Gun World

SPECIALISSUE:
TIPS TO PREP
YOUR RIFLE
FOR HUNTING
SEASON
TRAINING
SKILLS FOR THE
HUNT
LESS-LETHAL
OPTIONS FOR
SELF-DEFENSE
THE FIRST
LARGE-CAPACITY MICRO-9MM
All the bullets in the world mean nothing if your concealed carry
handgun fails when you need it most. The XD-S Mod.2 in 9mm
is a less than one-inch wide pinnacle of reliability. 25K rounds
without a stoppage and an integral grip safety for
total peace of mind when carrying.
you aren’t out here
to see raindrops.
O
Low-light and adverse weather can afect your hunt—if you let them. But our new line of Nitro optics
are optimized with ED Prime Glass to enhance detail and EXO Barrier™ lens coating to repel rain,
snow, dust and debris—so you can spend your hunt time focusing on what matters.
CLARITY IN ANY CONDITION

CONTENTS
ON THE COVER
GUN: SIG SAUER P365
PHOTO: ROBB MANNING (SPECIAL THANKS TO MJ
GUNSHOP; MJGUNSHOP.COM)
COLUMNS
06 ......................................................... UP FRONT
10 ............................................................. KIT UP!
12 .............................................................. OPTICS
16 ................................................................. HUNT
20 ............................................. ARTEMIS ARMED
80 ................................................................... EDC
84 ................................................................TRAIN
88 ....................................................... AMMO 411
92 ...................................................CLEARED HOT
96 ............................................CHEWING THE FAT
98 ...................................................DOWN RANGE
QUICK SHOTS
70 ...................... QUIZ: FIREARMS THAT FAILED
GUN WORLD (ISSN 0017-5641) is published monthly in January, February, March,

April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December by
Engaged Media Inc., LLC, 17890 Sky Park Circle, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92614.
Periodical postage paid at Irvine, CA, and additional mailing ofices. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to GUN WORLD c/o Engaged Media Inc., VSI, Inc., 905 Kent
Street, Liberty, MO 64068. © 2018 by Engaged Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of any material from this issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.
GST#855050365RT001. Canadian Post: Publications Mail Agreement Pitney Bowes,
Inc., P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2, Canada.
www.gunworld.com p SEPTEMBER I 2018
4
GUN WORLD
SEPTEMBER I 2018
COVER STOry
44
SIG SAUER P365
With twice the capacity of competitors and little
discernable difference in size, it’s the first large-
capacity micro-9mm with standard mag capacities of
10 and 12 rounds. It’s a game-changer.
By Richard Schutz
FEATURES
24
AMERICAN HUNTING PRIMER
Fall is just around the corner. In anticipation of the
season, we take a look at North America’s 10 most
popular game animals, both large and small.
By Brad Fitzpatrick
34
TEHACHAPI HOGS
Barnes and DRT Ammo handle the ultra-tough,
tenacious and aggressive mountain boars
of Southern California.
By Chuck Taylor
54
GUNSITE ACADEMY: “SEASONED CITIZEN” PISTOL COURSE
Three years ago, recognizing a need, the legendary
Gunsite Academy added an array of what its
employees diplomatically call “seasoned citizen” classes.
By Jameson Parker
64
PREP YOUR HUNTING RIFLE FOR THE SEASON
Hunting season is approaching fast. Don’t miss
your once-in-a-lifetime shot—be sure your firearm is
performing at its best before the fall opener.
By Brad Fitzpatrick
72
BEAR COUNTRY CAMPING
For a weekend of hiking and camping solo in bear and
mountain lion country in western Colorado, the Ruger
.480 Bisley is the choice. It is a true, controllable hand
cannon for dangerous “fur balls” of teeth and claws.
By Clint Thompson
5
UPFRONT BY ROBB MANNING RMANNING@ENGAGEDMEDIAINC.COM
GUN WORLD SEPTEMBER 2018

Volume 59 • Number 9
EDITORIAL
Robb Manning Editor
Kelly Nomura Executive Managing Editor
Amy Maclean Managing Editor
DESIGN
Julian Aviña Art Director
CONTRIBUTORS
Steven Paul Barlow, Brian Berry, Chris Cerino, Michelle Cerino, Brad Fitzpatrick,
Steven K. Ledin, Jameson Parker, Jeff Quinn, Richard Schutz, Patrick Sweeney,
Chuck Taylor, Clint Thompson, Richard Venola
ADVERTISING
Gabe Frimmel Ad Sales Director
(714) 200-1930 gfrimmel@engagedmediainc.com
Casey Clifford Senior Account Executive (714) 200-1982
Mark Pack Senior Account Executive (714) 200-1939
AUTUMN HUNTING PRIMER

Spencer Redmond Account Executive (919) 771-8919
John Bartulin Account Executive (866) 866-5146 ext. 2746
Eric Gomez Advertising Traffic Coordinator
MARKETING
A
utumn … my favorite time of year. Hard to imagine it’s fast Michael Chadwick Digital Marketing & Media Coordinator
approaching; it just doesn’t seem possible. Soon, the leaves will OPERATIONS
Devender Hasija Newsstand and Circulation Analyst
be changing, the air will get brisker, and the days will shorten. It Shailesh Khandelwal Subscriptions Manager
Alex Mendoza Administrative Assistant
will be time to inalize plans for the upcoming hunting season and Victoria Van Vlear Intern Program Manager
put the inal preparations and maintenance into our guns and gear. EDITORIAL, PRODUCTION & SALES OFFICE
17890 Sky Park Circle, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92614
(714) 939-9991 • Fax (800) 249-7761
This year will be a special one, because my middle son turned 10 and took www.gunworld.com
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hunter’s safety. This will be his first year hunting. I can hear the excitement www.facebook.com/eembybeckett
www.instagram.com/gunworldmagazine
in his voice every time we talk about it.
GUN WORLD (ISSN 0017-5641) is published monthly in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August,
September, October, November and December by Engaged Media Inc., LLC, 17890 Sky Park Circle, Suite 250,
Irvine, CA 92614. Periodical postage paid at Irvine, CA, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address
Our first trip will be to a couple of my favorite squirrel spots. Deer hunting changes to GUN WORLD, c/o Engaged Media Inc, VSI, Inc., 905 Kent Street, Liberty, MO 64068. © 2018 by Engaged
requires lots of patience and sitting still. It can be disappointing if nothing Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.
GST#855050365RT001. Canadian Post: Publications Mail Agreement Pitney Bowes, Inc., P.O. Box 25542, London,
is taken. However, squirrel hunting is always action-packed and fruitful. ON N6C 6B2, Canada
Nothing stokes the fire and draws out the passion for hunting like seeing CUSTOMER SERVICE
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game and being able to take some good shots. And, squirrel hunting can be 17890 Sky Park Circle, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92614
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challenging in its own right, especially for a new hunter. Missing or Damaged Copies
(800) 764-6278
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Regardless of whether or not my son actually takes something, it will be time subscriptions@engagedmediainc.com
customerservice@engagedmediainc.com
well spent in the woods, doing some father-son bonding. Nothing can beat that. Back Issues: www.engagedmediamags.com
Books, merchandise, reprints
(800) 764-6278 • Foreign (239) 653-0225
Letters to editor, new products or to contribute a story or photo: rmanning@engagedmediainc.com
As a primer for the upcoming hunting season we packed several extra
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
hunting features into this issue. “Prep Your Hunting Rifle for the Season” $17.95/1 year, $29.95/2 years. Outside the U.S.: $40.95/1 year, $75.95/2 years. Payable in U.S. funds. Single copy price is $4.99.
Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for new subscriptions to begin.
(page 64) offers some tips to give you the edge you need, come opening day.
“American Hunting Primer” (page 24) talks about America’s top 10 most
popular game animals, some tips on the how and where to hunt them, along
with the best guns for the job. We also have something on hunting boar
(“Tehachapi Hogs,” page 34), plus a little adventure in bear/mountain lion
country with the .480 Ruger (“.480 Ruger Bisley,” page 72).
ENGAGED MEDIA, INC.
Pinaki Bhattacharya CEO
The Train column gives expert advice on gun training for hunting season. Tom Conradi Group President
Jason Mulroney Content Director
Artemis talks about wing shooting and the path to falling in love with it; Syed Nazir Razik Digital Marketing Director
Philip Trinkle Newsstand Sales Director
and Hunt looks at the often-misunderstood tradition of using hounds to
This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the understanding that information presented is from various
hunt dangerous game. sources from which there can be no warranty or responsibility by Engaged Media, Inc., as to the legality,
completeness or technical accuracy.
It’s not all about hunting, though: You won’t want to miss the review of the GST #855050365RT001
Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608
hot, new SIG Sauer P365 (page 44). In addition, regardless of your age, Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: PITNEY BOWES, INC., P.O. Box 25542,
London, ON N6C 6B2, Canada
you’ll enjoy reading the witty Jameson Parker’s experience at the Gunsite
“seasoned citizens” pistol course (page 54).
This season, stay safe, enjoy the woods, and if you have kids, take them
hunting with you. GW
6
THIS IS MY P320
— Producer
MODEL SIZE GRIP CALIBER
P320 RX Compact Large 9mm
# 320
sigsauer.com
1
2
1
4
MAKE: Vulture Equipment Works
MODEL: Vulture Field Cleaning Kit
INCLUDES: Liquid Freakiness
3
(Lf) Lube & Protectant, Liquid
Chimera (Lc) Cleaner & MAK
Degreaser, 1 microfiber towel, MOD
1 GP brush, 10 cotton swabs, BLADE: 420HC stainless steel,
resealable Mylar bag (Solid Rc 58; satin finish
Funkiness (Sf) grease optional) MSRP: $68 (Realtree Xtra Green);
MSRP: $35 ($5 extra to include $48 (black)
1-ounce jar of Sf Extreme Grease)
URL: VultureEquipmentWorks.com
URL: BuckKnives.com
3
There are better steels for edge MAKE: XTech Tactical
The Field Cleaning Kit comes with retention than 420HC, but Buck’s MODEL: MAG47 30 RD AK Mag MAKE: Milwaukee Tool
everything you need to keep your proprietary heat treatment process MSRP: $29 MODEL: M18 LED Search Light
irearm performing at top levels is among the best—making this URL: XTechTactical.com MDRP: $90
while out in the ield. The Lc blade tough, corrosion and wear URL: MilwaukeeTool.com
cleaner/degreaser is odorless, with resistant, and easy to sharpen. It Historically, not a lot of innovation
low toxicity and a noncarcinogen. has a drop-point blade with a full has gone into new AK development, The ultimate prepper/utility light,
Spray and let soak for about 10 belly. The spine is 0.14 inch thick because they tend to work well it’s perfect as a truck light for
minutes. We found it cleans very and comes to a thick point for and are tough. But not all polymer bug-out or for the home for bug-
well. It leaves very little surface heavier chores, making it a great, AK mags are created equal. For in. It’s extremely tough—impact,
residue but still inhibits corrosion. all-around work/outdoor knife. a long time, the former US Palm water and dust resistant—and has
The Lf Extreme Environment The ergonomic handle is made of AK30 was one of the best. XTech four light modes. The floodlight
Lube & Protectant works well Alcryon rubber, with contours and Tactical has partnered with Molded puts out a whopping 1,200
and induced no friction-related ridges for excellent handling and Devices Inc. to bring it back— lumens and will light up a room,
stoppages in our testing. It protects a secure grip—great for things and it’s even better. Named the backyard, neighborhood or the
against wear, corrosion and rust. such as skinning deer. We were MAG47, it’s been updated with a Eastern Seaboard. The spotlight
The Sf Extreme Grease goes on impressed with how heavy-duty modiied rile metal interface for reaches out 700 yards. A combo
and stays on, with an operating this knife is designed, considering compatibility with a wider range mode, at 1,250 lumens, is both
temp of -35 to 600 degrees (F). its compact size. It comes with of AKs, metal-reinforced feed lips, spot and flood, and a strobe mode
Perfect for belt-feds, high-volume a pretty nice nylon belt sheath, improved internals for strength is available by holding down the
guns that get really hot and for making this the perfect OWB carry and to reduce loaded mag rattle, mode button. The head rotates
guns on whose surfaces you don’t knife for in the woods or wherever and a baseplate for easy ield strip. 198 degrees so it can be hand
want to leave a lot of extra residue. legal. Another modern-day classic It’s extremely well-built, rigid and carried, set up on its end or hung
The resealable Mylar bag keeps from Buck. Plus, it’s still made in tough. It performed lawlessly and from the vertical hanging holes
any spills or leaks from spreading. the good, ol’ U.S.A. with perfect reliability. located on the underside.
www.gunworld.com P SEPTEMBER I 2018
10
6 8
7
5
tealth C
G45NGX
S : $210 ($200 for field
22 MP (stills), 1,080P HD model: 6¾–29 inches)
00-foot flash; <.5 second URL: SwaggerBipods.com
trigger
MAKE: Black Rifle Coffee MSRP: $190 Unlike the Marine Corps swagger
MAKE: Crimson Trace Company URL: StealthCam.com sticks carried by the old breed,
MODEL: CWL-201 Tactical Light MODEL: Burr Hand Grinder Swagger Bipods are for those
(KeyMod/M-Lok) MSRP: $95 Packed with the latest technology; who seek less rigidity and more
MSRP: $80 URL: BlackRifleCoffee.com retina-enhanced low-light flexibility—at least, in their
URL: CrimsonTrace.com sensitivity, Reflex Ultra-Fast bipods. With the legs extended,
Hunting season is upon us, which trigger, matrix blur reduction, the Swagger provides stability like
Busting out 900 lumens (peak), means deer camp and early rise. At multi-zone detection, optional a traditional bipod, but the “Crazy
the CWL-201 will brighten your a time when coffee becomes even geo-tagging and range control. Legs” technology allows for nearly
night. It mounts directly to your more vital, don’t sacriice with weak It shoots still images, video and infinite maneuverability: pan,
KeyMod and/or M-Lok handguard, camp coffee. This compact unit is time-lapse photos. It’s energy traverse, twist, lean back, push
so there’s no need for Picatinny small enough to take anywhere, efficient, with one set of batteries forward, raise up or lower down.
adapters. It comes in two activation but it’s built like a platinum lasting all year. The Secure Lock Press a button in the front, and
modes—tail cap tap-on/tap-off outhouse. The heavy-duty housing feature offers password protection the legs lock into place for use
and remote pad with tap-on/ is machined aluminum and has an to prevent unauthorized camera as a more-traditional bipod. Legs
tap-off or a pressure grip switch integrated rubber grip that doubles access. The wide, 16:9 images extend to slightly more than 40
for momentary on. Three light as the handle holder. The conical provide an extended FOV, and inches, and with the legs spread,
modes include high beam, strobe grinder is stainless steel with image quality is excellent, with it can go as low as the rifle,
and low beam. It uses a Cree precision ball bearings. Coffee grind vibrant colors and sharp detail, resting on the ground. The stowed
XPL LED and requires two CR123 coarseness can be adjusted to suit even at night. Unlike other IR legs are held in the chassis by a
batteries for about 1.4 hours of run any brewing device and user taste. cameras, this one has no red glow bungee cord. To deploy, pull the
time on high and about 3.9 hours It holds about 2.5 scoops of beans. to give it away. Setup is quick and legs forward until they clear the
on low. The anodized aluminum Grinding is fast and effortless, easy: The LCD screen is backlit chassis, rotate 90 degrees, and
body is impact resistant to 1 and the ground coffee is caught for nighttime setup and didn’t insert into the deployment slot.
meter and waterproof to 1 meter. in the receptacle. Performance is even require reading the manual. The Treestand model is perfect for
It’s lightweight (4.9 ounces with outstanding and exceeds any hand It’s built well, resistant to the sitting in a chair, hunting from a
battery) but tough and reliable. grinder we’ve used. elements and easy to use. treestand or anything in between.
11
SCOPE-EYE CHRONICLES TEXT AND PHOTOS BY STEVEN K. LEDIN
ATN X-SIGHT I
’ve had more fun with the new ATN X-Sight 4K Pro
digital riflescope than any product I can remember in
the last several years. I have temporarily overlooked
a few glaring issues with it that I attribute to growing
pains, but I’m excitedly on board with this product
and am giddy with the reliable capabilities it should have
4K PRO
This simple system upon firmware maturity.
allows countless
performance options
at your fingertips.
I have been testing and destroying shooting sports products
Firmware updates professionally for three decades, so this enamored view I have
will continue to of the 4K is not a knee-jerk reaction to a new type of product.
mature the 4K’s
performance.
DIGITAL IS THE FUTURE. In fact, it’s not really a completely new product, because it’s
based on its predecessor, the X-Sight II. I’ve logged plenty
of hours on the X-Sight II and have had more than a couple
ATN IS WAY AHEAD OF of debacles with it. I didn’t love it.
The 4K not only addresses the shortcomings of the X-Sight
THE GAME WITH ITS

II, it improves it in such ways as to make the two seem only
distantly related. They don’t even look the same.
X-SIGHT 4K PRO.
DETAILS AND FEATURES
My sample sight is the X-Sight 4K Pro 3-14x. It is a
variable-powered digital daytime riflescope with nighttime
12
capabilities that mounts with standard 30mm rings. The
outside diameter of the objective is 76mm. It does not use an THE 4K NOT ONLY
image intensifier tube of any generation. Daytime viewing is
color, and night vision mode is in black and white only.
ADDRESSES THE
SHORTCOMINGS OF THE
The Pro model comes with three AR-height rings. One is
a black-gun-appropriate cantilever that allows the scope
X-SIGHT II, IT IMPROVES
a more-forward mounting position for proper eye relief. IT IN SUCH WAYS AS
However, in this setup, to get proper eye relief with the
fixed A2-style stock, the scope had to be moved rearward.
Daytime images and
movies are 1080p TO MAKE THE TWO
So, I mounted the cantilever reverse of what is customary.
and colorful. The
yellow sign is at 340 SEEM ONLY DISTANTLY
One of the ring tops has rails on each side to mount the
yards, and the house
is 680. RELATED.
included IR light. This powerful light clamps onto the ring
top and is adjustable in direction and beam.
It’s a bit clumsy when installed, but IR or ambient light is

absolutely required for use in complete darkness. In Texas,
hunting hogs with a couple of 4K Pros this past May, I observed
that with the IR light and some moonlight in those particular
conditions, I could target pigs out to about 100 yards.
You can upgrade to one of ATN’s more-powerful IR lights

for significantly more distance at night. If your target has
some illumination by the impact area, you can shoot as
far as needed.
Many folks assume that with such a product, the shooting

distance might be limited; yet in daytime, you can shoot as
The X-Sight 4K Pro has a 4K sensor and records in 1080p.
far as you can see. I tried some targets at 1,000 yards, but
Daytime movies and still pictures are delicious and colorful.
the wind and the firearms I was using made these attempts
A remarkable attribute that the 4K sensor delivers is very
ridiculous. Still, I easily picked off steel at up to 300 yards Included with the 4K
Pro are an excellent good image resolution and edge-to-edge clarity from lowest
in gusty conditions.
screw-in accordion to highest magnification.
eyepiece, sunshade
It’s a second focal plane scope, so the crosshair stays the and IR lamp good
same size throughout magnification, although it’s a fairly
for almost 100 yards A PLETHORA OF INFORMATION
in black-and-white
The viewing screen provides loads of information. It shows
heavy reticle and covers a lot of target at long range. night vision mode.
compass heading, a status bar (with icons for battery level,
SD card, ballistic calculator, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi), your zoom
level, a pitch scale with detailed pitch value, wind direction
and speed (manual input), reticle correction position, roll
scale with detailed roll value, and rangefinder distance.
Alternatively, you can choose to show minimal widgets, with
only the status bar and magnification level visible.
The operating system is the easiest I’ve ever used on such an

electro-optic. Index your middle inger on the enter key, which
acts as a home base. Press once for the main menu carousel,
then use left and right buttons to navigate to the heading
you want to go deeper into. Press “enter” for the submenu
and use the magniication wheel to scroll to your desired
selection. Your menu options in the carousel are night mode,
rangeinder, advanced shortcut, distance entry, environment,
Wi-Fi, recoil-activated video (RAV), ballistic calculator, zero
reticle (for one-shot sight-in) and system settings.
13
SCOPE-EYE CHRONICLES
battery and a few cartridge loops. A paired Bluetooth remote
and rangefinder are also available.
ABSOLUTELY WORTH THE PRICE

Will I use the X-Sight 4K Pro on an elk hunt? Laughable.
Nevertheless, I could see the utility of it for pigs and
other varmints and maybe on some easy deer hunts.
It’s not waterproof, and I wouldn’t want to be dropping
it or banging it around, but recoil resistance should not
be an issue.
ATN is way ahead of the game with the X-Sight 4K Pro.

