Steyr 1/3/14 2:43 AM Page 47
SHORT &
SWEET
Steyrs AUG Bullpup Offers
Proven Maneuverability and Accuracy
Story & Photos by Todd Burgreen
or years, The Steyr AUG bullpup rifle was unobtainable to U.S. consumers. While other manufacturers
have offered AUG-like versions, the original Steyr
AUG was simply not available. Now that they are being
assembled at Steyrs facility in Trussville, Alabama, genuine Steyr-made AUGs are finally available to the U.S.
civilian market.
Development of the Steyr AUG

(roughly translated from Austrian as
Universal Army Rifle) began in the
early 1970s. After exhaustive testing, it
was adopted by the Austrian Army in
1977 as the Sturm Gewehr 77 (Assault
rifle 77, or StGw 77). In addition to Austria, the AUG is used by a number of
other countries: Australia, New Zealand,
Oman, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Ireland to name just a few. It also was
widely purchased by various security
and law enforcement agencies worldwide, including the U.S. Coastal Guard.
The Steyr AUG may be the most com-
www.gunworld.com
mercially successful bullpup rifle to date,

and Steyr has updated the AUG design
with AUG A2 and AUG A3 variants. The
AUG A3 was introduced in 2005.
Bullpup rifles often generate strong
opinions, both for and against. In a
bullpup, the action is located behind the
trigger group in the space normally
solely reserved for the stock. Modern
warfare often requires a light, compact,
weapon with effective range of fire much
longer than that of a submachine gun,
but shorter than that of a main battle
rifle. The bullpup design retains accuracy and full ballistic potential of a car-
47
GW1403Steyr 1/3/14 2:43 AM Page 48
With the receiver being closer to the body, the center of gravity moves more toward the rear due to the weight of action at the butt. This, combined
with the hands being closer to each other on the weapon makes the STEYR AUG seem lighter than it is.
ing the capability of a high-capacity detachable magazine, select-fire capability,
and 7.92x33 Kurz cartridge. In the
bullpup design, the British recognized
the ability to get rifle-like ballistic performance out of a weapon the size of a
SMG.
OTHER QUALITIES
Steyr AUG A3 SA NATO was tested with a myriad of ammunition, magazine, and other ancillary
gear.
tridge while reducing overall length.
Bullpups are generally the same size as
specialized short barrel rifles (SBR) without having to resort to sub-16-inch barrels.
The bullpup is not a new platform, of
48
course. Design improvements have progressed steadily since WWII, often

driven by the British. The German StG
44, considered by many to be the father
of the assault rifle genre of weapons,
stimulated this Allied interest by exhibit-
The AUGs bullpup configuration is

not its only distinguishing characteristic.
Other design features include a receiver
cast from lightweight aircraft alloy and a
bolt group/dual spring recoil system
captive inside hollow operating rods.
The short-stroke (tappet) gas piston impinges on the front end of the right operating rod and the end of the left rod is in
contact with the rifles non-reciprocating
cocking handle.
The AUGs stock is molded of a high
strength polymer with its two halves permanently friction-welded together. While
most main firing components of the
AUG are made of steel or lightweight
alloy, as many parts as possible are
made of synthetic materialsincluding
the fire control group. Not only is the
body of the modular fire control group
made of plastic, but also the sear, hamwww.gunworld.com
GW1403Steyr 1/3/14 2:43 AM Page 49
Compactnesswhile maintaining a full-length barrel to maximize cartridge performanceis one of the most oft repeated positive attributes of
bullpup rifles. An example of this would be working in and around vehicles as shown with Steyr AUG.
mer, and disconnectoreverything except pins and springs. Remember, the
AUG emerged at a time before use of
polymers in weapons became accepted
as routine practice.
The AUG stock is ergonomic, incorporating a full hand trigger guard for easy
manipulation with or without gloves. A
contoured vertical forward grip can be
used or folded up where it locks via a
central spring-loaded pin. The stock has
two ejection ports to accommodate right
or left-handed users, an early recognition of the ambidextrous nature of tactics. To convert the rifle for a left handed
shooter, the port cover is moved to the
right port, and a left ejecting bolt is installed with the entire procedure taking
only a few minutes in the field. The Steyr
AUG made use of tan translucent thermoplastic 30 or 42 round magazines allowing remaining ammunition to be
seen at a glance.
Another unique/pioneering AUG feature is its quick-change barrel system,
which allows the rifle to be converted

from a short 14-inch barrel Commando
weapon to a heavy 24.5-inch barrel
sniper rifle or light machinegun. The
AUG barrel is made by cold hammer
forging and is chrome lined. Each barrel
contains a gas block with a 3-position
gas plug. Two positions are for operating under various conditions while the
The Steyr AUG may be

the most commercially successful
bullpup rifle to date
WHY BULLPUP?
Attempts at uncovering the origins of the term Bullpup (at least relating to this type of firearm) resulted in nothing definitive, but a
popular explanation is that in British usage, a Bulldog was a heavy caliber revolver firing a .45 caliber bullet from a snub nose barrel. These were based on the Webley Police Revolver for the Royal Irish Constabulary. As most know, British police did not normally
carry guns. However, a British policeman in Ireland who did not have a gun was tempting fate, so these officers wanted a powerful,
compact weapon they could fit under their uniform. It was called Bulldog because the archetypical British-bred Bulldog has a snub
nose, similar to a revolver with a short barrel. Therefore, the early innovators of the modern form of the Bullpup rifle associated the
earlier term Bulldog, i.e. a shortened or abbreviated form of a handgun, with the same form for a rifle. Thus, the endearing term
Bullpup was born.
www.gunworld.com
49
GW1403Steyr 1/3/14 2:43 AM Page 50
TOP: The Steyr AUG was simple to field strip

with only a handful of major components present in its design. This simplicity is a major reason for its reliability and ruggedness.
BOTTOM: The AUG uses a two-position gas
valve to ensure reliable operation. It is located
on right side of rifle in front of the recoil spring
housing.
SPECIFICATIONS
STEYR
AUG A3 SA NATO
CALIBER:
5.56mm
ACTION:
Short Stroke gas piston
with two settings
BARREL LENGTH:
16 inches
(18.375 inches with flash hider)
OVERALL LENGTH:
28.25 inches
WEIGHT:
8.15 pounds
50
third is the off position for launching

rifle bullet grenades.
THE AUG A3 NATO

The specific AUG evaluated here was
the AUG/A3 SA NATO version. The U.S.
AUG/A3 SA has a 10-inch uninterrupted
Mil-Std-1913 rail monolithic with the
main receiver. With the A3, Steyr added
side rails in order to mount accessories
such as a light or laser. The nuance with
NATO nomenclature is that this AUG accepts standard AR15/M16 magazines.
The AUG A3 NATO weighs 8 pounds
and measures approximately 28.25
inches with its 16-inch barrel. A full
length Picatinny rail runs down the
upper receiver, with a shorter rail also
present on the right side of the forend.
The AUG A3 NATO does not come with
back up iron sights, though these are
easily added, especially with the Magpul
flip sights so prevalent. The safety selector type is located behind the trigger and
is a lateral push through type.
The A3 NATO was not particular
about what magazines it uses. Although
the AUG A3 NATO shipped with a metal
30-round magazine, the popular polymer
magazines from Magpul were fully functional, as was a 40-round Magpul variant.
The magazine release button is found
behind the magazine well, making it ambidextrous. The magazine catch requires it be pushed in for magazine to be
released with operator pulling the magazines free while depressing the release
button. The AUG does feature a bolt
hold open device after the last round is
fired, even though a bolt release is not
present with the charging handle needing to be manipulated once a new magazine is inserted. Once practiced, reloads
can be done in one fluid motion.
Generally speaking, bullpup triggers
are not as crisp as other designs due to
the linkage required between the forward trigger and the rearward action.
The best approach is to treat bullpup
triggers like a Glock or Double-Action revolver trigger. One should not try to
stage the trigger, but rather work it
smoothly, thus allowing for more precise
shots. The AUG trigger took approximately 9 pounds of pressure to fire a
round.
The compactness of a bullpup rifle
while maintaining a full-length barrelis
beneficial in several situations, including
working in and around vehicles. As a
driver or passenger, you can have the
AUG A3 NATO rifle pointed muzzle down
between your legs, with the buttstock
resting on the seat cushion. Movement
with the AUG inside of structures is also
much easier, and is similar to the size advantage offered by a SMG without the
terminal ballistic penalty of using a pistol
cartridge or short barrel for a rifle.
OPTICS AND MANIPULATION

It didnt take much time to become familiar with the AUG A3 NATO and its
www.gunworld.com
GW_1403_51 1/9/14 2:51 PM Page 51
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300 AAC BLACKOUT The terminal effects

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carbines and PDWs. Barnes 300 AAC Blackoutoptimized bullets new, over-sized plastic tips
add to our existing bullet technology to keep the
weight down and the velocity
up, for a atter trajectory
and optimal penetration
even at extended ranges.
T H E
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features a long prole and boattail design that
deliver match-grade accuracy at long range
with an incredibly high ballistic coefcient and
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GW1403Steyr 1/3/14 2:43 AM Page 52
A Schmidt & Bender (S&B) 1.1-4x20 PM ShortDot was used with the Steyr AUG for this evaluation. The S&B is designed for instinctive,
close-range/low-magnification situations with
an illuminated reticle, yet it allows shooters to
engage targets with greater precision at longer
ranges thanks to the 4x.
The Schmidt & Bender reticle facilitated both CQB style shots as well as longer range precision
work.
handling during T&E. The magazine sits
closer to the body, which took some getting used during reloads, and orientating
hand location when racking the charging
handle during weapon manipulation
took a bit of time as well. Range tests
consisted of moving around barricades
and simulated cover while engaging an
assortment of paper and steel targets, including automobiles located at Echo Valley Training Center. The AUGs
non-reciprocating charging handle found
favor with multiple evaluators who have
worked extensively around vehiclesa
situation where a reciprocating charging
handle can be a detriment due to com52
ing into contact with surroundings.

