More Barrel Talk – 9-Hole Reviews

By

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August 14, 2023

If you’re asking what barrel length you should get on a carbine there needs to be some additional context to get good answers. The 9-Hole crew has a good, and mercifully short, video on some general principles of barrel length selection.

These context defining questions are often.

What do you want it to do?
What do you need it to do?
What do you already have?

What do you want it to do?

Your rifle. Your role. This question is actually a question series, it encompasses everything from your budget to comforts to legal conformities for your region.

Example, if the NFA were not in existence the most popular and common barrel length of AR-15 would likely be 14.5″ instead of 16″ in length. Why? GWOT. The M4 was and is our carbine.

Transfering intent to the home we usually want our AR to do what the M4 did. Be a simple and efficient general purpose carbine. It has reach but is easier to move with than the M16/20″ guns and can cover down on things well. Ammunition, following the M4, is also built with that barrel and has system in mind.

But you may have a requirement or a legal parameters, like the NFA existing, that changes all the calculus. Thus the 16 inch barrel became the commercial standard, it was the closest and most convenient thing to the M4. It also came with a few ballistic benefits in good rifles with a little more speed and and little more legs. The M27 uses a 16″ barrel by design and the Marines aren’t under a requirement to do so, it is the most accurate of the three service weapons.

So sketch out your ideal within all the parameters present and narrow down the field. This will also quickly track you into buy or build. I recommend buy. Building is fun, but a professional company making serious firearms for serious purposes can back their gun better than your buddy’s basement build.

What do you need it to do?

Need is the emphatic series of questions that trims the wants. If you can’t get the list that you want, what do you need? This will lean heavier into the legal side of things too. Do you need it to be a Title I gun? Do you need it to be legally a handgun? Do you need to use a certain optic or ammunition type? What fits your budget?

Use those needs and start picking apart your wants. You might get it all. You might get some. You might determine that one of your ideals are too problematic due to legalities (wanting a 12.5 SBR for example) and instead go with a 13.7 and a specific muzzle to meet Title I requirements.

That all brings it back to the 14.5/16 permanent length guns, they are usually perfectly adequate to the needs list. If they are not, then don’t pick one for convenience.

I’m a 14.5 advocate, supremacist one even might say, as the most mobile and do it all barrel length for the least hassle. The most inconvenient part is selecting a “permanent” muzzle device. Not that much of a hassle and permanent only in the legal sense for NFA purposes.

What do you already have?

By extension of this question we are hitting back on the first one too. What do you want and why does this new rifle do that better than anything you currently have?

If you, like many of us, have already acquired a 16″ of some sort as a baseline rifle your options expand. You’ve put an adequate optic suite on and it does what you ask it to, so the next rifle can be far more specialized without compromise. You can get an SBR for compactness or you can get an SPR for precision and distance. You can clone and update the capabilities of your current rifle with the new one and have redundancy. You can try some more out there items like triggers, optics, non-standard controls, and the like without worrying about compromising the reliability of your base rifle. You can get a test bed or a specialist. You can get both.

You can also use this as an A/B test to see if upgrading the current rifle makes more sense than acquiring a 2nd.

In all instances it will condense down to getting what you want out of the gun and its accessories. But when buying for efficiency more than for fun the conversation must look at the efficiency pain points. Those points are, assuming a rifle of acceptable quality from literally anyone, not likely to be in the gun itself.

So ask the questions. Get the answer. Buy accordingly. Don’t overthink it.

Also, you don’t need it chrome lined, you don’t need it cold hammer forged, you don’t need 1:7 twist. It just needs to be quality nitride or stainless steel with a good rifling cut and those are hallmarks of CHF CL barrels.

Gunday Brunch 113: Gun Friend Etiquette

By

Keith Finch

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August 13, 2023

The boys are back and they’re talking about the best sort of etiquette for when your gun friends visit from out of town. Should you have a loaner burner on hand? Spare ammo? Let us find out

Modern Sporting Rifle is A Dumb Term

By

Travis Pike

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August 12, 2023

Commonly Owned AR-15 — Photo Credit: CRPA.org

The anti-gun world loves these vaguely amorphous terms they can use to catalog whatever firearms they want. They use terms like Saturday Night Special and Assault Weapon to try and raise support for banning the most common firearms out there. The gun world isn’t exactly innocent about it, either. A few years back, we adopted the term modern sporting rifle and began playing semantics back. Modern sporting rifle, or MSR, was a term we applied to AR-15s and similar semi-auto rifles.

It seems clever, but in reality, it was pretty dang dumb. The term was us trying to counter the term assault weapon. The thing is, we never had to counter that term with another term. We were, and continue to do, a great job of countering terms like assault weapons by just asking a simple question. “Please define assault weapon.” I’ve loved seeing it become the almost universal retort to any proposed ‘assault’ weapons ban. I see it across social media channels and forums like Reddit constantly.

Modern Sporting Rifle – Words Matter

Playing their game and using amorphous terms was never a route to success. Modern sporting rifle means jack all. There are modern lever actions and bolt actions, and maybe my rifle isn’t for sporting purposes. The entire concept of sporting purpose was an anti-gun talking point in the first place. Don’t get me wrong, the AR series are excellent hunting rifles and competition firearms and can be used sportingly.

We don’t need to categorize the AR-15 as a sporting rifle, a hunting rifle, a defensive rifle, or an assault rifle. We don’t need these silly terms because we already know what an AR-15 is. It’s a semi-automatic rifle. Just call it that. By simply calling it exactly what it is, we are being honest and succinct. Keeping the conversation focused on semi-auto rifles refocuses the argument for the average person. We are calling them out and showing the world their plans involve very common rifles.