Digital is the future. Image-intensified night vision and
thermal IR devices are several times the price of the 4K, and
The 4K has more the 4K delivers excellent recorded picture quality in a mind-
of a traditional blowingly fun riflescope.
riflescope look than
its predecessor.
It comes with AR-
I could get much more granular in menu description and use, There isn’t enough space allotted in this article to further
height rings, but any
but a couple of parts deserve special comment. For one, the standard 30mm rings explain how enjoyable this product is to use and share with
will work. (NOTE: The people, as well as its myriad attributes and capabilities. Even
rangefinder is not a laser rangefinder; rather, it is a stadia cantilever mounts are
line rangefinder that uses angles and a predetermined target being used opposite used only as an image-capturing/sharing spotting scope, the
of convention to 4K is worth the price of admission. (Oh—and don’t forget the
height to estimate distance. bring the scope
rearward for the car window mount.) GW
As an example, if you enter a value of 30 inches (from the belt author’s preference.)
to the top of the head on a human), press the button to position

a mark at the top of the head and then another at the belt.
ATN
The angle is computed to determine an approximate distance
X-Sight
that is displayed in the upper left corner of the screen. It also 4K Pro
automatically adjusts your reticle for the proper hold. SPECIFICATIONS
MAGNIFICATION (DIGITAL): 3x–14x

In addition, the unit is always buffering, so you can set the RAV
FIELD OF VIEW (1,000 YARDS): 460 feet (3x) to 240 feet
to record how many seconds you want it to start recording (14x)
before you shoot and for how long after. So, the whole scenario SENSOR: ATN 4K M265 Sensor, 3864 (H) x 2218 (V)
is captured in 1080p for your viewing pleasure later. However, CORE: ATN Obsidian Dual Core
you can also stream it to your phone or tablet to allow others DISPLAY: 1280 x 720 HD
EYE RELIEF: 3.5 inches
to view it in live time through ATN’s Obsidian 4 app, which also
MICRO SD CARD: Up to 64 GB
allows you to adjust the scope’s functions through the same BATTERY LIFE: Up to 18 hours
smart device. Beware: A .17 HMR and other rimfires might not WEIGHT: 2.1 pounds
have sufficient recoil to activate the RAV, but you can simply MSRP: $700
press a button to start recording manually.
OTHER FEATURES: 3D gyroscope, 3D accelerometer,
E-barometer, smart rangeinder, recoil-activated video,
The X-Sight 4K Pro is not perfect, but improvement will come
electronic compass, smooth zoom, changeable reticle
from ATN in the form of updates, just as with your phone. types and colors, microphone, water-resistant, included
I’ve crashed the Pro plenty of times but got it back up with IR light and AR-height rings
minimal issues. There are some bugs, for sure.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Battery life is an incredible 18 hours, and you can plug in the
ATN (American Technologies Network Corporation)
accessory ATN Extended Battery Life Package that comes with ATNCorp.com
a nicely executed, adjustable, nylon cheekpiece that holds the
ABOUT Steven K. Ledin is a former U.S. Navy nuclear gunner’s mate and current
director of a prominent online optics retailer. He’s a CCW and NRA instructor
THE and has been a sponsored competitive shooter and private investigator. He has
AUTHOR hunted (and gotten lost) from Alaska to Africa.
14
RRA 1911-A1 PS2300
BASIC LIMITED PISTOL
MSRP: $1950*
HUNT TEXT AND PHOTOS BY BRAD FITZPATRICK
GOING
TO THE
DOGS
FOLLOWING A PACK OF
HOWLING BIG-GAME
HOUNDS IS ONE OF
THE MOST EXCITING
WAYS TO HUNT BEARS
AND COUGARS.
Where the quarry leads,

hound hunters must follow.
Be prepared to walk in
some steep country and
understand that the first
animal you tree or bay might
not be a shooter—and that
you’ll have to start all over
again. (Photo: Cliff Carney,
Carney Hunts, Colorado)
16
Seasoned hounds
“ride the rig.” Rig
dogs are the first to IF YOU WERE EVER
announce the scent
of a bear. These
well-trained dogs are
UNDER THE NOTION
extremely valuable.
THAT HUNTING
BEARS WITH
HOUNDS IS EASY,
LET ME ASSURE YOU
IT IS NOT.
I
f you were ever under the notion that hunting bears
with hounds is easy, let me assure you it is not. any game on Earth. But hound hunting has come under fire
of late, and some of the detractors are fellow hunters who’ve
Occasionally the process is simple; the dogs strike a bear, never even set foot on the trail behind a pack.
the animal trees quickly, and it’s exactly the boar you’ve
been waiting for. But that’s the exception to the rule, as I quickly Contrary to what some believe, hound hunting is an ethical
learned while hunting with Heaven’s Gate Outitters in Idaho. and challenging form of hunting, and there are far, far more
animals treed than are ever harvested. In fact, many hound
Andy and Karen Savage, who own and operate HGO, have hunters simply enjoy the chase and are more than happy to
exclusive rights to hunt the breathtakingly beautiful country leash their dogs, head for home and leave the game animal
near Hell’s Canyon, which forms the border between Idaho to run another day.
and Oregon. The area is remote and rugged, and that isolation
makes it one of the best places to tag a record-book black Chasing hounds is one of my favorite pastimes, and I look
bear or mountain lion in the lower 48. But getting that animal, forward to these hunts as much as any that I take part in. Is it
even with the aid of expert guides and a superb pack of big- all about the kill? No. Of all the animals I’ve treed, I’ve never
game hounds, can be a challenge. actually harvested any of them—and that’s by my personal
choice. I’ve been on hunts during which animals were taken,
We managed to strike a track early on our hunt. Andy’s hounds but I’ve never pulled the trigger myself.
were “rigged,” which means they were riding atop a box in
the back of his pickup. All at once, the dogs let out a chorus I’m booked to hunt with dogs again next spring for bears, and
of howls and barks as we crept along a narrow two-track. A young hound
barking, treed on even though I haven’t harvested anything yet (and might not
The dogs were released, they fell in line, and the whole a bear in Idaho. then), I await these trips with great anticipation.
mountainside rang with the sound of the chase. Watching well-trained
hounds work is one
of the great joys of WHY HOUND HUNTING?
And that bear, as bears so often do, went straight up the steep slope. chasing big game There are a number of ways to pursue black bears—everything
with dogs.
from baiting to spot-and-stalk to chasing them with dogs. So,
We followed on foot for more than an hour, climbing, scrambling why should hound hunting be at the top of your list?
over deadfalls and working our way down steep, rocky faces as
we followed the dogs. The irst rule of hound hunting—and this For one thing, it offers a rare opportunity to witness well-trained
is very different than most big-game hunts—is that you follow hounds at work. The various hound breeds, from the smallest
the animal you are pursuing, regardless of where it goes. beagle to the various larger breeds (such as coonhounds,
I ind hunting with hounds to be one of the most physically

challenging hunts anywhere in the world, and there’s no promise
that the bear or cat you’re following is a shooter. When Andy’s dogs
inally treed that bear in a narrow drainage by a river, we found
that it was only a small sow in the tree, so we leashed the dogs
and climbed back up and out of the canyon to start all over again.
A young Plott hound
belonging to Heaven’s
ENJOYING THE CHASE Gate Outfitters waits
Scientists believe that humans domesticated dogs tens of for a strike. Hounds
have a sense of smell
thousands of years ago, and since that time, we’ve refined 40 times greater than
these animals into breeds that are suited for hunting almost that of humans.
17
HUNT
foxhounds and bloodhounds), have 220 million olfactory GUNS FOR HOUND HUNTING
receptors in their brains. Compare that to humans— who only Here’s a list of some of the most popular firearms for hunting
have ive million receptors—and you can quickly see why a bears and lions behind dogs:
hound’s sense of smell is 40 times greater than our own.
WINCHESTER MODEL 1892: This John Browning-designed
But that impressive sense of smell doesn’t ensure a successful lever gun is light and is plenty for close-range shooting.
hunt. The dogs have to follow the trail, often over dry, barren Choose a jacketed expanding bullet in either .45 Colt or .44
ground (the hardest for tracking) and stay locked on the scent for Magnum. MSRP: $1,069; WinchesterGuns.com
hours at a time. They then have to tree the animal, and the hunters
have to manage to reach their location, which is sometimes on a
sheer rock face or in the midst of a tangle of dense forest.
At that point, you have to decide whether or not you’re looking MOSSBERG 464: This is an affordable lever gun chambered
at a mature animal to harvest. Bears, in particular, can be very in .30-30 that’s superbly suited for hunting behind dogs.
hard for new hunters to accurately judge; and having time to MSRP: $574; Mossberg.com
be certain of the animal’s sex and age reduces the odds of
shooting an immature bear.
PLANNING FOR A HOUND HUNT

My first bit of advice to anyone who plans on hunting big game RUGER NO. 1: The short overall length of this rile makes it a
with hounds is to be physically prepared for the trip. Train as favorite choice of those who follow a pack of dogs into rough,
you would for a mountain sheep or elk hunt and carry a pack steep country. It’s durable and accurate, with iron sights—
such as the one you’ll carry in the field. In most instances, exactly what you’re looking for. MSRP: $1,899; Ruger.com
you’ll be walking in steep country, so add some hill workouts
and try to trim your body weight as much as possible.
There are many places you can hunt bears with hounds,
including the Rocky Mountain states, Maine, Wisconsin, North SPRINGFIELD TRP 10MM: This 6-inch 10mm 1911 is very
Carolina and Michigan. If you’re after mountain lions, the accurate, easy to carry and is chambered in one of the most
hot spots are Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Montana. versatile handgun hunting calibers of all time. MSRP: $1,842;
Bears can be hunted in the spring or fall (depending on state Springfield-Armory.com
regulations), but mountain lion hunting is typically a winter
sport. And, the more snow, the better for the dogs, because it
improves tracking conditions; and the size of the tracks offers
some insight into whether or not it’s a mature tom.
You can hunt bears and mountain lions behind hounds with
any number of firearms, but remember that shots will be close,
and you’ll be hiking in steep country. For those reasons, I
prefer a short, handy rifle such as a lever-action or a handgun; RUGER REDHAWK: This classic big-game wheelgun is extremely
in fact, many hound hunters I know feel the same way. reliable and easy to carry in a shoulder or belt holster when you’re
climbing over rocks and deadfalls. MSRP: $1,079; Ruger.com
Choose a good bullet that expands reliably—and make your
irst shot count.
Can you eat these animals? Indeed, you can. I’ve had both
bear and mountain lion. When prepared correctly, they are
excellent table fare. GW
ABOUT Brad Fitzpatrick is a full-time freelance writer based in Ohio. His works have appeared in
several print and online publications, and he is the author of two books: The Shooter’s Bible
THE Guide to Concealed Carry and Handgun Buyer’s Guide 2015. He has hunted on four continents
AUTHOR and was a collegiate trap and skeet shooter before becoming a writer.
18
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Artemis Armed TEXT AND PHOTOS BY MICHELLE CERINO
WING
SHOOTING
ANDA
SHOTGUNNING
JOURNEY
IT’S ALL MIND OVER MATTER.
I
enjoy hunting deer and coyote; but honestly, sitting Walking the fields
on a bird hunt in
silently still—in cold weather and often alone—takes the sun makes for a
some of the fun out of the hunt. perfect day.
A few years ago, when the opportunity to experience

wing shooting on a chukar hunt in a preserve came up, I
jumped at the chance. This was a hunt that included walking
Shooting sporting
with other hunters and allowing me to talk along the way clays is a great
… perfect! Plus, a preserve hunt guaranteed seeing game. way to get in some
practice time when
Heck, I might even be quick enough on the gun to have the
bird hunting is not
opportunity to get some shots. in season.
20
Now, let me explain something about myself. Whenever I try
a new adventure, I study it to death. I want to make sure I
know what I’m getting myself into, and—especially because
THIS WAS A HUNT
firearms are involved—I want to be safe.
THAT INCLUDED
RULES AND REGS
Before even considering heading into the field, I made sure WALKING WITH
I felt comfortable running my gun. Sure, when I compete in
3-gun, I’m very confident with my shotgun. However, this OTHER HUNTERS
would be different. I didn’t want to fumble while walking
through a field with other hunters and make anyone AND ALLOWING
nervous. Also, so as not to appear stupid, I went online
and reviewed the safety/etiquette part of the hunt, which is ME TO TALK
something not everyone discusses:
ALONG THE WAY
… PERFECT!
on. This would be the perfect opportunity (or excuse) for me to
take the time to improve my shotgunning skills.
IMPROVING THOSE SKILLS

In pursuit of my goal of learning to shoot better, the first thing
on my list was joining the local outdoorsman club. I needed
somewhere to shoot, right? Luckily, every Tuesday evening
from May through August, the ladies of the club have the
opportunity to shoot sporting clays under the watchful eye of
an instructor. This sounded ideal. Not only would I enjoy the
camaraderie, I would also receive instruction along the way.
Wow, did I need instruction when it came to sporting clays!

Being more of a pistol and rifle shooter, I couldn’t wrap my
1. Hunter orange and eye protection are mandatory. Learning how to mind around what I was supposed to see when I took the
2. Maintain a straight line, shoulder to shoulder, while walking shoot sporting clays
should help build shot. Sure, some days I would get lucky, but other days, I felt
through the field with the other hunters. This might mean confidence for wing myself aiming and just couldn’t hit anything. I needed another
adjusting your pace along the way. shooting.
resource for learning the sport.
3. Know where your muzzle is pointed at all times. In the
excitement of a bird flushing, be careful not to shoot over or The next part of my shotgunning journey involved delving into
across another hunter. a book. I hoped that by having pictures and words in front of
4. Visualize the zone where you can safely shoot, and stay me, perhaps I could have that, “Ah-ha!” moment. I just needed
within it when a bird presents itself. something to click in my brain.
5. Don’t give commands to the dogs. Leave that to their trainers.
6. Be mindful of the dogs’ location(s) before taking a shot. No
shots should be below the horizon line. Make sure you can see
blue sky under the barrel of your shotgun.
7. While walking, guns are on “safe;” hinge-action shotguns
are kept action-open.
I had the greatest experience on my first bird hunt. Only one of

the chukars we flushed managed to get away, and I managed
to knock down my fair share of the birds.
As we walked through the fields, we even talked and giggled.

Most importantly though, I enjoyed hunting with dogs and
wanted to bird hunt again. However, I knew I had a lot to work
21
Artemis Armed
Well, as they say, “Easier said than done.” No matter how much
I practiced, I still had issues hitting those darned orange disks.
However, my final hunt of the season (at the Kansas

Governor’s Ringneck Classic) proved those little orange disks
don’t always “translate” to the field: Although a few of the
wild pheasants might have gotten away to live another day,
let’s just say my freezer is now full.
Now … back to sporting clays and Ladies’ Night at the hunt

club. So far this year, I’ve noticed quite a bit of improvement. I
found a shotgun that fits better, and I’ve learned how to really
focus on the clay. When I miss, I find out that I’m just shooting
at the clay. It doesn’t quite work that way.
Recently, after I missed a crossing clay several times, the

instructor said, “Miss in front of the bird (clay).” Guess what?
I hit that clay every time after that. It’s all mind over matter.
Yes, I’ll admit, I’ve fallen in love with wing shooting and am
By pure chance, I found the book, Maine-Ly Wing Shooting, by A few pheasants from
a local preserve hunt even beginning to enjoy sporting clays. GW
Brad Varney, and I highly recommend it. He writes in a way I ind
easy to understand and relate to. It’s almost as if Mr. Varney is
sitting in my living room and we’re chatting over a cup of coffee. … SO AS NOT TO
Yes, I learned quite a bit from his book. The following two
APPEAR STUPID, I
excerpts helped me understand the importance of keeping my WENT ONLINE AND
eyes on the target and not the sight:
REVIEWED THE
• “The hands and trigger obey the eyes of the good wing shot.” SAFETY/ETIQUETTE
• “Locking your eyes on the target gives the brain the
correct information to direct the muscles to move the gun in PART OF THE HUNT,
a precise, subconscious manner.”
WHICH IS SOMETHING
Shooting sporting
clays and wing NOT EVERYONE
shooting can become
a lifestyle. DISCUSSES.
The author’s favorite

part of wing shooting
is hunting over dogs.
They’re always so
excited to work.
Michelle Cerino is both a irearms trainer and the president of Cerino Consulting and
ABOUT THE Training Group, LLC—a irearms training company she built with her husband, Chris,
AUTHOR in 2011. She writes, hunts and competes in major 3-gun matches nationwide.
22
STAMP COLLECTOR.
Maxus Wicked Wing
browning.com
FEDERAL DUCK STAMP IMAGES USED BY PERMISSION FROM THE USFWS
gun world TEXT AND PHOTOS BY BRAD FITZPATRICK
AMERICAN
HUNTING
PRIMER
FALL IS JUST AROUND THE
CORNER. IN ANTICIPATION
OF THE SEASON, WE
TAKE A LOOK AT NORTH
AMERICA’S 10 MOST
POPULAR GAME ANIMALS,
BOTH LARGE AND SMALL.
B
y the time you read this, we’ll
rapidly be approaching every
hunter’s favorite time of
year—autumn. Chances are,
you’ve spent the dog days of
summer checking trail cameras, planting
food plots and waiting, perhaps impatiently,
for the irst hint of cooler weather.
Congratulations! You’re almost there.
In preparation for—and in celebration

of—hunting season’s return, we’ve come
up with a pre-season primer to North
America’s top 10 game species (listed
here in no particular order). GW
24
MULE DEER
A big mule deer buck has become one of the most coveted
A BIG MULE DEER BUCK
trophies in North America, and drawing a tag in units
where big mule deer are common can be very tough.
HAS BECOME ONE OF
Likewise, guided hunt s in the best mule deer areas are
costly. But getting a good buck is still possible, even
THE MOST COVETED
on your own and while hunting on public land. The vast
majority of mule deer hunts are spot-and-stalk, so you’ll
TROPHIES IN NORTH
need a really good spotting scope or binocular, and you’ll
need to scour the landscape for any sign of the animals. AMERICA, AND DRAWING
Some hunters believe that mule deer aren’t as wary as
whitetails, but big, old muley bucks are still masters at A TAG IN UNITS WHERE
avoiding detection. A lot of pre-planning and scouting
prior to opening day are keys to success. BIG MULE DEER ARE
WHERE TO HUNT: Muleys live in the Rocky Mountain COMMON CAN BE VERY
states. Colorado, Arizona (especially around the Kaibab
Plateau) and Utah have a history of producing really big TOUGH. LIKEWISE,
deer. Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, New Mexico, Idaho,
Texas and Washington all produce great bucks as well, GUIDED HUNTS IN
and the most underrated mule deer areas in the country
might be Nebraska’s Sand Hills, South Dakota’s Black THE BEST MULE DEER
AREAS ARE COSTLY.
Hills and northern Nevada.
BUT GETTING A GOOD

GUNS: On average, mule deer are larger than whitetails; and
there’s a good chance you’ll have to take a long shot. My
favorite cartridges are the flat-shooting and mild-recoiling
.25s and 6.5s such as the .25-06 Remington, .257 Weatherby
Magnum, 6.5 Creedmoor, 26 Nosler and the new 6.5 PRC.
BUCK IS STILL POSSIBLE,
DID YOU KNOW? One of the easiest ways to distinguish mule
EVEN ON YOUR OWN
deer from whitetails is that a mule deer has a distinctive
black patch on its forehead.
AND WHILE HUNTING ON
PUBLIC LAND.
25
gun world
ABOUT FIVE OF EVERY SIX

HUNTERS IN THIS COUNTRY
PURSUE WHITETAILS, SO IT
GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT
THESE DEER ARE THE MOST
POPULAR OF ALL NORTH
AMERICAN GAME.
WHITETAIL DEER
About five of every six hunters in this country pursue whitetails,

so it goes without saying that these deer are the most popular
of all North American game. Whitetail populations crashed
around the turn of the 20th century because of indiscriminate
and unregulated market and sport hunting. Today, however,
there are 30 million deer in the United States. Seasons start
in late August in some states (such as South Carolina) and
continue on through the end of January.
WHERE TO HUNT THEM: States such as Ohio, Illinois,

Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri are known for
producing big deer. However, there are some sleeper states
that produce giant whitetail as well—namely, Wyoming,
Mississippi, Kentucky and Arkansas.
GUNS: Guns include just about anything, including .22-caliber

(where legal) and larger centerfires, handguns, shotguns and
even air rifles in some states. Modern muzzleloaders offer
superb accuracy and allow you to extend your season.
DID YOU KNOW? A whitetail fawn can stand in as little time as

