SMALLER SIZE, LARGER AUDIENCE H&K VP9SK

January 2018

The World’s Oldest And Largest Firearm Authority

ACE
Official Journal of the National Rifle Association
AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

IWI’s Savage’s Precision Pair

Tested: 6 mm Creedmoor
21 Century Galil
st
Colt USMC M1909 Revolver
YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE TO MAKE A

Introducing NovX. Putting the power of a .45 ACP in your 9mm with new NovX 9mm Luger +P ARX® Engagement:Extreme
Self-Defense. At 65 grains the combination of NAS3 stainless casings and copper/poly projectiles produces more
velocity –1,710 FPS – and more foot pound of energy – 422 – than a lead and brass +P .45 ACP. It all adds up to the
FIRST IMPRESSION.

most powerful, strongest, fastest, flat flying, self-lubricating, +P ARX® Engagement:Extreme

smooth cycling, and most deadly ammunition in history. Velocity of 1,710 FPS generates approximately
120,000 RPM. Upon impact exclusive ARX
Welcome to the new world. Learn more at NovXammo.com fluted design inflicts lethal performance.
 Contents JANUARY 2018
VOLUME 166, NO. 1

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

132nd Year of Publication
The NRA, the foremost guardian of the traditional American right
to “keep and bear arms,” believes every law-abiding citizen is
entitled to the ownership and legal use of firearms, and that
every reputable gun owner should be an NRA Member.

NRA
EXPERTS
IN THE
Photo by Forrest MacCormack FIELD

features Chipping Away At Our Rights .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18

Chris W. Cox Anti-gunners plan to continue their attack on law-abiding firearm owners with
2018 legislation.

Galil ACE: IWI Brings The AK Into The Modern Era .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 56

Jeremiah Knupp While there are more than 100 million firearms based on the AK-47 design around the
world, the best yet may just be the Galil ACE.

Smaller Size, Larger Audience: Heckler & Koch’s VP9SK. .. .. .. .. .. .. 64

Wiley Clapp The new VP9SK is H&K’s entrant into the highly competitive field of compact,
striker-fired, polymer handguns, and it signals a shift toward American consumers.

True Pair: Two New Long-Range Rifles From Savage. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 68

Bryce M. Towsley The market has spoken, and Savage has answered with its Model 10/110 BA Stealth
and Model 10 GRS—both in 6.5 mm Creedmoor and destined for long-range shooting.

Last Of Its Kind: The USMC Model 1909 Colt . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 74

Justin Dyal The last revolver adopted by the U.S. military in .45 Colt, the Model 1909 was a
stopgap between the failed Colt double-action .38s and the Model 1911 pistol.

Sequel: The 6 mm Creedmoor.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 78

Craig Boddington Seldom is the sequel better that the original, but the new 6 mm Creedmoor might
succeed without needing any help from its 6.5 mm big brother.

78
Photo by Bryce M. Towsley

Photo by Jesse Snyder

Photo courtesy of IWI

Photo by Justin Dyal

56 68 74
MEMBER PROGRAMS: (800) 672-3888
 A M E R I CA R E M E M B E R S ® P R E S E N T S

E1950s
lvis Presley defined American pop culture for an entire generation, with hit after hit dominating the charts, and his concert performances packed with delirious
fans. It’s hard to imagine that one person could influence American music and culture as did Elvis Presley. As the idol of a generation of youngsters in the
and 60s, Elvis’ music and spirit lives today in the hearts of millions of fans worldwide. This is the legacy of the “King of Rock & Roll ”, and it ™

continues to grow stronger. With his tremendous talent, good looks and sensual style, Elvis changed the music world forever. His live performances and
motion pictures delivered his magic to the fans he so cherished.
When you remember Elvis Presley, you certainly remember his music, the way he lit up the big screen, and how he captured hearts with nothing
more than a smile. When you remember Elvis, you remember a superstar, a legendary performer who changed music, and will rule forever as the 
undisputed “King of Rock & Roll™”. Throughout his career, Elvis sold over one billion records, starred in 33 films, and became an icon of 20th 
century pop culture. 
Elvis Presley, the entertainer, loomed larger than life, but to the people who knew him the best, there was nobody more down to 
earth. He loved his parents. He was generous and loyal to his friends. He cared deeply for his legions of fans around the world, and 
when it came to his country, Elvis was a proud American. He proudly served in the U.S. Army when his country called. 
Now, America Remembers is proud to present the Elvis Presley™ Tribute Henry Rifle honoring the legendary Elvis Presley. 
Each Elvis Presley Tribute Henry Rifle is issued on a working Henry Repeating Arms Big Boy Carbine in caliber .45 Colt, and 
only 500 Tributes are authorized in this edition. Henry Repeating Arms is a family-owned business, and America’s leading 
lever-action rifle manufacturer, and rifles produced by Henry Repeating Arms are always in high demand. 
Craftsmen commissioned specifically for this project by America Remembers decorate each Elvis Presley™ 
Tribute Henry Rifle in 24-karat gold and gleaming nickel with elegant scrollwork and blackened patinaed

highlights to accentuate the details of the artwork. Each Tribute features a 16.5” rifled octagonal barrel with
an American walnut shoulder and forend, and a large loop lever.


The Elvis Presley™ Tribute Henry Rifle QThe right side of the receiver features
Elvis loved firearms. He assembled a fine collection of firearms during his lifetime. Elvis also two scenes of Elvis performing for his
enjoyed working on action movies set in the Old West. In these movies, Elvis uses the legendary fans. Also featured is the distinctive “TCB™”
pistols and rifles of the Old West that are so much a part of America’s heritage. logo with a lightning bolt and a depiction of his
This handsome lever-action features artwork that captures the career of Elvis. For signature. The “TCB™” logo translates to “Taking
many of us who were fans of Elvis from his concert days as a performer, our dream was Care of Business in a Flash.”
to see Elvis in a live concert. This Tribute captures some of those moments in history
which bring back our fondest memories of Elvis. The artwork also features a
depiction of his signature and the legendary “TCB™” logo. Together with a
lightning bolt, the logo stands for “Taking Care of Business in a Flash,” an
idea and a credo that Elvis adopted and shared with his closest friends.

Exclusive Edition – Only 500 Available

With only 500 Tribute rifles available in the exclusive edition
honoring Elvis, it is anticipated that demand will be high. We
encourage you to reserve your Tribute today. Reservations
will be accepted in the order they are received, and we
will arrange delivery of your working rifle through a
licensed dealer of your choice. If for any reason you are
less than satisfied with your Tribute, you may return it in
original, unfired condition within 30 days for a full and QThe left side of the receiver features a stunning portrait of Elvis which will
courteous refund. take you back to your favorite memories of Elvis from early in his career. Also
featured is an image reminiscent of Elvis’ performance during his very popular
Enthusiasm for Elvis has not diminished since
his debut in the fifties. The Tribute is sure to bring
“Aloha From Hawaii” concert and TV special in 1973. As a final touch, the
back your most cherished Elvis memories, while
artwork is framed with elegant scrollwork highlighted with musical notes.
preserving his legacy for generations to come.
There are few people in history who can
truly be considered legends, but in the case
of Elvis Presley, the label rings true. He
was a true American original. If you
are an Elvis fan and appreciate
handsomely decorated
firearms, The Elvis
Presley™ Tribute Henry
Rifle is sure to take a
position of honor
in your personal
collection.
Elvis™ and Elvis Presley™ are trademarks of ABG EPE IP LLC Rights of Publicity and Persona Rights: Elvis Presley Enterprises, LLC © 2017 ABG EPE IP LLC elvis.com

I wish to reserve ___ of the Elvis Presley™ Tribute Henry Rifle, a Name ___________________________________________________
working rifle, at the current issue price of $2,395.* My deposit of $195
per Tribute is enclosed. I wish to pay the balance at the rate of $100 Address _________________________________________________
per month, no interest or carrying charges. Certificate of Authenticity
included. Thirty-day return privilege. City/State/Zip ____________________________________________
*All orders are subject to acceptance and credit verification prior to shipping.
Shipping and handling will be added to each order. Virginia residents please add sales tax.
TCheck enclosed for $_____________ . Daytime Telephone No. ( ________ ) _________________________________
TCharge payment of $ _____________ to:
T VISA T MasterCard T AMEX T Discover
America Remembers®
10226 Timber Ridge Drive 0 Ashland, Virginia 23005
www.americaremembers.com
©AHL, Inc. No. __________________________________________ Exp. ___________ To place your reservation toll-free call 1-800-682-2291

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
Wayne R. LaPierre, Executive Vice President
official journal
NRA PUBLICATIONS
Doug Hamlin
Executive Director
Chip Lohman
Deputy Executive Director
Marshall J. Flemion
Managing Director, Integrated Marketing
Evelyn Q. Kessler
Director, Fiscal Operations
The Armed Citizen . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10
Terri A. Wolfe
Executive Assistant
Rachel Carr
Special Reports Sales & Fiscal Assistant
Standing Guard .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 Karie Thomas
Firearms Inventory Manager
President’s Column .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 EDITORIAL
Political Report .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 John R. Zent
Editorial Director
American Marksman: Mark A. Keefe, IV
Editor In Chief
2017 National Matches . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 84 Brian C. Sheetz
Senior Executive Editor
ILA Report .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 98 Ann Y. Smith
Senior Executive Editor, Digital
Regional Report/Member Info & Benefits .. . 100 Joseph L. Kurtenbach
Managing Editor
Programs & Services .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 102 Kelly Young
Associate Editor
Christopher Olsen

correspondence The Keefe Report .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 8

Assistant Editor
Kristen Voss
Assistant Editor, Digital
Readers Write .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 Maureen A. Denfeld
Editorial Assistant
Favorite Firearms. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 54 Bruce N. Canfield, Aaron Carter,
Wiley Clapp, Rick Hacker,
B. Gil Horman, Jeff Johnston,

reports News & Notes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26

Jeremiah Knupp, Jim Wilson
Field Editors

Products & Projects .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30 ART

Susan K. Kilday
Creative Director
David J. Labrozzi
technical Questions & Answers . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 Art Director
Karen Haefs
A Gun Of Many Names
Assistant Art Director
Mid-Range Trajectory Peter Fountain
Shootin’ Blanks Photography Director
Forrest MacCormack
Dope Bag .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 92 Photographer
Kimber Camp Guard 10 mm Auto Pistol Jesse Snyder
Winchester Super X4 12-Ga. Shotgun Associate Photographer
POF-USA Revolution 7.62x51 mm NATO Rifle American Rifleman (ISSN 0003-083X) is
published monthly by the National Rifle
I Have This Old Gun .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 112 Association of America, 11250 Waples Mill
Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400, (703) 267-1000,
Ruger “Old Model” Single-Six (Contoured Loading Gate) for the benefit of its members. Membership
dues (U.S. and possessions) $40 a year, $100
for 3 years, $140 for 5 years. $3.75 per year is
designated for a magazine subscription. For
foreign postage add $5 a year in Canada and
$10 elsewhere. For membership inquiries
only, call (877) 672-2000. Copyright 2017,
SMALLER SIZE, LARGER AUDIENCE H&K VP9SK
the National Rifle Association of America.
THE COVER: The classic Israeli upgrade of the January 2018

All rights reserved except where expressly

Kalashnikov (really, the Valmet), is back, waived. Periodicals Postage paid at Fairfax,
modernized and more versatile than ever. The World’s Oldest And Largest Firearm Authority
VA, and at additional mailing offices.
Shown on the cover is the IWI US Galil ACE POSTMASTER: Please send address
changes to American Rifleman, c/o
chambered in 7.62x39 mm and topped with National Rifle Association, P.O. Box 420648,
a Meprolight MOR Multipurpose Reflex Sight. Palm Coast, FL 32142-0648.
For more, turn to Field Editor Jeremiah TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS or to
Knupp’s article on the Galil yesterday and report a damaged or undelivered magazine,
Official Journal of the National Rifle Association

write: American Rifleman, c/o National Rifle

today, beginning on p. 56. Photo by Forrest Savage’s Precision Pair
Tested: 6 mm Creedmoor Association, P.O. Box 420648, Palm Coast,
MacCormack. Design by David J. Labrozzi. FL 32142-0648. Or to make changes to your
AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

Colt USMC M1909 Revolver

ACEIWI’s
account online go to: NRAmemberservices.org.
21st Century Galil Do not return damaged copies. Change of
address should include both new address and
R1801_COVER.indd 1 11/21/17 3:25 PM
a mailing label bearing the old one. In case of
duplication send both labels.

Printed in the United States of America

 WHETHER YOU’RE DEFENDING FREEDOM OR ENJOYING IT,

OUR OPTICS ARE READY FOR ANYTHING.

©2017 Trijicon, Inc. | Wixom, MI USA | 1-800-338-0563 | 17TRIJ12129-R | trijicon.com

TRIJICON RMR TYPE 2 ®

What we’ve learned from decades of deployment with

America’s greatest fighting forces, we’ve put back into
our technology for America’s greatest shooters.

• Upgraded electronics for increased survivability

• Enhanced ruggedness for the toughest conditions
• Easily adjustable windage/elevation
• Patented, concave housing shape for increased durability
• Ideal for concealed carry and compatible with all RMR mounts
• Available now

See the new technology at

Trijicon.com/RMR.
 NRA PUBLICATIONS
PUBLISHING OPERATIONS
Michael J. Sanford
Managing Director, Publishing Operations
H&K’s MP5K Operational Briefcase Michelle E. Kuntz
Director, Production
Not just for spy movies, this Heckler & Koch submachine gun James C. Handlon
really could be fired from a special briefcase. See this unique Director, Marketing/Advertising
Debra Oliveri
piece of history and other MP5K fun on the range at Senior Production Coordinator
americanrifleman.org/briefcase. Adam Wilson
Production Coordinator
Samantha Brown
Senior Advertising Coordinator
Cheryl Doden
Federal Premium’s New .224 Valkyrie Advertising Coordinator
It’s the next big thing—remaining supersonic beyond 1,300 yds. Director, Eastern Sales
Tony Morrison
Get the details at americanrifleman.org/224. (860) 767-9801
Southeast Sales Executive
Stan Yates
(850) 619-8148
Eastern Sales Executive
Glock Gen5 Buzz Rachelle Trout
Do the Gen5 upgrades to the Glock 17 and 19 live up (910) 262-0913
Detroit Advertising Sales
to the hype? Find out at americanrifleman.org/gear. Ken Glowacki
(703) 267-1300
Director, Western Sales
Courtney Olson
(303) 955-2194
Western Sales Executive
James O’Neill
(530) 401-8607
Midwest Sales Executive
Tim Hamill
(231) 360-6434
Tune in Wednesday nights to the Outdoor Channel for the Western Direct Sales Executive
Debbie O’Connell
best firearm show on television. Now in its 16th year, (805) 501-9138
American Rifleman TV brings you a Feature, a “Rifleman DIGITAL OPERATIONS
Review” and an “I Have This Old Gun” segment in each show. Michael Pedersen
To preview upcoming episodes, visit americanrifleman.org. Director, Digital Operations
Tom Rickwalder
Senior Digital Producer
Steve Dulco

New Season, New Shows Digital Producer

Carolyn Lee
Digital Advertising Trafficker
December 27 MEMBERSHIP INQUIRES: (877) 672-2000
Hot Ticket: Hornady’s 6.5 mm Creedmoor; Springfield XD-E Pistol in .45 ACP;
Remington-Rand M1911A1 Pistol WARNING: All technical data in this publica-
tion, especially for handloading, reflect
January 3 the limited experience of individuals using
specific tools, products, equipment and
Reloading Today; EAA Witness P Match Pro Pistol in 9 mm Luger; components under specific conditions and
Sterling L2A3 Submachine Gun circumstances not necessarily reported in
the article and over which the National Rifle
January 10 Association (NRA) has no control. The data
Legacy of Service: Trijicon’s ACOG; Ruger Ranch Rifle in 7.62x39 mm; have not otherwise been tested or verified
by the NRA. The NRA, its agents, officers and
Luxembourg’s SOLA Super Submachine Gun employees accept no responsibility for the
results obtained by persons using such data
January 17 and disclaim all liability for any consequential
Is It Real Or MILO?; Taurus T4SA Carbine in .223 Rem.; Colt Official Police Revolver injuries or damages. See asterisked (*).
* NO ADVERTISED ITEM IS INTENDED FOR
SALE IN THOSE STATES, OR IN THOSE AR-
EAS WHERE LOCAL RESTRICTIONS MAY
LIMIT OR PROHIBIT THE PURCHASE, CAR-
RYING OR USE OF CERTAIN ITEMS. CHECK
LOCAL LAWS BEFORE PURCHASING.
MENTION OF A PRODUCT OR SERVICE IN
ADVERTISEMENTS OR TEXT DOES NOT
NECESSARILY MEAN THAT IT HAS BEEN
TESTED OR APPROVED BY THE NRA.
OFFICIAL NRA POSITIONS ARE EX-
PRESSED ONLY IN STATEMENTS BYLINED
BY NRA OFFICERS OR IN ARTICLES IDEN-
TIFIED AS SUCH.
THE EDITORS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE
FOR UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS OR
PHOTOGRAPHS.

The New Audit Bureau of Circulations

FOR THOSE WHO’D
DRINK THEIR OWN URINE
Meet the 5.56mm RDB Survival™, bred for whatever Mother Nature dishes out. It’s the bullpup done right,
but shorter and more compact for easier carrying in rugged terrain. With patented
downward case ejection, an adjustable stock and the best factory bullpup trigger
ever. The new RDB Survival. For those who’d drink their own urine, if they had to.
Innovation. Performance. Kel-Tec. See more at KelTecWeapons.com.
©2017 Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc
 THE KEEFE REPORT
J
im Norell, whose face you likely
would recognize from “American
Rifleman Television,” was an
important voice, not only on the
show, but in this and the other NRA
Official Journals. Jim, who died in
September at age 74, was in on the
ground floor of the Institute for
Legislative Action (ILA) as its first
director of communications. Before
that, he worked for a champion of
gun rights, Idaho Sen. John McClure.
Jim’s love of freedom and firearms
were impassioned and genuine. He was
a gun collector (or accumulator), a
shooter, a hunter and one of the most
stalwart advocates for your freedom
that has ever been a part of the NRA.
His meaningful words first
appeared in the magazine in the
1970s—they were also in virtually
every issue during the past 20 or
so years—although seldom under
his own byline. Most of what he
wrote were columns and speeches
for NRA’s leadership. He had one of
the brightest minds when it came to
protecting the Second Amendment
and advocating for our rights. But it
wasn’t just an issue for him, it was
part of who he was. Jim Norell had
guns in his heart.
The thing about Jim, even before
the era of talking points and sound
bites, was that he knew what NRA
members needed to know. He could
digest the import of events, the impact
of proposed legislation and cultural
trends, and then identify them for NRA
members so they could defend their
freedom either in the local barbershop
or on the national stage. It was his
job to wake up every day and find the
right words to make sure that the free-
dom he inherited as a young boy would
be passed on to another generation
of Americans. He never forgot who he
really worked for—NRA members.
Because he was a genuine gun guy,
Jim’s byline did occasionally appear in
these pages and in other NRA publica-
tions. His article “A Century Of USMC
Sniper Rifles: Hands On History”
(americanrifleman.org/sniperhistory)
reported on shooting the collection
of Marine sniper rifles belonging to
former NRA Secretary Edward J. Land
8 JANUARY 2018
alongside young Marines at Quantico.
It was one of the finest articles
that has ever appeared in American
Rifleman. Jim also wrote the defini-
tive article on Remington Model 720
Secretary of the Navy Trophy rifles.
And they were not an esoteric area of
knowledge to him—he actually owned
one, having horse-traded for it decades
ago with the winner of a match.
Over the past few seasons, I
asked Jim to become one of our
commentators for “American
Rifleman Television.” Even though
he had a Primetime Emmy Award
for television writing, we put him
in front of the camera. As might
be expected, he came across well,
because he really was one of the
most knowledgeable people on fire-
arms that I’ve ever known. And he
was hysterically funny.
Innumerable times, Jim would end
our conversations with these words,
“Mr. Keefe, you’re a good man.” And
there were times that I wondered
whether I really was. But there was
no doubt, no hesitation on my part
in knowing that Jim Norell was a
good man. I would argue, perhaps,
even a great one.
The last conversation I had with
him was by phone in my truck on the
way to a clays shoot. At the end of it,
I was feeling grateful for his friend-
ship and we were both laughing so
hard that the tears running down my
cheeks caused me to pull over. Little
did I know that, a week later, they
would be running down my cheeks
again—this time because I would
never again be able to talk to my
friend Jim Norell.
Sincerely,
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
 Meet your
next rifle.

Experience 3-inch groups at

100 yards, from a crossbow
measuring just 6 inches from
axle-to-axle. Introducing Ravin
with HeliCoil™ technology, a
revolutionary cam design that fires
arrows downrange with dead-
straight nock travel and zero rail
friction – for devastating precision.
See the crossbow that thinks it’s
a rifle at RavinCrossbows.com.

SPEED (400 GR) 390 FPS I POWERSTROKE 13" I KINETIC ENERGY 135 FP I DRAW FORCE 10.0 LBS
WIDTH AXLE-TO-AXLE 6" COCKED • 10.5" DE-COCKED I LENGTH 34.5" I PHYSICAL WEIGHT 6.9 LBS
THE ARMED CITIZEN
®

F
lashing a concealed-carry gun was enough to help a woman escape the
nefarious intentions of a stranger who followed her into her car after cutting
her with a knife. While a woman was entering her car at a shopping cen-
ter, the knife-wielding man assaulted her and forced his way into her vehicle. He
climbed into the car beside her and ordered her to drive to a rural area in Illinois.
During the drive, the woman had to stop at an intersection. It gave her the oppor-
tunity to reach for her firearm, for which she had a carry permit. When the bad guy
saw the gun, he jumped out of the car and fled on foot. The armed citizen drove
herself to a hospital to get the knife wound treated, and gave the police a solid
account of the incident. Authorities later arrested a suspect and charged him with
aggravated assault, aggravated battery and unlawful use of a gun by a felon. He
was being held on bond. (foxnews.com, Chicago, Ill., 10/13/17)
IF YOU HAVE

A FIRSTHAND
“ARMED CITIZEN”
EXPERIENCE,
CALL NRA-ILA PR/
COMMUNICATIONS
AT (703) 267-3820.
Studies indicate that firearms
are used more than 2 million
times a year for personal
protection, and that the
presence of a firearm, without
a shot being fired, prevents
crime in many instances.
Shooting usually can be
justified only where crime
constitutes an immediate,
imminent threat to life, limb,
or, in some cases, property.
Anyone is free to quote or
reproduce these accounts.
Send clippings via e-mail to
armedcitizen@nrahq.org,
or by mail to “The Armed
Citizen,” 11250 Waples Mill
Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-
9400. For bonus features,
visit “The Armed Citizen Blog”
S
uspects might be able to run, but they
can’t always hide—not when armed citi-
zens are alert and on their guard. A man who
was wanted in connection with a homicide in
Pittsburgh found that out for himself one day,
even though he had run to South Carolina.
After fleeing Pennsylvania, the thug tried
breaking into a Myrtle Beach, S.C., home
where a 78-year-old woman lived. When the
homeowner noticed a stranger was messing
around with one of her windows she called
911. She told the dispatcher that she had
a gun and she wouldn’t hesitate to use it if
the trespasser broke in. Myrtle Beach police
responded quickly and arrested the prowler
before he gained entry. They found out later
he was a person of interest in the killing of a
University of Pittsburgh student. (wtae.com,
Pittsburgh, Pa., 10/13/17)
Q uick thinking kept a North Carolina
woman safe during an abduction. The
woman tricked her attacker into taking her
to her home, where her husband—who had
access to a gun—was. The victim was working
late one night when a man broke into the
business establishment. The attacker, holding
a sock with a pointed object in it, implied that
he had a gun, manhandled the woman and
against a prepared homeowner. The armed
citizen responded by firing at the would-
be thief, who then ran away. Someone had
called 911 to report gunshots, and the police
nabbed the perpetrator. The man who lived in
the home was not charged. (San Benito News,
San Benito, Texas, 10/13/17)
C riminals might consider the elderly a
vulnerable segment of society and easy
victims to prey upon, but that wasn’t the case
in Florida. When a would-be burglar tried
breaking into the home of an 81-year-old, the
homeowner turned the tables on him with
a gun. The incident started when a stranger
rang the doorbell of a New Smyrna Beach,
Fla., home. The resident, not recognizing the
visitor, declined to answer the door. A few
minutes later the citizen noticed the man on
the porch was putting on white gloves. At
that point the senior citizen grabbed his per-
sonal protection handgun. When the outsider
proceeded to break the glass of a first-floor
window and reached in to unlock it, the older
man fired several rounds, possibly grazing
the suspect. Police were searching for the
bad guy. (The Daytona Beach News-Journal,
Daytona Beach, Fla., 10/9/17)

at americanrifleman.org.
Share this column online at
nrapublications.org.
forced her into her car. Keeping her wits about
her, the woman told the miscreant that she
had cash at her home and said if he drove her
there he could have it. As the assailant held
the woman in a chokehold and walked her
into the house, her husband, who was inside,
grabbed a gun and fired, scaring the aggres-
sor off. The predator was later arrested and
charged after he was found hiding in a nearby
trailer. Authorities said the husband was within
his rights to shoot. (wavy.com, Norfolk, Va.,
10/18/17)
W
hen a stern request to go away didn't
dissuade a Texas woman from breaking
into a neighbor’s home, the homeowner shot
and killed the burglar. Montgomery County
law enforcement officials are investigating,
but early indications stated that the defen-
sive shooting was justified. “She actually
opened the screen door and started coming
in the back door,” Precinct 1 Justice of the
Peace Wayne Mack told a reporter from The
Courier. “The homeowner advised her not to
come in the house and feared for her life.”
The suspect was shot in the abdomen and

P olice arrested a Texas man after respond-

ing to a call about shots being fired. The
suspected burglar had been trying to break
into a San Benito, Texas, residence but ran up
was pronounced dead upon arrival at an area
hospital. The armed citizen was not injured
during the incident. (The Courier, Montgom-
ery County, Texas, 10/23/17)

10 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

DESIGNED WITH
THE TOUGHEST Short Takeup Trigger

STANDARDS IN MIND
with Positive Reset

BUILT TO PERFORM
IN THE HARSHEST
Recoil-Reducing Barrel Cam, Low Mass Slide,
Low Center of Gravity and Low Bore Axis

CONDITIONS
Genuine Novak ® LoMount Carry
Three-Dot Sights

Modular Wrap-Around Grip System for

Adjusting Palm Swell and Trigger Reach

Safe, Easy Takedown with No Tools

or Trigger Pull Required

Ambidextrous Slide Stop, Manual Safety and

Magazine Release Allow Actuation with Either
Anything Else Would Be Un-American. ™
Hand (Pro Models Come without External Safety)

Designed with the latest U.S. Military standards in mind, the Ruger American Pistol is built
®

to perform in the harshest conditions. A true American innovation, this pistol was developed
through a rigorous “Voice of the Customer” process – where numerous law enforcement and
military trainers, firearms experts, distributors and retailers provided input, feedback and Complete Your Ruger American Pistol® with the
Officially Licensed Blade-Tech® Total Eclipse
testing in the determination of the form, function and features of this firearm. The resultant Holster at Your Local Retailer or
Online at ShopRuger.com
new pistol is a revolutionary platform for Ruger, one that utilizes the combination of a recoil-
reducing barrel cam (which is designed to better spread recoil energy over time) with a low mass
RUGER.COM/AMERICANPISTOL
slide, low center of gravity and a low bore axis to provide an unparalleled shooting experience. © 2017 Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. 010317
STANDING GUARD
By Wayne LaPierre
Executive Vice President
Like us on Facebook at the
National Rifle Association.
For related articles, go to
nrapublications.org.
12
NRA Members Take a Stand for
This Country and What it Represents
I
n this age of self-absorbed political cor-
rectness, I thank God for one pure truth
that stands out from the crowd.
NRA members stand.
We stand for freedom and fight to keep it.
We stand for our families and for our
friends and neighbors.
We stand for the liberty and values that
have always defined us, and our America, as
the greatest nation on Earth.
NRA members stand and, when the flag
of our great nation is presented, we stand
with resolution and pride.
We stand for our flag, for our country and
for our national anthem.
Others might sit or kneel or raise a fist
or do whatever the latest societal fad might
call for, but NRA members stand, hands over
hearts, in honorable reflection upon our free-
dom and those who have fought for it.
We stand to honor our brave servicemen
and servicewomen, and their families. We
stand in honor of American’s law enforce-
ment officers who protect our streets, secure
our borders and do everything they can to
keep us safe at home.
For these courageous men and women,
and especially for those who paid the
ultimate sacrifice in defending our freedom,
standing for them is the least we can do …
and the first thing we should always do.
For us, it’s difficult to imagine any
American not standing during the national
anthem to honor our flag and country.
After all, Americans have stood for
their flag since June 14, 1777, the day the
Continental Congress ordained it. In August
of 1814, after the British burned the White
House and U.S. Capitol, Americans feared
that the Union Jack, the British flag, would
soon fly over all of America again.
It was just three weeks later when a
Maryland attorney, Francis Scott Key, was
so moved at seeing the U.S. flag victoriously
flying over Fort McHenry that he scripted
“The Star Spangled Banner,” now our
national anthem.
America’s anthem.
No matter our political or social differences,
the American flag and its anthem should
always be the one thing that unites us all.
In his farewell address, President George
Washington, said it best. “The name of
American, which belongs to you, in your
national capacity, must always exalt the just
pride of patriotism, more than any appel-
lation derived from local discriminations,”
Washington said.
JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
We are all Americans, regardless of any
other differences that may exist between
us. Standing for the flag is a grand symbol
that, no matter our race or religion or politi-
cal persuasion: We are Americans first and
foremost.
And, as Americans united in the freedom
we all cherish … we stand.
We stand to honor our democracy as the
world’s most noble form of government of a
free society.
We stand to honor the principle of liberty
and justice for all. Our patriotism is forged
in pride in the principles of our nation that
paved the way for change, for individual free-
dom and opportunity for all of our citizens.
IF WE DO NOT PASS ON
OUR PATRIOTISM AND
LOVE OF COUNTRY TO OUR
CHILDREN, HOW CAN WE
EXPECT THEM TO CHERISH
OUR FOUNDING PRINCIPLES?
We stand for the more than 1 million
Americans who have lost their lives at war …
on our behalf.
We stand and honor the same flag
draped across the coffins, respectfully
folded, and honorably presented to the
grieving spouses and families of those brave
service men and women.
We also stand for our children and grand-
children, the next generation of Americans.
If we do not pass on our patriotism and
love of country to our children, how can we
expect them to cherish our founding princi-
ples? Where will they find the moral compass
that sets America apart from other nations?
We stand for the flag and anthem, for our
hope in the next generation, that they may
embrace the values and patriotism and moral
courage to one day lead our great country.
We stand so they, too, can stand.
With pride and strength, we rise to our
flag, resolved to never be forced to “take
a knee” when it comes to honoring and
defending our freedom.
We stand out from the crowd. We are
Americans. We are patriots. We are the NRA!
PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
By Pete R. Brownell
President
NRA OFFICERS
Pete R. Brownell
President
Richard Childress
First Vice President
Carolyn D. Meadows
Second Vice President
Wayne LaPierre
Executive Vice President
John Frazer
Secretary
Wilson H. Phillips Jr.
Treasurer
Josh Powell
Executive Director,
General Operations
Christopher W. Cox
Executive Director,
Institute For Legislative
Action
For news about your NRA,
visit: nra.org and nranews.com
Share this column online at
nrapublications.org.
14
NRA Trains Hunters—For Free
T
he NRA is now in its third century of
advocating for hunters. In the decades
following NRA’s founding in 1871, our
organization widened its focus from firearm
training to become a leading voice for hunt-
ers. Of the NRA’s five corporate objectives,
one is to promote hunter safety, and to
promote and defend hunting as a shooting
sport and as a viable and necessary method
of fostering the propagation, growth and
conservation, and wise use of our renewable
wildlife resources.
The progression from firearm training to
hunting quite naturally led to hunter safety
training, a concept the NRA pioneered. In
1949, at the request of the state of New York,
the NRA developed a program of firearm
safety instruction specifically geared to new
hunters. The NRA had the training experi-
ence, thousands of volunteer certified firearm
instructors, and affiliated clubs in place to
rapidly develop and launch a hunter safety
training program. By 1952, there were 1,160
NRA Certified Hunter Safety Instructors in
New York that had trained 19,611 first-time
hunters. Instructors appointed by your associa-
tion offered the course as a public service for
free—a huge relief to New York game officials.
The result: Hunting accidents in New York
involving firearms dropped dramatically from
an annual average of 30 to several minor
incidents. Hunters were safer than ever
thanks to the NRA training. Other states
took notice, and soon, volunteer NRA Hunter
Safety Instructors in every state were train-
ing new hunters in the safe and responsible
use of firearms in the field—by 1958, 30,247
NRA Certified Hunter Safety Instructors had
trained 598,000 first time hunters.
The success of the NRA-inspired hunter
safety education continues, and our pastime
has one of the lowest participant-injury rates
among all types of sports. It’s safer to hunt
than to golf or play soccer.
Today, access to state mandated hunter
education by young people and millennials
is an ever-increasing challenge for those who
wish to qualify to purchase their first hunting
license. But there is a solution to this growing
barrier to future hunters.
Today’s technology provides access as
never before. And so we’re launching NRA
Online Hunter Education (nrahe.org). New
hunters can again now receive cutting-edge
firearm safety and fieldcraft training nation-
wide. And, just as in 1949, that training is free.
Developed over three years by the NRA
Hunter Services Department in concert
with leading instructional design firms, NRA
Online Hunter Education uses updated tools
JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
and a fresh attitude to teach students to
hunt safely with firearms and archery equip-
ment. The curriculum is broken into four
modules—Firearm Basics, Firearm Handling,
Field Safety and Hunter Ethics—that cover
the gamut from different firearm operating
mechanisms and the primary rules of gun
safety to field-dressing game and navigat-
ing wild terrain. Each topic is presented via
detailed but easy-to-grasp explanations,
videos, audio and other interactive content.
Easily accessed online, students learn
at their own pace during times that fit their
schedule. At the end of each module, they
have a chance to review the material before
being challenged to demonstrate what they
learned. After completing all four modules,
students must pass a final assessment test to
receive a completion voucher. They can also
register for a local in-the-field proficiency test,
administered and required by some states in
order to receive hunter education certification.
THANKS TO NRA-INSPIRED
TRAINING, IT IS SAFER TO
HUNT THAN TO GOLF OR
PLAY SOCCER.
While some states already offer online
training, NRA’s course provides two major
benefits. First, it’s free; third-party vendors
currently partnering with states to provide
their own online curriculums charge nearly
$30 per student. Second, there is no entity as
experienced at educating new hunters on a
national scale as your NRA—and the content
available at nrahe.org shows it.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission immediately recognized the
benefits of NRA Online Hunter Education
and became the first state to certify the pro-
gram as meeting its training requirements.
New hunters in Florida can receive a hunting
license by successfully completing the course
and a “Skills Day.”
Other states have expressed interest in
adopting NRA Online Hunter Education—the
information presented therein can be tailored
to meet any state’s requirements—and we
expect others will soon follow.
Log on to nrahe.org, even if you’re a
veteran hunter, and experience the top-notch
training only NRA can provide. Contact your
state’s wildlife division and encourage them
to accept the NRA Online Hunter Education
where you live and hunt.
 INTRODUCING THE MODEL 870 DM. Designed from the
ground up, it’s the only magazine-fed shotgun available
with the pedigree of being the world’s strongest,
smoothest, and most reliable pump gun. And with 3-,
and 6-round mags available, the patent-pending 870
DM is the ultimate choice for a home defense shotgun.
$IWHUDOOKRPHLQYDGHUVGRQōWZDLWIRU\RXWRƓOOD
magazine tube. LIVE READY with the new 870 DM.

PROUDLY MADE IN THE USA BY AMERICAN WORKERS

BASE MODEL

MAGPUL

KRYPTEK PREDATOR

HARDWOOD

TACTICAL

Some limitations apply. Go to www.Remington.com/lifetimewarranty for the warranty.