They can use the term assault rifle, and the defenders of liberty can use the term semi-auto rifle. We can take charge of the argument and honestly point out the fact that what the anti-gun crowd is trying to do is ban semi-auto rifles, the most common type of rifle. That extends to handguns, too, not just rifles. However, my argument is against the term modern sporting rifle, and no one ever called handguns modern sporting handguns.

Winning With Words

Using the term semi-automatic instead of modern sporting rifle keeps the argument focused. When we use the term modern sporting rifle, the other side can argue we are being amorphous and trying to somehow divert the conversation. It also implies some odd shame in owning an AR-15 or similar rifle. If we use the proper term, semi-auto rifle, we take one argument out of their sails. We also maintain the high ground and are simply being honest.

If their argument is, well, we aren’t banning semi-auto rifles. We are banning assault rifles. It all comes back to what’s an assault rifle. Please define the term for us. If they can’t define the term, they can’t even tell you what they are trying to do. It exposes ignorance and dishonesty.

Using the term semi-auto rifle or semi-auto handgun can be more valuable than you likely expect. It’s the proper term, solidifies our argument, and allows us to maintain a certain degree of honesty.

Plus, to quote my 12-year-old, modern sporting rifle ‘sounds pretty cringe’.

The Type 63 – An Odd Assault Rifle

By

Travis Pike

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August 11, 2023

Do you see the announcement of the Antimatter Scopeswitch? It seems pretty neat and well thought out. It’s impressive, and what was equally impressive was how fast Chinese copies were already being made. China is great at ripping off intellectual property and crapping out bad replicas and copies. It’s just what they do. In the late 1950s, they did that with a little-known assault rifle known as the Type 63.

At this period, they were wielding the Type 56 assault rifle, which was an AK clone. They also had the Type 56 Carbine, which was an SKS clone. Up until the late 1950s, the Chinese and Soviets were buddies and shared weaponry and technology. In the late 1950s, there was an ideological split, and the Soviets were too keen on sharing tech and experience.

At the same time, the Chinese wanted to extend the effective range of their soldiers and arm them with a more accurate rifle. Plus, using two different rifles meant logistic pain. The differences between the SKS and AK are many, and they require different training, different parts, and even different web gear.

With all things equal, the SKS tends to be more accurate than the AK. The AK has a shorter sight radius and a clunkier long-stroke gas piston, and the SKS tended to be more rigid and ultimately more accurate. However, the SKS used a fixed magazine, was semi-auto only, and was fed with 10 round stripper clips. The AK offered removable magazines and selective fire. So the Chinese decided to form an unholy union of AK and SKS to form the Type 63.

Enter the Type 63

At first glance, the Type 63 looks like an SKS with a longer magazine. Since Tapco existed, we’ve seen that before. We’ve also seen Chinese SKS imports with the ability to take AK mags. They were commonly touted as the Para SKS. This was different.

That magazine is also removable. It looks Akish, but it is a proprietary 20-round magazine. AK magazines could be used, but this required modification of the rifle to remove the last round bolt hold open. There are also some who said that caused feeding issues. The magazine could also be fed with stripper clips through the top if necessary.

The Type 63 did offer selective fire capability with a selector placed above the trigger guard. The Chinese military used a pretty basic and well-known tactic of fire and maneuver. The rifle would be fired in semi-auto until forces closed the distance and engaged in close-quarters battle. Then the rifle could be swapped to full auto when necessary.

The Type 63 wanted to mix the accuracy of the SKS with the selective fire and removable magazine capabilities of the AK series. They also blended some of the integral features of both the AK and SKS. The gun used the short-stroke gas piston system of the SKS but used the rotary bolt from the AK series. Finding deeper details on the internals is tough, but it’s been described as complicated.

Initial evaluations proved that the rifle was durable, reliable, and accurate. The Type 63 was adopted and issued by China in 1968. They also exported guns to Vietnam during the war, Albania, and even Afghanistan to fight the Soviets.

The End of the Type 63

While initial evaluation praised the rifle, it met some snags in production. They did move from a milled to a stamped receiver. There were reportedly quality assurance issues with the gun, and it suffered from some reliability problems when it reached full production. In fact, the lifespan of the rifle went from 15,000 rounds to 10,000 rounds by the time it was issued.

Eventually, the concept fell apart as modern assault rifles entered service. The Vietnam War showed the lighter, more modern rifle was king. They dropped the Type 63 and picked up the Tpe 56 AK assault rifle and later the Type 81. The Chinese did export some SKS models marked Type 63, but they were semi-auto only and used detachable magazines. However, they were just standard SKS rifles with thumbhole stocks and detachable mags.

The Type 63 is a neat idea and one last chance for the traditional wood-stocked rifle to get some action.

Any Time, Any Rifle

By

Keith Finch

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August 11, 2023

Author's IWI Galil ACE Gen2 in 5.56 NATO

The old saw goes, ‘Beware the man with only one gun.’

It’s a phrase that harkens back to a simple time of classic gunfighters who, if they carried something that worked, they stopped messing with it. Simple 6-guns, bolt or lever action rifles, a pump shotgun. Even in the age of evolving auto-loaders it was generally one and done, you carried your issued piece and it worked well enough.

However this is 2023, my perspective on the situation has evolved beyond that quaint saying. I’ve chosen to embrace diversity, if you will. It is certainly a necessity to be proficient with the handgun or rifle you carry, it is your issued equipment and likely to be in your hand, or as close to it as feasible, when you need it. That is its purpose. It is the firearm you will grab to do the job you’ve been entrusted with.