15 minutes after birth.
26
FERAL HOGS
In the 1500s, Hernando de Soto and his conquistadores came to the Americas in search of gold. They
brought along huge herds of domestic pigs that eventually escaped and became the breeding stock
for our current wild hog populations. Pigs are found in at least 39 different states, and their status as
an invasive species means that most parts of the country offer liberal (or no) bag limits and lengthy
hunting seasons. Some states don’t even consider them game animals, so they’re not regulated. This
means there are no bag limits, and you can hunt them all year. Wild pigs—especially smaller animals—
can provide excellent table fare, and the cost to hunt them is very low. In fact, many landowners simply
want hunters to come and remove as many pigs as possible.
WHERE TO HUNT: Southern states, such as

Texas, Alabama, Georgia and Florida, all have
high pig populations, and there are plenty of
opportunities to pursue hogs there. The first
step is to decide whether you want to pay for
a guide or hunt pigs on your own on public
ground. The second decision you’ll need to
make is how and when to hunt them. You can
hunt hogs over bait from blinds, with dogs and
even at night. In some areas, you can even
shoot them from helicopters, which is the
fastest way to take home a lot of pork.
GUNS: Don’t underestimate the tenacity of wild

pigs. A big boar can absorb a lot of punishment.
Wild pigs are some of the few North American
game animals that are truly dangerous, especially
when injured. ARs are a natural choice, and
calibers such as .300 Blackout and 6.8 SPC are
great choices. Lever guns work well too, and the
classic .30-30 will work wonders. If you’re using
a handgun, a .44 Magnum, .45 Colt revolver and
10mm semiauto will all do the trick.
DID YOU KNOW? A single sow can produce around

24 piglets a year, and females reach sexual maturity
in about one year (although maturity can be reached
in as few as three or four months).
27
gun world
... BULL ELK ARE THE

SECOND-LARGEST
DEER IN NORTH
AMERICA, AND THERE
IS PROBABLY NO WILD
GAME MEAT THAT IS
AS DELICIOUS AS ELK
VENISON.
ELK WHERE TO HUNT: Colorado has the largest elk population and offers
plenty of public land and over-the-counter tags. New Mexico and
For many hunters, no sound symbolizes the wilderness like the Arizona are known for producing monster bulls, but the archery
raspy bugle of a bull elk. Weighing up to 800 pounds, bull elk are world record elk was harvested recently in Montana. Wyoming and
the second-largest deer in North America, and there is probably no Idaho both offer opportunities for huge bulls in some units. Utah is
wild game meat that is as delicious as elk venison. In most states also excellent, but drawing a tag can be tough.
where elk are hunted, the season begins in September and carries
through to the winter; rile and muzzleloader seasons are often GUNS: You can certainly kill an elk with a small-caliber rile, but
later in the year. Be prepared to hike while hunting these animals, don’t push your luck. The .280 Ackley Improved has gained a
because elk thrive in steep country. Understand that elk move following among elk hunters in recent years, and I have every
great distances, and a particular patch of public ground or piece reason to believe that the 6.5 PRC will turn out to be an effective
of private property might only hold animals at certain times of the and eficient elk-killer. However, the .30-calibers are still the
year. When the animal is down, there’s a lot of meat to haul out of most popular option—from .308 Win. to the fast .300 Magnums.
the ield—which generally means a lot of work—so be mentally
prepared. In addition, have the tools on hand to accomplish a meat DID YOU KNOW? Elk “ivories” are actually the vestigial remains
pack-out if you haven’t hired a guide or outitter. of canine teeth.
28
COYOTES
Despite consistent hunting pressure, coyotes have managed to spread across North
America. These canines now thrive in wilderness areas, on city streets and everywhere
in between. There’s no doubt that coyotes take a toll on other game. These predators
are especially fond of eating whitetail fawns early in the season, so anyone who hunts
whitetails or muleys would be well-served to spend a few days each year set up behind
an electronic caller with a small-caliber rile. Coyotes are extremely intelligent and catch
on quickly when they’re being hunted. Consequently, in areas where there are a lot of
people, coyotes might not come in to calls at all.
WHERE TO HUNT: Anywhere. Coyotes are found from coast to coast and in every habitat,
but my own experience has taught me that these animals prefer to use the path of least
resistance when traveling from point A to point B. For that reason, I set up along game trails
and creeks when I call.
GUNS: Shotguns, rimire and centerire riles all work for coyotes, but fast centerire .22s
are the most popular option. There are plenty of bullet options, and these riles shoot lat
and generate very little recoil. Optic selection is a major factor when hunting coyotes.
Choose a variable scope with a high upper-end magniication, great lens coatings and
superb low-light performance (new thermal optics from companies such as FLIR make it
easier and more successful to hunt these animals at night). That could mean you’ll have
to pay a little more, but you’ll kill more coyotes.
DID YOU KNOW? Coyotes were originally found in the southwestern and western United
States but moved farther east as other predators were extirpated there.
29
gun world
BLACK BEAR NUMBERS ARE ON

THE INCREASE, AND AS MORE AND
MORE STATES OFFER BEAR HUNTING
SEASONS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR
HUNTERS TO PURSUE BRUINS ARE
EXPANDING AS WELL.
BLACK BEAR Montana, New Mexico and other states also produce excellent
bears. The absolutely biggest bears, though, come from
Black bear numbers are on the increase, and as more and more Pennsylvania and North Carolina. It’s not uncommon to see black
states offer bear hunting seasons, opportunities for hunters to bears that weigh more than 700 pounds killed in coastal Carolina.
pursue bruins are expanding as well. Baiting bears is the most That’s more than the average interior Alaskan grizzly weighs.
common method of hunting; when done properly, it is quite
successful. In some areas, particularly the Rocky Mountain GUNS: Bears are dense and can be dangerous if your shot is
states, spot-and-stalk hunting is effective, and in other areas, off even slightly, so it’s a good idea to choose a caliber that
you can chase bears with hounds—which is far more physically hits hard and leaves a large enough hole to produce an ample
challenging than most hunters assume. The goal is always to take blood trail. For spot-and-stalk, the .308, .30-06 and various
a mature boar. Bear meat, when handled and prepared properly, .300 magnums make sense, and when hunting over bait or
is delicious. Additionally, you can render the snow-white bear fat with hounds, a .45-70 works wonders.
to use for making pastries.
DID YOU KNOW? Bears don’t hibernate—they estivate. True
WHERE TO HUNT: Idaho offers lots of land, three different hunting hibernating animals enter a deep sleep from which they do not
methods, lengthy seasons and lots of bears. As a result, it’s my awaken until their body temperature rises. Bears wake up in
favorite black bear hunting destination. But Maine, Wisconsin, winter and occasionally even leave their dens.
30
birds are flocked-up and feeding in preparation for winter. The
most common method to take fall turkeys involves running
into a flock, scaring them into flight and then calling to bring
stray birds back to the group. Wild turkey meat is darker than
that of domestic birds, but when seasoned and smoked, wild
turkey is among the finest of all wild game meats.
WHERE TO HUNT: You can hunt turkeys just about anywhere

(including Hawaii), but I’ve just returned from central Nebraska
and have to give that area a solid recommendation. There is
lots of land and plenty of birds, and Nebraska offers hunters
a chance to take three different subspecies (Merriam’s, Rios
and Easterns) in a single state. (Then, again, Hawaii might be
a great Plan B.)
GUNS: I recommend a 12- or 20-gauge shotgun loaded with

magnum turkey ammunition. I prefer semiautos and over/
unders, because they offer fast follow-ups. In addition, over/
unders are particularly appealing, because they have a short
overall length and can easily be unloaded when crossing
WILD TURKEY fences or ditches.
Yes, we’re approaching fall, but the wild turkey deserves a DID YOU KNOW? Many of the wild turkeys in the United States
spot on any list of the top North American game animals. While have DNA from domestic birds. When Spanish explorers returned
most people associate turkey hunting with the spring months, home from Central and South America, they brought the irst
many states offer fall turkey seasons. Fall hunting requires turkeys to Europe, and the offspring of those turkeys returned to
different tactics: The breeding season is long over, and the the New World. Many of them subsequently escaped.
31
gun world
PRONGHORN ANTELOPE WHERE TO HUNT: Wyoming. Sure, there are pronghorn in several other
western states, but Wyoming is home to more than a half-million of these
The pronghorn antelope is the only true antelope species in North animals. In fact, there are more antelope than people in this state!
America. Because they are creatures of the open plains, pronghorn rely
on their sense of sight—and that means hunters need to stay out of sight. GUNS: A lat-shooting rile is the key. The .243 Winchester, .25-06, 6.5
However, pronghorn are also very curious and will sometimes approach a Creedmoor and .270 Winchester are all popular options—with good reason.
foreign object to determine what it is. That’s one of the reasons decoying
these animals has gained in popularity. Some people claim that pronghorn DID YOU KNOW? Pronghorn are, by far, the fastest North American ungulates
meat doesn’t taste good, but my experience is that pronghorn steaks, and are believed to be the second-fastest land animals—after cheetahs.
when handled correctly in the field, are among the most flavorful and Why so fast? Because pronghorn were actually hunted by cheetahs (the
delicious of any North American wild game. now-extinct American cheetah) prior to the last ice age.
North America’s apparently endless supply of ducks and

geese would soon dry up. But hunters helped lead the charge,
and today, there are dozens of species of huntable waterfowl
in every U.S. state. Early in the season, you can hunt small
water for teal and timber for wood ducks. Later in the year,
the annual migration will push mallards, gadwall, widgeon,
pintails, redheads, goldeneyes and a host of other birds down
from their summer range in Canada.
WHERE TO HUNT: Early in the season, I enjoy hunting along

the northern tier states of North and South Dakota or in
southern Canada. Later in the year, consider the Gulf Coast—
particularly Florida—Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and
Texas. Texas’s Matagorda Island is my favorite winter duck
hunting destination, because it’s warm, and you can combine
hunting with excellent fishing for drum and sea trout.
GUNS: I prefer the convenience and comfort of a semiauto,

but I’ve also used pumps and over/unders with great success.
You’ll also need to select a nontoxic load and then pattern it
through your gun to be sure it works well. Winchester’s Blind
Side, Kent’s Fasteel and Federal’s Black Cloud are all great
options. Also, a camo gun is a great idea—not just because
it offers extra concealment, but because it’s another barrier
WATERFOWL between your gun’s steel and the water.
North America’s current waterfowl population numbers DID YOU KNOW? The mallard is one of only two wild duck
prove just how successful hunter-based conservation can species (the other being the Muscovy duck) that has been
be. Around the turn of the 20th century, market waterfowl domesticated. Almost all domestic duck species trace their
hunters had decimated bird populations, and it seemed that lineages back to wild mallards.
32
DOVES
The mourning dove is America’s game bird, and when September 1 rolls around each year, it’s a safe
bet that hunters are lining sunflower fields across the country, trying to shoot their limit. Dove hunting
is accessible, affordable and very enjoyable, and it’s a great way to kick off the hunting season. Most
hunters plant food plots—millets, sorghum, sunflower or some combination of those—and mow those
fields just prior to season. But you can hunt around just about any agricultural field and expect to see
at least a few birds. There might be no better wild game dish on earth than grilled dove breast poppers.
WHERE TO HUNT: Doves need a few things: roosting cover, water, forage and grit. Birds spend much of
their day traveling from one of these resources to the next, so set up on a travel corridor with a few
decoys and be ready to shoot. Many states offer excellent dove hunting, but none matches Texas.
GUNS: I recommend a smooth-swinging shotgun that you shoot well. I prefer a long-barreled 20- or
28-gauge over/under (which provides a smooth swing) or a 20-gauge semiauto. Doves are deceptively
fast, so practice prior to season.
DID YOU KNOW? The traditional and recognizable “cooing” call is always uttered by male doves.
33
gun world TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CHUCK TAYLOR
TEHACHAPI
HOGS
BARNES AND DRT
AMMO HANDLE
THE TOUGH
MOUNTAIN
BOARS OF
SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA.
34
I
t was a dark, crisp December morning as we motored other animal, pigs must eat; but wild pigs eat a lot and breed
slowly along the dirt road leading up into the Tehachapi virtually all year around, producing an average of four litters
Mountains southeast of Bakersfield, California. My two per year, which makes for major crop damage for farmers and
companions, Norman Hanson and Alan Chandler, had ranchers. They’re also highly social and organized, far more
picked me up at “zero dark 30,” cups of strong coffee than other species, which makes their explosive growth in
in hand (and one for me, of course—strong and black!), and numbers easy to understand.
we’d sallied forth on what was destined to become one of the
most memorable hunts I’d ever experienced. A DIFFERENT BREED OF TOUGH
Yet, in hunting them over the years, I’d also discovered they
I’ve hunted wild pigs all over the world—the southeastern were relatively easy to kill. All you had to do was hit them
United States, Bavaria, the Philippines, southeast Asia, Africa in their vulnerable areas, just as on any other critter. Thus,
and Hawaii. And in the process, I’d discovered a few things. as a successful hunter of many years, I’d simply logged the
information about them into my memory and let it go at that.
First of all, wild pigs are smart, fast and, if cornered,
dangerous. In the United States, their range has steadily But Norm and Alan had told me that Tehachapi pigs are different:
increased over the last three decades to the point at which They are super-tough, tenacious and more aggressive than
they’ve become a major, and growing, problem. Like any typical wild pigs. This is due primarily to the fact that they
spend a great deal of time running up and down 60- and
70-degree mountain slopes and traveling great distances
back and forth between their bedding and feeding/watering
areas. As a result, their cardio-vascular systems are, of
necessity, more highly developed.
On my first hunt with them several years earlier, I’d discovered

(to my chagrin) that Norm and Alan were right. I’d never before
seen pigs so tough! More than once, I’d perfectly placed my
shot tight behind the front shoulder, only to see the pigs take
off, often straight uphill, and disappear over the ridge top. This
Due to their is something you simply don’t see with other critters, which,
extraordinary cardio-
vascular development
from running up and
down steep mountain
slopes daily, the ... BARNES VOR-TX
boars of California’s
Tehachapi Mountains
are big, smart and
AND DRT TERMINAL
hard to put down.
(Photo: Neil Burton/
Dreamstime)
SHOCK ARE,
WITHOUT A DOUBT,
GREAT CHOICES.
MOREOVER,
THEY’RE BOTH
HIGHLY ACCURATE
AND FUNCTIONALLY
RELIABLE.
35
gun world
revolutionary retarded-frangible design that allows penetration
to vital organs, breaks bones and then fragments, virtually
destroying internal organs. I’d used both for years, with
excellent results, on dozens of animals (mule and whitetail
deer, elk, bear, mountain lion and a slew of small game critters),
so my conidence in them was absolute.
The day before, Norm, Alan and I had decided they would use
the Barnes VOR-TX ammo, while I would go with the DRT.
Norm selected the VOR-TX 200-grain TTSX for his custom
Winchester Model 70 .35 Whelen, while Alan had opted for
VOR-TX 130-grain .308 Win. in his custom Savage M-110. I,
... THE BARNES VOR-TX

AND DRT TERMINAL
when seriously wounded, will nearly always turn abruptly
downhill. I’d also seen other hunters place their shots the
Rooted-up areas
where the pigs have
been digging up
SHOCK AMMO HAD DONE
same way—with exactly the same results—necessitating a
long tracking exercise to recover them.
acorns and other
succulents are
THE JOB PERFECTLY.
evidence of active
feeding. The wild NO ANIMAL HAD GONE
BARNES & DRT: EFFECTIVE PILLS FOR TOUGH HOGS
As a result, I’d decided that maximum penetration, bone-
barley that grows
in profusion on the ANY SERIOUS DISTANCE
AFTER BEING HIT; NONE
southern exposures
breaking ability and, of course, accuracy were all called for, so of the ridgelines
in the Tehachapi
I opted to try both the Barnes VOR-TX and Dynamic Research
Technologies (DRT) Terminal Shock factory fodder.
Mountains is another
of their favorites. REQUIRED FOLLOW-UP
VOR-TX ammo features the company’s tried-and-true Tipped
SHOTS; AND ALL WERE
Triple Shock X (TTSX) bullet, while DRT bullets feature a EASILY RECOVERED.
The boars of
California’s Tehachapi
Mountains are tough.
They’re found as
high as 7,000 feet
and find snow to
be no handicap.
(Photo: Anagram/
Dreamstime)
36
Wild boars also love to root and wallow in swampy places to
cool off and coat themselves with mud. The many streams and
artesian springs in the Tehachapi Mountains are, therefore,
prime locations. (Photo: Neil Burton/Dreamstime)
on the other hand, am a big fan of longer-range engagements All our rifles printed three-shot rested groups of ½ MOA or
to catch my game unaware, and this means potentially shooting better, with mine the most accurate of them all, at ¼ MOA.
across canyons. Consequently, I selected my custom-blueprinted, So, whatever else might happen, we knew our rifles and
precision-conigured Winchester Model 70 in .300 Winchester ammo were fully prepared for anything. The only question, as
Magnum and DRT’s 150-grain Terminal Shock ammo. always, was us—as hunters and shooters.
While compliant with
the California law
This particular rig had downed many big-game animals for prohibiting lead-core Thus, with four tags in my pocket, and Norm and Alan with
me without failure and was calibrated to 1,000 meters in bullets, ammo from one apiece, we headed into the high country with high spirits.
Dynamic Research
25-meter increments; as a result, I reasoned that all the From the moment I awakened that morning, I just knew we
Technologies and
possible scenarios I might encounter were covered. Barnes “gets it done.” were going to have a great hunt, but I never realized how
terrific it was going to be.
MBER I 2018
A wild boar’s thoracic
organs are located
more forward than most
species and are well-
protected as a result.
They also have massive
bone structure and a
breast plate of thick,
leathery hide. They’re
fast, tough, aggressive
and dangerous at close
quarters, so putting
them down quickly is
critical. (Photo: Neil
Burton/Dreamstime)
... WILD PIGS ARE SMART, FAST AND,

IF CORNERED, DANGEROUS. IN THE
UNITED STATES, THEIR RANGE HAS
STEADILY INCREASED OVER THE LAST
THREE DECADES TO THE POINT AT
WHICH THEY’VE BECOME A MAJOR, AND
GROWING, PROBLEM.
38
A second later, I saw it hit right at the base of the pig’s tail—a
pronounced puff of dirt and fur marking its impact. Another
second later, a loud whop! reached us, and the pig tumbled,
end over end, and never got up.
“Damn,” Norm said. “Now that was a good shot!”
I grinned, trying to be humble ... but inside, I was as tickled

as he was.
THE HUNT— TAG #1 Spectacular terminal
ballistics without
The sun had not yet risen above the horizon when the action loss of penetration Field-dressing disclosed that the DRT bullet had struck at
began. Driving along the primitive dirt road leading into the is a DRT hallmark.
the base of the tail, traveled though the pelvis, shattered the
Here is the wound
mountains, we’d encountered a group of about 20 pigs moving cavity from a .308 base of the spine and continued on through the abdominal
briskly across the valley floor in that ground-eating trot Win. 135-grain DRT cavity, passed through the diaphragm and virtually exploded
Terminal Shock bullet
common to the breed. Trailing a bit behind the others was a in the thoracic cavity, shredding everything therein.
in a 6x6x16-inch FBI
nice-looking boar, so Alan decided to go after him. Norm and I gel block. Terminal Shock, indeed!
continued along the road, hoping to intercept the group before
its members started up the nearest mountainside. “One down,” I said, with a smile.
We hadn’t gone more than 200 meters when a shot from TAG #2
Alan’s Savage M-110 .308 reached us. Then, a few seconds The author, with Back in the truck and a half-mile later, the sun came up,
later, Alan’s voice crackled on the radio, “One down!” his irst porker of
the day—a nice and we found ourselves in the mountains. Marveling at the
220-pounder. It beautiful morning, I was amazed to see a large, lone pig up on
We hurried back to see his trophy. He’d busted the boar was taken shortly
a ridge several hundred meters above us.
after sunrise with
from 300 meters with a nice quartering-away hit. Visual Winchester M70
examination showed that the 130-grain TTSX had penetrated custom .300 Win. Coming to a quick stop, Norm said, “Go ahead, amigo.”
and a single hit with
diagonally through the animal from its point of impact just
DRT Terminal Shock
forward of the pig’s right hip and exited in front of his left 150-grain ammo at a I dismounted, found the wind and terrain to be favorable, and
shoulder, leaving a 1½-inch exit hole. The boar had, Alan whopping 535 meters
(585 yards) while elected to do a quick stalk. However, when I was about 120
said, continued to run for about 50 meters and then piled up. running straight away. meters from the pig, the wind changed, and the pig took off.
Weighed later, the pig dressed out at 190 pounds.
Leaving Alan to field-dress and stow his pig on his Jeep

Rubicon, Norm and I continued down the road. However, we
hadn’t gone even a half-mile when another group of pigs
crossed in front of us, heading for the mountainside to our
right. Taking a small jeep trail that led generally in their
direction, we turned off, hoping to get to a point at which we
could intercept them before they reached the slope.
Wow! I thought to myself. Two groups of pigs already, and the

sun isn’t even up yet!
Unfortunately, it didn’t look as if we were going to make it.