The AUG A3 full length Picatinny rail
allowed for easy mounting of optics, but
the dilemma was whether to go with a
red dot optic (taking advantage of the
AUGs compact stature for CQB arena)
or a magnified optic (since the AUG is
capable of long range accuracy thanks to
its 16 inch barrel). In the end, I decided
to evaluate the AUG with a Schmidt &
Bender (S&B) 1.1-4x20 PM ShortDot. The
S&B is designed for instinctive, closerange/low-magnification situations with
illuminated reticle, yet allow shooters to
engage targets with greater precision at
longer ranges thanks to the 4x. The S&B
1.1-4x ShortDot scope may seem unconventional in terms of commonly associated optics on a military style rifle, but
for law enforcement, civilian or private
security contractor it is worthy consideration as it supplements the AUGs performance flexibility.
As many maturing shooters can attest, the single focus plane associated
with an optic is easier to shoot accurately than coordinating front and rear
sights. The 5.56s flat trajectory aids in
making hits out to 250-300 yards without
having to compensate excessively for
bullet drop, especially with the AUGs
full-length 16-inch barrel.
Ammunition tested with the AUG was
a combination of Black Hills Ammunition, Hornady, Winchester, and Federal
loads. The AUG kept all loads under 2.25
inches at 100 yards with multiple Black
Hills and Federal loads50 grain TSX,
69 grain and 77 grain Matchproducing
just over MOA groups out to 200 yards.
Winchester and American Eagle 55-grain
FMJ and 50-grain Tipped Varmint was
used along with Speer LE Gold Dot 64grain GDSP. Accuracy test protocol consisted of three five-shot groups with
each ammunition type. Group sizes were
www.gunworld.com
GW1403Steyr.CX 1/9/14 10:17 PM Page 53
averaged. Velocity figures ranged from

2700 fps to 2900 fps over RCBS AmmoMaster chronograph.
FINAL THOUGHTS
One question encountered during research of this article was if the AUG was
indeed ambidextrous. For example, is a
shooter able to transition between
shoulders without catching ejected
empty brass in the face? Well, my range
tests indicated that the AUG couldnt be
fired from the left shoulder without
catching empty brass in the face. While
a left-handed shooter can have the ejection side changed, this is not something
done on the fly. With that said, a shooter
can use a center chest technique that allows for some degree of ambidexterity.
There are shooters that disregard the
bullpup design because they cant get
past the looks and ergonomic strangeness, but this seems to be an issue of
ingrained conservatism more than anything else. But one thing is clear. Steyr
USA is finally making this service-proven
bullpup available to the U.S. consumer,
and many will find the AUG desirable
due to its compactness, reliability, and
accuracy.
This is a combination hard to argue
against in terms of utility for any user.
The tide seems to be slowly changing in
terms of bullpup acceptability. GW
The AUGs stock is molded

of a high strength polymer
with its two halves permanently
friction-welded together.
www.gunworld.com
CONTACTS:
Steyr USA
P.O. Box 840
Trussville, AL 35173
(205) 655-8299
www.steyrarms.com
Federal Cartridge Company
900 Ehlen Drive
Anoka, MN 55303
(800) 831-0850
www.federalpremium.com
Magpul Industries Corp.
PO Box17697
Boulder, CO 80308
(877) 462-4785
www.magpul.com
Black Hills Ammunition
PO Box 3090
Rapid City, SD 57709
(605) 348-5150
www.black-hills.com
53
GW140Shotguns 1/3/14 2:54 AM Page 54
54
www.gunworld.com
Four of the Best Hunting Smoothbores Ever Produced

Story & Photos by Thomas C. Tabor
ingling out specific firearms as being better than others can often incite the wrath
and scorn of fellow shooters. As shooters, we all have personal views, and several
factors influence them, including the type of shooting we are most interested in,
how diversified our experience has been, our inherent personal preferences (and biases) and even where we live.
I admit to my own biases (I prefer to call them preferences), and theyve been formed over a half a century of smooth bore
shooting. In the past 50 years, Ive shot hundreds of different makes and models to take most all of the legally allowed winged
critters here in the U.S. as well as occasionally in other countries.
But first, there are a few caveats to my selections.
First, you will probably note that each shotgun Ive selected has a bit of history behind it. While there certainly have been some
fantastic new shotguns developed in recent years, I find it hard to draw a legitimate comparison between those and the ones that
OPPOSITE PAGE: Tabors choice of the top 4 Best-of-theBest hunting shotguns includes (L-R): Winchester Model 12
pump, Ithaca Model 37 pump, Browning Model A5 semi-automatic and the Browning Superposed over & under.
RIGHT: One of the authors favorite Winchester Model 12s is
a custom, heavily engraved, gold inlayed, 12-gauge that
was originally built in 1955, but has undergone extensive
modification since it left the Winchester factory.
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55
Three of Toms Ithaca Model 37 shotguns (L-R): An older 12gauge equipped with a modified choke, another older one in 20gauge with a full choke and a much older shortened barrel
20-gauge equipped with custom screw-in choke tubes.
56
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GW140Shotguns.CX 1/9/14 10:18 PM Page 57
The unique design of the Ithaca Model 37 allows the hulls to be kicked out the bottom of the receiver, dropping the empties at the shooters feet.
have proved their worth over decades.

So on that basis, you will note that
longevity has played a major role in my
choices.
Additionally, while I have an unending
passion when it comes to the old doubles, like those once produced by L.C.
Smith, Parker Bros., A.H. Fox and the
many imported English classics, those
too have been omitted from consideration. While I personally still like to occasionally hunt with these ol favorites, I
consider them more of a specialty
firearm than something most modern
day hunters would prefer. My four bestof-the-best encompass three different
action types, but all share one thing in
commonJohn M. Browning designed
every one.
Quite simply, I believe the Winchester

Model 12 is the best pump action shotgun ever built. Introduced over a century
ago, it was the very first truly successful
internal hammer pump shotgun. John
Browning deserves much of the credit
for the development of the Model 12 because it was based largely on his Model
1893/97 pump design. It was made available in a variety of styles and grades and
included 12-, 16-, 20- and even a few 28gauges.
In the mid 1960s, however, Winchester was suffering a financial downturn
that resulted in many internal changes,
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ITHACA
THE WINCHESTER MODEL

1912 PUMP
At the new Ithaca factory one of the workers polishes out the receiver of a Model 37, possibly
preparing it for a custom engraving job.
including dropping the Model 12 from
production in 1963. This decision had
virtually nothing to do with the popularity or the quality of this shotgun. Indeed,
since its launch, the Model 12 had been
exceptionally popular with a wide range
of different types of shooters. Ironically,
what stopped Model 12 production was
that it was so well built, a quality that frequently equates to higher production
costs.
Many of the working parts of the

Model 12 were either forged or machined
from solid steel, which are more costly to
produce than if they were stamped out
from a piece of flat stock. If there were a
single villain to blame for the demise of
the Model 12, it would have to be the
Remington 870 pump, which entered the
scene in 1950. The less expensive production methods used to produce the
870 simply were impossible to compete
57
with. A few limited attempts were made

by Winchester after 63 to resurrect the
Model 12, but unfortunately none of
those were all that successful.
Over the years I have owned a number of Model 12s in various gauges, and
have used them for hunting all types of
feathered fowl and even for trapshooting. Some of the best scores Ive ever
competitively shot on the trap range
were produced with one of my Model
12s, and I still frequently pick one as my
hunting partner before heading afield. In
every case I can truthfully report that I
have never experienced a single problem with any one of those shotguns.
ITHACA
Tabors Superposed Browning is a standard grade built in 1959.
The newly manufactured Ithaca Model 37 still shares many of the original
traits of the earlier models.
ITHACA MODEL 37 PUMP