EVERY MODEL 870

RECEIVER IS MILLED FROM A
SOLID BLOCK OF STEEL – NEVER
ALUMINUM – FOR UNRIVALED
STRENGTH AND RELIABILITY.
POLITICAL REPORT
By Chris W. Cox
NRA-ILA
Executive Director
YOUR MEMBERSHIP
DUES ARE NOT
ENOUGH.
If you want to DEFEND your
right to own and carry a
firearm …
If your FREEDOM to hunt and
shoot is important to you …
Then you need to SUPPORT
the NRA Institute for
Legislative Action.
We are the only arm of
NRA specifically charged
with defending your
Second Amendment
freedoms on Capitol Hill,
and in state legislatures and
courtrooms across America.
Visit nraila.org/donate
to support NRA-ILA today!
NRA-ILA: (800) 392-8683
NRA-ILA website: nraila.org
For related articles, go to
nrapublications.org.
16
Gun Control Rebranded
F
or decades, gun control groups have
constantly tried to change their brand
names in order to fool the American
public. Their goal is to convince people that
a new name equals a new agenda. Gun
owners, of course, see right through this
charade every time it happens.
The latest example of this occurred last
Oct. 17, when gun control group Americans
for Responsible Solutions (ARS) announced a
“relaunch” of the organization under the name
“Giffords.” ARS was founded in 2013 by for-
mer U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and
her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly.
At its founding, ARS tried to present
itself as a more reasonable alternative to the
hardline gun control groups already in the
field. In a letter announcing the group, the
couple employed a folksy charm and assured
readers, “We don’t want to take away your
guns any more than we want to give up the
two guns we have locked in a safe at home.”
This sort of down-home messaging never
aligned with the fact that the group's
Political Action Committee’s most prominent
donors included Michael Bloomberg and
former Facebook President Sean Parker.
Nor did it align with the group’s unyielding
gun control positions. ARS’s founding letter
expressed support for a host of typical gun
control policies, including the criminalization of
private firearms transfers and restrictions on
commonly owned semi-automatic firearms.
The group even supported legislation to
make New Jersey’s already onerous gun laws
more burdensome.
Further cementing the group’s radical bent,
in 2016 ARS merged with the Law Center to
Prevent Gun Violence (LCPGV). LCPGV was
founded in 1994 as the Legal Community
Against Violence (LCAV) in response to a
shooting at San Francisco’s Pettit & Martin law
firm. In 2008, LCAV coauthored an amicus
brief in District of Columbia v. Heller that
argued in favor of the capital’s handgun
ban and against the Second Amendment
guaranteeing an individual right to keep
and bear arms in the home for self-defense.
Coinciding with the ARS name change,
LCPGV is now the Giffords Law Center to
Prevent Gun Violence.
Three name changes and a merger in
just over five years might seem excessive to
some, but this type of rebranding effort is
commonplace among gun control groups and
has been a regular and routine occurrence
over the past four decades.
What is today the Brady Campaign to
Prevent Gun Violence was founded in 1974
as the National Council to Control Handguns.
JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
NCCH’s position called for “strict federal laws
that will effectively restrict the possession
of handguns to only the police, the military,
licensed security guards, licensed pistol clubs
and registered collectors.”
NCCH was then renamed Handgun
Control Inc. in 1979. The change coincided
with new messaging that de-emphasized
a total ban on the civilian possession of
handguns even though handgun prohibition-
ist Nelson T. “Pete” Shields remained at the
helm of the organization until 1989. Shields
famously admitted his three-part strategy to
eliminate handguns. First, slow down produc-
tion and sales, then register all existing hand-
guns and, finally, prohibit handgun possession
in almost all circumstances.
A NEW PACKAGE WON'T
MAKE GUN CONTROL IDEAS
EASIER TO SELL.
In 1989, Sarah Brady became chair of HCI.
The group officially assumed the name Brady
Campaign at a D.C. gala more than a decade
later in 2001. The change was ostensibly to
honor the Bradys, but accurately reflected the
group’s desire to move away from the term
“gun control.”
In 1988, Josh Sugarmann founded the
anti-gun New Right Watch, then less than
two years later abandoned the name in favor
of the less politically charged Violence Policy
Center. The inoffensive name appears to have
worked on some of the less astute. In 2015,
The New York Times referred to the organi-
zation as merely a “gun safety group.” This,
despite VPC’s position that “handguns should
be banned from future sale except for military
and law-enforcement personnel.”
From 1975 to 1990, the Coalition to Stop
Gun Violence was the National Coalition
to Ban Handguns. In 2006, then-New York
City Mayor Bloomberg established Mayors
Against Illegal Guns. After acquiring effec-
tive control of Moms Demand Action for
Gun Sense in America, in 2014 Bloomberg
rebranded MDA and MAIG under the
umbrella group Everytown for Gun Safety.
It’s telling that gun control zealots believe
that the public will accept gun restrictions if
they just put their product in a new package.
However, after nearly a half-century of failure, it
might be time for them to admit that the mar-
keting isn’t the problem, it’s that the American
people don’t want what they’re selling.
 ILA STORY

Chipping Away
At Our
Illustration by David Labrozzi

18 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN


Rights
ANTI-GUNNERS PLAN TO CONTINUE THEIR ATTACK ON
LAW-ABIDING FIREARM OWNERS WITH 2018 LEGISLATION.
T
he second session of the 115th Congress is now
upon us, and it is as clear as ever that anti-gun
members of Congress just don’t get it. Law-
abiding Americans are tired of being scapegoats
for the acts of criminals and terrorists.
Year after year, we see measures aimed squarely at you
and me—the very people who conscientiously learn and
follow the rules. Most are opportunistically introduced in
the aftermath of some high-profile crime, while emotions
are still raw. “We have to do something!” the activists and
editorialists shriek.
But the “something” they refer to is gun control,
and it would never have actually stopped the crime.
Heightened restrictions would simply stand
between upstanding Americans and the exer-
cise of their rights.
And through it all, anti-gun members
of Congress and their cheerleaders
in the press demonize the NRA
and its members for standing
in the way of “progress.”
AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG
By Chris W. Cox
NRA-ILA
Executive Director
I’d love to report that everything is going to be different
in 2018 and that our opponents have seen the light. But,
unfortunately, that is not the case. In the closing months of
2017, we saw one bill after another that reflects the same
twisted thinking that if criminals only faced one more law,
maybe they’d call it a day. The list of topics is a familiar one:
civil liability for someone else’s crimes, “universal” back-
ground checks, de facto semi-automatic bans, magazine
bans, waiting periods, and “watchlisting” (i.e., “may-issue”
NICS approvals).
What follows is just a sampling of the bills that some
federal lawmakers hope to pass so they can clamp down
on your freedom.
Gun control advocates know many of their strongest
allies are the increasingly activist and politically motivated
judges who populate courts throughout the country. This
means that one of the most potentially consequential
bills is the misleadingly titled “Equal Access to Justice for
Victims of Gun Violence Act,” currently pending as S. 1939
(Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.) and H.R. 3984
(Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.).
JANUARY 2018 19
ILA STORY
This legislation would repeal the
Protection of Lawful Commerce in
Arms Act (PLCAA), an equal justice
provision in its own right. The PLCAA
was a reaction to a coordinated series
of lawsuits designed to litigate the
firearm industry into oblivion by hold-
ing law-abiding gun manufacturers and
dealers responsible for the criminal acts
of third parties.
And while its critics howl that the
PLCAA grants the firearm industry
unprecedented immunity, it was actu-
ally the legal theories advanced in
these suits that were the real novelty.
There’s no principle of law that would
hold a baseball bat manufacturer liable
for the acts of a bat-wielding assailant
or an automobile dealer liable for
damages caused by the driver of a
robbery get-away car when neither the
manufacturer nor the dealer had any
relationship to the criminal. But that
didn’t stop the litigants from hoping
the courts would create a special rule
for the gun industry or at least allow
the cases to go on long enough to
bleed the defendants dry through liti-
gation costs. Without the PLCAA, the
very existence of the domestic firearm
industry would be jeopardized, which is
why it repealing it remains the highest
priority for gun banners.
Another perennial favorite of the
gun control crowd is the concept
of “universal” background checks,
which seeks to interpose the govern-
ment (and expensive fees) into every
exchange of firearms, including those
between trusted neighbors, close
friends and even family members. Anti-
gun Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., is car-
rying the torch once again with S. 2009.
Murphy told the media he hoped the
mere introduction of the bill, which he
admitted had little chance of passage,
would nevertheless “strike fear” into
supporters of the Second Amendment.
It’s telling that would be his goal, rather
than striking fear into the criminals who
actually misuse guns yet would be com-
pletely unaffected by his bill.
Murphy’s right, though, that law-
abiding gun owners have much to fear
about the idea of abolishing private
transfers. The government obviously
cannot enforce this type of law unless
it also creates universal licensing or
registration of firearms. Of course,
those measures are also necessary pre-
requisites for any large-scale attempt
to confiscate or force the “buyback” of
Americans’ guns. Anti-gun advocates
routinely bring up Australia’s forced
20
confiscation of firearms as a model of
what should be done in the U.S.
Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn., not to
be outdone by her anti-gun colleagues,
has also jumped into the fray, by spon-
soring H.R. 4052, which she ludicrously
calls the “Keep Americans Safe Act.”
This ban on “large-capacity” magazines
would treat what most law-abiding
Americans have in their firearms as con-
traband, subjecting their possessors to
a possible 10-year stint in federal prison.
How could something so many millions
of upstanding Americans possess with-
out incident deserve such harsh treat-
ment? And why would a criminal who
ignores existing prohibitions against
possessing guns actually worry about
the capacity of a magazine? Ask Esty.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.,
and Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., have
also introduced legislation to ban
bump-fire stocks with S.1916 in the
Senate and H.R. 3999 in the House.
The actual language of this legislation,
however, reaches considerably beyond
bump stocks and threatens almost any
part or accessory that would allow a
semi-automatic firearm to shoot more
quickly. Neither proposed ban has a
grandfather provision, meaning they
could turn Americans who obtained
their parts or accessories years earlier
(when they were still lawful) into federal
felons. In this regard, the bills are even
more extreme than the confiscatory
gun bans of Australia—so admired by
gun control advocates—which at least
allowed current owners to surrender
their property for compensation.
Another recent gun control bill
rehashes an idea that's been around
since the days when gun controllers
were openly advocating for handgun
bans. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi. D-Ill.,
introduced H.R. 4018 to impose a
three-day waiting period on the sale
or “borrowing” of a handgun, whether
between private parties or federal fire-
arm licensees and private parties.
Gun control advocates used to
argue that waiting periods allowed
local officials to run background checks
on prospective purchasers, but that
justification went out the window
when the National Instant Criminal
Background Check System came online
in 1998. Then the argument shifted to
a supposed “cooling-off” period for
people who might buy a firearm in the
heat of an angry moment, intending
to do mischief with it. Of course, that
rationale never made sense in the case
of people who already owned firearms
JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
and who were still subject to the same
wait. These days, it’s clear that wait-
ing periods are just another arbitrary
hurdle between Americans and the
exercise of their Second Amendment-
protected rights.
Still other bills seek to make firearm
purchases by non-prohibited indi-
viduals subject to the discretion of
the U.S. Attorney General (H.R. 4057,
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y.) and to deny
firearm transfers to people based on
incomplete evidence, such as arrests
without final dispositions (S. 1923, Sen.
Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and H.R.
3464, Rep. James E. Clyburn, D-S.C.).
These bills show contempt not just for
the Second Amendment but for basic
notions of fairness and due process.
All of these bills illustrate that even
with pro-gun majorities in Congress
and a pro-gun White House, legislative
assaults on the right to keep and bear
arms continue. The ultimate goal is nei-
ther public safety nor holding criminals
accountable. It’s to chip away at our
firearms freedom until nothing is left.
“The ground is shifting,” anti-gun
Murphy insists, “but you need legisla-
tion like this to rally people to the side
of those who want change and against
those who don’t want change.”
We’ve already heard rhetoric about
“change” and “fundamental trans-
formation” in American politics. Gun
owners saw what that looked like
under Barack Obama, when settled law
was reinterpreted to enact new restric-
tions, lawful gun sellers were shunned
by banks, federal agents oversaw the
transfer of firearms to drug traffickers
and innocent gun owners were vilified
as the enablers of violent crime.
So make no mistake. As much as we
hope to expand our freedoms with pro-
gun majorities in Congress and a pro-
gun president, the opposition is equally
determined to exploit any circumstance
to advance their own agenda. Many
of these anti-gun politicians are not
motivated by concerns about the
Constitution or American freedom. They
are motivated by their public image and
job security. Holding them accountable
is a daily, ongoing process.
Washington, D.C., is not a gun-
friendly place, and there are plenty of
days when we would rather be in a tree
stand or duck blind than in the offices
or hearing rooms of the U.S. Capitol.
But we are here to be the voice of the
American gun owner. We remain ever
vigilant to defend our freedom for
present and future generations.
OFFICIAL MEMBER BENEFITS
It Pays to be a Member
O
n behalf of everyone here at the
NRA who serves our nationwide
membership, please accept our very
best wishes for the holidays ahead and the
coming new year. It’s a huge privilege to
work with you, because it’s your personal
commitment that’s keeping the Second
Amendment alive and preserving our
unique American way of life.
And while there’s no way that anyone at
NRA can say “thank you” often enough for
your service to freedom’s cause, I can tell
By Todd Grable you that we’re working every single day to
make your NRA membership as valuable
Executive Director of and worthwhile as we can.
Membership In fact, the moment you joined the
NRA, you earned an exclusive benefits
package that can more than pay for your
membership year after year. And I hope
that as 2017 comes to a close and we
begin a new year together, you’ll take the
time to find out more about your benefits
by visiting us at benefits.nra.org.
OUR TRAVEL AND INSURANCE
BENEFITS ARE AMONG THE MOST
POPULAR PROGRAMS THAT CAN
SAVE YOUR FAMILY MONEY. BUT
WHEN YOU VISIT BENEFITS.NRA.ORG,
YOU’LL SEE THAT THESE BENEFITS
ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
Planning to travel in 2018? Your NRA
membership qualifies you for discounts
of up to 20% at more than 25,000 hotels
and vacation homes worldwide. You can
also save up to 25% on car rentals – with
virtually every major American car rental
company. This one benefit alone could
easily cover the cost of your dues next
year, and these rewards are yours to claim
today at benefits.nra.org.
If your insurance needs have changed,
or if you’re wondering if you’re getting the
best value from your insurance dollars, go to
benefits.nra.org and check out the full range
of insurance products that you’re eligible for
through your membership. You may find out
that the buying power of NRA’s nearly five
million members can lower your costs while
providing your family with better coverage
and service than you have right now.
Our travel and insurance benefits are
among the most popular programs that
22 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
can save your family money. But when you
visit benefits.nra.org, you’ll see that these
benefits are just the tip of the iceberg.
Your membership gives you access to
a wide range of financial and health care
services, identity protection, and home
security products. You’re also eligible for
moving discounts, an exclusive car buying
program that could literally save you
thousands, and much more.
When you made the decision to
become an NRA member, you joined the
front lines of the most important civil
rights organization in America today –
protecting our Constitution and the rights
it guarantees to every law-abiding citizen.
And I believe your service to our nation
entitles you to the best benefits package
NRA can deliver.
With the final days of 2017 winding
down and a new year just around
the corner, millions of Americans will
be making their annual “New Year’s
resolutions” in the days just ahead. Most
of these will be forgotten just a few days
after January 1st. But I can tell you that
my staff and I will be 100% committed in
the coming year to putting hundreds or
thousands of dollars back in your family’s
pocket with a membership benefits
package that’s second to none.
I hope that in 2018, you’ll make it your
goal to explore your benefits package and
take advantage of these exclusive NRA
savings opportunities. Thank you for all you
do for our cause and, again, please accept
our best wishes to you and your family for a
happy, healthy and prosperous 2018.
Hundreds of thousands of
NRA members are using these
benefits to put millions of dollars
back in their pockets each year.
9 Hotel, motel and vacation
home rental discounts
9 Car rental discounts
9 Insurance products including
home, auto, term life and more
9 Financial and health care
services
9 Identity protection
9 Moving discounts
9 NRA car buying program
9 And much more!
Find out how you can 5-STAR
tap into these savings BENEFITS
at benefits.nra.org!
 READERS WRITE

The Bryce Crouch

I
greatly enjoyed Field Editor Jim Wilson’s “Jelly

Photo by John Gumm

Bryce: Oklahoma Gunfighter” (November 2017,
p. 60) on D.A. “Jelly” Bryce. My father, John
Gumm, was a newspaper photographer in the late
1950s for the Daily Oklahoman. He and D.A. “Jelly”
Bryce met through news events they were both
involved in and became friends, both sharing a
love for firearms. My father was an avid gunsmith
as well, and he often spoke of Jelly Bryce and his shooting style. Jelly spent some
time coaching my father in instinctive shooting in return for gunsmithing work.
The article brought back memories of listening to my father speak of their time
together, telling many of the same stories contained in the article.
Attached is a photo my father took of Mr. Bryce in his low crouch stance. The
revolver appears to be the .357, and his grip on the revolver is interesting, with
his middle finger actually under the trigger guard. It also appears that his front
sight was painted white or polished.
Great article, I really enjoyed reading it!
DON GUMM, OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma Lawman Dan Combs

I
recently received my November issue and thoroughly enjoyed the article on
Jelly Bryce. The stories of Mr. Bryce took me back to my days in school when
we were treated to the skills and instruction of another Oklahoma lawman,
Oklahoma Highway Capt. Dan Combs. I remember Trooper Combs weaving stories of
gun safety and highway safety with feats of speed and accuracy with his handgun.
Trooper Combs would put a cup on his hand and draw his service revolver from
his duty holster and destroy the cup before it hit the floor. He would also do the
hand-clap maneuver where he would have a volunteer try to clap their hands
on his hand and revolver before he would draw his gun. If you were fortunate
enough to attend one of his outdoor events, he would astound you with his
expertise using not only the revolver but a lever-action rifle, a shotgun and, the
best, a Thompson submachine gun. As a spectator, you never realized how much
wisdom and knowledge you were gaining from his demonstration and instruction.
Captain Combs, in my opinion, was in the same boat with Jelly Bryce but in
a different way. My memories of Capt. Combs will last with me forever, and I will
pass on his legacy to all my kids and grandkids.
JAMES SHARP, OKLAHOMA
Member Sharp and others, no doubt, will be pleased to know we have an article
about Capt. Combs, authored by Dan Schmidt, planned for 2018.
—THE EDS.

Well Done On The SBE3 November 2017

A LOOK AT THE M1911 DOUBLE-STACK

I
The World’s Oldest And Largest Firearm Authority

seldom read shotgun or bird-hunting articles, even though I

grew up with both on the ranch. But after glancing at Jeff
Johnston’s opening paragraph in “Lord Of The Wings: Benelli’s LORD OF THE WINGS
SBE3 (November 2016, p. 50), I was compelled to keep reading.
BENELLI
SBE3

That doesn’t happen very often. Please convey my admiration for Barrett’s Fieldcraft Rifle
Official Journal of the National Rifle Association

his fine prose, from one writer to another.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

FBI Gunfighter Jelly Bryce

Level Achieved:
Advanced Training
BARRET TILLMAN, ARIZONA R1711_COVER.indd 1 9/15/17 1:55 PM

“Readers Write” affords members an opportunity to comment on material published in

American Rifleman. Single-topic letters are preferred and may be edited for brevity. Send letters to:
Readers Write, NRA Publications, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400 or e-mail us at
publications@nrahq.org.

24 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

REPORTS | OPENING SHOT
High-Tech Simulations
T
he Theater 300, from MILO Range Training Systems,
utilizes five high-definition projectors and Surround
Sound to envelope trainees within 300-degrees of
interactive surfaces, providing the company’s most fully
immersive use-of-force training experience. The system,
which offers scenario authoring that allows a single instruc-
tor to run a simulation that responds to the actions and
decisions of the user/users, is compatible with the com-
pany’s line of simulated firearms and will register fired hits
and misses accordingly.
Senior Executive Editor Brian C. Sheetz traveled to
MILO Range’s Ann Arbor, Mich., headquarters recently
with the “American Rifleman TV” crew to film an
26 JANUARY 2018
upcoming episode, and he had the opportunity to run
the Theater 300 through a couple scenarios.
A potent tool that allows peace officers to train not
only in close quarters combat but also in situational
awareness and verbal de-escalation skills, some MILO
Range systems are even making their way onto the
consumer market—allowing civilians to experience a
taste of the stresses and difficulties of law enforce-
ment work. A commercial spinoff dubbed SMART, for
Simulated Marksmanship Active Response Training, is
now available for establishments that wish to offer a
state-of-the-art training simulator to consumers. To
find out more, visit smartsimulator.com.
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
 REPORTS | NEWS & NOTES

M249S Safety Recall

F
N America has announced the man-
TCM ROCK STANDARD MS
datory recall of certain FN M249S
semi-automatic, belt-fed rifles in
both standard and PARA configurations.
TCM TAC ULTRA FS HC According to the company, “A recently
identified design issue within the ham-
mer group of the rifle may adversely
affect the rifle’s reliability. Under certain
circumstances, a reset failure within the
hammer group may cause the M249S
to cease to function, causing an unsafe
firing event. To correct this condition
and restore consistent, proper and safe
operation of the firearm, it is necessary
to replace the hammer group.”
The company is instructing cus-
tomers to discontinue use of the rifles
immediately and return the affected
products to FN directly for installation
of a new hammer group, at no cost.
Owners of the guns are asked to visit
the FN M249S Safety Recall webpage
and input their serial number. If the
firearm is affected, further instruction
TCM ROCK ULTRA FS on returning the FN M249S for service
will be provided. fnamerica.com

2018 NRA National

PICK YOUR SIZE AND GET READY FOR ADVENTURE. Match Schedule
B
All TCM handguns shoot your choice of 9mm or Armscor’s powerful 22 TCM round
at over 2,000fps with surprisingly little recoil. They’re simply the most potent, eginning in March 2018, with the
versatile 1911s money can buy. Intercollegiate Pistol and Rifle
Championships at Fort Benning,
Train, Shoot, Compete & More!
www.RockIslandArmory.com Ga., the upcoming target-shooting
season includes iconic competitions,
such as the NRA Bianchi Cup, the
National High Power Matches at Camp
Atterbury, Ind., the National Pistol
Championships at Camp Perry, Ohio,
the National Smallbore Championships
in Bristol, Ind., the NRA World
Shooting Championship in Glengary,
RATON, NEW MEXICO W.Va., the National Police Shooting
Championship in Albuquerque, N.M.,
and many more exciting events
throughout the spring and summer.
America’s Greatest Shooting Destination For more information about NRA
Competitive Shooting, including how
www.nrawc.org to get started, program rules and regu-
NRA Whittington Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization operating solely on donations
and range and program fees. See our website to become a Whittington visitor and supporter. 800-494-4853 lations, match information and more,
visit explore.nra.org.

28 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

REPORTS | PRODUCTS & PROJECTS
Shield v. Shield
S
ince its 2012 introduction, Smith &
Wesson’s M&P Shield has been a lead-
ing design among personal-defense
and concealed carry firearm platforms. The
single-stack, striker-fired semi-automatic
has earned a reputation for reliability, accu-
racy and ergonomic excellence. I was among
the first firearm journalists to examine and evaluate the
Shield, and a 9 mm Luger model has been one of my carry
guns for more than five years. Because of this affinity and
confidence in the platform, I was interested in trying one
of the more recent introductions, a Performance Center (PC)
model, also in 9 mm. The PC Shield retains the dimensions,
reliability and ergonomics of my original pistol, but there is
no denying that its tritium-powered night sights, enhanced
trigger and the ported slide and barrel—which help to man-
age recoil in the lightweight, sub-compact platform—give
the PC model an edge over the original configuration. These
observations provoked a project to upgrade my base-model
Shield with the goal of meeting or exceeding the perfor-
mance of the Performance Center gun.
SIGHTS
To enhance the
standard Shield, I
installed a set of
Trijicon HD Night
Sights (trijicon.com; $165), which feature a large, bright
dot consisting of green/yellow luminescent paint with
a tritium vial at the center (orange front sights are also
available). The rear sight has a U-notch cutout, two tritium
inserts—to complete the three-dot sight picture—and hori-
zontal serrations to reduce glare. The overall configuration
was in keeping with my personal preferences: bold front;
simple, black rear; and low-light utility.
Installation was completed using a MGW Sight-Pro Tool,
available from Brownells (brownells.com), which is an
armorer-grade sight pusher that uses model-specific shoes
to secure the firearm’s slide during operations. It’s not an
inexpensive tool, but it makes short work of sight replace-
ments on many popular guns.
On the range, I found the big, bright front sight easy to
pick up and put on target. And, in normal light conditions,
the rear tritium dots are hardly noticeable, making for a very
simple, uncluttered sight picture that facilitates fast and
accurate first shots. Of course, in lower light, all three dots
glow in a clear, crisp, three-dot arrangement.
TRIGGER
At its introduction, the M&P9 Shield
was praised for its trigger, especially
its audible and tactile reset, which
was a real improvement compared to
earlier M&P pistols. And since then,
the Performance Center models have
30 JANUARY 2018
featured trigger assemblies that demonstrate
even more refinement.
To compete with the Performance Center
gun, I turned to Apex Tactical and the company’s Action
Enhancement Trigger and Duty/Carry Kit (apextactical.com;
$165). The comprehensive kit is far more than just a color-
ful trigger shoe—though Apex’s purple unit was chosen
to add some flair—it also includes new springs, a sear and
striker block, as well as a couple items to facilitate instal-
lation. The resulting trigger press was noticeably lighter,
averaging 5 lbs., 7 ozs.—a 1-lb., 4-oz. reduction—very
smooth, and possessing a very short reset. It’s a trigger
that you can really run, whether shooting deliberate, pre-
cise groups or tight, fast pairs.
RECOIL
Opinions vary about the utility of ported
barrels and slides, especially on 9 mm Luger-
chambered guns—not exactly a behemoth
chambering—and especially on personal-
defense pistols. But after shooting the standard, non-ported
Shield side-by-side with the Performance Center model I can
attest that there are tangible benefits to such an arrangement.
While I was not willing to drill holes in my trusty Shield,
I did look to Talon Grips for an alternative form of recoil
management. Talon Grips specializes in purchase-enhancing,
textured grips panels that are affordable and easy to apply.
The rubberized or granulate panels are comparable to stick-
ers because of their adhesive backing, but make no mistake,
they are also some of the most sophisticated and precisely
designed stickers I’ve ever encountered. They use a strong,
heat-activated adhesive and are cut to fit specific gun models
perfectly, even incorporating channels and windows that align
with the host firearm’s lines and logos.
I chose the black rubberized grip for the project Shield
(talongungrips.com; $18), and it was easy to apply using a
hair dryer. The tacky texturing was a vast improvement over
the Shield’s molded polymer frame, and, though it added only
a thin layer of material to gun’s grip area, the sub-1"-wide
Shield frame felt more substantial in hand. Talon Grips even
included a textured strip to cover the extended magazine’s
collar, a thoughtful and purchase-improving addition.
RESULTS
Having addressed the sights, trigger and
recoil management qualities of a standard
M&P9 Shield, it made sense to take both
the upgraded Shield and the Performance
Center model to the range. All in all, both
guns were a lot of fun to shoot—a sentiment not always
associated with full-power subcompact semi-automatics—
both functioned perfectly, and both would be well-suited
for use as concealed personal-defense pistols. (For more on
how to carry them, or similar guns, see the next page.)
—JOSEPH L. KURTENBACH, MANAGING EDITOR
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
 RAPiD® Safe
2600KP & 2700KP

RAPiD® Safe RAPiD® Safe

AR Gunlocker Shotgun
Wall Lock

RAPiD® Safe
AR Wall Lock

Hornady Security ® is on the fast track to offering gun owners the most
comprehensive line of quick access RAPiD ® safes. Patented RFID technology
delivers the fastest access to your handguns, rifles and shotguns. Simply place
the RFID tag (wristband, key fob or adhesive decal) over the reader and the safe
springs open to present your firearm. By using RFID technology, there’s no need
to find a key, register a fingerprint, or remember a combination.

RFID WRISTBAND RFID KEY FOB RFID DECALS KEYPAD

IT’S THE QUICKEST, MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO STAY SAFE AND READY!
U.S. Patent No. 9,530,266. Do not store loaded firearms in any safe or lock box.
Follow local laws for firearm storage. Gun and accessories not included. 800.338.3220 | hornadysecurity.com
REPORTS | PRODUCTS & PROJECTS

IWB Holster Round-Up

M
any who choose to discreetly carry a defensive fire- buckle. The Ronin 2.0 also uses a concealment claw—a
arm utilize inside-the-waistband (IWB) holsters to polymer tab that protrudes from the holster and presses
maximize concealment while still properly securing against the inside of the waistband—to ensure the holster
the gun. Such products, however, are available in myriad and pistol grip are snug against the body, reducing the
designs and construction materials to suit the wearer’s firearm’s print. (lasconcealment.com; $89)
individual preferences. What follows is a brief survey of All the holsters shown here are for the Smith & Wesson
some IWB offerings to illustrate the market’s diversity. Shield, just for consistency, and it’s important to reiter-
Hilux Tactical is a relatively new holster maker, however ate that this list is by no means a comprehensive catalog,
it’s taken the tried-and-true “winged” IWB holster—made but rather a cross-section to illustrate the range of designs
popular by Crossbreed Holsters as a leather and Kydex and materials one can expect to encounter in today’s IWB
hybrid—and evolved the design with modern materials holster market. It’s my hope that if one of these holsters
often found in athletic apparel and equipment. The Hilux piques your interest, you will research the maker and shop
IWB holster uses a molded Kydex shell to secure the gun around to find a carry solution that works best for you and
against a padded, foam-and-mesh backer that is ventilated your lifestyle.
to breath and wick away moisture. The platform uses two —JOSEPH L. KURTENBACH, MANAGING EDITOR
polymer belt clips for retention, and the clips also enable
adjustment for ride-height and cant. The Hilux is differ-
ent from some competitors in that there are no exposed
rivets, meaning no metal-to-skin contact. The Hilux IWB is
designed to be worn around the 3- to 5-o’clock, strongside
position. (hiluxtactical.com; $79)
The Banshee from Wright Leatherworks is an example of
quality, old-world craftsmanship and premium, all-leather
construction. Two height-adjustable leather belt loops with
Pull The Dot snaps secure the holster to the carrier, and
the Banshee’s relatively aggressive forward cant makes this
holster very suitable for those who prefer to carry behind
the hip, closer to the 4- or 5-o’clock position. As with any
leather holster, the Banshee may take a couple weeks of HILUX IWB
wear to really break in, but once it does, the user can enjoy
a holster that fits the gun like a glove, and is molded to
the contours of the body for extremely comfortable carry.
(wrightleatherworks.com; $108)
On the other side of the spectrum is the all-Kydex Triton
from Galco Gunleather. The advantages of Kydex include
its durability and, when heat is appropriately applied, its
malleability. In practice, thin sheets of Kydex are easily
molded for precise, secure gun fits and, once formed, the
products are very resistant to wear and corrosion—such as
from sweat. Recognizing and exploiting Kydex’s strengths,
Galco’s Triton is an efficient and effective, if somewhat WRIGHT LEATHER WORKS BANSHEE
minimalist, offering. It features a single, oversize belt clip
for retention, which allows it to be worn anywhere along
the waistband, and interchangeable belt loops—sold sepa-
rately—further facilitate carry in the appendix or cross-
draw positions. (galcogunleather.com; $65)
Rounding out the survey is a holster specifically
designed for appendix-IWB (AIWB) carry, the Ronin 2.0
from LAS Concealment. A good example of the increasingly
popular AIWB holster/magazine pouch combination, the GALCO GUNLEATHER TRITON
Ronin 2.0 offers the security of front-side carry, and the
ability store a reload, all in a very discreet platform. Again,
the primary construction material is Kydex, and the holster
uses two polymer belt clips that frame the wearer’s belt LAS CONCEALMENT RONIN 2.0

32 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

TREASURE MAP.

X-Bolt Hunter

browning.com
 REPORTS | PRODUCTS & PROJECTS

Fusion 6.5 mm Creedmoor

I
get to test a lot of firearms and
ammunition here at American
Rifleman, and it’s not every
day that a product so exceeds
my expectations that I spend
the following week recounting
its success to anyone who will lis-
ten. But, that is exactly what hap-
pened with the 6.5 mm Creedmoor
140-gr. Fusion load from Federal Premium
Ammunition (federalpremium.com). Before the
first shot was fired, my mental equation considered the
6.5 mm Creedmoor cartridge, 0.264"-diameter bullets and
Federal’s quality control to be accuracy-boosting positives.
On the other hand, the bullets’ soft points and nonuniform meplats, paired
with the load’s intended role as a mid-range hunter, softened, somewhat, my
expectations. I was understandably amazed, then, when the little soft points
turned in a five, five-shot group average of just 0.91" at 100 yds., including one
group that measured just 0.46". My test rifle was one of my favorites, a Ruger
Hawkeye FTW Hunter with a 24" threaded barrel. Velocities from my gun were
just a touch below advertised values—2672 f.p.s. compared to 2750—though
a slightly longer barrel would likely close the gap. The primary feature of the
Fusion load is its bullet. Designed specifically for deer hunting, the projectile’s
copper jacket is electro-chemically bonded to the lead core, and the nose is
skived to facilitate expansion. Reliable expansion and high weight retention are
good attributes on their own, add in sub-m.o.a. accuracy and you might find
yourself bragging about a new hunting load, too.
—JOSEPH L. KURTENBACH, MANAGING EDITOR

The Kalashnikov Encyclopaedia 2nd Edition

I
t is fitting that one of the largest reference books ever pub-
lished covering firearms is about the most produced firearm in
the history of the world. Dr. Cor Roodhorst’s The Kalashnikov
Encyclopaedia (sic) is now in its second edition, and its three stun-
ning, full-color volumes weigh in at a combined 19 lbs., encom-
passing 3,860 pp.
Written by a native of the Netherlands, Dr. Roodhorst had the
help and assistance of the inventor, Mikhail Kalashnikov, as he
prepared this second edition. The three volumes go into exhaustive detail of the
manufacturing and production differences of each model AK as used/
manufactured by various countries.
Exploded-view diagrams, parts lists and abbreviation charts add to the refer-
ence value of this book that also has just under 6,000 full-color illustrations.
The photos are uncommonly clear and crisp, adding a great deal to their suit-
ability for use in a fine reference work as this. Each variant of AK listed within
is accompanied by 25 categorized specifications, such as country of origin,
barrel length, caliber, stocks, sights, etc.
This is a must-have for any serious collector, as well as any library or forensic
lab that hopes to be able to identify and sort the AKs in their collections. The
$200 price tag includes shipping within the United States. For an additional $25
you can receive an autographed set from the author. Contact: Cool F/X;
(703) 408-0261; coolfx.us.
—PHILIP SCHREIER, SENIOR CURATOR, NRA MUSEUMS

34 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 ;/,4-(403@
1<:;.6;:304

5,>4 7:/0,3+ 4

 

-,(;<905.;/,430./;*90:7;90..,9
(5+,5/(5*,+.907;,?;<9,
:304*65*,(3()3,76>,9-<3


4(+,05<:(
 SECOND SHOTS
Really ?
Their “Rube Goldberg” case activated
linkage costs more
than an entire
LEE case activated Powder Measure!
50 Y EARS AGO
Snipers In Vietnam
Also Need Firepower
e BY LOUIS A. GARAVAGLIA

I
f a sniper stalks the enemy in
open terrain, the need for long-
LEE range accuracy is his chief consid-
eration in the choice of a firearm.
FAST. EASY. ACCURATE. ECONOMICAL. But the best sniper’s tool for
relatively short-range jungle warfare is
AUTO-DRUM something else again. Vietnam combat
POWDER experience taught me that the sniper
MEASURE operating in the jungle can be just as
Infinitely adjustable effective, and stand a better chance of
from 0 to 80 grains. survival, if he yields up some long-range
Works with all hand- accuracy to obtain increased firepower.
gun and most rifles.
#90811 MSRP 53.00

PRO
AUTO-DISK
POWDER
MEASURE
Nothing to adjust,
nothing to get out of
adjustment.
Works with handgun
and small rifles
#90429 MSRP 54.00 At first, the sniper detachment had
no standardized Table of Organization
and Equipment, and so we had plenty
of latitude in our choice of firearms.
This let us intensively range test the
Winchester 70 and Remington Model
700, the scoped bolt actions used by
Marine snipers, and compare them with
the M14, M16A1 and three versions of
LEE PRECISION, INC.
4275 HWY U | HARTFORD WI 53027
the Russian AK-47.
Our area of operations, the Central
Check out our complete line of reloading equipment on our website www.leeprecision.com Highlands, ran the gamut from very
dense to very sparse vegetation. The
bolt actions would have been ideal
for the 800- to 1000-meter shots the
latter areas afforded, but they couldn’t
deliver the volume punch the three-

DIGITAL NETWORK
.org man teams needed to fight their way
out of jungle ambushes.
The M16A1 functioned well when
kept cleaned and lubricated properly,
and had the added advantage of light-
weight ammunition; the AK-47s scored
high in ruggedness and the capacity
to function even with deteriorated
ammunition. But we finally settled on a
SHOOTING
SPORTS USA FAMILY modified version of the M14.
[January 1968]
FAMILY FAMILY
36 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
 (5+)90./;

5,>4 7:/0,3+ 4

 

-,(;<905.;/,430./;*90:7;90..,9
,5/(5*,+.907;,?;<9,(5+(5 
05;,.9(;,+*904:65;9(*, 3(:,9

TM

44c:
>
:40;/>,::65*64

Put Hundreds of Dollars
in Your Wallet with
NRA 5-Star Benefits
Your NRA membership gives you deals
and discounts on gear, goods and
services. Access your benefits today and
save more than you pay in dues. Plus your
purchases help NRA fight for freedom.
START SAVING TODAY—Benefits.NRA.org
38 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
PRODUCTS & PROJECTS
Hazard 4 Sherman
Messenger Bag
A
relatively compact option for
transporting a laptop and other
essentials, the Sherman from
Hazard 4 is a trim, courier-style,
shoulder bag loaded with storage
options. Constructed from water-
resistant 1000D Cordura, the bag’s
overall dimensions are 17"x13"x4".
Beyond its spacious main compart-
ment, the Sherman also includes a
zippered side pouch, a padded laptop
pocket (fits up to 14.5"), and a front,
fold-down tray that features a suite
of pen and supply organizers and
a clear window for
maps or documents.
Locking buckles and
zippers provide access
and security for
the myriad
compartments,
and the 2"-wide
shoulder strap
and rubberized carry
handle facilitate trans-
port. Price: $150. Contact: Hazard 4;
(626) 344-1454; hazard4.com.
IdentiLock
T
he IdentiLock portable trigger
lock prevents unauthorized use
of a handgun, yet can be quickly
removed by the owner thanks to its
fingerprint recognition technology.
Capable of storing three fingerprint
profiles in its memory, the battery-
powered IdentiLock is charged via an
integral USB charging port and comes
with two manual override keys. Five
models are currently available: SIG-A1,
GLK-A1, 1911-A1 (shown), S&W-A1
and S&W-B1. Price: $240. Contact:
IdentiLock; getidentilock.com.
SURVIVAL IS
MANDATORY NOW AVAILABLE for GLOCK FULL-SIZE & COMPACT

• LL-807G
• LL-807

FOR ALL CURRENT OFFERS

& PROMOTIONS VISIT
CRIMSONTRACEOFFERS.COM/RIFLEMAN

crimsontrace.com 800-442-2406
 PRODUCTS & PROJECTS

Mag Pump
T
EXCLUSIVE
here is nothing
® MEMBER BENEFIT
glamorous about
loading 30-round
AR magazines, but
when shooting
Outsmart Burglars America’s rifle, it’s
an unavoidable labor.
The business gets a lot easier with the
the Moment You help of the Mag Pump, a magazine-
loading device that features a 90-round
Plug It In hopper, doesn’t require strict cartridge
alignment or staging, and will save
your thumb the chore of pushing
This is SimpliSafe. Award-winning cases and scraping magazine lips. The
home security that protects your Mag Pump is shipped in two easily
home around the clock—with no assembled components, and using
it is simple: fill the hopper, insert a
long-term contracts or hidden fees. magazine and begin pulling the lever.
Compatible with all mil-spec AR-15
From motion and entry sensors to magazines, the Mag Pump can be used
a high-definition security camera, to load 5.56x45 mm NATO/.223 Rem. or
you’ll have everything you need to .300 Blackout cartridges. Price: $150.
Contact: Magpump; (585) 444-9812;
keep your family safe. magpump.com.

Trijicon MRO Patrol

I
mproving upon its acclaimed
Miniature Rifle Optic (MRO) red-
dot reflex sight, Trijicon’s MRO
Patrol will be familiar for its large
SPECIAL SIMPLISAFE HOLIDAY DEAL OR 15% OFF NEW SYSTEM
viewing area, top-mounted brightness
Visit SimpliSafe.com/Freedom control—for left- or right-handed
adjustment—and durable aluminum
housing. The Patrol also features
This offer is presented exclusively as a benefit for NRA members only. No NRA Member a honeycomb-style anti-reflection
dues or contributions are used for this promotion, program, or any other related expenses.
screen, improved glass and flip-down
covers for both the objective and
ocular lenses. The unit is powered
by a single CR2032 lithium battery
(pre-installed) and Trijicon offers two
quick-detach mounts to position the
A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO MRO for absolute- or lower-one-third-
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! cowitness use with backup iron sights.
Price: $919 (mount included). Contact:
Donate Online Now to Socks for Heroes Trijicon; (800) 338-0563; trijicon.com.
We asked our troops what they
needed most, and they answered,
“SOCKS!” Your donation will be
used to purchase socks and
ship them to our brave
American Heroes in harm’s way.

scmcsg.org
40 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
 Explore our digital network
for at-a-glance access to
Second Amendment news, gear,
gun reviews, videos and more.

DIGITAL NETWORK
.org
SHOOTING
SPORTS USA FAMILY
REPORTS | PRODUCTS & PROJECTS
SecureIt Tactical
Model 52 Gun Cabinet
S
ecureIt
Tactical’s
Model 52 Gun
Cabinet is a light-
weight gun safe
with space enough
to accommodate
six long guns up
to 50" in length.
The Model 52 ships in pieces but can
be built in a few minutes and weighs
only 105 lbs. once assembled. Entry
into the cabinet is made via a keypad
control panel, and SecureIt Tactical’s
CradleGrid system allows the interior
to be configured in countless ways
using the company’s many storage
accessories. Interlocking stock bases
for six long guns are included.
Price: $600. Contact: SecureIt Tactical;
(800) 651-8835; secureittactical.com.
Henry Single Shot Rifle
B
uilt on a break-action receiver of steel or brass, the Henry Single Shot Rifle
features a 22" round barrel that is matte-finished and topped with a fully
adjustable folding-leaf rear sight and brass bead front. Walnut is the wood
of choice, and initial chamberings include .223 Rem., .243 Win., .308 Win., .44 Mag.
and .45-70 Gov’t. for steel receivers—with the latter two chamberings reserved for
the company’s brass-receiver models. An exposed, rebounding hammer—that piv-
ots from left to right, allowing use by shooters of either eye dominance—sits just
forward of the top-mounted locking lever and utilizes a transfer-bar safety that
prevents the firing pin from being contacted accidentally. A non-ejecting case
extractor requires users to manually remove spent cases from the chamber. Both
models are drilled and tapped for scope bases. Price: $427 (steel), $549 (brass).
Contact: Henry Repeating Arms; (201) 858-4400; henryusa.com.
Blackhawk! AR-15 No-Latch Ambi Charging Handle
H
eld in place by a flat spring, the Blackhawk! AR-15 No-Latch Ambi
Charging Handle eliminates the need to depress a small latch in
order to charge AR-pattern rifles. The design of the overmolded 7075
aluminum handle also allows for fully ambidextrous manipula-
tion, and is compatible with most low-mounted optics. Available
in black, gray, olive drab green and flat dark earth. Price: $40.
Contact: Blackhawk!; (800) 379-1732; blackhawk.com.
IN 1866, Oliver F. Winchester introduced a legendary brand to As one of the world’s largest producers of ammunition, Winchester is
the world. For over 150 years since, generations upon generations rich in heritage, committed to manufacturing excellence and a leader
across the globe have experienced life with Winchester. in innovative thinking.

WINCHESTER AMMUNITION. BORN IN THE USA. WINCHESTER AMMUNITION. BUILT IN THE USA.

winchester.com
REPORTS | PRODUCTS & PROJECTS
UTG PRO Drop-In Handguard
M
achined from 6061-T6 aluminum with matte black anodizing,
the UTG PRO AR15 Super Slim M-LOK 15" Drop-In Handguard
for carbine-length gas systems utilizes the mil-standard delta
ring and A2-style gas block and sight. The clamshell design preserves
access to the rifle’s factory sling position and bayonet lug. Picatinny
rail runs the full length of the handguard and with it comes 45 M-LOK
slots. Included is a section of rail with eight slots and a quick-release
sling cup, both designed for use on M-LOK rail. Price: $130. Contact:
Leapers, Inc.; (734) 542-1500; leapers.com.

Big 45 Frontier Metal Cleaner

B
y using a proprietary alloy of stainless steel, nickel, silver, Monel and zinc, Big 45 Frontier
Metal Cleaner is softer than gun bluing yet harder than rust. Thin, ribbon-like strands of the
alloy are coiled and woven together to form a “sponge” for external cleaning. The sharp, razor-
like edges within the scrubbing sponge scrape away surface build-up, and, by cutting a small piece
from the pad and wrapping the strands around a barrel brush, can be used to remove copper and lead
fouling from bores. Price: $6. Contact: Big 45 Frontier Metal Cleaner; (800) 342-1548; big45.com.

Stratus Support Systems STP

T
he Stratus Tactical Plate (STP) and MOLLE Adaptive Plate (MAP) combine to provide
users with secure on-body transport of rifles with AR-15-style buffer tubes. The
milled aluminum STP houses a sling cup and protruding stud secures to the provided
MAP—a lightweight polymer anchor point that attaches to MOLLE webbing. The arrange-
ment enables users to mount and dismount the gun quickly from their gear. Price: $65.
Contact: Stratus Support Systems LLC; (832) 594-7925; stratussupportsystems.com.

INNOVATION LIVES HERE.

This is where innovation lives.
Where American ingenuity
drives a thriving, global brand.
We’re bringing real-world
advancements to the industry
like never before. This is our
uncompromising vision.
This is what makes us Taurus USA.
Always Bring It.™

380 Auto • Item Number 1007031101 TaurusUSA.com

Designed, engineered and manufactured in the USA

44 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 trouble meet big trouble

READY TO DEFEND. Aguilaºdefense ammunition was born

from years of engineering and countless terminal ballistic tests
for home or personal protection. Each round delivers consistent
accuracy and ensures shooters optimal penetration, weight
retention and maximum stopping power shot after shot.

FEED YOUR FIREARM»" AGUILAAMMO.COM Our full line of defense rounds are engineered
specifically for life-threatening situations.

©2017 Texas Armament & Technology LLC

REPORTS | PRODUCTS & PROJECTS

Axeon Absolute Zero Firefield 7X Tactical Magnifier

T F
he Axeon Absolute Zero is irefield’s 7X Tactical Magnifier
designed to expedite sight-in is an economical way
time on the range with scoped to increase the effec-
firearms. Housed in metal, the sighting acces- tive range of any firearm
sory easily affixes to optics by way of a ring system adapt- equipped with a red-dot
able from 1" to 30 mm. The system utilizes two lasers that optic. Weighing 9.9 ozs. with
emit beams downrange, and when used in conjunction with included Weaver-style, lower-
the provided sight-in reflective target, users should be on one-third cowitness mount, the
target in three shots or less. Price: $85. Contact: Axeon accessory features a 32-mm objective lens, a 30-mm body
Optics; axeonoptics.com. tube and an adjustable eyepiece. The 7X Tactical Magnifier
is waterproof, shockproof and fogproof. Price: $70. Contact:
America Grip Tool Grip Firefield; (817) 225-0310; fire-field.com.

T
o keep a few tools with a rifle,
America Grip uses a portion of
the Picatinny rail as a convenient place to carry a basic
driver handle and bits. The Tool Grip includes four 2" hex
bit tools (P1 Philips, P2 Philips, Flat Head, #1 Robertson)
that nest within two, U.S.-made ABS plastic grip panels.
The handle is formed by snapping the two panels together,
and the combined weight is 1.2 ozs. Price: $15. Contact:
America Grip; (512) 968-3235; americagrip.com.
Where Can I Get … ?
ENLARGED, FORWARD-POSITIONED DROP-IN REPLACEMENT
SLIDE LOCK/RELEASE FOR GLOCK (GEN1-4) PISTOLS
GHOST INC.; (305) 252-7422; GHOSTINC.COM
ULTRA-LIGHT LOW-BULK BINOCULAR HARNESSES
RICK YOUNG OUTDOORS; (503) 663-3114; RICKYOUNGOUTDOORS.COM
EXTENDED AR-15 BOLT RELEASES
PHASE 5 WEAPON SYSTEMS, INC.; (916) 787-4273; PHASE5WSI.COM

3/-%3!94(%96%'/49/52"!#+
7%02/6%)4
6QNGCTPCDQWVVJG8(9QTVQDGEQOGCOGODGTVQFC[
XKUKVWUQPNKPGCVYYYXHYQTIQTECNN,1+08(9
3KRWRE\,6$)3XEOLF$IIDLUV

46 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

MADE IN THE

USA
MOUNTS
RINGS
BASES
PRECISION
SHOOTING
ACCESSORIES

FOUNDATIONS FOR
TRUE PRECISION
The accuracy potential of your rifle and scope is totally dependent on the integrity of your mounting
system. Warne has become the industry standard of discerning hunters and shooters worldwide for
technical precision, scope-holding strength and ounce-counting efficiency. Trust our full range of
products to deliver uncompromising performance in the toughest conditions and throughout a life-
time of hard use. All are backed by Warne’s Lifetime Warranty.

CONFIDENCE IN EVERY SHOT.TM

ANGLEYE TM
MOUNTAIN TECH TM
MAXIMA® warnescopemounts.com
Patented Design
 PRODUCTS & PROJECTS
PPU

Frugal Firepower 43 WI

N
2
L
ow cost doesn’t necessarily equate
to lousy performance. A case
in point: Recently, while using
a Savage Axis rifle in .243 Win.—
purchased at Walmart for $269 and
subsequently fitted with an after-
market Timney trigger and a Bushnell
Banner 6-18X 50 mm scope in basic
Weaver bases/rings—and the recipe
below, I was able to achieve sub-m.o.a.
performance for five consecutive, five-
shot groups at 100 yds. Three-shot,
one-half-m.o.a. groups were common-
place. These groups weren’t achieved
using match-grade, target-specific
bullets, either; rather, I used Hornady’s
high-performance, yet low-cost, 95-gr.
Super Shock Tip (SST) bullets, which
were designed for hunting medium-size
game, such as deer and antelope. This
all speaks to the quality of firearms,
optics and handloading components
available to shooters and hunters
today—even those with low price
points. You can get a lot for a little.
—AARON CARTER, FIELD EDITOR

.243 WIN.

BULLET: HORNADY 95-GR. SST

PROPELLANT/CHARGE:
ALLIANT 4000-MR/43.1 GRS.
PRIMER: FED 210
CASE: PPU PRVI PARTIZAN
CASE TRIM-TO LENGTH: 2.035"
CARTRIDGE OVERALL LENGTH: 2.630"
VELOCITY @ 10' (F.P.S.): 2946
ENERGY (FT.-LBS.): 1,831
ACCURACY: 0.98"*
USES: HUNTING (DEER-SIZE GAME, FERAL
HOGS, PREDATORS, ETC.), RECREATION
NOTES: 22"-BARRELED SAVAGE AXIS WITH
AN AFTERMARKET TIMNEY TRIGGER AND
TOPPED WITH A BUSHNELL BANNER
6-18X 50 MM SCOPE. *AVERAGE OF
FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS
AT 100 YDS.

WARNING: Technical data and information

contained herein are intended to provide in-
formation based upon the limited experience
of individuals under specific conditions and
circumstances. They do not detail the com-
prehensive training, procedures, techniques
and safety precautions that are absolutely
necessary to properly carry on similar activity.

YOUTUBE/NRAPUBS READ THE NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER ON

THE CONTENTS PAGE OF THIS MAGAZINE.
ALWAYS CONSULT COMPREHENSIVE
REFERENCE MANUALS AND BULLETINS
OF PROPER TRAINING REQUIREMENTS,
PROCEDURES, TECHNIQUES AND SAFETY

48 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

PRECAUTIONS BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY
SIMILAR ACTIVITIES.
 SERVING ORDER BY 3:30 FOR SAME DAY SHIPPING
SHOOTERS
FOR 33 1-800-588-9500•FAX (325) 695-4898 NO EXTRA CREDIT CARD FEES
INC. YEARS! P.O. Box 6514 • Abilene, TX 79608 • MON-FRI 8-7 CST • SAT 9-2 CST • www.cdnnsports.com

DEL-TON AR15 ECHO 316 B5 5.56 S&W M&P15 556 16” BARREL SPORT II
B5 SYSTEMS HARDWARE •B5 PISTOL GRIP •B5 BRAVO SOPMOD STOCK •ARMORNITE® BARREL FINISH
•B5 KEYMOD CARBINE HANDGUARD
•B5 TRIGGER GUARD •B5 END PLATE
•16” 1:9 TWIST M4 CONTOUR CMV BARREL •16” ARMORNITE FINISH 1:9 TWIST HEAVY BARREL
•1-30RD MAG
•100% MADE IN THE USA
•A2 FRONT SIGHT
•BAYONET LUG
•A2 BIRDCAGE FLASH HIDER
•FORGED 7075 T6 RECEIVER •HARDCOAT ANODIZED FINISH
$ 43999 •1-30RD MAG
•6-POSITION STOCK
•FORWARD ASSIST
•DUST COVER DOOR
•FORGED TRIGGER GUARD
#DELRFTM16B5 •MAGPUL MBUS FLIP-UP REAR SIGHT •A2 FRONT SIGHT #SMI10202Z
$ 49999
CUSTOM AR-15 5.56X45 NATO CUSTOM AR-15 300 BLACKOUT
PISTOL KIT PISTOL KIT
SHOWN
ASSEMBLED 7” 1:7 TWIST BARREL SHOWN
ASSEMBLED 10.5” 1:8 TWIST BARREL
WITH
•PREMIUM FREE FLOAT CARBINE QUAD RAIL WITH •PREMIUM FREE FLOAT MID-LENGTH QUAD RAIL
SEPARATE SEPARATE
LOWER •STEEL GAS BLOCK•PISTOL LENGTH GAS TUBE LOWER •STEEL GAS BLOCK•PISTOL LENGTH GAS TUBE
•SIG SAUER FLASH HIDER•PISTOL BUFFER TUBE •A2 FLASH HIDER•PISTOL BUFFER TUBE
BARRELED •COMPLETE LOWER PARTS KIT BARRELED
•COMPLETE LOWER PARTS KIT
UPPER •BLACKHAWK FINGER GROOVE PISTOL GRIP UPPER •BLACKHAWK FINGER GROOVE PISTOL GRIP
COMPLETELY COMPLETELY •CHARGING HANDLE•1-30RD MAGAZINE
ASSEMBLED •CHARGING HANDLE•1-30RD MAGAZINE ASSEMBLED
DOES NOT INCLUDE
LOWER RECEIVER
OR BOLT CARRIER
GROUP
$ 29999 KIT NOT
ASSEMBLED
DOES NOT INCLUDE
LOWER RECEIVER
OR BOLT CARRIER
GROUP
$ 32999 KIT NOT
ASSEMBLED

#CUSPKIT #CUSKIT4P
ZENITH ZIG 45ACP ZENITH MC28C 9MM EAA SAR B6P 9MM CREED 9MM
8+1 CAPACITY 15+1 CAPACITY 17+1 CAPACITY 16+1 CAPACITY
1911 STRIKER TENIFER
STYLE FIRED POLY
FINISH
PISTOL COMPACT FRAME SLIDE
•ACCESSORY RAIL •4.5” BARREL •ACCESSORY RAIL
•4” BUSHINGLESS •3.82” BARREL •FULLSIZE •NO SNAG HAMMER
•BLUE STEEL SLIDE & FRAME •POLYMER FRAME •BLUE SLIDE •FORGED BLUE STEEL SLIDE •4” BARREL •GERMAN QUALITY
•NOVAK STYLE 3-DOT SIGHTS •3-DOT •COCKING INDICATOR •3-DOT FIXED SIGHTS •LOW PROFILE 3-DOT SIGHTS
•AMBI SAFETY•CLEANING KIT •3-INTERCHANGEABLE GRIPS •LIGHTWEIGHT POLYMER FRAME •LIGHTWEIGHT POLYMER FRAME
•3-8RD
MAGAZINES
$ 36999
#ZENTIZM450045BK
•3-15RD
MAGAZINES
$ 27999
#ZENGI28SAC009BK
•1-17RD
MAGAZINE
$ 23999 17RD
$2999
•2-16RD
MAGAZINES
$ 26999 16RD
$1999
#SARB6P9 #WAL2815516
9E 9MM ® ®
LCP 380 416 22LR PISTOL P30 40S&W V3
17+1 CAPACITY 6+1 CAPACITY 20+1 CAPACITY 13+1 CAPACITY
RARE RED RED VARIANT 3
DIGITAL DIGITAL AMBI SLIDE &
CAMO MAG RELEASE
CAMO
•4.14” BARREL •2.75” BARREL •3.86” BARREL
•ACCESSORY RAIL •9” BARREL •ACCESSORY RAIL
•ONLY 9.6OZ •METAL RECEIVER
•BLUE STEEL SLIDE•3-DOT SIGHTS •LUMINESCENT CONTRAST SIGHTS
•FIXED SIGHTS •ADJUSTABLE SIGHTS •2-EXTRA BACKSTRAPS •4-PANELS
•RED DIGITAL POLYMER FRAME •POLYMER FRAME •QUAD RAIL •SINGLE/DOUBLE ACTION •DECOCKER
•1-17RD
MAGAZINE
$ 279 99 •1-6RD
MAGAZINE
$ 179 99
$
6RD
2799
•1-20RD
MAGAZINE
$ 329 99
MAGS
$2999
•2-13RD $
MAGAZINES 59999
#HKM734003A5
13RD
$4499
#RUG03345 #RUG03749 #HK5780303
12GAUGE TRI-RAIL
SEE-THRU SKS 357SIG 17HMR
870/1100/1187 SCOPE XTP CUSTOM
COMBO 4X32 SKULL HOLLOWPOINT 200RD
PACKAGE 20RD •VARMINT
•SCOPE, MOUNT
MIL-DOT
AND RINGS
•147 GRAIN •17 GRAIN
4X32 SKULL •QUICK ZIP FOCUS •1225FPS 100FPS FASTER
THAN OTHER LOADS •2650FPS
•SCOPE, MOUNT & RINGS •REPLACES TOP COVER
•ZIP FOCUS EYEPIECE
•ONLY 7.5” LONG
•MATTE BLACK FINISH
•MOUNTS TO RECEIVER
$ 2999 •ADJUSTABLE SIDES
FOR MORE GEAR
•FITS MOST SKS’S
$ 3999 CASE OF $
10 UP
#HOR9131
9
99 $1-999 •4-50RD $
10 BOXES
99
BELOW
COST!
39
#REMSET #TAR98 #CCI949CC
ORDER ONLINE 24/7 @ www.cdnnsports.com OR CALL 800-588-9500
ALL FIREARMS PURCHASED MUST TRANSFER TO YOUR CHOSEN LOCAL FFL DEALER!
 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

A Gun Of Many Names

Q
I have this old revolver marked “National Arms Company, New York U.S.A.”
It is chambered in .38 S&W, but is not so marked. It has no serial number
that I can find, and on the bottom of the grip frame there appears to be a
date stamp of “9 10 23.” It also appears to be chrome- or nickel-plated and has
pearl grips and no safety mechanism. Can you help me with information regard-
ing my gun?

A
I believe this revolver was manufactured by the Meriden Firearms Co.
around 1910-1920. Meriden was owned by Sears & Roebuck from about
1909-1920. It made handguns and shotguns for Sears with the name
“Aubrey” on them. In 1910, Sears began offering these guns to hardware stores,
large dealers and others with any brand name the buyer wanted to use. Some
examples of revolvers, like yours, can be found marked Eastern Arms Co.,
Chicago Arms Co., Howard Arms Co., etc. These off-brand revolvers of the early
20th century are of little interest to collectors, and, therefore, retain minimal
monetary value.
—MICHAEL F. CARRICK, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Mid-Range Trajectory
Q
I am having a hard time understanding the term “mid-range trajectory.”
I have seen this dimension expressed using a line from the muzzle to the
target as a measuring point. I have also seen the mid-range trajectory
expressed using the line of sight. Which one of these mid-range measurements is
the correct one to use? The mid-range expression with a line from the muzzle to
the target gives a yardage of 50- to 55-percent total yardage. This seems to be the
reason for the name mid-range, whereas, the mid-range expression using the line
of sight gives a yardage of 60 to 65 percent.
continued on p. 52

PROJECTILE
PASSES THROUGH

LINE OF SIGHT HERE FIRST TARGET

LINE OF TRAJECTORY
MID-RANGE MAXIMUM
TRAJECTORY ORDINAL HEIGHT
50% OF TRAVEL 55% OF TRAVEL
50 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
THIS IS MY P320
ó)LUHƑJKWHU&DSWDLQ
MODEL SIZE GRIP &$/,%(5
P320 X-Carry Carry X-Series 9mm

7KH3LVIXHOHGE\LQQRYDWLRQDQGGULYHQE\SHUIRUPDQFH
7KH;&DUU\LVDSUHPLXPVKRRWLQJH[SHULHQFHXQLTXHO\DGDSWHG
IRUFRQFHDOHGFDUU\

#myp320
#EDC

www.sigsauer.com
 Introducing the Agile™ Model 52 from SecureIt® QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
continued from p. 50
“We just moved. I sold my gun safe.
My wife said ‘you’re never buying
another.’ She is right! The Agile Model

A
52 is amazingly rigid and strong.” These terms can be confus-
— Jeff Allison ing, but according to the NRA
Firearms Sourcebook, “The
“The design is ingenious, assembly easy maximum height above the line of
and I just love the CradleGrid system.”
sight of the bullet’s path one-half the
— T. C. distance for which the gun is zeroed
is called the mid-range trajectory
(i.e., the height at 100 yds. for a gun
zeroed at 200 yds.), typically mea-
sured in inches or millimeters.” In
other words, the mid-range trajectory
for any gun/load combination is the
height of the bullet above the line of
sight at a point halfway between the
muzzle and the zero range.
The same source defines a
related term as, “Maximum height
Think of it as

The Ultralight Gun Safe! Shootin’ Blanks

Q
It does what a gun safe does without
being horribly heavy or hard to move When firing a clip of blank car-
tridges in my M1 rifle, sometimes
the second or third round will
T

ƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂůŐƵŶƐĂĨĞƐĚŽŶŽƚ
ƐƚŽƉƚŚŝĞǀĞƐŽƌĮƌĞƐdŚĞLJĂƌĞ
ũƵƐƚŵĞƚĂůĂŶĚƐŚĞĞƚƌŽĐŬKŶĞĐĂŶ
fire and the spent case will be ejected,
but the next round will not chamber.
ĐƵƚƚŚƌŽƵŐŚĂƐĂĨĞŝŶŵŝŶƵƚĞƐǁŝƚŚĂΨϭϬƐĂǁ What is the reason for this and can I
ŶĚ
ŝĨLJŽƵŚĂǀĞĂƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚĮƌĞ
LJŽƵƌŐƵŶƐĂƌĞƚŽĂƐƚ do something to correct it?

A
dŚĂƚƐǁŚLJǁĞďƵŝůƚƚŚĞŐŝůĞDŽĚĞůϱϮ/ƚƐƚŚĞƵůƚƌĂůŝŐŚƚŐƵŶ
ƐĂĨĞ/ƚĚŽĞƐǁŚĂƚĂŐƵŶƐĂĨĞĚŽĞƐǁŝƚŚŽƵƚďĞŝŶŐŚŽƌƌŝďůLJŚĞĂǀLJ There could be myriad reasons
ŽƌŚĂƌĚƚŽŵŽǀĞWůƵƐ
LJŽƵŐĞƚƌĂĚůĞ'ƌŝĚΡƚĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐLJ&ŝƌĞĂƌŵ for this beyond the fact that
ƐƚŽƌĂŐĞŚĂƐŶŽƚĐŚĂŶŐĞĚŝŶŚĂůĨĂĐĞŶƚƵƌLJhŶƟůŶŽǁ  the M1 rifle’s design was not
conducive to firing blanks, which is
Learn more at
secureitgunstorage.com why the U.S. military never adopted
a Blank Firing Adapter (BFA). The
U.S. military’s inability to develop
a satisfactory BFA resulted in the

(Can be bolted down)

6691 Commerce Blvd., Syracuse, NY 13211 | 800.651.8835

52 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

(ordinate) occurs at a point roughly
55 percent of the way to the zero
• INDUSTRY-LEADING TRIANGULATED FRONT MOUNT PUSH TUBE
range, or the range at which the • FRONT-MOUNTED SYSTEM IS EASY TO CONNECT/DISCONNECT
bullet path and line of sight inter- • CLASS-LEADING LIFT HEIGHT OF OVER 30” ON SOME MODELS
sect. Normally expressed in inches • FITS ALL MOOSE STRAIGHT OR COUNTY BLADES UP TO 72”

or millimeters, this figure is impor-

tant to determine the maximum
point-blank range of a cartridge.”
The term “roughly” is used because
the second half of the arc defining
the bullet’s flight is steeper because
the rate of deceleration is faster. For
any gun/load/range combination,
the max ordinate is always greater
than mid-range trajectory and is
achieved farther downrange.
—JOHN W. TREAKLE, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

practice of operating the action by

hand. The source of your functioning
problem could be that the operating
rod spring is either too powerful or
too weak to properly function with
blanks. The extractor or ejector could
be faulty. The follower or follower rod
could be “out of spec.” There is simply
no way to determine which of these,
or perhaps something else, is at fault.
There are a number of BFAs available
on the market today, but all seem to
have limitations of their own.
—BRUCE N. CANFIELD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Although it tried to develop a blank firing

adapter for the M1 Garand—evidenced by
the prototypes shown here—the U.S. mili-
WHERE TO BUY | VISIT OUR DEALER LOCATOR AT MOOSEUTILITIES.COM
tary never officially adopted such a device.

From the thousands of questions and letters on

guns, ammunition and their use that American
Rifleman receives every year, it publishes the
most interesting here. Receiving answers to
technical and historical questions is a privilege
reserved to NRA members.

Questions must be in the form of letters addressed

to: Dope Bag, NRA Publications, 11250 Waples Mill
Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400; must contain the
member’s code line from an American Rifleman or
American Hunter mailing label or membership card;
must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed,
legal-size envelope; and must be limited to one
specific question per letter. Non-members may sub-
mit a question with a membership application. We
cannot answer technical or historical questions by
telephone, e-mail or fax, and we cannot place even
an approximate value on guns or other equipment.
Please allow eight to 10 weeks for replies.
“Questions & Answers” is compiled by staff and
Contributing Editors: Bruce N. Canfield, Michael
Carrick, Garry James, Charles Pate, Charles E.
Petty, John M. Taylor and John Treakle.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 53

FAVORITE FIREARMS

Just Like “Gunsmoke”

NRA member photo

B
ack in the early 1960s, my father enjoyed watch-
ing episodes of “Gunsmoke,” with James Arness
as Matt Dillon. I was in my early 20s at the time,
and because of this, I bought a Second Generation Colt
Single Action Army for him as a birthday gift. I ordered
a .45 Colt, but was told they were all gone, so I agreed
to one in .357 Mag. instead.
The revolver became a working pistol for my father.
When he got a job as a security guard at a local business,
my father carried the revolver in a holster on his hip, and
when he later became a county building inspector the gun
was always in his truck in case a dog attacked him dur- during the filming of “Gunsmoke.”
ing an inspection. He also enjoyed hunting for deer in the Several years ago, when my father passed away, I asked
Ocala National Forest each autumn, and would carry the my stepmother to return the revolver to me. I occasionally
Colt as a sidearm in case he had to dispatch a wounded still take the Colt out to the Eustis Gun Club and shoot
deer. My father hated snakes, so as a handloader, I also some .38 Spl. cartridges through it in memory of my father.
made up some cartridges loaded with lead shot. TERRY MCCAUSLIN, FLORIDA
During the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, my
Nearly every shooter has a favorite firearm. If you would like to share the
father received a wound to his hip from an 8 mm Mauser experience of owning yours with other American Rifleman readers, or on
rifle, and I have the bullet—along with his Purple Heart americanrifleman.org, send a sharp color photograph of the gun, accompanied
and other medals—now on display. I guess he never knew by its story in fewer than 400 words, with your name, address and daytime
telephone number to: Favorite Firearms, American Rifleman, National Rifle As-
that James Arness received a similar wound during World sociation, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400. Photos and submis-
War II, and sometimes had difficulty mounting his horse sions cannot be returned and may be edited for clarity and brevity.
 "GUFS
NVMUJQMF
64
HPWFSONFOU
UFTUT
JOWPMWJOH
IVOESFET
PG
UIPVTBOET
PG
SPVOET
UIF
1."(

(&/
.
TUBOET
VOEFGFBUFE
BHBJOTU
BMM
DPNNFSDJBM
DPNQFUJUPST
BOE
64(*
NBHB[JOF
WBSJBOUT
CZ
XJEF
NBSHJOT
5IFTF
UFTUT
BMPOH
XJUI
ZFBST
PG
QSPWFO
DPNCBU
QFSGPSNBODF
IBWF
SFTVMUFE
JO
PGGJDJBM
BEPQUJPO
BOE
BDDFQUBODF
CZ
UIF
64
.BSJOF
$PSQT
6440$0.
64
"SNZ
64
"JS
'PSDF
64
/BWZ
64
$PBTU
(VBSE
64
4FDSFU
4FSWJDF
BOE
OVNFSPVT
PUIFS
EPNFTUJD
BOE
JOUFSOBUJPOBM
QBSUOFST

X X X N B H Q V M  D P N
¥
.BHQVM
*OEVTUSJFT
$PSQPSBUJPO
"MM
3JHIUT
3FTFSWFE
.BHQVM
IPMET
B
5SBEFNBSL
PO
BMM
PG
JUT
QSPEVDU
OBNFT
BOE
MPHPT
5IF
GPMMPXJOH
QSPEVDUT
BSF
USBEFNBSLT
PG
.BHQVM
*OEVTUSJFT
$PSQPSBUJPO
SFHJTUFSFE
JO
UIF
64
BOE
PUIFS
DPVOUSJFT
.BHQVM
1."(
REVIVAL

Galil ACE IWI Brings The AK

Into The Modern Era

56 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Photos by Holly Marcus

 This year marks seven decades
since the Avtomat Kalashnikova
made its debut on the world
stage. Although the design
is not without its critics and
detractors, no one can argue with
its success. And while there are
more than 100 million firearms
based on the AK-47 design
around the world, the Galil ACE
may just be the best yet.
BY JEREMIAH KNUPP, FIELD EDITOR

he fall of the Berlin Wall ushered in a

new era of military small arms design
that saw many of the firearms that
had arisen from the ashes of World War II
relegated to the dust bin, but over and
over, nations have chosen to update and
stay with their Kalashnikov-based service
rifles. The Russian military recently
accepted the AK-12, a variant of its AK-74.
Likewise, their neighbors, the Finns, have
announced that, with cosmetic upgrades,
they plan to have their 1960s-era AK rifles
soldier on for another 20 years. Many
former Warsaw Pact countries, from Poland
to Hungary, have done the same. These
rifles have been modified for 21st cen-
tury tastes—there are rails for optics and
accessories, ergonomic stocks and grips,
and the extensive use of polymer—but at
their heart is still the gas-operated, long-
stroke-piston, rotating-bolt design that
Mikhail Kalashnikov began to pen in the
waning days of World War II.
One of the most successful of these
“modernized” Kalashnikovs comes from
outside the former Iron Curtain. Israel
adopted its AK-derived Galil rifle in the
early 1970s. While always overshadowed
in Israeli service by the M16, and eventu-
ally supplanted by the Tavor bullpup, the
Galil has been given a new lease on life.
With an appearance unlike any before them, IWI’s Galil ACE GAP39SB pistol (l.) The recently introduced ACE version of the
in 7.62x39 mm and its Galil Ace GAR16556 in 5.56x45 mm NATO represent the Galil promises to keep the Kalashnikov
current “state of the art” in semi-automatic AK-based firearms. design relevant for some time.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 57

GALIL ACE
AK-47 (CHINESE TYPE 56S)
FINNISH VALMET M62/S
ORIGINAL IMI GALIL
IWI GALIL ACE
Adoption
When it was founded in 1948, the nation of Israel armed
its military forces with a mixture of World War II surplus
British, American and German guns. It worked quickly to
standardize its small arms inventory and develop indigenous
designs that could be produced domestically. The first of
these was the famous Uzi submachine gun.
In 1955, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) adopted the
Belgian FN FAL as its standard infantry rifle, along with a
heavy-barreled FAL for use in a squad automatic role. By
the late 1960s, the Israelis were learning the same lesson
that the American military was experiencing in Vietnam.
A large, heavy, full-power battle rifle (the Israeli-version
of the FAL weighed nearly 10 lbs. and was 43" overall) was
less than ideal for mechanized, urban and asymmetric war-
fare. Following the 1967 Six-Day War, the Israelis sought a
more compact rifle that fired an intermediate cartridge that
would allow for controllable full-automatic fire.
To select a new service arm, the Israelis held a trial that
tested most of the contemporary 5.56x45 mm designs,
including the M16, HK33, AR-18 and the Stoner 63, along
with the 7.62x39 mm AK. It also tested two native designs,
one by Uziel Gal, the designer of the Uzi, and another by
Israel Military Industries (IMI) designer Yisreal Galil. Galil’s
rifle came out on top.
58 JANUARY 2018
Images courtesy of IWI US, Inc.
Israel Defense Force (IDF) soldiers have several decades’ experience
with the Galil (above). The rifle evolved from a series of globally
adopted iterations of the AK-47 (l.), with the newest, the Galil ACE, an
entirely modular and modernized Kalashnikov platform (bottom l.).
The core of the Galil design was the AK-47, a rifle that
the IDF had seen frequently used by opposition forces for
more than a decade. While the basic long-stroke-piston,
rotating-bolt design of the Soviet rifle was utilized, many
of the Galil’s external features came from a more refined
version of the AK, the Finnish Rk 62.
In the 20th century, Finland looked to its neighbor, and
sometimes enemy, the U.S.S.R. for small arms designs. The
Finnish military used variants of the Mosin-Nagant, often
building them from captured Russian arms. When the Finns
sought to update their infantry rifles in the 1950s, they
naturally built upon the basic architecture of the Soviet
Kalashnikov. The resulting rifle, which they adopted as the
Rk 62, used a robust receiver milled out of a solid block of
steel, like early AKs, rather than the stamped receiver of the
later AKM. The rear sight, which is mounted on a block pinned
to the barrel on the AK, was moved to the rear of the receiver
cover for a longer eye relief and to allow the use of an aper-
ture. Since this block is also where the AK’s gas tube mounts,
on the Rk 62 the tube is attached directly to the receiver.
The Galil followed the Rk 62 in using a milled receiver
with a rear aperture sight mounted on the receiver
cover. In fact, the first Galils were manufactured using
Valmet Rk 62 receivers. In addition to the AK-type,
right-side dustcover/selector lever, the Galil added a
thumb-operated safety selector on the left side of the
pistol grip. In another nod to the ambidextrous use of
controls, the charging handle angled up and extended
All Galil ACE pistols are available with an optional arm brace,
made by SB Tactical, that is designed to help stabilize the guns
during one-handed firing (l.). The brace folds when not in use,
lending the pistols a compact size convenient for transport. All
ACE models also feature both a left-side selector switch that can
be operated with the thumb for right-handed users (above, l.) and
a lever on the receiver’s right side for use by a right-hand shooter’s
index finger or by a left-handed shooter’s thumb (above, r.).
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
The 7.62x39 mm-chambered
Galil ACE pistol (GAP39SB)
features a modern grip, folding
arm brace, full-length optic rail to keep Israeli soldiers from prying off bottle caps with
and left-side charging handle. the feed lips of their magazines).
IMI later produced the “Short Assault Rifle” (SAR) with
above the receiver cover so that it could be used with a 13" barrel and an 8"-barreled “Micro Assault Rifle” (MAR)
either hand, much like the charging handle of the Uzi. A version of the Galil. A 7.62x51 mm NATO Galil was introduced
35-round magazine was adapted from the Stoner 63. To for the export market and was later modified into a semi-
make for a more compact package, the Galil had a side- automatic-only designated marksman rifle used by the IDF,
folding stock that mimicked the para-
trooper version of the FAL. Though SHOOTING RESULTS (25 YDS.): GALIL ACE PISTOL GAP39SB
still 39" overall, folding its stock 7.62X39 MM VEL. @ 10' ENERGY GROUP SIZE (INCHES)
reduced the Galil to 30" in length. CARTRIDGE (F.P.S.) (FT.-LBS.) SMALLEST LARGEST AVERAGE
Like the FAL, the Israelis sought WOLF 2060 AVG. 1,150 0.99 1.61 1.28
to make the Galil design the basis 122-GR.FMJ 19 SD
of a firearm “system.” It was made
PRVI PARTIZAN 2024 AVG. 1,120 1.35 2.15 1.72
in both infantry rifle (AR—“Assault 123-GR. SP RN 25 SD
Rifle”) and light machine gun
(ARM—“Assault Rifle/Machine gun”) HORNADY BLACK 1989 AVG. 1,081 0.85 1.64 1.27
123-GR. SST 12 SD
models. The ARM had a carrying
handle, bipod and special 50-round AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD 1.42
magazine, and weighed in at nearly NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 ROUNDS FROM A 8.30" BARREL, MEASURED
10 lbs. It included two unique fea- OVER A COMPETITION ELECTRONICS PROCHRONO DIGITAL CHRONOGRAPH. ACCURACY FOR FIVE
CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 25 YDS. FROM A CALDWELL MATRIX REST.
tures. A wire cutter was integrated
RANGE TEMPERATURE: 73° F. HUMIDITY: 73%. ABBREVIATIONS: FMJ (FULL METAL JACKET),
into the bipod and a bottle opener RN (ROUND NOSE), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION), SP (SOFT POINT), SST (SUPER SHOCK TIP).
built into the handguard (allegedly
GALIL ACE GAP39SB

MANUFACTURER/IMPORTER: IWI US, INC. P.O. BOX 126707, HARRISBURG, PA 17112; (717) 695-2081; IWI.US
27.75"
(19.59" WITH BRACE FOLDED)

05 E

8.30"

8.41"

MANUFACTURER/IMPORTER: ISRAEL WEAPON SIGHTS: TRITIUM-INSERT POST FRONT

INDUSTRIES (ISRAEL)
ACTION: LONG-STROKE PISTON, GAS-OPERATED,
SEMI-AUTOMATIC CENTER-FIRE PISTOL
CHAMBERING: 7.62X39 MM
BARREL: 4140 CHROME MOLY VANADIUM STEEL;
COLD HAMMER-FORGED, CHROME-LINED;
FOUR-GROOVE, 1:9.45" RH TWIST RIFLING
TRIGGER: 6-LB., 9-OZ. PULL
ADJUSTABLE FOR ELEVATION; TRITIUM-
INSERT “L” FLIP DUAL-APERTURE REAR
ADJUSTABLE FOR WINDAGE
WEIGHT: 7 LBS., 3 OZS.
MAGAZINE: MAGPUL PMAG DETACHABLE
30-ROUND BOX; COMPATIBLE WITH MOST
STANDARD 7.62X39 MM
AK-TYPE MAGAZINES
ACCESSORIES: OWNER’S MANUAL,
LOCK, SIGHT-ADJUSTMENT TOOL,
HANDGUARD RAIL COVERS,
OPTIONAL FOLDING ARM BRACE
MSRP: $1,849

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 59

GALIL ACE

The Galil ACE rifle in 7.62x51 mm NATO (GAR1651) eclipses its progeni-
tor with a host of features, including: a folding, adjustable buttstock,
a securely attached and expansive Picatinny top rail and a left-side
charging handle (above). The latter allows for weak-hand manipulation
by right-handed users (r.) and is an improvement on the original Galil’s
top-extending, right-hand-mounted charging handle (inset).

known as the “Galatz.” In the 1990s, the 5.56x45 mm NATO

Galil was also modified into a marksman’s rifle, rounding out
an entire system comprised of a compact assault rifle, infantry
rifle, light machine gun and precision rifle.
Manufacture of the Galil began in 1971, and the rifle
was officially adopted by the IDF in 1972. Though it was
the IDF’s official service rifle, production of the Galil could
not keep up with the copious quantities of M16s supplied
by the United States, and the American rifle became the
IDF’s primary arm.
The Galil made a bigger impact outside of Israel. It was
adopted by numerous countries around the world, most
notably in Central and South America and Africa. The
South Africans produced their own variation of the Galil,
which they called the R4.
Commercialization
In the late 1970s, Magnum Research began importing
semi-automatic-only versions of the Galil rifle into the United
States in both ARM and AR form and 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm
NATO chamberings. Action Arms would later take over Galil
importation until the model was banned by name in 1989.
Among the products that Action Arms imported was the
“Hadar II” a 10-lb., 8-oz. hunting version of the .308 Win.
Galil with a full wood stock. A ban-compliant, thumbhole
stock-equipped rifle, called the “Galil Sporter,” was sold from
1991-1993. In total, less than 10,000 original IMI-produced
semi-automatic Galils were imported into the country.
Uzi America, a subsidiary of Mossberg, continued to
import Galils and other IMI products for law enforcement
sales between 1994 and 1997. Around that same time,
Galil production was ending in Israel. By the early 2000s
both the Galil and M16 rifles were being replaced in Israeli
service by the Tavor bullpup.
In 2005, the government-run IMI was privatized, with
Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) taking over firearm produc-
tion. Among its first tasks was to resurrect the Galil. The
result was called the “ACE,” and it sought to modernize the
platform by remedying what some saw as drawbacks of the
original design.
At first glance, the main difference between the original
Galil and the ACE is the use of polymer in the area of the
receiver. Some misunderstanding has occurred over the
ACE’s receiver design. Though sometimes described as a
metal/plastic hybrid with an “upper” and a “lower,” in
reality the ACE uses a conventional milled AK-type receiver
that contains the rifle’s operating system. To it is mated a
polymer housing with an integral pistol grip, trigger guard
and magazine well.
While much has been made of the ACE’s weight sav-
ings (a common complaint against the original Galil was
its heft) the reality is that the ACE’s milled receiver is
only slightly slimmer than its parent, and the only metal
component that has been replaced by polymer is the trig-
ger guard. Still, the ACE shaves about three quarters of a
pound off the weight of the original Galil AR model.