Nevertheless, some deft driving on Norm’s part brought us to
a point at which I might be able to engage them, although they
were now running dead-away from us.
I bailed out of the truck, quickly glassed them, spotted a nice

pig and lased her, inding the range to be approaching 500
meters. Quickly setting the Leupold 6.5-20x40mm target scope
on my Model 70 for 535 meters, I took up a rest across the hood
of Norm’s truck, quickly took a couple of deep breaths and let
’er rip. The .300 Winchester shattered the early-morning calm,
and the 150-grain Terminal Shock was on its way.
39
gun world
Aiming a bit low for the steep downhill angle, I put my
crosshairs low and just a bit in front of the pig’s shoulder, took
a deep breath and squeezed the trigger. The .300 Winchester
loudly belched its message, and I was again rewarded with a
loud whop! The pig unceremoniously went down in a cloud of
dust. After dragging the carcass (this one weighed in at 225
pounds) up to the trail and dressing it out, I grinned at Norm.
“Three down; one to go!”
As before, the DRT 150-grain Terminal Shock had done

its work perfectly.
Alan, who had caught up with us, looked at my pig and the
two others in the back of Norm’s Ford F-350, grinned and said,
“Nice work!”
Continuing to drive the jeep trails during the afternoon, we

saw pigs galore. Wherever we went, regardless of altitude,
they were out and about—which isn’t typical. Normally, they
move during the dawn and dusk periods like other game. But
However, she had to cross several hundred meters of open The author’s second
for some reason, there were out all day long. Unfortunately, due
pig was spotted
ridgeline to get away. She didn’t make it. to extreme range or unfavorable winds, no shots were possible.
about a half-hour
after the first one.
I went prone, leaving the scope set at its zero range of 250 It was stalked and
taken while trotting, FOUR TAGS, FOUR ACES
meters, took a quick breath and, aiming low behind the with a single, left- Late in the afternoon, we found ourselves in the same area in
shoulder with a foot of lead, squeezed off a shot. facing broadside shot
at 120 meters. Again,
which I’d bagged my second pig that morning. Our luck was
DRT 150-grain .300 holding, because as the afternoon sun began to set, we spotted
Once again, the Model 70 shattered the morning calm, and Win. Terminal Shock
a sounder of a dozen pigs feeding on top of an adjacent hill. At
ammo was utilized.
the 150-grain DRT was on its way. And once again, I heard the my insistence, Norm and I both went after them.
This boar weighed
loud whop! of its arrival on target. 240 pounds.
The pig I selected was quartering-on at about 175 meters,

Without further ado, down she went. The DRT bullet had again with another nice porker only 10 meters away from him. I
struck on target. It penetrated deep into the thoracic cavity nodded at Norm, who indicated he would take that one, while
and destroyed everything. n with my back to a tree and slung up.
Hmmm, I thought. This stuff works! And I was further delig Just after sunset, as
to find that the dressed weight of my pig was 240 pounds the temperature cooled
and gloves were again
appropriate, the author
TAG #3 bagged porker number
With two of my four tags now filled, we continued to c 4—a 200-pounder—
only a few hundred
higher, seeing pigs everywhere we went. But no shots meters up the ridgeline
possible. So, after stopping at around 7,000 feet for a q from boar number 2.
This pig was taken with
sandwich and a cup of coffee, we continued on. a single quartering-on
shot from 175 meters
with 150-grain .300
In the early afternoon, we caught another group of pigs b
Win. DRT ammo.
us, climbing a draw.
I quickly glanced at Norm, who once again said, “Your shot,
So, I dismounted, went prone on the jeep trail, lased the pigs
and found them to be 300 meters below. I decided to let them
come to us so I wouldn’t have to drag a carcass up a 70-degree
slope. Nevertheless, at 225 meters, the pig I wanted spotted
us and began to trot away parallel to the jeep trail.
40
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gun world
conventional bullet designs. Time and time again, with perfect
Just at dawn, Alan
hits using traditional bullet designs, I’ve seen them either
Chandler bagged
this 190-pound boar simply run off or somehow “come back to life” after lying still
with his custom for as long as 30 seconds (they leap to their feet and run away
Savage M110, using
Barnes VOR-TX as if they had no injury).
130-grain .308 Win.
ammo. The pig was
quartering away to So, if you’re looking for ammo that “gets it done,” even on
the right, trotting, tough critters such as the alpine boars of Tehachapi, Barnes
at 300 meters, but it
VOR-TX and DRT Terminal Shock are, without a doubt,
was downed with a
single hit. great choices. Moreover, they’re both highly accurate and
functionally reliable. In short, they’re both excellent choices.
Try them; I think you’ll agree. GW
TEHACHAPI PIGS
ARE DIFFERENT:
THEY ARE
SUPER-TOUGH,
Norm gestured for me to go ahead ... and my fourth pig of the
day was history. The 150-grain DRT struck her in the chest
As the author got his
fourth big porker of the
day, Norman Hanson TENACIOUS
AND MORE
just to the left of the front shoulder, penetrated deep into the simultaneously took
thoracic cavity and, as before, destroyed everything therein. this 200-pound boar
with a single shot
Another 200-pounder. Four tags, four pigs down—four aces!
AGGRESSIVE
from his Winchester
M-70 .35 Whelen,
using Barnes VOR-TX
As my rifle came out of recoil and I worked the bolt in case 200-grain TTSXs.
a follow-up shot was needed, I dimly heard the report of
Norm’s .35 Whelen. After ascertaining that my pig was
The pig was trotting
broadside at 110
meters, but only a
THAN TYPICAL
down, I stole a quick glance at Norm’s pig. It, too, was down.
The big, 200-grain Barnes TTSX boat-tail had traversed the
entire pig from front to back, exiting from the animal’s rump,
single hit behind the
shoulder was required
to down him. WILD PIGS.
leaving a 1½-inch exit hole. It had collapsed instantly and
weighed 200 pounds dressed.
It was with great satisfaction that we field-dressed the last

two pigs, packed them on to Norm’s truck and Alan’s Rubicon
and began the slow descent out of the mountains. Six filled
tags—a “full house” and a personal “four aces” for me. And
what a pile o’ porkers it was! The freezers would be full for
quite a while.
Now, with ample time to think about the day as we traversed

the windy route back down out of the mountains, I realized
we had just had the pig hunt of a lifetime—the likes of which
we’d probably never see again.
I also realized the Barnes VOR-TX and DRT Terminal Shock

ammo had done the job perfectly. No animal had gone any
serious distance after being hit; none required follow-up
shots; and all were easily recovered. This is something that
doesn’t often happen on these critters with ammo utilizing
42
gun world TEXT AND PHOTOS BY RICHARD SCHUTZ
THE FIRST
LARGE-CAPACITY
MICRO-9 IS A
GAME-CHANGER.
The trigger
on the P365
does not have
an integral
safety. A
large external
extractor
is provided
for sure
extractions.
44
gun world
to conceal easily. With a sight radius of almost 5 inches and to the rear. It does have a striker block that prevents the
SIG’s X-RAY3 Day/Night sights, getting a good sight picture is striker from moving forward unless the trigger is pulled.
as easy as with a mid-sized or compact pistol.
The stainless steel slide has fore and aft cocking serrations.
The real kicker is the P365’s magazine capacity. Two 10-round There also is a rectangular opening at the top rear of the barrel
magazines are standard, for a loaded capacity of 11 rounds. One hood that allows the operator to visually determine whether or
magazine has a lat base for better concealment, and the other has not there is a casing in the chamber. In my mind, this feature
a inger rest for a better grip. An extended, 12-round magazine is negates the need for front cocking serrations, which are
available for a loaded capacity of 13 rounds. This approaches mid- generally used to perform a “press-check” to determine the
sized/compact territory—but in a micro-compact size. condition of the pistol. Generally, press-checks are not a good
idea: The slide might be left out of battery because it hasn’t
All of this comes in a package virtually the same size and had the full force of the recoil spring(s) to return it to battery.
weight as either a 9mm M&P Shield or a Glock 43.
A large, slide-mounted external extractor makes sure
WHAT MAKES THE P365 TICK? no cartridge is left behind in the chamber. The recoil rod
The basic design of the P365 is that of the now-common recoil- assembly uses dual springs. I did find the slide easier to rack
operated, semiauto, center-fire, striker-fired, polymer-framed than on either the Glock 43 or the M&P Shield.
The SIG Sauer P365
pistol. As such, it shares many features with its competition. comes with a flush-fit,
The one thing the P365 doesn’t have is a trigger safety. There 10-round magazine Grip texturing on the polymer frame is adequate, but I added
(shown) and a
is no blade in the trigger shoe, nor is there a pivoting trigger 10-round magazine
Talon black rubber grips to the P365 I evaluated, because I
shoe that must be actuated to allow the trigger shoe to move with a finger rest. like their feel and stickiness.
... ONCE IN A WHILE,

SOMETHING TRULY
SPECIAL COMES ALONG.
ENTER THE SIG SAUER
P365 9MM, RELEASED
IN JANUARY 2018.
HOLSTERS
At the P365’s initial introduction, there were few
holsters available for it, other than those offered by SIG
Sauer and made by BlackPoint Tactical.
Those holsters consist of the IWB “Mini Wing” and

DualPoint AIWB Kydex holsters. Both are very well-
designed and manufactured. I used the Mini-Wing
version extensively for over a month and found it both
comfortable and secure. However, I could not find a
comfortable position for the DualPoint AWIB holster, so
my experience with it was very limited. Both SIG Sauer
BlackPoint Tactical holsters retail for $80 each.
Since the introduction of the P365, many other holster

The author integrated
the SIG Sauer P365 manufacturers have developed custom-fit holsters for
in front of the slide lever. Neither is bilateral or reversible.
into his EDC using it. By the time you read this, I’m sure many holster
A contoured, triangular magazine release button is located the Black Point
Tactical IWB Mini- options will be available.
at the lower rear of the trigger guard on the left side. It is
Wing holster, (sold
somewhat protected in this position, and I found that I had to separately; available
consciously press the button in order to release the magazine. from the SIG store). SIG’s decision to make the X-RAY3 Day/Night sights standard
The spare magazine
For left-handed shooters, the magazine release button can be is a 10-round mag was a good one. I believe that an EDC handgun is ill-equipped
relocated to the right side of the frame. loaded with SIG if it doesn’t have night sights. The serrated black rear sight with
Sauer 124-grain
V-Crown JHP
twin tritium vials and front sight with a large, luorescent green
The tang is high, and there is a relief cut in the underside of ammunition. Also dot with a tritium vial in the center are easy to pick up day or
the trigger guard to allow for a high hand position. Relief cuts shown is the author’s night. They provide an excellent three-dot sight picture at night
PowerTac E9R
have been molded into the upper part of the grip portion of rechargeable tactical and a standard post-and-notch (with dot) during the day. On most
the frame on each side behind the trigger guard to provide a flashlight with 1,020 other EDC pistols, they are either a $100 option or they must be
max and a Kershaw
thumb rest and to guide the trigger finger to the trigger. Link SpeedSafe purchased and installed after the purchase of the pistol.
assisted-opening,
flipper-style folding
The integral accessory rail is proprietary SIG Sauer and does Takedown and reassembly are pretty straightforward, and
knife.
not accept 1913 MIL-SPEC accessories. SIG has said that it is not necessary to pull the trigger prior to disassembly.
accessories are on the way; these include a laser and light. However, there is one slight catch: When reinstalling the
assembled slide onto the frame, before it can be slid all the
Perhaps the most interesting part of the P365 is the desig way on, the slide lock lever must first be pushed up, and then,
of its magazine—rightly so, because SIG developed th the takedown lever can be rotated clockwise a full 90 degrees
magazine first and then developed the P365 around it. Whi
many manufacturers of micro-compact pistols use true singl
stack or slightly staggered magazines, SIG Sauer developed
new “modified” double-stack magazine to allow for a high
capacity without a wider grip.
The P365’s magazine is more of a double-stack magazine tha

has been narrowed slightly so that casings are aligned close
to side by side rather than vertically, like a “1.5 Stack”—
“stack and a half.” The top of the magazine is narrow so tha
the top two rounds are single-stack, and the third is just slight
staggered. From there, the magazine widens to full width. T
me, the magazine design is the key to the success of the pisto
www.gunwo
47
gun world
from horizontal. Once the slide is on, it’s easiest to lock the
slide to the rear and then flip the takedown lever rearward
into the horizontal position.
OPTIONS
Currently, the only model available is chambered in 9mm
Luger. It has a Nitron finish and XRAY3 night sights. Line
extensions are sure to follow. And SIG could easily knock $75
to $100 off the price by deleting the night sights.
I presume SIG will eventually offer the P365 in different color

combinations. In addition, as far as chambering it for other
cartridges, I don’t see that in the near future. The .40 S&W has
fallen from favor recently, so why chamber it in .380 ACP when
you have the same size pistol in 9mm Luger? Some might ask
for .357 SIG, but I suspect that would be a bit of a stretch for
the P365 and be of limited interest.
I think that SIG Sauer has hit the sweet spot just as it is.
AMMUNITION
For this evaluation, I used more than 16 types of 9mm
Luger factory ammunition. All functioned without any
problems. Fourteen types of ammunition from four different
manufacturers were evaluated for accuracy and velocity.
SIG Sauer rates the P365 for +P ammunition. Both defensive

hollow-point and full metal jacket ammunition were used.
Bullet weights ranged from 115 to 150 grains.
I have chosen the SIG Sauer 124-grain V-Crown JHP load as

my carry ammunition. I like the bullet design and velocity;
plus, it has good accuracy. Most importantly, I shot enough
of it to be confident that it will function without a problem if I
ever need to use it in a defensive situation.
I also had the opportunity to shoot some of SIG Sauer’s new 365
V-Crown JHP 115-grain and 365 FMJ Elite Ammunition 115-grain.
This ammunition is formulated speciically for CCW handguns.
ITS MAGAZINE—
RIGHTLY SO,
BECAUSE SIG
DEVELOPED
THE MAGAZINE
FIRST AND THEN
DEVELOPED THE
P365 AROUND IT.
48
The slide assembly
includes the slide
TALON GRIPS
(with internal parts),
barrel and dua
spring/recoil ro
assemb
The grip surface on the P365 is adequate for self-defense

purposes, but I chose to install a Talon grip surface
for a better feel. I prefer the Rubber-Black version for found the lim
concealed-carry purposes. Rubber-Moss (think “coyote” to load, not the recoil o
color) and Granulate-Black versions are also available. the inger rest and the extended
inger rest deinitely made the P365 more p
Installation is much easier than the instructions might
lead you to believe. I have installed a dozen or more I found the accuracy of the P365 to be quite good. Freedom
over the past two years; it takes me about 15 minutes Munitions’ Pro Match 135-grain XAP ammunition proved to
to install one. be the most accurate factory load at 15 yards. The average
I have used Talon grips on both Glock G42 and G43 EDC
guns, and they show no signs of wear or of coming
loose. (MSRP: $18; add $2 for Rubber-Moss)
RANGE TIME
The irst P365 I received had a minor early-p
“teething” problem, but the slightly later production p
for this evaluation operated lawlessly. All 16-plus
ammunition I ired functioned lawlessly, and all the m
fed properly and dropped free when the magazine re
pushed. No magazines were dropped inadvertently.
As on any micro-compact handgun, there isn’t a l

estate to hold onto, so it is imperative that the op
cognizant of their hand position. I have small hands,
a problem for me, but many shooters have a tenden
the slide lock lever and/or takedown lever on a sm
such as the P365, thus creating a user-induced mal
The P365 is a bit snappy, but not as much as I thou

be the case. I actually found it quite easy to control
sessions at the range shooting the P365 were not a
www
slide for three five-shot groups was 1.43 inches, with the smallest
moved,
group measuring 1.33 inches. Federal Premium 150-grain
HST JHP defensive ammunition came in second: 1.61 inches
sear
for three five-shot groups. I consider all the ammunition used
acceptable for use in the P365. For concealed-carry purposes,
however, I would only use the defensive ammunition.
TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THIS ONE

From the first time I fired the P365 at SIG Sauer’s Range Day
the Sunday before the 2018 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada,
I knew the P365 was special. That was substantiated when I
later put more than 1,500 rounds through two different P365s.
In early May 2018, SIG S The fact that I have replaced my Glock 43 with the SIG Sauer
new line of 9mm Luger ammunitio P365 as my everyday-carry gun says it all. I can now carry 23
for use in the SIG Sauer P365 micro-co nd rounds (10+1 in the pistol and 12 in one spare magazine in
other short-barreled, concealed-carry pistols. Two types
are currently available. One load is a 115-grain full metal
jacket training round; the other is a 115-grain V-Crown
JHP CCW personal-defense round.
These loads are not only optimized for use in the P365,
they are also designed to perform complementarily to
each other ballistically, with a muzzle velocity of 1,050
fps and with the same recoil and point of impact. The blac
This allows a seamless transition from the 365 FMJ rear sigh
tritium v
(#E9MMB1) training ammunition to the 365 V-Crown JHP
front sig
(#E9MMA1) personal-defense load. large, flu
green do
tritium v
I compared both the FMJ and V-Crown 365 loads to their center, a
non-365 115-grain counterparts and to each other. The pick up d
with a st
365 ammunition definitely has less recoil and made and-notc
less noise than its non-365 counterparts. The 365 FMJ for daylig
and 365 V-Crown loads averaged 1,064 and 1,075 fps,
respectively, at the muzzle and were quite close to the
1,050 fps advertised by SIG from the 3.1-inch barrel of
the P365 pistol. The muzzle velocity of the 365 115-grain
V-Crown ammunition was 56 fps slower than the non-
365 115-grain V-Crown ammunition. The 365 115-grain
FMJ was 54 fps slower than the non-365 115-grain FMJ
ammunition when fired out of the P365.
I also fired both types of 115-grain 365 ammunition

at dusk with the P365 and experienced almost no
muzzle flash. Smoke from all the SIG Sauer 115-grain
ammunition was light and roughly equivalent.
Without looking at the terminal performance of the The key

of t
115-grain 365 and the 115-grain non-365 ammunition, I P365 is i
would say that the 365 ammunition is roughly equivalent
mag
to the non-365 ammunition—but with less noise
with a
and recoil. The SIG Sauer P365 handgun functioned neck t
flawlessly with all four SIG Sauer 115-grain 9mm loads a stagg
an
that were evaluated. mod
www.gunworld.com
51
gun world
my pocket), versus 19 rounds (6+1 in the pistol and two spare
12-round magazines in my pocket) for the G43. P365 Versus the
I carried a G42 or G43 for several years, mainly because of
competition
their similarity to the other Glocks I shoot almost daily. Due to Dimension P365 G43 S&W M&P
Shield
the similarities between the majority of the polymer-framed,
striker-fired, micro-compact EDC pistols today, I don’t feel I
Magazine capacity (standard/extended) 10/12 6/6 7/8
am giving up anything by carrying the P365 in return for extra
capacity. I also didn’t have to install tritium night sights after Overall length (inches) 5.8 6.26 6.1
I purchased the P365.
Height (inches) 4.3 4.25 4.6
Anyone looking for an EDC pistol would be remiss if they didn’t
take a hard look at the P365. Shoot a friend’s P365, or go to a Thickness (inches) 1.0 1.02 0.98
range at which you can rent one for an hour and give it a good
workout. Then, make your decision. GW Barrel length (inches) 3.1 3.39 3.1
Weight, unloaded with magazine (ounces) 18.5 17.95 19.0

