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BY BRAD FITZPATRICK BY CRAIG BODDINGTON BY ROBERT W. HUNNICUTT BY JOSEPH VON BENEDIKT

Reader Blowback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Riles & Glass by Tom Beckstrand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Editorial by Eric R. Poole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Proofhouse Kimber Open Country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Gun Room by Garry James . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Spent Cases by Keith Wood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

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CAUTION: Some advertisements may concern products that are not legally for sale to California residents or residents in other jurisdictions.
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10 G&A JA NU ARY 2019
R EA D E R
B L OWB ACK
COOPER & THE 1911
Would it be possible to get through a copy of Guns & Ammo
without seeing a “1911” or “Jeff Cooper” written 100 times
in every article? If not, my money will be spent elsewhere.
Anonymous
Email
HEY, GUN NUTS!
Right on Mr. Zaehringer,
regarding your letter in
November’s “Reader Blow-
back” on “Stupid Guns.” It
is almost criminally stupid
that the manufacturers keep
cranking out all varieties
of ugly, useless guns that
shoot 1,000 rounds on a
Saturday in the woods by
goofs who are not sports-
men or very good citizens.
They are going to get bad
legislation passed that
will restrict all of our rights
including those of us who
are real outdoorsmen par-
WRITE US! “Letters,” Guns & Ammo, 2 News Plaza, 3rd Floor, Peoria, IL 61614, or email us at gaeditor@outdoorsg.com.
Please include your city and state of residence. Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity.
ticipating in useful shooting
sports. You guys are gun
nuts! Lastly, regarding the
August “Range Bag” on
African “Safari Essentials,”
my son and I have been
on two African safaris and
we say that you don’t need
such excess as described.
Shape up you Trumpys!
Dale Hembrook
Brackettville, Texas
NOT SO STUPID
In response to Robert
Zaehringer’s “Stupid
Guns” letter, I believe he’s
being dramatic. Many
APRIL ’16
readers like the articles
about so-called “ugly” and
“stupid guns.” Some are
into tactical weapons and
enjoy reading on new guns
or updated ones. I was in
law enforcement for more
than 30 years and many
oficers read Guns & Ammo
and enjoy these types of
irearms at work and at
play. The anti-gun crew is
going to attack any kind
of gun. A bolt-action rile
becomes a “sniper” rile
when used in a crime and a
semiautomatic Remington
742 becomes labeled an
“assault rile.” Keep up the
good work. Different peo-
ple like different things. writer’s sample during the
Ricky Chandler fall of 2004 to harvest a Vir-
Dickson, Tennessee ginia whitetail at 75 yards.
However, not many of those
NO 6.8 BOLT GUNS? riles were made and the
I’m curious if the 6.8 SPC A-Bolt in 6.8 was discon-
will ever appear in a bolt tinued within a few years.
gun. The 6.8 offers low Ruger made two M77 Mark
recoil in a smaller action, II models: a compact alloy
lighter rile. It could make Hawkeye in matte inish as
for the perfect deer gun up well as another with a satin
to 200 yards. I once heard inish. Production of the
that even the military was Ruger riles concluded by
thinking about replacing the early 2011. In a discussion
5.56 NATO with the 6.8. It with manufacturers at the
would be nice to see some 2018 Outdoor Sports-
comparison of the 6.8 to man Group Roundtable, I
calibers such as .30-30 Win., learned that making a bolt
5.56mm and 7.62x39mm. gun for 6.8 was a manu-
Dave facturer’s nightmare. One
Gap, Pennsylvania company representative
concluded that “if it could
Browning used to make an go away altogether, few
A-Bolt chambered for 6.8 would shed any tears.”
SPC, and I used an early — E. Poole
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12 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | READER BLOWBACK
REVOLVER BARRELS
Tom Beckstrand’s column
titled “A Barrel’s Life” is
timely and instructive.
It relects an updated
approach compared with
what Major (later General)
Julian Hatcher achieved
many years ago. Regret-
tably, the article is limited
to riles, which in most
instances are fed jacketed
bullets. Shooters would
beneit from another
pertaining to revolvers and
pistols, particularly how
barrel life correlates not
only to pressure and heat,
but also to jacketed versus
lead-alloy projectiles. Gun-
talk anecdotes abound
about how handgun bar-
rels will deteriorate mark-
edly at 5,000 to 10,000
rounds with jacketed
bullets, but will suppos-
edly enjoy good health
to upwards of 100,000
rounds with lead-alloys.
It would be gratifying to
read a more precise and
scientiic analysis of the
subject. My personal anec-
dote involves a Smith &
Wesson Model 66 that has
ired slightly over 30,000
rounds, precisely 12
factory 158-grain jacketed
.357s, about 120 .38 Spe-
cials of 168-grain LSWCs
over 12.8 grains of 2400,
and all the rest being .38
Special 148-grain lead
wadcutters over 2.3 grains
of Red Dot. The bore, fore
and aft, still looks new,
but it would be interesting
to estimate how one with
three times the same diet
would present.
Allyn Sweeney
Oxford, Mississippi
KEEP ON DREAMING
I’ve been a reader of your
great magazine since the
1960s, but your Novem-
ber issue hit the spot.
Brad Fitzpatrick’s feature,
“Trendsetters,” started
me dreaming of owning a
Nighthawk Falcon — and
I do mean dreaming. As
great as it is, a Nighthawk
is way out of my inancial
means. Wouldn’t it be nice
to start a Go Fund Me
campaign? I’m sure all of
your readers would jump
at the chance to make my
dream come true.
Ralph Fretta
Calabash, North Carolina
TSA GOONS?
While reading SGM Kyle
Lamb’s article in the recent
issue of G&A, I was dis-
mayed by his characteriza-
tion of the Transportation
Security Administration
(TSA). Members of that
organization are not airline
goons. They are federal
security oficers doing a
dificult job. After being a
TSA oficer for 6 years, I can
assure you that baggage
oficers are not looking
for extra work by throwing
rile cases through the air.
Baggage oficers carefully
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14 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | READER BLOWBACK
guide all items onto belts
and insure that they are
carefully sent through the
X-ray. If they are observed
throwing baggage, they are
subject to discipline, and
all TSA operations at the
airport are subject to video-
tape surveillance. The TSA
does not want their cargo
handling equipment dam-
aged by carelessness and
throwing baggage items is
just the type of action that
causes such damage. Since
baggage areas are tightly
secured at airports, how
would SGM Lamb know
that the TSA is throwing his
cases around? A wild guess
for a humorous comment,
I suspect. I read the SGM’s
articles every month and
ind them interesting and
well-informed. I suspect, as
I said his comments about
the TSA were an attempt
at humor to provide a hook
for his otherwise interesting
article. So-called “airline
goons” is just an insulting
term and unnecessary to
make the point. Otherwise,
tell him to keep up the
good work.
1st Sgt. Robert W. Wallace
(Ret.)
Calumet City, Illinois
TWO OF A KIND
Wow, it just gets better with
every month. The Septem-
ber issue of Guns & Ammo,
page 70, featured Craig
Boddington’s feature on
Franchi’s Afinity shotguns
to include a left-hand
model. Being left-handed, I
understand his dilemma in
buying shotguns. Then on
page 96, G&A featured Buz
Fawcett. Buz and I moved
to Idaho about the same
time and he would stop in
at a gun shop I worked in.
His knowledge on
shotguns and shot-
shells was amaz-
ing. We would
hunt late-season
chuckers on the
Idaho-Oregon
border with his
side-by-side and
light loads. Buz
was also one of the irst to
open a sporting clay range
in Idaho. I still have some
of the trophies I won there.
Thanks again G&A! Craig
and Buz, you are the best.
Russell Ritger
Casa Grande, Arizona
BIPOD ID
There is a photo on page 74
of the November issue that
shows Tom Beckstrand taking
aim with the featured Tikka
T3x Tac A1 rile. The forend is
supported by a wide-stance
bipod. I found a few similar
bipods when searching the
internet, but not an exact
match. What’s the make and
model of his bipod in that
photo? I have the rile and
would like to add it.
Dave Musick
Lake Jackson, Texas
That bipod is one from
Long Range Accuracy. It’s
their F-Class bipod.
— T. Beckstrand
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E D I TOR I AL
I didn’t shoot my eye out.
Y C RISTMAS STORY
OVIE, Daisy didn’t offer its Red Ryder
n with “a pass in the stock and this thing that
me,” as R e Parker, the young protagonist in
(1983), described. It is believed that
aut o Gene Shepherd confused the Red Ryder with Daisy’s
Buck Jones model, which did have a compass and sundial.
Introduced in 1940, the Red Ryder Model 1938 was still
an appropriate icon for the perennial holiday lick and it
remains the most popular BB gun in the world.
“A Christmas Story” is the irst movie I remember watch-
ing with my family, so it’s no surprise that it inluenced me
as a young man. During the days of Betamax and VHS, I
watched it enough to memorize its lines, and it wasn’t long
before I was dreaming about defending the homestead
and drinking Ovaltine. I still drink Ovaltine today.
Thirty years ago we used to reuse coffee cans for
$140
@GUNSANDAMMOMAG
malt because the milk chocolate can was changed to a less
useful, 18-ounce paper container a few years ago.
I also moved on from the Red Ryder model after
learning that the most accurate BB gun is Daisy’s Model
499B Champion. It’s still a spring air rile featuring wood
and a lever action, but it’s a single-shot muzzleloader with
micrometer-adjustable aperture sights. At 5 meters, it’s
a one-hole paper puncher. Its accuracy comes from the
magnetic BB retainer and barrel liner.
The National BB Gun Championships for youth aged 8
to 15 has been ongoing since 1966. About 450 kids attend
PHOTO: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ
this four-position, 5-meter match referred to as the “Daisy
Nationals.” The match is held every summer in Rogers,
Arkansas. A testament to its performance, the Daisy 499B
is the only BB gun typically used. In addition to the shot
aggregate, each competitor completes a written test that
f d k wledge which makes up 25 per-
$40
 rve
Cu
he
f t
o
ad Not shown
actual size.