From an an expanded standpoint, outside the additional sworn duties of a service member or law enforcement, the everyday carry is another item that should absolutely be familiar in your hands. This now also applies to we civilian defenders who do not have civil duty as well as those with duty. As proficient as you are at driving your car, at doing your job, at engaging in your favored hobby, you should be as competent with the firearm and its handling to protect yourself.

Thinking beyond the normally abnormal – your gun is out of reach.

A gunfight or a simple DGU is a rare enough event. But what if the gun you have in the fight isn’t your preferred gun? What if that specialty AR with its top of the line optic suite and gucci trigger is safely ensconced in your house? What if you are sitting with an out of the crate WASR and a web sling because you’re at your friend’s place or with the in-laws? What if you just snatched a stolen patrol rifle from a thief who smashed it out of a cop car?

In short, what if it isn’t your rifle at all?

RD NATO, excellent rifle. Not very useful if an AK is a foreign concept to you though.

The ‘man with one gun’ implies a specialist. But it also implies near universal access to the firearm you specialize in, which is truer and easier for a law enforcement type in their own space. It does not account well for the modern items of air travel, variable firearms regulations, and most of the very real world social situations we must navigate. Being able to fight with something you pick up locally is a greater assurance of success, and if the gun doesn’t need to be an 18″ gas tuned, LPVO with offset dot, silent buffer, 17.7″ handguard clad race gun, then all to the better when you grab the whatever-is-available MK1

I’m not implying everyone has a tricked out competition rig as their rifle at home. I am saying we like what we like, and that we tend to get comfortable and complacent with that gun and the ancillaries we selected. That makes us naturally suspicious and uncomfortable with other gear, it isn’t comfortable. That will get in our way if that other gear is all we have at our disposal. If I travel far out of state and don’t want to check and risk firearms in the not-so-secure shipping and handling that airports sometimes represent, then I can ask a friend to have stuff ready for me at the destination instead. I find that far easier to manage when the option exists. Outside that scenario travel in general is easier when we are not required to manage firearms.

Learning how to run the rifles you don’t know will make picking up local that much easier. It will make it a viable option. In addition, it will make you a better and more rounded shooter. It forces the fundamentals you know within the platform you prefer to reconform to fit a new mold.

Agnostic Fundamentals

The AK or the Steyr AUG are dramatically different when compared against each other, or the AR-15, but as autoloading rifles they are all in the same fundamentals group.

Supporting a rifle and managing a trigger do not change as principles, but the way to support an X95 or an AUG are physically different than an AR or SCAR. Placement of the hands, where to support, how the rifle balances, and the delivery of recoil to the shooter are all going to feel different.

The trigger in an AUG is heavy straight pull (actually push) transfer bar where the X95 has a trigger pin like many other carbines. Add into the mix all the aftermarket options and you cannot easily predict how any trigger at random will feel, but you can know how to manage it regardless. A few dry presses should suffice if you have the time. If you don’t, don’t worry about it. Get to shooting.

Lean outside your preferences

The first formal course I took outside uniformed service was on the MP5, it was also a handgun course and my experience there had been up to that point… state CCW curriculum.

A carbine, an old one too, I knew next to nothing about that Die Hard didn’t teach me and a handgun curriculum pushing harder and further than anything I had shot or taught in a 2 to 3 hour period.

I. Learned.

The things I learned about managing a new gun came back to improve my M16/M4 work too. I had 10 years on the AR at that point, but the NCOs of various competencies and limited structured range time had ingrained some goofy habits. Remember ‘The Groucho’ walk/stance? Pepperidge Farms remembers. The formal training on the MP5 (and I will admit a fixation on watching Art of the Tactical Carbine) helped break the bad habits and improve my efficiencies on all the guns.

Then I learned another. Then another after that. I borrowed weird guns from friends who had them to see what they did. I figured them out. I have my preferences, we all will, but making what you have at the time work could be as crucial to your safety as knowing the gun that you bought. They could be different. Be ready for what’s at hand with what is on hand.

Fifth Circuit Holds That Use or Possession of an Intoxicant Does Not Remove Your Rights

By

Keith Finch

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August 11, 2023

Marijuana legalization and its removal from Title I controlled substances is continuing to creep forward as politicos and industries with something to lose in the fight figure out how to lose the least. The propaganda campaign of fear, lies, and slander, all targeted to prey on demographic prejudices and give both more power to government and protect the paper paper of all groups is crumbling. Even the momentum of habit where the drug has been illegal so long it was just assumed to be the correct idea is failing, because it never ever left circulation. Like Prohibition, it was a bad idea to begin with.

Now another federal court decision pushes the pieces one step closer to a checkmate on treating marijuana like the rather mundane intoxicant that it is with the don’t drive or operate heavy machinery disclaimers. Its possession or use does not invalidate your constitutional rights.

From The FPC,

NEW ORLEANS, LA (August 10, 2023) – Today, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) and FPC Action Foundation (FPCAF) made the following statement regarding yesterday’s Opinion in the Fifth Circuit case United States v. Daniels:

In 2022, Patrick Daniels was convicted in federal court for possessing a firearm while being an “unlawful user” of marijuana, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3). Because of that conviction, he was forever banned from possessing firearms, a fundamental right protected by the Second Amendment. Yesterday, a Fifth Circuit panel held that ban unconstitutional as applied to Mr. Daniels.