When fieldstripped, the Galil ACE rifle in 5.56x45 mm NATO (GAP16556) reveals
its AK heritage (r.). The entire Galil ACE lineup makes use of a milled steel receiver
(7.62x39 mm version shown), similar to the original Galil design although
it is mated to a plastic lower housing that contains the pistol grip, trigger
guard and magazine well (above, l.). Fire-control components
are housed in the milled receiver. In 7.62x39 mm versions,
magazine-retention components are also housed in the receiver. In 5.56x45 mm NATO
and 7.62x51 mm NATO variants, those components are attached to the plastic lower
housing. The removable cheek rest supplied with Galil ACE rifles snaps into place on the
buttstock to raise the shooter’s line of sight for use with optics (above, r.).

60 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

GALIL ACE GAR16556

MANUFACTURER/IMPORTER: IWI US, INC. P.O. BOX 126707, HARRISBURG, PA 17112; (717) 695-2081; IWI.US
34.41"—37.72"
(27.19" WITH STOCK FOLDED)

1.50" 1.48"
IWI US, Inc.
Harrisburg, PA
CHF/CL 1:7

16.00"
H3

11.66"—14.94"

MANUFACTURER/IMPORTER: ISRAEL WEAPON

INDUSTRIES (ISRAEL)
ACTION: LONG-STROKE PISTON,
GAS-OPERATED, SEMI-AUTOMATIC
CENTER-FIRE RIFLE
CHAMBERING: 5.56X45 MM NATO
RECEIVER: MILLED STEEL
BARREL: 4140 CHROME MOLY VANADIUM STEEL;
COLD HAMMER-FORGED, CHROME-LINED;
SIX-GROOVE, 1:7" RH TWIST RIFLING
TRIGGER: 7-LB., 2-OZ. PULL
SIGHTS: TRITIUM INSERT POST FRONT ADJUST-
ABLE FOR ELEVATION; TRITIUM INSERT “L”
FLIP DUAL APERTURE REAR ADJUSTABLE
FOR WINDAGE
WEIGHT: 8 LBS., 5 OZS.
MAGAZINE: MAGPUL PMAG 30-ROUND
DETACHABLE BOX (COMPATIBLE WITH STAN-
DARD AR-15/STANAG MAGAZINES)
ACCESSORIES: OWNER’S MANUAL, LOCK,
SIGHT-ADJUSTMENT TOOL, REMOVABLE
CHEEK REST, HANDGUARD RAIL COVERS
MSRP: $1,899

What the polymer lower housing does

SHOOTING RESULTS (100 YDS.): GALIL ACE RIFLE GAR16556
is allow the same basic ACE receiver to
be adapted to three different cartridges 5.56X45 MM NATO VEL. @ 10' ENERGY GROUP SIZE (INCHES)
and five different magazine types. IWI CARTRIDGE (F.P.S.) (FT.-LBS.) SMALLEST LARGEST AVERAGE
offers the Galil ACE in 7.62x51 mm NATO, PMC X-TAC 2882 AVG. 1,144 1.99 3.00 2.63
7.62x39 mm and 5.56x45 mm NATO. 62-GR. FMJ LAP 33 SD
The 7.62 mm NATO version uses original HORNADY STEEL MATCH 2789 AVG. 950 2.23 3.01 2.75
Galil magazines in that chambering, 55-GR. HP 24 SD
and the 7.62x39 mm uses standard AK BLACK HILLS AMMUNITION 2657 AVG. 1,207 2.10 2.52 2.27
magazines. There are two versions of 77-GR. SIERRA MATCHKING 12 SD
the 5.56 mm NATO ACE. One uses the AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD 2.55
original Galil 5.56 mm magazine, and the
NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 ROUNDS FROM A 16" BARREL, MEASURED
other the M16/AR-15 magazine. With OVER A COMPETITION ELECTRONICS PROCHRONO DIGITAL CHRONOGRAPH. ACCURACY FOR
cartridge, barrel length and magazine FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 100 YDS. FROM A CALDWELL MATRIX REST. RANGE
options, a total of 11 military variants of TEMPERATURE: 82° F. HUMIDITY: 50%. ABBREVIATIONS: FMJ (FULL METAL JACKET), HP
the ACE are being produced. (HOLLOW POINT), LAP (LIGHT ARMOR PIERCING), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION).
In one of the most radical departures feature a bolt hold-open device that locks the bolt to the
of the ACE from the traditional AK/Galil design, the rifle rear after the last round is fired, one of the first times this
returns to its Sturmgewehr roots with the charging handle feature has been offered on a factory-produced AK.
moved to the left side. Unlike a traditional AK, whose charg- The diversity of the ACE line-up shows IWI’s understand-
ing handle slot is opened when the safety is off, a spring- ing of the contemporary military small arms market. Its
loaded dustcover on the ACE is pushed out of place and then chambering in 7.62x39 mm, and use of standard AK maga-
returns to cover the reciprocating charging handle’s slot as zines, allows countries to replace aging Soviet and Eastern
each round is fired. IWI calls the action “sealed.” European inventories with a modern rifle that is compatible
Spring-loaded dustcovers of this type are used on the FN with their existing magazine and ammunition stockpiles.
FNC rifle and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, but again, ACE Those already using the original Galil get an updated ver-
designers may have looked north for inspiration. A prototype sion of the rifle with which they are already familiar. For
Finish Rk made in the early 1990s used a similar spring-loaded countries wanting to be NATO-complaint, yet still use a
dustcover arrangement, and the feature later showed up on Kalashnikov design, the 5.56 mm N (“NATO”) model ACE
the Micro Galil at the end of its production run. uses NATO-standard magazines in an AK platform.
The ACE sought to modernize the Galil platform
in other areas as well. MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny optics
rails were added to the gas tube and the dustcover. The Importation
polymer handguard has rail segments in the 3-, 6- and In 2015, IWI US, Inc., announced that it would begin sell-
9-o’clock positions, with removable covers supplied to ing the Galil ACE, adding that design to complement its line of
protect them when not in use. A telescoping M4-style Tavor bullpup rifles. All three chamberings would be avail-
stock allows for an adjustable length of pull in six posi- able in both rifle and pistol configurations (with or without
tions, and the pistol grip is an ergonomic design in the an arm brace) for a total of nine different models. ACE rifles
pattern of those offered by Israeli accessories manufac- and pistols are assembled at IWI US’s Harrisburg, Pa., facil-
turer FAB Defense. The 5.56 mm NATO versions of the ACE ity from both Israeli and American-made parts. Rifles must

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 61

GALIL ACE
comply with the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 922(r). The first ACE
firearms, 7.62x39 mm rifles, were on dealers’ shelves in July
2016. As of mid-year 2017, all nine ACE models were available.
To evaluate the ACE lineup, I tested a 5.56 mm NATO rifle
(GAR16556) and a 7.62x39 mm pistol equipped with an arm
brace (GAP39SB). IWI US’s ACE models have some distinctive
features from their military counterparts. Starting at the busi-
ness end, the ACEs’ chrome-lined, cold hammer-forged barrels
have their muzzles threaded 1/2x28 TPI for the 5.56 mm NATO
models and 5/8x24 TPI for the .30-cal. models, making them
compatible with the immense aftermarket of muzzle brakes. The
supplied muzzle device is an A2-type, five-slot arrangement for
the 5.56x45 mm NATO and 7.62x39 mm models, and a unique
two-chamber compensator on the 7.62x51 mm NATO ACEs.
U.S. ACE models use three types of magazines. Those
in 7.62x39 mm use AK magazines, 5.56 mm NATO firearms
use AR-15 magazines and, unique to the U.S. market,
7.62x51 mm NATO ACEs use SR-25/AR-10-type magazines.
All U.S. ACEs ship with Magpul PMAGs.
There are two important notes regarding magazines.
First, to maintain 922(r) compliance, ACE rifles must
use U.S.-made magazines (the magazine counts for
three parts in the firearm’s U.S. parts count). This is no
problem for the 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm NATO models, but
owners of 7.62x39 mm rifles need to avoid the prolific
overseas-produced magazines. Second, those interested
in 7.62x39 mm ACE models should also note the ACE’s
plastic magwell precludes the use of drum magazines and
is too narrow to accept some polymer magazine designs.
Also unique to the American ACE lineup is a folding
stock. Along with the telescoping design (which is propri-
etary and not compatible with M4/AR-15-type stocks) rifle
stocks and pistol braces fold to the right side. The firearms
are fully functional and can be fired when folded.
Evaluation
Like the original Galil, the ACE is designed to be bilat-
eral in operation. The paddle-type magazine release can be
operated by the thumb of either hand with the 7.62x39 mm
firearms. ACEs in 5.56x45 mm NATO and 7.62x51 mm NATO
have bilateral button magazine releases. Safety selectors
are located on both sides of the firearms, but are in slightly
different locations for use by a right-handed shooter’s
62 JANUARY 2018
At IWI US’s Harrisburg, Pa., facility, an employee installs the folding rear
stock assembly of a Galil ACE rifle (far l.). Another employee inspects a
completed Galil ACE rifle (above, l.). The hammer, trigger and disconnec-
tor are three U.S.-made parts that are used to assemble Galil ACE rifles
so that they are compliant under 18 USC 922r (below, l.). A rack of arm-
brace-equipped Galil ACE pistols await final inspection (above).
thumb and forefinger. For those used to a standard AK-type
safety, the right hand can still sweep the ACE’s selector on
and off. One advantage of the ACE’s safety is that, unlike
a traditional AK with a dustcover selector, the ACE can be
unloaded with the safety on.
The left-side charging handle of the ACE means that a right-
handed shooter can work the action using his or her weak hand
while maintaining a firing grip. Left handers have to do what
right-handed AK shooters have been doing for years—cant
the firearm and reach over or under the receiver to grab the
charging handle. The bolt release on 5.56 mm NATO ACEs can
be reached by the index finger of the strong hand for a right-
handed shooter. A southpaw can catch the release with his or
her thumb when loading a fresh magazine or bump the charg-
ing handle to send the bolt into battery.
At the range, the ACE does not yield the typical AK
shooting experience—and that is for the better. IWI has
put much effort into the ACE’s trigger. While AK-style rifles
are notorious for poor trigger pulls, the ACE features a two-
stage unit taken from the Galatz sniper.
The optics rail runs continuously from the front sight
base to the rear sight, and a removable cheek rest raises
the shooter’s line of sight for use with optics. Although
it attached in a more secure manner than a standard AK
receiver cover optics mount, the ACE’s cover still has a slight
amount of play. It’s not enough to matter at close range; but
as the distance stretches out, its effect becomes apparent.
The ACE’s supplied iron sights feature a tritium post front
with an aperture rear indexed by two tritium dots for night
sight capability.
I tried a variety of magazines in our test ACEs, from
the supplied Magpuls to commercial and military surplus
devices of varying capacity. With the expectations men-
tioned above for 7.62x39 mm models all of the magazines
we tried fit and fed properly.
Both rifle and pistol functioned flawlessly through the
continued on p. 107
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
 IT’S TAX SEASON

HELP PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY

MORE DETECTION.
MORE PROTECTION.

Tax-related identity theft is when an identity thief uses your name and Social Security

10%
number in order to file a fraudulent tax return in your name. Typically, by the time you
attempt to file, the damage has been done and the IRS rejects your return. The good
news is that with LifeLock identity theft protection, you get a dedicated U.S.-based SAVE OFF*
specialist to help resolve your case if you are victimized. Visit LifeLock.com or call COMPREHENSIVE
800-978-1725. ID THEFT PROTECTION
No one can prevent all identity theft.
* Credit card required at enrollment. Offer for new LifeLock members only. Offer is available for LifeLock Standard™, LifeLock Advantage™
and LifeLock Ultimate Plus™ memberships only. Not combinable with other offers.
USE PROMO CODE:
Copyright © 2017 Symantec Corp. All rights reserved.
Symantec, the Symantec Logo, the Checkmark Logo, LifeLock and the LockMan Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of AR118E
Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
No NRA member dues or contributions are used for this promotion, program, or any other related expenses. GPPM2876
HANDGUN

Heckler & Koch’s VP9 garnered praise as a well-

made and affordable duty-size pistol. Now, the
VP9SK carries that quality into the kind of por-
table and concealable configuration that is much
preferred by armed citizens.

Photo by Forrest MacCormack,

64 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Illustration by David Labrozzi
Heckler & Koch’s VP9SK
Shorter and lighter than its VP9 sire, the new SK model is H&K’s entrant into the
highly competitive field of compact, striker-fired polymer handguns. This feature-
packed pistol signals a welcome shift in emphasis by the renowned German maker
toward American consumers—at a price that is likely to turn their heads.
W
hen any handgun maker offers a full-
size service pistol, typically it quickly
starts work on a follow-up model. It is
a familiar pattern, and the subsequent
model is invariably a shorter-barrel,
shorter-frame version of the full-size gun. Most
of the former are well-suited for police and
military handgunners and even some civilian
applications. But the strong and steady demand
for smaller guns intended for concealment use
by military and police shooters is probably
exceeded these days by the demand of legally
armed citizens. In record numbers Americans
are exercising their constitutional right to not
just keep, but also bear arms.
Two criticisms often leveled at Heckler &
Koch are the price of its guns and that it does
not produce enough offerings well-suited
to concealment. The company has already
addressed the former, and the latter is the sub-
ject of this article.
Enter the competitively priced H&K VP9SK
in 9 mm Luger. A couple of years ago, the
respected German gunmaker uncharacteristi-
cally offered a new full-size, polymer-frame,
striker-fired pistol, the VP9, in 9 mm Luger and
.40 S&W (January 2015, p. 58). The follow-up
gun was introduced at the 2017 SHOT Show in
Las Vegas, Nev. It is a shorter, lighter and more
compact version of the VP9, as well as a model
well-suited for concealed carry. For brevity’s
sake, I will refer to the gun as the “SK.” As did the
parent gun, the SK uses a molded polymer receiver
and steel upper. It is chambered for the world’s
most popular pistol cartridge, the 9 mm Luger, in
both regular and +P loadings. Standard SK maga-
zines hold 10 cartridges in a staggered-column
arrangement.
Like the modern service pistols of most makes,
the trigger system offers consistent weight and
travel with every pull. Operational controls are a
bilateral slide lock/release and H&K’s trademark
bilateral magazine release—paddles that conform
to the lower rear edge of the trigger guard. The
SK’s dimensions are 6.61" in length by 4.57" in
height by 1.31" in thickness, compared to the
AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018
BY WILEY CLAPP, Field Editor
7.34"x5.41"x1.31" dimensions of the original
VP9. The new SK weighs 23.1 ozs., down from the
26.6 ozs. of its forebear.
The SK is a recoil-operated pistol with a
3.39"-long tilting barrel (with H&K’s polygonal
rifling) that features a squared breech end.
An under-barrel cam tilts the barrel up as the
slide closes in the regular operating cycle. The
squared rear of the barrel engages the wide
ejection port, locking the barrel to the slide. It’s
a simple and rugged arrangement, and used by
many pistols. The pistol’s trigger is a single-
action type, where the internal striker is fully
cocked by the action of the slide’s movement,
either manually or under recoil.
The internal workings and trigger action
of the SK will be familiar to H&K users—as
will some of the company’s unique ergonomic
touches. That starts with a frame of molded
polymer, which allows the maker to shape it
with complex, curved lines, rounded surfaces
and stippling that would be cost prohibitive
in a metal frame. In so doing, H&K managed
to come up with a pistol that is more ergo-
nomically sound than just about anything else
available. I reviewed the original VP9 pistol
several years ago, and was impressed with its
design. If anything, the SK version is a little
more pleasing to shoot. Of course the slide rails
in the receiver, as well as lockwork and contact
surface that cams the barrel into battery, are
made of steel. The fire-control parts are con-
tained in a metal chassis that is fixed within
the serialized frame.
The SK is ready to go, out of the box, but
its frame can be adapted to a specific hand size
through rather clever engineering. The shape
of the grip can be altered by way of replaceable
inserts that fit into recesses on its sides and
backstrap. While the gun comes with “medium”
side panels and backstrap installed, they can be
easily replaced with “large” or “small” inserts.
Choose whichever size feels right. With three
choices for each location, it’s three times three
times three for a total of 27 different configu-
rations. Changing from one to the other is
65
H&K VP9SK
simple—drive out one pin and slide all
panels off the frame. We’ll look at this
feature again when we take the SK to
the range. As with cleaning the SK, the
shooter should ensure the pistol is not
loaded and all ammunition is away from the
work bench when reconfiguring the grip.
Good frame ergonomics go beyond the multiplicity of
grip configurations in butt shape. There are two shallow
finger grooves on the frontstrap, as well as a useful trigger-
approach recess on either sides of the frame. And, included
with the SK are two 10-round magazines, one with a
flush-fitting baseplate and the other sporting an extended
floorplate with a third finger groove to accommodate the
shooter’s little finger for maximum control. Most of the
SK’s contact surfaces are a grained or stippled finish that
comfortably adheres to the hand to provide a positive grasp.
There is one feature on the slide, though, that puts the
gun in a class of its own. The SK’s slide already possesses
panels of cocking serrations, front and rear. In addition, at
the back edge of the rear panel, on both sides, there are
raised bars raked at the same angle as the serrations. Visually,
the bars blend into the blued steel of the slide. In hand, how-
ever, they are instantly noticeable when you grasp and rack
the slide to cycle the action or to check the chamber.
Heckler & Koch calls these little raised bars “charging
supports”—I call them a great idea, and I expect they are
going to be copied in some form by competitors. They offer
a real advantage over the typical arrangement of shallow
serrations when applying rearward force against the gun’s
recoil spring. Consider what the hands have to do when
racking the slide. The left hand reaches over the pistol
and takes an overhand grip on the slide. On a traditional
pistol, you have to get a firm grip on the pistol with the
left thumb and index finger before you can move the slide
back. Much of the effort is in an inward squeezing motion,
before you can pull back on the slide. Some shooters just
66 JANUARY 2018
have problems doing this,
and the SK helps them with
a small, angled ledge to pull
against. It really works. And, if
for some reason you don’t care
to use them, you can simply
take them off.
The SK’s controls are simpli-
fied for tactical/defensive use.
To fire a loaded pistol, just pull the trigger. There are
no manual safeties to be manipulated, but there is an
articulated trigger safety and an internal drop safety,
both passive. A simple and direct piece of equipment, the
SK is also bilateral in operation; there are slide locks on
both sides of the pistol, and the magazine release can be
manipulated with either hand. The mechanism consists
of a single contoured bar that runs across the lower rear
corner of the trigger guard, with contact paddles on both
sides. You can drop the magazine with the trigger finger
or the thumb of either hand. The company developed this
feature a few years back, and it’s employed on a number
of H&K’s guns.
The sample SK delivered 100 percent reliability with an
assortment of quality ammunition—no malfunctions of
any kind. Shooting with the gun sideways or upside down,
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
 H&K VP9SK
IMPORTER: HECKLER & KOCH (DEPT. AR), 5675 TRANSPORT BLVD., COLUMBUS, GA 31907;
(706) 568-1906; HK-USA.COM
6.61"

9mmX19
232-000000 CIPN

232-000000 CIPN BH DE

3.39"
4.57"

MANUFACTURER: HECKLER SIGHTS: DOVETAILED, THREE-

& KOCH GMBH DOT; SQUARE-NOTCH

limp-wristing or weak-gripping the SK (GERMANY) REAR, POST FRONT

CHAMBERING: TRIGGER: SINGLE-ACTION,
had no effect on the pistol’s function- 9 MM LUGER STRIKER-FIRED; 5-LB.,
ing. Magazines loaded with mixed ACTION TYPE: RECOIL- 5-OZ. PULL
ammunition—from 115-grainers to OPERATED, CENTER-FIRE WIDTH: 1.31"
147s—all ran through the gun with SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL WEIGHT: 23.1 OZS.
FRAME: POLYMER ACCESSORIES: OWNER’S
aplomb. The trigger pull is a bit creepy, RIFLING: POLYGONAL, MANUAL, HARD CASE,
but I was able to shoot with accuracy 1:9.8" RH TWIST CABLE LOCK, EXTRA
off the bench. Trigger reset is longer MAGAZINE: 10-ROUND MAGAZINE
than some. None of this worries me DETACHABLE BOX MSRP: $719
in commending the gun for defensive
use. As to handling, I am convinced
that the 10-shot magazine with the SHOOTING RESULTS (25 YDS.)
extended floorplate should be the one
9 MM LUGER VEL. @ 12' ENERGY GROUP SIZE (INCHES)
to use if at all possible. The gun is light CARTRIDGE (F.P.S.) (FT.-LBS.) SMALLEST LARGEST AVERAGE
and short, so powerful loads crank up
the recoil and muzzle flip. If you can B LACK HILLS 1089 A VG. 322 1.99 3.07 2.31
124-GR. +P JHP 20 SD
get your little finger in on the gripping
equation, the shooting will be quicker, REMINGTON 1107 AVG. 313 1.97 2.61 2.53
115-GR. +P JHP 7 SD
because you have far better control.
Because a concealed-carry pistol is WINCHESTER 1049 AVG. 303 2.23 3.72 2.45
always carried more than fired, I can 124-GR. NATO FMJ 13 SD
understand keeping the more conceal- AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD 2.43
able, flat-bottomed 10-round magazines NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 ROUNDS OVER AN OEHLER MODEL 35P
in the gun, but its owner’s manual also CHRONOGRAPH AT 12 FT. ACCURACY FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 25 YDS.
depicts 13- and 15-rounders. While FROM A SANDBAG REST. TEMPERATURE: 80° F. HUMIDITY: 31%. ABBREVIATIONS: FMJ (FULL
METAL JACKET), JHP (JACKETED HOLLOW POINT), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION).
they were unavailable at the time of
writing, Heckler & Koch advised that
both would be available by the time of publication. With the palm side and thinner on the fingertip side. It works like
addition of a collar on its bottom, the 15-round P30/VP9 a charm. With a small left panel and large right panel,
magazine may be used in the VP9SK as well. plus a small backstrap, I had a very different-looking gun.
My local range had no business on a warm summer To a most noticeable degree, I was able to control the gun
day, and there was ammunition on hand, so I tried some better than any other combination that I tried. Maybe the
of the 27 combinations of side panels and backstraps. old gunwriter was on to something.
Switching and swapping only takes a minute or two once In this very reliable new pistol, Heckler & Koch offers
you get used to it. So, I tried one of the Elmer Keith-style a great handgun for the concealed carry handgunner. It
arrangements where the pistol’s grip grows thicker on the represents a new direction for the company, which just
completed a huge new facility in Columbus, Ga., and that
Fieldstripping the VP9SK is aided by a captive, nested recoil-spring pivot is expected to result in a U.S. operation that has
assembly (far l.). Interchangeable backstrap and side-panel inserts cus- renewed dedication to commercial sales. The company
tomize the pistol’s grip (l., above). The trigger has a passive blade-style apparently decided that if it planned to make such a
safety, and a bilateral magazine release lies at the trigger guard’s lower change it needed a gun fresh enough to call attention to
rear (l., below). Detachable “charging supports” lie on either side of itself. The VP9SK is that gun—in fact, I believe it might
the slide’s rear and aid in charging or chamber-checking the gun (top). be the best H&K pistol yet.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 67

RIFLES

TRUE PAIR Two

68 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Photos by author
 The market has spoken, and
Savage has answered with
its Model 10/110 BA Stealth
and Model 10 GRS—both in
6.5 mm Creedmoor and both
designed specifically for
long-range shooting.
BY BRYCE M. TOWSLEY

he shooting industry is
always in flux, and, dur-
ing my long career, I have
watched a lot of changes
occur. Some were just fleeting fads—
electronic ignition and super short
magnums for example—while others
have stuck around. One trend that
looks like it has traction is long-
range shooting.
When I started writing about guns
in the early 1980s, and for a long
time after that, the focus for rifle
manufacturers was almost exclusively
on hunting, and their long-range
rifles were marketed to that use. For
a hunter back then, 500 or 600 yds.
was a remarkable shot. With the
exception of a few notable cliques
of shooters, any claims of shooting
game at distances beyond that were
met with justifiable skepticism.
Shooting targets at distances of
1,000 yds. was pretty much the domain
of some competitive shooters and a
small and exclusive group of disciples
who used custom-made or heavily
modified rifles and ammunition.

New Long-Range Rifles From Savage

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 69
SAVAGE
Today, the realm of long-range shoot-
ing has shifted. While there is still a
growing interest in long-range hunting,
the long-range market is being driven
more by target shooters. Those shooters
are stretching the limits to distances
that were the domain of the elite a gen-
eration ago. Now, with the introduction
of Precision Rifle Series (PRS) competi-
tions, interest in shooting long range is
growing even faster.
The trend started with custom
guns built to be mission-specific, but
it wasn’t long before the major gun
companies took notice and began to Both Savages are equipped with the
introduce their own rifles. One of the adjustable AccuTrigger, which produces pull
most popular styles of rifle for long- weights ranging from 1 lb., 8 ozs. to 6 lbs. custom rifle. The receiver and bolt are
range shooting is known as a “preci-
sion rifle.” These are usually built
on a modular chassis or with a specialized stock that has
adjustments and design features specific to the sport of
long-range target shooting. Prices initially started out
high, but they were quickly driven down by competition
and the growing market.
One rifle company that has taken notice and jumped
hard into the long-range market is Savage. Two of its
newest rifles are designed for this style of shooting, the
Model 10/110 BA Stealth and the Model 10 GRS.
The barreled actions are pretty much the same for the
two rifles. There are a few small differences in things such
as muzzle crown, but the primary difference between them
is their respective stocks. The Model 10/110 BA Stealth is
70 JANUARY 2018
a chassis rifle and the Model 10 GRS
is fitted with a precision rifle stock.
The idea is to cover both sides of the
long-range spectrum. There is a clear
split between those shooting chassis-
built rifles and shooters who prefer
more conventional, though still
highly adjustable, stocks.
Both rifles feature heavy, fluted,
button-rifled 24" barrels. (That con-
figuration is standard for the 6.5 mm
Creedmoor rifles tested. Other cartridge
chamberings will vary in barrel length.)
Savage says its workers blueprint the
actions of these rifles, the same as a
gunsmith would do when building a
all trued to the same center-line and
are fitted as a single package.
The Savage style of attaching the barrel with a nut
allows for very precise control of headspacing, which is
another factor in accuracy. It also allows for very easy
replacement of the barrel if you ever shoot it out or want
to upgrade to a high-end aftermarket barrel.
The bolts have an oversize knob that is integral to the
handle, not threaded on as with most tactical knobs. The
rifles feature the adjustable Savage AccuTrigger; the one
on the Stealth broke at 2 lbs., 2 ozs. from the factory,
while the GRS trigger was a pound heavier.
The Stealth has an 11-degree crown on the muzzle,
while the GRS has a recessed 90-degree crown. Both guns
have the Savage three-position tang safety. It locks the
The Savage Model 10 GRS is named for its adjustable stock,
which is made by the Norwegian firm of GRS. Note the offset
palm swell (above, l. and center) and the push-button adjust-
ments for length of pull and comb height (above, r.).
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
SAVAGE MODEL 10 GRS
MANUFACTURER: SAVAGE ARMS (DEPT. AR), 100 SPRINGDALE ROAD, WESTFIELD, MA 01085; (413) 568-7001; SAVAGEARMS.COM
38.5"
1.8" 1.1" TO 0.3"
24"

11.75" TO 15.5" TRIGGER: SINGLE-STAGE, ADJUSTABLE

CHAMBERING: 6.5 MM CREEDMOOR
ACTION TYPE: BOLT-ACTION, CENTER-FIRE
REPEATING RIFLE
RECEIVER: MATTE BLACK STEEL
STOCK: GRS, INJECTION-MOLDED SYNTHETIC
MAGAZINE: 10-ROUND DETACHABLE BOX
BARREL: CARBON STEEL, FLUTED,
BUTTON-RIFLED
ACCUTRIGGER; 3-LB., 2-OZ. PULL
SIGHTS: NONE; PICATINNY RAIL
WEIGHT: 9 LBS., 3 OZS.
ACCESSORIES: OWNER’S MANUAL, CABLE LOCK
MSRP: $1,449

bolt shut when on and allows the SHOOTING RESULTS (100 YDS.): SAVAGE MODEL 10 GRS
bolt to be safely opened for loading
and unloading when in the center 6.5 MM CREEDMOOR VEL. @ 15' ENERGY GROUP SIZE (INCHES)
CARTRIDGE (F.P.S.) (FT.-LBS.) SMALLEST LARGEST AVERAGE
position. Forward, twice, is fire.
Most serious long-range shooters HORNADY 140-GR. 2710 AVG. 2,284 0.80 1.40 1.11
ELD MATCH 18 SD
use a muzzle brake or a suppres-
sor. The muzzles on both rifles are NORMA MATCH 2823 AVG. 2,316 1.10 1.40 1.23
threaded 5/8x24 TPI, which is fairly 130-GR. HPBT 22 SD
standard for many .30-cal. aftermarket FEDERAL G.M. BERGER 2866 AVG. 2,372 0.50 1.80 1.30
brakes and suppressor attachments. 130-GR. HYBRID OTM 15 SD
The rifles come with a thread protec- AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD 1.21
tor cap. For testing, I fitted both rifles NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY OVER AN OEHLER MODEL 35P CHRONOGRAPH AT
with Bushnell 3.5-21X 50 mm Elite 15 FT. ACCURACY FOR FIVE, CONSECUTIVE FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 100 YDS. FROM A
Tactical riflescopes. BENCH USING A MACHINE REST. TEMPERATURE: 20o F. HUMIDITY: 65%. ABBREVIATIONS:
ELD (EXTREMELY LOW DRAG), HPBT (HOLLOW POINT BOATTAIL), OTM (OPEN TIP MATCH),
Model 10 GRS SD (STANDARD DEVIATION).
“We took a look at what the top
shooters in PRS were using,” then-Savage-spokesman Bill the length of pull and cheekpiece height, that operate
Dermody told me. “We saw that a lot of them were using with the push of a button. The grip is a rather unique,
rifles with stocks rather than chassis systems. That showed oversize, offset affair that had me a bit skeptical at first.
us a need, and we filled it with the Model 10 GRS rifle.” But after shooting this gun, I came to regard it as genius.
The rifle is fitted with the rather unique Norwegian-made It positions the hand perfectly for shooting, providing
GRS Berserk model stock (only right-hand models are avail- for fantastic trigger control. The grip and fore-end have
able at this time). GRS has made stocks in laminated wood overmolded rubber surfaces. The recoil pad is squishy rub-
for years, which are hugely popular in Europe with target ber, but is only 0.4" thick, so it’s not going to absorb a lot
shooters and hunters. This stock copies that design, but with of energy. It’s not an issue for the mild-mannered 6.5 mm
synthetic materials, which are lighter and less expensive. The Creedmoor cartridge as this heavy rifle mitigates recoil
GRS is injection-molded of 15 percent fiberglass-reinforced anyway. Besides, most shooters will add a brake to reduce
Durathane. While metal chassis systems can be expensive, recoil even more. The stock has a large, slightly rounded
so too can many of the more traditional-looking top-name fore-end that works well when hand-held, shooting with
fiberglass or carbon fiber stocks. Europotics sells the Berserk sandbags or in a machine rest.
stock for $625, which is still considerably
less expensive than many of the latter.
The stock features adjustments for

The Model 10 GRS stock makes use of syn-

thetic action pillars (r., arrows). Both 10 GRS
and 10 BA Stealth models feature oversize
bolt knobs that are made integral with their
handles and are oversize compared to a stan-
dard (satin-finish) Savage bolt (far r.).

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 71

 An evolution of the .308 Win. by
way of the .30 T/C, the 6.5 mm
Creedmoor from Hornady uses a
proprietary blend of modern pow-
ders in its Superformance load.
The stock has synthetic action pillars and bedding that
is said to be 65 percent glass in a polymer matrix. There is a
swivel stud in front to mount a bipod and two quick release
style cups for mounting a sling on the left side of the stock.
This rifle comes with a 10-round Magpul PMAG 7.62 AC maga-
zine, and will accept any AICS-pattern magazines.
The Savage Model 10 GRS is available in short action
only. It’s chambered for .308 Win. with a 20" barrel;
6 mm Creedmoor with a 26" barrel and 6.5 mm Creedmoor
with a 24" barrel.
The market continues to brim with new ammunition
offerings for the 6.5 mm Creedmoor, so I tested the rifle
with two new introductions to the market: Norma Match and
Federal Premium with Berger bullets. I also included the old
standby, Hornady 140-gr. ELD Match, which is a continuation
of the original 140-gr. A-Max load that started the 6.5 mm
Creedmoor down the road to its current success.
Accuracy, on average, was not quite as good with this
rifle as with the Stealth, as it did not quite crack the magi-
cal minute-of-angle threshold with the ammunition tested.
I rarely add caveats to any test results—they are what they
are—but, in this case I feel it might be warranted.
The rifle did show moments of brilliance with at least one
group measuring right at half-m.o.a. With the Federal loads,
the groups would be very tight, only to be spoiled by a flyer. In
fairness, I should note that the ammunition I was shooting was
from the earliest production. And although newer-production
6.5 mm Creedmoor loads were not available before this story
was written, I have tested a similar, recent-production load
using a Berger bullet in .308 Win. and found it to be extremely
consistent and accurate in multiple rifles. I can only surmise
that there may have been a few bugs in my early ammunition
72 JANUARY 2018
and that the latest-production 6.5 mm Creedmoor will be just
as consistent as I witnessed with the .308.
I am sure that with a bit of break-in work and perhaps a
little tweaking, this can easily become a sub-m.o.a. rifle. It
is a rare Savage these days that is not.
Model 10/110 BA Stealth
The Savage Model 10 or Model 110 BA Stealth rifles (The 10
is the short-action version, while the 110 is the long-action)
use a modular chassis design. In long action, the Model 110
BA Stealth is available in .300 Win. Mag. and .338 Lapua Mag.
The Model 10 BA Stealth is offered in 6.5 mm Creedmoor
and .308 Win. It would appear that the .308 Win. is mar-
keted to law enforcement, as it has a 20" barrel favored for
urban use and easier to stow in a patrol car. The 6.5 mm
Creedmoor has a longer, 24" barrel and is out-of-the-box
ready for long-range shooting.
The 6.5 mm Creedmoor is the “in” cartridge right
now, especially within long-range shooting circles. It
is very capable out to 1,200 yds. and beyond, and will
handle 99 percent of the long-range target shooting
most people will encounter.
The Savage Model 10 BA Stealth in 6.5 mm Creedmoor
weighs in at 9 lbs., 10 ozs., which is a bit light for this
style of rifle. While that’s a good thing for some competi-
tion shooting where shooters must move and/or support
the rifle with their bodies, most shooters will want to add
a muzzle brake to help mitigate recoil to help them observe
their bullets’ traces and impacts through their scopes.
The Stealth uses a Drake Associates Hunter/Stalker
model chassis. This slim, monolithic chassis is machined
from a single piece of aluminum. It has M-LOK slots on the
fore-end. There is a front swivel stud to mount a bipod. It
features a slim, short fore-end, which rests well on sand-
bags or on a machine rest, as well as on a bipod. With a lot
of the barrel exposed, it cools faster. Also, I like the slim
feel for shooting offhand.
Hornady’s 6.5 mm Creedmoor
utilizes 0.264" bullets, this
one, a 129-gr. SST.
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
 SAVAGE

SAVAGE MODEL 10 BA STEALTH

MANUFACTURER: SAVAGE ARMS (DEPT. AR), 100 SPRINGDALE ROAD, WESTFIELD, MA 01085; (413) 568-7001; SAVAGEARMS.COM
44"

1" 1" TO -0.1"

24"

TRIGGER: SINGLE-STAGE, ADJUSTABLE

13.5" TO 14.75"
CHAMBERING: 6.5 MM CREEDMOOR
ACTION TYPE: BOLT-ACTION, CENTER-FIRE
REPEATING RIFLE
RECEIVER: MATTE BLACK STEEL
STOCK: ALUMINUM CHASSIS
MAGAZINE: 10-ROUND DETACHABLE BOX
BARREL: CARBON STEEL; BUTTON RIFLED, FLUTED
ACCUTRIGGER; 2-LB., 2-OZ. PULL
SIGHTS: NONE; PICATINNY RAIL
WEIGHT: 9 LBS., 10 OZS.
ACCESSORIES: OWNER’S MANUAL, CABLE LOCK
MSRP: $1,207

The FAB Defense buttstock has SHOOTING RESULTS (100 YDS.): SAVAGE MODEL 10 BA STEALTH
a rubber buttpad and is adjustable
6.5 MM CREEDMOOR VEL. @ 15' ENERGY GROUP SIZE (INCHES)
for length of pull. The cheek rest is CARTRIDGE (F.P.S.) (FT.-LBS.) SMALLEST LARGEST AVERAGE
adjustable for height. The gun accepts
quick-detach sling swivels on either AMERICAN EAGLE 2652 AVG. 2,187 0.86 1.30 0.96
140-GR. HPBT 23 SD
side. Any aftermarket, AR-style,
commercial-spec buttstock will fit the HORNADY 2670 AVG. 2,217 0.90 1.45 1.07
gun, so it’s easy to change out in order 140-GR. ELD MATCH 18 SD
to customize the rifle. The rubber NOSLER 140-GR. 2670 AVG. 2,217 0.80 1.30 0.91
AR-style grip is by Hogue and can also HPBT MATCH 20 SD
be changed easily. AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD 1.01
There is a Picatinny rail screwed NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY OVER AN OEHLER MODEL 35P CHRONOGRAPH AT
to the action to mount an optic. 15 FT. ACCURACY FOR FIVE, CONSECUTIVE FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 100 YDS. FROM A
The magazine release is a large lever BENCH USING A MACHINE REST IN FRONT AND A TOE BAG AT THE REAR. TEMPERATURE: 20o F.
in front of the trigger guard. The HUMIDITY: 65%. ABBREVIATIONS: ELD (EXTREMELY LOW DRAG), HPBT (HOLLOW POINT
BOATTAIL), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION).
supplied polymer magazine holds 10
rounds and feeds from the center.
Any AICS-pattern aftermarket magazine will fit the gun. With the Model 10 GRS and Model 10 BA Stealth, Savage
I tested this rifle over several range sessions from 100 has brought a commendable level of accuracy and features
to 500 yds. with three factory loads. The most accurate to the masses at reasonable prices. Either of these rifles is
was the Nosler 140-gr. HPBT Match load, which averaged well-suited right out of the box for long-range shooting
0.91". This is for five, five-shot groups at 100 yds. or competition. Just add ammunition and optics and start
A close second was the American Eagle 140-gr. load. At pulling the trigger.
100 yds., five, five-shot groups averaged
0.96". I also used this loading for some
long-range testing out to 500 yds., which
is the limit at my club. Two 300-yd., five-
shot groups averaged 2.65". At 500 yds.,
two groups averaged 4.75". That is consis-
tent sub-minute-of-angle (m.o.a) accuracy
across the spectrum.
This Savage has a sticker price of
$1,207, which is less than half the price
listed for most factory-produced chassis
precision rifles just a few years ago.

The author used a variety of factory ammuniton in testing the

Model 10 GRS and Model 10 BA Stealth (above l.), which feature
recessed and 11-degree muzzle crowns, respectively (above r.).