e Limited
h Collector’s
Edition
A

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G U N R O OM

“Perhaps a G&A reader out there has heard

of ‘Tomahawk Joe.’ If so, please elucidate!”

IDENTIFICATION
& VALUES GARRY.JAMES @
OUTDOORS G.COM

A: Your detailed photos tell idea to take it to a gunsmith

me all I need to know. You for a look-see and a going
have a World War I-vintage over to make sure there are
German military-issue P.08 no other issues. Lugers can
“Luger” manufactured at be cranky at times.
Erfurt in 1918. Erfurt made
P.08s from 1914 to 1918, WINCHESTER
though none are known 97 TRENCH GUN
with 1915 chamber dates. WORTH
Some 175,000 P.08s were Q: My grandfather fought
built by Erfurt in 1918. in World War I — Battery B
All left the factory blued. 315th — and came home
The pictures indicate your alive. Many years ago, he
pistol has deinitely been gave me several military
buffed and nickel plated items that he brought
sometime in the past. As back such as his helmet,
NICKELED LUGER? such, unfortunately, it has gas mask, gun belt and his
Q: I’ve been reading your column for years now, and it’s little collector value. I have diary. He also gave me an
always been riveting to read so much more about the his- generally had reasonably 1897 Winchester trench
tory of a gun then just the speciications. I never thought good luck shooting 115- shotgun manufactured in
that I would ever submit a question because, as a irst- grain FMJs in my own P.08s, February 1918. The shot-
generation immigrant from Germany, I never thought that though 126-grain offerings gun and original bayonet
I would have an antique gun worth submitting a question seem to work well, too. with leather scabbard has
about. After 15 years in these beautiful United States of There is a good chance all military markings except
America, that has changed. I got my hands on a 1918 P.08 the piece just might have a it is missing the heat shield.
Luger. It’s an Erfurt 1918 in 9mm with only one date stamp. faulty magazine, though it The shotgun is in very
All serial numbers match, except for the magazine. It’s an would probably be a good good condition. Wood
aftermarket one. The serial number 43XX is displayed on
the frame and the chamber. All other parts display the last
THE AUCTION BLOCK
two digits. There are many markings on pretty much all
parts of the gun. The Luger tool is also missing, as is the
holster. The strange thing is that the gun appears to be
stainless steel or nickel-plated, something I could not ind
mentioned anywhere. Could this be an aftermarket mod-
iication? I took it completely apart, cleaned it and shot
it. I used 115-grain FMJ bullets. It ired, but with regular
failures to feed. I read up on that and found out that the
action is so fast that I might need heavier bullets. Do you
know if this is true? I’ve ordered some spare magazines
and heavier bullets to try it again. I am still amazed that I
own a 100-year-old gun, a piece of history of the country
I came from. I would appreciate any information you can
provide, including a recommendation if I should insure the
gun or if it’s more of a shooter.
H.C., Email
20 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | GUN ROOM
has darkened, no cracks
and there is no rust on the
metal. It is not for sale. For
insurance purposes, can
you tell me how much all
this is worth?
H.D.
Email
A: From the photos you
sent, your ’97 Trench Gun
looks to be in reasonably
good shape, used but not
abused. It’s too bad the
heat shield is missing, and
that lack does affect value.
Model 1897 Trench Guns
are pretty hot right now,
with specimens in good
condition bringing lofty
sums. Assuming your gun
works well, and the bore
is OK, I’d value it in the
$2,750 to $3,250 range.
Replica heat shields have
HOLLYWOOD HARDWARE
been offered for sale in
the past. You might check
out the internet from time
to time and see if you can
scare one up, that is if you
care to retro-it the acces-
sory. It won’t add any value,
but will spruce up the piece
a bit, assuming it’s properly
installed and doesn’t hurt
the gun’s original inish/
patina.
ARABIA
MARTINI-HENRY
Q: When I was working in
Saudi Arabia 40 years ago, I
bought an old gun at a suk.
I have looked carefully and
it doesn’t seem to have any
writing on it. Can you tell
me what it is? How much is
it worth?
D.S.
Bellingham, Washington
A: You have a British
Martini-Henry military
carbine. It looks like a
Mark II that has been
subsequently modiied and
embellished. The elaborate
dot-inlay on the buttstock
appears to be a bit on the
crude side. (Many Islamic
arms are quite beautiful
and well-fashioned.) It is
deinitely Arabic in style,
though I must admit, I
cannot pinpoint the exact
region. It looks like bazaar-
work intended for tourist
sale more than anything
else. The carbine itself
dates from the 1870s, and
I believe it is a well-worn
original rather than a local
copy. Value, even on high-
grade Islamic pieces, is
undeservedly a bit on the
low side right now. I would
value your piece in the $300
to $400 range. It is more of
a curiosity than an actual
collector’s piece. Still, it’s
a nice souvenir and, in the
right setting, can be quite
decorative.
GERMAN FG42
Q: Where can I ind some
information on the German
World War II FG42? I’m
looking at ordering SMG
Guns’ replica and wanted
some background irst.
E.S.
Bend, Oregon
A: I’ve had the opportunity
to handle and ire one of
the SMG replica semiauto-
matic FG42 riles and was
mightily impressed with
it! There are a number of
books that cover the origi-
nal Fallschirmjägergewehr
42 in considerable detail.
However, for a quick,
thorough, easy-to-access
rundown, I’d recommend
popping on the internet
and checking out the “Art
in Arms” website (jeff-john.
com). Author Jeff John
has written a very detailed
treatise on the subject.
WILLIAM RICHARDS
SHOTGUN
Q. I purchased what
appears to be an old
English shotgun, serial
number 23XXX and I would
like you to conirm the
information I have gleaned
