Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2022 i Gun Digest

On the cover of this magazine, there are two Walther handguns that, in my opinion, both easily qualify for inclusion into the “high-end, high-class” category. Beyond the fantastic function, the aesthetics on each would have most gun owners wiping fingerprints off the frame and slide during every mag change. Suppose Walther cold-called you one day and offered you one of these guns—completely free with absolutely no strings attached—but you could pick only one. Which one would it be? Why? Would the firearm’s value play into your decision? Now, what if I told you that one of those guns is valued at $4,000, and the other is currently worth seven-and-a-half times that amount. Yes: That’s $30K. So, which one are you gonna choose now? If I’m being honest with myself, I…

Handling an AR-15 lower—while also assembling it, tightening something or just making it behave—can be a hassle. Midwest Industries (MI) has a solution, and their lower receiver block serves you in two ways. First, you can simply slap the block down on your workbench and fit the receiver into it, nestled in place. It’ll stay put while you install the hammer and trigger pins and the trigger guard, even making it stay put while you hand-screw the buff er tube in place. (You’ll need more than the MI block to do the torquing and staking.) While you’re doing this, the smaller section of the MI block has a recessed tray, where you can put the small parts you’ll need. No worries about them rolling off the bench or getting bumped…

If you’re like me, when you hear the words “load and make ready,” the last thing you want on your mind is feeling poor. Thankfully, Walther has a solution for the gentleman shootist: The upscale Walther Meister Manufaktur series of Q5 Match Steel Frame race guns. With the highest-end variant priced at $30,000, it’s the perfect pistol for competitors tired of raising their hand when someone asks, “Who parked their helicopter in the range parking lot?” Now, I know that the $30K Walther Q5 Match Steel Frame Meister Manufaktur Arabesque won’t find its way into a race holster, but I sure as hell hope the madman exists who not only has the means to buy one, but would also shoot the crap out of the gun—that’s my kinda crazy and…

It’s said that necessity is the mother of invention. Many useful products have resulted from the eff orts of someone to improve something that didn’t work well. For example, a highly publicized shootout in 1986, in which two FBI agents were killed, had some people convinced the 9mm Luger pistols used by agents weren’t able to keep two suspects from fighting on for far too long. Whatever the case may be, it was determined that handguns chambered for a more potent cartridge were in order. Attention was turned to the 10mm Auto, a .40-caliber cartridge made in 1983 by adapting a shortened .30 Remington case. The shortened case was used with bullets designed for the .38-40 Winchester. Instrumental in the development of the cartridge was Jeff Cooper, who was always…

HISTORICAL NOTES The standard Austrian military pistol cartridge for the Steyr Model 1912 auto pistol’s case is approximately 23 millimeters long, as compared to the 9mm Luger, which is 19 millimeters. Apparently, the only other countries besides Austria to use this as a military round were Romania and Chile, which adopted both the Steyr pistol and cartridge in 1912. This cartridge is very similar to the 9mm Bergmann-Bayard, and these two are often confused. However, 9mm Steyr ammunition is usually found with a nickel-jacketed bullet. The 9mm Bayard case is slightly longer. Quantities of 9mm Steyr pistols have appeared on the United States surplus military market and, for a while, ammunition was readily available. GENERAL COMMENTS The 9mm Steyr is quite similar to the 9mm Bayard. The Astra Model 400…

Sometimes, an innovator will get a product right the first time—and I’d cite the .30-06 Springfield cartridge, the Fender Telecaster guitar and Mauser’s Model 98 bolt-action rifle. Other times, the tools and gear we use have evolved to the point that you might often look back and wonder how we used such archaic gear with any success at all. Riflescopes are a great example of this: I looked through one of my father’s ¾-inch tube rimfire scopes the other day and felt like my vision was plagued by cataracts. I can only imagine the difficulty picking out a squirrel’s head in the top of an oak tree, especially in comparison to the 1-4x20mm that rides atop my Ruger 77/22 today. I feel that reloading gear sits in between those two…

