On Sunday, Mike Jones and his Garand Thumb team dropped their XM7 review.
It is as close as we can get to the military rifle and ammunition. The properly loaded bi-metal cases and a round ‘close’ to one we could see in use—solid copper. The EPR projectiles of the M855A1, M80A1, and M(whatever this gets designated) are under wraps and unobtainium at this point.
But, like other commercial ammunitions to military equivalents we can still get good data and extrapolate.
The ammunition has always been the coolest part of the NGSW program—in my opinion—since the case allows the user to play with pressures we haven’t been able to with brass or soft steel.
Mike mentions that the XM7 is now the M7. However, I haven’t seen any official US DoD literature confirming the full adoption. It is being more widely fielded and displayed. I’ve even seen units local with the Guard.
Official fielding is listed as 1st Bat, 506th of the 101st Airborne, but I have heard rumors that it’s being unboxed and fielded with other units, too. Rollouts are often chaotic.
But it is looking like the 7 and the 250 are sticking around. We will see if the USMC shifts to the 7, or a variant thereof, and the 250 in the upcoming months and years. The Marines thus far seem comfortable with the 5.56 M27. However, the shift for them would be much less jarring as the M27 and the M7 are much closer in weight and size. Currently, the option remains open, but the Marines like their H&K.
During the era of full-caliber military battle rifles, no other standard-issue military rifle had iron sights like the M1 Garand. Even though the M1 Garand’s primary purpose was to serve as an infantryman’s rifle with a real-world 3-6 MOA accuracy potential, its sights were still fully adjustable, more precise than they needed to be and maybe even overbuilt. That’s why I think they’re so wonderful.
Considering the M1’s overall build quality, smoothness, semi-automatic action, and relatively comfortable furniture, I already consider it the Cadillac of World War II rifles. Then factor in its sights and their functionality, and they’re easily the cherry on top. The entire rear sight assembly is fully adjustable for both windage and elevation, while the front blade can also be drifted laterally for windage. This allows any rifleman to precisely adjust their rifle’s mechanical zero with a given load.
Considering how imprecise military weapons are, I’ve always found the M1’s sights fascinating. Are they perhaps a little over the top on a standard military rifle? Probably. But this is America and we’re dealing with one of the most American rifles ever to be fielded. In America, we do things because we can.
When I was younger, I also learned the basis of centerfire rifle shooting on my old WWII-era M1 Garand—which could be a story unto itself. It certainly ties into my fondness for the M1’s sights, too.
In practice, it’s no different than zeroing a riflescope to a particular rifle and cartridge and then locking the turrets to their zero setting after that initial adjustment.
M1 Garand Background
The M1 Garand was designed by John Cantius Garand, a French-Canadian engineer who worked at the Springfield Armory arsenal. The M1 Garand’s semi-automatic action uses a long-stroke piston mechanism and holds 8 .30-06 cartridges that are loaded with en-bloc clips into its internal magazine. After cycling the 8th round, the rifle also ejects the empty en-bloc clip, famously making that distinctive pinging sound that has become a meme unto itself.
Garand’s prototype for a semi-automatic military rifle was based on an earlier semi-automatic French design, the Mlle. 1917. If Mr. Garand and his team had their way, the M1 rifle would have held ten rounds of the sleeker, shorter, and more efficient .276 Pedersen (7x51mm) experimental rifle cartridge (.277 Fury vs 7.62mm NATO anyone?).
Instead of a 7mm bore rifle, the conservative-minded powers stipulated that the M1 Garand remain chambered for the .30-06 cartridge, which was flush in the government’s inventory.
The Sighting System
The M1 Garand’s front and rear sights consist of a rear aperture and a guarded front blade. The rear sight is guarded by pair of distinctive circular knobs on either side that turn to adjust the rear sight’s windage and elevation adjustments. These knobs have a click value of 1 MOA per click, fairly precise for an infantry rifle of the era.
The front blade is also protected by a pair of ears that curve out, and the entire assembly slides laterally on a dovetail across the front sight base, which is part of the rifle’s gas tube. The front sight itself is secured by a 3/16″ Allen screw. On the rear, the receiver itself even has etched-in hashmarks to measure windage movement against the rear sight assembly.
The M1’s sight picture itself is easily recognizable; it’s practically the same sight picture of any standard iron-sighted AR-15 pattern firearm. Once properly zeroed and adjusted, M1 Garand sights are very intuitive to use. The shooter simply looks through the rear aperture and their brain and eyes seemingly center the front sight itself through the aperture.
As long as the sights are properly zeroed and the shooter knows how many clicks to dial for their distance, one physically doesn’t need to do much besides center the front sight in the middle of the aperture. This is what makes this sight picture so wonderful and superior to most others. It’s worth pointing out that classic AR-15 pattern iron sights borrow their sight picture from the M1, too.
Sight Adjustments
The real magic in these military rifle sights comes from how adjustable they are. Besides the rear windage and elevation knobs’ click value of 1 MOA, the fact that the front sight itself slides on a separate dovetail gives the rifleman a more refined chance to zero their specific Garand to the load they’re shooting.
The idea behind the front sight sliding on the dovetail is to establish a perfect mechanical zero while leaving the rear sight’s own windage properly centered. This allows the shooter to dial for windage and elevation with their rear sight only while ensuring that the rifle itself is properly indexed and zeroed. In practice, it’s no different than zeroing a riflescope to a particular rifle and cartridge and then locking the turrets to their zero setting after that initial adjustment.
Back view of the M1 Garand rear sight assemblyBack view of the M1 Garand front sight. Note the allen screw.
Zeroing the Sights
With my old WW2 Springfield M1 Garand, I learned to do this by shooting a satisfactory group (I recommend at least ten rounds) at 100 yards at a standard target, like an SR-1, which corresponds to the standard .075-inch front blade width. The standard 200-yard SR target would also work fine for a 200-yard zero. The zeroing target needs to be large enough to consistently index the front sight and have a way to easily measure vertical and lateral impacts.
Besides a smart target, having a pair of calipers on hand is also a good idea. Ideally, zeroing takes place on a calm day without wind, and prior to shooting the initial group, all of the rifle’s sights should be physically centered. The rear sight assembly needs to line up with the central hashmark, and the front sight should be centered on its dovetail.
Unfortunately, the gas blocks don’t have index marks, but one can use calipers to measure the exact width and then mark dead center behind the muzzle, underneath the Allen screw. After centering the entire system, the elevation knob is turned all the way to dead bottom and then adjusted 6-8 clicks (depending on who you ask for 100 yards). The US Army used to instruct soldiers to come up ten clicks for a 200-yard zero. After doing this and shooting that very slow, careful, and deliberate perfect 10-shot group, one can take their target and adjust accordingly.
Using Calipers
Side profile view of front sight. Notice the dovetail that is part of the M1’s gas tube.
