Innehållsförteckning för June 2022 från Gun Digest

When I first started attending SHOT Show (as a reminder, that’s the shooting industry’s annual trade show—and no, I’m not going to age myself by doing the math and admitting how many years ago this actually was), the manufacturers within the walls of that exhibit hall were largely segregated. The hunting-focused companies were all clumped together, as were the big bolt-action rifle manufacturers and ammo producers. The handgun-focused booths had their section, too, and so did all the glass specialists … from riflescopes to binoculars and everything in between. And then there was the “black and blue section,” which consisted mainly of blue law enforcement officers who carried the guns that were all black. They were stuck in the way back corner. Keep in mind that all this was in…

I believe most gun writers take for granted how fortunate we are. We’re for damn sure not special, but many of us do have access to special people, experts the average shooter would love to be able to talk to for just a few moments. Some of these experts are just doing their job to help gun writers educate the shooting public, and some of these experts are friends. For example, if I need some specifics on ammunition, I have contacts at all the major manufacturers who will take my call. And if I want to discuss defensive handgun application, I can reach out several Gunsite Academy instructors. My job then becomes to pass that information on to you. Bill Wilson, founder of Wilson Combat, is a friend. He’s someone…

01 Smith & Wesson M&P15 Volunteer The M&P15 is a legend in its own right, at least when it comes to affordable ARs. But Smith & Wesson has given shooters the shot of upgraded options for the reliable iron with a sizable expansion of the line. Aptly named for the manufacturer’s new home—Tennessee—the Volunteer series offers up six new guns. The selection ranges from a base model carbine up to the XV DMR, a long-range specialist that comes decked out with a 20-inch barrel. In all cases, the Volunteers include some nice upgrades, such as chromed firing pins, flat triggers and B5 Systems furniture. All in all, the guns are solid additions to an already well-regarded line and certainly offer shooters options tailored to their mission. MSRP: Starting at $1,049…

I love AKs, particularly those chambered for 7.62x39mm. One of the greatest advantages of this cartridge is how well it performs out of shorter barrels when compared to lighter rounds such as the 5.56 NATO or 5.45x39mm. This fact is what originally spurred my desire for a short-barreled AK, but for years I was hesitant about going through with registering one as a short-barreled rifle (SBR). Thanks to the recent proliferation of pistol braces, millions of Americans have been able to enjoy short-barreled firearms without the pain of dealing with the National Firearms Act (NFA). For a while, I was tempted to follow suit, but none of the AK pistol braces on the market appealed to me. After eventually concluding that my short-barreled AK would need a real buttstock, I…

When Mossberg first launched the 940 Series, it was built for competition—even going so far as to take some design pointers from Jerry Miculek during its development. Since then, a few hunting models of the 940 have been released as well. And now, Mossberg is taking their popular autoloader in a more tactical direction. The new Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical comes out of the box with features that make it more ideal for defensive use, including an optics-ready receiver, a 7-shot magazine tube and oversized controls. Being a 940, the heart of the Pro Tactical is still its gas system: It’s not only proven to be durable, but it’s fast and reliable, too. It can reliably cycle a wide variety of loads without issue, and Mossberg is hanging their hat…

HISTORICAL NOTES Anecdotal reports from U.S. forces involved in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years indicate the six-decade-old 7.62x39mm cartridge and AK-47 rifle may be more effective in combat than the U.S. M4 carbines firing the 5.56x45 cartridge. In 2003, Steve Holland and Cris Murray, individuals associated with special forces and marksmanship units, developed a special-purpose cartridge to improve combat effectiveness in short-barreled (16.5-inch) M4 carbines used for special operations. The resulting 6.8 SPC (Special Purpose Cartridge) achieved favorable results in actual usage, but hasn’t been officially adopted by the U.S. Army. GENERAL COMMENTS Intended to launch heavier bullets than the standard U.S. 5.56 round, the 6.8 SPC uses the 1906-vintage .30 Remington cartridge shortened and necked down to accept a .270-caliber (6.8mm) bullet. Holland and Murray selected…

The pistol-caliber carbine (PCC) has become very common these days, and for good reason: The main benefit is, much like the old cowboy guns in .44-40 WCF, that it allows for a common cartridge between rifle and pistol, though many also feature shared magazines as well. This category has grown exponentially, and there are so many options out there that they’re hard to keep track. In being a relatively new (but also not exactly new) category of gun, there are many proprietary designs. This class started out as what you’d call the sub-machine gun (SMG), a miniaturized pistol-caliber weapon for close fighting and special units. Likewise, it was also commonly issued to police SWAT teams and rear-unit soldiers who would be encumbered by a larger rifle. Common examples of this…