from my research. The gun
is marked on both side
plates “W. Richards”. I
have no delusions that this
is a Westley Richards gun.
However, I believe that it
is a William Richards gun
that was manufactured
between 1875 and 1887.
It has “Laminate Steel”
side-by-side barrels and,
as far as I can tell, all of the
correct British proofmarks. I
am aware that a number of
cheap copies from Belgium
and even the U.S. have
been passed off as British
guns. Seeing that you are
such a well-known Anglo-
phile, I believe you could
pass a inal verdict on my
shotgun. If there is anything
else that you can tell me
about the gun, company,
or value, I would greatly
appreciate your consider-
ate response. By the way,
I had the gun checked
out by a knowledgeable
gunsmith. He cleared it
for shooting blackpowder
loads. I ordered some from
Buffalo Arms.
T.C.
Email
A: Your gun is deinitely
British-made. Despite the
London address on the bar-
rel, the gun has Birmingham
proofs. Quality looks to be
decent, but it is deinitely
22 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | GUN ROOM
not up to Westley Richards
standards, so your sup-
position that the gun was
made by another Richards
is correct. I have found at
least two mentions of Bir-
mingham maker(s) named
“William Richards” in my
research material. I think
you also have the vintage of
the gun right. It features a
Deeley-Edge forend catch,
which was patented in 1873.
The engraving is just so-so.
I would be inclined to think
it was meant for export
to the United States. The
piece looks to be in reason-
able condition and is worth
in the $700 to $800 range.
ODDBALL
SPANISH PISTOLS
Q: My grandfather recently
passed away and he’s had
these pistols hanging up in
his basement for years, but
no one ever knew anything
about them. I was curious if
you would happen to know
what these are.
E.C.
Email
A: The pictures you sent
show a breech-loading,
double-barrel pistol and a
lintlock, boxlock, pocket
pistol. Both appear to be
Spanish-made, as the quality
of workmanship and general
conigurations are somewhat
on the crude side. I remem-
ber seeing large numbers of
guns similar to these for sale
in shops when I visited Spain
in 1968. The boxlock could
possibly be Belgian, but as I
cannot discern any obvious
Liege proofmarks, I’m going
to stick with the Spanish
connection.
STEVENS 335
SHOTGUN
Q: I have an old shotgun
my father left me; it was his
father’s. On the side is “J
Stevens Arms & Tool Co/
Chicopee Falls Mass USA
/ PAT’D MAR 19, 1907”.
On the bottom of the
lock (receiver) is “Model
335”. The serial number is
28XXX. Any help you can
give me would be much
appreciated.
T.G.
Email
A: The Stevens Model 335
side-by-side shotgun was
a good, plain, serviceable
hammerless introduced
circa 1910 and offered by
the company through the
early 1930s. It was available
in both 12 and 16 gauge
and was advertised by Ste-
vens as “ … our best-grade
double gun and represents
a quality considerably
beyond other double guns
of similar price.” The Model
335 listed for $27.50 in 1929.
GERMAN POCKET
REVOLVER
Q. My cousin got this
“pocket” (my deinition)
gun over 50 years ago and
has just kept it in a drawer.
When I recently saw it, I
thought it was a very inter-
esting piece, but I had no
idea of what it was. It has a
folding trigger and disas-
sembles very quickly and
easily. As you can see in one
of the photos, it has the
inscription “6.35BB”. Is that
the caliber of the gun? Are
you able to identify the age
and make of this piece? Is
there any value to it? Thank
you for your great articles
and informative writing.
E.B.
Email
A: You have a spiffy, little
German-made hammerless
pocket revolver and accom-
panying leather snap purse.
The proofmark, folding
trigger and external safety
catch identiies it as posi-
tively German. These guns
were offered under a variety
of names by different makes
beginning around the latter
part of the 19th century and
lasting until the 1930s. They
were commonly available
in 7.65mm (.32), 6.35mm
(.25) and 5.75 (.22 Velo-Dog)
calibers. In 1930, depending
upon chambering and qual-
ity, they could be had for
around $3.50 and $6 each.
Your pistol is in pristine con-
dition; a very good example
of the genre. As it’s so clean
and has the itted purse, I’d
value it in the $400 to $500
range.
WHO’S
TOMAHAWK JOE?
Q: I’m writing to ind out
if you can shed some light
on a character known as
“Tomahawk Joe,” whose
real name was Kazan Cham-
pion. He was at one time,
in the early 20th century,
an American lawman of
some type, but I’m not sure
if at the federal, state or
local level. At one time he
served with the Royal Cana-
dian Northwest Mounted
police and was also famous
for being lost in the Austra-
lian outback for six years
before inding civilization
again. Any information
would be appreciated.
S.W.
Email
A: Boy, you’ve got me on
this one. I’ve checked all
my Mountie and Wild West
books to no avail. Perhaps
a G&A reader out there has
heard of “Tomahawk Joe.”
If so, please elucidate!
MORE ON
JOHN WHITE
Q: I read your comments
on the Remington 1888
revolver and Captain John
White in the October
2018 issue (“Gun Room,”
page 19). Houston did
not use the title of “Chief
of Police” until 1900.
Prior to that, the title was
“City Marshal.” I located
a copy of the Houston
Police department pay-
roll for March 1889. It’s
signed by “John White,
City Marshall.” (https://
digital.lib.uh.edu/collec-
tion/1970_001/item/933)
M.B.
Milton, Delaware
A: Thank you for solving the
mystery. Several others also
sent some valuable informa-
tion on Capt. White, but
your research was the most
informative. I passed it on
to the owners of the Rem-
ington and they wanted me
to express their thanks for
your trouble. I also would
personally like to thank the
other readers who supplied
additional information.
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R I F LE S & GLA SS
Meet Crimson Trace red-dot sights.
ED S KING
DOT SIG and mini-red-dot (MRD) sights are