Here’s where the calipers come in very handy. For example, suppose the mean-radius of the group was 1-inch to the right from the point of aim on the target. To fix this, one would take their calipers, measure .008 inches to the right of the original index mark, make a new marking, and then carefully drift the front sight to line up with the new marking.
One would do the same thing for the vertical adjustment, take a measurement with calipers between the mean radius and original point of aim or desired point of impact and then use the left-side knob to dial the appropriate distance.
It’s important to keep in mind how many clicks from dead bottom one started shooting at, be it 8, 10, or 12 clicks. With that number in mind, keep track of how many additional clicks it took to get the elevation lined up correctly and add those two numbers.
For example, on my old Garand using Greek HXP M2 Surplus 30-06 at 100 yards, that number was seventeen clicks from base. With my front sight physically drifted in place, I knew I could always reset to my mechanical zero with the rear sight by centering the sight and clicking up seventeen times from dead bottom. If I needed to dial for more elevation, I would work off this number. Understanding total clicks from base for your load is crucial and worth writing down.
Guidelines for a Battlesight Zero
I know that everything I just described would be more pertinent to any target or precision rifle. The US Military was also aware of this and also had guidelines for a battlesight zero with an elevation of 1.82 inches above the point of aim at 25 meters. This zero would cover the M1 Garand’s maximum point-blank range out to 250 meters. It’s not too different than the AR-15’s 50/200m zero or the like.
The Takeaway
My old WW2 Springfield Armory 1944 M1 Garand during one such match where I was learning how to shoot in 2012.
Americans love this rifle for many reasons. These days, M1 Garands are loved and revered as symbols of American military prestige and our country’s triumph over the Axis powers during the Second World War. In the middle of the war, General George S. Patton called it “the greatest battle implement ever devised.”
Compared to the rifles that both America’s peers and enemies fielded during the conflict, the M1 was arguably superior. It wasn’t just that it held a few extra cartridges compared to other full-size rifles and had a quick-cycling semi-automatic action, but it also had those superlative sights.
Even compared to other rifles that had more mechanical accuracy, such as the Swiss K-31, Swedish M96, Finnish Mosins, etc., the M1 standard sights still had a higher degree of sophistication.
Standing the Test of Time
Except for perhaps No.4 Lee-Enfields, Eddystone M1917s, Springfield 1903-A3 rifles, and M1 Carbines, most other rifles of the era had the more archaic post-and-tangent sight arrangement. But even this group of Allied rifles with rear peep-sights didn’t have sighting systems as user friendly as the M1 Garand did.
Tangent sights altogether are generally slower and require more care to properly align. Besides that, most tangent sights are mounted forward of a rifle’s receiver, which lengthens the sight radius, which affects a rifle’s degree of precision. Even during the Cold War, the M1 Garand’s sights still bested the sights found on most western 7.62mm NATO infantry rifles, as these weren’t as sophisticated.
The M14 is the sole glaring exception, as that rifle uses the exact same style of iron sights. Frankly, military battle rifles probably don’t need this level of adjustability anyway. But again, we’re talking about America’s rifle here. From the Cold War on, perhaps the M16-A2 sights would be the runner-up to the M1’s as these could be nearly as adjustable.
They always say that American military rifles, as a whole, tend to resemble target rifles more than anything, and maybe it’s true. We love having it our way in the United States.
Further Reading
Not related to the M1’s sights, but a fun read about post-war M1 Garands made by IHC.
In the spirit of continuing that humbling experience, a friend of mine privately called out my lackadaisical handling of my pistol. I went back and realized that I made this mistake on more than one occasion, so I felt compelled to correct this and show what “right” looks like.
Darryl Bolke likes to say that he can tell everything he needs to know about someone by how they administratively handle their firearms. Well I failed this test on several occasions.
I also got several questions on how exactly I have this pocket holster set up, and wanted to give y’all a closer look at exactly how I have it configured. I’ve got both the RCS Shields and these holsters in the Amazon Store linked below if you want to pick one up and try it out for yourselves.
I’ve tried several kinds of ammunition through this Colt, including factory-loaded 230-grain Fiocchi and PMC Bronze. All in-spec ammunition has worked fine, and like any 1911, the magazines used are a big factor. I like to use my old Wilson Combat 47D 8-rounders that I rebuilt with Tripp Spring Kits. I lost one round but gained dependable reliability.
For matches, I’ve been using Wilson Combat 8-round ETMs and the lone Chip McCormick Shooting Star that came with the pistol when I first borrowed it. These are a vast improvement over the original 8-round Wilson 47Ds from 2 decades ago.
At 860 FPS, the 230-grain Fiocchi tends to be slightly warmer than average (something I’ve noticed when reviewing other .45 ACP 1911s). Even with its double recoil spring set-up, this factory ball ammo feels flippy during firing. It goes without saying that tuning a 1911 is an art and science that depends on not only the gun, a chosen load (that feeds and prints well), and a recoil spring to regulate the reciprocating motion of the slide.
Factory ammunition is designed to work reliably in a wide variety of firearms in that chambering. But that doesn’t mean that a factory load will perform optimally in a given gun. Accuracy is one thing, but the ability to recover and deliver faster-aimed splits is another, especially when things get competitive.
The Classic 200-grain Sporting Load
Out of interest, enjoyment, discovery, and to get more from this Colt Competition Series, which was obviously built around modern action-pistol sports, I gravitated towards handloading one of the most classic sporting 1911 recipes out there. Specifically, a 200-grain lead semi-wadcutter based on the H&G #68 mold over 4.2 grains of Hodgdon Clays, a flaky shotgun powder that works wonderfully in .45 ACP loads.
With how long the 1911 has been around, there are no doubt countless tried and true recipes. My decision to load this one is informed by my participation in action pistol sports. In short, this load is safe for IDPA, IPSC, and USPSA and makes a major power factor easily—without the disruptive muzzle jolt of the heavier 230-grain factory ball rounds.
Besides, given how the Colt Competition Series 1911 is set up, these are the shooting disciplines the gun was designed around. In addition to that Steel Challenge match I participated in, I have every intention of shooting USPSA single-stack major with this pistol before I need to return it.
A close-up of .45 ACP rounds being loaded in my Dillon XL750 PressHodgdon Clays and 200-grain SNS SWC .45-caliber bullets
When reviewing the Tisas 1911A1 ASF this past March, I also cycled another batch of these handloads when putting the pistol through its paces. The Labradar showed muzzle velocities in the 860 range. With a 200-grain bullet, this translates to 170-172 power factor, (just above the minimum of 165 PF to make major).
These handloads are not only more pleasant to shoot, but with their semi wadcutter profile, they punch very crisp holes on paper targets and cardboard. Those clean holes are not only very satisfying, but they also make scoring considerably easier.