“In short, our history and tradition may support some limits on an intoxicated person’s right to carry a weapon, but it does not justify disarming a sober citizen based exclusively on his past drug usage,” wrote Judge Jerry E. Smith in the court’s opinion. “Nor do more generalized traditions of disarming dangerous persons support this restriction on nonviolent drug users. As applied to Daniels, then, § 922(g)(3) violates the Second Amendment. We reverse the judgment of conviction and render a dismissal of the indictment.”

FPC and FPCAF filed an amicus brief in this case, urging the result that the court reached. The court cited the amicus brief in its opinion, as well as two law review articles by FPCAF’s Director of Constitutional Studies, Joseph Greenlee. The articles are The Historical Justification for Prohibiting Dangerous Persons from Possessing Arms (Wyoming Law Review, 2020) and Disarming the Dangerous: The American Tradition of Firearm Prohibitions (Drexel Law Review, forthcoming 2023).

“We are pleased by the court’s decision,” said Greenlee, who authored the amicus brief. “As we explained in our brief, there is no tradition of disarming Americans based solely on their use of an intoxicant, and the government failed to prove that marijuana users are especially dangerous. Therefore, as the court held, § 922(g)(3) is inconsistent with America’s tradition of firearm regulation and thus unconstitutional.”

FPC and FPCAF will continue to seek the restoration of natural, fundamental, and enumerated rights for all the People through its leading scholarly and litigation work.

Individuals who would like to join the FPC Grassroots Army and support important pro-rights lawsuits and programs like these can sign up at JoinFPC.org. Individuals and organizations wanting to support charitable efforts in support of the restoration of Second Amendment and other natural rights can also make a tax-deductible donation to the FPC Action Foundation. For more on FPC’s lawsuits and other pro-Second Amendment initiatives, visit FPCLegal.org and follow FPC on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube.

Ruger Super Wrangler

By

V. Caldwell

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August 10, 2023

While the Wrangler is worth its modest price the Super Wrangler is a more versatile revolver.

I have enjoyed single action revolvers every since my first handgun shot. This was at a young age firing my father’s .22 caliber Herbert Schmidt revolver. As a working gun for many chores from dispatching pests and vermin to hunting small game a .22 caliber revolver a good choice. In a single action revolver with the optional .22 Magnum cylinder things get more interesting. The single action with its relatively heavy frame and rock solid base pin is reliable. A favorite of all time is the Ruger Single Six .22. A price check in early August 2023 found an average price of $699 for the Single Six. While a well made revolver that isn’t chicken feed for the man or woman with obligations. An inexpensive revolver, Ruger’s Wrangler, was at Cheaperthandirt.com for $208.40. The Wrangler doesn’t have adjustable sights or a .22 Magnum cylinder. The Super Wrangler was found at $283.40. What is a Super Wrangler?

Using non ferrous alloy- perfectly well used to a low pressure .22 Long Rifle cartridge- and using stronger metal in certain high stress areas the Wrangler is a trouble free revolver. There is no spare cylinder as .22 Magnum is deemed too hot a loading for use in zinc alloy frames. Cerakote finish provides good finish and metal protection. The Wrangler’s accuracy potential cannot be realized at all distances when fixed sights are used. The Super Wrangler is a true outdoorsmans revolver while the Wrangler is more of a plinker for recreational use. The Super Wrangler isn’t an expensive revolver but it is more like the Single Six than the Wrangler.

Several Cerakote finishes will be offered with the Ruger Super Wrangler .22 LR/.22 Magnum revolver.

The Super Wrangler may use shot shell, low and high power .22s, .22 Short, Long, and Long rifle loads in one cylinder. With the Magnum cylinder the longer and more powerful Magnum may be used. (The cartridges are dimensionally very different the .22 Magnum isn’t mrely longer. It is dangerous to fire .22 LR in a Magnum cylinder). The .22 Long Rifle is affordable and offers a great deal of utility. By offering a spare cylinder in .22 Magnum the Super Wrangler increases the usefulness and versatility of the revolver. The new cylinders will not fit in older Wrangler revolvers. The steel frame is stronger than the alloy frame of the Wrangler. With a 5.5 inch barrel the Super Wrangler features good velocity and accuracy. The balance and heft of the revolver are very good. Fast shooting and practice for cowboy action shooting is a good choice!

With the Super Wrangler’s adjustable sights to the Super Wrangler may be properly sighted in for a wide variety of loads and the revolver is accurate to at least 25 yards. The grips are inexpensive checkered plastic grips. The Super Wrangler features transfer bar ignition. When the hammer is at rest a bar between the hammer and firing pin prevents the hammer from moving forward to strike the firing pin. As the hammer is cocked the transfer bar moves into place and as the hammer falls the transfer bar is smacked by the hammer and fires the cartridge under the hammer. This is a safe and reliable system. The Wrangler and Super Wrangler as well as all modern Ruger revolvers may be safely carried fully loaded. To load the revolver open the loading gate and rotate the cylinder as you load one round at a time. To eject spent cartridges the chamber is lined up with the ejector rod and the rod is pressed to eject the cartridge. The trigger action is smooth and crisp. The trigger breaks at 3.5 pounds compression. I rounded up a good mix of .22 Long Rifle and .22 Magnum ammunition. I was distracted a bit by plinking and fun shooting at range debris on the 50 and 100 yard line. This is a fun gun! I settled down and fired accuracy results and chronographed a few loads.

A variety of .22 Magnum ammunition proved reliable and accurate in the Super Wrangler.