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 73

HISTORICAL

Last Of

Its Kind
The USMC Model 1909 Colt
74 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Photos by author
The last revolver adopted by the U.S. military in .45 Colt, the Model 1909 was a stopgap
between the failed Colt double-action .38s and the U.S. Model of 1911 pistol. The rarest is
the version adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps. How does it stack up today at the range?
A modern Marine decided to find out for himself.
n 1909, the Ford Model T
had just come to mar-
ket. The President of the
United States was none
other than Theodore Roosevelt,
finishing his second term. His
Great White Fleet had finished its
voyage around the globe, announc-
ing to the world that America had
arrived as a seapower. The Army
Signal Corps had just purchased
the world’s first military airplane
from the Wright brothers. And Colt
was in the process of delivering a
new double-action revolver to the
military. The .45 Colt-chambered
Model 1909 was to replace various
.38-cal. revolvers that repeatedly
struggled to stop fanatical attack-
ers in the then-ongoing Philippine
Insurrection. The Army would
receive approximately 20,000 1909s before the
iconic U.S. Model of 1911 pistol was adopted. The
Marine Corps specified a few changes to the gun
for its order of 1,400.
It is a well-established part of shooting lore
that the U.S. military went back to the .45 Colt
after dissatisfaction with the stopping power of
its .38 revolvers in the early 1900s. More stud-
ied enthusiasts could probably tell you that the
handgun was a double-action Colt revolver in
.45 Colt. Beyond those details, things generally
get fuzzy. That is understandable, as the M1909
Colt, although a superb heavy-duty handgun, was
fielded in relatively small numbers and had the
shortest service life of any issue sidearm in our
nation’s history. The adoption of the iconic Colt
M1911—and its storied service in conflicts arising
shortly after its fielding—largely drown out the
stopgap service of the M1909. The old M1909s
aren’t commonly encountered and are quickly
rising in cost to where the average shooter won’t
get to experience them. So when the opportunity
AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG
BY JUSTIN DYAL
presented itself for this Marine
to spend quality time with an
M1909, and a scarce Marine Corps
model, at that, I was understand-
ably excited.
The M1909 is a brawny 39-oz.
revolver. It is large, looking car-
toonishly big in all but the largest
of hands. The string of adjectives
typically clumped together to
describe the piece include robust,
heavy-duty and serious. This is a
not unexpected pendulum swing
from the almost-dainty New Army
series of issue .38 Long Colts that
were known for lockwork that
was anything but robust. Colt had
clearly heard the complaints about
the New Armys and responded
with a handgun meant to easily
take the most powerful loads of
the era, and, with improvements to the action,
intended to make it rugged and durable. They
christened it the “New Service” upon its introduc-
tion, rather hopefully, and, eventually, the War
Dept. came knocking as the complaints from the
Philippines regarding the inadequacy of the .38s
gained attention.
The .45 Colt was the powerhouse of the day
with a track record dating back to its introduction
in 1873. The old .45 loads intended for the Single
Action Army had such a narrow rim that the The Colt Model
extractor star of the M1909 could miss and bypass 1909 was the last
the cases, leading Frankford Arsenal to design a military-issue
smokeless-powder load housed in a case with a .45 Colt. It would
slightly wider rim. Interestingly, the issue load be nearly 100
for the M1909 was a reduced charge that pushed years before
its 250-gr. bullet at only 725 f.p.s. The reasoning another issue
is lost to history, but it seems strange that the sidearm was
service load designed for a replacement handgun specifically marked
meant to increase stopping power was 100-150 “USMC,” adding
f.p.s. slower than commercial loads of the time. I to the appeal of
am guessing, but it may have been a combination these unique .45s.
JANUARY 2018 75
 USMC 1909
The .45 Colt Model 1909 (top) replaced the Colt New
Army series .38 Long Colts that had gained notoriety
for their lack of stopping power.
of several factors. First, there was not yet a
great deal of experience with smokeless loads
in big-bore handguns, and the always conserva-
tive Ordnance Dept. might have wanted to err
on the side of caution with the higher pressures
produced by smokeless powder. Second, the recoil
of full-charge .45 Colt is substantial, even in a
large revolver. There is a significant and welcome
The Model 1909s difference between shooting that 250-gr. hunk of
were issued during lead at 725 f.p.s. and a maximum load. Finally,
the brief period one of the trends of the day was “heavy and slow”
when Colt used a to maximize energy transfer into the target, with
stylized Victorian the thought being that loads that over-penetrated
“C’”around the took energy unnecessarily out of the target and
rampant colt logo. distributed it elsewhere. The British also espoused
76 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
this theory with their service .455 Webley, which
pushed a comparably heavier bullet even slower.
The Marine Corps of 1909 was tiny at a strength
of only about 9,000 men. Whichever officer was
in charge of handgun decisions must have either
been a serious shooter with strong preferences or
just hard to please. In 1905, the Corps had insisted
that Colt round the butts and checker the stocks of
its .38s rather than accept the basic Navy model.
In 1909, the Marines made a similar request. The
Marine Corps M1909 was the first “round butt” in
the New Service line, and, unlike the plain walnut
of the Army and Navy models, the Corps’ stocks
had shallow checkering at about 13 lines per inch
with a large diamond around the stock screw. The
effect is a pronounced difference in the hand from
the standard New Service frame. I prefer the Marine
enhancements, and find that they put my hand in
a better relationship with the trigger, especially in
double-action.
The M1909 shipped with Colt’s high-luster blue
of that time frame that was truly blue in color
and, 108 years on, is still remarkable. As beauti-
ful a finish as it is, the blue was a poor match
for service with soldiers of the sea. It is highly
unusual to find one of the Navy or Marine Corps
M1909s with very much of the bluing intact. The
finish was neither wear- nor salt-resistant.
The action on the Marine gun is a fitting testa-
ment to a bygone era, and in the best possible
way. The hammer looks somewhat like a scaled-
down Single Action Army hammer, perhaps not
surprisingly in an era where single-action was the
predominant mode of fire. It falls easily under the
thumb, and takes a bit more effort than modern
designs but moves rearward with an oily smooth-
ness and grace. The giant cylinder seems to move
smartly of its own accord, visible more so than
expected by a modern shooter as the recoil shield
covers only a little over half of the cartridge rims.
The trigger breaks with no perceptible movement—
as in none. The shooter applies pressure and the
hammer falls; there is no “wall,” no “roll” and
no crisp “break.” There is a smoothness to the
transaction that suggests a true master spent the
time required with the sear and hammer under his
tools until the parts release one another with no
felt signal to the shooter. It is old-world magic,
and the scale indicates that the break occurs at
5 lbs., 8 ozs., but it feels like three-something
pounds of wonderful.
The double-action is smooth and buttery, albeit
long. The New Service double-action arc is a tad
heavy by design, and the trigger is positioned far-
ther forward than most shooters can manage well.
Still, the stroke on this particular M1909 is a horse
length ahead of the M1917 Colts I’ve fired.
The sights on the Colt are actually quite good
for the era, and are far better than what Colt
was delivering on its Single Action Armys and
semi-automatics at the time. The topstrap has a
“U”-notch, and the shark-fin blade gives a more
distinct front than the half-moons on the Smith
& Wessons of the era. The Colt printed most loads
about 5" above hold at 25 yds.
The M1909 served the Marines for only a short
while, but it did accompany Smedley Butler and
his men to Nicaragua for combat duty against the
revolutionaries there. Not recorded to official his-
tory are the undoubted other occasions wherever
the Marines roamed the seven seas and found the
Colt to provide comfort in tense situations as the
AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG
The Marine Corps M1909 (r.) was unique in having a round butt with check-
ered stocks as compared to the typical World War I-issue Colt M1917 revolver.
Great White Fleet spread American influence. The
Marine Corps has a long tradition of squeezing the
last drop of useful service out of items, and the
tiny fraction of the 1,400 Marine revolvers still
in circulation suggests this was the case. There
are anecdotal reports of the Colts in armories in
Haiti and elsewhere suggesting that wherever
the Marines fought their “Small Wars,” the Colts Today’s “cowboy”
were furnished to the gendarmeries and forces the .45 Colt loads,
Marines stood up and led. such as those
Getting to fire one of these rare Colts was by Hornady and
a high privilege for this Marine. The M1909 is Winchester, are
subtly different than the garden-variety M1917 very close to the
or New Service. The extra smooth action and the 1909 service load.
round-butted frame of the Marine .45 gave it a A 35-yd. standing
boost, but it is at least possible that the prove- group on a steel
nance and “USMC” markings on the butt influ- plate speaks vol-
enced my judgment. umes about how
The Colt consistently put five Black Hills .45s the old sidearm
into 2¼" at 25 yds., and just as consistently put handles. The paper
four of the five into a 1½" group. Casual shoot- target shows typi-
ing with the big double-action was enjoyable, and cal 25-yd. groups
the hits came easily. The long-reach double-action with the Black
continued on p. 104 Hills loads.
JANUARY 2018 77
AMMUNITION

78 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Photo by Jesse Snyder

The 6 mm Creedmoor
Seldom is the sequel better than the original, but the new

EQUE
6 mm Creedmoor—based on the 6.5 mm Creedmoor—
might succeed without needing any help from its big brother.
BY CRAIG BODDINGTON

he first time I saw the 6 mm Creedmoor we were film-

ing a segment for a television show. The rifle, a Ruger
Precision Rifle (RPR), wasn’t sighted in—and we didn’t
have much ammunition. Honestly, TV is what it is—it’s not
always necessary to actually hit anything. But I was curious. So
I rough-zeroed the rifle—with as few rounds as possible—and
lay prone with an attached bipod. Good Lord, five shots went
well under an inch, and recoil in that heavy RPR was so mild
that I could call the hits through the scope.
I don’t want to sound like a curmudgeon, but I’m one of the
guys who often thinks we have enough cartridges, so I don’t
always herald the introduction of a brand-new whiz-bang with glee
and anticipation. But there is always room for good cartridges, so
while the limited 6 mm world suggests obvious reservations, my
first experience with the 6 mm Creedmoor was extremely posi-
tive—and I accepted this assignment without reservations.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 79

6 MM CREEDMOOR
NECKING DOWN A CHAMPION
In just the past couple of years, Hornady’s 6.5 mm
Creedmoor has become extremely popular (September 2017,
p. 56), but its 6.5-mm (0.264") bullet diameter has a poor
track record of acceptance in the United States. The .264
Win. Mag. made a significant blip when first introduced
(1958), but peaked quickly and has fizzled ever since. The
6.5 mm Rem. Mag. (1966) never went anywhere, and, despite
amazing initial hype, the .260 Rem. (1996) has been slow.
Norma’s 6.5 mm-284 has some traction, and the 6.5x55
mm Swedish Mauser is a great old-timer that refuses to go
away—but it’s a stretch to say that any of these 6.5-mm
cartridges are “popular.”
Yet amazingly, right now the 6.5 mm Creedmoor is prob-
ably the most talked about and most popular cartridge in
American riflery. I used the word “amazingly” because the
6.5 mm Creedmoor is not new. It’s been around for 11 years,
got off to a slow start, and has suddenly taken off like a
rocket. Its hallmarks are accuracy and efficiency—great
performance with modest recoil. It uses a .308 Win. case
shortened to 1.920" (technically, the .30 T/C case necked
down) to reduce the powder column and increase efficiency.
This also allows the use of extra-long bullets with high bal-
listic coefficients (BC) in short actions, without having to
seat them so deeply as to intrude into the propellant space.
Given the checkered history of the 6.5-mm cartridge
category, only time will tell if it remains popular. But it’s
almost inevitable that the latest stubby case with the now-
famous name will be necked this way and that. In fact,
wildcatters have undoubtedly already taken the Creedmoor
case up and down, although what we’re concerned with
here is the first commercial cartridge based on the 6.5 mm
Creedmoor: Hornady’s brand-new 6 mm Creedmoor. And
since the availability of such a cartridge without rifles to
fire it is pointless, Ruger has joined in on the introduction,
initially chambering both the RPR and the Predator version
of the Ruger American Rifle in 6 mm Creedmoor.
The cartridge is not complicated to create; it’s a sim-
ple necking down of the 6.5 mm Creedmoor case to take
a 6-mm (0.243") bullet. Someone, however, had to do
80 JANUARY 2018
6 MM CREEDMOOR
30° 0.275" 0.243"
0.473" 0.470"
0.462"
1.490"
1.651"
1.920"
2.720"
it first. Simultaneous developments are always possible,
but so far as is known, the 6 mm Creedmoor was devel-
oped by George Gardner of GA Precision and John Snow
of Outdoor Life—both Hornady and Ruger credit them.
Especially considering the few (if any) genuine gaps that
remain in the broad spectrum of commercial cartridges,
wildcatting today requires a reach of faith—so I applaud
Gardner, who I don’t know, and Snow, who is a friend,
for calling their cartridge the 6 mm Creedmoor, which we
can all relate to, rather than succumbing to the temp-
tation of calling it the .243 GS or 6 mm Gardner-Snow,
which would have meant much less to most of us.
BRAVE OR FOOLISH?
Even if it is not the name that comes to mind first, you
must admit that Hornady Mfg. is incredibly adaptable, agile
and innovative. When Gardner and Snow presented their
concept to the company, it jumped on the idea—although
acceptance in Grand Island wasn’t universal, and some might
characterize the move as having jumped on a live hand
grenade of sorts. There were obvious reservations consider-
ing several existing cartridges. The 6-mm cartridge world is
limited, and the .243 Win. is dominant, seemingly almost
unshakeable and unimpeachable. I’ve long believed that the
6 mm Rem. is a “better” cartridge—but it has never had a
chance. Without question the .243 WSSM was faster, although
it essentially died in infancy. And the .240 Wby. Mag. hangs
on as a proprietary cartridge, even though it isn’t among
Weatherby’s best sellers. The 6 mm Creedmoor, thus, steps into
a limited niche dominated by the .243 Win.
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
 It would be silly not to recognize that the .243 Win. is
a great cartridge. Since its introduction in 1955, genera-
tions of beginning hunters—including yours truly—took
their first big game with a .243 Win. It remains a crossover
varmint and/or big-game cartridge with a track record for
exceptional accuracy. And of course, since the cartridge is
so popular, everybody loads for it.
A BETTER MOUSETRAP?
The 6 mm Creedmoor thus enters the 6-mm world buck-
ing some serious competition. I am not going to suggest it
will soon take over as the most popular 6-mm cartridge. In
fact, I think that’s highly unlikely. However, although I’ve
long appreciated the cartridge’s worth, I would never have
predicted the recent (and stunning) success of the 6.5 mm
Creedmoor either—so who knows?
Today we know a lot more about cartridge case design
than we did in 1955, and with the current fascination for
shooting at longer ranges, we have a better appreciation
for bullet aerodynamics. The 6.5 mm Creedmoor case was
designed for long-range accuracy, the intent being to start
a long, heavy-for-caliber, aerodynamic bullet at enough

The 6 mm Creedmoor is available in two altogether different The most obvious comparisons to the 6 mm Creedmoor (center)
platforms from Ruger: the American Rifle in a Predator model are with its parent cartridge, the decade-old 6.5 mm Creedmoor (r.)
(top) and the Ruger Precision Rifle (RPR). The author proved and the .243 Win. (l.), which, for many decades, has reigned as the
that both are capable of producing excellent groups. world’s most popular 6-mm loading.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 81

6 MM CREEDMOOR

velocity that it remains supersonic well beyond 1,000 yds. cartridges—we will learn if the upstart 6 mm Creedmoor will,
This principle applies to the 6 mm Creedmoor as well; on average, exceed the accuracy not only of the .243 Win.,
Hornady’s initial offering is an ELD-Match load with a 108-gr. but also its parent, the 6.5 mm Creedmoor.
bullet that has an amazing BC of 0.536 (G1). Obviously that’s I used four rifles in the accuracy testing. As mentioned, I
a very heavy 6-mm bullet, but that’s also the beauty of the had two identical Ruger Precision Rifles. The first was topped
Creedmoor’s relatively short case: Longer bullets, such as with a new Leupold VX3i LR/P 4.5-14X 50 mm; to keep
this 108-grainer, still result in a cartridge overall length that myself straight I dubbed this “RPR No. 1.” The second was
functions properly in short actions. topped with a Minox ZA-5 2-10X 50 mm scope, dubbed “RPR
Now, to be clear, we Americans demand accuracy; No. 2.” Both were set in Leupold Tactical mounts, using the
but, historically, we also crave velocity. The Creedmoor RPR’s Picatinny rail. The Ruger American Predator in 6 mm
concept is about accuracy and efficiency, but not neces- Creedmoor was mounted with a VX-3 4.5-14X 40 mm scope
sarily maximum velocity. Hornady’s specifications for the using Weaver bases on the American’s rail. Then, just for fun
108-gr. match load calls for 2960 f.p.s. from a 24" barrel. (and curiosity), I took an identical RPR in 6.5 mm Creedmoor
For this article I was able to spend time with three 6 mm and mounted it with an identical VX-3i LR/P 4.5-14X 50 mm
Creedmoor rifles, two RPRs (24" barrel) and one Predator scope. Although not included in the accuracy table (after
(22" barrel). Hornady’s 108-gr. ELD-Match was the only all, this story is about the 6 mm Creedmoor, not its parent
load available for testing. At the time this was written,
that ammunition was very much a “first batch,” but,
as the table shows, all three rifles ran a bit slow. As an
average over my chronograph, neither 24"-barreled RPR
reached 2900 f.p.s., and with 2" less barrel, the Predator
rifle came in at 2775 f.p.s.
Standard velocity for a .243 Win. with a 100-gr. bullet is
2950 f.p.s. Obviously you can play with bullet weights and
handloading recipes, and there are extra-fast factory loads
such as Hornady’s Superformance. But, just to keep things
in perspective, on the same day I also ran some standard
Winchester 100-gr., .243 Win. ammunition over the chro-
nograph with my 22"-barrel Ruger American. Uh, yep, that
was also slow in that rifle, actual speed 2745 f.p.s. So in
terms of actual velocity, I’m not sure there’s going to be a
clear winner between the .243 Win. and 6 mm Creedmoor.
Theoretically, the .243 has a bit more case capacity and
should be a wee bit faster—but in practical terms it’s going
to depend on which loads are used. Either way it breaks,
the difference isn’t going to be significant.
SHOOTING FOR GROUPS
As we all know, the .243 Win. is no slouch in the
accuracy department. The 6 mm Creedmoor has some
advantages, not only in case design, but also in its initial
introduction with a match-grade load. But barrel quality Of 20 groups fired “for score,” the tightest came from “RPR No. 1”
is such a huge factor in accuracy that I didn’t see any utility in 6 mm Creedmoor, measuring 0.368". Of the two 6 mm RPRs, this
in attempting a shootout between the 6 mm Creedmoor and rifle averaged slightly better, but the two rifles were actually very
the .243 Win. Over time—thousands of rifles, millions of similar in accuracy throughout testing.
SHOOTING RESULTS 6 MM CREEDMOOR (100 YDS.)
RUGER RIFLES OPTIC LOAD VELOCITY GROUP SIZE (INCHES)
@ 10' SMALEST LARGEST AVERAGE
(F.P.S.)
RPR NO. 1 (24" BARREL) VX-3I LR/P 4.5-14X 50 MM 108-GR. ELD-MATCH 2882 0.368 1.418 0.928
RPR NO. 2 (24" BARREL) ZA-5 2-10X 40 MM 108-GR. ELD-MATCH 2860 0.636 1.318 0.958
AMERICAN PREDATOR (22" BARREL) VX-3 4.5-14X 40 MM 108-GR. ELD-MATCH 2775 0.661 1.480 0.980
AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD 0.955
NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 SHOTS OVER A CHRONY CHRONOGRAPH SET 10 FT. FROM THE MUZZLE. ACCURACY FOR FIVE
CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 100 YDS. FROM SANDBAGS. BARRELS WERE CLEANED AND ALLOWED TO COOL BETWEEN GROUPS.

82 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

cartridge) an obvious comparison many will want to make is
exactly how the 6 mm Creedmoor stacks up against its daddy.
So, let’s talk about shooting groups. American Rifleman’s
protocol for accuracy is the average of five, five-shot groups.
This is a tough protocol, but I am extremely pleased to report
that all three 6 mm Creedmoor rifles held a sub-minute-of-
angle (m.o.a.) average for five, five-shot groups. Other than
scoping, zeroing and chronographing, that’s straight out of
the box with a brand-new factory load. Strong!
Hey, we know that the Ruger Precision Rifle is a
wonderfully accurate platform, as is the Ruger American.
But gun weight is a factor for bench shooting, and barrel
stiffness matters more with five-shot strings. For inter-
est’s sake, I cleaned each barrel after each group, and all
groups were fired from cold barrels. Optics are also a factor
in shooting groups. I fully expected RPR No. 1, with the
new, bright, 30-mm-tube VX-3i LR/P to turn in the best
performance, and it did with a 0.928" average. But with
less magnification (thus more human error) RPR No. 2
held up extremely well with a 0.958" average.
When planning this shooting marathon I asked Ruger’s
Mark Gurney, “So, how would you feel if the sporter-weight The Ruger American Predator in 6 mm Creedmoor is just as its name
Predator beat the RPRs?” That was mostly in jest. I didn’t implies: an awesome rifle for calling predators and walk-around
expect it to, and it didn’t. But, geez, it came in pretty close varminting. Mounted with a VX-3 4.5-14X 40 mm scope, it was an
continued on p. 108 m.o.a. rifle right out of the box with a brand new factory load.
AMERICAN MARKSMAN

2017
NATIONAL MATCHES
84 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Photos by John Parker
Inaugural NRA National High Power Rifle Championships At Camp Atterbury
BY JOHN PARKER, Managing Editor, Shooting Sports USA

T
he finest civilian and military marksmen in the
country made the trek to Camp Atterbury, Ind., for 20
days of High Power Rifle competition at the 2017 NRA
National Matches. Shooting this summer at Camp Atterbury
included the National High Power Championships, the
National Mid-Range Championships and the National Long
Range Championships. New side matches included the NRA
Extreme Long Range One Mile Club.
Indiana first lady Janet Holcomb helped to kick off the
NRA National High Power Rifle Championships during the
First Shot Ceremony. Holcomb is a staunch supporter of the
Second Amendment, a certified NRA pistol instructor and a
multi-discipline shooter with experience in pistol, shotgun
and rifle. She has led training classes throughout the state
of Indiana, and especially enjoys sharing her passion for
the shooting sports and personal protection with other
women. She and her husband, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb,
are both NRA Life members.
Match Director Mid Tompkins is no stranger to the
NRA High Power Rifle Championships; his first year was
1954, and he has never missed a year since. Regarding
the move from Camp Perry, Ohio, to Camp Atterbury, he
said, “The NRA made the right decision moving to Camp
Atterbury, this facility is fantastic, and I would know! The
surrounding area has more places to eat, more things to do,
and the people here on base are very easy to work with.
Even better, the airport makes it easy to get here.”
The historic move to Camp Atterbury, although contro-
versial to some, was embraced by competitors who partici-
pated at the new venue. One shooter who wanted to share
an objective view of both venues had this to say about
Camp Atterbury: “I, no doubt, love Camp Perry. I earned
all my distinguished points at Perry, made the Presidents
100 there and I have [made] countless memories there.
However, as a match rifle shooter, I will undoubtedly be
back at Atterbury next year.”
The 2017 Long Range Champion, John Whidden,
chimed in regarding the Camp Atterbury experience. “A
nice place and a very nice facility, everything was very
well-manicured. It was exciting to be at a new venue.”
For the first time, NRA’s National High Power Rifle Matches were
held at Indiana’s Camp Atterbury. They will be held there in 2018,
too. Anette Wachter (above, r.) won the Andrus Trophy Match.
Camp Atterbury is a training and mobilization facility
that supports U.S. military operations throughout the
world. The facility has more than 60 ranges—making it an
ideal venue for the NRA to hold the National High Power
Rifle Championships. And Camp Atterbury has already
been selected to host the 2018 National Rifle Matches.
ACROSS THE COURSE AND MID-RANGE
One of the best rifle shooters in the nation, Norman
Houle, won the National High Power Rifle Championship
over a talented field of 168 shooters. Houle’s score of
1989-93X made him the 2017 champ. Finishing second
overall was Service Rifle shooter U.S. Army Marksmanship
Unit Sgt. Ben Cleland, who recorded 1987-116X. Finishing
third was Stephen Culpepper with 1986-98X. High Woman
honors went to Brooke Culpepper, scoring 1972-63X.
For the Mid-Range Championships, Jeff Bartlett was the
2017 winner with a score of 2394-147X. For Any Rifle, the
Army’s SFC Eric Uptagrafft took the title with 2396-172X.
LONG RANGE AND PALMA
The NRA High Power Rifle Long Range Championships
kicked off with the Remington Trophy Match, which consists
of 20 slow-fire shots, any sights, at 1,000 yds. from the
prone position. Shirley McGee posted a score of 98-5X for the
win over runner-up Aubrey Brock. In third was Jeff Bartlett.
SCORE SHEETS
| REVIEW: STI
DVC STEEL | COM
OCTOBE
ING EVENTS
R 2017 |
VOL. 30
NO. 10

Looking For More On NRA Competitive Shooting? 

NRA’S
COMPETITIV
E SHOO
TING JOURN
AL

INAUGURAL NR
A NATIONAL
HIGH

F
or more than 50 years, Shooting Sports years of Shooting Sports USA are now only POWER
USA has provided competitive shooters a click away. Sign up for your free monthly RIFLE
with how-to articles, firearm reviews, subscription at ssusa.org or go to the web- CHAMPIONSHIP
AT CAMP S
match schedules for 11,000 tournaments each site for daily updates on the action at the ATTERBURY
John Whidd
year and expert advice from the pros. For NRA National Matches, Bianchi Cup and other Wins Long en
Ra
Championsh nge
ip
complete match reporting, go to ssusa.org. NRA events. For more on NRA Competitive ALSO FEATUR
WHY DRY FIRE?
ED
With a growing library of online back issues, Shooting, go to compete.nra.org.
PART 1 OF 2
M1S? M1911S?
CMP LOOKS BEYOM9S?
ND MILSURP
HI-TECH RIFLE
TARGET SCOR RANGE—

85
ING GOES DIGIT
AL

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 SSUSA_

1710_Cover.ind
d 2

11/2/17
8:37 AM
AMERICAN MARKSMAN | 2017 NATIONAL MATCHES

The Mustin Trophy match is nearly identical to the 2017 NRA NATIONAL HIGH POWER RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Remington except only metallic sights are allowed.
John Whidden won with a score of 199-13X. High NATIONAL CHAMPION NORMAN HOULE 1989-93X
Service Rifle Champion was Joseph Sopko, scoring SECOND SGT. BEN CLELAND, USAMU 1987-116X
187-4X. Kent Reeve won High Palma Rifle with 198-10X. THIRD STEPHEN CULPEPPER 1986-98X
High Woman was Nancy Tompkins, who finished with a
MID-RANGE CHAMPIONSHIP
score of 199-10X.
The Leech Cup is a metallic-sights-only match NATIONAL CHAMPION JEFF BARTLETT 2394-147X
with 20 slow-fire shots prone at 1,000 yds. The Porter ANY RIFLE SFC ERIC UPTAGRAFFT, USAMU 2396-172X
Trophy and Andrus Trophy Matches are both fired con- PALMA RIFLE KENT REEVE 2396-146X
currently with the Leech Cup. The Porter Match is fired
with service rifles. The course of fire for the Andrus NRA LONG RANGE CHAMPIONSHIP
Match is for Palma rifles. Jim Sokolowski was the Leech NATIONAL CHAMPION JOHN WHIDDEN 1246-91X
Cup winner, finishing the shoot-off with a score of REMINGTON TROPHY SHIRLEY MCGEE 98-5X
98-4X. For the Andrus Trophy Matches, Anette Wachter
MUSTIN TROPHY JOHN WHIDDEN 199-13X
won the shoot-off with a score of 142-3X. Her score
was a single point ahead of second-place finisher Keith LEECH CUP JIM SOKOLOWSKI 98-4X
Hoverstad, who also won High Senior. In third place ANDRUS TROPHY ANETTE WACHTER 142-3X
was Daniel Altman. PORTER TROPHY S/SGT. SEAN MORRIS, USAR 94-1X
John Whidden’s 2017 performance crushed his previ-
ous score by six points—1246-91X—securing the Long PALMA INDIVIDUAL JOHN WHIDDEN 450-28X
Range Championship. For the any-rifle matches he used EXTREME LONG RANGE CHAMPIONSHIP
a .243 Win., and for Palma he used a .308 Win. Both NATIONAL CHAMPION MITCHELL FITZPATRICK
rifles were built in his namesake custom shop, Whidden
Gunworks. In second place was Phillip Crowe, with a are competitors allowed to continue to the next distance.
score of 1245-68X. Finishing third was the 2015 cham- Shooters that hit the 1,788-yd. target were awarded the NRA
pion, Nancy Tompkins, with 1244-65X. One-Mile Certificate and club pin. To break a tie between
Corbin Shell and Mitchell Fitzpatrick, an NRA LR (1,000-yd.)
EXTREME LONG RANGE target was attached to a backer at 1,988 yds. (1.13 miles).
Camp Atterbury’s Range 3 has a firing point at 1,760 yds., Amazingly, Fitzpatrick continued his perfect streak of hits,
which NRA put to good use, with the debut of the NRA One becoming the very first NRA One-Mile ELR Champion.
Mile Club. Extreme Long Range is generally thought of as “This is only the beginning of what we can do at Camp
precision rifle shooting beyond 1,500 yds. The One Mile Club Atterbury,” said Match Director Sheri Judd. “Having a
Match uses 36" square AR500 steel targets at distances of venue with this kind of Extreme Long Range capability is
1,400, 1,575 and 1,788 yds. Only after a confirmed impact the just tip of the iceberg.”

2017 NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championship Results

BY HAP ROCKETTO
CONVENTIONAL PRONE CHAMPIONSHIP As the final 100-yd. match
There was virtually no wind in the began, the sky darkened ominously.
Meter Match, which was won by Mark McPhail and Hank Gray dueled for
Del Cotto’s near perfect 400-39X. Del the win, with McPhail prevailing
Cotto’s victory came on a tiebreaker when his 400-37X outranged Gray’s.
with Michele Makucevich. Army Pat Sunderman made it a sweep for
Marksmanship Unit (AMU) teammates the Army, taking third when he
Mike McPhail and Kevin Nguyen both posted a 400-36X.
shot 400-38Xs, with McPhail besting his No sooner had the last shot
SFC MIKE MCPHAIL,

fellow soldier for third place. been fired then a slight drizzle
Junior Erick Hazelton shot a 400-38X turned into a hard rain. Considering
to win the Any Sights Dewar—a course weather reports, the match director
of fire consisting of 20 shots at 50 yds. postponed the team matches until
USAMU

and 20 shots at 100 yds. Joe Graf and the next day when they were fired
Cameron Keating both scored 400-38X, prior to the Mentor Match.
good for second and third, respectively. Gray went clean on the day, one

86 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Photos by Jim Powell

 2017 NATIONAL MATCHES
of eleven 1200 scores, with a
1200-108X for the win. Dan
Pempel and Del Cotto added still
another tie to the day when
they found themselves knotted
at 1200-106X. The NRA rules
dictated that Pempel was second
and Del Cotto third.
Gray—the newly minted 2017
Metallic Sight Champion—did not
falter during the second two days
and took the Any Sight Aggregate
with a 2400-218X. Del Cotto and
Eric Uptagrafft tied in both number of
points and Xs with a pair of 1400-106X
scores. Del Cotto won the tiebreaker,
earning the second step on the podium.
Hank Gray’s Metallic and Any Sight
championships paved the way for his
overall Conventional Prone victory. A
superb four-day effort saw him shoot
419 Xs, sixty 10s and one 9 for a
4799-419X. He was hotly pursued by
second-place finisher Mike McPhail,
4797-438X, and George Norton,
4797-397X, who earned the bronze.
CONVENTIONAL POSITION NATIONAL
SMALLBORE RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP
The AMU’s Patrick Sunderman
opened the 2017 NRA National
Smallbore Conventional Position Rifle
Championship with a 400-38X in
prone. Moving into standing, young
Malori Brown shot a 397-18X while
Mike McPhail shot a 400-30X, to win
the kneeling match. Sunderman won
the National Smallbore Conventional
Position Metallic Sight Championship
with a score of 1596-114X. McPhail was
second at 1595-124X.
While both shot a 400-37X, Emporia
State University’s Megan Hilbish out-
shot McPhail for the win in the opening
prone match of the Any Sight National
Championship. George Norton’s 398-25X
gave him the standing match victory.
Hilbish came back strong and posted
the only 400 kneeling score.
Winning two of the three Any Sight
matches delivered the Any Sight and
High Collegiate titles, as well as the
D.I. Boyd Trophy, to Hilbish, 1195-86X.
Sunderman’s consistency paid off. His
2391-167X aggregate score earned
him the Conventional Position title.
McPhail came within a point of winning
88 JANUARY 2018
2017 NRA SMALLBORE CHAMPIONSHIPS
INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS
IRON MAN SFC MCPHAIL 9504-711X
CONV. PRONE SFC GRAY 4799-419X
IRON SIGHTS PRONE SFC GRAY 2399-201X
ANY SIGHTS PRONE SFC GRAY 2400-218X
3-POSITION SFC MCPHAIL 4707-273X
C ONV. 3-P OSITION SPC. SUNDERMAN 2394-167X
CONV. IRON SIGHTS SPC. SUNDERMAN 1196-84X
CONV. ANY SIGHTS MEGAN HILBISH 1195-86X
METRIC 3-POSITION SFC MCPHAIL 2317-105X
METRIC IRON SIGHTS SFC MCPHAIL 1158-54X
METRIC ANY SIGHTS S/SGT. NORTON 1160-48X
the title—had he tied Sunderman on
points, his 168Xs would have car-
ried him over his teammate. Norton
rounded out the top three, shooting a
2388-169X.
METRIC POSITION NATIONAL
SMALLBORE RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP
The Metric Position Championship
was held on the penultimate day of
the championships. George Norton
led off with a 396-24X prone victory.
Junior Antonio Gross posted a 378-9X
standing. Olympian Bill Beard was top
gun in kneeling with a 385-14X.
Army Marksmanship Unit shooters
swept the Metallic Sight Championship.
In descending order, it was Norton,
1149-39X, McPhail, 1148-54X, and Erin
McNeil, 1147-43X, who won out in the X
count over Gross, 1147-43X, for third.
McPhail opened the Any Sight
Championship with a winning prone
score of 399-30X. Standing saw
Hilbish win with a commanding score
of 384-16X. The final 40 shots of nine
days of competition would be kneel-
ing, and Sunderman came through
with a 388-19X for the win.
Norton, 1160-48X, won the day, a
slim point ahead of McPhail, 1159-51X.
Sunderman slid into third with an
1154-55X. When the two days were
totaled, McPhail took the Metric title
ahead of Norton, 4708-256X to
4707-273X. Sunderman rounded out
the top three with a 4685-259X.
The final prone match (40 shots on
the metric target with any sights) was
the deciding factor in the Iron Man
competition, and McPhail beat Norton
by four points. Over the eight-day
match, McPhail shot a 9504-711X,
Norton a 9501-655X and Sunderman a
9478-640X.
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
 All New
Easy-On, Easy-Off DR® CHIPPERS
Snow Plow
Now starting at
Larger Capacity,
Lower Prices!
$ 69999
Perfect for Homeowners! • Devours branches up
to 5.75" thick.

Plow your own • Self-feeding models

available.
driveway and save!

98710D © 2017
• Models that shred yard
Pays for itself quickly if you and garden waste as
currentlyhire a plow. Don’t well as CHIP branches.
struggle snow-blowing
BurnCage.com
'5FKLSSHUFRP
your entire driveway…
give yourself a
break with the NEW and IMPROVED
DR® Redi-Plow™! DR®)LHOGDQG%UXVK0RZHUV
For trucks and SUVs. Faster, Easier...Lower-Priced!
Attaches to a front receiver hitch (included). Automatically engages when you
Mow fields, brush, even saplings
drive forward and releases when you reverse. Works on gravel or pavement. with never-before ease!
Can be locked in travel position.
Plus TTow-Behind
ow-Behind
One pass and you’re free to go! Never Models starting at
be trapped waiting for a snow plow again. The DR® Redi-Plow™ $1,39999
is light enough for one person to handle. Clear your parking
area, and a path to the barn with ease!

98710C © 2017

98710E © 2017
Tough Enough For Any Snowstorm!
• No Hydraulics or Electric Components • Heavy-Duty Rubber Blade Edge
• Receiver Hitch Included DRrediplow.com BurnCage.com
'5¿
HOGEUXVKFRP

SELF-PROPELLED!

SIMPLER PRICE
DROP!
The All-NEW
DR® Powerwagon!
More powerful engines make
transporting big loads EASY—
even going uphill! Electric-start
STRONGER ON ALL MODELS
Now Starting at
More
Power!
Lower
models available.
NEW LOW PRICES! New mod-
$49999
FASTER Prices! els at up to $300 less!
CONVERTS TO A FLATBED
quickly for
...than any carrying
long
Hydraulic loads.

98710F © 2017
Log Splitter!
HAULS UP Powered dumping available!
TO 800 LBS! BurnCage.com
DRpowerwagon.com

DR® KINETIC LOG SPLITTERS SAVES YOU MONEY—loosens

SO SIMPLE it’s practically
maintenance free. There are
ELECTRIC MODELS TOO! RENEW and redistributes existing mate-
rial, saving you from purchasing
Your Driveway... new gravel or stone.
no hydraulic pumps, valves, Split wood Starting EASY TO USE—tows behind
pistons, hoses or fluids to leak at
or replace—EVER. indoors! $
79999 your ATV or riding mower, filling
in potholes and ruts.
SO STRONG its cast iron
PRECISE CONTROL of grading
flywheel and hardened steel
components show almost no
PLUS! depth is adjustable from your
driver’s seat.
wear after splitting hundreds
of cords.
98710A © 2017

98710B © 2017

SO FAST it is the world’s

fastest splitter. Splits anything ...with the ALL-NEW
a hydraulic splitter will—but in
one-sixth the time!
BurnCage.com
DRlogsplitters.com DR® POWER GRADER! BurnCage.com
DRpowergrader.com

Call for a FREE DVD and Catalog!

FREE 1 YEAR EASY
SHIPPING TRIAL FINANCING
Includes product specifications and factory-direct offers.

SOME LIMITATIONS APPLY. CALL OR GO ONLINE FOR DETAILS.

TOLL
FREE 800-656-1926
 2017 NATIONAL MATCHES
Because every
family tradition
2017 NRA National Pistol Championships
NEEDS THE PERFECT
STARTING POINT BY JOHN PARKER, Managing Editor, Shooting Sports USA

T
he 2017 NRA National Precision
Pistol Championships, held at
Camp Perry, Ohio, had 500 com-
petitors, and the match determines
the NRA National Pistol Champion.
NRA Precision Pistol (also known as
Bullseye) is one of the most popular
pistol shooting disciplines.
Jonathan Shue is 2017’s champion,
finishing with a score of 2638-126X.
A retired Marine, Shue’s score also
netted him high civilian honors.
Additionally, he won the Cabot Guns/
NRA Centerfire Championship. For
centerfire and .45, he was shooting
a Cabot Guns 1911 Black Diamond
Deluxe Bullseye, which he said was
“specifically designed for this type
of shooting.” His ammunition was a
factory match 185-gr. JHP load from
ASYM Ammunition. A member of
Team Cabot, Shue added that Cabot
“uses this gun as a base for all of
JONATHAN SHUE
their team’s guns.” For rimfire, Shue
was shooting a Marvel Precision .22
Conversion on a BlackMass Custom
1911 frame.
In second place overall was the
AMU’s SFC Adam Sokowloski. His score
of 2636-124X also earned him the
High Service award. Earlier this year,
Sokolowski fired the first perfect score
with iron sights at the NRA Bianchi
Cup. His AMU teammate S/Sgt. Greg
Markowski finished in third with a
score of 2633-130X.
Last year’s champion, Philip
Hemphill, earned two nods, High
Police and High Senior. He finished
the match with a score of 2618-108X.
High Woman was Kimberly Hobart-
Fleming with a score of 2536-78X.
Juan Pena-Velasquez won High Junior,
scoring 2460-57X.