W231 Propellant
For what it’s worth, I’ve had no issues feeding these handloads across different .45-caliber pistols. In fact, I was shooting Bill Drills with that Tisas during its original review. This isn’t my first time loading this same style of 200-grain SWCs. I’ve used W231 propellant in the past. W231 is another tried-and-true powder for loading .45 ACP. However, when shooting non-coated lead bullets with this propellant, the results tend to be smokier.
While it’s cool in an old-timey way, if shooting indoor matches, it becomes a nuisance, too. Clays makes less smoke than W231, and in the before-times it was fairly affordable too. Clays is made in Canada, but the facility that manufactures it stopped producing it after the war in Ukraine began in 2022. There is no telling when it is coming back.
As a bulkier flake powder, I was concerned about how precisely it would meter through the power drop in my Dillon XL750 press. While some charges are a tenth of a grain under or over, with the drop set at 4.2 grains, I’m not concerned. Considering that action-pistol shooting is relatively imprecise, I’m not concerned about accuracy deviations from that tenth of a grain either. Benchrest, this is not.
I’ve loaded nearly 965 rounds of .45 ACP with Clays and those 200-grain SWCs to date. And after sending approximately 150-175 rounds downrage between this Colt and that Tisas, I am fully confident in this “staple” recipe and my ability to craft these with my equipment.
Colt Competition Series 1911: Off The Bench And Freestyle
My best two targets of the session.
For the sake of this article, I took this Colt out the other morning to shoot some NRA B-8 targets at 25 yards with the above-mentioned sporting handload. I don’t claim to be the best pistol shooter, but I’m happy with my results. Especially considering how long it had been since I critically shot a 1911 like this.
While shooting, the most challenging aspect was having to be as precise as possible with a center hold instead of that six o’clock hold preferred by serious bullseye shooters. Not all targets are scored, but these targets show enough of a pattern to tell a story. The left-sided bias of my groups is indicative of a different level of support hand grip tension that I keep playing around with. In the end, dots certainly make life easier too.
While neither of these freestyle NRA B8s are scored, at least they prove the handloads or the pistol isn’t the issue.
Besides two-handed freestyle shooting, I have another friend who is very good at shooting pistols from a bench rest. They shot a 5-shot group with my handloads to see what the gun and ammo combination is capable of without the human element:
5 rounds at a 7/8″ black paster, 25 yards from rest. Even though 5 rounds isn’t a big group, this is still impressive considering this is bulk ammo reloaded from range brass on a progressive press. Notice how windage doesn’t seem to be an issue here either. These SNS Casting bullets seem to do well regardless of caliber or firearm. Maybe it has something to do with the softer lead alloy fully engaging the rifling?
Colt Competition Series 1911: The Takeaway
Colt is one of the most storied gunmakers in existence, starting with Sam Colt’s original 19th-century revolvers. When it comes to 1911 pistols, Colt’s name is symbiotic with the pistols themselves. And with such a lengthy history, fluctuations and ups and downs are inevitable.
It’s true that some vintages of Colt’s 1911s have been more desirable than others. Although the Colt Competition 1911 featured in this article predates the recent acquisition by CZ Group, this specific pistol is indicative of the brand’s comeback-making 1911s. These blued Competition Series models retail for just under $1,000. At that price, they’re not perfect, but it would be hard for me to complain about the gun’s accuracy and reliability.
For a production pistol at this pricing tier made by Colt, it’s pretty damn good. Just about the only thing the gun in this article needs is a nice trigger job. That would take it to the next level.
In my recent test of the Judge Home Defender, I lamented the fact that Federal had seemingly discontinued their .410 handgun line of ammo. I had a few of the old shells lying around, and in testing, it proved to provide the tightest pattern possible with the Judge Home Defender. A month later, I’m in a gun store, and what do I see? A box of Federal .410 handgun, but not just an old box left over from yesteryear. The box bears the modern graphic design and styling of modern Federal ammo.
Breaking Down The New Federal .410 Handgun Ammo
I bought a box or two, or well, most of it the shop had. From there, I peeped at Federal’s website and found the four loads of the new .410 handgun lineup. The loads include both 2.5 and 3-inch shells and come in both No. 4 shot, No. 4 buckshot, and 000 buckshot.
The 2.5-inch No. 4 Shot load holds 59 pellets, and I don’t see this as a capable self-defense round against two-legged vermin. Against snakes and other small critters? Sure, but don’t use any birdshot load for real self-defense.
The No. 4 Buckshot load is a 3-inch option that holds nine pellets of buckshot. This load is okay, but Number 4 buckshot isn’t always a reliable penetrator. Sometimes it goes deep enough, but sometimes it absolutely sucks. For pests or wild dogs and coyotes, it’s fine, but it wouldn’t be my first choice.
The final two loads are 000 buckshot options with both a 2.5 and 3-inch option. The 2.5-inch option gives you four pellets, and the 3-inch option gives you five pellets. The load reportedly moves at 775 feet per second. This is the load I would use in my Judge Home Defender and was the only load available at this gun store.
To The Range
I grabbed the Home Defender, which has been growing on me more and more, and grabbed a couple of targets to pattern the load. I dropped the five shells in and patterned the load at ten yards. You can color me impressed. The five pellets were patterned into a group the size of my palm. Every single round fired patterned into that predictably sized group.
Out of the fifteen yards, the pattern remained locked into a target’s head. At 20 yards, the rounds remained in the torso of an FBI Q target. It’s not a bad pattern at all. The pattern centered on my optic’s zero without any issues and remained consistent with its point of impact.
Each press of the trigger throws five .35 caliber rounds, equivalent to five 9mm rounds fired at once. For such a small and handy little gun, that’s quite a lot of lead for one pull of the trigger. The recoil was stouter than most other buckshot loads, but it’s still just a.410. It’s controllable, and placing two shots on target in under two seconds is easy enough. Two quick presses, and you’ve put a 1911’s worth of 9mm on target.
The .410 handgun load does throw some gas out the sides of the Home Defender. It’s more than most buckshot loads, but still not enough to be painful. It’s enough to be noticeable. Not a big deal. I was happy to report that they extracted and ejected with ease. Some .410 loads aren’t designed for a revolver cylinder, so they swell and make ejection difficult. That’s not an issue with the Federal .410 handgun load.
The Right Load
If I were to turn my Judge Home Defender into my home defense weapon, they would be loaded with the Federal .410 handgun rounds. They offer a lot of firepower, low recoil, easy ejection, and great patterns. There isn’t a lot to dislike. The .410 handgun lineup is back and perfect for the Home Defender.
One of the long-term projects I’ve been meaning to write about is the .45-caliber Colt Competition Series 1911 on loan from a friend. I’ve been dry-firing and taking this 1911 to the range intermittently since 2022–including the only Steel Challenge match I’ve ever shot.
Colt Competition Series Overview
The Colt Competition Series is one of Hartford’s re-invigorated single-stack product families that made a comeback around 2017 or so when Colt started bringing back the more desirable [read: classic] Series 70 ignition system. This style of ignition is desirable not only because it’s what John Moses Browning originally designed his pistols to use but also because that’s what most 1911s have always used.