SIG Sauer
P365
NITRON Performance
SPECIFICATIONS Results
CALIBER: 9mm Luger Ammunition Avg. Velocity Sm. Grp. Avg. Grp.
ACTION TYPE: Semiauto, striker ired (fps) E.S. S.D. (inches) (inches)
GRIP MATERIAL: Polymer
FRAME AND SLIDE: Stainless steel with Nitron inish Freedom Munitions Pro Match 135-grain XAP 851 73 21.3 1.33 1.43
OVERALL LENGTH: 5.8 inches
BARREL LENGTH: 3.1 inches SIG Sauer 115-grain V-Crown JHP 1,131 45 13.9 1.32 1.56
OVERALL HEIGHT: 4.3 inches
WIDTH: 1.0 inches
Federal Premium 150-grain HST JHP 853 71 22.9 1.50 1.61
WEIGHT: 18.5 ounces (with empty 10-round, flush-fit
magazine)
TRIGGER PULL: 6 pounds, 15.5 ounces (average of 10 pulls SIG Sauer 124-grain FMJ 1,048 55 25.0 1.83 1.86
using a digital Lyman Trigger Pull gauge)
RAIL: SIG Rail Federal Premium H-S Deep 135-grain 1,005 83 27.6 1.48 1.86
SIGHTS: SIG X-RAY3 Day/Night sights
CAPACITY: 10+1 (12+1 optional) SIG Sauer 124-grain V-Crown JHP 1,086 41 13.7 1.37 1.92
MSRP: $600
SIG Sauer 147-grain FMJ 939 41 11.5 1.63 2.02
CONTACT INFORMATION
SIG Sauer 115-grain FMJ 1,118 35 13.5 1.69 2.02
SIG SAUER
SIGSauer.com
SIG Sauer 147-grain V-Crown JHP 896 60 16.8 1.33 2.09
BLACKPOINT TACTICAL
BlackPointTactical.com Hornady Critical Defense 115-grain FTX 1,048 78 23.6 1.74 2.12
FEDERAL PREMIUM SIG Sauer 365 115-grain V-Crown JHP 1,075 35 12.7 1.47 2.19
FederalPremium.com
Federal Premium 124-grain H-S JHP 998 20 6.1 1.84 2.21
FREEDOM MUNITIONS
FreedomMunitions.com
American Eagle 124-grain FMJ 1,037 118 32.2 1.88 2.22
HORNADY AMMUNITION
Hornady.com SIG Sauer 365 115-grain FMJ 1,064 40 14.3 1.48 2.42
TALON GUN GRIPS NOTES: The velocity, extreme spread (E.S.) and standard deviation (S.D.)
TalonGunGrips.com were measured/calculated at the muzzle using a LabRadar device and are an
average of 10 shots. Group average is in inches, taken from three ive-shot
groups ired at 15 yards using a sandbag rest.
52
®
THE NEW CRIMSON TRACE CMR-208 RAIL MASTER PUTS
OVER 400 LUMENS OF WHITE LIGHT UNDER THE BARREL OF
ANY RAIL-EQUIPPED PISTOL. EXPERIENCE THE POWER THAT
INCREASED ILLUMINATION CAN PROVIDE TO YOUR DEFENSIVE
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CRIMSONTRACE.COM 800-442-2406
gun world TEXT AND PHOTOS BY JAMESON PARKER
GUNSITE: “THE SPIRIT IS

WILLING, BUT THE
SEASONED FLESH IS WEAK.”
—MATTHEW 26:41
CITIZEN T he flesh might be made weak by temptation, but
time and fate also have their effects.
COURSE
My heart is a frisky 28 or thereabouts. My brain,
Shooting a drill as my wife would be the first to tell you, is an
as Instructor
Bobby Schneider exceptionally immature 14. But my body… well, suffice it to
(foreground) and say that very few bits of it work as they were intended to with
Lead Instructor Steve
Hendricks (in back) the original parts, and I have now reached the age at which
observe none of it is still under warranty.
54
THREE YEARS AGO, RECOGNIZING
A NEED, GUNSITE ADDED AN
ARRAY OF WHAT ITS EMPLOYEES
DIPLOMATICALLY CALL “SEASONED
CITIZEN” CLASSES.
Gunsite Academy has been around a long time by recognizing The class taking turns hepatitis C, as well as enough prescription medicine to open
at the barricades.
and adapting to the needs and wants of its clientele. There a small pharmacy.
(Note the lady with the
are pistol classes, carbine classes, bolt-action rifle classes, cane. There were two
precision rifle classes, shotgun classes and more. Within “seasoned citizens” We might have been made weak by time and fate, but what
tethered to canes; the
each of those categories, there are specialized classes other one was taking we brought with us was a spirit willing and eager to learn, to
geared to almost every conceivable scenario: church the photograph!) improve and to have fun. And, oh, boy, did we ever!
defense, defensive vehicle classes, pistol team tactics for
two, armorer’s classes, night-vision classes, house-clearing ABOUT GUNSITE
classes, tactical medicine classes, hunting rifle … . The list Gunsite Academy is the irst, foremost and oldest civilian
goes on—extensively. shooting school in the world. But it’s not only civilian: It also
teaches law enforcement, military and various governmental
Gunsite offers free classes to veterans of the current war. In agencies (some of which are not discussed). However, as
addition—in response to recent events—Gunsite also offers Gunsite COO Ken Campbell, himself a retired sheriff, pointed
free classes to school board presidents, superintendents out, budget constraints limit the number of military units or law
and assistant superintendents. enforcement agencies that can afford to send personnel to train
at Gunsite. Personally, I want the men and women who risk
Three years ago, recognizing a need, Gunsite added an array their lives in order to save mine to have the very best training
of what its employees diplomatically call “Seasoned Citizen” possible. That not being the case, I will take the training myself.
classes. I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity
to take a “Seasoned Citizen” 250 pistol class. I jumped at it. Founded in 1976 (originally under the name The American
Pistol Institute) by the father of modern pistol technique—
What assembled at Gunsite’s Paulden, Arizona, 3,000-plus- the legendary Col. Jeff Cooper—Gunsite is now owned
acre flagship facility on a cold spring morning was a motley by businessman Owen “Buz” Mills. And it takes a good
collection of artificial joints, broken and degenerating businessman to run such an operation, because the cost
spines, gout, diabetes, chronic arthritis, rebuilt rotator and sheer logistics of maintaining the many shooting
cuffs, hypertension, artificial heart valves, stents, macular ranges, roads and buildings (not to mention coordinating
degeneration, titanium pins/screws/discs/rods (two of the schedules of the numerous instructors and even more
us held up by canes), a cancer survivor and a survivor of students) must be almost overwhelming.
55
gun world
Above: Instructor in parts of the world you don’t want to visit and served in more
Chris Currie advises
operations than I can list. He trained advisors at Twenty-Nine Palms
one of the students.
for three years, taught mounted and dismounted patrols with the
ATG advisor training group and was a security specialist with
SOC, the company that provides security for the U.S. government
and private companies. After leaving the Marine Corps, he served
as an independent contractor—again, in countries where it’s
safer not to be.
Bobby Schneider is a retired Denver police officer who served

17 of his 21 years with that agency on its SWAT team. He,
too, has taught a dizzying array of domestic and foreign law
enforcement agencies and military units.
(Right now would be a good time to point out that the ability
to do something and the ability to teach that skill to others are
two very different animals. All these men have the teaching
skill at least as much as the doing skill.)
Lead Instructor Steve

Hendricks IT IS THE
GUNSITE INSTRUCTORS
It is the instructors who make the school. Let me give you a
INSTRUCTORS
taste of whom you might meet when you take a class at Gunsite. WHO MAKE
Our chief instructor was Steve Hendricks, whose résumé
includes working for an “alphabet soup” of governmental
THE SCHOOL.
agencies; law enforcement in both California and Colorado;
30 years as a martial arts instructor; competitive shooting;
and teaching firearms, special security and protection tactics
to both law enforcement and various high-security personnel
at those alphabet soup agencies. Reading between the lines
during a private conversation with him, he has also served as
a security specialist overseas, but because that’s not listed on
Instructor Bobby
his résumé, I won’t presume to detail it. Schneider restricts
the view of the target
to force a shooter’s
Chris Currie was a gunnery sergeant with 21 years in the Marine eyes to focus on the
Corps, through which he worked with special reconnaissance units front target.
56
Although geared
toward “seasoned
citizens,” the
only noticeable
concession to age
was that certain
tactical positions,
such as prone and
kneeling, were
scratched.
K 9 E l i te P9 S9
57
gun world
250-PISTOL CLASS
The 250-pistol class is numerically designated, because it
used to be taught as an adjunct course at a local college.
It is a five-day class, making it the most intensive and
comprehensive introductory shooting class offered to civilians
anywhere in the world.
It begins with the basics, which are broken down into step-
by-step functions: proper grip; the five stages of drawing the
gun properly; getting on target; trigger press; follow-through;
staying on target until there is no more threat; and so on.
Then, students are guided through more-advanced steps as
speed and stress are both gradually increased. And in the last
two days, indoor and outdoor simulators, along with night
shooting, are also introduced.
Above: Student Steve
Moore clears a wash
under the watchful
eye of Instructor
Chris Currie.
Throughout it all, from the first morning in the classroom to the

last afternoon, the four basic safety rules are repeated ... over
and over and over. They are posted on signs everywhere—in
the classrooms, the lunch area, the ranges, the simulators,
the various offices, even the bathrooms. Safety comes first.
It might be a function of having trained and taught martial arts

for 30 years, or it might be a function of his having to think each
step through to improve his competitive shooting, or it might
just be how his mind works, but Steve Hendricks broke down
movements more thoroughly than any other instructor I have met.
He also utilized what he called “Jedi tricks” to fool

students into doing the right thing, because he had them
concentrating on something else entirely. I won’t give his
tricks away, but it is one of the most effective training tools
I have ever experienced.
In theory, the “Seasoned Citizen” class is supposed to be a stately,

gentle event geared to those of us who are giving Methuselah a
run for his money. I thought it might be a civilized, 9-to-5 affair
and perhaps even include siesta time. Ha! The only concession
to age I could detect was that certain tactical positions, such
as prone and kneeling, were scratched (I suspect that was only
Student Steve Moore because the instructors didn’t want to throw their backs out by
clears a house. repeatedly picking up overweight senior citizens).
58
THE INSTRUCTORS
WORKED US ALL LIKE
RENTED MULES, BUT, TO
BE FAIR, WE WERE TOLD
MULTIPLE TIMES THAT
WE COULD TAKE A BREAK
WHENEVER NEEDED.
NONE OF US DID.
59
gun world
After the first morning, bottles of pain-killers were added during an emergency reloading drill. Because ammunition is
to the pharmacy, but not even groaning joints and whining the most likely cause of malfunctions, I owe a tip of the hat
muscles could diminish the enthusiasm of the ancient. There and a thank-you to Black Hills for zero failures.
were 13 of us—11 men and two ladies—and the only one
who couldn’t go the full distance was an unfortunate lady At the end of the last class, after certificates had been handed
who came down with the flu. The instructors worked us all out—with the usual good-natured razzing mingled with
like rented mules, but, to be fair, we were told multiple times sincere applause—a bonus was given in the form of tea and
that we could take a break whenever needed. None of us did. brownies and a tour of the late Col. Cooper’s home there on
the ranch. We were greeted with courtly elegance and grace
HANDOUTS AND FIREARMS by Mrs. Cooper, who is 97 years old. If I were as fit and sharp
One other thing Gunsite does that I found very helpful is to now as she is, I’d be a happy man.
hand out booklets outlining each step of instruction. Because
each night results in a 50 percent loss of what one has learned GUNSITE ACADEMY IS
during the day and a 75 percent loss by the end of the week,
the booklets help those of us who go home and practice and
THE FIRST, FOREMOST
try to retain what we’ve learned. AND OLDEST CIVILIAN
SHOOTING SCHOOL IN
(Gunsite also hands out copies of the Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution of the United States—items THE WORLD. BUT IT’S
most college graduates and half the scoundrels on Capitol Hill NOT ONLY CIVILIAN:
are unfamiliar with.)
IT ALSO TEACHES
Striker-fired pistols predominated, but there were two 1911s LAW ENFORCEMENT,
and two Berettas, one of which was my PX4 Storm Compact Using a barricade. MILITARY AND VARIOUS
Carry 9mm. I put approximately 1,000 rounds of Black Hills
115-grain FMJ through it, and the only malfunction I had was
Note how far away
from the barricade GOVERNMENTAL
the very predictable result of sand in one of my magazines
the students are
standing. AGENCIES ...
60
The last day
consisted of friendly
competition—
another way of
adding stress.
RSH
E IN THE MA
U R S EL F TH E ADVANTAG — THE
GIVE YO E PLANET
ST ES T PUMP ON TH LT
WITH TH E FA E ROTARY O B
S U PE R X® PUMP. TH
WINCHESTE R ® FFER N R
EA
ACT IO N BAR SETUP O
AND RIGID, D
U A L ING SPEED.
ER TI A-A S S ISTED PUMP
EFFORTLESS
IN PETITION
PE R FO R M A NCE THE COM
IT’S THE KIN
D OF CAN’T BEAT.
, AND BIRDS
CAN’T MATCH
GUNS.COM
WINCHESTER OLIN CORPOR
ATION.
STERED TR ADEMARK OF
L HUNTER WINCHES TER IS A REGI
> WATERFOW
61
gun world
The house was fascinating, but what really struck me was the
GUNSITE ACADEMY image of 15 dirty, sweaty, tired people, each one with a loaded
HAS BEEN AROUND pistol on their hip, talking to the slim and elegant Mrs. Cooper
and her daughter, Lindy Cooper Wisdom. The conversations
A LONG TIME BY ranged from guns to travel in foreign lands; from museums
visited to books read (the late colonel’s library is extensive
RECOGNIZING AND and extraordinary); and from anecdotes about famous men to
the recipe for the brownies Mrs. Cooper served us.
ADAPTING TO THE
NEEDS AND WANTS OF
ITS CLIENTELE. THERE
ARE PISTOL CLASSES,
CARBINE CLASSES,
BOLT-ACTION RIFLE
CLASSES, PRECISION
RIFLE CLASSES,
SHOTGUN CLASSES
AND MORE.
62
Lead Instructor Steve It all made me wish that some of the current anti-gun
Hendricks confers
politicians could be present to witness firsthand the bloody
with one of the ladies
in the Seasoned violence and mayhem that inevitably ensues when armed and
Citizen class. deplorable NRA members gather. (For additional information,
contact Gunsite Academy; Gunsite.com). GW
Right: Shooting
against the clock.
Adding a timer adds
stress.
63
gun world TEXT AND PHOTOS BY BRAD FITZPATRICK
BE SURE
YOUR
FIREARM IS
PERFORMING
AT ITS BEST
BEFORE
THE FALL
OPENER.
Kneeling is a useful
ield shooting
position, but it
requires practice.
The meat of the
upper arm should
rest on the kneecap
to help stabilize
the rile.
64
PREP YOUR
HUNTING
RIFLE FOR THE
SEASON
I
t’s customary on any hunt to check the zero on your
rile before heading to the ield. Usually, the process is
just a simple step to verify that the gun is performing
the same way it was when you left home.
There are times, however, when the simple task of double-

checking your zero becomes a monumental chore.
65
gun world
I got off easy. A gentleman I knew—a world hunter with a
lifetime of experience on big game—took his .460 Weatherby
Magnum to Africa for an elephant hunt some years back and
noticed that, as with my deer rifle, the shots were drifting. But
the .460 Weatherby Magnum, a potent pachyderm-stopper,
pushes back with roughly 100 foot-pounds of felt recoil. This
is far more than most shooters can handle for a single shot, let
alone an extended sighting session. As it turns out, the scope
rings had broken; and because they were in the hinterlands of
Botswana, there was no way to fix the problem.
Rifle problems can be a real problem. There are enough

variables in the world of hunting, and because you can’t control
the weather, temperature, moon phase or the game animals,
themselves, you should, at the very least, be certain your rifle is
living up to its end of the bargain.
TAKE THE TIME Learning trigger

control requires
dry-firing practice,
Here’s a checklist to help you ensure your gun is performing
properly before the upcoming fall season.
BEFORE THE OPENER but it will pay big

dividends in the
ZERO CHECK
THIS FALL SEASON field—especially if
you’re shooting at
extended ranges.
There are some hunters—many hunters, perhaps—who shoot
TO BE CERTAIN YOUR a rifle once a year and call that adequate. If you’re shooting
at short-range, stationary targets, that will sometimes work.
RIFLE IS READY TO However, you need to understand that zeroes can drift over time.
It might be something as dramatic as seared scope rings, but it
PERFORM. WHEN often takes far less than that to shift your gun’s point of impact.
THAT OPPORTUNITY If you own a rifle with a wood stock, you’ll have to contend with
AT A BIG BUCK OR the natural swelling and shrinking of the wood with regard to
ambient humidity and temperature. You can also have shifts in
BULL PRESENTS point of impact due to altitude changes, so it’s vitally important
to confirm the zero on your gun when you’re climbing or
ITSELF, YOU’LL BE descending from where you last checked it. Sure, if you’re flying
from New York to Alaska, you’ll naturally want to verify point of
GLAD YOU DID. impact, but something as simple as a day’s drive into higher
altitudes with lower humidity can affect how the gun shoots.
I had just such a dilemma on a deer hunt in Montana. I’d found Knowing your hunting
rifle will perform is
a factory load that agreed with my rifle, and I had mounted critical to success in Even if you don’t change locations, you need to check to make sure
a premium scope on the gun. But when I fired the first shot the field. Before the your gun is performing as it should. Ideally, you’ll be practicing all
season opens, take
from sandbags at the 100-yard target on that hunt, the shot year with your rile, but if you’re a deer hunter who shoots from the
the time to be certain
was low and left. Odd. I sent another round downrange; to my your hunting rig is up
terror, the bullet hit 2 inches to the right of center. This is a gun to the task.
that had been printing sub-MOA groups at that range just a few
days before. But now, it would take a bit of luck to even hit a
cantaloupe at 100 paces.
Practicing mechanics
is critical, especially
WHAT HAPPENED? when hunting
It turns out that the rear base screw had worked its way loose. I dangerous game.
Here, Safari
remedied the problem and managed to get the gun back to zero, Shooting School’s
but I lost a half-day of hunting in the process, because we’d Monty Kalogeras
practices quickly and
recognized the problem the night before and set out on the first efficiently reloading
morning of the hunt to correct it. That was a four-day hunt, so I his double rifle—an
essential skill when
lost about an eighth of the budgeted time I had to hunt fiddling he’s hunting Cape
with a mechanical problem on my rifle. buffalo.
66
Scopes must be
securely positioned
HUNT
to ensure they can
withstand field use.
This Weatherby
Vanguard is
chambered in .375
H&H, but the Leupold
bases, rings and
scope are capable of
FIT
withstanding a high
level of recoil.
same stand in the same patch of woods every year, I sincerely doubt
you’ll set aside the time for monthly tune-ups.
A single range session before the opener will usually suffice,

but be sure to shoot the same loads you’ll be using to hunt. You
can save a few bucks by buying cheap practice ammo. However,
anyone who has ever tested multiple loads in a single rifle will Loose scopes
account for a
attest to the fact that not all rounds shoot the same, even if number of failed
they’re the same grain weight. shots, and this is
generally the result
of not following
FIELD POSITIONS manufacturer
I’ve had to shoot from some pretty awkward and uncomfortable guidelines. Be sure to
pay close attention,
positions in the field, and if you’ve done a lot of hunting, you’ve and check mounts
probably found yourself in the same situation. often.
Benches are great places to verify your zero, but once your
The more closely
rifle is shooting the way it should, it’s time to shun the shooting you mimic field
bench. The primary shooting positions include kneeling, prone conditions, the better Your rifle’s ready, but are you? One of the primary
equipped you’ll be complaints I hear from guides and outfitters is that
and standing, and your only option for a rest might be the items
while hunting. At
that surround you in the field—a rotted stump, a backpack or Monty Kalogeras’ clients aren’t able to physically do what they said (or
a lump of dirt. Safari Shooting think) they can.
School in Texas,
students learn to
Field shooting is more challenging than benchrest shooting, so stalk, spot, shoot and This doesn’t mean that physical limitations always hold
reload on targets that
you’ll need some practice. I shoot with sticks more frequently than hunters back: If you’re honest with yourself and your
mimic real animals in
I used to, and they help a great deal, but you have to know how natural settings. outfitter, you can generally set up a hunt that works for
you. But don’t assume you can climb an 11,000-foot
peak in sheep country if you haven’t been off the couch
in six months.
Eating a good diet that is free of low-quality

carbohydrates is a good start, and that will give you
more energy to work out and help you lose weight.
Cardio work is good, but be certain it mimics the hunt.
I was in shape for a half-marathon prior to an elk hunt

but found that the same muscles that carry a runner
from mile 12 to 13 aren’t the same ones that help you
carry a pack up a steep incline for hours on end.
Weight training is very beneficial for almost all hunting,