Not far behind the Model 12 is the
Ithaca Model 37 pump. Developed and
58
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The Model 37 conveniently

kicks its empties out the bottom
of the receiver
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59
HOWARD COMMUNICATIONS
The new Browning A5s resemble closely the older shotguns.
patented by John Browning in 1915, it

ian company even got into the act, proeventually began to catch up to them,
wasnt until 1937 that it was actually
ducing a look-a-like Model 37 called a
eventually culminating in bankruptcy
placed into production. The 37 is unique
Bataan Modelo 71. Nevertheless, while
and the closing of their production
in a couple of ways. While most other
those companies mimicked many of the
doors. But in June of 2007, new owners
shotguns eject from the side
purchased the assets of Ithaca
(with a few older models
Guns USA, LLC, and after a
ejecting out the top), the
complete reorganization, proModel 37 conveniently kicks
duction resumed in 2008. And
its empties out the bottom of
to my great appreciation, the
The authors four favorite scatterguns represent three difthe receiver, resulting in the
very first firearms to be prohulls literally falling at the
duced by the new facility
ferent action types. Each model owns a own small slice of
shooters feet. This characwere Ithaca Model 37s.
history, and was designed by John M. Browning. They are,
teristic is sure to please anyin order:
one that handloads his or her
BROWNING
own shotshells. And with
SEMI-AUTOMATIC A5
The A5 Browning is somemany of the older models
The Winchester Model 1912 Pump
times referred to as a Squarefrequently running under 6
Ithaca Model 37 Pump
Back or Hump-Back because
pounds, it makes this scatterBrowning
Semi-Automatic A5
of its unique squared off rear
gun a near perfect choice as
receiver. While a few shooters
a fast handling, quick to point
Browning Superposed Over & Under
complain about this design,
bird gun.
saying that it somehow interBut Ithaca wasnt the only
feres with their sighting abilicompany to take advantage
ties, these claims really have no basis in
of this terrific design. Between 1921 and
unique traits inherent to the Ithaca verreality. When shooting a shotgun, the
1933, Remington based both their Model
sion, I personally prefer the Ithaca to any
eyes of the shooter should never be fo17A and 29 shotguns on it, and in 1977
of the competitor models.
cused on the receiver, the rib, or even
Browning used the design for their BPS
Unfortunately, Ithaca was not without
the beads. When a shotgun is brought to
(Browning Pump Shotgun), which reits problemssome of which had roots
the shoulder it should align perfectly and
mains in production today. An Argentinearly on in productionand those issues
HOWARD COMMUNICATIONS
TOPS FOR TABOR
A sub-model of the Browning A5 now is available in Mossy Oak shadow grass blades camo pattern.
60
www.gunworld.com
I have owned many A5 shotguns,

and have never experienced
a single problem
with their operation.
the shooter eyes should only be focused

on the intended target.
The A5 is a recoil-operated design,
which allows for some dampening of the
felt recoil. It is sometimes necessary,
however, to switch around a couple of
friction rings to accommodate the different loads (i.e. light or heavy loads). Removing the forearm stock and
exchanging the position of those parts
easily accomplish this.
I have owned many A5 shotguns over
the years in various gauges, and have
never experienced a single problem with
their operation. I dont believe a person
can own a more carefree shotgun, and I
believe the A5 will be around long after I
depart this earth. The original A5s were
made at the FN factory in Belgium, but in
www.gunworld.com
the mid 1970s production was shifted to

Miroku in Japan. There even was a time
that production was shut down, but due
to the popularity of the A5, the factory is
once again building these fine shotguns.
There have been many different models
and grades produced in the three most
common gauges of 12, 16 and 20. Today
there is even a 3 1/2-inch 12-gauge
model offered which comes with a phenomenal 100,000 round or five-year
guarantee.
The same patent was used by Remington to produce that companys Model 11
between the years of 1905 through 1949,
but in my mind the Remington version
never reached the same level of quality
and elegance as the A5 Browning.
I would place this particular shotgun
61
The Browning A5 semi-automatic shotguns are likely

some of the most reliable firearms ever produced.
62
www.gunworld.com
in a category such as the one occupied by the 1911 45-caliber

handgun. It is simply an indestructible, non-failing, dependable
weapon that will take a beating and keep on shooting.
BROWNING SUPERPOSED OVER & UNDER

The Browning Superposed was the last firearm to be designed by John M. Browning before his death in 1926. A few
design details still remained to be ironed out after his death,
however, so it wasnt until 1931 that actual production began.
One of those problematic issues was the single select trigger,
and because of that the first of these shotguns were equipped
with double triggers. Johns son, Val, finally worked through
those issues and in 1939 the single trigger was offered. Over
the years the available models and choices were expanded to
include a wide variety of different grades, barrel lengths, stock
designs and a choice of 12, 16, 20, 28 and 410.
The Superposed is a box lock design with the action being
held securely closed by an under-bolt that projects into a notch
machined into the breach area of the lower barrel. The lightweight well-balanced feel of this shotgun is what many shooters feel is perfection in a double and the sound of the barrels
locking into place provides a degree of assurance that this design is a good one.
Production of the Superposed Browning continued in Belgium until the 1970s when labor costs began to escalate out of
control. Since that time, the doubles produced by Browning
have undergone various changes in design and terminology.
While these newer shotguns are still fine products, I personally
prefer the older version. My current Superposed is a 12-gauge
that I frequently use for hunting pheasant, pigeon, grouse and
other larger game birds.
So those are my four favorites, chosen after a half-century of
serious scattergunning. Which ones would be on your list? GW
Get Your ofcial gun world

T-Shirt Today!
THE PATENTED
JOHN BROWNING
Although this article may generate some passionate discussion, Im guessing few would argue about John Brownings standing as the most famous gun designer of all time.
He designed his first firearm in his fathers gun shop at the
age of 13, and received his first patent at age 24. At the time
of his death in 1926 at age 71, he had a phenomenal 127
gun patents to his credit.
Front
Those designs include firearms for both military

only
and sporting use and spanned virtually every type of action
$19.95
currently available today. Some of his many successful designs are the M1911 pistol, Browning 50 caliber machine
gun, Browning automatic rifle (BAR) and the Browning A5
plus s&H
back
shotgun. Today, nearly 90 years since his passing, John

Browning-designed firearms continue to be some of the
most copied guns in the world.
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63
GW1403REM700 1/3/14 3:19 AM Page 64
TWIN
The 700 SPS Tactical .308 Rems

solid 9-pound+ weight and SuperCell recoil pad keep felt recoil to an
absolute minimum, even for a
shooter with a smaller frame such
as Kate.
64
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GW1403REM700 1/3/14 3:20 AM Page 65
TACK-DRIVERS
We Test a Pair of Remington Model 700 SPS Tacticals
in both .223 Rem and .308 Win
Story & Photos by John N. Raguso
f a buddy told you that for $625

or so you could purchase an outof-the-box bolt-action tack-driver
that would shoot sub-MOA groups
within your first half-hour at the
range and was also a dream to carry
in the field, would you be interested?
Well, buddy, Im your new best friend. Im going to

recommend not one, but two precision tack-drivers
that will do the aforementioned job and do it well.
Remingtons Model 700 needs no introduction.
Since its debut in 1962, over five-million models have
been sold to date, making it Americas favorite boltaction rifle. Further proof that the Remington 700
stands alone on the pinnacle of popularity is the fact
that its action is the foundation for the U.S. Armys
M24 sniper weapons system and the many iterations
of the USMCs M40 weapons platform. It is also a favorite of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Border Patrol,
among other government agencies.
From the research info that I could gather, just
about 9 out of 10 police departments employ some
version of the Model 700 as their go-to sniper
weapon. Its even used as the standard precision
sniping tool for numerous foreign armies, including
those in Canada, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. You get the picture; this is a robust bolt-action rifle whose reputation has been forged on the
global battlefield over a half century of conflicts.
But it doesnt stop theremany a big game hunt in
North America and beyond has come to a successful
conclusion thanks to some form of Remington 700,
which currently is offered in 37 different flavors and
an almost equal number of calibers ranging from .17
Remington and all the way up to .458 Win Mag.
MODEL 700 SPS OVERVIEW

The Model 700 SPS (special purpose synthetic) is a
no-frills, affordable version of this proven bolt action
rifle that puts the legendary Model 700 accuracy and
reliability within reach of most avid enthusiasts without tapping into the kids college funds or your 401K.
Its a no-frills, tack-driving, game-dropping multi-function weapon that includes most of the features that
you have come to expect on the Rem 700 platform,
including a hammer-forged barrel, externally ad-
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65
GW1403REM700 1/3/14 3:20 AM Page 66
Each of these SPS Tactical Rem 700s is a well-made, durable and solid base platform, but is
shipped a la carte with no accessories (except a gun lock)not even an adjustable trigger
wrench. However, with minimal tweaking and investment, each can be transformed into a consistent tack-driver.
justable X-Mark Pro trigger, a SuperCell

recoil pad and the ability to print subMOA targets right out of the box. The
SPS models feature a rugged, ergonomically designed synthetic stock for superior weather resistant and consistent
handling in a variety of potentially unfriendly elements.
The SPS Tactical is a compact (less
than 40 inches in overall length), highly
maneuverable and jack-of-all trades
member of the Remington Model 700
family, built for precision accuracy with
its 20-inch heavy contour, tactical-style
free floated barrel and dual point pillar
bedding in its black synthetic stock. It is
equally at home punching tight groups
in paper targets as it is carried in the
field for a variety of North American
game. Hogue overmoldings on the
matte black synthetic stock facilitate sure
handling with or without gloves and its
wide, flat beavertail design forend affords added stability when shooting off a
sandbag or rest. Chamberings for the
SPS Tactical include .223 Remington and
.308 Winchester and we were able to get
one of each from the good folks at Remington for this twin tack-driver field test.
INNER WORKINGS
The author installed two different types of scope bases on his Model 700 SPS Tactical twins, with
the .308 version getting a Blackhawk! 20-MOA full-length Picatinny rail (top) and the .223 flavor
being outfitted with Burris split Weaver rails.
A release button set in the forward section of the Model 700s trigger guard trips the hinged floor
plate and allows quick unloading, cleaning or maintenance of the internal box magazine.
66
The Remington 700s action offers

some unique design features that make
it ideal for consistent, high-quality mass
production. It is a manually operated
bolt action with two forward opposing
lugs set 180-degrees apart that travel in
a grooved raceway cut into the steel receiver. The bolt is of three-piece construction (head, body and bolt handle),
brazed together. The bolt face is recessed, fully enclosing the base of the
cartridge, while the C-clip integral extractor is set in a groove inside the rim of the
bolt face, uniformly supporting the cartridge head. The ejector is a plunger on
the bolt face actuated by an internal captive coil spring. The firing pin on the
Model 700 is cocked as soon as the operator rotates the bolt handle upwards.
A ready to fire state is clearly visible in
the form of a silver cylinder on the firing
pin assembly that protrudes through the
aft end of the bolt assembly.
The model 700s receiver is milled
from a single piece of cold-rolled carbon
steel bar stock, resulting in uniformity
and strength. The cylindrical receiver design provides a solid bedding area in the
stock for consistent shot placement. One
unique attribute shared by the majority
of Remington 700s and a great selling
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GW1403REM700 1/3/14 3:20 AM Page 67
SPECIFICATIONS
REMINGTON MODEL 700 SPS TACTICAL
Product Number
84206
84207
Caliber
.223 Remington
.308 Winchester/7.62x51 NATO
Action Type
Bolt
Bolt
Weight (via digital scale)
9.04 pounds
9.00 pounds
Barrel Finish
Matte Blue
Matte Blue
Barrel Type & Length
20-inch HBAR
20-inch HBAR
Barrel Material
Carbon Steel
Carbon Steel
Overall Length
39.62 inches
39.62 inches
Barrel Twist Rate
1:9
1:12
Stock Finish
Matte Black
Matte Black
Stock Material
Black Overmold (Hogue)
Black Overmold (Hogue)
Drop at Comb
1.25 inches
1.25 inches
Drop at Heel
1.50 inches
1.50 inches
Length of Pull
13.37 inches
13.37 inches
Magazine Type
Internal box w/removable floorplate
Internal box w/removable floorplate
Magazine Capacity
5+1
4+1
Factory Warranty
2 years
2 years
MSRP
$757
$757
point is the infamous three rings of

steel that collaborate to enhance the integrity and reliability of this models
proven action. Once a cartridge is chambered into the Remington 700s receiver,
the recessed bolt face locks up inside
the counter-bored breech of the barrel
which in turn is surrounded by the receiver, forming the three rings of steel
enclosing the cartridge case head for unparalleled strength.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
My initial reaction to opening the box
of the .308 Win version (this was delivered first to my FFL) of the Model 700
SPS Tactical was one of respectthis a
big chunk of steel and tweaked the LCD
pixels of my digital scale to read an even
9.00 pounds. The heavy contour barrel
lives up to its name and measured
21.5mm or 0.8465-inch in diameter on a
precision caliper. Whats really interesting is that the balance point of this
weapon was right at the 20-inch mark
from the recessed crowned muzzle or almost dead amidships of its overall
The Model 700 SPS Tactical stripped down to its basic components for total access to critical
moving parts and easy cleaning.
The Model 700 features a simple two-position

safety that can only be engaged in the safe
position when the firing pin has been cocked,
as indicated by the silver bolt plug protruding
through the aft end of the bolt assembly.
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GW1403REM700 1/3/14 3:20 AM Page 68
about my pair of Rem 700s is that everything is a la carte. The only mechanical
device that was packed inside of each
shipping box was the rifle. There were
no scope bases, scope rings, mounts or
whatevereven the 1/16-inch hex-head
wrench for the excellent X-Mark Pro trigger system was MIAat least they included the operations manual, lol!
Needing a few goodies to complete
each package prior to scheduling the
first range trip, I surfed over to Midway
USAs website and ordered a Burris twopiece Weaver mount scope base for the
.223 model and a Blackhawk! full-length
20 MOA Picatinny rail mount for the big
dog. I also acquired a moderately priced
This inverted shot of the Model 700 SPS Tacticals trigger group shows the X-Mark Pros adjustable trigger screw, the bolt release and the magazine floor plate release.
The receiver is
milled from a
single piece of
cold-rolled carbon
steel bar stock,
resulting in
uniformity and
strength.
The X-Mark Pro adjustable trigger assembly is polished and precision-machined to extremely tight
tolerances. It exhibits virtually zero creep and breaks like glass.
length of 39.75 inches. Coincidentally
this was where the cold hammer forged
steel barrel screwed into the
receiverand exactly where you would
grip the rifles forend if you were shooting the SPS Tactical offhanda wellplanned nice touch for sure! Unlike
some other bolt guns Ive had the pleasure to field test, the Model 700s was
super smooth and glided in the receivers indented raceway, even with the
factory lube. All of the parts fit together
perfectly, with no conspicuous rough
spots and the trigger, safety, bolt release
68
and mag release button worked flawlessly. A week later, the Model 700 SPS
Tacticals .223 twin showed up and the
only difference that I could ascertain was
that it weighed about a half-ounce more
on the digital scale, since there was
more steel in the barrel courtesy of the
.223 Rems smaller bore. Fit and function
were identical to its bigger brother and
after a thorough cleaning and lube, we
were ready for a trip to the range.
A LA CARTE
One of the first things I found out
($189 MSRP) Nikon ProStaff 3-9x40

scope for the .223 Rem version and a
more expensive ($499 MSRP) Meopta
MeoPro 4-12x50 optic for the .308 Win
Model 700. Calls into my contacts at
Federal and Hornady produced some
top shelf test ammo and I raided my secret stash for whatever Winchester
ammo I could find to get a good sampling of a variety of COTS loads for
these two bolt guns. Once this was accomplished, I threw my gear into the
Subaru along with some targets, a spotting scope, digital camera and my Caldwell Dead Shot front shooting rest bag
and it was show time.
TWIN TACK-DRIVERS
After spending about 15 minutes with
each rifle to mount the bases, rings and
scopes, a six-pack of the 1-inch target
spot decals were set on the oak tag
board 100-yards distant and the sighting
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GW_1403_69 1/2/14 10:26 PM Page 69
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The Model 700 SPS Tacticals compact heavy contour barrel and crowned muzzle can be clearly seen in this starboard side profile.
rounds were sent downrange. Less than
a half hour into the operation, both rifles
were printing three-shot groups that
measured less than a half-inch! Admittedly, Im not a USMC Scout Sniper, nor
am I a competitive bench shooter, so if I
can do this right out the box, so can you!
The trick to getting these rifles to consistently shoot laser straight was to find
out what ammo they liked and what
ammo they didnt. The .223 Rem Model
700 sported a 1/9 twist rate in its 20
heavy contour barrel. The general rule of
thumb that 1/9 twists can stabilize .223
projectiles up to 69-gr max is a great
guideline, but not an absolute rule. And
such was the case with this weapon. For
whatever reason known only to the spirits at Remingtons Ilion, NY plant where
this rifle was born, she performed at her
best launching heavier projectiles in the
CONTACTS:
Remington Arms Company, LLC
870 Remington Drive
P.O. Box 700
Madison, NC 27025-0700
Telephone: 1-800-243-9700
Fax: 1-336-548-7801
www.remington.com
70
68-to-75-grain range, like Hornadys 68gr BTHP Match round, Federals Gold
Medal 69-gr SMK and Hornadys 75grain BTHP Steel Match. The lighter 52-,
55- and 62-grain projectiles just couldnt
measure up to the micro-groups this
Model 700 SPS Tactical was printing
identify one hole on the spotting

scopewhere the heck do those other
two rounds gowere they flyers? When
I dialed the Burris spotting scope into the
45X magnification, I had a revelation
when I spied a small cloverleaf of three
bullet holesshazam!
The Model 700 SPS is a no-frills,

affordable version of this
proven bolt action rifle
with the heavier stuffgo figure.