Furthermore, serious 1911 enthusiasts claim that other systems like the Series 80s or Swartz don’t provide the same smoothness in trigger presses due to their extra parts. It’s a combination of tradition and perception, and honestly, yours truly is also on that bandwagon. After all, there’s something to be said for the “original recipe” which is still in use a century later.
Colt Competition Series 1911 next to a vintage 1960 Colt Gold Cup. This is an earlier 2022 photo, when the Competition Series Colt wasn’t quite as broken-in. If memory serves correct, the mechanical accuracy was on-par with that of that vintage Gold Cup (another gun I need to write about).
Digging Deeper
Colt Competition Series models are available in either carbon or stainless steel. It’s chambered for three classic and popular sporting cartridges: .45 ACP, .38 Super, and 9mm Luger. There are varying trim levels with elements like adjustable target “Bo-Mar” style sights, front slide serrations, and checkering on the frame. All are outfitted with a Colt “National Match” barrel and fiber optic front sights.
Base models include standard Novak-style sights. Additionally, base-level slides have only rear serrations, coarse, with the top of the slide rounded in the classic 1911 profile. The flats are nice and polished, and the blued finish gives off that deep Colt blue sheen. Though the rounds aren’t polished, they’re not coarse, either.
Ejection ports are lowered and flared, which is also very typical of modern 1911s. It also goes without saying that as modern manufactured pistols, the entire Competition series makes use of upswept beavertail grip safeties, flat mainspring housings, and ring hammers. The base models, like military USGI 1911s, do not have any checkering.
This base model, Colt Competition 1911, does not have a full-length guide rod. Instead, it has the classic USGI length shorter guide rod along with the classic barrel bushing and recoil spring plug at the muzzle. It’s not loose, but it’s also not stiff enough that a bushing wrench is needed. These guns include a set of nested recoil springs, where a smaller diameter spring is nestled inside of a larger spring.
Unlike classic government frames, all frames in this product family do appear to have a subtle, gentle undercut below the trigger guard. I don’t mind it at all. The entire product family also includes “sporty” G10 stocks in differing patterns, depending on trim level. The gun I’m writing about has the basic Colt-branded G10 stocks that its owner dyed black.
The Back Story With This Colt
The specimen featured in this article is the base model chambered in .45 ACP and built on a blued carbon steel frame with a blued carbon steel slide. It’s also fair to point out that my buddy who loaned this gun to me switched out a few components immediately after he purchased it. This included adding a pair of EGW extended thumb safeties, a 10-8 Performance flat-faced trigger assembly, a 10-8 Performance Gen2 1911 slide-stop, and a set of 10-8 Performance iron sights (front fiber-optic, rear serrated, plain with U-notch).
My entire experience shooting this gun since Day 1 includes all of these parts, and not necessarily the Colt Competition in its bone-stock configurations. As a left-handed shooter, I appreciate the ambi-safety from the get-go. Likewise, I find the sight picture from these 10-8 Performance sights superior to the factory sight picture (especially in terms of a better rear sight).
While I can’t speak for the other more expensive models in this specific product family, this base model .45-caliber steel frame single-stack gun makes for a decent all-around general-purpose 1911 suitable for most everything one would use a 1911 to accomplish. Measured with a digital trigger scale, ten trigger pulls broke to an average of 3 lbs, 14 oz—just a hair under four pounds.
The way its trigger breaks is very typical for a production gun. So, even at its weight, it requires some level of deliberateness, but not so much that it would rob the shooter of precision. Therefore, it’s suitable for defense, target shooting, training, and recreation without its single-action trigger turning into a liability. Its flat face is nice, too.
And My Thoughts So Far
This specimen has easily seen 500 rounds at the very least (if not more). Though 500 rounds isn’t a comprehensive number, this Colt has been one of the more reliable 1911s I’ve shot since I started writing about shooting. The pistol has had no problem generally cycling factory 230-grain ball ammo, my own 230-grain ball handloads, or my 200-grain LSWC handloads.
Even during this sole Steel Challenge match, which entailed shooting the gun as fast and as hard as I could, the gun didn’t struggle at all. Between that match and the several range sessions I’ve shot with it, this pistol has been holding up its end of the bargain. And for a name-brand 1911 pistol that retails for less than $1,000, it’s not bad at all.
The only stoppages I’ve had were due to a magazine with known issues and the occasional pesky improperly sized hand-loaded cartridge that sneaks into the range ammo box. Otherwise, with proper lubrication and quality magazines, I trust this Colt to shoot my next match with confidence.
When my friend first loaned me this pistol, it was basically like-new with a very marginal round count–maybe a few magazines, if that. Overall, the gun was extremely stiff across all major areas: slide-to-frame, thumb-safeties, and trigger. It was very obvious that the gun needed firing in order for all of its parts to better meld together.
With new 1911s being the creatures they are, I also wouldn’t be surprised if these aftermarket additions added to the overall stiffness. I noticed the 10-8 drop-in trigger certainly slides around better now than when I first started shooting the pistol in 2022. Overall, I’m pleased with the manner in which this 1911 is laid out.
The 10-8 Performance Sights
The 10-8 Performance Sights on this Colt Competition Series are a critical part of the equation, if not the single most important aspect. These sights provide the shooter with an excellent sight picture. Even though I prefer a deep square rear notch, the U-notch of the rear sight isn’t disagreeable at all.
Most importantly, the front sight is regulated to hit dead-center at 25 yards out of a government-size 5-inch barreled 1911. Be it factory 230-grain factory loads or even my own 200-grain SWC loads, all print pretty much dead-on at 25 yards to where the fiber optic insert specifically corresponds.
For general purpose shooting and self-defense, the center-hold is fine. For pure target work, a six o’clock hold would be preferable but this pistol shoots well enough that hitting the black on a B-8 target isn’t a hindrance either.
Fort Worth, Texas (April 30, 2024) – XS Sights is excited to introduce fiber optic sights for Glock pistols. Made in the USA, these durable steel sights deliver exceptional daytime brightness and visibility for Glock owners looking to upgrade their competition and training pistols.
XS Glock Fiber Optic Sight
The XS Glock Fiber Optic Sight kits feature a precision CNC-machined, serrated rear sight and a front sight with green fiber optic insert. An interchangeable red fiber optic insert is also included in the kit for those who prefer that color.
“Our fiber optic sights provide an exceptionally bright aiming point in daylight to facilitate fast and accurate target shooting,” said Jeff King, Marketing Manager, XS Sights. “With its angled structure, this design allows for improved light transmission and enhanced durability. We handpicked the US-sourced fiber optic for its ability to channel light and its resistance to cracking due to its chemical properties.”
