Indholdsfortegnelse for October/November 2022 i Ballistic

→ Ah, the sizzling hot and “dry as a popcorn fart” summer of ’22 is finally in the rearview. Now we can set our sights on the upcoming fall hunting, shooting and backwoods adventures. As you’ll see, much of the firearms content ahead dovetails greatly with deer and big-game seasons on the horizon. We’ve showcased guns from companies like Weatherby, Sabatti, Traditions and CVA that will get your blood pumping for the action of the hunt. But editor-in-chief Linas Cernauskas and I are not one-trick ponies over here at Ballistic—we cover a helluva lot more than just hunting guns. As editors with Athlon Outdoors, our work revolves around assigning articles (and ultimately reading them five or six times) that fill periodicals including Ballistic, Tactical Life, Combat Handguns, American Frontiersman, Personal Defense…

Many years ago, I learned that the trick to scoring mature game on grounds adjacent to heavily populated areas is to pick spots where animals don’t expect to see people. That means that success is largely proportionate to the amount of energy you spend working through rugged terrain. My first time hunting the Catskills illustrated this, as I connected with the first buck of my career after dragging all of my gear up a 60-foot hill. While that faithful shot will remain committed to my memory for the rest of my days, so will the fatigue I experienced both before and after it. Climbing the steep slope to get to that flat took an immense toll on my body, substantially drying me out and setting me up for some of…

A change of scenery can reinvigorate the soul-stirring creative juices. This works with corporate entities as well. Weatherby’s March 2019 relocation from California to Sheridan, Wyoming, certainly rejuvenated the American firearms icon. The recently introduced Mark V (MkV) Hunter is proof of this. The MkV Hunter not only pays homage to the Weatherby way of doing things established by founder Roy Weatherby in the 1940s, but also shows current CEO Adam Weatherby’s (Roy’s grandson) influence in adapting to current manufacturing and market trends. Expanding rifle, shotgun and ammunition product lines serve notice that Weatherby is not going anywhere. Weatherby is here to stay as a major player in American firearms manufacturing. Weatherby’s intent with the MkV Hunter is to challenge the mindset of Weatherby MkV rifles being elitist in calibers…

→ Known for their differentially heat-treated 1095 high carbon steel with a Rockwell hardness of 56-58, it’s no wonder TOPS Knives relies on it. This steel is most commonly used on knives that are going to have to take a beating. 1095 has a carbon content of 0.95%, which hardens the steel and reduces the amount of wear that a blade will experience. In general, 1095 carbon steel will not be brittle, which is one of the reasons that it can take such a beating. TOPS 1095 high carbon steel holds its edge for long periods and is also easy to sharpen—a walking contradiction!…

→ They say pasta is the world’s most universal food, one that is enjoyed in its myriad forms in virtually every country on earth. I’ve been a pasta weenie ever since my first visit to Italy 50 years ago. Since then, I’ve been scarfing various forms of this starchy carbohydrate at least once a week. I take great relish in recalling two quotes by Sophia Loren. One was in front of a bunch of oogling journalists: “What you see here I owe to spaghetti.” The other was: “I’d much rather eat pasta and drink wine than be a size Zero.” I can’t say that what pasta did for Sophia did the same for my figure, but what the hell. Being a hunter, I often pair pasta with game meat and…

For some reason, this past waterfowl season had me reflecting on my youth. I can say without prejudice, I was blessed, extremely fortunate and lucky. There are a lot of parts to that whole. On one hand, I was brought up around the world’s largest sporting goods store and had access to damn near unlimited gear, land and, most importantly, knowledge from the gents who without question shaped the industry and, likewise, my life. And on the other, there was Tony. His old man didn’t work for said sporting goods store, his life certainly didn’t revolve around any of that stuff, nor did he want it to. He was a “local” (for lack of a better definition), an instigator and kiss-ass that would make Eddie Haskell proud, a chameleon of…

