Innehållsförteckning för October 2019 från Gun Digest

The slide-action, or pump, firearm has often been described as uniquely American. While the first patent for the design was issued in the 1850s in England, pump guns—both shotguns and rifles—never really caught on in the United Kingdom or Europe. Many shooters “across the pond” look upon them with disdain, as do some in the United States. Yet, others swear by them. The pump has many advantages: It’s the fastest and easiest to use of the manually operated actions; it’s ambidextrous (although empty cases are ejected into the lefty shooter’s field of view); and the operation gives the pump the ability to use ammo loads of varying power that a semi-auto would fail to cycle. Slide-action fans have been compared to drivers who prefer a stick shift transmission. Some people…

RECOIL: When people hear the name EOTECH, the holographic weapon sight immediately comes to mind — an incredibly fast, close-quarter-battle sight that has been successfully employed by special operations counter-terror elements across the globe. If you own the holographic sight market, why enter the crowded variable power optic segment? Aaron Hampton: You’re right. We’re best known for our holographic weapon sights. I think EOTECH surprised the optic industry at the 2015 SHOT show by entering the magnified optic market, which we did with three models in three different power ranges: 1-6x, 2.5-10x, and 3.5-18x. While some viewed the entry with skepticism, the line had actually been in development since 2011, some four years earlier. Prior to that, EOTECH had looked hard at the variable power scope market and anticipated an…

I’ll never forget my first deer hunt in the thick woods of upstate New York. In my naiveté, I decided to bring the most accurate rifle that I owned, albeit the heaviest. About three miles into the woods is when that 12-pound, heavy-barreled .308 Winchester really started to feel like, well ... 12 pounds. When I got to my buddy’s tree stand, I hobbled up the trunk to the makeshift 2x6 platform and hoisted this behemoth, my pack and everything short of a cup of coffee (which hurtled to the ground during this transaction) into my position and waited for first light. Once that first crack of daybreak illuminated the horizon, I decided to take out my rangefinder and get an idea of what distances I would be working with.…

You can rave all you want about how we won two world wars with the .30-06 and how the Colt Peacemaker is the iconic symbol of American freedom. However, when it comes to the firearm that truly represents our country, it is, without question, the lever-action rifle. I’ve often said it’s because every American has a little cowboy in them, but there’s more to it than that. Lever-action rifles are so loved by the freest men in the world because they are so useful. They provide all the accuracy necessary for most of the shooting that needs to be done, they’re handy, fast to operate and, well, singularly American. When I was young, I was all about the bolt-action, because I looked at lever guns as ancient artifacts. But, as…

Historical Notes The .30-30, or .30 WCF, was the first American small-bore, smokeless powder sporting cartridge. It was designed by Winchester and first marketed in early 1895 as one of the chamberings available for the Model 1894 lever-action rifle. The original loading used a 160-grain soft-point bullet and 30 grains of smokeless powder—thus the name, “.30-30,” for a .30-caliber bullet and 30 grains of powder. This is really an older way of describing a caliber based on blackpowder usage. Its muzzle velocity was 1,970 fps. It was adapted to the Winchester Model 54 bolt-action, as well as various versions of the original 1894 action, such as the Model 55 and 64. Marlin chambered it in the Model 1893 lever-action, the improved Model 36 and the Model 336. At one time,…

Hunting and sniping have a lot in common. It’s why back in the old days, Marines and hunters who were adept at hunting were often chosen to fill the military’s ranks. Today, it’s not quite the same. For example, I graduated from sniper school, having come from a reasonably large city and with no hunting background. As Brad Pitt noted in Spy Games, we had a Safeway back home to put food on the table. The main difference I see after years of being involved in the precision rifle world is the education side of things. Snipers have chased technology and seek out a lot of training, whereas hunters are happy to do things as they always have. In other words, if it was good enough for grandpa, it’s good…

Case trimming is one of those necessary evils of reloading for a rifle. It’s not a chops-busting endeavor; it’s just one that takes an investment of time and a bit of elbow grease. The latter isn’t the issue ... the former is. All aspects of reloading take a bit of each, but nothing creates a bigger bottleneck than case trimming. Progressive presses, programmable powder dispensers, mechanized case-prep machines—there’s been considerable advancement in most handloading equipment. Yet, case trimmers have slugged along, remaining largely a manual affair. Sure, there have been cracks at mechanizing the devices. But overall, they’ve done little to alleviate where things slow down. No matter what, they take time to set up. The model some reloaders run has two separate adjustment knobs (one macro, one micro) that…

Holographic weapon sights are as fast as it gets when using your carbine to engage targets from arms reach out to around 100 yards. They do have limitations, and if you intend on reaching out to targets much beyond that, there are better tools for the job, such as EOTECH’s Vudu 1-6x or 1-8x low-power variable optics. Sure, an HWSequipped carbine is capable of striking targets far beyond that distance, but target identification becomes a limiting factor. On occasion, you can have your cake and eat it too, and this is one of those times. EOTECH offers a 3-power magnifier that snaps in behind your HWS sight and greatly increases the capability of these sights. EOTECH’s G33 model sits in a throw-lever mount that’s quick to take on and off.…

No scope segment has experienced more change and advancement than in the area of variable-powered optics. Variables simply dominate right now. 1-6x and 1-8x scopes are more common on general purpose ARs than any other type of sight, and 5-25x is arguably the best, most useable, do-it-all power range of any rifle scope currently on the market today. In 2018, EOTECH debuted its 5-25x Super Short model and will soon release its new 1-8x low-power variable. VUDU 1-8X24 At a glance, you might mistake EOTECH’s new Vudu 1-8x for their award winning 1-6x introduced in 2015, and that’s a good thing! Your eyes aren’t deceiving you; the new optic appears to share the same short dimensions. But the 8x model receives additional magnification, a nuclear bright, illuminated reticle featuring a…