The front sight is .215” tall – big enough to be visible, yet narrow enough for extreme precision. The .060” diameter fiber optic gathers light and fluoresces for extreme visibility in bright light conditions common at ranges and competition shooting events. The rear sight notch is .145” wide with crisp, defined edges to ensure excellent visibility of the front sight blade for fast target acquisition and precision alignment.
Key features:
Angled design for greater light transmission and durability
Anti-glare serrations on rear sight
Fiber Optic Colors (Green and Red)
Fiber Optic Quality (Engineered for Durability and Light Transmission)
Steel Construction to withstand hard use
Made in the USA
Easily installed with sight pusher tools or a hammer and punch
The XS Fiber Optic Sights are currently available for the following models:
Upgrade your competition or training pistol with Glock Fiber Optic Sights from XS Sights! Featuring a precision CNC machined, serrated rear sight and our steel front sight with a fiber optic insert, the XS Fiber Optic sights were designed for fast sight acquisition, precision sight alignment, and easy installation.
Fiber Optic Sights Overview:
Green fiber optic insert front sight is bright and easy to see in day light
Serrated rear sight to prevent glare and reduce distractions
Angled front sight to enhance light transmission and durability
Fits Glock generations 1-5
Compatible with Glock MOS models
User replaceable fiber optic insert o Green fiber installed; kit includes red fiber insert replacement
CNC machined in Fort Worth, TX
Our .215” tall, .125” wide front sight is big enough to be visible yet narrow enough for extreme precision. The front with angled base and .060” diameter fiber optic gather’s light and fluoresces for extreme visibility in the bright light conditions common to practicing at ranges and competition shooting events.
The .145” wide notch and crisp, defined edges on the rear sight allows for good visibility around the front sight blade for fast acquisition and precision alignment. The serrated rear face prevents glare to increase the ease of front sight focus.
The XS Sights fiber optic sights are a great choice for shooters who want a dedicated pistol for competition and training or if this is their first upgrade. While offering a similar sight picture to our R3D or Minimalist sights, these fiber optic sights feature a bright insert specifically designed for bright lighting conditions at practice ranges or pistol matches.
XS Fiber Optic sights are easily installable by sight pusher tools or using a hammer and punch. All XS sights are backed by a 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee. For more information, visit www.xssights.com.
About XS Sights
XS Sights is known for making the fastest sights in any light. For more than 25 years, the XS team has created some of the most innovative sights on the market today for pistols, rifles, and shotguns. Whether used for personal defense or hunting, these sights are designed and built to be the absolute best for their specific purpose. American Made. Texas Proud. 2A Strong.
The rise of the .32 is going to happen. At least, I think it will. As a fan of the .32 ACP, I’ve been researching the other .32 caliber cartridges and learned a bit more about the .32 H&R Magnum. Harrington and Richardson teamed up with Federal to produce the round in 1984. H&R had a simple idea. They took the .32 S&W Long cartridge and made it a little longer to increase the case capacity.
The .32 H&R Magnum was intended as a revolver round, and H&R, S&W, Ruger, Dan Wesson, Charter Arms, and others produced guns for the caliber, but the round never really took off. It faded into obscurity like plenty of rounds before it and plenty of rounds after it. These days, it can be tough to find expensive defensive ammo, but it is a lot easier than finding any form of cheap training ammo.
The .32 H&R Magnum is a fast-moving, high-pressure revolver cartridge. With the right round, it can propel a 100-grain cartridge at 1,200 feet per second. Even with its respectable ballistic performance, it had a hard time beating the well-established .38 Special. It didn’t help that anything with .32 in the title is seemingly perceived as a useless mouse cartridge in the United States.
Today, I stand here to make the case for the .32 H&R Magnum as a self-defense cartridge and even say it’s the best option for snub-nose revolvers.
The .32 H&R Magnum – Superior Performance
The .32 H&R Magnum isn’t much different ballistically from the .30 Super Carry. They both have a very similar idea holding them up. When it comes to handgun cartridges, we only get one wounding mechanism, and that’s the wound created by the projectile itself. With handguns, we need the cartridge to penetrate to an adequate depth. The most commonly cited depth is at least 12 inches through properly calibrated ballistic gel. The .32 H&R Magnum can do that and does so with gusto.
Second to penetration is expansion. The ability of the bullet to expand does two things. First, it makes a bigger hole, which is nice. More importantly, it allows the bullet to slow down and prevents overpenetration. The .32 H&R Magnum offers you enough speed to gain great expectations with the proper loads. With Speer Gold Dot, the projectile has been known to double in size.
Most .38 Special and .357 Magnum snub nose revolvers can only hold five rounds. The slightly smaller diameter of the .32 H&R Magnum allows you to hold one extra round in the cylinder. One extra isn’t much, but it’s certainly worth noting.
The varied .32 caliber cartridges have proven to be quite accurate, and the .32 H&R Magnum is not different. It’s a flat shooting and accurate cartridge.
Finally, one of the biggest reasons I love this round is the minimal recoil it offers. Even the hot defensive loads are not painful or snappy. The gun doesn’t beat you up like an airweight .38 Special or, lord forbid, a micro-size .357 Magnum. Firing fast and accurate follow-up shots is plenty easy.
What About the .327 Federal Magnum?
The .327 Federal Magnum is a good round, but in the genre of snub nose pistols, I don’t think it’s all that great. Yes, it does check the boxes for expansion and penetration and even great accuracy. However, it loses out when it comes to soft recoil. It’s much harder to shoot quickly and accurately compared to a .32 H&R Magnum. The cartridge also has massive concussion, noise, and what seems to be some real muzzle blast with defensive loads.
The .327 Federal Magnum gives up a big advantage over the .32 H&R Magnum without much to gain. It can penetrate deeper, but once we get an adequate level of penetration, how much more do we need? .32 H&R Magnum can make it through 14 to 20 inches through ballistic gel.
The best thing about .327 Federal Magnum revolvers is that they can chamber the .32 H&R Magnum for a much more enjoyable experience. I think the cartridge didn’t get a fair shake, and it deserves a place in the waistbands and pockets of snub nose fanboys.
It’s January 1945, and you’re a German male in Berlin. Things aren’t looking great. That mini-mustached monster is seemingly insane, and now boys and old men are being conscripted into something called the Volkssturm. You know the war isn’t going well because you’re 60 years old and being conscripted into this Nazi-led militia. At least you can feel confident in the weapon you’ll be issued. The German people make wonderful weapons, the best in the world, in your opinion. Then suddenly, you’re handed a sheet metal monstrosity that’s crude and ugly with the name MP 3008 stamped into it.
The MP 3008 – A Last Ditch SMG
The German MP 3008 in the hands of a 60-year-old conscript was a clear sign the war wasn’t going to end in favor of the Germans. The German weaponry of World War 2 was often known for its high quality. The MP 40 is probably the best submachine gun of World War 2, the Kar98k is a robust and accurate battle rifle, and the MG 34/42 started the genre of general-purpose machine guns. The MP 3008 was simply the German version of a British Sten gun.