— and for good reason. Manufacturing
ncie e made them relatively inexpensive while
taining ellent build quality. And there is no easier
o make rm fast and accurate than to
d op one of these s ghts on top of it.
Iron sights used to be king for fast and
accurate shooting at close distances. The
problem with irons is that the shooter needs to
have some training on their use to be reliably
effective. The process of sight alignment and
sight picture is simple to explain yet dificult to
execute well.
Think about it, the shooter’s eye has to see
the target, then focus on the front sight to put it
on target, then focus briely on the rear sight to
check alignment before one last shift to the front
sight before squeezing the trigger. It takes a fair
amount of practice to get a new or mediocre
shooter to stop looking at the target and really
focus on that front sight.
Using a red-dot sight is like hitting the Easy
Button, and for that reason alone, some folks
will hate them. That’s OK. The rest of us can
enjoy just how simple they are to use and how
easy it is to make huge accuracy gains!
The iring sequence when using a red dot is
to look at the target while moving the red dot
onto the target and then squeeze the trigger.
There is no need to shift the eye’s focus to mul-
tiple locations.
Under stress, the red dot has the advantage
because those unfamiliar with highly stressful
situations will focus solely on the threat and will likely
never see their sights. A red dot doesn’t ight this phe-
nomenon because a red-dot sight wants you to always be
looking at your target anyway. (It’s similar to using a laser-
aiming device.)
Red-dot sights are also a boon to aging eyes.
Those with seasoned eyes have dificulty focus-
ing on iron sights due the sight’s close proxim-
ity. Bifocals can also cause problems. However,
a red-dot sight allows you to shoot accurately
at anything you can see clearly. It eliminates
the eyeball gymnastics required when using
iron sights.
Enter Crimson Trace The latest red dots to hit
the market are from Crimson Trace. Their MRD
family consists of the CTS-1200, CTS-1300 and
CTS-1400 sights.
MRD sights are in demand, but it can be hard
to tell what makes one different from another
without seeing the options in person. Unlike
magniied optics with lengthy speciication
charts, there is little quantiiable information to
compare when considering various sights. For
me, the hands-on assessment provided some
valuable insight into these new optics.
An easy way to spot a cheap MRD is by exam-
ining the housing that surrounds the viewing
PHOTOS: MARK FINGAR
window. All Crimson Trace sights have aluminum
housings. There is no plastic anywhere in the
sight’s exterior, which is a good indicator that the
viewing window won’t crush, dislodge or crack
the irst time you drop the optic.
26 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | RIFLES & GLASS
Crimson Trace CTS-1200 Crimson Trace CTS-1300
c so t ace.co c so t ace.co
The CTS-1200 was designed to be a pistol sight, and its
solid-aluminum housing wraps entirely around the viewing
window. The CTS-1200 is very narrow from top to bottom,
so it’ll sit low on a handgun. No MRD sits low enough to
allow use of standard iron sights as back up, so suppressor-
height sights will be needed if the shooter desires concur-
rent use of both sighting types.
Image quality through these sights is on par with the
high-quality competitors we’re used to seeing. (Seriously.) I
observed a slight blue tint when looking through the sight,
which is the result of the coating put on the screen to
make the projected beam as visible as possible.
Comparing Products A quick way to assess the manu-
facturer’s window construction and coatings selection is
to watch the red dot while manipulating the illumination
settings. All of these Crimson Trace MRDs have user-
adjustable illumination, and all three had very little so-
called “blooming” at the brightest settings.
Blooming is what happens when a red dot has high
enough intensity that the relection fragments, making the
dot appear like a star, which is problematic. The cheaper
the window and the looser the manufacturing tolerances,
the sooner the red dot blooms into a star. While not overly
destructive to fast shooting, a star-shaped red dot makes
precision shooting almost impossible. The lack of bloom-
ing indicates good beam discipline, properly collimated
laser diodes, excellent use of materials and quality con-
Crimson Trace CTS-1400
c so t ace.co
struction of the window and the coatings on it.
Crimson Trace’s CTS-1200 and 1300 sights are similar
in size, but the CTS-1300 is intended for use on a rile or
carbine. The 1200’s window is slightly taller, but the entire
aluminum housing around the window and the compo-
nents of the 1300 is thicker. This is evidence that it was
engineered to brush off abuse.
The CTS-1400 is meant for riles and shotguns and pro-
vides a slightly larger option versus the CTS-1300. There
is a noticeable difference in viewing screen size with the
1400 being quite a bit bigger in both height and width.
But the 1400 still qualiies as an MRD. The large viewing
screen makes it my top pick of these new models for any
shoulder-ired irearm. It has an even thicker aluminum
housing than on the CTS-1300.
Crimson Trace’s red-dot sight that breaks away from the
rest of the pack is the CTS-1000. This sight is intended for
use on a rile or carbine and comes with a quick-detach,
throw-lever mount that takes all the pain out of mounting
or dismounting the optic.
Sights like this have an enclosed emitter that projects
the red dot onto a tilted piece of glass. The angle of the
tilt and the coating on the glass are what bounces the red
dot back to the shooter’s eye. If manufactured correctly,
the dot has no discernable parallax shift when the shooter
moves his head around while looking through the sight.
Beam divergence and lens coating will also determine the
dot’s shape across the entire illumination range.
 