2017 NRA NATIONAL PISTOL CHAMPIONSHIPS

NATIONAL CHAMPION JONATHAN SHUE 2638-126X
SECOND SFC ADAM SOKOLOWSKI, USAMU 2636-124X
IT ONLY TAKES ONE SHOT TO
GET THE BALL ROLLING. THIRD S/SGT. GREG MARKOWSKI, USAMU 2633-130X
Only a Bergara feels and .22-CAL. CHAMPIONSHIP
shoots like a Bergara. And CHAMPION SFC JAMES HENDERSON, USAMU 890-45X
that is a feeling that must be
CABOT GUNS/NRA CENTERFIRE CHAMPIONSHIP
shared. Now, and forever.
CHAMPION JONATHAN SHUE 875-42X
A.T. WALL METALFORM/NRA .45 CHAMPIONSHIP
CHAMPION SFC ADAM SOKOLOWSKI, USAMU 885-40X
SHOOT ONE, YOU’LL OWN ONE. HARRY REEVES REVOLVER MATCH
CHAMPION DAVID LANGE 289-11X
BERGARARIFLES.COM
NRA DISTINGUISHED REVOLVER
CHAMPION DAVID LANGE 279-9X

90 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Photos by John Parker

DOPE BAG
A
lthough the popularity of the
10 mm Auto has waxed and
waned repeatedly since its
debut in 1983, this potent rimless
cartridge currently enjoys a loyal
following among handgun hunters
and those outdoor enthusiasts look-
ing for semi-automatic pistols with
enough punch to counter attacks
from dangerous predators of both the
four-legged and two-legged variet-
ies. Working in partnership with
the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
(RMEF), Kimber has developed the
Camp Guard 10 M1911-style pistol as
a backcountry companion. A portion
of the proceeds from the sale of the
guns will be contributed to RMEF’s
conservation efforts.
The Camp Guard 10 is a modern
interpretation of the classic John
Browning single-stack, single-action,
linked-barrel design. The flat-top,
stainless steel slide features rounded
edges, front and rear cocking ser-
rations, a flared ejection port and
a matte black KimPro II finish that
gives the pistol a handsome two-tone
appearance. The metallic, three-dot,
tritium night sight system employs a
dovetailed front sight paired with a
92
KIMBER
CAMP GUARD 10
low-profile, tactical wedge rear sight
that is drift-adjustable for windage.
The 5", linked, stainless steel bar-
rel is cut with traditional land-and-
groove rifling with a 1:16" left-hand
twist. The barrel is supported by a
match-grade bushing and a recoil
assembly consisting of a full-length
guide rod and a single 18-lb., 8-oz.
spring. The skeletonized aluminum
trigger is serrated and fitted with an
adjustable overtravel screw. The trig-
ger of the pistol tested for this review
had a short, crisp pull that broke
cleanly at 5 lbs., 1 oz. of pressure.
The satin-finish, Government-size,
stainless steel frame has a traditional
The Kimber Camp Guard 10 makes use of
the linked barrel and bushing traditional
to the M1911 platform. A portion of the
gun’s proceeds benefit RMEF.
JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
rounded dustcover and trigger guard.
The controls, including the slide stop,
thumb safety and magazine release, are
all located on the left side of the frame
and operated in typical M1911 fashion.
The slide stop and magazine release are
both checkered, while the surface of
the extended thumb safety is serrated.
The extended beavertail grip safety
protects the shooting hand from the
skeletonized, combat-style hammer.
The frontstrap offers fine 30-l.p.i.
checkering, with the mainspring hous-
ing serrated for improved purchase.
Known as a bob-tail grip, the heel of
the frame has been rounded so that
it will not dig into the hip or side
 KIMBER CAMP GUARD 10
MANUFACTURER: KIMBER MFG., INC. (DEPT. AR), 555 TAXTER ROAD,
ELMSFORD, NY 10523; (888) 243-4522; KIMBERAMERICA.COM
8.70"

CAMP GUARD 10

KIMBER YONKERS NY USA

K00000

The pistol’s sights are a tritium-illuminated,
three-dot arrangement, with a dovetailed
front sight paired with a low-profile, tacti- 5.25"
cal wedge rear sight.
CHAMBERING: 10 MM AUTO
ACTION TYPE: RECOIL-
OPERATED, SEMI-AUTO-
MATIC CENTER-FIRE PISTOL
SLIDE: STAINLESS STEEL;
BLACK KIMPRO II FINISH
FRAME: STAINLESS STEEL,
ROUND HEEL; SATIN
SILVER FINISH
RIFLING: 1:16" LH TWIST
5.00"
MAGAZINE: EIGHT-ROUND
DETACHABLE BOX
SIGHTS: THREE-DOT,
TRITIUM NIGHT SIGHTS;
DRIFT-ADJUSTABLE
TRIGGER: SINGLE-ACTION;
5-LB., 1-OZ. PULL
WIDTH: 1.32"
WEIGHT: 39.5 OZS.
ACCESSORIES: OWNER’S
MANUAL, LOCKABLE
CASE, CABLE LOCK,
BUSHING WRENCH
MSRP: $1,228

when carried. The custom stocks are
carved from rosewood, polished to a
high shine and then engraved with a
mountain scene and RMEF’s elk head
logo. Each panel is secured to the
frame with two stainless steel screws.
The pistol ships with one of Kimber’s
stainless steel eight-round magazines,
with a blued-steel follower and a
baseplate that has been drilled and
tapped to accept a bumper pad.
The overall fit and finish of the
Camp Guard 10 proved to be excel-
lent. The slide-to-frame fit felt
smooth right out of the box, and only
improved with a light coating of gun
oil. The pistol’s 39.5-oz. heft (with an
empty magazine) is on-par with other
full-size M1911s, and some evaluators
felt its 5" barrel balanced the gun’s
weight more naturally in hand than
some 6"-barreled hunting models.
The rugged fixed sights provided
a clear sight picture that was easy to
quickly acquire when lining up with
the target. One has to lean into the
slide a bit in order to cycle it manu-
ally, but it’s worth that extra bit of
work up front for the benefits in recoil
management that the heavy spring
provides. Even with stout 10 mm Auto
hunting rounds, the Kimber is just as
comfortable to shoot as it is to carry,
as the entire backstrap and mainspring
housing have been rounded off for
increased shooting comfort.
It’s not unusual for an all-steel
M1911 to require a break-in period
SHOOTING RESULTS (25 YDS.)
10 MM AUTO VEL. @ MUZZLE ENERGY GROUP SIZE (INCHES)
CARTRIDGE (F.P.S.) (FT.-LBS.) SMALLEST LARGEST AVERAGE
ARMSCOR USA 1085 AVG. 470 2.69 3.06 2.85
180-GR. FMJ 12 SD
FEDERAL VITAL SHOK 1307 AVG. 683 2.77 3.15 2.98
180-GR. TBJSP 7 SD
SIG SAUER V-CROWN 1233 AVG. 608 2.41 2.88 2.67
180-GR. JHP 11 SD
AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD 2.83
NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 SHOTS FIRED NEXT TO A LAB RADAR CHRONOGRAPH
WITH A 12" OFFSET FROM THE BARREL. ACCURACY RESULTS FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT
GROUPS FIRED FROM A BENCH REST. TEMPERATURE: 88° F. HUMIDITY: 23%. ABBREVIATIONS:
FMJ (FULL METAL JACKET), JHP (JACKETED HOLLOW POINT), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION),
TBJSP (TROPHY BONDED JACKETED SOFT POINT).
of 100 rounds or more. However, this recoil ranged from moderate to stout
10 mm Kimber cycled factory loads depending on the loads fired.
reliably right from the start. Test The new Kimber Camp Guard 10
ammunition ranged from moderate- offers an exceptional balance of fea-
power full-metal-jacket practice tures with plenty of defensive power.
rounds to hot hunting soft points. It It successfully blends the precision
operated reliably with all test ammu- construction of a reliable hunt-
nition without any malfunctions. All ing handgun with the familiar and
of the controls worked smoothly and comfortable-to-carry features of an
properly, with the magazines dropping all-steel defensive M1911 pistol. It is
free of the frame when the magazine equally suited for carry in the field or
release was pressed. The degree of felt around town.
The American Rifleman has used the phrase “Dope Bag” since at least 1921, when Col. Townsend
Whelen first titled his column with it. Even then, it had been in use for years, referring to a sack used
by target shooters to hold ammunition and accessories on the firing line. “Sight dope” also was a
traditional marksman’s term for sight-adjustment information, while judging wind speed and direction
was called “doping the wind.”
WARNING: Technical data and information contained herein are intended to provide information based
on the limited experience of individuals under specific conditions and circumstances. They do not detail
the comprehensive training procedures, techniques and safety precautions absolutely necessary to
properly carry on similar activity. Read the notice and disclaimer on the contents page. Always consult
comprehensive reference manuals and bulletins for details of proper training requirements, procedures,
techniques and safety precautions before attempting any similar activity.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 93

DOPE BAG
I
n 1974, Winchester announced its
Super X Model 1 semi-automatic
shotgun. Advertised as the suc-
cessor to the legendary Model 12
pump-action in feel and balance, it
stands among the best semi-automatic
shotgun designs ever made. Reliable
in function and made with milled
steel parts, the Super X seemed to
have it all, yet was never able to
make a profit due to the high cost of
production. The model finally disap-
peared from the catalog in 1981—
save for some high-grade trap guns
from Winchester’s Custom Shop that
survived until 1991.
The gas-operated Super X2 was
introduced in 1999, which was fol-
lowed up with the Super X3 or SX3
in 2006. Both the Browning Arms
Co. and the Winchester Repeating
Arms Co. are owned by the Herstal
Group (as is Fabrique Nationale). With
both brands under one umbrella, the
technology developed by one company
could be shared with the other.
The Winchester Super X4 features a self-aligning, drop-out trigger group that can be
removed for cleaning and lubrication by simply tapping out two pins. It also features
an enlarged safety button that can be reversed for use by left-handed shooters.
94
WINCHESTER SUPER X4
Winchester’s newest SX4 semi-
automatic is a continuation of the
shared technology of Browning and
Winchester, specifically the gas
piston, which is the heart of this
shotgun. The Active Valve system
uses a self-adjusting piston that
regulates the gas pressure when
operating the action. The waterfowl
and turkey models are made to shoot
2¾" through 3½" magnums without
adjustment; the Field version tested
here is built for 2¾", 11⁄8-oz. target
loads through 3" magnums. In the
case of the 3½" chambered guns, the
pressure generated by heavy loads is
vented both upward through con-
ventional slots in the fore-end and
forward through the SX4’s Quadra-
Vent ports. Venting these gases is
inherently cleaner on the action, and
has been proven to aid reliability.
The SX4 has been redesigned for
better ergonomic feel, and is light-
ened overall, including through the
use of a high-strength, black-anodized
JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
aluminum receiver. The SX4 Field we
tested weighed 6 lbs., 11 ozs., with
a wooden buttstock and fore-end. In
testing, using Federal Premium’s Prairie
Storm FS Lead 2¾" pheasant load of
1¼ oz. of No. 5 shot, shooting patterns
from the bench with a Caldwell Lead
Sled, recoil was not a factor. However,
shooting clays with Prairie Storm, the
recoil was heavy, although not likely
to affect a hunter at the flush of a
cackling rooster.
The SX4 attenuates recoil some-
what with its back-bored barrel and
soft Inflex recoil pad, which has a
wide contact area that spreads out
recoil to the shoulder and directs
the stock down and away from the
shooter’s cheek. The stock dimensions
are fairly straight, and the stock can
WINCHESTER SUPER X4
IMPORTER: WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS (DEPT. AR), 275 WINCHESTER AVE., MORGAN UT 84050; 800-333-3288; WINCHESTERGUNS.COM
1.75" 1.5"
14.25"
ACTION TYPE: GAS-PISTON-OPERATED,
SEMI-AUTOMATIC SHOTGUN
GAUGE: 12; 3"
be lengthened or shortened with the
use of 1/4" spacers. The SX4 includes
one spacer, and others can be pur-
chased separately. All of these factors
help reduce recoil somewhat, but the
test load’s calculated recoil energy of
46.97 ft.-lbs. is still stiff.
The SX4 comes with three Invector-
Plus choke tubes—improved cylinder
(0.0035"), modified (0.012") and
full (0.030")—with only the full
tube coming close to specification.
However, when a series of patterns
were shot using the modified tube and
Prairie Storm ammunition, the results
were nearly full choke, with 147 of
a counted 217 pellets within the 30"
circle, revealing a 67 percent pattern
(midway between improved modified
and full choke).
The excellent patterning can be
attributed to the SX4’s barrel technol-
ogy of a long chamber forcing cone.
Such designs more gently guide the
shot into the bore, causing less defor-
mation. It is no secret that the tech-
nology of back-boring 12-ga. barrels
to 0.740" or thereabouts—developed
in the early 1920s by former American
Rifleman contributor Maj. Charles
Askins and Boise, Idaho, attorney
E. M. Sweeley—produces superior
patterns, as is borne out with our
testing. In addition, the chamber and
bore are chrome-plated to resist abra-
sion by hard steel shot and to protect
AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG
47.06"
MAGAZINE: FOUR-ROUND CAPACITY
(SHIPS WITH TWO-ROUND PLUG)
SIGHTS: VENTILATED RIB WITH TRUGLO
FIBER-OPTIC SIGHT
TRIGGER: 7-LB., 14-OZ. PULL
STOCK: WALNUT, SATIN FINISH
Three Invector-Plus removable choke
tubes—improved cylinder, modified and
full—ship with the shotgun, and other
constrictions are available for aftermarket
purchase from Winchester.
against rust and corrosion.
The SX4 is built for cold weather
use with an enlarged bolt handle and
release, a big safety button that can
be easily switched for left-handed
use and a larger trigger guard for
gloved hands. Another feature is the
self-aligning, drop-out trigger group.
Easily removed for cleaning and light
lubrication by tapping out two pins,
it slips back into alignment in the
receiver with ease. There is some
spring tension, so the pins are best
started by hand, ensuring proper
alignment, and then pushed or lightly
tapped home.
The trigger guard itself is of
synthetic material, pretty much
industry standard, and adds to the
overall lightness of the gun. The SX4’s
self-aligning bolt carrier link—the
connection between the bolt assem-
bly and the action-return spring
in the buttstock—slips easily into
the extended action-return-spring
follower, which protrudes into the
receiver about an inch or so.
In the field, this semi-automatic
was an easy, well-balanced carry. The
top of the sculpted wooden fore-
end slopes down about a 1/4" for a
distance of 4" forward of the receiver
junction, saving a bit of weight
while giving the SX4 a racy look.
Chambered only for 3" magnums,
the gun’s fore-end does not have the
Quadra-Vent ports, which are unnec-
essary. Handling was very good on
clays, with no malfunctions shooting
11⁄8-oz. target loads.
The satin-finished walnut stock
JANUARY 2018
26"
WEIGHT: 6 LBS., 11 OZS.
ACCESSORIES: OWNER’S MANUAL, WRENCH,
INVECTOR-PLUS CHOKE TUBES
(IMP. CYL., MOD., FULL), LENGTH OF PULL
SPACERS
MSRP: $939
SHOOTING RESULTS (40 YDS.)
FEDERAL PRAIRIE STORM FS LEAD
12-GA., 23⁄4", 11⁄4 OZS., NO. 5
AVERAGE PELLET COUNT: 217
MEASURED VELOCITY @ 4 FT.: 1398 F.P.S.
AVERAGE OF 10 PATTERNS
= POINT OF HOLD
16 13
27 20
23 22
13 13
MODIFIED (0.012")
21" INNER CIRCLE: 92 (42%)
30" OUTER RING: 55 (25%)
TOTAL HITS: 147 (67%)
and fore-end use cut curvilinear lines
in place of traditional checkering,
which is confined to the lower half
of the slim pistol grip. The fore-end
also has the same style of serration on
both sides and the bottom, creating a
pleasing appearance and a fairly good
gripping surface. In order to accom-
modate the various stock-lengthening
spacers, the recoil pad is cut square
and does not follow the line of the toe
of the stock—somewhat of a minor
turn-off for the traditionalist. Too,
the magazine cap is recessed down
into the tip of the fore-end, making
it a little hard to turn with the barrel
in place.
The SX4 is a fine branch of the
Super X Model 1’s family tree, and, on
the moderate side of semi-automatic
shotgun prices, a good choice for
value-conscious buyers.
95
DOPE BAG
POF-USA
REVOLUTION

O
ver the years, there have been
numerous attempts to hot
rod the 5.56x45 mm NATO-
chambered AR-15 platform in an
effort to push its ballistics closer to
those of its big brother, the AR-10 and
its 7.62x51 mm NATO cartridge. The
6.5 mm Grendel, 6.8 mm SPC and
.300 Blackout are examples of car-
tridges developed to fit within this
envelope. Frank DeSomma, owner and
founder of Patriot Ordnance Factory,
instead decided to give people exactly
what they had been asking for—an
AR-15-size platform chambered for
the .308 Win. cartridge. Called the
Revolution, POF-USA’s newest piston-
driven rifle weighs a scant 7 lbs., 4 ozs.,
and possesses all of the fast-handling
characteristics of an AR-15, while boast-
ing the hard-hitting energy of an AR-10.
The Revolution is not simply an
adapted AR-10; it is, in fact, closer
to an AR-15, sharing many of the
same dimensions and parts of the
smaller rifle. At first glance, the
only indication that the gun is
anything other than a .223 rifle is
the pregnant-looking magazine well,
designed to take Magpul .308 Win.
magazines—and yet the distance
between the rear takedown pin and
the front pivot pin is the same as on
the smaller rifle.
DeSomma spent nearly two years
developing the Revolution, and
what he found was that numerous
.223 parts could be used. The charg-
ing handle, bolt carrier, fire control
group, barrel nut and buffer all carry
over from POF’s AR-15 line. The bolt
and the barrel extensions outwardly
share the .223’s dimensions, but with
changed geometry to accommodate
the larger .30-cal. cartridge. The gas
plug, piston and operating rod of the
Revolution remain unchanged from
POF’s .223 Rem.-chambered guns.
The company also uses the same
14.5" free-floating M-LOK handguard
on the Revolution as it uses on its
.223 rifles. It is an extremely rigid
platform that anchors at the bar-
rel nut and also has a tail piece that
extends over and attaches to the
top of the receiver. Steel inserts are
embedded in the top of the receiver to
prevent its threads from stripping.
The rifle’s bolt carrier group (BCG)
uses a roller cam pin designed to
eliminate scoring on the inside of the
upper receiver. Compared to the tradi-
tional rectangular steel cam pin, the
roller cam pin design minimizes the
stress the BCG imparts on the receiver
and enhances the service life of the
rifle. The Revolution also possesses
the patented E2 (E Squared) dual-
extraction system, which involves four
shallow grooves cut into the neck area
of the chamber. Gas is vented rearward
through these channels and pushes
against the shell’s shoulder, breaking
the seal and easing extraction. It’s a
simple solution that reduces stress on
the extractor, extending the part’s life
and enhancing reliability.
Heat can destroy accuracy and
shorten the life of any firearm, and
POF has an answer for that threat in
the form of its heat sink barrel nut.

The Revolution’s bolt carrier group utilizes a roller cam

pin instead of the more traditional rectangular steel
cam pin. This minimizes the amount of stress on the
part and enhances the service life of the rifle.

96 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

POF-USA REVOLUTION

MANUFACTURER: PATRIOT ORDINANCE FACTORY (DEPT. AR); 23011 N. 16TH LANE, PHOENIX, AZ 85027; (623) 561-9572; POF-USA.COM
34" TO 37"
0.75" 0.75"

16.5"
10.5" TO 13.5"

TRIGGER: SINGLE-STAGE; 4-LB., 8-OZ. PULL

CHAMBERING: 7.62X51 MM NATO
(.308 WIN.)
ACTION TYPE: GAS-PISTON-OPERATED,
SEMI-AUTOMATIC CENTER-FIRE RIFLE
RECEIVER: 7076 ALUMINUM,
HARDCOAT ANODIZED
RIFLING: 1:10" RH TWIST
MAGAZINE: 20-ROUND DETACHABLE BOX,
MAGPUL PMAG
SIGHTS: NONE; PICATINNY RAIL
STOCK: MISSION FIRST TACTICAL MINIMALIST;
SEVEN-POSITION ADJUSTABLE
WEIGHT: 7 LBS., 4 OZS.
ACCESSORIES: OWNER’S MANUAL, HARD CASE,
GUN LOCK
MSRP: $2,669

SHOOTING RESULTS (100 YDS.)

.308 WIN. VEL. @ 10' ENERGY GROUP SIZE (INCHES)
CARTRIDGE (F.P.S.) (FT.-LBS.) SMALLEST LARGEST AVERAGE
BLACK HILLS 2688 AVG. 2,487 0.79 0.88 0.83
155-GR. TMK 28 SD
FEDERAL PREMIUM 2325 AVG. 2,101 0.48 0.82 0.69
175-GR. BTHP 23 SD
HORNADY MATCH 2318 AVG. 2,004 0.81 0.94 0.87
168-GR. BTHP 18 SD
The Revolution’s rifle-length gas system AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD 0.80
features a five-position adjustable gas
NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 SHOTS OVER A PACT PROFESSIONAL XP
block. Its location toward the end of the CHRONOGRAPH AT 10 FT. ACCURACY FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 100 YDS.
barrel increases dwell time and lowers FROM A CALDWELL RIFLE REST. TEMPERATURE: 86º F. HUMIDITY: 14%. ABBREVIATIONS:
the bolt carrier’s velocity. BTHP (BOATTAIL HOLLOW POINT), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION), TMK (TIPPED MATCHKING).

Machined from aluminum, the part fea-
tures radiating fins and provides more
than three times more surface area than
a steel, mil-spec part—POF-USA claims
its part is 18 times more effective at
dissipating heat.
The manufacturer uses its Gen 4
lower receiver design on the Revolution.
Machined from billet aluminum, the
lower features an integral, enlarged
trigger guard and is completely bilat-
eral. The magazine release, bolt lock
and safety/selector can all be oper-
ated from either side of the receiver,
and receiver tensioning screws elimi-
nate any play between the upper and
lower receivers. POF-USA also uses its
own drop-in trigger on the Revolution
to give the rifle a consistent 4-lb.,
8-oz. pull.
POF’s patented anti-tilt “Carrier
Cradle” buffer tube eliminates the bolt
tipping common to piston-driven ARs
and ensures the bolt carrier is always
supported even while in battery. The
Revolution uses a standard buffer and
a mil-spec rifle receiver extension,
however, the buffer spring is heavier
than the standard AR-15 part. POF-USA
outfits the Revolution with a Mission
First Tactical Minimalist buttstock that
can be adjusted to seven positions.
The company mounts the Revolution’s
gas block in the rifle position rather than
carbine or mid-length locations, which
increases the dwell time and lowers the
bolt carrier’s velocity. There are five
positions on the gas system, allowing
the user to adjust for specific loads or
suppressor use. It can also be adjusted
and disassembled for cleaning without
removing the handguard. A standard-
profile barrel, rifled with a 1:10" twist,
is used. It is 16.5" in length and is
nitride-treated for corrosion and wear
resistance. POF-USA outfits the rifle’s
fluted barrel with a three-port muzzle
brake designed to control gas disper-
sion and reduce muzzle rise. During
our trips to the range this device
proved to be very effective.
For the accuracy portion of our
evaluation, we mounted a Trijicon
5-20X AccuPoint scope on the rifle.
POF-USA offers a one-m.o.a. accuracy
guarantee on the Revolution, and
our results proved the rifle is capable
of surpassing that goal. The single
best group was fired with Federal
Premium’s 175-gr. BTHP ammunition,
and measured just 0.48".
Undoubtedly, folks will wonder how
significantly a lightweight .308 Win.
recoils. We were pleased to discover
that, in this case, the answer is not
badly at all. In a single range session,
we fired more than 200 rounds from
the bench, and were none the worse for
wear. One evaluator opined that, more
than anything else, the Revolution shot
like an over-gassed 5.56 mm NATO rifle.
Firing from the bench, we were able to
watch bullet impacts at 100 yds. The
test sample also functioned flawlessly
during our 300-round function testing.
POF-USA’s Revolution possesses
all the accuracy of a heavier, harder-
kicking, bolt-action rifle in a trim,
lightweight, autoloading package.
Its numerous innovations and well-
executed manufacture make it an
appealing option for anyone in the
market for a .308 Win.-chambered
semi-automatic rifle.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 97

INSIDE NRA | ILA REPORT
Feinstein Wants to Ban Commonly
Owned Semi-Autos, Again!
L
LATEST ast Nov. 8, Sen. Dianne Feinstein,
D-Calif., introduced S. 2095, which she
LEGISLATIVE has called the Assault Weapons Ban of
2017 (congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/
NEWS FROM senate-bill/2095/text). The 125-page firearm
INSIDE THE NRA prohibition bill is perhaps the most far-reaching
gun ban ever introduced in Congress.
INSTITUTE FOR The bill would prohibit AR-15s and dozens
LEGISLATIVE of other semi-automatic rifles by name (as
well as their “variants” or “altered fac-
ACTION similes”), and any semi-automatic rifle that
could accept a detachable magazine and be
equipped with a pistol grip, an adjustable
or detachable stock, or a barrel shroud. And
that’s just a partial list. A “Pistol grip” would
be defined as “a grip, a thumbhole stock,
or any other characteristic that can function
as a grip,” meaning the ban could implicate
even traditional stocks or grips specifically
designed to comply with existing state
“assault weapon” laws.
Needless to say, semi-automatic shotguns
and handguns would get similar treatment.
Also banned would be any magazine with
a capacity of greater than 10 rounds, or even
any magazine that could be “readily restored,
changed or converted to accept” more than
10 rounds.
While Feinstein’s bill would graciously
allow those who lawfully owned the newly
banned guns at the time of the law’s enact-
ILA Grassroots: ment to keep them, it would impose strict
(800) 392-8683 storage requirements any time the firearm
was not actually in the owner’s hands or
NRA-ILA: (703) 267-1170
within arm’s reach. Violations would be pun-
NRA-ILA website: nraila.org ishable (of course) by imprisonment.
98 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
Owners of grandfathered “assault weap-
Photo by AP Images/Bill Clark
ons” could also go to prison for allowing
someone else to borrow or buy the firearm,
unless the transfer was processed through a
licensed firearms dealer. The dealer would be
required to document the transaction and run
a background check on the recipient.
Should lawful owners of the newly banned
firearms and magazines decide that the legal
hazards of keeping them were too much, the
bill would authorize the use of taxpayer dol-
lars in the form of federal grants to establish
programs to provide “compensation” for
their surrender to the government.
In many ways, the bill is nothing more than
a rehash of Feinstein’s last failed experiment
in banning “assault weapons” and magazines
over 10 rounds. Except this time, Feinstein
would like to go even further in restricting
law-abiding Americans’ access to firearms
and magazines that are commonly owned for
lawful self-defense.
The congressionally mandated study of the
federal “assault weapon ban” of 1994-2004
found that the ban had little, if any, impact on
crime, in part because “the banned guns were
never used in more than a modest fraction” of
firearm-related crime to begin with.
Don’t let Feinstein infringe on our Second
Amendment-protected rights with a policy
that has been proven to do nothing to stop
crime. Please contact your U.S. senators and
encourage them to oppose S. 2095. You
can contact your U.S. senators by phone
at (202) 224-3121, or go to nraila.org for
more information.
New Evidence Against
Gun Confiscation
T Nate Hosie
he selection of input variables for statistical modeling can alter the
findings of research studies. New research published in the Journal

is
of Experimental Criminology (link.springer.com/article/10.1007/
s11292-017-9313-3) examines how the choice in methodology can alter
research findings.
This new research focuses on a favorite topic of anti-gun politicians,
high-ranking politicos and liberal media: Australia’s 1996 firearms confis-
cation laws. The anti-gun crowd loves to talk about how the confiscation
reduced firearms mortality rates, based at least in part on research con-
ducted in 2006 that concluded the laws led to a decline in firearm deaths,
particularly suicides.

N
Now, Ivy League researchers have found that the impact of the massive
confiscation by government authorities was wildly overstated because previ- ate Hosie was born and raised in the
ous research used a statistical methodology that did not account for crime mountains of Pennsylvania. At 5, his father
trends unrelated to any specific event (in this case, the 1996 confiscation and grandfather began taking him hunting,
law). The authors present their findings with sterile text that nonetheless sparking a passion for the outdoors. He earned
turns the long-running anti-gun narrative of Australia’s “success” on its head. the nickname “The Turkey Slayer,” and eventually
In the new study, researchers ran a new model to account for existing joined “HeadHunters TV,” showing viewers that
trends over the time period. This model found no statistical evidence that there are still people in this world who appreciate
the confiscation law had any impact on firearm homicide trends over the memories made in God’s country. But hunting isn’t
period, finding that the downward trend existed before Australia forced law- the only thing filling Hosie’s schedule these days.
abiding citizens to turn in their legally owned firearms. He released his debut country music album, “The
The authors also conducted a series of “robustness” checks on the America I Know,” available now via iTunes. His
analysis to ensure their findings were sound. To do this, the authors looked music reflects his passion for life, the outdoors and
at years prior to the 1996 gun confiscation law and inserted a series of his patriotism. “I live the life that I sing about in my
artificial laws to determine if any such interventions would result in the same songs,” Hosie said. At the end of the day, Hosie
“findings” of the previous research. In short, if the same law were to pass in acknowledges he’s a lucky man to get to live the
any of the earlier years, would the results be the same? life he does, whether it’s calling turkeys, tracking a
Nineteen out of 36 “artificial laws” models were statistically significant, deer’s pattern or playing music for his fans. Hosie
“suggesting that the empirical model can be implemented in multiple non- took a few minutes between hunts to answer a few
intervention years with results similar to the true 1996 interruption year.” questions for NRA Country’s Vanessa Shahidi.
In layman’s terms, this means the 1996 law had nothing to do with the
downward trend in homicides, because you could get replicate the results by VS: Do you have a favorite personal firearm?
modeling the law’s passage in other years as well. NH: I can’t say I have a personal favorite. I love
These findings demonstrate that the 2006 research was mis-specified and them all for different reasons. They all have dif-
poorly designed. We don’t have much faith that politicians and gun control ferent stories from different hunts they’ve been
advocates will acknowledge the shortcomings of the previous research or of on, all unique in their own way. But if I had to pick
the Australian gun confiscation itself. After all, they still call it a “buyback.” one it would be my Grandpa Josh’s shotgun.
VS: Favorite outdoor memory of the past year?
NH: We’ve had an amazing season this year with
IN MEMORY NRA-ILA CONTRIBUTIONS “HeadHunters TV” and we are thankful for it! The
October 1, 2017 – October 31, 2017 highlight for me: I took my biggest elk, a 351-inch,
John Brooks Cargile, Corpus Christi, TX (from: B.M. Ray III, Jack & Janie Dean, Kathy Chachere, L.C. Homan, 7x7 in New Mexico this past September with my
and Clark C. Flato); Harry W. Hanson, Cape Coral, FL (from: Carol J. Hanson); Willis S. Whittlesey, bow. It was my first hunt after my wife Tiffany and
Salt Lake City, UT (from: Horton S. Spitzer); Rodney Lenard, Winnifield, LA (from: The Franks Family); I were blessed to welcome our son Cruze into the
Jeffrey Lynn Harms, Watseka, IL (from: Ken Courtney); Phillip Viruso, Springwater, NY (from: Spring- world. It was truly a bull of a lifetime!
water Rod & Gun Club); Ted R. Chism, Galesburg, IL (from: Rita Chism, Mickey Carr and Tiara Hatfield).
VS: What can we expect from your new album/
ILA CONTRIBUTIONS upcoming project?
(The following have contributed $1,000.00 or more to the NRA Institute for
Legislative Action: NH: “The America I Know” is my first music project
October 1, 2017 – October 31, 2017) I’ve put out and am so proud of it. It’s all about
America Engaged, Warrenton, VA; William L. Shores, Longwood, FL; Sam W. Acola, Arlington, TX; positivity, having fun, the outdoors and American
Steven Shawley, Scottsville, VA; Alaska Defenders of Freedom Inc., Fritz Creek, AK; Umarex USA Inc., pride. We are so blessed to live in America and I
Fort Smith, AR; Turner’s Operations Inc., Cucamonga, CA; Lisa Graham, West Covina, CA; want to celebrate that through the outdoors and
Grand Island Rifle Club, Grand Island, NE; Michael Fogg, Holland, MI; Thomas M. Moeller, Vero
Beach, FL; David Johnson, Houston, TX; David Y. Rogers, Midland, TX; Philip E. Bender, Reno, NV; music platforms I’ve been given!
Geoff Smith, Casper, WY; Thomas J. Hutton, Santa Clara, CA; Edward S. Martin, New Kensington, PA;
Walter Obermeier, Cranberry Township, PA; Dan Kessler, Brier, WA; David Young, Oro Valley, AZ; NRA Country is a lifestyle and a bond between
Mark S. Petcavage, Somerville, MA; Jesse C. Maxwell, Maitland, FL; Carl Kuhn, Cadillac, MI; the country music community and hard-working
Edy Adkison, Riverside, CA; Alan Mossberg, Tierra Verde, FL; James Shoureas, Boca Raton, FL; Americans everywhere. It’s powered by pride,
Larry Cevora, Belleville, MI; Karl Schulz, Antigo, WI; Joel H. Williams, Porum, OK; Eric Boeckers, freedom, love of country, respect for the military, and
APO, CA; M. Antoinette Carver, Palm Desert, CA; Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs Inc.,
North Haledon, NJ; Cape Radiology Group Care, Girardeau, MO; Great Plains Outdoorsmen, the responsibilities of protecting the great American
Aberdeen, SD; Oregon Association of Shooting Ranges, Dundee, OR; Robert E. Domine, Loyal, WI; life. For more information visit nracountry.com and
Curt Scoggin, Wasilla, AK; Dowe Tillema, Land O’ Lakes, WI; Carl Schanbacher, Boston, MA. follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

99
INSIDE NRA | REGIONAL REPORT CENTRAL

2018 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • MAY 4-6 • DALLAS, TX

For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org

TRAINING League of Kentucky Sportsmen Inc.

kentuckysportsmen.com
Crime Prevention Michigan Rifle and Pistol Ass’n.

F riends of NRA events celebrate

American values with fun, T he NRA’s Refuse To Be A Victim®
program provides information on
crime prevention and personal safety.
michrpa.org
Missouri Sport Shooting Ass’n.
fellowship and fundraising for The
To learn more about the program, visit missourisportshooting.org
NRA Foundation. You’ll have the
opportunity to participate in games, refuse.nra.org. The most up-to-date Nebraska Marksmanship Ass’n.
raffles, live and silent auctions and schedule is available on the internet by nemarksmanship.org
more. Your attendance contributes to visiting nrainstructors.org, by sending Wisconsin Firearm Owners, Ranges,
grants that promote firearm education, an email to refuse@nrahq.org or by Clubs & Educators
safety and marksmanship. To learn calling (800) 861-1166. wisconsinforce.org
more about events in your area, visit JAN. 13—BRIGHT, IN
friendsofnra.org, contact your local (Instructor Development Workshop) AREA SHOOTS
field representative or send an email to
friends@nrahq.org.
Central Regional Director—Chad Franklin
Robert Beckman
(513) 800-1872 F or more information, send an email to
Shelly Kramer at mkramer@nrahq.org
or call (703) 267-1459. For a complete
JAN. 13—SYCAMORE, IL
cfranklin@nrahq.org (Seminar) listing, see shootingsportsusa.com.
IA, NE—Tim Bacon Dennis Winclawski (815) 238-8001 PISTOL
tbacon@nrahq.org JAN. 20—BOISE, ID Flushing, MI JAN. 6
Northern IL—Mike Huber (Seminar) Highland, IL JAN. 14
mhuber@nrahq.org Elaine Bowles (208) 994-8226
SMALLBORE RIFLE
Southern IL—Donald Higgs JAN. 20—MARTINSVILLE, IN Lansing, MI JAN. 21
dhiggs@nrahq.org (Seminar)
IN—Craig Haggard
Patricia Matt Hartley (317) 439-3482 GUN SHOWS
chaggard@nrahq.org
KY—John LaRowe
STATE ASSOCIATIONS D ates and locations of gun shows
are subject to change, so please
jlarowe@nrahq.org
MI—Allan Herman
F or more information about your
state association, contact your state
association listed here, or log on to
contact the show before traveling.
Discounted NRA membership are sold
through NRA recruiters.
aherman@nrahq.org clubs.nra.org.
*Some shows may offer free admission to
Northern MO—Travis Scott Illinois State Rifle Ass’n. Inc. people who sign up for new memberships or
tscott@nrahq.org isra.org renewals. To become an NRA Recruiter call
Southern MO—Gregg Pearre Indiana State Rifle and Pistol Ass’n. Inc. (800) 672-0004.
gpearre@nrahq.org isrpa.org JAN. 5-6 MILWAUKEE, WI
WI—Scott Taetsch Iowa State Rifle and Pistol Ass’n. American Serb Hall, Freedom
staetsch@nrahq.org Firearms (414) 430-7617
iasrpa.org
JAN. 5-6 WITTENBERG, WI
The 1911 Sidekick Fighter knife from Silver Stag, a skillfully hand-
Best Western—Wittenberg Inn,
crafted fixed-blade knife, is the perfect tool for deer camp or Bearing Arms Gun Shows
self-protection. The 6-inch hollow-ground and jeweled (715) 308-8772
high carbon D2 steel blade and leather sheath, with JAN. 5-6 JEFFERSON CITY, MO
vertical and horizontal carry options, feature
Friends of NRA logos. VZ Grips are Jefferson City Eagles Lodge,
customized to match the Gun of Pro-mo-tions (573) 338-1524
JAN. 5-7 LA CROSSE, WI
La Crosse Center—South Hall,
Bob & Rocco’s Gun Shows
(608) 752-6677
the Year, a Kimber NRA Custom II JAN. 6-7 KANKAKEE, IL
"Defending Freedom"1911, creating
a duo that you won’t want to put down. Kankakee County Fairgrounds,
When you do, the display case’s black foam The Cloe Group LLC (815) 263-2810
interior with cutouts for the gun and knife will JAN. 6-7 HARLAN, IA
ensure it is stored securely beneath a lid engraved with the Veterans Memorial Auditorium,
Friends of NRA logo. Available only at Friends of NRA events.
J.R. Gun Shows (712) 782-3195

100 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

JAN. 6-7 LEXINGTON, KY JAN. 13-14 FORT CALHOUN, NE
Lexington Center, Kenny Woods Gun Fort Calhoun Community Building,
Shows (563) 927-8176 American Legion Post 348
JAN. 6-7 CADILLAC, MI (402) 250-8505
Wexford Civic Center, J&J Sport JAN. 13-14 PORT HURON, MI
Shows (800) 968-5016 Blue Water Convention Center,
JAN. 6-7 FORT WAYNE, IN Sport Shows Promotions
(517) 676-4160
Allen County War Memorial
Coliseum, CPI Shows JAN. 19-20 MENOMONIE, WI
(260) 483-6144 Menomonie Alliance Church, Bearing
JAN. 6-7 KALAMAZOO, MI Arms Gun Shows (715) 308-8772
Kalamazoo Fairgrounds, Sport Shows JAN. 19-21 DUBUQUE, IA
Promotions (517) 676-4160 Dubuque County Fairgrounds,
JAN. 6-7 NEW ALBANY, IN Big Bore Enterprise (563) 590-4248
Floyd County 4-H Fairgrounds, JAN. 20 PRUDENVILLE, MI
Straight Shooters Enterprises Houghton Lake Playhouse,
(812) 498-3833 P.J.'s Promotions LLC (989) 798-8709
JAN. 7 WHEATON, IL JAN. 20-21 SPRINGFIELD, MO
DuPage County Fairgrounds, Ozark Empire Fairgrounds,
Pioneer Valley Sportsman’s Ass’n. R.K. Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176
(630) 365-2808
JAN. 20-21 ODEBOLT, IA
JAN. 12-13 IRON MOUNTAIN, MI
Odebolt Community Center,
United Sportsmen’s Club, United J.R. Gun Shows (712) 782-3195
Sportsmen Inc. (906) 774-3867
JAN. 20-21 YORKVILLE, IL
JAN. 12-14 DAVENPORT, IA
Kendall County Fairgrounds,
Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds,
The Cloe Group LLC (815) 263-2810
Big Bore Enterprise (563) 590-4248
JAN. 12-14 WAUKESHA, WI JAN. 20-21 FOND DU LAC, WI
Waukesha County Expo Center, Fond du Lac Fairgrounds Expo
Bob & Rocco’s Gun Shows Center, Central Wisconsin Gun
(608) 752-6677 Collectors Ass’n. (920) 833-6668
JAN. 13-14 ANN ARBOR, MI JAN. 20-21 BIRCH RUN, MI
Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, Birch Run Expo Center, Sport Shows
Huron Gun Collectors Promotions (517) 676-4160
(517) 546-4710 JAN. 26-28 ROTHSCHILD, WI
JAN. 13-14 PEORIA, IL Cedar Creek Mall—Old Patriot
Exposition Gardens, The Cloe Group Center, Bob & Rocco’s Gun Shows
LLC (815) 263-2810 (608) 752-6677
JAN. 13-14 KANSAS CITY, MO JAN. 27-28 MANISTEE, MI
KCI Expo Center, R.K. Shows Inc. Little River Casino, Sport Shows Soft CoolVent Neoprene
TM

