Gun Digest Shooter's Guide SIP #2

A few weeks ago, Gun Digest subscriber Joel Monteith sent me an e-mail about his grandfather’s Browning Auto 5. He responded to my April editorial about the homecoming of my grandfather’s S&W revolver and described what it feels like to shoot his own grandpa’s gun. In Monteith’s words, “When it’s in my hands, the memories are renewed, and all produce an invisible, but tangible, bond with those in whose footsteps we would walk.” How powerful is that? Throughout the course of the calendar year, I go to great lengths to ensure every issue contains content about those guns that stir the types of emotions Monteith describes. That’s not going to change; you have my word on that. This issue is your annual Shooter’s Guide, which features a special format devoted…

Historical Notes The .375 Renner was designed specifically for single-shot rifles to fill a perceived performance gap between the .375 Winchester and the .375 H&H Magnum cartridges. Roger Renner, long-time custom gun-maker and writer, was inspired by the larger .375 H&H Magnum. Based on the full-length .45-90 Winchester case necked down to .375, this rimmed case offers easy loading and extraction while providing capacity to hold 60 grains of IMR powder under the bullet. Renner chose a generous taper for the case body with a gentle shoulder angle. General Comments The .375 Renner will easily handle all .375 bullet weights, driving them at velocities from 2,100 to 2,400 fps. It can be safely loaded to span the performance spectrum from the .38-55 Winchester on the low end and nip the…

Saved by the .275 Rigby There were several timely articles in the April 2019 issue. In this magazine, and especially many others, I was seeing too much Creedmoor hype and firearms priced beyond the average shooter’s means. The recognition (indirectly) of the great 7x57 Mauser via the Rigby .275 (Phil Massaro’s “Beautility” article on page 34) gave me hope, because I own both the 1895 and 1908 Mausers in 7mm. Also, I liked the “Ballistic BS” article by Richard Mann in that issue—especially the section on stopping power. I did, of course, renew my subscription after reading this issue. Carson Lemmon Savannah, GA I, too, was pleased with each installment of Richard Mann’s “Ballistic BS” series. And, in case it’s not apparent in his writing style, Mann is a no-BS…

FROM THE ARTICLES AT GUNDIGEST.COM NEW GUNS A Single-Action .22 LR for the Masses Priced to move, the Wrangler Single-Six gives any shooter a shot to get into the classic, single-action rimfire revolver. CLASSIC GUNS The Perfect Pump-Action Shotgun The Winchester Model 12 shotgun set the mold—and then broke it—for what a pump-action gun should be. GEAR PICKS Top 17 6.5 Creedmoor Rifles Choices abound when it comes to the top 6.5 Creedmoor rifles. Here are some of the best to get the red-hot round dead on target. GUN REVIEWS Getting a Grip on WC’s .300 Ham’r Developed for optimal terminal performance from the AR-15, the Wilson Combat .300 Ham’r shoots to be the modern-day .30-30 Winchester. SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT Find us on Facebook! facebook.com/gundigest Follow us…

SMITH & WESSON MODEL 610 10MM The Model 610 has had an inconsistent history; it was introduced, reintroduced and discontinued a number of times. However, with the surge of interest in the 10mm, the generally well-respected revolver is once again back. The stainless-steel, N-frame revolver is offered in 4- and 6.5-inch-barreled versions. The six-round revolver is outfitted with a black, synthetic finger-groove grip, a fully adjustable white outline rear sight and replaceable front blade, and it comes with three moon clips. The double-action is hefty at 50 ounces. However, when shooting hot loads, this should prove anything but a deterrent. If the latest resurrection of the 610 follows history, 10mm fans might not find a more accurate wheelgun. MSRP: $969 BIRCHWOOD CASEY DUELING TREE CLAY TARGET HOLDER We’re all familiar…

Like most Americans, my infatuation with the Walther PPK stemmed from a fictitious British spy. “James Bond” probably did more to drive the interest in the minute German gem than Clint Eastwood’s “Dirty Harry” did for the Smith & Wesson Model 29. The deadly, blued masterpiece was as tantalizing as a freshly pressed tuxedo and as mysterious as a plot to rule the world. And from the beginning, I was hooked. PPK/S Of course, coming of age at the turn of the last century, the PPK wasn’t as prevalent. Instead, the PPK/S was all the rage. While it might not have been a faithful facsimile of the pistol that defeated “The Man With the Golden Gun” or sent “Goldfinger” off to play his golden harp, it was close enough for…