Accuracy testing was undertaken at 50 feet firing from an MTM Caseguard K Zone firing rest.

Load	Velocity	5 shot group

.22 Long Rifle Remington Thunderbolt	980 fps	1.4 in.
CCI Mini Mag .22 Magnum	1001 fps	1.5 in.
CCI MaxiMag hollowpoint	1340 fps	1.1 in.
CCI MaxiMagn Solid nose	1360 fps	1.3 in.
Federal Punch 45 grain	1255 fps	1.2 in.

For versatility value and fun shooting the Super Wrangler is a fine modern revolver.

Weight 37.0 ounces
Length: 11 in.
Barrel Length: 5.5 in.

How to Make Competition Shooting Easier For Newbs

By

Travis Pike

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August 10, 2023

I’ve recently gotten into shooting local competition matches. These have varied quite a bit with some Steel Challenge, Action Steel, Skeet, Bowling pin shooting, and even a few other nonstandard competitions. I’m still very much a beginner in this field, but it’s been a ton of fun. I’ve even seen my skills improve quite nicely. While I’m very much a beginner in the world of competition, I know a thing or two about shooting in general. With that in mind, I was still often left confused by the advertisements and Practiscore pages for certain shoots.

I would often write the match organizer to receive a little more information, and most replied. Knowing a thing or two about the gun world made it a little easier for me, but I imagine that people who don’t live and breathe this stuff would often be left clueless, maybe frustrated, and most certainly less likely to compete and shoot. One of the great things about the gun world is that it’s widely accepted that everyone’s a student, and even a new student can have something to add to the conversation.

As a new student of competition, I can’t tell you how to be a better shooter or how to reach GM, but I think I can get some advice to match organizers on how to make your matches more attractive to new shooters or even experienced shooters looking to get into the competition realm.

Post A Suggested Equipment List

This one has been my bain for me entering into different competition shoots. Some have become easy to predict, but when I started, I had no idea what I’d need. I have plenty of guns, ammo, holsters, etc., but what did I need for the match? Did I need belt-mounted mag pouches? Did I need a sling?

On my first PCC match, I didn’t bring a chamber flag because it was never listed, and I had no idea if I’d need one. A short equipment list would be quite handy to have and would make it much easier to plan and prepare for the match. This is especially true when it comes to safety gear that might not be standard for range use.

Do Not Rely on Acronyms

Again, as an experienced shooter, I know what PCC stands for, but not everyone does. The phrase PCC rifle can be confusing, and I know this because a gentleman showed up to the PCC match with a Mini-30. He didn’t understand what the phrase meant and wasn’t familiar with it. We lost a competitor right at the beginning because of this confusion.

Acronyms in the gun world are everywhere, and they can be downright confusing. It seems like life would be easier for everyone to explain what the term means or to just avoid using acronyms without an explanation.

Explain The Skills Required To Shoot the Match

This is a big one. When a shooter goes to a USPSA match, they typically know what to expect. With that in mind, what happens when they don’t? It might be wise to establish that your match will require shooting on the move, rapid reloading, drawing, etc. This can help new shooters understand the skills needed and what to expect from the match.

I’ve seen biathlon-style, tactical games like shoot competition posting go in depth for multiple paragraphs on what to expect. It was great, and if I was competing, I’d know exactly what was expected of me. The same goes for my local Steel Challenge shoot, which explains what occurs during the match. This at least prepares folks to find a match that works with their skill level.

Host a Beginner Oriented Match

This is probably the best way to get new shooters into competition shooting of any style. Host a beginner-friendly match or even a ‘clinic’ where new shooters and new competition shooters can practice and learn a lot about competition shooting. It would be perfect to have more than the average RSOs and skilled shooters volunteer to teach and educate.

Heck, if possible, provide the guns for new shooters and set them up from the start to make it stress-free. However, this is harder said than done, which I understand entirely. Still, if you have a small club, it might be a great way to make it bigger.

Comp Friendly

Competition shooting can be an intimidating sport to get into. I shoot a lot and take classes on occasion, and I was still a bit stressed at my first match. I even got some things wrong and forgot a thing or two. With that in mind, here are just a few suggestions from a beginner to make these competitions a little friendlier.

The Dual Pistol Grip Shotgun – PGO X2

By

Travis Pike

-

August 9, 2023

We all know the pistol grip only shotgun is a bit contentious as a defensive weapon. It’s small and powerful but tough to control. The Shockwave and TAC-14, with their respective KAK grips, make things a little comfier but still challenging to control. What if we took the pistol grips on a pistol grip only gun and doubled them? What happens, then? Replace the rear and front grips of a pump shotgun with pistol grips and just see what happens. That gave birth to the dual pistol grip only shotgun.

The Dual Pistol Grip Shotgun

I have this PDF collection of all these old Soldier of Fortune magazines, and one of my favorite parts is all these old gun ads. Finding products, I’ve never heard of or seen. Seeing crazy guns that never made it out of print. Plus, seeing the occasional Choate ad that brings us back to the world of tactical shotguns.

One of my favorites is this monstrosity of a shotgun with a front and rear grip and a flashlight mounted to the top as a quasi-aiming device. It’s glorious in that way that only guns from the 1870s and 1980s can be. With this in mind, I used Choate to put together my dual pistol grip shotgun.

Specifically, a Choate rear and front grip, and I attached them to a Winchester 1300 Defender for my experiment. Vertical grips might not be the rage these days, but they were quite popular on short, often heavier-than-normal firearms. They helped stabilize the weapon, and the idea was that they could help you resist muzzle rise. For me, I want to use the vertical and rear grip to create tension using the Push/Pull method of recoil reduction.