The Brits were forced into the Sten gun because, between World War 1 and World War 2, they didn’t need submachine guns until they suddenly needed them. They were caught off guard. The Germans adopted the MP 3008 and overall Sten gun design because they were losing the war, and this was a last-ditch effort to quickly arm forces like the Volkssturm.
Germans were exposed to the Sten gun throughout the war. Sure, British forces fired it at them, but the Brits also dumped the gun into resistance forces. When you dump guns into resistance forces via plane, boat, and smugglers, some are going to fall into the hands of your enemy. The Germans were familiar with the design in more ways than one.
Wikipedia
As the fronts began closing in on Berlin, the Germans needed more guns than they could produce. The fantastic MP 40 was a labor and part-intensive submachine gun, and the Soviets captured the Erma plan that produced MP 40s. This caused the German military and government to seek an alternative, much cheaper, faster option to arm their failing military.
Enter the MP 3008
Mauser pitched the Sten gun, and Ludwig Vorgrimler made some changes to the design. They simplified an already super simple gun. The Sten gun made sense. Germans had already been capturing Sten guns and sending them to German forces. Germany also ordered direct clones of the Sten gun in 1944, so Mauser was set up for the construction of the gun. Ludwig’s design could be produced in one man-hour. Mauser got a contract for one million MP 3008s.
Gun Wiki
The magazine placement was the main difference between the Sten gun and the MP 3008. The magazine didn’t jut out to the side; instead, it sat below the gun’s barrel. The Germans also removed the shroud from around the barrel. They thought the magazine well would be the place to grip the gun, and the shroud wasn’t necessary. There was some effort to simplify the trigger, but that was it as far as changes go.
Gun Wiki
Mauser sent the technical package to numerous German firms to produce the gun. Production was decentralized, creating several variants with small feature differences. Some models were produced with wood stocks and others with pistol grips, but the variant chosen for mass production featured a simple wire-like stock.
Most use a right-side charging handle, but some were produced with a left-side charging handle. The gun used the MP 40 magazine, also a design feature of the Sten.
The End of the German Sten
The simple blowback-operated open bolt selective-fire gun was to be produced in massive quantities. However, it’s unlikely that many were made or issued. The war ended in May 1945 before the MP 3008 could get off the ground, and it’s likely only a few thousand were ever made. Most of the guns were sent to the Czechoslovak Army after the war, and they are quite rare these days. There are a few in the United States that are transferable, but I can imagine you’ll spend a lot more on one than the German military did in 1945.
We all think about how our EDC is there to protect us, and keep us safe.
Rarely is any consideration given to the ways in which our defensive firearm can hurt us.
Not all those ways result in physical harm, there’s the possibility of social, professional, or legal consequences as well.
If the last 12 months have shown us anything, it’s that there is a surprisingly large segment of the population that’s willing to insert themselves into a stranger’s affairs because they deem themselves a rule enforcer.
There’s plenty of videos online of initially benign interactions that escalate into forceful, sometimes violent confrontations.
This is why it’s so critical for us to be attentive about how well our tools are concealed.
Too many people are dismissive about “people being oblivious, and always buried in their phones.” While this can be a factual statement, people are really good at pattern recognition. When you do something (or are something) that deviates from that pattern, they take notice:
Just because they don’t know what they’re seeing doesn’t mean it doesn’t ping their radar
Just because they didn’t say something to you doesn’t mean it went unnoticed
Just because they didn’t say something to you doesn’t mean they’re not talking about it with others.
Keep in mind, every single real life interaction you have with someone is another entry into the raffle of “getting made”. Collect enough, and eventually one of them is going to hit. It’s imperative that you minimize those chances as much as possible.
If you choose to do that by reducing your social interaction, that’s certainly your call. For others, a more appropriate and realistic option is probably to maintain a greater level of discretion in carrying their chosen tools.
I’ve reviewed a number of holsters in the last few years, but I have never gotten the chance to test one this in-depth. Let’s be upfront: I have contributed to Safariland’s blog, and they invited me to a media event. They provided the holster for the event and allowed us to keep them for free. However, I have no reservations about being critical of their holsters, and they have never asked me for good coverage of their product. It’s Safariland. I’m a very small fish to them. They didn’t even ask me to review this holster and didn’t have any expectations of a review. Even so, I wanted to be upfront before we dived into the review of the Safariland 6354 RDSO holster.
The 6354 RDSO holster is designed to be a level 1 retention holster in accordance with Safariland’s retention designation system. It’s a big and mean duty-style holster capable of working with handgun optics and lights. However, since the ALS system attaches to the gun’s ejection port, it can work in the holster without a light or optic attached to the gun.
Mine is Multicam, but plenty of other options exist. The holster’s active retention device is the ALS lever. The lever is protected by an ALS and Hood guard to protect the ALS lever from grabs and attacks. It’s a simple system and is one of Safariland’s key retention devices.
How I Tested the 6354 RDSO Holster
I decided to review this holster because of the hell I put it through. I hadn’t used a Safariland duty holster prior to this, but I knew their reputation. The rig certainly lived up to its reputation. How did I test this rig? Well, over two days, Rich Graham of Full Spectrum Warriors put me and a team of writers through a training regiment.
This training regiment included:
Retention Combatives Simmunition Training 360-Degree Shoot House Dynamic Night Shoot In-Vehicle Shooting Around Vehicle Shooting Obstacle Course More 360-Degree Shoot House
That was a lot to fit into just a few days. The training was intense, and since most of us, as writers, were already fairly serious shooters, we got to push things further than our typical open class. We got rough but had a ton of fun. The retention training, in particular, was a bloody fight in the dirt over a handgun, with each shooter trying to take the other’s gun.
It was tough, and we did a lot of twisting, jumping, climbing, and more with a Walther PDP locked into the 6354 RDSO holster. It never came loose. Even in our ground fighting and combatives, no one was able to snatch one of the firearms from the holster. The ALS device does a great job of making sure the firearm stays put.
In Action
Beyond the retention, the holster performed admirably. The 6354 RDSO exists as a high performer in the field of duty holsters. We used the QLS attachments and duty belts with thigh straps. The holster delivers some real modularity and provides a fairly modular system. Every shooter set their rig up to work for them, and throughout the training, I didn’t hear a single complaint.
Once we started shooting, I had some small problems getting over the ALS guard. I kept reaching directly downward, and the guard often caught my hand. It took some practice to get over the guard, and this was my first time training with such a device. Once I figured out how to get my thumb around the guard, my draw was rapid and nearly flawless.
My thumb had no problems finding the ALS lever and pulling it rearward to release the firearm. It’s easy to integrate the ALS device into your natural draw stroke. I drew my gun hundreds of times in the two days, if not more, and it became quite easy to free the gun and get it into action.