28 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | RIFLES & GLASS
The CTS-1000 has excellent build
quality, and the dot has almost no
perceptible blooming, even at the
highest illumination settings. There
are 10 illumination settings, with the
dimmest being usable with night
vision equipment.
Parallax Performance I did the standard parallax check by
looking through the sight and moving my head around to
see if the dot shifted my point of aim. The CTS-1000 did
so well that I brought out a number of other red-dot sights
of similar size and shape and did a head-to-head assess-
ment. The 1000’s performance was identical to the top-tier
optics in this category. (And it only retails for $330!)
Checking for parallax is a worthwhile assessment that
any customer can do in any gun shop, and I highly recom-
mend it. A dot that has a parallax shift isn’t manufactured
correctly and will have almost no chance of holding a zero
new-west confidence.
CLASSIC STYLE. MODERN CONTEXT.
Crimson Trace CTS-1000
— even at 50 yards. The best you could hope for when this
happens is what I call a “near-o.” Fortunately, the CTS-
1000 doesn’t suffer from this problem.
It’s too early to tell what the long-term durability of
these Crimson Trace red-dot sights will look like, but if they
stay true to Crimson Trace form (think about the quality of
their Lasergrips), these sights will be among the best.
Crimson Trace has been making top-of-the-line laser
sights for decades, so they have a ton of tribal knowl-
edge on how to make small circuits and other electronics
recoil-proof. I expect these red-dot sights will beneit
from that experience.
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TAYLORSFIREARMS.COM | 540.722.2017
|
32 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | THE MICR
The Cartridge
if you prefer — is an unusual subject. Developed
by Armscor, its parent cartridge is Armscor’s .22
Armscor at the company’s Marakina factory in the Philippines.
Craig set out to develop a high-velocity, low-recoil cartridge
that could be fed through 9mm magazines and began experi-
menting with the .223 Remington. Why not start with the 9mm
case? For starters, a .223 case is more durable than a 9mm when
cut down, and the .223 offered dimensions close to those of a
9mm. Yet, it was capable of handling higher pressures than an
altered 9mm. Craig would need all the extra
strength he could get to handle the higher
pressures from his new .22-caliber design.
It was a design he coined as the “.22 Micro
Magnum.”
The new cartridge caught the interest of
Martin Tuason, the third generation of his
family to hold the reins at Armscor, and
Tuason wanted to chamber the round in one
of the company’s irearms. The name of the
cartridge was later changed to “.22 TCM”
with “TCM” being short for “Tuason-Craig-
environments with no need to alter the slide.
However, there was one hang-up. While the .22 TCM cartridge
would feed ine in 1911 magazines, it would not run smoothly
in many double-stack 9mm magazines (most notably those
belonging to Glock pistols). Tuason knew that they were close
to realizing their goal, so the design was tweaked by adjusting
the shoulder length of the .22 TCM case to exactly match that
of the 9mm. This would allow them to seat
a 39-grain bullet deeper. This new cartridge
became the .22 TCM 9R and offered a high-
velocity, .22-centerire option for 9mm fans.
“This is an exciting expansion to our
wildly popular TCM series,” Tuason
explained in 2015 when the cartridge was
unveiled. “The new TCM 9R can be used in
the upcoming release of a series of barrel and
slide conversion kits that allow other existing
irearms to enjoy the higher velocity of the
TCM 9R round.”