When I brought the .308 Win Model
700 to the firing line with its 1/12 heavy
contour barrel, the rule of thumb that
this twist rate usually prefers 7.62mm
projectiles up to 165-grain and not beyond was totally right on the mark. The
175-grain, 178-grain and 180-grain projectiles that I sent downrange were all
over the board. But as soon as I loaded
Hornadys 155-grain OTM round into the
Remmys internal 4-round box it was
total magic. I thought that I was hallucinating when I sent three rounds towards
the 100-yard target spot but could only
Surprisingly, the Hornady Steel match

that is loaded with the same 155-grain
BTHP projectile shot almost as well (and
costs significantly less of your hardearned cash). The main different from
the loading aspect of the 155-grain OTM
Match compared to the 155-grain OTM
Steel Match is the muzzle velocity and
the subsequent bullet drop downrange.
The brass cased 155-grain Match ammo
(load #8087N) features a muzzle velocity
of 2775 fps, compared to the lower
speed of the 155-grain Steel Match
ammo (load #80926) at 2610 fps. As you
might expect, Federals Gold Match 168www.gunworld.com
GW1403REM700 1/3/14 3:20 AM Page 71
grain Sierra Matchking (SMK) round was

no slouch in the target competition and
also was a top performer. But that was
the heaviest projectile that this barrel
and twist combo could stabilize with
consistent accuracy.
Both of the Remington twins demonstrated pleasant manners throughout
three days of range testing and each digested a minimum of 350-rounds of
ammo to confirm the evaluation
process. All Model 700s manufactured
after 2007 come equipped with the XMark Pro adjustable trigger and its a
beautyit really does break like glass
with minimal creep and no rough spots.
The factory had set each of the twins
triggers at 5 pounds, but I dialed them
both down to about 4 pounds for the
shoot. The recoil on the .223 model was
negligible, so its SuperCell recoil pad
was not tested. In contrast, the SuperCell pad on the .308 SPS Tactical was
greatly appreciated and made for an extremely comfortable shooting experience with just about any ammo that I fed
into the chamber. No flinches equate to
a more stabile sight picture and a better
follow through, translating to more hits
in the X-ring.
RETROSPECT
Although the Rem 700 SPS Tactical
twins were as good as you can get for
the street price of $625, they werent
perfect. The free floated heavy contour
barrel set in the Hogue Overmold stock
is adequate, but serious bench shooters
will probably want to upgrade this at
some point (i.e., Choate Tactical or
McMillan aftermarket stocks) with a ver-
This shot shows some must-have accessories for a basic Rem 700 setup, like a quick-release
Harris bipod, Blackhawk Picatinny rail 20 MOA scope base, beefy Trijicon scope mount rings and a
moderately-priced Nikon 3-9x40 ProStaff scope.
sion that features less flex in the forend,
which will equate to more consistent
barrel harmonics and tighter groups. The
standard comb and 13.37 inches in
length of pull might be a great compromise for a weapon that splits time at the
range and in the field, but it probably
wont cut it for the dedicated bench fanatic looking to cloverleaf every group.
Another minor nit is the X-Mark Pros
external trigger adjustment screw. Adjusting it for less tension requires that
the operator rotate it counter-clockwise,
which lengthens the screws profile
within the trigger paddle. The lighter you
make it, the more it sticks out into your
trigger finger. Its convenient, but also a
potential irritant depending on how light
you prefer your trigger pull.

Other than these three minor and easily fixable nits, either one of these twin
tack-drivers is worth absolutely every
penny of the asking price. In the case of
the .308 flavor, where can you get a rifle
that will print sub-MOA 5-shot groups
with minimal effort and take about every
species of North American game for
roughly $950 when you add a moderately
priced scope, base mounts and rings?
You can probably count the competitors for these Model 700s on only a
scant few fingers of one hand. Backed
by a 2-year factory warranty and proudly
made in the USA, the Remington SPS
Tacticals continue to add to its well-deserved legend. GW
REMINGTON MODEL 700 SPS

TACTICAL RANGE RESULTS SUMMARY
MODEL 700 SPS TACTICAL (.223 REMINGTON) WITH NIKON PROSTAFF 3-9X40
LOAD
Federal Gold Match 69-gr SMK
Winchester 62-gr FMJBT
Hornady Match 68-gr BTHP
Hornady Steel Match 75-gr BTHP
DISTANCE
100-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-yards
BEST 5-SHOT GROUP

0.85
1.20
0.80
0.90
AVERAGE 5-SHOT GROUP

0.95
1.50
0.95
1.00
MODEL 700 SPS TACTICAL (.308 WINCHESTER) WITH MEOPTA MEOPRO 4-12 X 50
LOAD
Federal Gold Match 168-gr SMK
Winchester 150-gr Silver Tip
Hornady Match 155-gr OTM
Hornady Steel Match 155-gr OTM
www.gunworld.com
DISTANCE
100-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-yards
BEST 5-SHOT GROUP

0.90
1.00
0.75
0.80
AVERAGE 5-SHOT GROUP

1.00
1.10
0.90
1.00
71
GW1403Reload 1/3/14 3:33 AM Page 72
RELOAD
Although it has been

produced for many
years, SR 4756 is still a
versatile propellant for
handgun loads.
72
www.gunworld.com
Loading with a Popular, Durable Old-Timer, IMRs SR 4756
Story & Photos by James E. House
eople can become inflexible with

age, but the best ones are able to
avoid that fate. The same may be
said of powders and propellants.
Some of the most commonly used propellants are in fact the

oldest, and Im sure that almost everyone who has reloaded
ammunition can name an old favorite or two. Im also sure that
those who are actively engaged in loading ammunition are
aware that new propellants are being introduced very frequently. These newer powders are often referred to as designer propellants because they have been introduced to fill a
specific niche, and they certainly have a place on our shelves.
While niche products serve their function, it is common
knowledge among handloaders that a considerable number of
propellants have multiple uses. For example, Alliant Unique
and Hodgdon Clays are commonly used to load shot shells,
handgun cartridges, and even reduced loads in centerfire rifle
calibers. These are truly versatile propellants.
In spite of the large number of propellants that have been introduced in recent years, some of the old standbys are still frequently used by a lot of people. It is easy to verify that fact by
www.gunworld.com
73
RELOAD
The granules of SR 4756 are essentially circular flakes.
looking at the forum postings on the Internet. Such casual surfing will also reveal a lot of disagreement with regard to
loading characteristics and propellant
behavior in specific cartridges.
Although IMR SR 4756 can be used in
numerous applications, its burning rate
is such that it is more suitable for loading cartridges in the low to medium
power range in most handgun calibers.
Consequently, the charges used are
small, and a pound of powder will load a
lot of ammunition. Such powders appeal
to me for several reasons. First, I like to
keep my shooting as economical as possible, and I imagine that many of you are
no different. Second, I shoot a lot more
plinking loads than I do punishing loads.
Therefore, I find a propellant such as SR
4756 very useful. With these factors in
mind, I set out to see how this old timer
Im sure that almost everyone

who has reloaded ammunition can
name an old favorite or two.
VELOCITY DATA FOR LOADS