Maybe the Dual Pistol Grip shotgun can give the PGO a new, more reputable name.

At the Range

I practiced getting a nice, tight push/pull in play. With the technique, as I understand it, the front hand is doing most of the work. It’s a 60/40 split, if you will. I practiced getting a good tight grip and keeping the gun up and in play. I worked the action and practiced getting into and releasing the tension. It felt good, easy to hold, and nice and tight.

I went full bore off the bat and loaded up some full-powered buckshot in the gun. I pointed and aimed every shot and worked from ten yards on B8 targets. The first shot was surprisingly painful to that front wrist that was doing all the work. My rear wrist felt nothing, and the front absorbed it all.

Big oof, but my shot was on target, and I had the next round cycled in just a flick of the wrist. I launched another, even with the protest of my wrist, and landed the nine pellets in the B8 once more. I moved to some lighter-loaded, reduced recoil buckshot rounds, and my wrist appreciated it.

Flying through rounds using a tight push-pull technique was easy and I launched multiple rounds into multiple targets with decent accuracy. Surprisingly so. The gun doesn’t get away from you, and the vertical grip adds a real level of control over the gun. I could fire two rounds on two targets in a hair over two seconds and keep it in the black of a B8 at ten yards.

Is the Dual Pistol Grip Worth It?

If your choice is between a rear vertical pistol grip only gun and a dual vertical pistol grip, then go dual. I would still choose a Shockwave configuration over this setup. Maybe I should add a vertical grip to a Shockwave? Beyond that, I would choose a stocked shotgun over any of them. With a stocked shotgun, I could put two rounds into two targets in well under two seconds. It’s just much easier to control and much faster.

Still, the dual pistol grip works better than a single pistol grip gun.

SCOTUS Reinstates Frame/Receiver ‘Ghost Gun’ Rule While Case Proceeds

By

Keith Finch

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August 9, 2023

Bruen decision echoes through country — Photo Credit: AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

The US Circuit Court had previously leveled a stay against the frame/receiver rule put out by the ATF but the US Supreme Court has put the rule back into effect while the case moves forward after an appeal by the Biden DoJ.

“Americans across the country will be safer thanks to the Supreme Court’s decision today to keep ATF’s life-saving ghost guns rule in effect while the appeals process plays out,” said John Feinblatt, president of the group Everytown for Gun Safety.

That is a dubious claim, even as the popularity of P80 and other 80% kits skyrocketed and their being found at criminal scenes or taken into law enforcement custody increased they still represented a mere fraction of the criminally related firearms made by, and serialized by, Glock alone.

The rule relates to PMFs, Privately Made Firearms, and their legal existence without a serial number. Gun control groups continue to trumpet the ‘untraceable’ nature of guns without a number carved into it like its magical crime GPS, but the reality is far more mundane with tracking to the last commercial point of sale giving LE very little useful data that they need for prosecution of the crime associated with weapon.

The case proceeds as the rule once again remains enforceable from its initial stay in July.

This is not unexpected in a case like this, nor is it indicative of the rule being finally vacated or remain permanently either.

Leupold Announces Best-in-Class BX-4 Range HD Rangefinding Binocular

By

Keith Finch

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August 8, 2023

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Leupold & Stevens, Inc., provider of the world’s most rugged, lightweight, and clear sport optics, is pleased to announce the release of its BX-4 Range HD TBR/W rangefinding binocular.

When speed is paramount, there’s no substitute for a rangefinding binocular. The BX-4 Range HD TBR/W 10x42mm fuses Leupold’s DNA engine and ballistics software with the optical performance diehard hunters and shooters demand. “

The BX-4 Range HD combines the industry’s fastest ranging solution with Leupold’s unparalleled optical performance,” said Product Line Manager Eric Overstreet. “It’s easy to use, it’s incredibly fast, and it offers a clearer display than anything else in its price class.”

A true hybrid of tech and optical performance, the BX-4 Range HD combines Leupold’s DNA laser engine and ballistics software with the company’s award-winning BX-4 binocular, allowing hunters and shooters to spot and range targets at the same time without wasting valuable seconds switching between gear. Its high contrast red OLED display delivers visible readouts in any light, and its edge-to-edge resolution makes glassing sessions easy on the eyes.

The BX-4 Range HD is built around Leupold’s Elite Optical System. It delivers excellent dawn-to-dusk light transmission for a bright image when it matters most, elite-level glare reduction in harsh light, and the resolution and clarity diehard hunters and shooters demand. Compare it to other rangefinding binoculars in its class, and you’ll notice a significant difference, especially in low light.

Looking for a ballistic solution that promises something as simple as range, dial, shoot? Leupold’s True Ballistic Range/Wind (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. Using the rifleman’s rule on an angled 600-yard shot could result in a 10-15- 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 and you’ll be on target in seconds. The BX-4 Range HD ranges reflective targets at 2,600 yards, trees at 1,600 yards and deer-sized game at 1,100 yards.

“Hunters and shooters have been asking us to develop a rangefinding binocular for years,” said Tim Lesser, Vice President of Product Development and Marketing for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “We weren’t going to come to market until we had the product that Leupold consumers both demand and require. The BX-4 Range HD is that product. Its rangefinding solution and optical performance are the best in its class, hands down.”

Further, it is ambidextrous. Left-handed consumers can access the easy-to-use menu and configure the unit to be operated with the left hand. The BX-4 Range HD delivers superior ruggedness and is tested for extreme climates. It is waterproof and fogproof.

