Gun Digest October 2023

I think it’s pretty natural for people to want the latest and greatest, whether we’re referring to a new vehicle, a new house … or a new firearm. The grass, after all, always looks greener on the other side of the fence. But there’s something to be said for those trusted items in our lives that are already tried and true, and that’s especially when it comes to firearms. The new ones never work quite like those with some experience under their trigger. Hey, as long as I’m stacking up clichés here, I’ll throw one more at ya: Less is more. On the cover of this issue in your hands is a Glock 43X MOS. It’s tried and true. And it’s the definition of less is more. In fact, Richard…

FROM GUN DIGEST’S CARTRIDGES OF THE WORLD. ORDER AT GUNDIGESTSTORE.COM. HISTORICAL NOTES Winchester engineered the .350 Legend as a modern straight-walled cartridge for deer hunters, and ammunition was first available in April 2019. The .350 Legend shell case is new: It has no parent case, but it uses the same .378 nominal rim diameter as .223 Rem. Winchester billed it as the “fastest straight-walled hunting cartridge” available at the time. The SAAMI-approved round was slated for use in states with specific deer hunting regulations requiring straight-walled, center-fire cartridges such as Michigan, Ohio, Iowa and Indiana. (Regulations may have changed. Check your local laws.) Winchester Repeating Arms offered several variations of the XPR bolt-action rifle in the chambering, and CMMG also offered rifles and rifle components. More rifle manufacturers are jumping…

Installing aftermarket sights on a pistol can be problematic. Back when I first began working in law enforcement, I ordered a set of night sights for my duty handgun and tried to install them. I ended up breaking the front sight off its base and had to order another one. The funny thing is that I took it to a gunsmith, and he did the same thing I did, but at least he paid for the third front sight. That’s one of the reasons I’ve always suggested enlisting the services of a gunsmith for sight installation. But now, particularly for Glock pistols, I’ve changed my mind: XS Sights has simplified the process of sight removal and installation with their excellent array of sight installation tools. Several months ago, XS Sights…

By now, most people who follow popular news channels have learned about the indictment of 24-year-old Daniel Penny, for second-degree manslaughter by a Manhattan grand jury. The case centers around Penny, who asserts he was coming to the aid of fellow subway passengers when an allegedly homeless man, 30-year-old Jordan Neely, started acting erratically and threatening passengers. Penny determined Neely was indeed a threat to himself and passengers in the car, and as he was not carrying a weapon, tackled and physically restrained him. Unfortunately, in order to restrain Neely, Penny wrapped his left arm around Neely’s chin and neck, while other passengers on the train tried to restrain his legs and arms. The struggle took several minutes, eventually ending when Neely stopped struggling while being restrained. Neely then stopped…

We don’t all have the same problems. Me? I go to the range on a regular basis, and I go there with whatever I’m working on that week. Lately, it’s been nothing but 9mms and 223s. But, it could be anything from a .22LR to a .416 Rigby (oh yes, that was fun), or a .410 to a 12-gauge … or some of all of those. So, I always have cleaning equipment with me, because I never know what I might have to clean. One errant step and you’ve just knocked the test gun muzzle-down into the mud … or, it got shipped with the bore caked with preservative grease. Yes, we should all check, but in the morning packing, sometimes you just trust the maker. And then there are…

For years, I’ve reveled in bringing the newest reloading tools and components to light, and I get excited when a new digital powder dispenser, projectile or powder comes to market. Invariably, the modern tools and components have been nothing but an improvement, however not every reloader looks at change in the same light, especially when they’ve had some sort of success with older stuff. I’ve received a bunch of reader feedback and conversations expressing that many of the modern efforts are in vain, and in some instances, unnecessary. While I appreciate nearly all classic projectile designs and still use many of the powders and projectile designs that date back to before World War II, I equally embrace the latest and greatest, and I truly enjoy testing those components and tools…