and don’t forget to stretch. Flexibility will reduce the
odds of an injury in the field.
67
gun world
That last part is the key. I don’t want this to sound like a rant
Don’t assume your rile
will shoot the same way against the manufacturers of scope rings and bases; quite
this year as it did last year, the opposite, in fact. Modern machining and metallurgy have
and always recheck zero
allowed scope rings and bases to fit more precisely and
when traveling. This Ruger
American didn’t shift at withstand a serious beating.
all during transit, but it’s
always good to verify.
However, the key is that you must follow proper procedures for
mounting the scope. That deer camp fiasco I had a few years
back in Montana? My fault. I didn’t follow company guidelines
for scope base installation. As a result, my optic broke free.
There are plenty of bases and rings that work, and I’ve had
success with Leupold Dual Dovetails, Talleys and plain Weaver
bases and rings. Some scope base manufacturers suggest
the use of an adhesive such as blue Loktite, while other
manufacturers might not recommend it. If you don’t know how
to properly mount a scope, find someone who does, and they
to use them. Standing on a ridge above a bugling bull elk you’ve should be able to help you. When properly installed, scope bases
lown halfway across the country to ind is not the right time to and rings can last for years.
learn to do so. Although it’s not
absolutely necessary, The same goes for optics. I’ve had a couple of scopes fail, but
it’s a good idea to
Your go-to field position should be prone, because it is the not many, and if you take even a minimal amount of care of
check the barrel
most stable, but because of terrain, I’ve shot more game from channel before the your optics, they should last. Still, it’s a good idea to check for
a kneeling position than anything else. If possible, use your season. Debris can
accumulate there, and problems such as fractured main tubes and fogging.
strong-side foot as a prop to support your backside and your that can affect overall
opposite (front) knee as a rest—remembering that the knee accuracy.
Your whole rifle should be inspected and cleaned as needed.
bones should be placed against the soft, lower portion of the That means the finish should be examined for corrosion, the bolt
triceps muscle. It’s surprising how far you can accurately shoot should be removed for inspection, and the gun should be cycled
from a field position if you get into proper position and practice while unloaded to verify that everything is working properly.
frequently. It’s not natural, but if you learn the proper technique
and—most importantly—consistently position yourself in the One thing I always do before my first shot with a rifle that’s been
same way, kneeling allows you to shoot accurately in the field. stored is to remove the bolt and look down the bore to make
sure it’s clear. Is it likely that, over the course of a gun’s time in
MECHANICS AND MAINTENANCE storage, anything worked its way down into the bore? Of course
Modern hunters, by and large, carry scoped rifles while hunting. not. But anything I can do that takes a few seconds and ensures
Scopes offer a real advantage in the field. Even so, as previously I have a safe and properly functioning gun is worth the time.
mentioned, a scope is only effective when it is securely affixed
to the hunting rifle. Any slop or play is going to send your shots There are many different philosophies about bore cleaning. Some
everywhere, so be sure your scope is properly mounted; and serious rile shooters clean after every shooting session. Others
frequently check for tightness—even during extended shooting will clean their bore and then ire a single shot to “foul the barrel.”
sessions. Even relatively mild-recoiling rifles such as the .270 Some shooters prefer to clean the barrel infrequently, believing
Winchester produce enough recoil to shake rings loose if they’re that the buildup offers a more-consistent bullet light. Personally,
not properly mounted. Don’t be afraid to test I’m somewhere in the middle: I like to clean the bore after every
different loads before
box or two of ammunition, and that works well for me.
hunting season. It
might cost a little
extra, but you’ll be
certain the load you
are using shoots well
in your rile.
A three-shot group
such as this 100-
yard cluster offers
peace of mind. Don’t
overlook this small
step prior to the
opening of hunting
season.
68
Routine inspection of the rifle is important. Check the stock for The author with a
big Wyoming muley.
any signs of breakage or cracking, and double-check the sling The rifle is a Dakota
studs. A sling stud pulled away from my rifle on an elk hunt, and Model 97 with a
my gun went over backward, leaving a deep gouge in the scope Trijicon AccuPoint
scope—one of the
and marring the barrel. But, as it turns out, I got off lucky. There author’s favorite
was a case a few years ago in which a sling broke and the rifle setups and one
in which he has
fired when dropped, severely injuring a professional hunter. complete confidence.
MENTAL PREP
Mindset training might sound a bit far-fetched, especially to
the serious rifle “crank” who measures elevation in mils and
success or failure in tenths or hundredths of an inch. But proper
mindset is key—specifically, retraining your brain and muscles When you’re in the
to perform important tasks involved with accurate shooting. field, you’ll have to
shoot from awkward
positions, so practice
Practice trigger control by dry-firing the rifle, and work on proper at home prior to
the season opener.
sight alignment. I like to cycle the action and dry-fire at least Using available cover
a half-dozen times before any shooting session. It helps me as a rest is critical,
refamiliarize myself with the mechanics of my rifle and become especially when
shooting from a
mentally prepared to take a shot. standing position.
Don’t overlook this key element of shooting success. There’s a reason

the top shooters work so hard to improve their focus and mechanics.
Hunting season is my favorite time of the year, but frankly, it’s The author checks zero on his rifle before a Wyoming mule
more enjoyable when my firearm performs as it should. deer hunt. Traveling takes a toll on guns, so be certain
you’re still on target when you arrive. This small step can
prevent missing—or worse, wounding an animal.
Take the time before the opener this fall season to be certain
your rifle is ready to perform. When that opportunity at a big
buck or bull presents itself, you’ll be glad you did. GW
The author
practices
shooting off
sticks prior
to an Africa
hunt. Shooting
sticks are
invaluable
when hunting,
but you must
know how
to use them
properly.
69
QUICK SHOTS TEXT BY RICHARD VENOLA
FAI
8. Based on a highly successful target rile, the failure of this rile in the
trenches of World War I was a political disaster:
A. 1911 Schhmidt-Rubin B. 1895 Steyr
C. 1910 Ross Mk III D. 1905 Ross
9. This select-ire Soviet automatic rile was withdrawn from service

almost immediately after its combat debut:
A. Simonov AVS-36 B. Tokarev SVT-40
C. Dragonov SVD D. Degtyarev DP
10. The irst of a new generation of military irearms and built with
aviation industry technology, this rile was adopted by several small nations
but languished due to lackluster performance:
A. Kalashnikov AKM B. Armalite AR-10
C. Breda PG D. M1941 Johnson
T
his quiz is
COMPLEX MANUFACTURING, ANSWERS
BAD MARKET TIMING, LACK guns that either failed
OF RELIABILITY; IT’S HARD spectacularly or just plain 1. A. Remington Model 51. Although designed by genius John Pedersen, the
TO PREDICT WHY SOME withered. At one point, all Model 51 was overly complex and potentially dangerous. A recent improved
version—the R51— also failed after a brief introduction in 2014. The other three
FIREARMS FAIL IN THE of them were approved by
pistols were all highly successful.
MARKETPLACE. knowledgeable manufacturers. GW
2. C. India’s INSAS. Designed and built by veteran manufacturer Ishapore
Arsenal, the INSAS should have been a runaway success. Some reviews
1. In the 1920s, this ergonomic pistol turned out to be a nightmare for suggest that poor quality control was the problem. The other three riles have
operators when they tried to reassemble it after cleaning: been very successful.
A. Remington Model 51 B. Walther P38
3. C. Colt Lightning. From irst to last, the Lightning proved troublesome.
C. Mauser M1934 D. MAS M1935S
Although built for 20 years, it developed and sustained a bad reputation for
disfunction. Exact replicas and “improved” versions can’t seem to shake the
2. This Kalashnikov variant included features from other military designs cloud the Lightning has lived under.
but never lived up to expectations:
4. D. Madsen M47. An excellent design and well-made, the bolt-action M47 was
A. Mexico’s FX-05 B. Finland’s M95
introduced into a world awash in post-war bolt-actions. Plus, its .30-06 cartridge
C. India’s INSAS D. Germany’s G36 beat up the smaller soldiers it was designed for. Only Colombia bought some—
and quickly sold them to the American sporting market. The other riles listed
3. Produced from 1884 until 1904, this carbine was plagued by reliability were all fantastic successes.
problems and never sold well, either to law enforcement or the public at large:
5. A. Smith & Wesson i-Bolt. When introduced just over a decade ago, the
A. Spencer B. Winchester WSL homely i-Bolt was an immediate disappointment. Then, an urgent safety recall
C. Colt Lightning D. Remington Rolling Block offered the venerable manufacturer an escape route. The other modern irearms
listed are all highly successful.
4. This handsome rile was built for export to nations with soldiers of
6. B. 6.5mm Deaudateau. This short-lived rile was a product of interservice
smaller stature but only landed one government contract: rivalry. The same issue created the U.S. Navy’s failed 6mm Lee-Navy. The
A. Mosin-Nagant M44 B. M1 Carbine Japanese Arisaka was used as a substitute standard by the Royal Navy, and the
C. MAS 49-56 D. Madsen M47 6.5 Mauser was a Swedish cavalry carbine.
7. A. 1883 Winchester-Hotchkiss. This excellent .45-70 rile was “too

5. A surprising entry into the sporting marketplace, this rile was plagued by complicated,” according to U.S. Army evaluators. The other riles listed are all
an unappealing appearance and was then doomed because of safety issues: successful single-shots.
A. Smith & Wesson i-Bolt B. Browning A-Bolt
C. Kimber 84 D. CZ 550 8. C. 1910 Ross Mk III. Based on the straight-pull 1905 Ross, failure of its bolt
lugs led to a failure of conidence in the mud of Flanders. The other two straight-
pull riles listed had long, successful lives.
6. Shortly after France’s army adopted the 8mm Lebel rile, its navy
adopted this lighter weapon: 9. A. Simonov AVS-36. Unlike most Soviet riles, the AVS-36 was beautifully
A. 6mm Lee-Navy B. 6.5mm Deaudateau inished. However, after just three months of service against the Finns, they were
withdrawn. The Finns discarded captured riles as well. The other riles and the
C. 6.5mm Arisaka D. 6.5mm M94 Mauser DP LMG listed were excellent combat weapons.
7. This robust repeating rile was sold to diverse nations and smaller 10. B. Armalite AR-10. Built of aluminum and plastic, the AR-10 yielded
state military units but never got the approval of major armies. When offered mediocre service in several African brushfire wars. It’s distinctive
“waffle-patterned” magazine stands out in photos of the era. The other
commercially, it failed to generate much interest:
rifles listed were all successful and were manufactured with conventional
A. 1883 Winchester-Hotchkiss B. Martini-Henry steel and wood construction.
C. Berdan D. Westley-Richards
70
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gun world TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CLINT THOMPSON
FOR A WEEKEND IN MOUNTAIN LION AND BEAR COUNTRY, I SAY:
.480 RUGER
BISLEY
I
had been considering taking a solo backpack walkabout
in the canyon country in western Colorado. Midsummer
in this part of Colorado commands some hot weather.
But there is a tradeoff: no armed hunters.
A TRUE, CONTROLLABLE
HAND-CANNON FOR
DANGEROUS “FUR
BALLS” OF TEETH
AND CLAWS
The vast majority of hunters are responsible and make sure of
what they’re shooting at; however, a few bad eggs will shoot
at anything that moves. Knowing this, I err on the safe side
and avoid firearm season for my backpacking adventures.
I was aware of the recent increase in bear and lion populations

in this area, and I needed to determine the adequate firearm
for this trek. I ruled out an offense-type firearm, such as
shoulder-fired rifles or shotguns. Hiking in semi-arid, hot
canyon country requires the added weight of water. Due to
the weight of a shotgun or rifle, I chose to take a handgun—in
particular, a magnum revolver. But which one?
72
CHOOSING THE BEST HANDGUN I am budget minded and not able to pay the $2,000-plus for
In choosing a magnum revolver, I considered possible the excellent Freedom Arms and Linebaugh single-action
threats. I pictured a 400-pound ball of fur, teeth and claws magnums, so the clear choice was the .480 Ruger.
thundering toward me with lunch on its mind. Because I
prefer single-action revolvers and have had many years of Ruger is an excellent firearms manufacturer that offers
experience in the wilderness using them, this would narrow high-quality products. The only Ruger single-action revolver
down my choice. chambered in the .480 Ruger is the New Model Super
Blackhawk Bisley. This was great for me, because I have
After more years than I care to remember as a law always wanted to try the Bisley-type grip. The New Model
enforcement officer, I know that in times of stress, you revert Super Blackhawk Bisley is offered exclusively from Lipsey’s
to muscle memory or memory through repetition. I have a Wholesale and is shipped to your local gun store. The
single-action Ruger Vaquero in .45 LC. However, I felt this was Blackhawk Bisley is a five-shot, single-action, stainless steel
The Ruger New
barely adequate for dangerous big game. Through research, Model Blackhawk revolver with a 6.5-inch barrel. Unloaded, this beast tips in at
Bisley is truly a a little more than 3 pounds. I knew this would be perfect for
I knew I wanted a big-bore magnum—but with more power
"manly” handgun.
than a .44 Remington Magnum. I didn’t want the excessive Nevertheless, there my trip, so I talked to the great people at Ruger and requested
recoil of the .454 Casull, .460 S&W and .500 S&W, because a are ladies out there the Bisley .480 Ruger.
who would be able
fast second shot might be necessary. to handle this single-
action revolver. The TESTING THE BISLEY .480
revolver just drips with
Once I received the Bisley test gun from Ruger, I went to my
the essence of power
and respect. This is local big box store and bought a box of 20 Hornady 325-grain
a true, controllable HP for $35. This is about the average price for these rounds.
magnum well-suited
for big game such as Shortly thereafter, I received several boxes from the folks at
bears and lions. Hornady and my new “BFF” Tim at Buffalo Bore.
DOES THIS HANDGUN POSSESS THE ACCURACY NEEDED

TO HIT A MEDIUM-SIZED, LIVE TARGET AT 25 YARDS?
WITH PRACTICE, THE RUGER BISLEY .480 WILL TAKE ANY
LARGE ANIMAL IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.
73
gun world
A test of the average RUGER BISLEY POWER
ive-shot grouping of To satisfy my curiosity, I acquired a 50-pound block of modeling
the .480 Ruger in each
of the two brands and clay. After setting it up, I shot one round of the Buffalo Bore
ive different rounds. 275-grain Barnes XPD hollow-points into the intended target.
The 12-inch bullseye
was placed at 25 What happened next was almost spiritual.
yards and shot with
a 6 o’clock benchrest
I instantly knew I should have used a 75-pound block. The
hold. Pictured is the
ive-shot grouping 275-grain, lead-free projectile entered the clay at about 1,600
from the Hornady .480 fps and penetrated about 5 inches before it instantaneously
Ruger 325-grain HP/
XTP round. There is expanded. This extremely bad boy created a 10-inch cavern
a double at the 10 in the clay. The round then traveled another 4 inches before
o’clock position on the
red bullseye. veering downward and out through the 8-inch plywood
base. The casualties were the clay, plywood and one of the
sawhorses they were sitting on. I was, well, awestruck.
After the conclusion of this long day of fun with the hand-
cannon, it was time to put it away and head to the casa to rest,
With a big-bore revolver and ammo in hand, I headed off to A single round of
the Buffalo Barnes reflect and ponder the day with some Crown.
the range to test the Bisley .480 and to familiarize myself 275-grain hollow-
with its newfound power. point was shot into
50 pounds of clay.
The results were
I tested the velocity of each type of round, as well as five-shot amazing and shocking.
Setting this clay on
groups for accuracy. I fired a total of 120 rounds in the testing end caused it to
stage to familiarize myself with the Ruger Bisley .480 (see the slump, because the
performance results on page 78). All the Hornady and Buffalo 275-grain bullet,
traveling at about
Bore loads that were tested performed very well. Each round 1,600 fps, created a
possessed unique and favorable qualities. As a result, I am a 10-inch crater inside.
The author can only
big fan of them both. imagine the damage
it would do to a
medium- or large-
Hornady produces only one weight and type of bullet in the sized game animal.
.480 Ruger—the Hornady 325-grain HP XTP, which has a good
weight and design. Due to this, the Hornady 325-grain would In reconstructing
the shot angle of the
drive deeper into a large-framed fur ball than, say, a lighter 275-grain Buffalo
bullet. This Hornady bullet ripped along at an average of 1,290 Barnes bad-to-the-
bone hollow-point,
fps, with an impressive 1,201 foot-pounds of power. It gave the round punched
the best accuracy, with a 3.02-inch group at 25 yards that was to a length of about
12 inches and then
shot on a 12-inch black bullseye.
angled downward and
destroyed a 1/8-inch,
All rounds fired were in the black. I shot these with a sighted-in 4x4 plywood sheet
and the top of a
6-o’clock hold. Different bullet weights and velocities resulted sawhorse. The author
in different strike areas. As I shot the five-shot groups, I would never recovered the
entire projectile, but
stack the next target on top of the previous perforated one. in this photo, you
The Bisley placed 80 percent of the rounds in a group at the can see some copper
fragments.
top half of the 8 and 9 rings of the bullseye. I was impressed.
The Buffalo Bore ammo preformed equally well. Buffalo Bore

To complete the
has four different loads for the .480 Ruger. One load is the “autopsy,” the author
370-grain LFN, which is purposely loaded lighter for target gingerly pulled back
the clay laps and
shooting and plinking but is still deadly enough to take
exposed the massive
medium-sized game. This round tested at 1,090 fps, with 976 cavity. He placed
foot-pounds of power and a 3.8-inch group. I love Buffalo Bore the Buffalo Barnes
275-grain, lead-free
ammunition and the great people working there. In particular, hollow-point in this
I was amazed they produce a wicked, 275-grain Barns XPD cavity to show the
relationship of the
Lead Free bad-boy hollow-point. Now, just how could I test bullet to the damage
this interesting round? done. Just amazing!
74
SOLO BACKPACKING INTO LION AND BEAR COUNTRY
My choice of adventure was in the semi-arid canyon country ALL THE HORNADY
of western Colorado about 20 miles southwest of Grand
Junction. This is a vast, open area with wildlife that ranges AND BUFFALO
from ground squirrels and snowshoe rabbits to coyotes,
badgers, elk, mule deer, lions and bears.
BORE LOADS THAT
My plan was to pitch my four-season Hewolf Outdoor one-person
WERE TESTED
tent at around 6,200 feet. I was transported to the general area, PERFORMED VERY
where I geared up and hiked into the predetermined isolated
location. I gave exact grid readings to my family so that if I
A view of a canyon the
author passed by while WELL. EACH ROUND
didn’t show up at the road, they knew where to start looking. I
had planned for a two-day solo trip, but due to things beyond
on his trek. The area he
hiked is about 16 miles
southwest of Grand
POSSESSED UNIQUE
my control, this turned into a two-day mini-adventure. Junction, Colorado.
There are many canyons AND FAVORABLE
QUALITIES. AS A
of varying sizes. Water
Once I hiked back into the canyon area, I moved to the is scarce there, unless
predetermined location and set up camp. I then stowed away you know where to ind
my gear, including a tactical tomahawk and camp knife. I had

a spring. Wild life—
deer, sheep, lions and
bears—abounds there.
RESULT, I AM A BIG
my New Super Blackhawk Bisley .480 Ruger strapped to my
gun belt on my hip in its Bianchi Lawman holster.
The author plans to
return to this spot soon. FAN OF THEM BOTH.
75
gun world
Not long ago, Ruger came out with

its own line of knives. It partnered
with CRKT for knife needs. The
folding knives pictured here are (left
to right) the Bad-Boy 2-STAGE with
VEFF serrations, the Hollow-point
small and Hollow-point medium.
These knives are some of the
author’s favorite folding pocket
knives.
My intention was to scout around my campsite, looking for A section of the saw fresh, moist dirt slung all over a mound of loose debris at
escarpment near which
signs of who my neighbors would be that night. I walked up the author camped. the base of a large, gray granite boulder. I closed in. I initially
the hill toward the escarpment. At an old jeep trail, I saw This escarpment rings thought the dirt-slinging was done by a badger. However, when
a small valley that is
week-old lion and coyote tracks. It seemed to be a very large I moved to my right to face the excavation or hole, I saw it was
about 6,000 feet above
coyote; possibly a wolf. This did not surprise me, because I sea level. The valley is big enough for me to crawl into. It was a den.
was told by some locals that the lion population was high and approximately 11 miles
long and 3 miles at the
that there were even rumors of some wolves. widest. In the winter, this At that very same moment, I heard the distinct sound of a bear
area is salted with snow. expressing its displeasure at my presence. Now, even though I
While exploring, the
Still-walking up the hill, I kicked out a snowshoe rabbit wearing author checked for signs knew there were bear around, I never thought I would run into
its summer coat. Further on and within 75 yards of my tent, I of elk and mule deer. one—a cornered one. Luckily, it stayed in the den. I drew my
76
As the author rested under a juniper tree, this desert ewe walked by, grazing on the BECAUSE I LOVE BIG-BORE,
sparse grasses. He observed several other ewes but no rams. They are there, but
they are cautious.
SINGLE-ACTION HANDGUNS ... I
CAN SAY THAT THE NEW SUPER
BLACKHAWK BISLEY .480
RUGER IS PERFECT FOR ME. AS
ARE ALL RUGER PRODUCTS, THIS
REVOLVER IS OF THE HIGHEST
QUALITY AND DESIGNED WITH
THE SHOOTER IN MIND.
KNIVESFORALLREASONS
Ruger .480 Bisley and backed away. I did not want to cause a The cougar or
mountain lion (aka
deadly confrontation, and I certainly did not want to have to puma, panther and
explain to a Colorado game ranger why I shot a bear out of catamount) ranges
from Canada to central
season ... and without a license.
South America. It is
the second-heaviest
cat, next to the jaguar.
I backed down my trail, being careful not to stumble over the
Mountain lions are
rocky slope. I felt confident and secure with my Bisley in my prevalent in the WINKLER KNIVES: WK Wild Bill Axe
hand. After feeling sure the bear and I had agreed to a peace western United States,
as well as North
deal, I moved on down the escarpment, looking for sign. While and South Dakota, Daniel Winkler is an American patriot. He provides the
I rested in a well-sheltered spot, a desert bighorn sheep ewe Nebraska and Texas. special cutting tools for our American special operators. I
Small populations know several former Seals and SF American heroes who
walked by me. She was beautiful. By this time, it was getting can be found in have, and still use, Winkler tools.
dark, so I returned to camp. Oklahoma, Kansas,
Missouri, Arkansas
and Louisiana. I highly prize my WK Wild Bill Axe for many reasons, including
Once there, I sat down and had an MRE for dinner: It was not There is a very rare tactical use. (MSRP: $600)
population (called
only a dry camp, it was also a no-fire camp, because there “Florida panthers”) in UTICA CUTLERY: UTK-S4
was a campfire ban for this area. I used my Gerber Center the extreme southern
Florida Keys. Attacks
Drive multi-tool to open the MRE and a can of pork and beans. Utica Cutlery makes cutting tools for home and in the ield.
on humans are
I was hungry from a full day of hiking and high adventure. increasing each year. Utica’s outdoor line is made under the KutMaster division,
with most of its products made in the United States.
The Utica UTK-S4 is the perfect big-game hunting knife and is