The days when we used one shotgun for everything are long past. Your granddad and Uncle Bill might have owned a Browning Auto 5 or a Model 12 Winchester and used it for anything with feathers or fur. Times change. Upland bird hunters want shotguns that are light and fast in the brush, and waterfowl guys generally prefer a scattergun that will deliver the loads for large, tough geese while standing up to the rugged conditions found only in the duck marsh. Trends this year include the revival of the 16-gauge in several upland guns and applying Cerakote to the receiver and barrel of many duck guns. Take your pick from either of these shotgun categories—while you’re at it, you might want to get a couple of them. You can…

Proficiency. Practice, practice, practice ... and practice some more. I know it’s cliché, but it’s grounded in the truth. Getting good with a revolver that kicks hard is a daunting task—and a perishable skill—that requires frequent upkeep to remain competent. Handgun hunting is hard. You need to put in the time to reap the benefits. My recommendation is to shoot often and to shoot short sessions. That way, you don’t suffer the ill effects of the abuse meted out by your chosen “steed,” and shooting it will become second nature. Grip. Grip tension is critical—well, actually, consistent grip tension is crucial—to ensure a consistent and predictable point of impact from shot to shot. You typically sight-in your revolver on the bench, but in the field, your shots might be off…

Effective self-defense with a handgun encompasses a variety of elements such as reliability, shooter skill, ammunition performance and shot placement. Alligators aren’t included in this list, but they are relevant. No, I’m not suggesting you’ll have to defend your life from an attacking alligator. However, depending on your job description or level of stupidity, it’s a possibility; just not likely. Alligators are relevant because they are notoriously difficult to kill. The nervous system of this apex predator is extremely advanced, and the species is considered to be more than 150 million years old. If you want to kill one with a firearm—and do it quickly—you have to shoot it in a specific spot. If you can hit that spot, the caliber of your bullet, its design and the cartridge it…

The EOTECH HWS (Holographic Weapons Sight) is the original close-quarter-battle sight of choice for top tier counter-terror units the world over, and for good reason. The blazingly quick target acquisition this sight brings to the fight continues to be unmatched. A very large field of view coupled EOTECH’s A65 holographic reticle makes this sight the equivalent of a race car. The center dot is designed as your 50/200 meter zero, while the 6 o’clock portion at the bottom of the ring is your point of aim for 7 to 10 yards. The 3 and 9 o’clock portions of the reticle can be used as holds to precisely lead moving targets. Finally, the reticle is useful as a ranging tool to quickly estimate the distance to a target; an average height…

Historically speaking, I have not been a fan of light rifles. Yes, they carry very nicely, and their lack of weight—although it’s often no more than 2 or 3 pounds—surely feels good going up a mountain. But it usually comes at a price. A seriously light rifle doesn’t seem to balance well; recoil can be ferocious; and when it comes time for the shot, it can take what seems like forever for the muzzle to settle down. It’s a classic tradeoff—reduced weight or “shoot-ability”—and I’ll almost always opt for a well-balanced, heavier rifle and gladly carry a bit more weight. That said, I’ve “met” a handful of light rifles that seem to have “it” and that handle very nicely; they were, in fact, properly proportioned and balanced well. For me,…

Today’s hunter has a plethora of cartridges to choose from. Certain states and regions have limitations on what caliber and type of gun can be used. As a result, there’s innovation in lots of areas that would otherwise have been left behind by the march of technology. Straight-walled cases offer a tremendous amount of utility in a surprising number of firearm types. They were among the first successful self-contained munitions developed. It was the advent of the self-contained metallic case that allowed for the first repeating arms to be manufactured and distributed on an industrial scale. Many of these cartridges are still in widespread use today—despite being more than 100 years old. WHY STRAIGHT-WALLED CASES? In recent years, a number of regions began allowing the use of straight-walled cases, mainly…

For those reading my byline for the very first time, allow me to introduce myself. I’m a dyed-in-the-wool handgun hunter—actually, more narrowly, a revolver hunter—who really enjoys getting up close and personal with the game being pursued. I’m also a bit of a big-bore junky who’s somewhat impervious to heavy recoil. My wife explains this as a numbness between my ears … and she might be right. When given this assignment, I balked at narrowing my collection of hunting revolvers down to 10 favorites. It took some real soul-searching and deliberation to slice these 10 out of the pile and really justify my choices. You’ll notice that in some cases, I’ve included multiple revolvers of the same caliber, but the differences between/among the platforms is considerable enough to include them.…

Listings are FREE! Simply go online to create or manage your Gun Show Listing. Login or Register to create an account – GunShows.GunDigestMedia.com SEPTEMBER Sep 28-29 IN, Salem. Gun & Knife Show. National. Guard Armory, 1100 N. Shelby St. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-3pm. A: $6, Children 12 and under Free. PH: 812-498-3833. www.straightshootersenterprises.com. Sep 28-29 IN, Richmond. Central Indiana Gun & Knife Show. Wayne County Fairgrounds, 861 Salisbury Rd. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-3pm. A: $5. F: $35. Central Indiana Gun Shows. PO Box 32, Centerville, IN 47330. PH: 765-993-8942. www.centralindianagunshows.com. Sep 28-29 KY, Lexington. Kenny Woods Gun Shows. Kentucky Horse Park, 4089 Iron Works Parkway. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-4pm. A: Adults: $10, VIP: $12.50 – no line, no wait Kids: $4, VIP: $6.50 – no line, no…