For more information on Leupold products, please visit us at Leupold.com.

Join the discussion on Facebook at Facebook.com/LeupoldOptics, on Twitter at
Twitter.com/LeupoldOptics, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/LeupoldOptics.

Founded in Oregon more than a century ago, Leupold & Stevens, Inc. is a fifth-generation, family-owned company that designs, machines,and assembles its riflescopes, mounting systems, tactical/Gold Ring spotting scopes, and performance eyewear in the USA. The product lines include rifle, handgun, and spotting scopes; binoculars; rangefinders; mounting systems; and optical tools, accessories, and pro gear.

Leupold & Stevens, Inc., P.O. Box 688, Beaverton, OR 97075-0688, U.S.A.
Phone: (800) LEUPOLD or (503) 526-1400 • Fax: (503) 352-7621 • www.leupold.com

The Craziest Guns From Cobray

By

Travis Pike

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August 8, 2023

If Cobray was around today, they would be the ultimate meme gun company. They were rebellious before being rebellious was cool in the gun industry. When the Hughes Amendment was going into action, they worked around the clock to produce MAC machine guns to give a little more supply to the struggling market. Cobray is a company that went through a lot of names and a bit of legal trouble here and there, mostly regarding taxes and divorces. They were known as SWD and Leinad at times.

They made a diverse group of guns. In fact, I can’t seem to find a fuel catalog of the crazy guns they produced. It seems like every now and then, something no one has ever seen or was barely ever seen pops up with the Cobray, Leinad, or SWD name attached to it. My goal in life is to one day start a Cobray museum with all these oddities, and these are the first five I want!

The Craziest Guns From Cobray

Cobray DS410

We’ll start you guys off light. Most of you probably know Cobray made a .410/45 Colt Derringer. Those are silly but not unusual per se. Did you know that Cobray took that same derringer and turned it into a full-size double-barrel shotgun? Imagine those Cobray derringers with 18-inch barrels, smoothbore this time, of course.

Cobray also added a rear stock to the gun, specifically a Zytel stock. Cobray famously used Zytel in tons of their guns. The stock was also an under-folding design that had a few spaces for some extra .410 shells. What was most impressive was the fact it weighed less than a couple of pounds. I would love to see a more modern, better-built variant of the DS410 as a survival shotgun. Maybe Bond will make a giant version of their .410 derringer.

The Terminator

Here is another shotgun that Cobray designed. The Terminator is certainly a name. This is a single-shot 12 gauge that is an absurd half-zip gun. The Terminator is an open-bolt design with a rather unusual operating system. The barrel and breach actually slam rearward against a fixed firing pin to fire the gun. Not only was this silly, but it increased felt recoil by the action of slamming forward.

Overall it looks like it came from a dystopian future film. It has a collapsing stock described as painful but does make it a compact 22 inches long when the stock is collapsed. A perforated handguard gives you that TEC-9 vibe as well. It’s been described as the worst shotgun ever. I really hope I get the opportunity to own one.

The Ladies’ Home Companion

In an odd move in the 1990s, the Brady Campaign lobbied Lloyd Bentsen, the Treasury Secretary, to declare the Street Sweeper and Striker destructive devices under the NFA. Cobray produced the Street Sweeper, and this action killed its production. However, Cobray produced a handgun with a similar design to the Street Sweeper known as the Ladies Home Companion. This was a .45-70 and .410 caliber handgun.

It was advertised as a defensive firearm. It lacked a stock and was essentially a large-format pistol. The Ladies Home Companion wasn’t banned but wasn’t popular either. It’s a rather absurd firearm and not very effective, but I can’t help but want one.

Pocket Pal

The Pocket Pal is a truly cool weapon. It’s a revolver, kind of, that has two barrels and comes with two cylinders. Users would have to swap the cylinders on damnd and could change the caliber. The cylinder completely enclosed the pistol, and it was a double-action-only setup that looked more like a small automatic than a revolver.

Users opened the top and dropped either a three-shot .380 ACP cylinder in or a five-shot .22LR cylinder. It was fairly clever, and again would be neat to see a new variant from a more reputable company reach production. Although, I’d want something a little more than three rounds of .380 ACP.

The Pepperbox

Pepperboxes are nothing new. They were a bit of an in-between from single-shot handguns to revolvers. Cobray brought them back in a way that only Cobray could. They made two of them. One of them was a five-shot, single-action-only pepperbox that chambered .45 Colt and .410. The five-round shooter is built on the derringer frame with an absurdly small grip.

A less common version of the Cobray Pepperbox is a ten-shot .22 Magnum pepperbox that’s also built on the derringer frame. There is some cleverness to the design. Each barrel has its own front and rear sights, and while silly, it’s likely a lot easier to shoot than the .45 Colt and .410 pepperbox.

Cobray Strikes

Cobray was too bright of a star that was too pure for this world. The Cobray series of handguns, shotguns, and other oddities are certainly interesting. Cobray didn’t make good guns, but they made unique ones. Sadly, Cobray is no longer around, and we can’t enjoy their craziness. Imagine the stuff they’d produce today? Bumpstocks? Forced Reset Triggers? 80% lower jigs?

Gunday Brunch 112: The Bear Necessities of Life

By

Keith Finch

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August 6, 2023

If you don’t immediately start singing the song, you’re too young for this episode. Today the boys are talking about the basic essential guns: what are the four guns every gun owner should start with?