How easy? Well, when we were in vehicles, I was able to draw the weapon and deploy it in a multitude of angles. I’m a big guy, and vehicles are close quarters for me. The 6354 RDSO made it easy to get the gun up and in action regardless of what position I was in and what I was doing.
Breaking Holsters
Of all twelve writers, we only broke one holster. During one of the combative wrestling matches, a writer fell directly on the holster and gun. The retention system didn’t fail, but the gun was locked into the holster. The Safariland folks had never seen that type of failure, but they think it might have been due to the fact we were holstering blue guns, which aren’t known for their dimensional accuracy.
Overall, the 6354 RDSO is a rock-solid holster. I don’t have a PDP, but the holster happens to fit my Walther P99 perfectly, so I have a use for it for the rest of my days. Check it out over at Safariland.
A lot of times, I make some purchases with the idea of writing an article, but not all of the time. One of those times, I bought a pack of these things called Bottle Blasters, and I figured it would be a fun way to enjoy shooting. I like reactive targets, and I still enjoy shooting just to shoot. Thus, a 10-dollar bag of Bottle Blasters came home from Academy with me. You might wonder, why exactly am I writing this article if I didn’t purchase these to write an article? Well, consider this article more of a warning.
What’s are Bottle Blasters?
Bottle Blasters are tiny caps you can add to a water bottle to inflate it with air. You can use a standard air pump to add some air to your bottle. The caps have soft plastic tops that allow you to poke the needle through them, and they’re designed to reseal when you remove the inflation needle. Pump it up with air, shoot it, and it explodes! You can add water or powder to the bottle to make a big splash when it is hit.
The idea is simple, and it’s a flame-free, safe, and dynamic reactive target. It’s safer than Tannerite and claims to be able to use nearly any bottle. The Bottle Blasters list themselves as a binary explosive replacement. The little caps have lanyard loops, so you can hang them and shoot them for fun.
The idea is sound. Each package comes with five caps, an inflation needle, and a mesh carry bag—not bad for ten bucks, at least that’s what I thought.
Problems Arise
The first problem I had was that I couldn’t find a bottle that they attached to. They didn’t work on soda bottles or most water bottles. They simply wouldn’t thread on the bottles. The bottle blasters finally attached to some old water bottles I had at home. These bottles had a tiny little lip of threading. So once I found bottles that worked, I grabbed my air pump and started pumping up the bottles, and they were roughly half full of water.
A little too much air and the tops would pop off. I started counting my pumps as I worked the bottle and was able to hit a sweet spot of inflation. With two bottles of water in hand, I went to the range with high hopes. All you need is 700 FPS or so. That’s easy to achieve, and no fast-moving rifle round is required.
Throwing Lead
I filled those targets with as much air as I possibly could and used a 115-grain 9mm round from a 4.5-inch barrel, and the target did nothing. They acted no differently than any other water bottle I’ve ever shot. They didn’t jump, bounce, or explode, with water flying everywhere. The bottles did nothing.
I was disappointed but not undeterred. One of the caps survived the volley of fire, so I grabbed it to reuse. I’m glad I grabbed it because the other three Bottle Blasters didn’t work. They didn’t reseal after the pump punctured them. This meant all the air I pumped into the bottle flowed outward after removing the needle.
They were useless. With my remaining bottle blaster, I grabbed one more bottle and emptied it. I filled it with flour since the device says that powder works, too. I figured this left more room for more air, so I pumped and pumped until it seemed like the bottle would burst at the seams. I set it back up, and this time, I used a .357 Magnum and sent a round through the bottle. Once more, nothing happened. There was no explosion of powder, not even a snap.
Just Say No
Either I’m an idiot, or the bottle blasters don’t work. I tried my hardest, followed the instructions, and couldn’t figure it out. Since three bottle blasters were a bust, I really had a couple of chances to try them. Overall, it’s a neat idea, but I think it needs to go back to the lab. For now, just say no to bottle blasters.
BEAVERTON, Ore. — Leupold & Stevens, Inc., provider of the world’s most rugged, lightweight, and clear sport optics, is pleased to announce the launch of its new, game-changing laser rangefinder: the RX-5000.
NEW RX-5000
The RX-5000 TBR/W is the rangefinder for the modern hunter. It delivers an incredible 5,000 yard ranging distance and is packed with other new features. What truly sets it apart is its integration with the also-new Leupold Control app, which uses GPS technology to remotely drop location pins to your phone using digital maps like onX Hunt.
“A rangefinder is obviously an incredibly important tool to have with you in the field–but what we’ve done with the RX-5000 shows just how valuable it can be as a way finder or navigational tool,” said Eric Overstreet, Technology Product Line Manager for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “Pinning lets you mark your target on a variety of digital mapping systems. Just aim, range, and pin. Any location you range will instantly show up as a waypoint on your digital map. Whether you’re working your way through the backcountry or trying to locate an animal you’ve shot, it’s an invaluable, time-saving feature.”
Pinning is established through use of the Leupold Control app, which is free for download in App stores. The Leupold Control app allows you to drop pins in compatible mapping systems–onX Hunt, Google Maps, and Apple Maps–and adjust the settings on your RX-5000. Among the RX-5000’s bevy of other features is Long Range mode. Thanks to the incredible DNA engine, the RX-5000 can reach 5,000 yards on reflective targets, 3,100 yards on trees, and 2,000 yards deer-sized game out of the box. Using Long Range mode, it can extend those to exceed 5,000 yards on non-reflective targets–nearly three miles of ranging capability. To assist with using Long Range mode, the RX-5000 ships with an included tripod saddle and can be fired remotely using the Leupold Control app.
FEATURES GALORE
The RX-5000 will accurately range in the snow, rain, and fog, thanks to its Last Target mode. It provides exceptionally bright and clear images with a high light transmission red OLED display and makes ranging long distances easy with its 8x magnification. The unit’s on-board True Ballistic Range/Wind (TBR/W) technology, meanwhile, provides angle compensated shoot-to distances. TBR/W technology takes precision to the next level by offering 25 selectable ballistics groups that account for your preferred cartridge, helping you dial in the exact range of your target. You can also program the rangefinder to display holdovers in either MIL or MOA, if desired.
RX-5000 TBR/W LifestyleRX-5000 TBR/W Lifestyle
Using the rifleman’s rule on an angled 600-yard shot could result in up to a 15-inch margin of error when compared to the dead-on accuracy of Leupold’s TBR/W. And with TBR/W’s 10-mph wind holds, you’ll have all the information you need to experience more first shot hits. Combine that accuracy with Leupold’s Custom Dial System (CDS) and you’ll be on target in seconds.
“We set out to build the very best hunting rangefinder possible–and the features here show it,” Overstreet said. “The RX-5000, combined with the Pinning feature and the Leupold Control app, is the ultimate solution for backcountry hunters.” The RX-5000 is waterproof and extreme-climate tested. It is backed by Leupold’s Electronics Warranty.