LAST LICKS: The last meal of a serial killer named Robert Anthony Buell was a single unpitted black olive while another murderer, Saddam Hussein, favored Raisin Bran Crunch as his cereal of choice while in custody. Can we at least hope that he had to eat them dry or at the very least with warm water? BLACK APPLES: Yup, they exist. The Black Diamond apple breaks the red and green rules for most of the apples we see and eat. Though this fruit resembles something from a fairy tale, we can assure you that black apples are real and safe to eat. Maybe just refrain if a wicked old witch offers it to you. BUGGING: Jelly beans and other glazed candies are commonly coated in hardened insect secretions. Shellac is…

The dictionary describes hope as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” Have you ever been in a dark room searching for the light switch? Now, if it’s your room, you pretty much know where the light switches are with the exception of someone moving some furniture, causing you to bang your toes, knees or shins. However, when you’re in a dark room that you’ve never been in before, you tread carefully because you don’t want to bang your shins, toes or knees. And while you’re gently walking through the room, lightly touching the wall for the light switch, there’s going to be frustration with “where is this blankety blank” light switch thing. In those moments of frustration, you’re either going to continue looking or…

→ Holster making is one of the most competitive sub-genres in the firearms industry with hundreds of companies claiming that theirs “is the best.” You can’t go on social media these days without getting blasted by these ads that all seem to feature a good-looking woman talking about how it’s the only way she carries her gun. The other thing they have in common is that you invariably stop hearing from them in just a few short years or even months. This is because you can’t get good at making holsters by just buying the equipment and watching a YouTube tutorial; it takes talent, practice and perseverance. This is precisely what has kept DeSantis going strong, and today we celebrate 50 years of uninterrupted holster perfection. IN THE BEGINNING… The story…

→ Many moons ago, I sat in a friend’s freshly finished man cave. It had many leather-bound books and smelled of rich mahogany. I sank into an oversized leather chair as my friend asked if I wanted a whiskey. I, of course, said yes, and in short order, a glass of golden liquid was in my hand. “It’s a single malt; I think you will like it,” he chimed. I sat there in the utter civility of it all and took a sip. I had imagined being transported to the foggy glens of Scotland as bagpipes wailed in the distance. What I got was a jolt into a Japanese-influenced world akin to Bladerunner. My brain scrambled to define what I was tasting. It was a single malt, but not like…

→ On the first day of September 2022, Springfield released their new Prodigy pistols with 4.25- and 5-inch barrels built on a 2011 platform. What really grabbed me about these pistols was the MSRP of $1,500 and $1,700 with a HEX Dragonfly red-dot. Then what made me do a double take was the MSRP of $60 for the mags—a 17-, 20-or 26-rounder. The mags are cross-compatible with 2011 platforms. The pricing alone is going to make some big waves in the 2011 market. As editor-in-chief of sister publication Combat Handguns, I was lucky enough to get my hands on the Prodigy 4.25 for coverage in our recently released Nov./Dec. 2022 issue. Let me tell you, this gun shoots. It stays on target, shoots flat and is super quick. Overall, the Springfield…

[Adapted from the new foreword to the Chris Pratt hardcover edition of The Terminal List] “How did you do this?” That’s a question I get quite often and one I am getting more and more as new readers discover The Terminal List and become part of my protagonist’s journey, and in a sense, a part of my journey as well. How did your debut novel, The Terminal List, become an Amazon Prime Video series starring Chris Pratt, directed by Antoine Fuqua? A more detailed answer to this question can be found in the new foreword to the Chris Pratt hardcover edition of The Terminal List. For purposes of this article, I’ll stick to the highlights. ORIGIN STORY When I returned from my final Iraq deployment as a Task Unit Commander…

MY PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE ON ITALIAN GUNMAKERS comes from four years working for the oldest one in existence. A business trip to Gardone Val Trompia taught me a lot about this cradle of gun making. I was amazed to learn that more than 100 craftsmen in the valley toil in small shops to hand-build 10 or 12 guns each year. Now mind you, some of these craftsmen can earn a half million dollars from building relatively few guns per year. In contrast, a large number of large gun factories exist in that northern Italian Alpine River valley, too. One of the gun factories belongs to Sabatti, who like others is a family of gunmakers that’s been around a while. One of Sabatti’s newest models, the Rover Hunter Classic Pro, is the focus of…