INDIANA Oct 1-2 IN, Valparaiso . Gun & Knife Show . Porter County Exp-Center, 215 East Division Road. MICHIGAN Sep 24-25 MI, Novi. Michigan Antique Arms Collectors. Suburban Showplace, 46100 Grand River. Nov 26-27 MI, Novi. Michigan Antique Arms Collectors. Suburban Showplace, 46100 Grand River. MISSOURI Jul 16-17 MO, Kansas City. M.V.A.C.A. 50th Annual National Summer Arms Show. KCI EXPO Center, 11730 N. Ambassador. MONTANA Jul 29-31 MT, Missoula. 67th Annual Original Missoula Gun show. Hilton Garden Inn & Convention Center, 3720 North Reserve Street. NEW YORK Oct 23 NY, Babylon. North Eastern Arms Collectors Association. NEACA, American LegionHall. NORTH DAKOTA Sep 9-10 ND, West Fargo. Red River Range Gun Show. Red River Regional Marksmanship Center, 640 16th St NE. PENNSYLVANIA Aug 20 PA, Greencastle. Franklin Co. Pa Izaak Walton…

For many shooters, there’s a degree of skill declination at 300 yards. When I grew up, I shot matches at Camp Perry. We were shooting World War I and World War II-era rifles at 200 yards—at targets substantially smaller than these guns were designed to fire at, and I recall how far away 200 yards seemed in that vast space. Even when firing full-power 7.62x54R and .30-06 at what many shooters would consider a “short” distance, there was a noticeable change in point-of-impact across the line when wind came. Never is a bullet free from the influence of its environment. If you think you’re going to get immediate and consistent first-round hits with high-end long-range rifles, you’re sorely mistaken. No amount of money spent can guarantee hits. All that cash…

At the time of this writing, silencers are currently legal to own in 42 states and can be used for hunting in 39 of them. With a suppressor, not only are you far less likely to have ringing ears post-shot on game, but nearby animals are less likely to have a reaction to the blast. Your hunting mates (both two-and four-legged) will also appreciate it. But as many have found, the kind of suppressor ideally suited for a CQB carbine is different than one tailor-made for the bush. For hunting, we don’t need a silencer that withstands automatic high-pressure shots with steadfast durability; we need a silencer with less weight, decreased size and good-enough capability. The Harvester series from SilencerCo was originally released in 2014 and, as the name implies,…

New shooters and gun buyers can be forgiven for thinking the AR-15 has always been the way it is. Nope. It’s had more than a half-century of growth, modification and upgrades. The history of the platform is long and storied. Buckle up. TRIPPING OUT OF THE GATE In the beginning, there was the Colt SP1. This was a rifle with a fixed stock, a triangular handguard around a 20-inch barrel, a carry handle and sights that needed a tool to adjust them. The barrel was skinny, and the twist it had was one turn in 12 inches—suitable only for 55-grain FMJ bullets. The time? 1967. And the Colt had an MSRP of $195. (In 2022 bucks, that comes to $1,650.) The shooting public wasn’t impressed. The world, hunting and tactical,…

When having a custom rifle built, one of the most enjoyable aspects is the blank canvas with which the project begins. I’ve seen all sorts of unique builds, from double rifles built on shotgun actions to pump rifles chambered in cartridges suitable for thick-skinned dangerous game, to drillings in some strange configurations … and rifles built on resurrected actions of a time long ago. Custom guns can be downright fun. But the most popular—and often the most practical—choices are those classics that are relatively affordable and available. Many of the custom rifles were based on surplus military actions. Much of the WWII-era Springfields, Enfields and Mausers were transformed from the simple (yet obviously effective) military guise into sporting works of art. With World War II more than 75 years behind…

Growing up, they always told me things would get smaller and lighter as we—as in society and technology—moved forward. Today, “we” see it in a variety of industries, but the shooting community has been slow to respond. There lacks a balance, and the shooting world is subject to wild swings of the pendulum in an effort to find and incorporate those modern advancements in technology. One of the first areas we ventured into was barrels. We started wrapping steel in carbon fiber to save weight. Then, we questioned the technology to the point where people invented reasons not to use carbon-fiber barrels. The modern carbon-fiber barrel is outstanding in every way. Yes, if you overheat it, the mirage directly in front of your magnified optic will shift the point-of-impact, but…