ideal for all outdoor uses. This knife is strong but not heavy. Its
4.5-inch blade is at my upper limit on blade length but is very
functional. A ire starter and sharpener are integrated into the
sheath. (MSRP: $115; KUTMASTER.COM)
GERBER: Center Drive
Gerber is one of the foremost knife and tool companies in

the world. Its multi-tools are legendary. Gerber products are
carried by American heroes.
The Gerber Center Drive Multi-tool is no exception. It takes

the multi-tool concept to a new level. I used this tool during
my trip for everything from opening a can of beans to
straightening a bent tent peg. (MSRP: $119)
77
gun world
Performance
RESULTS
Ammunition Velocity Muzzle Energy Group
(fps) (foot-pounds) (inches)
Hornady 325-grain HP/XTP 1,290 1,201 3.02
Buffalo Bore 410-grain LBT-WFN GC 1,241 1,402 3.75
Buffalo Bore 370-grain LFN (Light Load) 1,090 976 3.80
While exploring the area around his campsite, the author noticed this Buffalo Bore 370-grain LFN 1,243 1,270 4.50
dug-out area under a large granite bolder. He saw fresh, wet dirt slung
all over the tailings. He thought it was a badger ... but he found a bear, Buffalo Bore 275-grain Barnes XPB Lead Free 1,557 1,481 3.75
which quickly growled to let him know it was not happy. The author drew
his Ruger Bisley and backed away. After some time to let things cool off,
he then returned to take this photo. He slept 75 yards from this den.
NOTES: Accuracy is a ive-shot group at 25 yards. Velocity is an average of ive
shots measured using a Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph at 5 yards.
Ruger
New Model The next morning, I popped out of my tent and searched for
Super The better the gear tracks of unwanted visitors. I found none. I then broke camp
Blackhawk you can afford, the
and hiked a new trail toward some interesting rock structures.
Bisley better it will serve
you. The author I saw signs of doe mule deer and one elk cow. I did not see
SPECIFICATIONS chose the Bianchi
Lawman leather
any signs of bear. About mid-afternoon, I angled back to my
CALIBER: .480 Ruger holster for the Ruger predetermined pickup point using my GPS. I saw numerous old
ACTION: Single action Super Blackhawk
campsites but no human tracks. I dropped my pack and relaxed
Bisley .480. The gun
BARREL LENGTH: 6.5 inches; 6 grooves, 1:18-inch, RH at the pickup point. In fewer than 30 minutes, I saw my wife and
belt is a Bianchi 1880
WEIGHT: 49.2 ounces (slightly more than 3 pounds) model that is heavy daughter four-wheeling their way to pick me up. It had been a
OVERALL LENGTH: 12.40 inches duty and keeps his
SIGHTS: Adjustable rear; ixed front Bisley in check. This short adventure—but a very rewarding one. As a result, I plan
TRIGGER PULL: 3 pounds, 7 ounces (with a slight creep) type of rig will make on returning to this area to explore further and will be sure to
carrying any large-
FINISH: Stainless steel bring the Ruger Bisley .480 for those creatures that might do
framed firearm much
GRIPS: Hardwood more pleasurable. me any harm, whether two or four legged.
CAPACITY: 5 rounds
MSRP: $999 (Lipsey’s)
CONTACT INFORMATION
STURM, RUGER & COMPANY

Ruger.com
BIANCHI HOLSTERS
Safariland.com
BUFFALO BORE AMMUNITION

BuffaloBore.com
DANIEL WINKLER
WinklerKnives.com
GERBER
GerberGear.com
HORNADY
Hornady.com
LIPSEY’S
Lipseys.com
UTICA CUTLERY COMPANY

UticaCutlery.com
78
IN CHOOSING A
MAGNUM REVOLVER,
I CONSIDERED
POSSIBLE THREATS.
FINAL EVALUATION
In order to make my final determination of
the New Super Blackhawk Bisley .480 Ruger,
consideration was given to several attributes I
require for my lion/bear country handgun:
Does this handgun have the quality and

strength to withstand years of use with full-
house loads? The answer: a solid yes.
Does this handgun have the stopping power

needed to take down an angry bear or lion?
The answer: again, a solid yes.
Is the recoil of this handgun controllable for

a second quick shot? For me, the answer is yes.
For others with less experience and strength,
the answer is probably no; not likely—unless
they get the Buffalo Bore 370-grain light load
or use light hand loads. But for the average
shooter, I believe the .480 Ruger in the Ruger
Bisley is perfect.
Does this handgun possess the accuracy

needed to hit a medium-sized, live target at 25
yards? With practice, the Ruger Bisley .480 will
take any large animal in the Western Hemisphere.
Is the weight of this magnum handgun light

enough to carry all day while hiking? Yes. I
carried the .480 Ruger Bisley all day for two
days with 24 extra rounds; and even at my
tender age, I had no problems. The key is a high-
quality holster, such as the Bianchi 1L Lawman
Holster mounted on a Bianchi California Outlaw
gun belt. Cheap holsters and belts that are too
small will wear you out quickly.
Because I love big-bore, single-action handguns—

and speciically, single-action handguns—I can
say that the New Super Blackhawk Bisley
.480 Ruger is perfect for me. As are all Ruger
products, this revolver is of the highest quality
and designed with the shooter in mind. In
addition, I think the .480 Ruger round has been
overlooked and under-explored. I love the .480
round and the Ruger New Blackhawk Bisley
single-action revolver. GW
HOGUEINC.COM 1-800-438-4747
P.O. BOX 91360, HENDERSON, NV 89009
EVERYDAY CARRY TEXT AND PHOTOS BY STEVEN PAUL BARLOW
The Ruger SR1911

Oficer’s Style in
9mm would make an
excellent EDC handgun.
It features attractive
G10 grip panels with
the textured “wings” of
the Ruger eagle.
REASSESSING MY
CONCEALED-CARRY
CHOICES ... YET AGAIN
PICK ONE, ALREADY!
I
tend to be skeptical of “new-and-improved” products, STREAMLIGHT TLR-8
especially when it comes to EDC gear. When I find “Why are you so grouchy?” my young grandson asked one day.
something that works for me—a knife, flashlight, He’d obviously been listening to his dad—my son—who, at
holster—I tend to stick with it and often buy two or three times, has been the reason for my being grouchy.
of them before they’re discontinued.
Reflecting on the subject, I found that too often, I lament that
But I do pay attention to new gear introductions, and lately, it’s things aren’t as good as they should be—that is, something
been an old-dog-new-tricks type of situation for me with some closer to perfect. That applies to the car I drive, the political party
of the gear that has caught my attention. that gets my vote and, yes, even the handgun I carry every day.
80
Sticky Holster can I still have that Glock G19 (an old Gen2 model), and it’s still a
sed as a pocket
er; alternatively, it
great handgun. And I carried the Glock G26 with me on errands
be tucked inside the before sitting down to write this today. But I came to like some
tband.
of the other guns I tested. And several became my EDC choices.
There’s the Oriskany Arms 1911 425FP (Commander-sized .45)

with FDE Cerakote finish and Trijicon night sights. What a great
gun! But I mounted a Streamlight TLR-6 light/laser on it and
liked it so much that I didn’t want to take it off. So, I thought,
This will be my house gun.
Besides, by that time, my Ruger American Compact .45 arrived.

In my opinion, it’s one of the most underrated handguns out
there. It fits my hand better than any other polymer-framed
pistol; and, as a result, sight acquisition is very fast. It’s in that
midsized class that I believe is best overall. It’s rugged, reliable
and accurate, and it became my EDC gun.
But then, the hunting season came around, and I was spending
more time in the woods. And Ruger had come out with a stainless
1911 in 10mm. It offered a lot more power for wilderness carry.
I thought, Why shouldn’t this make a good EDC gun all year?
IT’S ACCURATE
AND RELIABLE AND
Getting the chance to shoot and evaluate new handguns might
seem like a close-to-perfect job, but … . Okay, there’s really
ABOUT AS SMALL
nothing to put after the “but”; it’s a pretty cool job. The result,
however, is that I’m continually reevaluating my EDC choices.
AS I’D WANT TO
ONCE UPON A TIME
GO FOR AN EDC
It wasn’t always so. For years, I carried a full-sized Glock G17 on
duty, a compact Glock G19 off duty and a subcompact Glock G26
GUN. IT’S ALSO A
CLASSY-LOOKING
The Ruger SR1911
Oficer’s Style features
when traveling light. All were loaded with Speer 9mm 124-grain
a bull barrel and full-
PISTOL.
Gold Dot hollow points. What more did I need? length guide rod.
81
EVERYDAY CARRY
he Galco Summer CARRY VERSATILITY
omfort is a quality
ather holster with a Whenever I purchase a new gun, I immediately look for an
einforced rim to allow assortment of holsters for it so that I’ll have options in how I carry.
or easy re-holstering.
Two of the holsters I have for this Ruger are made by Galco. The
irst is the Corvus, with a carbon-iber inish that can be converted
from a belt holster to an inside-the-waistband holster with the
included hardware. The second is the Summer Comfort, an open-
top leather IWB holster with a reinforced lip for easy re-holstering.
It’s held in place by two belt loops, with snaps itted to allow for
easy removal of the holster.
A third holster I have is a Sticky Holster. It has no loops or clips.

.357 Magnum revolver when it was introduced with a 2.75-inch
The idea is to tuck this inside your waistband and simply cinch
barrel. And the HK VP9SK still holds a dear place in my heart.
your belt over it. I will have to spend more time with it before I
have full confidence carrying it this way. However, you can use it
WHAT’S IT THIS TIME?
as a conventional pocket holster.
The gun that has most of my attention now is the Ruger SR1911
Officer’s Style in 9mm. It has a stainless steel slide with a 3.6-
The Ruger is a bit big for pocket carry, but it would work fine
inch bull barrel over an aluminum frame that sometimes looks
with some of my pants that have deep pockets.
gray. At other times, depending on the light, it has a blue tint. The
grips are G10, gray and textured with the stylized wings from
KEEP MY SECRET
Ruger’s eagle logo.
Your own handgun choices might differ from mine, but it’s hard
to argue that the ones I’ve mentioned here aren’t all quality guns.
It has full-sized, three-dot metal Novak sights. It comes with two
eight-round, stainless steel magazines. It’s accurate and reliable
So, do I really have the right to be grouchy? (If you can keep a
and about as small as I’d want to go for an EDC gun. It’s also
secret, I’ll tell you that I’m really smiling like a crazy man on the
a classy-looking pistol. That won’t mean much in a defensive
inside!) GW
situation—but just looking at this gun makes me feel, if I say so
myself, less grouchy. CONTACT INFORMATION
Other benefits as a carry gun include its naturally slim, single- STURM, RUGER & CO.
Ruger.com
stack 1911 design and an excellent single-action trigger—
The Ruger features
probably one of the primary reasons the 1911 has stayed GALCO a rounded hammer,
Because it’s a single- left-side thumb safety
popular so long. Takedown is easier than with traditional 1911 stack design, this slim GalcoGunLeather.com and a grip safety with
pistols because there’s no barrel bushing. 1911 is easy to carry beavertail and “speed
ncealed. STICKY HOLSTERS bump.”
StickyHolsters.com
ABOUT Steven Paul Barlow is a retired sergeant/station commander and former firearms
instructor with the New York State Police. He has been writing on outdoor topics
THE for more than 30 years and has served as the editor for a number of Engaged
AUTHOR Media special publications, including Gunslingers.
82

TRAIN TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CHRIS CERINO
SKILLS
HUNTING SEASON IS RIGHT AROUND
THE CORNER, AND YOU’RE GONNA
NEED SKILLS. TRAIN FOR THESE
THREE SKILLS AND MAKE YOUR TIME
AFIELD A SUCCESS.
FOR THE A
timeless sport—hunting and pursuing big
game—entices many of us.
Between the time spent waiting for hunting

season to start and the money we spend on
licenses, travel and equipment, we should arrive prepared for
the moment of the shot. Not to have trained for that moment
HUNT
would be a shameful waste of time and money—not to
mention the risk of a wounded/lost animal.
Because I am a police officer, competitive shooter and whitetail

deer hunter, I know there are certain skills necessary for
long-gun success. You should know how to run your gun and
keep it running; manipulation skills should be systematic and
pre-programed. Making quick shots from off-hand positions
84
instills confidence in your rifle and yourself. Creating a hasty,
supported position when you have a little time to make the
best-shot possible can get you that trophy you’ve dreamt of.
Here are three skills to work on toward proficiency in order to

increase your success rates.
SNAP SHOOTING
While you are stalking or merely walking to a hunting spot,
a shot could present itself. Don’t be caught off guard and
unskilled, should that opportunity arise. Being skilled at
making quick shots accurately is essential.
Whichever method you use to carry your rifle—elbow carry,

trail carry, two-hand ready, cradle carry or sling carry—
practice getting your gun into action, pointed downrange and
on target. You should also think about what distances you are
likely to have to make a quick off-handed shot. This 3-gun target
mounted to a backer
is perfect, with its
KNOWING HOW TO USE
8-inch center for snap
shooting from the YOUR ENVIRONMENT
cradle carry position.
Plenty of target TO BRACE FOR A
around the center
gives you a chance to PRECISE SHOT MAKES
SENSE. WHETHER IT’S
see just how far off
you are.
A HASTY POSITION OR
A SLOW, METHODICAL
POSITION, YOU NEED
TO HAVE THE SKILLS TO
GET LOCKED IN AND ON
Standing supported THE TARGET FOR THE
on the side of a tree
is a common position.
Keeping knees, hips
MOST ETHICAL KILL.
and shoulders square No more than one or two misses is acceptable, and that
to the target helps depends on how far off target it is. It also matters if you called
manage recoil. Be
sure to practice from the miss or if you have no idea what happened.
both sides of the tree
so you know how to
place your hands to Try this drill from 50 yards to about 125 yards out and move
support the rifle in in increments of 10 or 15 yards. You can go closer or farther,
a hurry.
depending on your skill level and competence.
On your own or with a friend, practicing can be as simple
or complex as you want it to be. Simple targets, such as a BRACED/SUPPORTED SHOOTING
sheet of cardboard with an 8-inch paper plate stapled to it, Knowing how to use your environment to brace for a precise
is sufficient. The 8-inch paper plate is a good approximation shot makes sense. Whether it’s a hasty position or a slow,
of the vital area for deer and larger game, and the large methodical position, you need to have the skills to get locked
cardboard backer shows how far off you are if you miss. in and on the target for the most ethical kill. If there’s enough
time to “scope-out” a particular animal, there’s certainly
Choose a carry position and a distance. On your own command, enough time to brace up to make a good shot.
a friend’s command or timer signal, practice getting your gun
into action: Shouldered, on target, safety off … make the shot. Shots as close as 50 yards can be missed due to “buck fever,”
Practice each distance for eight to 10 repetitions. and getting solid hits with advantageous body placement
85
TRAIN
More than just keeping the rifle mounted and in your shoulder
when working the bolt, you need to stay on the gun for multiple
reasons. Firing at game that is far off or in a busy, cluttered
background requires sight to track your quarry after a hit.
If a miss happens, you might get a chance to send another

round and make a correction based on what you saw in the
optic reference to the impact. Don’t shoot at a trophy and
lose sight of it in recoil. You might have to reacquire it by
backing off the magnification. Remember: The field of view
gets smaller the higher we turn up the magnification. Increase
the chance of success by managing your rifle correctly.
TRAIN FOR IT
Training with long guns for hunting or competing involves
way more than zeroing and firing from bench rests and prone
positions. Long guns are fun, and training with them can be
from a support doesn’t happen without practice. As distances Using your arms even more fun if you use your imagination.
and legs together
increase, you will want more support and to get closer to the
can help you
ground. Standing, high-kneeling or kneeling on two knees are create a supported So, get out this fall and work on your snap shooting, being
positions that can beneit from support. Kneeling (with your position that
allows for elevation
sure to keep it in the vitals. Practice hasty shots, supported
butt resting on your foot) and sitting positions don’t require adjustments. positions and bolt-gun skills, and you’ll end up being a well-
external support, but it can only help to have it. However, you Bring knees in and rounded long-gun operator who is ready for the field. GW
elbows to thighs
need to practice shooting from these positions before the hunt. for high shots, and
If you have woods to shoot in, you’re lucky. Shoot from the
lower your legs
and stretch out TRAINING WITH LONG
GUNS FOR HUNTING
on the backs of
right side and the left side of a tree. Knowing how to place your upper arms to
your hand to create support on both sides of the tree is lower the gun. Of
mandatory, because you might not get the opportunity to

course, seated is
even more stable OR COMPETING
shoot from your favorite side of a tree. Foot placement can
aid in managing recoil to view the bullet impact, as well as to
than kneeling.
INVOLVES WAY MORE
track an animal you hit.
THAN ZEROING AND
In the absence of a supportive structure, there are always “seated” FIRING FROM BENCH
and “front-knee-up” supported kneeling options. Knowing how
to drop down to these positions is important, but understanding RESTS AND PRONE
how to use your limbs (legs and arms) to increase or decrease
elevation is important in wild country. Uphill, downhill and shots
POSITIONS.
in tall scrub will dictate the inal iring position.
Knowing how to
shoot over a support
BOLT-ACTION GUN SKILLS seems simple, but not
Modern sporting riles are more present than ever in hunting today, everyone knows to
keep the rear knee up
but much of big-game hunting is still done with bolt-action riles.
to support the elbow
and the shooting arm
Having good bolt-action skills is an art. Working a bolt gun while on the gun. And, of
course, don’t rest the
maintaining a sight picture and tracking a target is something barrel on the support
that many don’t do well. Shooters iring bolt guns, even from a because of impact
shift from flexing
rested or prone position, often lift their heads off the stock and against the hard
away from the optic every time they work the bolt. surface.
Chris Cerino is a 25-year law enforcement and training professional. He competes in

ABOUT THE shooting sports to validate his skills. Chris writes on the topic of training and can be
AUTHOR seen on a variety of TV shows.
86
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AMMO 411 TEXT AND PHOTOS BY PATRICK SWEENEY
ROMAN
KNOWLEDGE
W THERCBS
e make bullets out of lead for good reasons.
Because of its ease of shaping, along with
a low melting point, easily-shaped ductility,
lack of work-hardening and its density,
lead has been the choice for a long time.
The Romans made pipe out of it (the Latin, plumbum, for lead,
PRO MELT 2
gives us “plumbing”). And, despite the move toward copper for
modern bullets, lead still has its place.
The two methods of shaping a bullet are casting and swaging.