Following the 1911A1 kit ($473), Armscor soon launched a
Glock conversion kit ($431) for both the G17/22 and the G19/23
that appeared on the cover of Guns & Ammo in April 2016. All
the while, Armscor was already working on a dedicated .22 TCM
9R pistol.
Rock Island MAPP Series It may seem surprising that Armscor
and RIA are being credited with launching an evolutionary new
cartridge. RIA is, after all, most noted for the various 1911s the
company continues producing. But the MAPP Series is gen-
erally based on another highly regarded and often duplicated
semiautomatic handgun: the CZ 75. Like
the CZ, the MAPP features a slide that
rides inside the frame rails. And, while
most .22-caliber pistols utilize blowback
operation, the Rock Island MAPP TCM9R
features a short recoil-operated design
similar to John Browning’s P.35 Hi-Power
and the CZ 75.
Two lugs lock the barrel and slide
together when the slide is forward. Under
recoil, the lugs disengage, and the slide
continues rearward. A large external Though double-action, the MAPP’s ham-
extractor mounted on the right side mer can be cocked and locked.
THE MICRO MAGNUM JANUARY 2019 G&A 33
behind the ejection port holds onto the case as the ejector kicks
the opposite side and sends empties lying with authority.
The lug on the bottom of the barrel is ixed and without a
linkage such as you’d ind in the 1911. The gun’s slide stop pin
is inserted through the opening in the lug, and subsequently
removed when disassembling the pistol.
The double-action (DA) MAPP pistol comes with a rounded,
serrated hammer spur. The gun’s manual safety locks the sear
when engaged, and there’s no magazine disconnect, which means
that the MAPP can be ired without a magazine inserted. (MAPP
pistols ship with a single, 16-round, double-stack magazine.)
The MAPP TCM9R’s dimensions are
very similar to those of the CZ 75 P-01
9mm, and the two guns share a simi-
lar proile, controls and several design
elements. The MAPP is also close in size to
Oficer’s Model 1911s, which come stan-
dard with 3½-inch barrels and typically
measure a little more than 7 inches in
length and 5 inches tall. If you’re familiar
with those last two guns — especially the
P-01 — you have a pretty good under-
standing of what the MAPP feels like in
the hand and how easy it is to carry.
34 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | THE MICRO MAGNUM

The manual safety lever locks the sear. There is currently no

option for a hammer-decocking function.