→ Take it as you will: The AK can easily stand for Amanda Kaye or the TOPS A-Klub. Either way, both are blueprints of hard work. Most people know her from being on TV, appearing on Naked and Afraid on the Discovery channel. In the real world, Amanda sees herself as an adventurous mom who goes on five-day hikes with her kids up mountains and doesn’t bring enough calories, so they must forage for things. Native American survival techniques make Amanda Kaye tick. Amanda has been an avid hunter her entire life, coinciding with studying Native American primitive skills. As a child, Amanda’s family was very active in the reenactment community, especially with her parents’ Native American heritage. Living off the land has been second nature, and it’s who she…

How are you fixed for cash? If you’re like me and you are nursing a mortgage and cringe a bit every time you pull into the local mini-mart for a top off, then you’ll be reading what follows for its entertainment value only. If you’re a Saudi sheik, a successful rap artist or the principal stockholder in something like Twitter, Amazon or GoDaddy, then you might fetch your checkbook. We’re about to talk about something frivolously awesome. The Brabus Crawler is what would happen if a Polaris side-by-side had a baby with a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter plane. Crafted using the powertrain, axles and locking differentials from a Mercedes G-Class SUV, the Brabus Crawler is the cross-country, off-road sand machine for the comfortably rich. While they were at it, the…

Philadelphia Cream Cheese was invented in New York, but “Philadelphia” sounded classier. Occasional daytime naps may be just what adults need to prevent heart attacks and strokes. The city of Walnut Creek, California, prohibits Halloween masks without permits. The average jar of peanut butter may contain four or more rodent hairs. Ghost crabs growl using teeth in their stomachs. Old people’s smell is caused by a molecule called 2-nonenal, which is secreted by aging skin. A couple once tried to name their child Brfxxccxxmnpc-cccll-lmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116, pronounced “Albin.” The number of years the roundworm species Diploscapter pachys has gone without having sex is 18 million. Many gummy candies are made from pigskin, cattle bones and cattle hide. Big Bird’s costume on Sesame Street is made of turkey feathers that have been dyed…

Welcome to another installment of the coolest EDC Skillset has to offer! We are proud to feature hardworking Americans whose sole mission is to fill your pockets with kickass items for your everyday carry. Now, let’s dive right into this six-pack of goodies. FENGBRO HEAVY HITTER “TIGER CAMO” RADIO • 8w power • 3-to 5-mile radius • Tiger striped is offered in a mini version through Instagram Dm only. • Hand-painted and programmed to you. MSRP: $175 (fengbros.com) BLACKSIDE CUSTOMS T-BOT BOTTLE OPENER • A tactical bottle opener that can be used as an impact device • Stonewashed finish • Titanium material Made in the USA • MSRP: $140 (monkeyedge.com) CASIO G-SHOCK WATCH • Case/bezel material: carbon/resin • Weight: 51 grams • Carbon Core Guard structure • Battery life: three…

PAHVANT PRO PANT Four-point knee articulation, polyester double weave fabric, DWR coating and SILVADUR odor-fighting technology means that getting over the mountain and through the woods will be easier and more comfortable in a pair of Pahvant Pro pants. Thirteen-inch side leg vents help keep you cool while the deep zipper cargo pockets and large front and rear pockets keep your supplies close at hand. The Pahvant Pro pant is an excellent outer layer for cooler, drier weather. MSRP: $100 PAHVANT PRO JACKET Quiet and tough, the Pahvant Pro Jacket’s 2L of soft shell fabric with a DWR coating means you will be warm, dry and quiet when hiking or stalking. Fleece-lined stretch fabric means all-day comfort. SILVADUR odor control, harness access for tree stands, armpit ventilation, welded chest…