Real World Testing – Ukrainian Small Arms

By

Keith Finch

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August 4, 2023

While the video is two minutes of things you might already know about the FN SCAR series, if you are familiar with the rifles even on a macro level, the interesting thing we are seeing is these rifle perform in a sustained armed conflict. We have a middling but contained near peer conflict that is showcasing combined arms and testing modern small arms in a real way. We are seeing less out of Russia than we have been recently but we are seeing a lot of rifles in Ukrainian hands kitted in various ways that seem familiar to us.

Yep, those are nuts.

ARs, AKs, SCARs, Bren2s, Tavors, MS Grot, and just about any modern and near modern rifle has been shipped and equipped to Ukrainian ground troops with accessories to aid the fight. Now I’ve seen a few slick rifles too here and there, and there are certainly cases where that really isn’t a problem for the vehicle crew or troops using them as their primaries are the mechanized whatever so optics should go to infantry.

But it’s an interesting space as we see modern rifles beside slick ones that wouldn’t be considered up to date. These rifles are being used effectively both kitted and slick as long as the troops know what they’re doing. A good rifle is but a small part of the fighting equation when the fight gets beyond the individual level. Knowing your rifle is important, knowing your role in your team and squad is important, knowing it all makes and keeps you an effective fighting asset in the larger conflict.

Thinking about this on a local level for a moment. Got a good rifle and gear? Check, cool.

Know how to use them? Took some classes and did a little 2-gun or 3-gun on the regular? Awesome.

How well do you know your neighbors? How well can you take your individual and team knowledge and turn those neighbors into a cohesive community unit, one that can provide for and defend their little slice of space while havoc reigns elsewhere. Can you get them set up into an ad hoc emergency team for aid and care, protection, food and water, etc. for a mid-term or long term emergency. Weather or riot doesn’t matter nearly as much as the ability to take whatever combination of problems arise and start solving them for your group.

Low Profile Travel Guns – A Prudent Idea

By

Travis Pike

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August 4, 2023

I’m about to embark on a rather long road trip across the country. It’s not necessarily desirable, but a must-have. Without sharing too many details, my end destination is not a very good place, it has high crime, high population density, and I’ll be there for several days. Knowing the area’s problems and the danger of being an out-of-towner, I’m not going unarmed. I’m bringing a good concealed-carry firearm as well as a travel gun. I commonly bring a long gun on long trips just in case, but I’ve changed the nature of the firearm I bring along. These days I pack a low profile travel gun.

I can’t remember where I heard the idea from or from who I heard it, but it stuck with me. If you know, let us know, and I’ll gladly give credit. The idea is that when traveling, especially on long trips, a good long gun is quite valuable to have. However, depending on where you’re going, the long gun you pack might vary.

Obviously, we comply with the law, and we know certain states have feelings about ARs, standard capacity magazines, and all that anti-gun BS. That certainly forces you into using something a little lower profile than your average modern rifle. However, what if it’s not the law you’re dealing with but a perception?

The Low Profile Travel Gun

Put yourself in the shoes of a police officer. You might not be personally anti-gun. Hell, you might be pro-gun or have never really thought in depth about it. You run across an out-of-state driver packing an AR-15, loaded mags, and all the gadgets and gizmos you could ever want. It certainly looks suspicious. You’re not breaking the law and will likely drive away without issue, but it doesn’t mean you might not get held up about it.

On the flip side, let’s say you have to use your weapon in a defensive situation, far from home. Imagine the potential blowback. Look at how the Rittenhouse situation turned out. There were certainly a host of issues to address, but the fact he carried an AR wrongly described as an assault rifle was the subject of much gnashing of teeth.

Modern weaponry, covered in all that scary black furniture and rails, might draw the wrong kind of attention. A low profile travel gun can still be a capable tool, but it defies perception. You and I likely recognize that most gun control is essentially about cosmetics, and we want to defy those cosmetics.

What’s the Low Profile Travel Gun Look Like?

In my mind, the best low profile travel gun looks like a sporting gun. Some people picture an old man carrying in the deer stand every fall. Wood certainly helps, as does the lack of vertical pistol grips, rials, and whatnot.

Lever guns are certainly an excellent choice, as are some pump and semi-auto shotguns. My preferred model is a Winchester 1300 Deer Slug gun. It’s a smooth-bore shotgun with a 22-inch barrel and rifle sights positioned on the barrel. It holds five rounds of 2.75-inch shells, and that’s often more than enough for defensive work. Another great choice would be the Mossberg 940 Pro-Turkey guns with their semi-auto actions and red dot-ready configurations.

A Henry lever gun in .357 Magnum or even .44 Magnum would be a solid choice. They tend to be lighter, and the cowboy association certainly makes them fairly low profile for the environment.

I would avoid guns that might be somewhat easy to misunderstand. The Mossberg Shockwave, for example, appears to many to be a sawn-off shotgun due to its ultrashort barrel. We know it’s not a shotgun, but not everyone might. The same might go for anything with a brace. The ATF can’t make laws, but if you have one, it might be you hung up.

Travel Onwards

This whole thing might seem silly to some and potentially a bit paranoia-like to others. It might even irk some readers. However, I like to travel, and I like to keep things somewhat low profile. A sporting shotgun is still a powerful and capable tool, even if it looks like Grandpa’s deer slayer. If I’m staying overnight in an environment I don’t know, in an Airbnb, I’m not just relying on my P365 in case something goes bump in the night.

Driving with out-of-state tags is a great way to get some unwanted attention, and I want to avoid that attention if my trunk gets opened, or lord forbid I have to use my firearm defensively. That’s just like, my opinion, man.