The polymer pistol grip is narrow while a dovetail at the rear accepts the
and, notably, there’s a pronounced adjustable, Novak-ish ramped rear
high-cut triggerguard at the rear that sight.
promotes a high grip for better control Underneath, an accessory rail is
over the pistol across the board. This present for mounting lights or aiming
undercut is nonexistent on the Hi- lasers and included in the case is a 16-
Power and less deined on the CZ 75. round, stainless-steel magazine.
The texturing on the slab-sided The MAPP TCM9R retails for $430
grips looks like a busy blend of cob- (and can be found for less). At that
blestone, reptile skin and checkering, price point, you’d expect a pistol to
but the avant-garde look actually feels be rather austere. While the MAPP is
good in the hand. When shooting, the indeed affordable, I found none of the
texture helps the pistol stay comfort- The trigger is smooth and easy to reach, as is the deleterious signs of cost-cutting that
ably seated within your grip. magazine release. plague some budget pistols. The steel
The magazine release is ideally posi- slide comes with a durable Parkerized
tioned. When it’s time to press it, there’s no risk of an inadvertent inish and both the slide and the polymer frame are black in
mag dump. color.
The two-position safety is wide, long enough and serrated.
When the lever is down, a painted red dot lets you know the gun 1,100-Round Testire Two pistols were ordered for testing and
is ready to ire. The lever on the MAPP TCM9R does not function G&A Editor Eric Poole ired 200 rounds through the irst pistol
as a decocker. to arrive. The second pistol came to me for performance and reli-
The slide stop is also wide and easy to reach. Despite its size, ability testing along with the remaining 900 rounds of Armscor’s
I never had any issues with unintentionally sending the slide .22 TCM 9R 39-grain jacketed-hollow-point (JHP) ammunition.
home with an errant stroke of the thumb. There’s not much (A case of 1,000 rounds usually sells for $340, or $19 for a box
muzzle lip when shooting the .22 TCM 9R cartridge, so that of 50.) The bullet is different than the one in the .22 TCM round,
likely helps prevent unintentionally sending the slide home on which is a pointed-tip, 40-grain projectile.
an empty magazine. The MAPP TCM9R’s grip design was comfortable and pro-
As with other slide-inside-the-rail pistols, there’s plenty of motes a high handhold. There’s a just-right-sized beavertail at
frame upon which to rest those forward-facing thumbs. However, the rear of the frame, though the grip is thin for a double-stack
as many have complained about the CZ 75 and its derivatives, measuring just over an inch wide. When unloaded the gun feels a
the shortened slide depth makes the MAPP a little more of an bit slide-heavy, but its balance improves with a full magazine.
effort to rack than other designs. Controls were easy to access and operate, but pressing the
The slide is well rounded with few edges. The lack of material manual safety lever up to engage the sear-locking safety required
shaves weight and makes for a contemporary shape for concealed rotating the gun in my grip.
carry. The top rib and front sight are also machined into the slide, Adjusting the rear sight was simple, and there’s a tool provided

The external extractor is contoured to blend with the slide and
controls the case rim with authority.
with the pistol that simpliies the process. Turning the small
screw on the right side of the rear sight counterclockwise moved
the rear sight (and point of impact) to the right. To raise the point
of impact, the larger top screw is turned counterclockwise.
Single-action (SA) trigger pulls averaged 5.1 pounds using an
RCBS gauge, while the DA trigger pull was 10.4 pounds. There
was considerable takeup in SA mode, likely a built-in safety fea-
ture of the pistol. Still, after shooting this pistol several times, the
trigger was easy to predict when it was about to ire.
Recoil with the MAPP TCM9R was very mild. With the
double-stack mag topped off and a round
in the chamber, 17 shots went by quick. Rock Island Armory
Muzzle rise was minimal and, even after
hundreds of rounds ired, I encountered
no hand fatigue issues.
Muzzle lash was, as you might expect,
fantastic. Average velocity was clocked at
1,756 feet per second (fps). Obviously,
that’s substantially faster than .22LR
ammunition. Following the accuracy and
velocity testing protocols, I began working
my way through the mountain of .22 TCM
9R ammunition on the table.
I stopped only to reload, record notes
and explain my actions to the handful
of other shooters who curiously stopped
by to see why I was shooting at such a
fevered pace. One gentleman, intrigued by the pistol and the
.22 TCM 9R cartridge, gave up after seeing the massive stack
of ammunition I was planning to ire and went off in search of
quieter quarters to shoot. Another club member, a .22 TCM
reloader, inquired about the mountain of brass under the bench.
He was hoping that he’d stumbled on a once-ired motherload.
My irst failure occurred six rounds into my 900-round test.
The rest of the magazine ran without a hitch, and there wasn’t
THE MICRO MAGNUM | JANUARY 2019 G&A 35
The front dot sight is integral and ixed, but the rear is dove-
tailed and adjustable. RIA even includes a sight adjustment tool.
Like the CZ 75, the MAPP’s slide rails are inside the frame.
MAPP TCM9R another failure until round 68 and then
another at 151. While those malfunctions
are within the break-in period for most
pistols, I believe that I can attribute the
failures at 68 and 151 to my own error.
I noted that the MAPP TCM9R doesn’t
forgive limp-wristed shooting, and, in
both those cases, I was shooting with my
elbows on the bench.
From that point forward, I ired the
remainder of the ammunition while
standing and didn’t encounter another
malfunction until round 455, the result
of an issue with the magazine. One of the
.22 TCM 9R rounds jammed between the
magazine wall and the follower, leaving the
spring compressed. Pressing down on the round and repositioning
allowed the spring to expand and function returned to normal.
Over the course of the next 2 hours I ired the remaining
rounds with no other issues. The slide stayed open after the last
round was ired in most instances, but on three occasions (out of
90 reloads) the slide returned home after the last shot.
Other than a thin coat of yellow, sand-like debris from the
ammo, there was surprisingly little fouling. The TCM9R was
36 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | THE MICRO MAGNUM