UTILIZING IMR SR 4756.
LOAD
LOAD 2
OL, in.
Gr.
Vel., f/s
Gr.
Vel., f/s
Barrel in.
1.154
1.125
1.125
5.2
5.3
4.7
992
1092
975
5.7
5.8
5.2
1101
1122
1049
3.9
3.9
3.9
1.443
1.445
1.448
5.5
5.2
4.6
964
898
820
6.0
5.7
5.1
1033
992
883
4.0
4.0
4.0
1.206
1.213
1.220
7.4
6.9
6.1
848
816
727
7.9
7.4
6.6
970
893
783
4.2
4.2
4.2
9mm LUGER
115 gr Berry RN
115 gr Hornady XTP
124 gr Hornady XTP
38 SPECIAL
110 gr Hornady XTP
125 gr Winchester JHP
158 gr Cast SWC
45 AUTO
185 gr Nosler HP
200 gr Hornady XTP
230 gr Rainier HP
Handguns used were 9mm Ruger P95, 38 Special S&W 15, and 45 Auto Ruger P345. Velocity values are averages for five shots.
These loads were safe and reliable in the authors handguns, but neither the author nor the publisher accepts any responsibility for
their preparation and use by others.
74
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The 9mm bullets used in loading SR 4756 are (left to right) Berry plated
round nose, 115-grain Hornady XTP and 124-grain Hornady XTP.
would work for me in my most used
handgun calibers.
I chose to load 9mm, 38 Special, and
45 Auto ammunition using SR 4756.
These are three most frequently loaded
calibers, and they work well with midpower loads. In reviewing published
data for SR 4756 in 9mm cartridges, I
noted in one source that a maximum
charge of 5.2 grains with a 115-grain
lead bullet gave a reported velocity of
1145 ft/sec. In consulting another hand-
The bullets used in loading 38 Special with SR 4756 are (left to right) 110grain Hornady XTP, 125-grain Winchester JHP, and 158-grain cast SWC.
book, I found listed charges ranging

from 5.2 to 6.4 grains with the 115-grain
Hornady XTP bullet with corresponding
velocities ranging from 1,000 to 1,200
ft/sec. Clearly, there is quite a difference
in the published data. The differences
may in part be related to the powder
being of different lots, different barrel dimensions, primers, etc., as is normal.
However, I wanted to know first hand
how SR 4756 would perform in cartridges in my guns. Having noted the dif-
GET THE DROP

ON INTRUDERS.
ferences in published data, I chose to be

conservative, as I always do, and to use
4.9 grains of SR 4756 with the 9mm 115grain Berry round nose plated bullet.
With that load, the chronograph registered only 963 ft/sec and every shot resulted in a failure to cycle the Ruger P95.
I used 5.0 grains of SR 4756 with the
115-grain Hornady XTP and got a velocity of 1,001 ft/sec, but also an occasional
failure to cycle. It was obvious that I
needed a more powerful load for reliable
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75
RELOAD
Bullets used in the 45 Auto loads are (left to right) 185-grain Nosler, 200-grain Hornady XTP, and 230-grain Rainier hollow point.
feeding and, therefore, I prepared a second series of loads in 9mm with adjusted charges as shown in the
accompanying table.
In all 38 Special and 9mm Luger
loads, Winchester cases and primers
were used. Speer cases and CCI 300
primers were used in the 45 Auto loads.
Velocity was measured at 10 feet from

the muzzle by means of a Competition
Electronics ProChrono chronograph. The
accompanying table shows the load parameters and the results obtained.
The results I obtained with 38 Special
and 45 Auto loads agree rather well with
previously published data when al-
lowance is made for differences in barrel

length. However, the 9mm results that I
obtained differed rather significantly
from published data. For example, one
source indicated that 4.5 grains of SR
4756 gave a 115-grain bullet a velocity of
1,027 ft/sec and that 5.2 grains of powder gave 1145 ft/sec. The second source
Testing was conducted from a bench with the chronograph 10 feet from the muzzle.
76
www.gunworld.com
This group obtained at 25 yards measures slightly less than 2.5 inches and is indicative of the accuracy of the 9mm loads under test conditions.
indicated that 5.2 grains of SR 4756 produced 1,000 ft/sec and 5.8 grains produced 1,000 ft/sec. The data shown in
the table indicate that 5.2 grains of SR
4756 gives a velocity of 992 ft/sec, which
agrees very closely to the second
source. Also, in this work I found that 5.8
grains of SR 4756 gave the 115-grain
Hornady XTP a velocity of 1,122, which
is almost exactly the value reported in
the second data source.
Similarly, the results I obtained with
the 124-grain bullet agree well with the
second data source, but indicate that 0.3
grains more powder is required to give
1,049 ft/sec than is indicated by the first
source of data.
The essence of all this is clear. Do not
assume that one lot of any powder is exactly the same as another lot or that data
from different sources are identical. Always consult several sources of data,
start with a conservative load and work
up carefully.
Some powders and I go back a long
way to a time when a sporting firearm
was not called a platform and ammunition was not run in it. Not every firearm
was referred to as a weapon and making a change in a sight picture was not
IMR SR 4756 is a versatile propellant suitable

for loading ammunition in many calibers as illustrated by the 9mm Luger, 38 Special and 45
Auto shown here.
dialing in. I am glad that several things
in the shooting sports have not changed,
and SR 4756 is one of them. GW
CONTACTS:
HODGDON POWDERS
(913) 362-9455
www.hodgdon.com
It was obvious that I needed a more

powerful load for reliable feeding
www.gunworld.com
www.kahr.com
www.facebook.com/KahrArms
77
GW1403ConcealedCX 1/6/14 9:40 PM Page 78
CONCEALED
CARRY
Dont Be Left Out in the Dark.

Learn From the Mistakes of Others
So You Dont Repeat Them
Be strategic. Park under a light pole so that on dark and stormy nights,
you dont get taken by surprise. Remember, nighttime is often considered the right time for attempted assaults by wannabe attackers.
78
www.gunworld.com
Story & Photos by Dave Workman
xperience is something you get about five minutes after you need it.
This doesnt preclude learning from the experiences of others, particularly
if what you glean are tips on how to avoid those situations in which you
must actually draw a concealed firearm to protect your life, or the life of someone
in your company. Its paramount to your safety and legal security to be strategic
about all things when youre armed.
The very last thing an armed citizen should

ever want to do is use a defensive handgun.
Remember, I said want to. Thats not the
same as having to use it out of necessity to
avert some greater harm, to himself/herself or
a loved one. Nobody wins a gunfight; they survive. Having had the opportunity to chat with
people who have survived fatal encounters, its
safe to say all of them would rather things had
turned out differently, as in, that it hadnt happened at all.
IMPROVING YOUR ODDS

To improve ones odds of avoiding lethal
unpleasantness, some practice starting from
the ground up, so to speak, is important for
every armed citizen who goes out in public. I
cannot recall the first time I heard someone
say that if shots were fired, somebody did
something wrong.
Wear your carry gun on walks around the
neighborhood. Get over the natural habit of
fussing with a holstered gun, as you may as
well just buy a neon sign that says gun and
hang it around your neck. Learn to walk past
others without being nervous or fidgety, and
mind your own business.
Learn what clothing conceals your pistol and
what doesnt. Above all, get over being selfconscious about the gun youre carrying. It
takes time, but eventually, you will get used to
the feel of your handgun; its weight, how it
carries in a holster and what you can do and
www.gunworld.com
what you shouldnt do while carrying.

If you carry in a belt holster, be careful about
reaching for grocery items on upper shelves.
Your cover garment can quickly ride up, revealing your sidearm. Likewise, instead of
bending over at the waist to reach a lower
shelf, bend at the knees and lower your body,
thus making it less likely to print your gun.
In a restaurant, ask for a table by the wall,
and sit with your back or at least your strong
side toward the wall. People will be less likely
to spot a telltale bulge, and being off the main
area of the dining room draws less attention,
anyway.
Its also to your advantage to sit by a wall
because this allows you to survey the room
and avoid being taken by surprise by someone
coming up on your blind side.
This is all personal stuff to keep from being
made as an armed citizen. Now comes some
strategic consideration.
LOTS OF TROUBLE
Parking lotsespecially those broad
acreage lots surrounding shopping mallscan
be trouble because theyre magnets for predators no matter the time of year, or the time of
day. Park as near to the store buildings as possible, use spots below or near light poles, and
never park at the far end of a lot, near the
shadows, where danger most typically lurks.
Before heading for your car, whether its
during the holidays or on a warm mid-summer
79
CONCEALED
CARRY
Keep em guessing. Parking lot predators will
wonder, Is this guy reaching for car keys
or keeping his hand firmly wrapped around a

defensive sidearm? In this case, Rugers new
LCRx with an exposed hammer is held at the ready.
80
www.gunworld.com
evening with packages in your arm, survey the landscape. Pay attention to your
surroundings and other people in the
area. Watch for individuals who seem to
be just wandering around and not going
to a car, and if they seem to move toward other people heading to their cars.
And one more thing: These cowards
rarely work alone, so watch for their
partners.
Double your alertness in parking
garages, and if youre walking to a car,
give yourself some room; that is, dont
walk right along a row of parked cars
because its easy for a thug to crouch
between vehicles and spring an ambush, especially if its dark.
Keep your shopping bag in your
weak hand or carry it with your offside
arm. This allows you to keep a hand on
your defense weapon as though you
were just reaching for your car keys.
For those who have more than one
shopping bag, use a cart and keep your
gun hand as free as possible by pulling,
rather than pushing a cart, and remain
alert. If you go wandering around with
both arms loaded with shopping bags,
youre not just asking for trouble,
youre begging for it.
Shopping carts make great impromptu blocks, too, thus putting some
distance between you and an attacker.
Trust me on this, its to your long term
advantage to have some spilled groceries or other packages rather than the
body of someone youve just shot lying
on the ground near your car when the
police arrive.
Carry a really bright compact flashlight, preferably one with different adjustable beams, including a strobe.
These flashlights, suddenly shined in
someones eyes, can temporarily blind
them. The strobe is especially effective
for this.
Did somebody call the police? Yeah,
that was you immediately after any