Here’s a statement that should shock absolutely no one: l like affordable guns. Earthshattering, I know. But the great thing about making that statement is it pretty much means I celebrate the greater swath of the American gun market. If you have, say, $1,000 burning a hole in your pocket, then chances are good that you can ferret out a pretty solid pistol, rifle or shotgun—even a double barrel—to fit your need and serve you well. All that said, this doesn’t mean I or any other red-blooded American shooter doesn’t wipe away a bit of drool when eyeing high-end heaters. For most of us, the better part of the top shelf will remain prohibitive. Perhaps we’ll have enough wherewithal to squirrel away enough nickels and dimes to put one—maybe two—absolute…

ALIEN NATION Overview: Does anyone even remember this movie? Released in 1988, the plotline is basically that a race of humanoid aliens comes to Earth and eventually integrates with society, primarily in Los Angeles, much to the chagrin of the local population. One of the marooned aliens played by Mandy Patinkin eventually becomes a detective and is partnered up with a reluctant James Caan, whose partner had recently been killed by one of the “newcomer” bad guys. What We Like: So, if you’re easily dazzled by car chases, half-baked quips, and carny-trick action-movie essentials, you might actually enjoy this flick. The two stars make it bearable to watch. In the opening sequence, Caan’s partner is killed when a criminal alien manages to pick him off by shooting a mag-fed Benelli…

Many believe you should rotate your carry gun based on the season or the situation. For example, during the winter months, when you typically wear one or two outer layers such as a vest and a coat, this will allow most folks to easier conceal a larger handgun. When spring comes, you’re typically still wearing a coat and the same can be said for the fall. It’s the summertime that makes concealing a large, or sometimes any, handgun harder. Often, when the weather is hot, some will transition to a smaller handgun in order to make carrying easier and more comfortable. Is that a good idea? It could be argued that carrying different handguns at different times isn’t a good idea because when you need to employ that handgun the…

01 Ruger Birdshead Wrangler Revolvers No collection is truly complete without a Single Action Army revolver of some sort. Ruger makes this classic style of pistol all the more affordable and shootable with the introduction of its Birdshead Wrangler. Compact and able to work with the revolver’s recoil, the style of grip picks up the .22 LR’s pace in skilled hands and cuts down on its profile. The aluminum-framed Wrangler is among the lightest weight option in its class, making the single-action an ideal companion for the woods. And its 3.75-inch barrel makes it quick out of leather and into the action. MSRP: $269 02 SnapSafe GlideVault An often-overlooked aspect of custom or collectible firearms is where to store them. SnapSafe’s newest addition not only offers a secure method of…

This gun is perhaps one of a kind. It certainly has a unique build history. We like to think of custom as bespoke, purpose-made dream guns, if you will. However, this one just sort of happened. A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was a serious and persistent competition shooter. Each year, I’d shoot at least two club matches a month, the Second Chance Pin Shoot, a couple (or more) USPSA Nationals and The Steel Challenge. I was shooting a lot, and I was winning a lot. One of the prizes (I think from a USPSA Nationals) was a certificate good for a hi-cap frame from SVI/Infinity. Well, I already had a slew of hi-cap frames. So, I put on my best smiley-face, good-guy, serious competitor…

If you’re a firearms enthusiast, then this story is for you. The tale spans more than 200 years and five generations. And unlike histories that examine most rifles, the rifles described here are, perhaps, out of your reach. To quote the great gun writer Townsend Whelen, “The placing of the bullet is everything.” Here you’ll see what an early gunmaker did to help shooters “place the bullet,” and how his descendant continues the tradition. The story starts in Virginia in 1802 when Joseph Carper, the son of German immigrants, was born. In 1848, he acquired a large tract of land in what is now West Virginia. Joseph traded one rifle for all you could see from a high point that overlooked the New River. It’s hard to say exactly how…