Unless you happen to have a hydraulic press good for tens of
SIMPLIFIES THE
tons of pressure, swaging is out. The rest of us have to cast
to make bullets.
Back when I started, the choices were not very good, and
getting skilled enough to make cast bullets that worked and
LEAD-MELTING
cost less than factory wasn’t easy.
PROCESS FOR
The RCBS Pro Melt 2
has all the bells and
whistles—complete
with a digital
readout and a mold
guide to keep your
mold positioned.
CASTING YOUR
OWN BULLETS.
www.gunworld.com p
88
SEPTEMBER I 2018
WHOLE LOTTA THINGS TO LIKE
The irst thing that drew my attention is its 25-pound capacity.
That’s 875 .45-caliber bullets of 200-grain weight. Not that you’ll
get all of those out of 25 pounds, but the fewer times you have to
“reload” the melter, the better.
Before you do anything else, you need a way to melt lead. The Those 25 pounds come out the bottom. There are those who
light bulb moment for me for getting back into casting was to prefer a dipper—a ladle to spoon out the molten lead—but
see the RCBS Pro Melt 2 on display. This is a machine that, had that’s not me. I want gravity to help me. The side handle is
it existed a couple of decades ago, would have been just the adjustable so you can control the pour rate of molten lead;
thing to prevent me from walking away from casting. that’s a good thing. Depending on the mold size and capacity,
89
AMMO 411
FEEDING THE PRO MELT
Now, depending on the bullets you are casting, if you change
alloys, you simply hold the spout handle open, with an ingot
mold underneath, and keep track of which ingots are which.
You’ll have to let the ingots cool before you can mark them, but
mark them you must. All lead looks the same when it is cool,
so keep track.
When I was casting back in the “Dark Ages,” all I ever used as a
source of lead were vehicle wheel weights that I bought by the
5-gallon bucket at various tire stores in town. Back then, it was
all lead, with a few percentage points of antimony thrown in.
You’ve got to be a lot more careful these days. Now, wheel

weights come as iron (which won’t melt; it will just loat on
top), zinc (it poisons your lead, so all the molten lead in the pot
must be discarded) and various polymers (which will burst into
lames when they hit the molten lead). So, if you opt for wheel
you might want a narrow stream or a robust one. There’s a Set the temperature,
leave it alone, and you weights, sort them before melting.
cover over the molten lead, so you don’t have to worry about
know it will always
splashes (always a bad thing with molten lead), and it also be the temperature
These days, I just go online and order up 10-pound ingots of
helps keep the heat in—at least a little bit. you want. For the
author, 700 degrees (F) 92/6/2 alloy, because my casting needs are a bit specialized.
is perfect.
When you do get to casting, here’s a tip: Keep the next ingot
With an RCBS pro Melt 2 and mold, some lead and a place to
of lead on the machine to warm it up. You want to evaporate
melt it, you can make your own bullets. What those bullets
any water that might be there. If you don’t, the water will be
are, and how you’ll be using them, can add complexity to the
instantly turned into steam on contact with the 700-degree
process (but that’s more than we have room for here. In fact,
lead, and that means a potential volcano of lead.
it could ill an entire book—which many have done already).
And the temperature? There is no dial rheostat and no trusting to

At a bit more than $300, it will take a bunch of casting to
a built-in “good-enough” temperature. Instead, there is a digital
recoup the investment, but you’ll have access to bullets you
rheostat/temperature selector, and you can dial it up or down to
simply can’t buy. GW
your needs. Plug it in, program the temperature, and add in the
lead to be melted. Once the lead is hot, you can get started.
THIS IS A MACHINE
When you get started, you’ll ind that RCBS has added another
trick to the setup: There’s a mold guide underneath the melting THAT, HAD IT
pot. You can adjust the mold guide so it will hold your mold in
just the right location and at the correct height to the spout
EXISTED A COUPLE
for you to cast. Once you get it set up and adjusted, you don’t OF DECADES AGO,
have to eyeball the location each time you put the mold under
the spout. This speeds things up and also makes the casting WOULD HAVE BEEN
sessions less messy.
JUST THE THING TO
With two power choices, 120V or 240V, you can plug it in
pretty much any place you do your casting. When you are
PREVENT ME FROM
done, all you have to do is turn it off and let it cool down. This WALKING AWAY
will take a couple of hours (unlike the heating up, which takes
about 15 minutes). FROM CASTING.
ABOUT Patrick Sweeney has been a decades-long reloader, competition shooter,
gunsmith and firearms writer. He is also a state-certified law enforcement
THE firearms instructor, a court-recognized expert witness—and winner of much
AUTHOR more than his fair share of loot and glory.
90
© 2018 O.F. Mossberg & Sons
LET FREEDOM
RING... AT
1000+ YARDS.
ENJOY THE RING OF SUCCESS ALL-DAY

finding steel from downrange with the
new MVP Precision rifles from Mossberg.
As America’s oldest family-owned and operated
firearms manufacturer, we’ve been building
dependable, hardworking rifles and shotguns
since 1919. American built. American strong.
ARM YOURSELF WITH MOSSBERG.
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ARM YOURSELF WITH SAFETY Store firearms securely, inaccessible to children and unauthorized users.
CLEARED HOT TEXT AND PHOTOS BY BRIAN BERRY
The right to self-defense is a given.

Whether you chose a lethal or less-
lethal alternative, you should always be
prepared. The Taser Pulse can provide
you with the peace of mind in most self-
defense situations. (Photo: Axon)
OPTIONSFOR F
or many, the idea of carrying a firearm is more than
they are ready for when it comes to self-defense. I
have no problem with this, because I do not wish to
force something on someone who is not prepared
to use it.
LESS-LETHAL MAKING AN INFORMED DECISION

Luckily, there are self-defense alternatives to a firearm. That
being said, becoming a martial arts expert or knife fighter at
SELF-DEFENSE
a skill level that moves the odds in your favor during a violent
encounter takes considerable time.
In addition to those who are reluctant to carry a firearm, there

are those who are not able to carry a firearm due to reasons
“SELF-DEFENSE IS NOT JUST A SET OF that might be related to either legal troubles or restrictive laws
in their community.
TECHNIQUES; IT’S A STATE OF MIND, AND IT WHY “LESS-LETHAL”?
BEGINS WITH THE BELIEF THAT YOU ARE For most who opt for a less-lethal form of self-defense, it is
likely due to either moral reasons (unwilling to take a life),
WORTH DEFENDING.” —RORION GRACIE religious views or possibly the fear of a costly aftermath that
could include both mental and financial costs.
92
While these are all good reasons, it should be noted that even The Taser Bolt is
packaged similarly
“non-lethal” defense (more accurately called “less-lethal”)
to the Pulse: two
methods could cause death or serious bodily injury, depending cartridges, battery,
on the assailant’s health or other circumstances. soft case, target and
guide. Less obvious
as a weapon, this
MAKING A CHOICE Taser could be more
easily carried in your
One of the most popular forms of non-lethal defense is the hand and ready to go
Taser, manufactured by a company called Axon. “Taser” has when you are caught
in a sketchy area or
become a generic name for most stun devices.
situation.
Make no mistake: The Tasers made by Axon are the ones you
most likely see strapped to police officers’ belts. While you
can’t get an X2 or X26 for personal use, you can get one of this
company’s Pulse and Bolt models.
control for 30 seconds and enabling the user to get away from the
attack. In addition, the Bolt can be used in a contact stun after the
SIMILAR TO AN LE TASER
Taser has been ired or without a cartridge installed.
Providing similar defensive power trusted by law enforcement,
the Taser Pulse is designed for civilian self-protection. It is
HOW IT WORKS
lightweight, easy to wield and is an excellent choice as an
If you are not familiar with how the different forms of a Taser
alternative or addition to self-defense with a firearm. It fires
might work, it’s fairly simple.
two electrodes into an assailant up to 15 feet away. You can
drop the Pulse once you fire it and escape while it continues to
The striking of the probes completes the electrical circuit, allowing
incapacitate for 30 seconds. You can also shorten the exposure
a high-voltage, low-amperage current to pass from the Taser to
by flipping the safety lever to “off.”
the person. The results are uncontrollable muscle contractions
that will result in instant loss of neuromuscular control and the
One of the nice features from Axon is that if you use your
The Taser Pulse failure of the person to perform any voluntary actions, which
device in a self-defense situation and are unable to recover it,
comes packaged immobilizes them. It can also cause considerable pain.
Axon will replace the device at no cost. with the Taser device,
two cartridges, a
battery good for up The immobilization and pain associated with Tasers end as soon as
LESS LIKE A HANDGUN to 50 activations,
target, soft case and
it is deactivated. It is for this reason that you would either drop the
The Taser Bolt is similar to the Pulse—without the look or outline
QuickStart guide. Taser and run as it continues its cycle. The second option is that once
of a handgun. It provides the same functions as the Pulse and Hard holsters are it stops, if the threat is still real, you can activate a second charge.
uses a laser sighting system for accurate shot placement. It available from several
companies, including
offers a 15-foot standoff (the same as the Pulse) that temporarily
overrides an attacker’s central nervous system, limiting muscular
Blackhawk! and
BladeTech.
LIGHTWEIGHT
AND EASY TO
WIELD, THE
PULSE IS AN
EXCELLENT
CHOICE AS AN
ALTERNATIVE
OR ADDITION TO
SELF-DEFENSE
WITH A FIREARM.
93
CLEARED HOT
The Taser cartridge While it might not be feasible for most people to carry both
is packed with the a Taser and a firearm, it is something to consider. Abraham
probes and 15 feet
of wire. When fired, Maslow once said, “If all you have is a hammer, everything
there is a small looks like a nail.”
popping sound as
the probes seek out
their intended target. The same can go for your self-defense methods: If all you have
The manufacturer
warns to not exceed
is a gun, deadly force might be your only option. Consequently,
the 15-foot distance, the Taser Pulse is definitely getting added to my kit. GW
because the probes
could reach the end of
the wire and bounce
back at the user.
The probes of the

Another issue that comes up in other products is the requirement Taser have a small
to penetrate the skin. However, according to Axon representatives, barb at the end to
the Pulse and Bolt do not require skin penetration. On all but the make sure they
remain in place, even
heaviest of outerwear, the probes can still transmit their charge up if the target moves.
to 1 inch from the end of the probe—more than enough for even
heavy winter clothes.
DON’T “TAZE” ME, BRO!

Having been “tazed” during military training, I can attest that it
is not something I would want to do often (or ever again)! While
the effects were not lasting, they were quite painful during the
action, so you get a healthy respect for the device.
THE LEGALITY OF STUN DEVICES
As with any weapon, you need to check your local
ADDITIONAL EFFECTS laws to see whether it is legal for you to own, carry
While the Taser is considered “less-lethal,” it could still cause or use a Taser.
additional injuries as a by-product of using it. The assailant
could incur injury from the fall or an infection from the contact Axon provides a page on its website for state laws
site. Repeated or prolonged use on the assailant could also related to ownership and use of the Taser.
cause physiological, metabolic or cardiac issues. Axon provides
a warning card with the devices; it should be read and followed Some states might allow you to carry it, but not concealed.
by the user. For instance, ive states require a permit to purchase
them, three states ban them completely (New York,
ADJUST YOUR TACTICS Massachusetts and Rhode Island), and two states require
The tactics of using one of these devices is different than if you At a distance of 12 concealed-carry permits (West Virginia and New Mexico).
feet, the spread of
were using a handgun. Many allow you to carry openly but not concealed.
the Taser probes
was slightly more
You will not have standoff distance beyond the 15-foot range than 19 inches.
Each of the current state laws regarding the use of
The manufacturer
of the projectiles, which means you do not have the additional recommends shot the Taser or other stun devices can be found at the
range that a firearm might have. What you do get is the ability placement just below Axon website: axon.com
the chest in the front
to defend yourself in a less-lethal manner and avoid the and anywhere on the
possible mental/emotional effects of having to kill an assailant. back of an assailant.
Brian Berry is a retired Army Special Forces Command sergeant major. He is a

about former Special Forces weapons sergeant and has multiple combat tours under his
belt. Brian is the co-founder of Spartan Defensive Concepts, at which he teaches
the concealed carry and defensive marksmanship courses. Brian retired in 2014 and is
author now a consultant currently working for the Special Operations community, as well
as a senior instructor for American Survival Guide University.
94
3-INCH GROUPS AT 100 YARDS. Solid claim for a rile.
Ravin crossbows get it done with bolts. If it shoots, handles or
performs like a Ravin, it should be in your gun safe. See the crossbow
that shoots like a rile at RavinCrossbows.com.
Speed (400 gr) 430 FPS I Kinetic Energy 164 FP I Width Axle-to-Axle 6” Cocked I Length 34.5” I Physical Weight 7.1 lbs
Chewing the Fat TEXT BY JEFF QUINN ILLUSTRATION BY TRIS MAST
’COON HUNTING
YOU WOULD ASSUME THAT “’COON HUNTING”
went ’coon hunting, I was invited by an uncle of mine to join him
and one of his sons. The idea sounded good to me at the time,
so I accepted the offer—only later inding out that this activity
WOULD REFER TO THE ACTIVITY OF HUNTING

takes place at night, starting about the time that most working
humans go to bed.
THE WILD RACCOON. NOT SO.

Throughout that irst ’coon hunting season, most every hunt
was pretty much the same. After working hard all day, I would
come home, do whatever chores needed doing around the
house (such as bringing in wood for the stove) and eat supper.
T
here are many types of hunting to enjoy in the
Then, the other hunters would show up, and off we would go
United States these days, with several seasons on
in a pickup that carried the three of us and a couple of dogs.
game and vermin taking place all over the nation at
In ’coon hunting, the dogs are the stars of the show, and ’coon
various times of the year.
hunters are very proud of their dogs, which can be the subject
of intense arguments.
Most types of hunting are named appropriately according to the
particular species of animal hunted. For instance, hunting of
’COON HUNTING IN THE LBL
deer is called “deer hunting,” hunting of ducks is called “duck
Typically, we would travel about 15 miles to the south entrance
hunting,” and hunting of turkeys is called “turkey hunting.” See
of an area created when the Tennessee Valley Authority dammed
how simple that is?
the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, creating Kentucky and
Barkley lakes. The land between these two lakes is called,
One would then logically assume that “’coon hunting” would
interestingly enough, “The Land Between the Lakes”—locally
f t th ti it f h ti th ild N t ‘C
referred to as “LBL.”
… ’COON HUNTERS
ARE VERY PROUD OF THEIR
DOGS, WHICH CAN BE THE SUB-
JECT OF INTENSE ARGUMENTS.
LBL was designated a national recreation area by President Kennedy in 1963 and consists of roughly
17,000 acres of what was previously good bottom land for farming, along with timber on the ridges.
The farmers and others were forced out when the TVA dammed the rivers. That area is now a multi-use
recreation area for hunters, ishermen, campers and hikers. It features many miles of hiking and ATV
trails. And, it is also well-suited for the activity of ’coon hunting.
Two things make LBL a great place for ’coon hunters: There is a lot of forest area habitat for raccoons;
and there is plenty of room to chase the dogs without having to trespass on private land, thus avoiding
inally inding them a couple of days later.
GO GET ’EM!
This brings us to the part about how ’coon hunting is actually dog hunting.
While the dogs might be in pursuit of a raccoon, they also might be chasing a deer, a skunk or another
dog. The humans are just chasing the dogs.
The dogs used for this sport are very special dogs that have the ability to cross the roughest terrain
available in any given area. They do so as if they believe it is required of them.
Typically, when the pickup is parked in the darkest hollow in three counties, the tailgate is lowered, and the
hunter gives the command, “Go get ’em!” The dogs then leap from the truck bed, cross the nearest stream
and immediately head straight up the steepest bluff in the state (Tennessee has plenty of steep bluffs in the
dense woods. Much of Tennessee is vertical, with hills, ridges and hollows running in every direction. I do
believe that if the state were mashed out lat, the total acreage would exceed that of Alaska!). In fact, one
could turn loose a pack of ’coon dogs in the middle of the driest, flattest part of the Mojave Desert,
and they would immediately find a deep stream to cross and a bluff to go straight up. ’Coon dogs have
this unique ability.
WHICH WAY DID THEY GO?

It is at this point in the hunt that the hunters stand semi-quietly for a few minutes. They listen intently AD INDEX
to try to figure out which way the dogs went as the sounds of their howling echo throughout the BLACK HILLS AMMUNITION .................59
hollows and ridges—making it difficult to determine the direction of the sound. There seems to be an BRAVO COMPANY ............................... 8-9
unwritten rule that no two hunters will come to the same conclusion regarding the direction in which BROWNING.....................................23, 61
the dogs went. BUSHNELL............................................... 3
CHIAPPA FIREARMS.............................51
CRIMSON TRACE CORP.........................53
Thus begins a long night of pursuing the dogs through ice-cold streams, muddy creek banks, briar
CZ-USA..................................................63
patches that could serve well as a perimeter fence at a maximum-security prison and across slippery
DANIEL DEFENSE..................................99
rocks. If you believe it is impossible to sweat profusely in single-digit temperatures, you are wrong: DEL-TON................................................87
’Coon hunting provides the opportunity to be hot, cold, wet and lost, all at the same time. DILLON PRECISION ...............................41
FOBUS U.S.A. ........................................79
Several hours go by as the hunters struggle to make it across every stream, up every hill and be lacerated GTUL ......................................................69
by every patch of briars in the Western Hemisphere. With any luck at all, the dogs will be waiting by the HKS PRODUCTS, INC.............................33
pickup truck as the morning sun rises, allowing the hunters to arrive back home just in time to put in another HOGUE GRIPS........................................79
hard-day’s work after surviving the night—exhausted and bleeding, in pursuit of the elusive racoon. GW KAHR ARMS..........................................57
MD HEARING AID..................................71
RANGERPROOF SWAG ..........................29
ABOUT THE RAVIN CROSSBOWS .............................95

REDDING RELOADING EQUIPMENT ......27
AUTHOR RIO GRANDE CUSTOM GRIPS, LLC .......97
ROCK RIVER ARMS ...............................15
Jeff Quinn is a full-time writer/reviewer on Gunblast.
SIG SAUER .............................................. 7
com, an online gun magazine started in 2000. He has also
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY .......................... 2
written for the Gun Digest Annual and enjoys living life in
STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC. .....100
the woods of Tennessee, where he raises Longhorn cattle TAURUS INTERNATIONAL .....................31
… and his grandkids. TRUGLO .................................................19
WILSON COMBAT ..................................43
X-TECH TACTICAL .................................83
97
DOWN RANGE PHOTO BY ROBB MANNING
M249 belt-fed ammunition
98
GLASS SHATTERS.
WHAT’S YOUR NEXT MOVE?
NEW
DANIELDEFENSE.COM
NOW STANDS FOR
EVERYDAY CHOICES
The Ruger® EC9s™ comes with no
gimmicks, rebates or mail-in offers
for gift cards... just the rugged,
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in the perfect caliber, size and price point.
WHY CHOOSE BETWEEN THEM

WHEN YOU CAN HAVE BOTH?
RUGER.COM © 2018 Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. 011118

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SPECIALISSUE:

CLARITY IN ANY CONDITION

70 ...................... QUIZ: FIREARMS THAT FAILED

GUN WORLD (ISSN 0017-5641) is published monthly in January, February, March,

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GUN WORLD SEPTEMBER 2018

AUTUMN HUNTING PRIMER

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ATN IS WAY AHEAD OF of debacles with it. I didn’t love it.

The 4K not only addresses the shortcomings of the X-Sight

THE GAME WITH ITS

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It’s a bit clumsy when installed, but IR or ambient light is

You can upgrade to one of ATN’s more-powerful IR lights

Many folks assume that with such a product, the shooting

The operating system is the easiest I’ve ever used on such an

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ABSOLUTELY WORTH THE PRICE

ATN is way ahead of the game with the X-Sight 4K Pro.

to the top of the head on a human), press the button to position

MAGNIFICATION (DIGITAL): 3x–14x

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Where the quarry leads,

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I ind hunting with hounds to be one of the most physically

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PLANNING FOR A HOUND HUNT

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INTERCEPT SERIES ™ for easy use with gloves

WWW.TRUGLO.COM Scan for video

A few years ago, when the opportunity to experience

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IMPROVING THOSE SKILLS

Wow, did I need instruction when it came to sporting clays!

I had the greatest experience on my first bird hunt. Only one of

As we walked through the fields, we even talked and giggled.

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However, my final hunt of the season (at the Kansas

Now … back to sporting clays and Ladies’ Night at the hunt

Recently, after I missed a crossing clay several times, the

The author’s favorite

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Maxus Wicked Wing

Congratulations! You’re almost there.

In preparation for—and in celebration

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BUT GETTING A GOOD

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ABOUT FIVE OF EVERY SIX

About five of every six hunters in this country pursue whitetails,

WHERE TO HUNT THEM: States such as Ohio, Illinois,

GUNS: Guns include just about anything, including .22-caliber

DID YOU KNOW? A whitetail fawn can stand in as little time as

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WHERE TO HUNT: Southern states, such as

GUNS: Don’t underestimate the tenacity of wild

DID YOU KNOW? A single sow can produce around

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... BULL ELK ARE THE

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