confrontation in which you had to
reach for your defensive carry piece,
much less draw and use it. Be the first
one on the telephone with a call to 911,
describe the situation, your location
and offer a description of the
suspect(s). Experienced scumbags
have occasionally called police on the
intended victim, who drew a gun, to
complain about being assaulted. I know
of at least one case in an eastern state

several years ago where the law-abiding citizen was convicted of assault,
losing his gun rights forever.
FIREARM FORUMS
We are in the Internet age, and there
are scores of different gun rights and
gun owner forums. Invariably, these forums have sections in which people
post this happened to me stories. Be-
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KEEP IT CLEAN
Clean and maintain your carry gun
regularly, and by that I dont mean every
couple of months when navel lint fills
the muzzle.
Dont substitute magazines of questionable reliability in a semi-auto.
Use quality ammunition, and practice
regularly.
www.gunworld.com
81
CONCEALED
CARRY
A bright compact flashlight can blind and/or disorient an attacker
temporarily; long enough for you to put some distance between
you, or draw your defensive handgun.
82
www.gunworld.com
Shopping carts make great makeshift barriers between you and an attacker.
others react. Identify tactical errors and

catalog this information in your gray
matter library.
Another useful feature of these forums is that these people talk about
guns and gear. One can learn from the
experiences of others in this respect,
also. Want to find out about equipment
failures? You will find all sorts of sob
stories, some of them useful, others
not so much. Its pretty easy to tell the
difference.
For example, several years ago, I
read on one of these forums about
what might be considered the massive
failure of a certain polymer-framed pistol model. I knew the brand, I knew the
model and I had never heard of, much
less seen, the kind of thing this individual was discussing. So, I made a couple
of discreet inquiries off list about this
persons misfortune and learned that
the pistol hadnt really been properly
maintained through what apparently
were several thousand rounds, which
amounted to a torture test. Even the
best pistols might not survive such
abuse.
PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS
lieve it or not, reading these misadventures can provide some important

learning moments, and much of the
time its because the original correspondent has done something wrong,
occasionally horribly wrong.
These tales will also invariably draw
www.gunworld.com
reactions from people, some very

thoughtful and others that are from
blustering chest thumpers who, if they
behaved like they tell someone else to
behave, would be faced with a steady
diet of jail food.
Study the original reports and how
Simply because of what I do for a living, Ive had the opportunity to test a
lot of guns, and own some very good
ones.
If youre in the market for a new carry
piece, the smart move is to first head
for a gun range where you can rent certain pistol and revolver models, try
them out and make an educated decision. Most indoor gun ranges have the
latest hot models for rental use, and it
may take 50 to 100 rounds downrange
to get a feel for a certain handgun and
then decide if its the model upon which
youre willing to stake your life.
Sure, its going to cost some money
to reach a decision, but balance that
against what your life, or the life of
your significant other, or your children,
siblings or parents is worth. Not even
close.
After that range experience, though,
pay attention to what othersespecially those you trustsay or write
about the guns youve tried. It can be
beneficial in making a final decision
whether to buy or pass.
And if somebody else has had a serious misadventure with a carry piece,
find out why. Learn from their experience, rather than your own.
Now thats strategic planning. GW
83
GW1403Smith 1/3/14 3:58 AM Page 84
GUNSMITHING
TECHNICAL
TEST DRIVE 3
In this months installment, the author covers the inspection and disassembly of the 1911s slide.
84
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GW1403Smith 1/3/14 3:58 AM Page 85
Knowing what to look for

will help prevent you from buying a pistol
thats unserviceable and potentially unsafe.
Inspection and Disassembly

of the 1911 Slide (Part III)
Story & Photos by Steve Sieberts
he previous column in this four-part series covered

the inspection of the barrel and bushing assembly.
In this installment, well focus on the slide and its internal parts, and well tie everything together in next
months issue.
When inspecting the slide assembly,

always look for previous work. If the
slide has been squeezed by previous pistolsmiths in order to be accurized, then
you should look for areas around the
thumb safety notch for cracks. You can
also tell if the slide has been squeezed if
the slide rails have a pinched look. A
quick check from the rear of the slide
can confirm this.
Having previous accurizing work
wont necessarily cause me to reject a
pistol, but Id use it as a reason to really
look hard to see if the work was done
professionally, and what other work was
www.gunworld.com
completed on the pistol. If someone is

trying to sell you a gun that they claim
has never been modified, then knowing
what to look for as far as these types of
modifications go will help prevent you
from buying a pistol thats unserviceable
and potentially unsafe.
GETTING FIT
One good check to do is the
barrel/slide/bushing fit. If youre inspecting a service-type pistol or an unmodified factory commercial Government
Model, then tolerances in the
barrel/slide/busing relationship will be
85
GW1403Smith 1/3/14 3:58 AM Page 86
GUNSMITHING
Check to make sure the ejection port is not lowered too
much. In Sieberts opinion, anything below .450 is too thin.
A good test for proper extractor tension is to see if it holds a dummy

cartridge in place against the breech face without falling out. I usually rotate the slide 360 when performing this test.
86
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GW1403Smith 1/3/14 3:59 AM Page 87
To remove the firing pin, depress the firing pin and slightly slide out the firing pin stop.
very loose. Finger tight is the rule on

the bushing. The barrel should be able
to be pushed up into the locked position
and fall in and out of battery freely. Also
make sure the front sight tenon is not
rubbing on the bushing.
On a Match pistol, these tolerances
are much tighter. The barrel, as I pointed
out in last months issue, will be tight between the barrel hood and the slide, with
very little to no daylight showing around
www.gunworld.com
the barrel hood. You should be able to

push the barrel up into battery into the
slide, and the barrel should be locked
into battery and not fall out of battery by
its own weight.
Additionally, if you push the barrel up
into battery and it springs back at all,
then the barrel and barrel bushing is too
tight and will need to be relieved so that
the rear of the barrel can pivot upward
during lockup.
87
GW1403Smith 1/3/14 3:59 AM Page 88
GUNSMITHING
A topside view of the firing pin removal.
Getting back to slide inspection, one

good area to look for previous modifications that are sometimes hard to spot is
the ejection port. Loweringand sometimes lowering and flaringthe ejection
port is a common modification on the
1911 pistol. This is done in order to
make it easier for the fired case to clear
the ejection port when the slide retracts
88
during the ejection cycle. Problems can

occur when a pistolsmith lowers the port
too much, weakening the area.
I make it a point not to lower the
port more than about .460 from the
bottom edge of the slide rail. (See
photo on page 86) this will leave
enough of the web of the slide to ensure it wont crack, but will lower it far
enough to make it easy for any fired

case to clear. Also, look to see if the
work was done on a milling machine
or by hand. While I have seen this
modification performed by hand with
good results, it takes a long time to do
it this way correctly, and poor work is
very easy to spot. Performed on a
milling machine, however, this job is
www.gunworld.com
GW1403Smith 1/3/14 3:59 AM Page 89
CAREFULLY pry out the extractor.
very easy, looks nice and is a useful

modification.
EXTRACTOR EXAM
The next area to look for is the extractor, one of the most abused parts on a
1911 pistol. When the pistol fails to feed
or extract, the extractor is usually the
first place a gunsmith looks. The extracwww.gunworld.com
Brownells makes a nifty tool

for removing the firing pin stop.
89
GW1403Smith 1/3/14 3:59 AM Page 90
GUNSMITHING
This area behind the recoil spring guide housing is a prime spot for cracking.
tor needs to have the proper tension in

order to function correctly, and has to be
fitted properly for best functioning.
Sometimes this part can be installed asis and function very well. Unfortunately,
some gunsmiths will try to adjust the
extractor tension when the feeding issues are really being caused by something else.
Failing to properly diagnose a malfunction is a common reason why many
parts like the extractor, barrel and frame
feed ramp are modified to the point that
they are unserviceable or unsafe. If the
gun wont function properly and you
90
suspect its the extractor tension, heres

the best way to check.
Take a dummy cartridge and, with the
slide off the frame, slide the dummy car-
CONTACTS:
BROWNELLS
200 South Front Street
Montezuma, IA 50171
(800) 741-0015
www.brownells.com
tridge under the extractor and hold it