For more information on Leupold products, please visit us at Leupold.com.
RX-5000 SPECIFICATIONS
Elevate your hunt with the RX-5000 TBR/W rangefinder. This cutting-edge device seamlessly connects to the Leupold Control App, allowing you to adjust its settings, customize display options, and take accurate ranges, all with a few quick taps on your mobile phone. But the real selling point of the RX-5000 is its pinning feature. Thanks to its GPS technology and our Long Range mode, you can now easily drop pins on a variety of digital mapping systems from over three miles away.
KEY BENEFITS
Provides ballistically calculated ranges for uphill/downhill shooting, using True Ballistic Range/Wind (TBR/W) technology
Delivers fast accurate readings with the DNA ranging engine
Provides exceptionally bright and clear images with a high light transmission red OLED display
Accurately ranges in snow, rain, and fog using Last Target mode
Allows you to place digital waypoints on a variety of mapping systems
Makes ranging long distances easy using 8x magnification
Boasts 5,000-yard ranging distance on reflective objects and 3,100 yards on trees
Maximizes durability with a high-impact aluminum chassis
Stays secure in all conditions thanks to easy-grip rubber armor
Mounts easily with a 1/4-20 tripod adapter
Waterproof and extreme climate tested
KEY FEATURES
8x magnification
High light transmission red OLED display
+/- 1/2 yard accuracy to 125 yards
Last Target mode
Built-in inclinometer
True Ballistic Range with Wind (TBR/W) technology * Ballistic compensation system to 800 yards * Wind hold outputs
I rarely carry a knife anymore. When I do, it’s generally because I’m in a situation where I CAN’T carry a firearm (or at the very least really really shouldn’t)
LOW-VIZ POCKET KNIVES
I like this type of carry for knives because not only are they suitably flat as to not disrupt the fit and drape of your trousers, but the posture of hands in your pockets is socially acceptable and non-aggressive.
When most folks think “pocket knife” they think about a folding knife, clipped to the pocket where it’s visible. In many places that’s socially acceptable and won’t draw any attention, especially in the south. That being said there are plenty of places, including workplaces, where anything that can be construed as a weapon is unacceptable.
On top of that, if you’ve spent any time with the Shivworks crowd (especially Chris Fry), you understand that the prospect of bringing a folding knife into play is more than a little daunting. Hence my preference for fixed blades whenever possible.
Now this isn’t intended as a “hey do this” type of solution. My hope is that this sparks some thought and creativity. Snag a couple of pocket shields and play around with them. You may be surprised as to how they work themselves in to your carry setup.
Jacob Aldolphus Bryce, aka Jelly Bruce, is a gun slinger that time has largely forgotten about. While men like Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill, and Frank Hamer live on as legendary gunfighters, the man named Jelly is nowhere near as well known. Even so, he was a very accomplished shooter, a gunfighter, and one of J. Edgar Hoover’s favorite agents. He was influential in firearms training, for better or worse. Let’s explore a man known for his gun hand, his manner of dress, and his history of winning gunfights.
The Origins of Jelly Bryce
Jacob Bryce was known as a skilled gunhand from a young age. Like many boys of the era, he became skilled at hitting small game and helping feed the family. His skill led him to be a fairly well-accomplished competitive shooter. Bruyce had exceptional vision, reportedly better than 20/20. He was also an athlete who played football and was well-known for having outstanding hand-eye coordination.
After high school, he dedicated himself to becoming a lawman and became an Oklahoma State Game Agent. He didn’t last long, and out of some form of what was likely youthful frustration, he decided to go to college. That didn’t last long, either. He didn’t even make it to the college. He stopped to shoot in a local competition that offered a $100 prize. There, he met the Oklahoma City Police Chief, stunned by the Jelly’s ability to shoot. He offered him a job on the spot, and Mr. Bryce became Detective Bryce at the age of 22.
His First Gunfight
Jelly didn’t have to wait long to prove his mettle. On his second day on the job, he encountered a thief who was trying to steal a car. When Jelly announced himself, the thief pulled a pistol, and Bryce responded in kind. The criminal took a round but lived.
A short time later, Bryce responded to the shooting that earned him the nickname Jelly. A fellow officer was outgunned and fighting through a hail of gunfire from three criminals. He lept to the officer’s aid on the running board of a moving car and shot two of the criminals. As one of the criminals died, he remarked, “I can’t believe I was killed by a Jelly Bean like you.”
Jelly Bean was slang for a well-dressed man. Jelly Bryce was good at two things, gunfighting and dressing well. Which he was better at remains disputed.
As Jelly’s career progressed, he found himself in numerous gunfights and shot down numerous men when necessary. Oklahoma City was a violent place, and the man named Jelly was right where he needed to be. In July 1934, Bryce was assigned to hunt down Harvey Pugh, an associate of Bonnie and Clyde. Pugh was reportedly traveling with Ray O’Donnell and Tom Walton. He tracked them to a hotel and confronted Walton and O’Donnell.
O’Donnell faced him with a M1911 in each hand. Even with a wanted criminal having the draw on him, Jelly Bryce drew his gun, got off the X, and killed the man. This event drew the eye of the FBI, which had recruited him as a Special Agent.
Jelly Bryce and the FBI
In the 1930s, the FBI wasn’t winning the war on gangsters. The college-educated, upper-class agents might have been smart, but they weren’t used to playing in the mud with criminals. As an experienced detective and gunfighter, Jelly Bryce was the man they needed. J. Edgar Hoover waived the college requirement and put the man on the job.
Jelly Bryce served with the FBI for the rest of his law enforcement career. His reputation grew and followed him to the point where criminals would surrender to him immediately when they heard he was Jelly Bryce. Jelly also taught at the FBI Academy and influenced the agency’s firearm tactics. He was well known for his skill with a handgun, a Thompson, and a shotgun.
This included mandating concealed carry for agents, as well as a holster that allowed for a quick draw. He also taught a hip shooting method that set back shooting techniques with law enforcement for decades. Admittedly, this technique worked for him, but firing from this odd, low hip position didn’t work for everyone.
Why Was He So Good
What made Jelly Bryce so good at shooting? He would famously demonstrate dropping a coin from head height and drawing and shooting the coin from waist height before it hit the ground. He was said to be able to draw and fire a shot in 4/10s of a second. How was he so good?
His spectacular vision likely helped. He once said he could see the bullet move to the target. The man also has excellent hand-eye coordination. Combine that with the fact he was notorious for practicing, which made him one helluva shot. People often look for this miraculous skill he must have had, and while he had some advantages, he also reportedly practiced drawing and shooting for hours a day.
He had some natural skills, but he would have never been as good as he was without the work he put in. If you take anything from this article and Jelly Bryce’s life, it’s that training matters. It made Jelly the famous gunfighter he was and likely allowed him to live longer than most gunfighters. If you’re interested in the man behind the gun, check out the book Legendary Lawman by Ron Owens.
