Gun Digest August 2018

In the darkest corner of the barn’s milkhouse leaned an old .22 LR lever gun and a quietly humming radio that never quit. Ever. Each wore nearly 2 decades of barn dust and dirt from lack of attention, and it wasn’t easy to notice either one if you weren’t looking. I was through that barn daily for the first 18 years of my life, and in all my days I never once saw Dad touch either one. I think of that ol’ .22 now and again, but more often than that, I think about that radio. The volume was so low that the songs were all but reduced to a white noise of steel guitars and country fiddles that melded in with the perpetual hum of the livestock fans. That…

LEGISLATION UPDATES NFA Process To Quicken Certainly the extra expense of purchasing a National Firearms Act regulated gun or device is prohibitive for many. But it’s the hassle — paperwork, background checks, wait times — that deter most from making the plunge into a short-barreled rifle, suppressor or other implement that falls under the law’s umbrella. Mercifully, this might soon change if the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) holds true to its word. The federal agency announced at the end of May that it’s shooting to process all NFA applications within a 90-day timeframe. This is a godsend, as anyone who’s done the bureaucratic two-step can attest. After all, something as simple as a .22 LR suppressor can take up to a year to obtain. According to…

Introduced in 2016, the 30 Nosler meets the velocity of the .300 Weatherby, headspaces on the shoulder like a .300 RUM, has an efficient powder column like the .300 WSM and fits in the same standard-length action of a .300 Win. Mag. The 30 Nosler is a SAAMI-standardized cartridge, and Nosler will be supporting this new cartridge with Nosler brass, Trophy Grade ammunition and the full line of M48 rifles. Designed with a maximum COAL of 3.340 inches, the .308-caliber, rebated-rim centerfire rifle cartridge has a case capacity of 88 grains. Initial offerings in Nosler’s Trophy Grade Ammunition line were 180-grain AccuBonds and 210-grain AccuBond LRs (Long Range). When fired out of a 26-inch barrel, the company claimed of muzzle velocity of 3,200 fps for the former and 3,000 fps…

Introduced in 1955 by Winchester for its Model 70 Lightweight bolt-action and Model 88 lever-action rifles, the .358 Winchester is based on the .308 Winchester case necked up. It’s known in Europe as the 8.8x51mm. Many European rifle makers chamber the round. In the United States, only the Browning BLR lever-action is currently chambered for this cartridge. The Model 99 Savage was also once available in .358 Win. The .358 Winchester is one of the best commercial (non-magnum) .35-caliber cartridges turned out by any American manufacturer. It’s a big improvement over the .35 Remington, slightly more powerful than the old .35 Winchester, and more useful than the .348 Winchester. As the .308 Winchester is a shortened version of the .30-06, by the same token the .358 Win. is a shortened…

Diagnosing AR Gas Issues, 2.0 First of all, thank you for the great article (Going For The Long Run, May 2018) on diagnosing an AR’s gas system — that’s very enlightening subject for the journeyman shooter. I would, however, like you to consider expanding on the subject of direct impingement. For example: stove-piping, depending on who you ask, is caused by either an over-gassed or under-gassed problem. It would be nice to get some additional clarification. On a similar note, I’ve tried to set up Rock River carbines in both .308 Win. and .223 Rem. suppressed. Neither has an adjustable gas block, and they both perform poorly suppressed. Without going through the headache of installing aftermarket adjustable gas blocks, I would like to know if there are other options —…

FROM THE GUN BLOGS AT GUNDIGEST.COM GUN TALK 6 Hot Micro 9mm Handguns For Everyday Carry These micro 9mm options are more than ready for everyday carry and backup-gun duty. GEAR TO GET 5 Afffordable AR-15 Options Good form and great function aren’t always burdened by a heavy price tag. HANDGUNNING Handguns: How Much Lubrication Is Needed? Here’s how to a develop a cleaning and lubrication regimen to keep your gun running in top shape. GUN REVIEW Gun Review: Browning’s X-Bolt Pro Browning’s X-Bolt Pro gives hunters magnum firepower in an attractive, lightweight, go-anywhere package. SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT…