Innehållsförteckning för June 2017 från Gun Digest

One of the great mysteries about the 5.56 NATO AR is “barrel twist.” This refers to the twist rate of the rifling in the barrel that applies spin to the bullet — spin stabilizes the bullet — and it’s something that many shooters don’t know that much about. Using the correct bullet to match your barrel’s twist rate, or vice versa, is critical for accuracy. The “rifling” refers to the grooves cut into the inside of the barrel. The rifling spins the bullet, creating stability and accuracy, just like when you throw a football. This is why barrels have evolved from “smoothbores” with no rifling, to barrels with rifling, starting in the 1500s. Hence the term, “rifle.” Rifling is rated by “twist rate,” which indicates the distance required for one…

I’ve shown you charts, discussed the choices of cartridge and bullet that will best perform in windy conditions, but no matter what you’re shooting, you need to know how to read the wind. It’s certainly not an easy prospect, especially as the distances get long. Yes, a Kestrel weather meter or similar tool will accurately indicate both the wind speed and direction in relation to the target. This is definitely good information, but it is only a part of the puzzle. There will invariably be shooting situations where the wind at the target is completely different from the wind at your location. Couple that with variations in terrain, elevation and weather conditions, and you’ve got quite a chore on your hands. Reading wind is no easy task. As mentioned in…

You know what they say about opinions. Yep, when it comes to long-range shooting and the best calibers for the job, everyone’s got one. Really though, some cartridges simply outperform others at long ranges. That’s why so many competitive shooters and others who shoot at targets visible only through a spotting scope choose just a handful of calibers. Some, like the .308, are as popular as the most common hunting cartridges, while others are a bit more obscure, making headlines only in the tight-knit long-distance competitive shooting community. No matter who uses them, they have one thing in common: They hit their mark at quadruple-digit ranges. .22-250 REMINGTON The .220 Swift has somewhat better ballistics than other .22 centerfires, but with the growth in popularity of .223/5.56 firearms, the super-fast…

1 NIKON LASERFORCE RANGEFINDER BINOCULAR If you’re afield in rugged country, sometimes weight and space are at a premium. When one tool can fill the roles of two, it makes sense to do so. Nikon’s LaserForce Rangefinder Binocular does just that, blending elements of a quality binocular with those of a laser rangefinder. This tool ranges out to 1,900 yards and shows readings on a crisp OLED display screen. Nikon’s ID (Incline/Decline) technology is also included for angled shots. Meanwhile, the 10x42 binoculars offer excellent viewing capabilities, with ED glass and fully multi-coated lenses. Turn-and-slide rubber eyecups and a fog- and waterproof, nitrogen-purged body with a durable, rubber-armored exterior round out the package. ($1,199.95; NikonSportOptics.com) 2 PRIME AMMUNITION 6.5 CREEDMOOR OTM PRIME Ammunition might be a brand some shooters are…

Accurately hitting a target, especially at long range, requires the mastery of two skills: 1) determining the direction a bullet needs to be shot so that it hits the target and 2) shooting the bullet in the precise direction needed. It’s that simple. The first skill involves knowing the path the bullet will take on its way to the target. This is mastered with knowledge, some math and correctly identifying certain variables like distance, wind and temperature — it is all about the conditions/environment. The second skill involves firing the rifle when it is aimed exactly where it needs to be. This is mastered with lots of practice and proper employment of the fundamentals of shooting — it is all about you. Obviously, there are many variables and fundamentals to…

Take a minute to think about the cell phone you were holding to your head a decade ago. Did it have a hinge? How about a telescoping antennae? Heck, did it even have a screen? And now look at the cell phone sitting on your desk, hanging on your hip or resting in your pocket as you read this. Things have definitely changed in the world of cell phones due to technological advancements and consumer demands. But let’s bring this back to the gun world. Are things really so different here? Think back to the setup you were shooting a decade ago — competition, long-range, hunting, long gun, handgun — the platform doesn’t much matter. Does it look anything like the setup you’re shooting today? The odds are good that…

One thousand yards out of the box. That’s the Gunwerks promise, which has intrigued me for years but has until now gone untested, at least by me. Given all the variables in bullet loads, triggers and barrel construction, to name just a few factors that greatly alter the long-range equation, I’ve always been skeptical of yardage or accuracy claims from manufacturers. Can any rifle maker honestly live up to that hype — not in a hyper-controlled range environment, but in real-world hunting scenarios? To put the Gunwerks claim to the test, I took its newest rifle, the RevX in 7mm Rem. Mag., on a three-day backcountry excursion in the rugged wilderness of Idaho in search of spring black bear. The country is unforgivingly steep, with rock faces and slopes that…

IN THE ARMY NOW That’s the song SIG Sauer is singing since the acceptance of its P320 pistol as the new sidearm for the United States Army. This same distinction forever solidified the legacy of the 1911 and the Beretta 92. It will do the same for the P320. My first semi-automatic pistol was a 1911, and when our military switched to the Beretta, I — like I’m sure many other Americans did — purchased one. With SIG’s announcement in January of 2017, I ordered a P320. Arming yourself with the selected sidearm of our armies is not a bad idea. It means holsters and magazines will always be available. It also means if an end-of-days catastrophic event or Russian invasion happens, you’ll have the right pistol in your hands.…

When the .38 Special cartridge was introduced in 1902 it was a considerable improvement over the earlier black-powder.38’s of the 1870s — the .38 Long Colt and.38 Smith & Wesson. The .38 Special was a well-balanced, all-around cartridge and quickly became popular with law enforcement and the military, as well as with civilian shooters. Before long it became the standard to which all other revolver cartridges were compared. For much of the 20th century, any time you saw a revolver on a policeman’s belt, it was a probably a .38 Special. But there were exceptions. By the early 1930s, the automobile began to change life in the U.S. Unfortunately, among these changes was a surge in bank robberies, with the bad guys making their getaways in fast cars. Lawmen saw…

What does it take to elevate a rifle’s capabilities to an exceptional level of accuracy? High-quality materials fed into top-precision machines operated by heavily experienced technicians? Maybe. But I’d argue that every single firearm brought to market should have all those qualifications. I’m not talking about “minute-of-whitetail” accuracy or a gun capable of ringing a 10-inch steel plate at 600 yards. I’m talking about a level of accuracy that was all but inaccessible — barely even fathomable — to civilian shooters a few years ago. There are a few trends abuzz right now in the shooting world wildly unparalleled in both form and function. On one hand, you’ve got long-standing, well-respected firearms manufacturers that are kicking out sub-$400 rifles capable of producing consistent sub-MOA groups even when operated by riflemen…

Built on the back of the standard police sniper rifle, the Savage Model 10, the new Savage Model 10 GRS is a major advancement when it comes to personalizing a rifle for field, long-range or competitive target applications. With the addition of the new GRS Berserk adjustable stock, this rifle has taken a step up when it comes to a solid bolt-action rifle that can — with the simple push of a button on the rifle’s stock — adjust the system to fit anyone. This rifle stock is straight from Norway and carries a right-hand depressed palm design exactly like that of the German Anschutz competition target rifle. This rifle retains a stock that is so unique to the Savage Model 10 that it warrants a story unto itself. While…