Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2022 i Gun Digest

I’ve always hated the word, “plinking.” Yes, I know I used it in great big letters on the cover of this very issue, but I did so because it’s a term familiar among shooters of all disciplines—though the term is generally connected with the rimfire world. For most, plinking equals a .22 LR, a Sunday aft ernoon and empty aluminum cans. I think the word sticks in my craw because, at least to me, it evokes a feeling randomness. And, because it’s associated so closely with shooting a .22 LR, it labels that timeless cartridge as a plinking-only option. And that simply ain’t so. As the Vudoo Three60 on this issue’s cover illustrates, putting together a 500-yard group with a .22 rimfire is no longer a daydream, and deforming a…

Four years ago, Vudoo Gun Works of St. George, Utah—combined with the brushfirelike spread of NRL22—kicked off a revolution among the shooting public and the firearms industry, the likes of which hasn’t been seen in rimfire for decades. The closest equivalent may be the ascension of the bestselling .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire in 2004, but rather than develop a new super cartridge, Vudoo took a 130-year-old caliber and made it interesting again. The Vudoo V-22 repeater, unveiled in August 2017, stood as the first full-sized .22 LR on the Remington 700 footprint since the 40x. Before then, zero current production rimfires with the weight, length and overall fit of a centerfire precision rifle. Today, there are five and counting. HARD OUT OF THE BLOCKS A few things made the first-generation…

During the past 2 years, the industry has picked up somewhere in the ballpark of 16 to 20 million new gun owners, based on NICS checks. To put it in perspective, it’s as if the entire populations of Michigan (about 10 million) and Indiana (7 million) all became first-time gun owners. In total, there were about 45 million guns sold in 2020 and 2021 (at least that went through a dealer). Private sales aren’t accounted for here. What can be said for certain is that guns are now a part of the lives of a majority of Americans, and for many of these freshman shooters, there’s the desire to begin introducing their children to the wide world of guns. In my opinion, the first and best place to start is…

To say we’re in the midst of a component crunch just might be the understatement of the decade. There have been a few opportunities to snatch up some primers and powders, albeit at a significant price increase. And the cost of projectiles, when they’re available, has increased commensurate to the other reloading components. If you’re looking for premium projectiles, well … hang onto your wallet. Though I love to shoot the best projectiles I can get, I also realize the cost factor involved. And for what practicing any of us can afford to do anymore, we might be better served by a more affordable projectile. There are several different ideas regarding affordable projectiles, for both the rifle and pistol shooters. Going back to the earliest projectiles for centerfire cartridges, a…

CZ may be best known for their handguns in the United States, but for years their bolt-action rifles have been extremely popular with hunters as well. Offered in a wide variety of centerfire cartridges, these previous-generation models like the CZ 527 and CZ 557 have been discontinued in favor of the new CZ 600 series. Featuring several upgrades and improvements throughout, the CZ 600 series is available in five distinct configurations and ten different chamberings (model dependent). BUT, WHY? CZ claims that nearly every aspect of their bolt action rifles has been improved in the CZ 600 series. The redesigned action now features a 60-degree bolt throw with controlled-round-feed capabilities, resulting in not only faster potential cycling but also greater reliability. The extra clearance provided by the 60-degree throw accommodates…

Shadowland isn’t some mythical place where mall ninjas, tactards and has-been or wannabe gunfighters go to drink whiskey and video themselves pontificating on their greatness. It’s where I live; it’s just a small hacienda and collection of shooting ranges hidden in the West Virginia Hills. But it was inspired by history—a history those who are students of the gun and gunfighters might be interested in. When I went to work as a special agent for the railroad police, I met John Velke. Velke was writing a book on the history of the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency. I helped him with some research and even contributed a chapter to the book’s second edition, which is mostly a chronological detailing of the organization and its founder’s exploits between 1885 and 1930. But it…

01 Winchester Wildcat Suppressor Ready Performing well above its price, the Wildcat has more than earned its place among the top .22 LR semi-auto rifles. Now, the polymer-stocked gem has gotten a bit better. Winchester unveiled a suppressed version of the rifle in 2021, making the plinker practically perfect in every respect. While the gunmaker has added a ½x28-inch TPI threaded muzzle with knurled thread protector to the package, it’s kept all the features that made the Wildcat popular in the first place. These include button-rifled chromoly barrel, fully adjustable ghost ring rear sight, integral Picatinny sight rail 10-round rotary magazine and much more. MSRP: $300 02 Real Avid Speed Jag and Patches Small bore or large bore, there’s one thing all guns have in common: They all have to…

When you think about a rimfire AR-15-style rifle, it’s likely that the first thing that enters your mind is cheap plinking at the range with friends or family. While that’s an entirely valid use for a rimfire AR-15, recreational plinking only touches on the value of low-cost trigger pulls, or more appropriately, the value of lowcost reps. Yes, the cheap target practice angle has been talked about ad nauseam thanks to the ammunition shortages brought on by moments of civil unrest and the unknowns presented by COVID-19. That doesn’t make it any less valid. Beyond bringing that ammo bill down, the rimfire AR-15 makes a wonderful basic marksmanship tool. Its value in bringing new shooters into the sport makes a .22 LR rifle worth its weight in gold all on…

Back in 2008, I recall there was a substantial argument over two competing AR cartridges, each supposedly an answer to the problems the 5.56mm NATO experienced in battle. These rounds were the 6.5 Grendel and 6.8 SPC, and many writers and end users flocked to one or the other … at least for that moment in time. Fast-forward to 2022 and neither round occupies a substantial market share of the AR-15 world anymore. They each ultimately failed to replace the 5.56 NATO in military service. The legacy of these rounds is still evident, and their associated parts and magazines have allowed some interesting innovation. Enter Federal’s 224 Valkyrie. CARRYING FALLEN WARRIORS TO VALHALLA The role of the Valkyrie in old Norse mythology was to monitor the battle-field, acting as something…