(563) 927-8176 Promotions (517) 676-4160

 Steel Core Retention
 Maximum Flexibility

Get Your 4.0 IWB Holster Online

MEMBER INFORMATION & BENEFITS
MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000
NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000 • INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org
MEMBER SERVICE (800) 672-3888 OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/
GIFT PLANNING (877) NRA-GIVE
NRASTORE.COM (888) 607-6007 THE NRA FOUNDATION (800) 423-6894
NRA INSTRUCTOR/
5-STAR MEMBER BENEFITS COACH FIREARM TRAINING (703) 267-1500
NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs (877) 672-3006 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM (800) 231-0752
COMPATIBLE WITH
NRA Visa Credit Card (866) NRA-VISA REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM (800) 861-1166
LifeLock (800) 978-1725 RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS (703) 267-1511
NRA Wine Club (800) 331-5578 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS (800) NRA-CLUB
NRA Hearing Benefits (866) 619-5889 RANGE SERVICES (877) 672-7264
Hertz Car Rental CDP# 166609 (800) 654-2200 COMPETITIVE SHOOTING (877) 672-6282
Avis Car Rental AWD# A832100 (800) 225-7094
LAW ENFORCEMENT (703) 267-1640
Enterprise Car Rental # NRAERAC (800) 736-8222
FRIENDS OF NRA (703) 267-1342
North American Moving Services (800) 699-0590
NRA MUSEUMS/
NRA Endorsed Check Program (888) 331-6767 GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS (703) 267-1600
INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION SHOWS & EXHIBITS (866) 343-1805
Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683 MEDIA RELATIONS (703) 267-1595
The “NRA Regional Report,” a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter,
Shooting Illustrated and America’s 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or
sponsored events scheduled in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling. AlienGearHolsters.com

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 101

INSIDE NRA | REGIONAL REPORT EAST

2018 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • MAY 4-6 • DALLAS, TX

For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org

JAN. 20—MONROEVILLE, OH (Seminar) SMALLBORE RIFLE

Darrell Gray (419) 656-8025 Bridgewater, NJ JAN. 13
Cumberland, ME JAN. 20-21
JAN. 20—PEEKSKILL, NY (Seminar) Whitehall, NY JAN. 26-28
F riends of NRA events celebrate
American values with fun, fellowship
and fundraising for The NRA Foundation.
Steven Donahoo (914) 455-4099
JAN. 23—RUTHERFORD, NJ (Seminar)
HIGH POWER RIFLE
Grafton, VA JAN. 20
To learn more about events in your area, Paulo Henriques info@ SILHOUETTE
visit friendsofnra.org, contact your local hudsonriverconsultants.com Sudlersville, MD JAN. 20
GUN SHOWS
field representative or send an email to
friends@nrahq.org. JAN. 29—RICHMOND, VA (Seminar)

East Regional Director—Bryan Hoover

bhoover@nrahq.org
Sydney Van Buren (804) 874-2343

STATE ASSOCIATIONS
D ates and locations of gun shows
are subject to change, so please
contact the show before traveling.
Northern OH—Marc Peugeot
mpeugeot@nrahq.org F or more information about your
state association, contact your state
association listed here, or log on to
Discounted NRA membership are sold
through NRA recruiters.
Southern OH—David Graham *Some shows may offer free admission to
clubs.nra.org. people who sign up for new memberships or
dgraham@nrahq.org
Connecticut State Rifle & Revolver Ass’n. renewals. To become an NRA Recruiter call
ME, VT, NH—Brian Smith csrra.com (800) 672-0004.
bsmith@nrahq.org
Delaware State Sportsmen’s Ass’n. JAN. 6-7 PORT CRANE, NY
NJ, MA, RI, CT & Southern NY— dssa.us Port Crane Fire Hall, Mid Atlantic
Bryan Hoover Arms Collectors (570) 679-2250
Maine Rifle & Pistol Ass’n. Inc.
bhoover@nrahq.org mainerpa.org JAN. 6-7 AUGUSTA, ME
New York—Jay Rusnock Maryland State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n. Augusta Civic Center, New England
jrusnock@nrahq.org msrpa.org Events (603) 230-9014
Eastern PA, DE—Kory Enck Goal (Massachusetts) JAN. 6-7 HAMBURG, NY
kenck@nrahq.org goal.org Hamburg Fairgrounds, Niagara
Frontier Gun Shows (716) 542-9929
Western PA—Tom Baldrige Gun Owners Of New Hampshire Inc.
tbaldrige@nrahq.org gonh.org JAN. 6-7 LAKE HARMONY, PA
Split Rock Resort, Eagle Arms
Eastern VA, Eastern MD, Washington, Ass’n Of New Jersey Rifle &
Pistol Clubs Inc. Productions (610) 393-3047
DC—David Wells
anjrpc.org JAN. 6-7 LIMA, OH
dwells@nrahq.org
New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n. Inc. Allen County Fairgrounds, Tri-State
Western VA, Western MD, WV— nysrpa.org Gun Collectors (419) 647-0067
Jim Kilgore
jkilgore@nrahq.org Ohio Rifle & Pistol Ass’n. JAN. 6-7 STURBRIDGE, MA
orpa.net Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference
TRAINING Pennsylvania Rifle & Pistol Ass’n. Center, New Mart Promotions
(914) 248-1000
pennarifleandpistol.org
Crime Prevention JAN. 6-7 ROANOKE, VA
Rhode Island 2nd Amendment Coalition
T he NRA’s Refuse To Be A Victim®
program provides information on
crime prevention and personal safety.
ri2nd.org
Vermont Federation Of Sportsmen’s
Berglund Center, Showmasters Gun
Shows (540) 951-1344
To learn more about the program, visit Clubs Inc. JAN. 12-14 SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY
refuse.nra.org. The most up-to-date vtfsc.org Saratoga Springs City Center,
schedule is at nrainstructors.org. Virginia Shooting Sports Ass’n. NEACA Inc. (518) 664-9743
myvssa.org JAN. 13-14 CARLISLE, PA
JAN. 1—PEEKSKILL, NY (Seminar)
West Virginia State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n. Carlisle Expo Center, Eagle Arms
Steven Donahoo (914) 455-4099
wvasrpa.org Productions (610) 393-3047
JAN. 6—PEEKSKILL, NY
(Instructor Development Workshop) AREA SHOOTS JAN. 13-14 EASTLAKE, OH
Eastlake Community Center, LG&CB
Steven Donahoo (914) 455-4099
JAN. 6—ASHAWAY, RI (Seminar)
F or more information, send an email to
Shelly Kramer at mkramer@nrahq.org
or call (703) 267-1459. For a complete
Firearms Productions (216) 338-1271
JAN. 13-14 HENRIETTA, NY
Lyd Neugent (401) 377-8184 RocDome Arena, Empire State Arms
listing, see shootingsportsusa.com. Collectors Ass’n. (585) 226-6211
JAN. 7—LEBANON, NJ (Seminar)
PISTOL
David Adiv (908) 713-0004 JAN. 13-14 MATAMORAS, PA
Canton, OH JAN. 7 Best Western Hotel at Hunts
JAN. 7—STROUDSBURG, PA (Seminar) Sharon, MA JAN. 28 Landing, Newmart Promotions Inc.
Matthew Sedlacek (484) 240-1188 Cincinnati, OH JAN. 28 (914) 248-1001

100 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

JAN. 13-14 MAUMEE, OH JAN. 20-21 OLEAN, NY
Lucas County Recreation Center, Maumee Good Times of Olean Center,
Valley Gun Collectors (419) 893-1110 Greater Olean Chamber of
Commerce (716) 372-4433
JAN. 13-14 MEDINA, OH
Medina County Fairgrounds, Conrad JAN. 20-21 MANCHESTER, NH
& Dowell Productions (330) 948-4400 Manchester Radisson Hotel, New
England Events (603) 230-9014
JAN. 13-14 NESCOPECK TWP, PA
Nescopeck Township Volunteer Fire JAN. 20-21 FREDERICK, MD
Co., Nescopeck Hunting & Rifle Club Frederick Fairgrounds, Silverado Gun
(570) 759-1783 Shows (301) 874-5012
JAN. 13-14 WATKINS GLEN, NY JAN. 20-21 SALEM, VA
Clute Community Park, Mid Atlantic Salem Civic Center, C&E Gun Shows
Arms Collectors (570) 679-2250 (540) 953-0016
JAN. 13-14 COLUMBUS, OH JAN. 21 OAK HARBOR, OH
Ohio Expo Civic Center, C&E Gun Oak Harbor Conservation Club,
Shows (888) 715-0606 (419) 862 2335
JAN. 13-14 SHARONVILLE, OH JAN. 27-28 CONNEAUT LAKE, PA
Sharonville Convention Center, Conneaut Lake Sportsman Assn.,
Bill Goodman’s Gun & Knife Shows L&R Sporting Events (716) 792-9972
(502) 538-3900 JAN. 27-28 DAYTON, OH
JAN. 13-14 HAMPTON, VA Montgomery County Fairgrounds,
Hampton Roads Convention Center, Bill Goodman’s Gun & Knife Shows
Southeastern Guns & Knives (502) 538-3900
(757) 483-5385
JAN. 27-28 EAST CANTON, OH
JAN. 20-21 WHITE PLAINS, NY Foltz Community Center, Heritage
Westchester County Center, Newmart Gun Shows (330) 806-1110*
Promotions Inc. (914) 248-1002
JAN. 27-28 GETTSYBURG, PA
JAN. 20-21 AKRON, NY AllStar Events Complex, Eagle Arms
Newstead Fire Hall, Niagara Frontier Productions (610) 393-3047
Gun Shows (716) 542-9929
JAN. 27-28 HILLIARD, OH
JAN. 20-21 ALBANY, NY Franklin County Fairgrounds,
Empire State Plaza Convention
J.S. Shows Ltd. (614) 523-7767
Center, New York State Arms
Collectors Ass’n. (607) 748-1010 JAN. 27-28 MARLBOROUGH, MA
Marlboro Best Western Royal Plaza
JAN. 20-21 LANCASTER, OH
Fairfield County Fairgrounds, Trade Center, New Mart Promotions
J.S. Shows Ltd. (614) 523-7767 (914) 248-1000
JAN. 20-21 LEBANON, PA JAN. 27-28 SPRINGFIELD, OH
Lebanon Valley Exposition Center & Clark County Fairgrounds, C&E Gun
Fairgrounds, Eagle Arms Productions Shows (888) 715-0606
(610) 393-3047 JAN. 27-28 FREDERICKSBURG, VA
JAN. 20-21 MANSFIELD, OH Fredericksburg Expo & Conference
Richland County Fairgrounds, Center, Southeastern Guns & Knives Soft CoolVent Neoprene
TM

Heritage Gun Shows (330) 806-1110* (757) 483-5385  Steel Core Retention
JAN. 20-21 MONTPELIER, OH JAN. 27-28 FISHERSVILLE, VA  Maximum Flexibility
Williams County Fairgrounds, D&K Augusta Expo Center, Showmasters
Enterprises (419) 737-2801 Gun Shows (540) 951-1344
Get Your 4.0 IWB Holster Online
MEMBER INFORMATION & BENEFITS
MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000
NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000 • INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org
MEMBER SERVICE (800) 672-3888 OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/
GIFT PLANNING (877) NRA-GIVE
NRASTORE.COM (888) 607-6007 THE NRA FOUNDATION (800) 423-6894
NRA INSTRUCTOR/
5-STAR MEMBER BENEFITS COACH FIREARM TRAINING (703) 267-1500
NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs (877) 672-3006 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM (800) 231-0752
COMPATIBLE WITH
NRA Visa Credit Card (866) NRA-VISA REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM (800) 861-1166
LifeLock (800) 978-1725 RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS (703) 267-1511
NRA Wine Club (800) 331-5578 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS (800) NRA-CLUB
NRA Hearing Benefits (866) 619-5889 RANGE SERVICES (877) 672-7264
Hertz Car Rental CDP# 166609 (800) 654-2200 COMPETITIVE SHOOTING (877) 672-6282
Avis Car Rental AWD# A832100 (800) 225-7094
LAW ENFORCEMENT (703) 267-1640
Enterprise Car Rental # NRAERAC (800) 736-8222
FRIENDS OF NRA (703) 267-1342
North American Moving Services (800) 699-0590
NRA MUSEUMS/
NRA Endorsed Check Program (888) 331-6767 GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS (703) 267-1600
INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION SHOWS & EXHIBITS (866) 343-1805
Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683 MEDIA RELATIONS (703) 267-1595
The “NRA Regional Report,” a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter,
Shooting Illustrated and America’s 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or
sponsored events scheduled in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling. AlienGearHolsters.com

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 101

INSIDE NRA | REGIONAL REPORT MIDWEST

2018 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • MAY 4-6 • DALLAS, TX

For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org

TRAINING
Crime Prevention

F riends of NRA events celebrate

American values with fun, T he NRA’s Refuse To Be A Victim®
program provides information on
crime prevention and personal safety.
fellowship and fundraising for The
NRA Foundation. You’ll have the To learn more about the program, visit
opportunity to participate in games, refuse.nra.org. The most up-to-date
raffles, live and silent auctions and schedule is available on the internet by
more. Your attendance contributes to visiting nrainstructors.org, by sending
grants that promote firearm education, an email to refuse@nrahq.org or by
safety and marksmanship. To learn calling (800) 861-1166.
more about events in your area, visit JAN. 4—MONTROSE, CO
friendsofnra.org, contact your local (Seminar)
field representative or send an email to Larry McWhirter (970) 249-2771
friends@nrahq.org.
JAN. 5—NEW BRAUNFELS, TX
Texas State Rifle Ass’n.
Midwest Regional Director—Tom Ulik (Seminar)
tsra.com
tulik@nrahq.org Tammy Stein (830) 302-0594
AR—Erica Willard JAN. 17—MONTROSE, CO AREA SHOOTS
F
ewillard@nrahq.org (Seminar) or more information, send an email to
Larry McWhirter (970) 249-2771 Shelly Kramer at mkramer@nrahq.org
CO—Brad Dreier
STATE ASSOCIATIONS
or call (703) 267-1459. For a complete
bdreier@nrahq.org
listing, see shootingsportsusa.com.
KS—Christine Sharp
csharp@nrahq.org F or more information about your
state association, contact your state
association listed here, or log on to
PISTOL
Denver, CO JAN. 27
NM—Kevin Post clubs.nra.org. SMALLBORE RIFLE
kpost@nrahq.org Carthage, TX JAN. 6
Arkansas Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.
arpa-online.org Friendswood, TX JAN. 13
OK—Darren DeLong
ddelong@nrahq.org Colorado State Shooting Ass’n.
cssa.org
GUN SHOWS
Northern TX—Terry Free
tfree@nrahq.org Kansas State Rifle Ass’n.
ksraweb.org
D ates and locations of gun shows
are subject to change, so please
contact the show before traveling.
Southern TX—Liz Foley New Mexico Shooting Sports Ass’n. Inc. Discounted NRA membership are sold
efoley@nrahq.org nmssa.org through NRA recruiters.
Western TX—Jack Cannon Oklahoma Rifle Ass’n. Inc. *Some shows may offer free admission to
jcannon@nrahq.org oklarifle.com people who sign up for new memberships or
renewals. To become an NRA Recruiter call
(800) 672-0004.
The 1911 Sidekick Fighter knife from Silver Stag, a skillfully hand-
crafted fixed-blade knife, is the perfect tool for deer camp or JAN. 6-7 DALLAS, TX
self-protection. The 6-inch hollow-ground and jeweled Dallas Market Hall, Dallas Arms
high carbon D2 steel blade and leather sheath, with
vertical and horizontal carry options, feature
Collectors Ass’n. (972) 369-6062*
Friends of NRA logos. VZ Grips are JAN. 6-7 PASADENA, TX
customized to match the Gun of Pasadena Convention Center, High
Caliber Gun Shows (281) 489-1741
JAN. 6-7 SAN ANTONIO, TX
San Antonio Event Center, Saxet
Trade Shows (361) 289-2256*
the Year, a Kimber NRA Custom II
"Defending Freedom"1911, creating JAN. 6-7 SPRINGDALE, AR
a duo that you won’t want to put down. Encore Building Products Facility,
When you do, the display case’s black foam R.K. Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176
interior with cutouts for the gun and knife will
ensure it is stored securely beneath a lid engraved with the JAN. 6-7 LUBBOCK, TX
Friends of NRA logo. Available only at Friends of NRA events. Lubbock Civic Center, Silver Spur
Trade Shows (806) 253-1322

100 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

JAN. 13-14 CONROE, TX JAN. 20-21 TOPEKA, KS
Lone Star Convention Center, High Kansas Expocentre, R.K. Shows Inc.
Caliber Gun Shows (281) 489-1741 (563) 927-8176
JAN. 13-14 SAN ANGELO, TX JAN. 20-21 PASADENA, TX
San Angelo Coliseum Fairgrounds, Sil- Pasadena Convention Center,
ver Spur Trade Shows (806) 253-1322 Premier Gun Shows
JAN. 13-14 LEWISVILLE, TX (817) 732-1194
Premier Event Center—Lakeland Plaza, JAN. 20-21 WACO, TX
Premier Gun Shows (817) 732-1194 Extraco Events Center, Premier Gun
JAN. 13-14 MCALLEN, TX Shows (817) 732-1194
McAllen Convention Center, Saxet JAN. 27-28 TULSA, OK
Gun Shows (361) 289-2256* Tulsa Fairgrounds—Center Park Hall,
JAN. 20-21 HOUSTON, TX R.K. Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176
George R. Brown Convention Center, JAN. 27-28 DENVER, CO
High Caliber Gun Shows Denver Mart, Tanner Gun Shows Soft CoolVent Neoprene
TM

(281) 489-1741 (303) 756-3467

 Steel Core Retention
 Maximum Flexibility

Get Your 4.0 IWB Holster Online

MEMBER INFORMATION & BENEFITS
MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000
NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000 • INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org
MEMBER SERVICE (800) 672-3888 OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/
GIFT PLANNING (877) NRA-GIVE
NRASTORE.COM (888) 607-6007 THE NRA FOUNDATION (800) 423-6894
NRA INSTRUCTOR/
5-STAR MEMBER BENEFITS COACH FIREARM TRAINING (703) 267-1500
NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs (877) 672-3006 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM (800) 231-0752
COMPATIBLE WITH
NRA Visa Credit Card (866) NRA-VISA REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM (800) 861-1166
LifeLock (800) 978-1725 RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS (703) 267-1511
NRA Wine Club (800) 331-5578 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS (800) NRA-CLUB
NRA Hearing Benefits (866) 619-5889 RANGE SERVICES (877) 672-7264
Hertz Car Rental CDP# 166609 (800) 654-2200 COMPETITIVE SHOOTING (877) 672-6282
Avis Car Rental AWD# A832100 (800) 225-7094
LAW ENFORCEMENT (703) 267-1640
Enterprise Car Rental # NRAERAC (800) 736-8222
FRIENDS OF NRA (703) 267-1342
North American Moving Services (800) 699-0590
NRA MUSEUMS/
NRA Endorsed Check Program (888) 331-6767 GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS (703) 267-1600
INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION SHOWS & EXHIBITS (866) 343-1805
Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683 MEDIA RELATIONS (703) 267-1595
The “NRA Regional Report,” a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter,
Shooting Illustrated and America’s 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or
sponsored events scheduled in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling. AlienGearHolsters.com

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 101

INSIDE NRA | REGIONAL REPORT SOUTH

2018 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • MAY 4-6 • DALLAS, TX

For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org

refuse.nra.org. The most up-to-date Georgia Sport Shooting Ass’n.

schedule is at nrainstructors.org. gssainc.org
JAN. 6—LILBURN, GA Louisiana Shooting Ass’n.

F riends of NRA events celebrate

American values with fun, fellowship
and fundraising for The NRA Foundation.
(Seminar)
Greg Schreffler (770) 367-3525
louisianashooting.com
Mississippi Gun Owners
JAN. 7—STONE MOUNTAIN, GA msgo.com
To learn more about events in your area,
visit friendsofnra.org, contact your local (Instructor Development Workshop) North Carolina Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.
field representative or send an email to Matthew Schwab (678) 260-8318 ncrpa.org
friends@nrahq.org. JAN. 21—MONROE, LA Gun Owners of South Carolina
South Regional Director—Al Hammond (Seminar) gosc.org
ahammond@nrahq.org Paul Carter (318) 323-2666
Tennessee Shooting Sports Ass’n. Inc.
LA—Chad Bowen JAN. 22—GRIFTON, NC
tennesseeshootingsportsassociation.org
cbowen@nrahq.org (Instructor Development Workshop)
AL, MS—Gene Newman Leslie May (252) 714-0067
AREA SHOOTS
gnewman@nrahq.org JAN. 26—NEW PORT RICHEY, FL
Northern FL—Bret Eldridge
peldridge@nrahq.org
(Seminar)
Nicholas Di Guiseppi (727) 804-9516
F or more information, send an email to
Shelly Kramer at mkramer@nrahq.org
or call (703) 267-1459. For a complete
Southern FL—Tom Knight
tknight@nrahq.org
LAW ENFORCEMENT listing, see shootingsportsusa.com.
HIGH POWER RIFLE
GA—Neely Raper
nraper@nrahq.org
P ublic and private officers interested in
becoming firearm instructors should
attend one of NRA’s Law Enforcement
Myakka City, FL
Palm Bay, FL
JAN. 7
JAN. 13-14
Eastern NC—Garland “Tra” Storey Firearms Instructor Development Schools.
gstorey@nrahq.org JAN. 29-FEB.2—PALM BAY, FL
GUN SHOWS
Western NC—Doug Merrill
rmerrill@nrahq.org
(Select-Fire)
Contact Rudis Amaya at (703) 267-1636 D ates and locations of gun shows
are subject to change, so please
contact the show before traveling.
TN—Mike Webb or at ramaya@nrahq.org.
Discounted NRA membership are sold
mwebb@nrahq.org
SC—Freeman Coleman STATE ASSOCIATIONS through NRA recruiters.

fcoleman@nrahq.org
F or more information about your
state association, contact your state
*Some shows may offer free admission to
people who sign up for new memberships or
TRAINING association listed here, or log on to renewals. To become an NRA Recruiter call
(800) 672-0004.
clubs.nra.org.
Crime Prevention JAN. 6-7 HUNTSVILLE, AL
Alabama Rifle and Pistol Ass’n.
T he NRA’s Refuse To Be A Victim®
program provides information on
crime prevention and personal safety.
jmoses1936@gmail.com
Florida Sport Shooting Ass’n.
Von Braun Center, R.K. Shows Inc.
(563) 927-8176
To learn more about the program, visit fssaf.wildapricot.org JAN. 6-7 FORT PIERCE, FL
Havert L. Fenn Center, Patriot
Productions (866) 611-0442
The 1911 Sidekick Fighter knife from Silver Stag, a skillfully hand-
crafted fixed-blade knife, is the perfect tool for deer camp or JAN. 6-7 LAKE WORTH, FL
self-protection. The 6-inch hollow-ground and jeweled Scottish Rite Masonic Center, Palm
high carbon D2 steel blade and leather sheath, with Beach Arms Collectors (561) 790-4643
vertical and horizontal carry options, feature
Friends of NRA logos. VZ Grips are JAN. 6-7 ORLANDO, FL
customized to match the Gun of Central Florida Fairgrounds, Florida
Gun Shows (407) 410-6870
JAN. 6-7 POMPANO BEACH, FL
Pompano Beach Civic Center, Florida
Gun Expo (305) 922-3677
the Year, a Kimber NRA Custom II
"Defending Freedom"1911, creating JAN. 6-7 PORT CHARLOTTE, FL
a duo that you won’t want to put down. Charlotte County Fairgrounds,
When you do, the display case’s black foam 2 Guys Shows (727) 776-3442
interior with cutouts for the gun and knife will
ensure it is stored securely beneath a lid engraved with the JAN. 6-7 GONZALES, LA
Friends of NRA logo. Available only at Friends of NRA events. Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, Classic
Arms Productions (985) 624-8577

100 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

JAN. 6-7 CONCORD, NC JAN. 20-21 MIAMI, FL
Cabarrus Arena & Events Center, Miami-Dade Fairgrounds, Florida
C&E Gun Shows (540) 953-0016 Gun Shows (407) 410-6870
JAN. 6-7 ANDERSON, SC JAN. 20-21 DELAND, FL
Civic Center of Anderson, Great Volusia County Fairgrounds, Sport
American Promotions (865) 453-0074 Show Specialists (321) 777-7455*
JAN. 6-7 GERMANTOWN, TN JAN. 20-21 LAKELAND, FL
Agricenter International, R.K. Shows Lakeland Center, Lakeland Rifle &
Inc. (563) 927-8176 Pistol Club (863) 665-0092
JAN. 6-7 LEBANON, TN JAN. 20-21 MARIETTA, GA
Wilson County Fairgrounds, Bill Good- Cobb Civic Center, R.K. Shows Inc.
man’s Gun Shows (502) 538-6900 (563) 927-8176
JAN. 20-21 COLUMBUS, GA
JAN. 12-13 HUNTSVILLE, AL
Huntsville Jaycees Community Iron Works Convention and Trade
Building, Alabama Military Collectors Center, Eastman Gun Shows
Ass’n. (256) 651-7302 (229) 423-4867
JAN. 20-21 WINSTON-SALEM, NC
JAN. 12-28 WEST PALM BEACH, FL
Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, C&E
South Florida Fairgrounds, South Gun Shows (540) 953-0016
Florida Fair (561) 793-0333
JAN. 20-21 RALEIGH, NC
JAN. 13-14 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL NC State Fairgrounds, Dixie Gun &
War Memorial Auditorium, Florida Knife Shows Classic (919) 781-1287
Gun Shows (407) 410-6870
JAN. 20-21 JACKSON, TN
JAN. 13-14 SEBRING, FL Jackson Fairgrounds Park, R.K.
Highlands County Fairgrounds, Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176
Patriot Productions (866) 611-0442
JAN. 27-28 CLARKSVILLE, TN
JAN. 13-14 CRYSTAL RIVER, FL National Guard Armory, Great
Downtown Crystal River, Citrus County American Promotions (865) 453-0074
Chamber of Commerce (352) 795-3149
JAN. 27-28 PALMETTO, FL
JAN. 13-14 EUSTIS, FL Bradenton Convention Center,
Lake County Fairgrounds, Sport Florida Gun Shows (407) 410-6870
Show Specialists (321) 777-7455 JAN. 27-28 LAWRENCEVILLE, GA
JAN. 13-14 SHREVEPORT, LA Gwinnett County Fairgrounds, R.K.
Riverview Hall, Classic Arms Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176
Productions (985) 624-8577 JAN. 27-28 BILOXI, MS
JAN. 13-14 KINGSPORT, TN Mississippi Coast Coliseum &
MeadowView Convention Center, Convention Center, Classic Arms
R.K. Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176 Productions (985) 624-8577
JAN. 13-14 COLUMBIA, TN JAN. 27-28 KNOXVILLE, TN
National Guard Armory, Great Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center, Soft CoolVent Neoprene
TM

American Promotions (865) 453-0074 R.K. Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176  Steel Core Retention
 Maximum Flexibility

Get Your 4.0 IWB Holster Online

MEMBER INFORMATION & BENEFITS
MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000
NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000 • INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org
MEMBER SERVICE (800) 672-3888 OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/
GIFT PLANNING (877) NRA-GIVE
NRASTORE.COM (888) 607-6007 THE NRA FOUNDATION (800) 423-6894
NRA INSTRUCTOR/
5-STAR MEMBER BENEFITS COACH FIREARM TRAINING (703) 267-1500
NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs (877) 672-3006 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM (800) 231-0752
COMPATIBLE WITH
NRA Visa Credit Card (866) NRA-VISA REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM (800) 861-1166
LifeLock (800) 978-1725 RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS (703) 267-1511
NRA Wine Club (800) 331-5578 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS (800) NRA-CLUB
NRA Hearing Benefits (866) 619-5889 RANGE SERVICES (877) 672-7264
Hertz Car Rental CDP# 166609 (800) 654-2200 COMPETITIVE SHOOTING (877) 672-6282
Avis Car Rental AWD# A832100 (800) 225-7094
LAW ENFORCEMENT (703) 267-1640
Enterprise Car Rental # NRAERAC (800) 736-8222
FRIENDS OF NRA (703) 267-1342
North American Moving Services (800) 699-0590
NRA MUSEUMS/
NRA Endorsed Check Program (888) 331-6767 GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS (703) 267-1600
INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION SHOWS & EXHIBITS (866) 343-1805
Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683 MEDIA RELATIONS (703) 267-1595
The “NRA Regional Report,” a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter,
Shooting Illustrated and America’s 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or
sponsored events scheduled in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling. AlienGearHolsters.com

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 101

INSIDE NRA | REGIONAL REPORT SOUTHWEST

2018 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • MAY 4-6 • DALLAS, TX

For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org

AREA SHOOTS
F or more information, send an email to
Shelly Kramer at mkramer@nrahq.org
F riends of NRA events celebrate
American values with fun,
fellowship and fundraising for The
or call (703) 267-1459. For a complete
listing, see shootingsportsusa.com.
NRA Foundation. You’ll have the HIGH POWER RIFLE
opportunity to participate in games, Phoenix, AZ JAN. 5-7
raffles, live and silent auctions and Clovis, CA JAN. 14
more. Your attendance contributes to Lincoln, CA JAN. 20
grants that promote firearm education,
safety and marksmanship. To learn SILHOUETTE
more about events in your area, visit Phoenix, AZ JAN. 27
friendsofnra.org, contact your local
field representative or send an email to GUN SHOWS
friends@nrahq.org.
Southwest Regional Director—
D ates and locations of gun shows
are subject to change, so please
contact the show before traveling.
JAN. 6-7 LAS VEGAS, NV
Orleans Hotel and Casino,
Western Trails Gun & Knife Shows
Jason Quick
Discounted NRA membership are sold (702) 222-1948
jquick@nrahq.org
through NRA recruiters. JAN. 6-7 YUMA, AZ
AZ—Winston Pendleton Yuma County Fairgrounds, Murphy
*Some shows may offer free admission to
wpendleton@nrahq.org people who sign up for new memberships or Gun Shows (208) 410-0221
Mid CA—Bob Anderson renewals. To become an NRA Recruiter call JAN. 13-14 MCCLELLAN PARK, CA
randerson@nrahq.org (800) 672-0004.
McClellan Conference Center,
JAN. 6-7 SAN BERNARDINO, CA Mountain Aire Promotions
Central CA—Paul Rodarmel
prodarmel@nrahq.org National Orange Show Events (209) 663-2830
Center, Crossroads of the West JAN. 13-14 ANGELS CAMP, CA
Northern CA—Dan Wilhelm (801) 544-9125
Calaveras County Fairgrounds, Buck
dwilhelm@nrahq.org JAN. 6-7 TUCSON, AZ Stop Gun Shows (530) 622-9486
Southern CA—Mike Davis Pima County Fairgrounds, JAN. 13-14 DALY CITY, CA
mdavis@nrahq.org Crossroads of the West
The Cow Palace, Crossroads of the
(801) 544-9125
Eastern CA—Cole Beverly West (801) 544-9125
JAN. 6-7 OGDEN, UT
cbeverly@nrahq.org JAN. 13-14 LANCASTER, CA
Weber County Fair, Utah Gun
NV—Steve Wilson Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, SoCal
Collectors Ass’n. (801) 486-1349
swilson@nrahq.org Gun Show (619) 997-4154
JAN. 6-7 SANDY, UT
JAN. 19-21 LAS VEGAS, NV
UT—Jim Reardon South Towne Expo Center, Rocky
Westgate Resort & Casino, Beinfeld
jreardon@nrahq.org Mountain Gun Shows (801) 589-0975
Productions (951) 970-9669
JAN. 20-21 PHOENIX, AZ
The 1911 Sidekick Fighter knife from Silver Stag, a skillfully hand- Arizona State Fairgrounds,
crafted fixed-blade knife, is the perfect tool for deer camp or Crossroads of the West Gun Shows
self-protection. The 6-inch hollow-ground and jeweled
(801) 544-9125
high carbon D2 steel blade and leather sheath, with
vertical and horizontal carry options, feature JAN. 27-28 MESA, AZ
Friends of NRA logos. VZ Grips are Main Street Plaza, AZ Gun Radio
customized to match the Gun of (650) 520-6002
JAN. 27-28 COSTA MESA, CA
Orange County Fair & Event Center,
Crossroads of the West Gun Shows
(801) 544-9125
the Year, a Kimber NRA Custom II
"Defending Freedom"1911, creating JAN. 27-28 VALLEJO, CA
a duo that you won’t want to put down. Solano County Fairgrounds, Code of
When you do, the display case’s black foam the West Gun Shows (530) 676-8762
interior with cutouts for the gun and knife will
ensure it is stored securely beneath a lid engraved with the JAN. 27-28 RENO, NV
Friends of NRA logo. Available only at Friends of NRA events. Grand Sierra Resort, Rocky Mountain
Gun Shows (801) 589-0975

100 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

TRAINING STATE ASSOCIATIONS
Crime Prevention
F or more information about your
state association, contact your state
T he NRA’s Refuse To Be A Victim®
program provides information on
crime prevention and personal safety.
association listed here, or log on to
clubs.nra.org.
To learn more about the program, visit Arizona State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.
refuse.nra.org. The most up-to-date asrpa.com
schedule is available on the internet by
California Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.
visiting nrainstructors.org, by sending
an email to refuse@nrahq.org or by crpa.org
calling (800) 861-1166. Nevada Firearms Coalition
JAN. 26—MESA, AZ nvfac.org
(Instructor Development Workshop) Utah State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n. Soft CoolVent Neoprene
TM

Gerard Violette (480) 244-6315 usrpa.org

 Steel Core Retention
 Maximum Flexibility

Get Your 4.0 IWB Holster Online

MEMBER INFORMATION & BENEFITS
MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000
NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000 • INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org
MEMBER SERVICE (800) 672-3888 OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/
GIFT PLANNING (877) NRA-GIVE
NRASTORE.COM (888) 607-6007 THE NRA FOUNDATION (800) 423-6894
NRA INSTRUCTOR/
5-STAR MEMBER BENEFITS COACH FIREARM TRAINING (703) 267-1500
NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs (877) 672-3006 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM (800) 231-0752
COMPATIBLE WITH
NRA Visa Credit Card (866) NRA-VISA REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM (800) 861-1166
LifeLock (800) 978-1725 RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS (703) 267-1511
NRA Wine Club (800) 331-5578 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS (800) NRA-CLUB
NRA Hearing Benefits (866) 619-5889 RANGE SERVICES (877) 672-7264
Hertz Car Rental CDP# 166609 (800) 654-2200 COMPETITIVE SHOOTING (877) 672-6282
Avis Car Rental AWD# A832100 (800) 225-7094
LAW ENFORCEMENT (703) 267-1640
Enterprise Car Rental # NRAERAC (800) 736-8222
FRIENDS OF NRA (703) 267-1342
North American Moving Services (800) 699-0590
NRA MUSEUMS/
NRA Endorsed Check Program (888) 331-6767 GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS (703) 267-1600
INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION SHOWS & EXHIBITS (866) 343-1805
Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683 MEDIA RELATIONS (703) 267-1595
The “NRA Regional Report,” a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter,
Shooting Illustrated and America’s 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or
sponsored events scheduled in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling. AlienGearHolsters.com

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 101

INSIDE NRA | REGIONAL REPORT WEST

2018 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS • MAY 4-6 • DALLAS, TX

For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org

F riends of NRA events celebrate

American values with fun,
fellowship and fundraising for The
NRA Foundation. You’ll have the
opportunity to participate in games,
raffles, live and silent auctions and
more. Your attendance contributes to
grants that promote firearm education,
safety and marksmanship. To learn
more about events in your area, visit
friendsofnra.org, contact your local
field representative or send an email to
friends@nrahq.org.
West Regional Director—Brad Kruger
bkruger@nrahq.org
MN—Eric Linder
elinder@nrahq.org
ND, SD—Doug DeLaRoi
ddelaroi@nrahq.org
Northern AK—Josh Toennessen
jtoennessen@nrahq.org
Southern AK—Greg Stephens
STATE ASSOCIATIONS Montana Rifle & Pistol Ass’n.
mtrpa.org
gstephens@nrahq.org
ID—Steve Vreeland
F or more information about your
state association, contact your state
association listed here, or log on to
North Dakota Shooting Sports Ass’n.
ndssa.org
svreeland@nrahq.org clubs.nra.org. Oregon State Shooting Ass’n.
MT—Joe Crismore Alaska Outdoor Council Inc. ossa.org
jcrismore@nrahq.org alaskaoutdoorcouncil.org South Dakota Shooting Sports Ass’n.
OR, HI—Mike Carey Hawaii Rifle Ass’n. sdshootingsports.org
mcarey@nrahq.org hawaiirifleassociation.org Washington State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n. Inc.
WA—Michael Herrera Idaho State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n. wsrpa.org
mherrera@nrahq.org idahosrpa.org Wyoming State Shooting Ass’n. Inc.
WY—Dave Manzer Minnesota Rifle & Revolver Ass’n. Inc. wyossa.com

AREA SHOOTS
dmanzer@nrahq.org mrra.org

The 1911 Sidekick Fighter knife from Silver Stag, a skillfully hand-
crafted fixed-blade knife, is the perfect tool for deer camp or
self-protection. The 6-inch hollow-ground and jeweled
F or more information, send an email to
Shelly Kramer at mkramer@nrahq.org
or call (703) 267-1459. For a complete
high carbon D2 steel blade and leather sheath, with listing, see shootingsportsusa.com.
vertical and horizontal carry options, feature
Friends of NRA logos. VZ Grips are PISTOL
customized to match the Gun of Boise, ID JAN. 27
SMALLBORE RIFLE
Lander, WY JAN. 6
Grand Forks, ND JAN. 27-28
the Year, a Kimber NRA Custom II SILHOUETTE
"Defending Freedom"1911, creating Sherwood, OR JAN. 6
a duo that you won’t want to put down.
When you do, the display case’s black foam
interior with cutouts for the gun and knife will GUN SHOWS
ensure it is stored securely beneath a lid engraved with the
Friends of NRA logo. Available only at Friends of NRA events. D ates and locations of gun shows
are subject to change, so please
contact the show before traveling.