against the breech face. Let go of the case
and rotate the slide and see if the extractor holds the cartridge in place. If it falls
out, the extractor is a little bit too loose, if
its hard sliding the dummy round under
the extractor, then its probably a little too
tight. Its one of those areas of pistolsmithing that you just have to get a feel
for what the proper tension is through experience. Look to see if the edge of the
extractor is biting into the side of the case.
Take a look at some of the fired cartridges
(if you have them) and check for extractor
marks on the extractor groove of the case.
www.gunworld.com
GW1403Smith 1/3/14 4:02 AM Page 91
The firing pin stop is prone to crack where the sharp corner is close to
the hole.
Note: When I get into building our Project 1911 in a future
issue, I will cover extractor fitting more in depth.
To remove the extractor, you first have to remove the firing
pin and spring. Inspect the firing pin stop to make sure its not
overhanging the disconnector timing track. It should be as
flush as possible. If its not flush, it will put excessive wear on
the cocking pad of the hammer.
To remove the firing pin, push in the firing pin with a drift
punch or similar tool and simultaneously dropping the firing
pin stop slightly. Brownells makes a nifty tool for removing the
firing pin stop. The firing pin is under spring pressure, so make
sure you have it covered while you slide the stop out all the
way, and then ease out the firing pin and its attached spring.
The spring should be attached to the firing pin. Gently pry out
the extractor by using a small screwdriver blade to get underneath the notch. Be careful because its easy to slip and gouge
the finish of the slide.
Once you have the extractor out, examine it. It should have
Its always easier

to remove metal than it is
to put it back on,
so be careful.
www.gunworld.com
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GW1403Smith 1/3/14 3:59 AM Page 92
GUNSMITHING
Inspect the disconnector timing notch for damage.
This area by the extractor hole is fairly thin and is prone to cracking.
92
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GW1403Smith 1/3/14 3:59 AM Page 93
The recoil spring should be inspected to make sure its coils have not been snipped. Nominal spring weight is 16 lbs, 18 lbs if youre shooting a
large amount of hardball equivalent loads.
a slight curve to the left from the middle
pad forward. If the extractor was a little
loose and wasnt able to hold in a
dummy cartridge, you can tighten and
loosen tension by slightly bending the
extractor either toward the cartridge
case or away.
polishing the breech face, because any

removal of metal from the breech face
could increase the headspace dimension
and result in a very unsafe firearm. Look
at the breech face and see if there has

been any attempt to polish out tool
marks. If there is, I would seriously consider replacing the slide.
INTO THE BREECHFACE

Another critical area of the pistol to inspect is the breech face and firing pin
hole. Remember, headspace on any
firearm is defined by the distance between the breech face and the portion of
the chamber that stops the forward
movement of the cartridge. In the case
of the .45 ACP, its the distance between
the breech face and the shoulder of the
chamber where the cartridge case
mouth makes contact. So, this means
that you want to be very careful about
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93
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GW1403Smith 1/3/14 3:59 AM Page 95
The same thing applies with the firing

pin hole. While its possible to safely remove burrs from a damaged firing pin, it
can be very dangerous and unsafe if the
hole has been drilled out or enlarged,
since an enlarged firing pin hole will
allow a primer cup to flow back into the
hole when the pistol is fired. Not a very
safe situation. Ive seen firing pin holes
that were damaged by gunsmiths attempting to deburr the hole. They went
overboard and damaged the slide. Remember, a little polishing goes a long
way. Its always easier to remove metal
than it is to put it back on, so be careful.
Two specific areas to check for cracks
on the slide are right behind the recoil
spring guide tunnel, and between the
breech face and the extractor hole. I
have seen cracks in these areas and the
pistols have still shot many thousands of
rounds in this condition, but its still
something to be aware of.
The final column in this four-part series on function testing, inspection and
disassembly of the 1911 will be on the
lower receiver and its internal parts.
Stay Tuned! GW
Look inside the slide at the front sight tenon. If its been staked multiple times, check the front
sight for looseness.
Devoted to bringing you the latest news and product reviews to keep you,
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GW1403Back 1/3/14 3:36 AM Page 96
BACK
PAGES
The only thing new in the world is

the history you do not know. Harry Truman
By Craig Hodgkins
ince our initial issue

appeared in September of
1960, Gun World has featured a myriad of firearms on
its covers. Some need no
introduction, such as the original Walker Colt (our first
cover), or the Glock 17 in
September of 1986 (The
Glock is a Shock!).
But like the stars of short-lived 1970s sitcoms, the moment in the sun experiences
of other cover subjects didnt even generate
a good tan. Here are three that may have
deserved better.
40 YEARS AGO (MARCH 1974) When
it graced our cover in the spring of 1974,
the Ingram M-10 was merely one of the
latest SMGs in the long lineage of the M3. Designed to replace the M1A1 Thompson, the M-3 became almost universally
known as the grease-gun. Other iterations followed, with the military version
of the M-6 being more scarce that the
police version. The M-10 magazine was
of a staggered-column design, and carried a capacity of thirty rounds in .45 ACP and thirty-two in 9mm Luger.
A victim of both changing legislationincluding new limits
on SMGs, magazine size and suppressorsand company finances (the Military Armament Corporation ceased to do business in 1976), the M-10 as shown was only manufactured for
three years.
35 YEARS AGO (MARCH 1979) For the first time in
firearms history, true magnum-powered pistol cartridges will
be commercially available and offered as standard in this auto
96
The Ingram M-10 in .45 ACP
pistol. So stated the opening paragraph in our feature on the

long-awaited, long-discussed Wildey pistol.
The brainchild of designer Wildey J. Moore, and a relative of
the beloved AutoMag, the Wildey was designed as a hunting
firearm. Despite steady popularity with the magnum handgun
crowd, its heyday high point came cinematically in the hands
of Charles Bronson in 1985s Death Wish 3.
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GW1403Back 1/3/14 3:36 AM Page 97
Advertiser Index
The Wildey Auto pistol, available
in .45 and 9mm Win Mag
ADVERTISER
PAGE
Barnes Bullets Inc...........................51

Black Hills Ammunition ................37
Cannon Safe Company.................75
Sarkis Kirdikians SerLea-ACE,
a SMG in 9mm
CZ-USA .............................................61
Daniel Defense ..................................3
Davidsons .........................................45
DoubleTap Ammunition ......98, 99
GTUL ..................................................93
Hodgdon Powder Co......................7
Hogue Grips .....................................21
JDA & Associates, LLC .................91
The pistols own death came less

dramatically when Wildey Guns suspended operations in 2009.
20 YEARS AGO (MARCH 1994)
Cinema also played a role in the development of the SerLea-ACE, a
double-barreled SMG. When a
movie crew filmed a scene at an LA
auto dealership, an employee
(Sarkis Kirdikian, a former gunsmith) told the special effects crew about
his latest invention, which led to the development of a working prototype.
The moment
in the sun
experiences
of other
cover subjects
didnt even
generate
a good tan.
Unfortunately, although the LAPD

showed some initial interest in the gun
(named for Kirdikians two children,
Serge and Lea), it failed to ignite interest
with the military, and few were ever
manufactured. Kirikian did appear in a
1994 direct-to-video feature, Direct Hit,
brandishing his prototype in the role of a
CIA guard. GW
www.gunworld.com
Kahr Arms .........................................77

Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc.......35
Les Baer Custom,Inc. ......................5
Mec-Gar ............................................27
Numrich Gun Parts
Corporation ......................................81
Rio Grande Custom Grips ..........87
DO YOU
HAVE ISSUES?
Gun World issues, I mean. We have
an ALMOST complete collection here at
headquarters, but a few have escaped
our archival shelves over the decades.
These include: September & December
1960 (our first two issues), June 1961,
May 1962, and January, February, April,
June and July 1963.
The 1970s will be complete with the
addition of December 1970, January &
August 1976, July 1977, and March &
July of 1978. In addition, our ENTIRE
set of 1971 issues seems to have gone
AWOL.
The last missing issues are December
1980, September 1986, September 1993,
May, June & July 1994, February,
March, April & October 1995.
If you have any of these in your Gun
World collection, please send me an
email at chodgkins@beckett.com.
S&K Scope Mounts ........................98

SCCY Industries..............................29
Secure Medical ................................27
Smith & Wesson ................................2
Sportsman's Guide .........................23
Springfield Armory ...........................9
Sturm, Ruger
& Company, Inc. .....................100
Tormach LLC ...................................81
ULTIMAK ..........................................87
Umarex USA, Inc. ..........................53
World Skin Institute .......................21
97
GW_1403_98 1/8/14 10:24 PM Page 98
Back
Issues
Available
BUSINESS
DIRECTORY
David Beckler
972-448-9173
dbeckler@beckett.com
Call us at
1-800-764-6278
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GW_1403_C3 1/2/14 10:28 PM Page C3
GW_1403_C4 1/2/14 10:29 PM Page C4
The 100% American-made Ruger

American Rifle is another engineering
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070213

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GW_1403_COVER1 1/7/14 4:09 AM Page US_C1

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and reportedly some were in National Guard armories at the

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A S&W Victory model showing some service use.

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ost rifle hunters have an encyclopedic knowledge of their guns

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