Gun Digest Summer 2017

"The right load can make all the difference.” That was my exact thought while I was reviewing Mossberg’s hot new trendsetter, the 590 Shockwave, for this issue’s cover feature, “Shock & Awe” (p. 14). After test firing several of Aguila’s Minishells in the shotgun, I switched over to 2¾-in. loads. About the second shot with the full-size loads my left and forward hand was waving the white flag, so drastic was the increase in recoil over the buckshot Minishell. With the 1¾ in. Minishell the Shockwave is among my favorite personal defense shotguns ever made — without it, well, that’s another story. Speaking of loads that make all the difference, we as Gun Digest editorial staff compiled the most innovative and important loads so far in 2017 (p. 26). Among…

Decibullz Custom Molded Percussive Shooting Filters Everybody knows — or at least should know — by now that proper hearing protection is essential gear for shooters. One of the more intriguing hearing protection options is Decibullz’s Custom Molded Percussive Shooting Filters. Incorporating filters that allow some sounds but protect against those at harmful levels, these earpieces feature a unique, thermoplastic construction that allows them to be quickly and easily molded to fit your ears perfectly. To mold them, you simply heat the plugs (separately) in boiling water for about 5 minutes, let them cool a little, and then shape them to your ears. If you don’t happen to get the perfect fit the first time around, the beauty of the Decibullz design is that you can simply re-mold the plugs…

Remington released the commercial .257 Roberts in 1934. The original cartridge was designed by N.H. Roberts (a well-known experimenter and gun writer during the 1920s and 30s) and was based on the 7x57mm Mauser necked down. The .257 Roberts has been called the “most useful rifle cartridge ever developed.” It’s suitable for a range of hunting under many conditions. As a long-range varmint cartridge, it’s as good as they come — only slightly inferior to newer 6mms. On deer, antelope, black bear, sheep, or goat, it’s as good as any other cartridge. Naturally, it’s not as powerful as the .270 Win. or .30-06 but has ample power for the game mentioned at all practical ranges. Ammunition companies underloaded the .257. However, in the late 80s, higher pressure +P loads were…

Piston vs. DI I recently read an article that ran on your website some time ago about the differences between direct impingement and piston gas systems in ARs. Excellent article. I have both piston and DI rifles. Both are excellent. I could care less which one I had to grab if the SHTF or if the Zombie Apocalypse happened. Both are easy to fix or change. CJ Moore, Tustin, California You bring up an interesting point that, from the perspective of everyday shooters, both the direct impingement and piston systems are extremely reliable. While the piston systems are supposed to run cleaner, I have many friends whose DI AR-15s have never seen a cleaning, and with considerable use. As long as you keep them lubed, DI systems are incredibly reliable.…

GUN BOOKS Gun Digest Book of the AK & SKS, Volume 2 By Patrick Sweeney The long-awaited Gun Digest Book of the AK & SKS, Volume 2 brings timeless Soviet-era gun designs full circle into the modern era. Deftly written by master gunsmith Patrick Sweeney, this is a must-have for any serious shooter of Soviet firearms. And it’s the top guide for anyone seeking knowledge of the ubiquitous Russian guns and how to upgrade and modernize them for today’s American-style tactical shooting. Sweeney provides intimate knowledge on the history of the AK-47, AK-74 and SKS. He also talks through simple maintenance or building a rifle from scratch. Learn from the best and get the most out of your AK-47, AK-74 or SKS with Gun Digest Book of the AK &…

The name of the game is not only to be the best, but also to be first. Mossberg can check both items off its list for 2017, having introduced the 590 Shock-wave into the marketplace as really the first of its mass-produced kind: a super compact shotgun, perfect for personal or home defense, that features a 14-inch barrel but conveniently avoids classification as an National Firearms Act (NFA) firearm. Since its introduction at the 2017 SHOT Show, the Shockwave has taken the gun industry by storm, and other manufacturers like Remington — which introduced its own Model 870 TAC-14 at the NRA Show in April — have been forced to follow suit. When Gun Digest editors first shared news of the new Shockwave on our Facebook page, the hum of…