100 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

Discounted NRA membership are sold JAN. 20-21 BISMARCK, ND
through NRA recruiters. Bismarck Civic Center, Dakota Territory
*Some shows may offer free admission to
Gun Collectors Ass’n. (701) 336-7533
people who sign up for new memberships or JAN. 20-21 EUGENE, OR
renewals. To become an NRA Recruiter call Lane County Event Center, Collectors
(800) 672-0004. West (800) 659-3440
JAN. 13-14 SPOKANE, WA
Spokane County Fair & Expo, Wes JAN. 27-28 CANBY, OR
Knodel Gun Shows (503) 363-9564 Clackamas County Fairgrounds,
Collectors West (800) 659-3440
JAN. 13-14 ROCHESTER, MN
Mayo Civic Center, Minnesota JAN. 27-28 DULUTH, MN
Weapons Collectors Ass’n. Duluth Entertainment Convention
(612) 721-8976 Center, Crocodile Productions
(763) 754-7140*
JAN. 20-21 CENTRALIA, WA
SouthWest Washington Fairgrounds, JAN. 28 PORTLAND, OR
Wes Knodel Gun Shows Jackson Armory, Oregon Arms Soft CoolVent Neoprene
TM

(503) 363-9564 Collectors (503) 254-5986

 Steel Core Retention
 Maximum Flexibility

Get Your 4.0 IWB Holster Online

MEMBER INFORMATION & BENEFITS
MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000
NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000 • INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org
MEMBER SERVICE (800) 672-3888 OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/
GIFT PLANNING (877) NRA-GIVE
NRASTORE.COM (888) 607-6007 THE NRA FOUNDATION (800) 423-6894
NRA INSTRUCTOR/
5-STAR MEMBER BENEFITS COACH FIREARM TRAINING (703) 267-1500
NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs (877) 672-3006 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM (800) 231-0752
COMPATIBLE WITH
NRA Visa Credit Card (866) NRA-VISA REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM (800) 861-1166
LifeLock (800) 978-1725 RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS (703) 267-1511
NRA Wine Club (800) 331-5578 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS (800) NRA-CLUB
NRA Hearing Benefits (866) 619-5889 RANGE SERVICES (877) 672-7264
Hertz Car Rental CDP# 166609 (800) 654-2200 COMPETITIVE SHOOTING (877) 672-6282
Avis Car Rental AWD# A832100 (800) 225-7094
LAW ENFORCEMENT (703) 267-1640
Enterprise Car Rental # NRAERAC (800) 736-8222
FRIENDS OF NRA (703) 267-1342
North American Moving Services (800) 699-0590
NRA MUSEUMS/
NRA Endorsed Check Program (888) 331-6767 GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS (703) 267-1600
INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION SHOWS & EXHIBITS (866) 343-1805
Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683 MEDIA RELATIONS (703) 267-1595
The “NRA Regional Report,” a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter,
Shooting Illustrated and America’s 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or
sponsored events scheduled in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling. AlienGearHolsters.com

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 101

INSIDE NRA | PROGRAMS & SERVICES

Resolution Honors
40th Anniversary of
Cincinnati Meeting
“WHEREAS, 2017 marks the 40th anniversary of
the historic Meeting of Members in Cincinnati,
Ohio, during which the members of the National
Rifle Association of America (NRA) exerted their
authority and forever shifted the direction and
focus of the Association; and
WHEREAS, That shift in focus and direction
has resulted in unprecedented growth of the
Association, and commensurate growth in the
Association’s political influence, bringing about res-
toration of much of the ground lost to advocates of
restrictions on the right to arms; and
WHEREAS, The members of this organization,
along with all Americans, and all gun owners every-
where owe a deep debt of gratitude to the stalwart

Photo by NRA Staff

members who bucked the system and stood up for
their rights as the owners of the NRA in Cincinnati
in 1977; and
WHEREAS, It is important that younger gen-
erations have knowledge and understanding of
the fights that have gone before;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the mem-
bers of the National Rifle Association of America,
here gathered in convention in Atlanta, Georgia
on this 29th day of April 2017, do hereby acknowl-
edge and applaud the actions of their fellow NRA
members at the Annual Meeting of Members in
Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1977; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the membership here gath-
ered does express its strong desire that the staff
and Board of Directors of the NRA commemorate
the historic Cincinnati Members’ Meeting with
articles and videos in NRA publications and media
during this anniversary year; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the members here gathered
desire that the full text of this resolution be pub-
lished in the Official Journal of the Association.”
NRA Youth Education Summit
Calls for 2018 Applications
A
pplications are now being accepted for the 2018 NRA Youth
Education Summit (Y.E.S.), which this year will be conducted in
two sessions.
High school sophomores and juniors are invited to apply for one
of the 45 to 50 spots in each of the NRA’s week-long leadership
development program. Participants not only get to spend a week
near the nation’s capital, they also get to compete for a share of
$55,000 in scholarship funds.
Y.E.S. members spend part of the week learning about how our
government functions, with visits to the Capitol building and other
sites. Additional activities include museum and history tours. And,
of course, shooting events will be on the schedule.
Applications must be postmarked by Jan. 12, 2018. The sessions
are slated for July 9-15 and July 22-29.

NRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Joe M. Allbaugh, Oklahoma; William H. Allen, Tennessee; Thomas P. Arvas, New Mexico; Scott L. Bach, New Jersey; William A. Bachenberg, Pennsylvania; Bob Barr, Georgia;
Ronnie G. Barrett, Tennessee; Clel Baudler, Iowa; J. Kenneth Blackwell, Ohio; Matt Blunt, Virginia; Dan Boren, Oklahoma; Robert K. Brown, Colorado; Pete R. Brownell, Iowa;
Dave Butz, Illinois; Ted W. Carter, Florida; Richard R. Childress, North Carolina; Patricia A. Clark, Connecticut; Allan D. Cors, Florida; Charles L. Cotton, Texas; David G. Coy, Michigan;
Larry E. Craig, Idaho; John L. Cushman, New York; R. Lee Ermey, California; Edie P. Fleeman, North Carolina; M. Carol (Bambery) Frampton, South Carolina; Joel Friedman,
Nevada; Sandra S. Froman, Arizona; Marion P. Hammer, Florida; Maria Heil, Pennsylvania; Graham Hill, Virginia; Steve Hornady, Nebraska; Susan Howard, Texas; Curtis S. Jenkins,
Georgia; David A. Keene, Maryland; Tom King, New York; Timothy Knight, Tennessee; Herbert A. Lanford Jr., South Carolina; Willes K. Lee, Hawaii; Karl A. Malone, Louisiana;
Sean Maloney, Ohio; Robert E. Mansell, Arizona; Carolyn D. Meadows, Georgia; Bill Miller, West Virginia; Owen Buz Mills, Arizona; Craig Morgan, Tennessee;
Grover G. Norquist, Washington, D.C.; Oliver L. North, Virginia; Robert Nosler, Oregon; Johnny Nugent, Indiana; Ted Nugent, Texas; Lance Olson, Iowa; Melanie Pepper,
Texas; James W. Porter II, Alabama; Peter J. Printz, Montana; Todd J. Rathner, Arizona; Kim Rhode, California; Wayne Anthony Ross, Alaska; Carl T. Rowan Jr., Washington, D.C.;
Don Saba, Arizona; William H. Satterfield, Alabama; Mercedes Schlapp, Virginia; Ronald L. Schmeits, New Mexico; Esther Q. Schneider, Texas; Steven C. Schreiner, Colorado;
Tom Selleck, California; John C. Sigler, Delaware; Leroy Sisco, Texas; Bart Skelton, New Mexico; Dwight D. Van Horn, Idaho; Blaine Wade, Tennessee; Linda L. Walker, Ohio;
Howard J. Walter, North Carolina; Heidi E. Washington, Michigan; Allen B. West, Texas; Robert J. Wos, Florida; Donald E. Young, Alaska.

Communications intended for any member of the NRA Board of Directors should be addressed to: (Name of Board member), NRA Office of the Secretary, 11250
Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030; or nrabod@nrahq.org; or (703) 267-1021. Please include your name, contact information and NRA membership I.D. number, as only
communications from NRA members will be forwarded.

102 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 Put Hundreds of Dollars in Your Pocket
with NRA 5-Star Benefits
SAVE ON TRAVEL SAVE ON INSURANCE
Car Rental Discounts NRA Endorsed Life, Health, Property, Casualty for members and businesses
Hertz 1-800-654-2200 CDP# 166609 www.Hertz.com/nra 1-877-672-3006 www.nraendorsedinsurance.com
Avis 1-800-225-7094 AWD# A832100 www.avis.com/nra High Limit Term Life
Budget 1-800-527-0700 BCD# Z636500 www.budget.com/nra Life Insurance Central, 1-800-756-6452 x9037, www.lic.life/nra9037
Enterprise 1-800-736-8222 Customer # NRAERAC MetLife Auto and Home
www.enterprise.com/nra 1-877-491-5087 www.locktonrisk.com/nrains/auto.htm
National 1-800-227-7368 Customer # 5028198 NRA Endorsed Emergency Assistance Plus
www.nationalcar.com/offer/nra 1-855-295-3683, www.nraendorsedinsurance.com/eap
Alamo 1-800-462-5266 Customer # 7015199 NRA Carry Guard Self-Defense Insurance
www.alamo.com/offer/nra 1-866-NRA-5050 www.nracarryguard.com

SAVE ON MEDICAL NEEDS

NRA Hearing Benefits
1-866-619-5889 www.NRAHearingBenefits.com
Life Line Screening
Preventive Screening Services 1-866-651-7926
www.LifeLineScreening.com/NRA
Prescription Drug Discounts
1-855-881-5685 www.nrarx.com
Medical Concierge Network
1-800-352-6094 NRA.MedicalConciergeNetwork.com
Hotel Discounts
NRA Members save up to 20% on more than 25,000 hotels and
vacation homes worldwide. www.benefits.nra.org/hotels

FINANCIAL SERVICES/HOUSEHOLD SERVICES

Credit Card
NRA Visa 1-866-NRA-VISA offer 76376 www.nraaccounts.com/nra
Prepaid Card
NRA Visa Prepaid Card www.nraprepaid.com
Customized Checks
NRA Check Program 1-888-331-6767 www.nracheckprogram.com
SPECIALTY SAVINGS
Home Security NRA Wine Club
SimpliSafe – 1-888-957-4675 www.simplisafe.com/nra Vinesse 1-800-331-5578 www.nrawineclub.com
Moving and Relocation Services Travel Risk & Crisis Management
North American 800-524-5533 http://NRA.movingnavl.com Global Rescue – 1-800-381-9754 www.globalrescue.com/nra
Allied Van Lines 800-871-8864 http://NRA.movingallied.com NRA Outdoors Guides & Outfitter Service
Identity Theft Protection 1-918-258-7817 www.nraoutdoors.com
LifeLock 1-877-LifeLock promo code NRA www.lifelock.com/nra Christmas Cards
NRA Car Buying Service NRA Holiday Card Center www.holidaycardcenter.org/nra
www.nra.org/autos or call 1-877-924-8287
Personal Information Privacy Protection SAVE ON NRA GEAR
ManageURID visit www.manageurid.com/nra or call 1-877-331-8441 The NRA Store 1-888-607-6007 www.nrastore.com

HIGHLIGHTED MEMBER BENEFIT OF THE MONTH

No-Cost-To-You† Gun Owner Protection Plan

NR-21362.Ad

GUN OWNER
ER
As a gun owner and NRA member, you have the right to activate NO COST
Clip and Keep for Members-Only Exclusive Savings

PPROTECTION
ROTTECTION
ECTI
PLAN
coverage with cash benefits up to $7,500.00 ($12,500 for Life Members).
· $2,500.00 No Cost ArmsCare Firearms Insurance: You PAY NOTHING for this coverage,
Helping protect your firearms against theft, loss, or damage. but activation is required.
· $5,000.00 No Cost Accident Insurance Coverage
($10,000.00 for Life Members!)^: Cash benefits for your
beneficiaries if you fall victim to a covered accident. To activate go online to
· BONUS No Cost Travel Care Hotline: FREE destination www.NRAGOPP.com
guide BEFORE you go and access to benefits to help you handle
emergencies while away.
AT1659594

†
NRA Endorsed Member Benefits pay the cost of this coverage for you, underwritten by Transamerica Premier Life Insurance Company, Cedar Rapids, IA.
✃

^This policy has exclusions and limitations. For complete details of the coverage, please visit www.NRAGOPP.com. 41750 ©2017 AGIA

41750 NR.21362 Gun Owner ProtPlan Ad.indd 1

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 103
1/16/17 9:13 AM
USMC 1909
continued from p. 77

took a little getting used to, and I

suspect that those with small hands or
little double-action experience would
struggle, however, I was able to do good
work with it.
After several positive shooting ses-
sions, I had an idea. How would the
Colt stack up on the current Marine
Corps Pistol Qualification? The course
of fire is a relatively recent change
that incorporates pairs and failure drills
from the holster from 7 to 15 yds. and
deliberate shots at 25 yds., all within
time limits on a silhouette target.
Shots must fall within a roughly 6"x9"-
sized chest area or the head box for
max score. I scrounged a holster to
fit the 1909 and gave it a go. I used
Winchester cowboy loads, which are a
dead ringer for the ballistics of the ser-
vice load. The modest velocity helped
The Marine M1909 shot a nearly perfect recoil recovery in the rapid-fire strings
score—398 out of 400—on the current-day at 7 yds. The Marine .45 came onto tar-
USMC pistol qualification course. get naturally, and the hits tore a nice,
continued on p. 106

104 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 SUPER COUPON SUPER COUPON

FREE
20%
800+ Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com

SUPER COUPON SUPER COUPON WITH ANY PURCHASE

Customer Rating 900 MAX. STARTING/ RAPID PUMP® 1.5 TON SAVE 3-1/2"
700 RUNNING WATTS ALUMINUM RACING JACK $40 SUPER BRIGHT
2 HP (63 CC) 2 CYCLE • 3-1/2 pumps lifts most vehicles ALUMINUM

OFF
GAS GENERATOR • Lifts from 3-1/2" to 14-1/8" FLASHLIGHT
NOW • Lightweight 34 lbs. • 9 LED
Customer Rating • Compact Lightweight
99
$89 NOW
$5999 $7999
ITEM 69111
SAVE COMPARE TO
2
$ 99 63599/62522/62573
63875/63884/63886
ANY
SINGLE

• 5 hours run-time
$29 $
10 99
109 ITEM 68053/62160
RAYOVAC MODEL: BRS9LED-B 63888/69052 shown
ITEM

@ 50% capacity COMPARE TO $

ALL POWER
11992 MODEL: APG3004A
62496/62516
60569 shown
COMPARE TO
DURALAST
$ 9999
MODEL: T815016L LIMIT 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be
ITEM 63024/63025 shown LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior purchase.
Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567.
used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club
membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item,
compressors, floor jacks, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trenchers,
Offer good while supplies last. Shipping & Handling charges may apply if not welders, Admiral, Ames, Bauer, Cobra, CoverPro, Daytona, Earthquake, Fischer, Hercules,
picked up in-store. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Icon, Jupiter, Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, Tailgator, Union, Viking, Vulcan, Zurich. Not valid on
Valid through 4/22/18. Limit one FREE GIFT coupon per customer per day. prior purchases. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 4/22/18.

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18* LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18*

SUPER SUPER
SUPER COUPON SUPER COUPON COUPON
Customer Rating
COUPON
SAVE MAGNESIUM Customer Rating SAVE Customer Rating 6.5 HP (212 CC) OHV 3 GALLON, 100 PSI OIL-FREE
20 VOLT LITHIUM CORDLESS $230 HORIZONTAL SHAFT AIR COMPRESSORS
79% FIRE STARTER GAS ENGINE
• Air delivery:
Customer Rating 1/2" COMPACT DRILL/DRIVER KIT 0.6 CFM @ 90 PSI, A. HOT DOG
ITEM 69269/97080 shown
• 450 in. lbs. of torque 1 CFM @ 40 PSI
B. PANCAKE
• 1.5 amp hour battery
• Weighs 3.4 lbs.
NOW A B ITEM 60637/61615

NOW
NOW $9999 95275 shown

$199
SAVE
$39
$5999 YOUR CHOICE

2
$ 99 COMPARE TO
PORTER-CABLE
$ 11999 $3999
COMPARE TO
COGHLAN'S
9
$ 59
ITEM
69457/63733 $ 99
$ 6999 RISK FREE TRIAL
MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
ITEM 60363/69730
ITEM 69727 shown
COMPARE TO
HONDA
$ 32999
MODEL: GX200UT2QX2
SAVE $
59% 5699 COMPARE TO $ 62
PORTER-CABLE MODEL: PCFP02003
98
MODEL: 7870 66560 shown MODEL: PCC601LB
ITEM 63531 CALIFORNIA ONLY

LIMIT 9 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18* LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18* LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18* LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18*

SUPER SUPER SUPER

COUPON
COUPON Battle Tested COUPON
COUPON SUPER
26", 4 DRAWER Customer Rating Customer Rating 2/10/50 AMP, 12 VOLT
TOOL CART MECHANIC'S GLOVES BATTERY CHARGER/ SAVE 12,000 LB. ELECTRIC WINCH
ENGINE STARTER 400 WITH REMOTE CONTROL AND
$
• 6200 cu. in. of storage Customer Rating
• 580 lb. capacity • Weighs 83.5 lbs. AUTOMATIC BRAKE
• Weighs 97 lbs. SAVE • 21-1/4" L x 10-1/8" H

NOW SAVE
SAVE NOW 57% NOW
9
$99 99 $79 73% $3 99
NOW $2999
$ 14999 COMPARE TO
MECHANIX $599 $ 4999 $29
9 9
Voted Best Winches
$ 38999 Customer Rating

COMPARE TO
HUSKY
$ 179 ITEM 61634/61952 14
$ 99 ITEM 62434, 62426, 62433, COMPARE TO $ 6999 ITEM 60581 ITEM 61256/61889 COMPARE TO $ 69999
MODEL: HOUC3304B10 95659 shown MODEL: 5075800 62432, 62429, 62428 shown SCHUMACHER ELECTRIC MODEL: SE-1250 60653 shown 60813 shown WARN MODEL: WAR96820

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18* LIMIT 8 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18* LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18* LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18*

SUPER
SUPER COUPON COUPON
SUPER COUPON SUPER COUPON
1000 LB. CAPACITY 3/8" x 50 FT. RETRACTABLE 3 WATT LED RECHARGEABLE 20-60 x 60mm
SWING-BACK AIR HOSE REEL CORDLESS SPOTLIGHT SPOTTING SCOPE
TRAILER JACK SAVE NOW WITH TRIPOD
• Height range: NOW 60% Customer Rating
SAVE
12-1/2" to 24"
Customer Rating NOW $5999 Customer Rating $1199 27%
NOW

COMPARE TO
$1799 SAVE
60% SAVE $ 7999 $ 1499 $3999
REESE $39 COMPARE TO $ 2999
COMPARE TO $ 99 $ 5499
$ 44 99
MODEL: 74410
$ 25 99 ITEM 69780
41005 shown
Customer Rating KOBALT
ITEM 69265/62344/93897 shown
MODEL: SGY-AIR184
PEAK
ITEM 61960/61777 shown
Includes AC/DC adapter and 12 volt DC cigarette lighter plug.
MODEL: PKC0TV-R

ITEM 62774/94555 shown

LIMIT 7 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18* LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18* LIMIT 6 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18* LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18*

SUPER SUPER SUPER

COUPON COUPON COUPON SUPER COUPON SAVE
29 PIECE TITANIUM DRILL BIT SET Customer Rating 1000 LB. CAPACITY 1.51 CUBIC FT. SOLID STEEL $75
10" SLIDING Customer Rating
COMPOUND Customer Rating
MOTORCYCLE LIFT ELECTRONIC DIGITAL
• Powerful
MITER SAW 15 amp motor
• Diamond plate steel platform and ramp
FLOOR SAFE
• Lift range: 7" – 29-1/2"
NOW NOW
NOW
SAVE
$114
$8499 $999 NOW
99
$9999
$299
22-3/4"

SAVE 1
129 99 Cust
Customer Rating
COMPARE TO $
$500
KOBALT
SAVE 175
Blade sold $ 199 $ 17 99 83% 79999
$ 429 99 COMPARE TO $
separately. COMPARE TO $ 60 COMPARE TO $ SENTRYSAFE MODEL: SFW123GTC
$ 114 99
ITEM 61971/61972/98199 shown
MODEL: SM2507LW
DEWALT MODEL: DW1369 ITEM 62281/61637 shown DIRECT-LIFT MODEL: 873100 ITEM 69904/68892 shown ITEM 91006/62678/62977 shown

LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18* LIMIT 9 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18* LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18* LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 4/22/18*

At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare” or “comp at” price means that the same item or a similar functioning item was advertised for sale at
*Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 4/22/18. or above the “Compare” or “comp at” price by another retailer in the U.S. within the past 180 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by
location. No other meaning of “Compare” or "comp at" should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.
 USMC 1909
continued from p. 104

tight, centered group with time to

spare on each string. On one of the
25-yd. strings, I rushed the trigger a
touch and pickled a shot just outside
of the full credit line. The final tally
was a remarkable 398 of 400 possible
points. It would be hard to overstate
how rewarding it was to shoot the old
warrior and have it post such a score.
I try to shoot almost anything
I get to handle against the 10-yd.
steel plate rack. I find that the time
to clear six 8" steel plates from
the ready position is a good base-
line practical comparison. My first
few attempts with the M1909 were
inauspiciously slow as I learned the
long double-action arc. I took the
rack on both single- and double-
action and found that even learn-
ing the long stroke I was a good
second-and-a-half faster when firing
double-action. As I gained familiar-
ity with the Colt and learned how to
best grasp it and became acquainted
with how the .45 pointed, speed
came suddenly. With Hornady cow-
boy loads in the cylinder I was able
to topple all six plates in as few as
3.71 seconds, which is a respectable
time in the pocket of where I shoot
modern big-bore revolvers. The shal-
low checkering seemed to make a
considerable difference in anchoring
the gun in hand at speed, and I was
more than pleased.
Finally, I was finishing up on the
range and happened to be 35 yds.
away from an 8" steel hanger. Feeling
froggy, I dropped rounds into the
cylinder and thumbed the hammer
back. Six shots later there were as
many lead splatters on the steel in a
3½" group. That would be excellent
for a high-end service pistol today but
was especially rewarding for a worn
108-year-old veteran.
Simply put, this is an outstanding
gun and must have been a formidable
service sidearm. The M1909 exudes
a Victorian charm and exotic call to
adventure, and was undoubtedly a
welcome companion to those Marines
of long ago. I suspect some of the old
salts were reluctant to trade it for the
high-tech M1911s that replaced it so
shortly after issue.

106 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

GALIL ACE
continued from p. 62

hundreds of rounds, but my range

testing pales in comparison to what
IWI has put its ACE lineup through.
In fact, the company’s website is full
of torture test videos, ACEs dunked
in water or covered in mud and sand
then put through their paces.
What is the Galil ACE’s place in
the modern sporting rifle market? For
those looking for the robustness of the
Kalashnikov design with the refinements
of the AR-15, the 5.56x45 mm NATO ACE
checks all the boxes—the safety selector
is familiarly at the right thumb, the
stock is adjustable, it uses AR maga-
zines and has a bolt hold-open device.
Likewise the 7.62x51 mm NATO ACE is a
viable AR-10/SCAR 17 alternative.
The 7.62x39 mm ACE offers a
Kalashnikov with the refinements usu-
ally only found on custom-built AKs—
left-side charging handle, magazine
well, optics rail, aperture rear sight,
telescoping stock and railed hand-
guard. The 7.62x39 mm models are also
a .300 Blackout alternative, especially
in pistol form.

Horizon
Not the official rifle of the IDF, the
ACE, like the original Galil, has made
its biggest impact outside of Israel. The
military version of the rifle has been
adopted by Chile, Vietnam, Colombia,
Peru and Estonia, and it has been
Modular safes that
licensed for manufacture in those coun-
tries. With the ACE in the running to
assemble anywhere.
be the next service rifle in places such Now, in 12-gun to 56-gun sizes.
as India and Pakistan, its adoption in
those nations could make it one of the
most prolific modern AK designs.
In little more than a year, sales of SnapSafe® modular
the Galil ACE in the United States have safes are as solid
already matched the number of original and impenetrable
Galils sold here during its decade-long as conventional
run in the 1980s. American Galil aficio- welded safes,
nados can expect more to come. Then- but their design
makes moving and
vice president of sales and marketing of
assembly easy,
IWI US, Michael Kassnar, implied that
SHI the need
Ewithout
the Kalashnikov’s evolution through the for hired movers
ELD •
• FI R

Galil line is not yet finished. “The IWI or installers.

motto is ‘Innovate, Optimize, Perform,’”
ED
23

0 0˚
he said. “IWI in Israel never stops look- F R AT
ing for ways to make a platform better.”
Whatever the future holds for IWI’s 1-877-214-4470
ACE, the AK—especially in its Galil Super Titan XXL (56-gun) Titan (12-gun) snapsafe.com
form—is here to stay.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG JANUARY 2018 107

 STOP ANY THREAT... DEAD IN ITS TRACKS! 6 MM CREEDMOOR
continued from p. 83

BULLPUP9
with an average of 0.980"! For three
THE MOST COMPACT 9MM SHOOTS BOTH .45LC brand-new production rifles with a
DOUBLE-ACTION ONLY PISTOL & .410 brand-new cartridge and a brand-new
factory load that is awesome perfor-
mance. Or at least I think it is; you can
be the judge.
Now, for my just-for-fun compari-
son, what about the RPR in 6.5 mm
Creedmoor with a big VX-3i LR/P
scope (identical to 6-mm RPR No. 1)?
Shooting tests are not scientific, but
if they were you would call this the
“control.” Shooting a similar load,
Hornady’s Match line with 140-gr.
ELD-Match bullets, I expected it to
come out ahead. After all, the 6 mm
is brand new, while the parent 6.5 mm
3.35-in. Barrel 14 Calibers Creedmoor has had a decade of fine-
A Reverse-Feed Design 36 Barrels tuning. It did, but not by that much.
9mm Pocket-Pistol ALL interchangeable
The average of five, five-shot groups
was 0.847". If you like numbers, that’s
MADE IN TEXAS BY TEXANS. ® just 0.081" difference between the
identically scoped 6.5-mm RPR and
FOR MORE INFO OR A FREE BROCHURE, call 817-573-4445 or go to BondArms.com 6-mm RPR No. 1.
One of the problems with any
test protocol is that groups can be

GUN
flukes, and flukes can be good or
bad, which is why we take an aver-
age of several. I caught a calm day
and really took my time, I did not
see any “called fliers,” but, shoot-
ing from a bench rather than a
machine rest, it’s impossible to rule
COLLECTORS! out human error (which is also why
we take an average). So, interest-
ingly, the very best group out of
Special Offer for 20 groups (four rifles, five groups
each) was a circular 0.368" cluster
NRA Members! from 6-mm RPR No. 1. The next
tightest group, 0.584", came from
This offer is good for the 6.5-mm RPR. The big difference
first-time subscribers only!!! in the averages, however, was that
the worst group (of five) in the
n YES! Send me MAN AT ARMS FOR THE GUN AND SWORD COLLECTOR 6.5-mm RPR was just over an inch
– THE NRA JOURNAL FOR THE AMERICAN ARMS COLLECTOR. One-year sub- (1.042"). With all three 6-mm rifles
scription (6 issues) for only $32.00 in U.S.A., Possessions and Canada. (Foreign subscribers I had one group of the five that
must add $10.00 for postage). Order now and get a free bonus issue added to your opened up from 1.3" to almost 1.5".
subscription just by mentioning this ad! Visit www.gunandswordcollector.com Obviously that skews the average,
Call 800-999-4697 or 401-597-5055 but it’s impossible to know if it was
the fault of the rifle, the load or
(most likely) the shooter.
Or mail to: MAN AT ARMS, 54 E. School Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895
Name Let’s note, too, that none of these
Address
barrels was broken-in, and there
City State Zip
was only one production load avail-
n Payment Enclosed (check or Money Order payable to Man at Arms) Charge my: n MasterCard n VISA n American Express able. You can explain it any way you
wish, but I wasn’t surprised that the
Credit Card Number Expiration Date
continued on p. 110

108 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 Advertisement

How To: Repair Your Body

One of 2017’s more healthier bodies, and
interesting innovations even more energy.
came when Dr. Rand
McClain, the Los But what’s really turning
Angeles based “Doctor heads is that the meth-
to the Stars,” released od involves one simple
his new technique for thing: A drink.
what some are calling
the Body Restore McClain believes the As of this writing, the
formula. technique works best video has over 3 Million
for people over 40, views and is quickly
And the reason every- particularly those who becoming “viral’.
one’s talking about it is may be experiencing
because his method is fatigue, weaker bodies, This is the video that
based on technology and even “foggy” many might not want
that was actually thinking. people to see, but if
partially banned by a you want to learn more
U.S. Establishment in And when Dr. McClain watch the shocking
2001. However, Dr. GURSSHGWKH¿QDOERPE presentation at
McClain and his part- shell — video footage www.LCR44.com
ners have found a way of the results he expe-
that allows them to go rienced after using the Dr. McClain calls out
and take this discovery method on himself — it both the medical indus-
straight to the American became clear that the try and certain agen-
people. discovery is nothing cies. One viewer com-
short of incredible, of mented: “Why did I not
Dr. McClain revealed course your individual know this before? Rand
he’s already offering results will vary. is telling it like it is...we
this to his celebrity and need more
pro-athlete clients with But the latest develop- doctors like this!”
incredible results. ment in this story came
when the video version You can watch his
In the video presenta- of the presentation was presentation at
tion – he details how made available to the www.LCR44.com
some very big name public online.
athletes are achieving
increased strength,

6 MM CREEDMOOR
continued from p. 108
6.5 mm Creedmoor came in slightly
ahead—but it should be obvious that
the 6 mm Creedmoor maintains an
exceptional potential for accuracy.
WHERE DOES IT FIT?
One of the strengths of the 6.5 mm
Creedmoor is, when mated with aero-
dynamic bullets, it remains supersonic
for a great distance without beating
up the shooter. The 6 mm Creedmoor,
when mated with an aerodynamic
bullet, also offers exceptional perfor-
mance—but there is a difference. The
140-gr. 6.5 mm ELD-Match bullet that
I grouped in the 6.5 mm Creedmoor
RPR has BCs of 0.620 (G1) and 0.312
(G7). This is not even the most
aerodynamic 6.5-mm bullet available,
but no 6-mm bullet can compete with
these numbers. The 108-gr. 6 mm
ELD-Match bullet used for these tests
is near the top of the 6-mm heap with
BCs of 0.536 (G1) and 0.270 (G7).
With the muzzle velocities obtained in
my testing it will remain supersonic
to well beyond 1,000 yds., but it can-
not hold up as well as an aerodynamic
6.5-mm at extremely long range.
I just crunched some numbers
through Hornady’s 4 DOF online bal-
listics calculator (hornady.com). The
new 6 mm Creedmoor is faster than its
big brother. At the actual velocities I
was getting—let’s say 2860 f.p.s.—at
sea level with a 100-yd. zero the 108-gr.
ELD-Match 6-mm bullet drops 312" at
110 JANUARY 2018
Over 600,000 Customers
Served Since 1998
1,000 yds. and retains a very respect-
able 1368 f.p.s. The 6.5 mm Creedmoor’s
140-gr. ELD-Match bullet, at the stated
velocity of 2710 f.p.s., using the same
criteria, has 7" more drop at 1,000 yds.
FDA-approved medications
but has a retained velocity of 1419
from USA Pharmacies
f.p.s., meaning it will pass the 6-mm
bullet based on pure aerodynamics. Licensed USA Telemedicine
If one were to start the same 6.5-mm Physician Network
bullet at the same velocity—2860 Call 7 days per week
f.p.s. (not likely in the Creedmoor case,
but easy in larger cases)—then you’d
have 32" less drop at 1,000 yds. and a
retained velocity of 1546 f.p.s.
Ultimately, a higher BC eventu-
ally wins—but that’s accepted and
is not what the 6 mm Creedmoor
is about. Instead, it offers incred-
HABLAMOS ESPAÑOL
ible capability for a 6 mm. “Long
range” means different things to
CALL TOLL
different folks, and not everybody
FREE
needs maximum extreme-range capa-
bility. The 6.5 mm Creedmoor is a
800-551-0464
mild-mannered cartridge, but the Visit Viamedic.com/AR
6 mm Creedmoor is a lot more fun for special offers
to shoot. With a fairly heavy rifle
like the RPR you can, essentially,
call your shots through the scope,
and with the much lighter Predator
there is still very little movement
from recoil. It thus combines proven
Creedmoor-case accuracy with even
more manageability—and the ability
to use the longest and most aero-
dynamic bullets in a short action
IAL
S PE C
designed for the .308 family’s car-
99
69
tridge overall length.
The 6 mm Creedmoor comes to $ Each ®
market against stiff competition, but
I think it deserves success. Whether
you’re into tight groups or ringing
steel, it has plenty of long-range
capability. It’s going to be an awe-
some varmint and predator cartridge,
and will fill the same crossover role in
regards to big game as its competitors.
Now we’ll see what the shooting
public thinks.
The two 6 mm Creedmoor RPRs were
identical, but one was mounted with a
new Leupold VX-3i LR/P 4.5-14X 50 mm
scope, while the other was mounted with
a Minox ZA-5 2-10X 50 mm. Magnification
helps when shooting groups, so the author
expected the rifle with the bigger scope to
group better. It did, but not by much.
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
 © 2017 O.F. Mossberg & Sons

ENGINEERED
TO THE SPECS
OF FREEDOM AND
INDEPENDENCE.

STAND AND SALUTE THE TACTICAL RIFLES

from Mossberg
. As America’s oldest family-owned
and operated firearms manufacturer, we’ve been
building dependable, hardworking shotguns and
rifles since 1919. American built. American strong.
ARM YOURSELF WITH MOSSBERG.


MMR TACTICAL RIFLE 
#65035 – VORTEX STRIKEFIRE II SCOPED COMBO

M O S S B E R G . C O M / ARM YOURSELF

Safety Tip: Teach all members of your household the rules of safe firearm handling and STORAGE.
 KIMBER MICRO 9™
light. compact. powerful.
2017 Micro 9™ Models

The Micro 9™ family puts

9mm power and Kimber®
dependability in a classic,
compact package.

Micro 9™ CDP & CDP (LG)

Carry Melt™ treatment, Tritium
night sights. CDP (LG) wears
Crimson Trace Lasergrips®.

Micro 9™ Bel Air

Bel Air blue frame, mirror-polish slide.

Micro 9™ Stainless
Rosewood grips, satin silver finish

Micro 9™ Stainless Raptor

Scaled accents & Tritium night sights.
For a look at our many Micro 9™ pistols,
MADE IN A MERIC A
please visit www.kimberamerica.com
(888) 243-4522 TM
kimberamerica.com WHAT ALL GUNS SHOULD BE

©2017, Kimber Mfg., Inc. All rights reserved. Information and specifications are for reference only and subject to change without notice.
 The Exclusive Precious Metals & Rare Coin Expert of NRA Publications

Just Released Historic Silver

2018 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar
Brilliant Uncirculated Condition**

9
As low as

$ 50 each
check / wire price
$5 Canadian Silver Maple Leaf limit 10 per household

$ 95
1
As low as
each 100th Anniversary of JFK’s Birth
over spot price* H LIFE MEMBER OF THE NRA H
$1 Australian Silver Kangaroo (spot price) + $1.95 = price per coin 4The Last Circulating 4Each Coin 1st Date of Issue
check / wire price • limit 6 of each per household
90% Pure Silver Half Dollar - surviving bank & store
Minted in U.S. History! inventory depletion in 1964
IRA APPROVED H 1oz .9999 FINE SILVER
**Brilliant Uncirculated coins include minor bag marking & may be white or have some
light coloration (toning).

GOLD COIN SURVIVES CONTROVERSY Drives Investor & Collector Demand

In 1908, this gold coin sparked controversy across
our nation because people feared germs spreading
from the coin’s innovative recessed design. Over a
century later, that unfounded fear has resulted in the
Indian Head quarter eagle ($2.50) becoming a series
pursued by investors & collectors with relatively few
examples surviving in higher grades!
4First $2.50 design to have the motto “In God We Trust”
4First U.S. coin design struck with a fascinating incuse design
4First U.S. coin design that used a true Native American model
First U.S. coin design by Bela Lyon Pratt, pupil of the famous
4
designer Augustus Saint-Gaudens
4One of the most popular & historic coins of the 20th Century

$2.50 Indian short sets available in dates 1925-D, 1926,

Certified MS63 2.50 Gold Indians $ 1927, 1928 & 1929 includes 5 coins for $2,550
As low as
$
510 00 each (check/wire price)
Gold Basis: $1,275
LIMIT 1 PER HOUSEHOLD
FREE SHIPPING & INSURANCE ($6 Value)
Each Coin Hand-Selected by Expert Dr. Mike Fuljenz
4Available while our inventory remains 4All coins grade choice uncirculated MS63 H Limited quantity of these sets available H
4All coins PCGS or NGC Graded (our choice) 4Dates available: 1925 to 1929 (our choice)
Call today for availability & pricing on other dates & grades.
NLG Investment
H SPECI AL H Indian Gold Coins of the 20 Century, th Book of the Year AMERICA’S GOLD EXPERT ®
FREE BOOK OFFER! 258 Pages - Color photographs Award-Winner Dr. Mike Fuljenz
Numismatic Literary Guild
With Your $2.50 Gold Indian Purchase of some of the finest-known specimens President - Universal Coin & Bullion®
Limit 1 free book offer per household • No dealers please Follow Dr. Mike Fuljenz

FREE SHIPPING Call for large quantity pricing & bulk shipping terms. NO DEALERS PLEASE

On first advertised orders over $99

add $6 on orders under $99 1.800.822.4653 Money Order or Check
Vault Verification: UAMRFGS0118W
Offer Expires: 01/30/18
*SPOT PRICE- the daily quoted market price of precious metals in bullion form. Spot price determined solely by Universal Coin & Bullion® at time of transaction. Prices are subject to change in response to market conditions,
and availability is not guaranteed. Please read important customer disclosures on our website or that accompany products purchased, including arbitration agreement. Images are for representation only & are not to scale.

H Proud Sponsor: H
H Eddie Eagle GunSafe® H
H Program H

Beaumont, TX
 “I’m proud to announce the historic release of NRA silver rounds. Each round displays the iconic NRA eagle logo and
bold Second Amendment statement. This is a great way to support the NRA and own pure silver at a great low price! “
- Dr. Mike Fuljenz President, Universal Coin & Bullion® America’s Gold Expert®
Follow Dr. Mike Fuljenz H NRA Golden Ring of Freedom Member H

NRA Silver Rounds se

er
rev
2018
JUST RELEASED
Third round in
this historic series, Reverse
begun in 2016

95¢
As low as

Obverse Reverse

H IRA APPROVED SILVER ROUND

check / money order
H FROM THE RESPECTED HIGHLAND MINT
H 1oz .999 FINE SILVER over spot price each* Silver Round: If silver spot price plus Special Offer equals cost per round
Price Example at time of order is Over Spot Price (example only)
(as of 11/07/17) $17.05 + $0.95 = $18.00
check /wire price • Limit 20 per household
H BULK SILVER - LOW PRICES

Royal Canadian Mint Low Special NRA Member Pricing

95
IRA
10 oz. Silver Bar APPROVED
¢ per
As low as
ounce
.9999 Fine Silver over spot price each*
(Spot price) + ($1.20) x (10 ounces) = price
4Serrated/reeded edge 4Distinct serial number on each bar
4Counterfeit Resistant 4Bar is individually packaged check /wire price • Limit 2 per household

Call today for quantity pricing, availability, shipping & payment terms on
these and other popular investment-grade gold & silver bullion products.
FREE 4Prices subject to change 4Availability not guaranteed 4No dealers please

1.800.822.4653
*Spot Price- the daily quoted market price of precious
metals in bullion form. Spot price determined solely by
SHIPPING Universal Coin & Bullion® at time of transaction. Please
read important customer disclosures on our website
On first advertised orders over $99
(add $6 on orders under $99) or that accompany products purchased, including
arbitration agreement. Images are for representation
Vault Verification: UAMRFGS0118W Offer Expires: 01/30/18 only & are not to scale.

The Exclusive Precious Metals & Rare Coin Expert of NRA Publications
H Proud Sponsor: H
H Eddie Eagle GunSafe® H
H Program H

Beaumont, TX