clean considering the number carrying a .22, this pistol deliv-

of rounds ired. Field-stripping ers 280 foot-pounds of energy
proved to be a simple process. at the muzzle and offers fast
I came away from the expe- follow-up shots. It’s probably
rience with a new appreciation the best .22 defensive option
for the pistol. It’s comfort- in a handgun. While the MAPP
able and fun to shoot, and it pistol isn’t as light or as small
survived G&A’s 1,000-round as some ultra-compact carry
test with few malfunctions. The guns, it’s still concealable under
best ive-shot group from the light clothing and offers 17
bench measured 2.4 inches, rounds on tap.
and the average was 2.9 inches. PERFORMANCE The effectiveness of .22
At personal-defense ranges, the BEST AVG. handguns for defense aside,
VEL. GROUP GROUP
gun was plenty accurate, and LOAD (FPS) ES SD (IN.) (IN.) the MAPP TCM9R is billed
the sights were suficient. For Armscor TCM 9R 39-gr. JHP 1,756 55 19 2.4 2.9 as a fun gun and a low-recoil
Notes: Accuracy is the average of ive, ive-shot groups at 25 yards from a ixed rest.
close, fast shooting, the white- Velocity is the average of 10 shots recorded by a Shooting Chrony chronograph training option. In those areas,
dot, post, front sight offers a placed 10 feet from the muzzle. it clearly excels. With an over-
solid aiming point and you can the-counter price of less than
punch a lot of holes into a tight cluster very quickly. $400, it’s also something of a bargain.
This begs the question: Is the MAPP TCM9R suitable for self- It’s rare to ind a new gun that breaks new ground, but Rock
defense? In my opinion, a .22-caliber, 39-grain projectile is, at Island’s MAPP does just that. The pistol’s design might be famil-
best, light for personal protection. For those who are comfortable iar, but the cartridge makes it innovative indeed.
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38 G&A JA NU ARY 2019

THE ROC
ROCK RIVER ARMS RENEWS ITS
REPUTATION FOR MATCH ACCURACY
IN THE NEXT-GEN ATH V2.
WORDS BY TOM BECKSTRAND | PHOTOS BY MARK FINGAR
JANUARY 2019 G&A 39
40 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | THE ROCK
Instead of compromising its historical success, Rock River
installed a mid-length gas block that produced consistent cycling.
It is low proile and visible through open M-Lok slots.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I was visiting with a good friend of
mine when the discussion turned to the guns he carried on duty..
He was an agent with the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and
a member of their tactical team. He ired tens of thousands of
rounds each year, which made me curious about what irearms
he used and how they fared.
The riles they were issued were manufactured by Rock River
Arms, and were carbine variants in similar spec to the U.S. mil-
itary’s M4. My buddy had a signiicant amount of experience on
several of them, so I value his opinion of the platform.
He loved his Rock River rile. When asked about maintenance,
he responded with, “I like to shoot it, but I let the armorer take
care of it.” Each rile he was issued was carried for about a year
and typically saw 20,000 rounds before replacement with a new
one. He had nothing but respect for those Rock River riles.
Everything about the ATH V2 suggests accuracy including its
hammer designed by Rock River. With more mass near the trig-
ger pin, less disturbance is generated to harm accuracy.
The New Kid My experience with Rock River AR-pattern riles
hasn’t involved round counts like my friend’s, but they’ve been
just as positive. I have yet to ind a Rock River rile that wasn’t
extremely accurate, so it’s only natural to have a favorable impres-
sion of the brand.
A big reason that these riles shoot so well is the barrel. The
barrels Rock River use come from the Connecticut-based com-
pany, Wilson Arms (wilsonarms.com). Wilson makes the barrel,
contours it and starts the chambering process. Once the barrels
get to Colona, Illinois, Rock River inishes the chambering job
and then cryogenically stress-relieves the barrel before mating it
to an upper receiver.
The tight adherence to exacting tolerances of their chamber
dimensions and the stress-relieving effort are two of the big con-
tributors that I credit for this brand’s reputation for accuracy. This

Rock River Arms properly stakes the gas key to the bolt carrier.
Building on a reputation for offering quality components, Rock
River also sells complete chromed bolt carrier groups.
attention to accuracy is especially evident
in Rock River’s new model, the Advanced
Tactical Hunter V2 (ATH V2).
The ATH V2 comes with an 18-inch,
stainless steel, heavy match barrel. The
rile I tested was chambered in .223
Wylde, meaning that it can shoot both
.223 Remington and 5.56x45mm (NATO)
ammunition.
The .223 Wylde chamber has a tight
.224-inch freebore that keeps bullets —
especially long 69- and 77-grain types
— from yawing in the chamber prior to engaging the riling. If a
bullet enters the riling crooked, accuracy will always suffer. The
Wylde chamber and tight freebore prevent that from occurring.
Since the freebore area only surrounds the bullet when a cartridge
is chambered, variation in brass thickness causes no trouble.
The deep-freeze cryogenic process that each barrel receives
removes any stress imparted on it during the manufacturing
process. I know several manufacturers that swear by the process
and they all turn out highly accurate riles, so there is something
to be said for the treatment.
Putting a barrel through the cryogenic process at Rock River
means the barrel is cooled down in steps until it reaches 300
degrees Fahrenheit below zero. At each temperature step, Rock
THE ROCK | JANUARY 2019 G&A 41
The forend on the ATH V2 was manufactured for Rock River Arms
by Midwest Industries (MI), a popular supplier of AR-15 products.
It is a free-loat model that securely locks to the upper receiver.
River will let the barrels soak at that temp
for a speciic period of time.
Once they hit 300 below zero, they’ll
bring the barrels up (also in steps) to 200
degrees above zero. Metallurgists indicate
that the extreme temperatures eliminate
the stress imparted on the metal from
cutting the chamber and contouring the
barrel proile. At those temperatures, the
molecules align with their neighbors. This
eliminates all stress risers in the barrel
that can cause a barrel to shift point of
impact as it heats when shot.
The 18-inch barrel that Rock River chose to install has a 1:8-
inch twist and features a mid-length gas system. The gas block has
two setscrews that hold it in place, and the contour is Rock River’s
“heavy match.” Far from what you’d call a heavy match barrel on
a bolt-action rile, the barrel on the ATH V2 has almost a straight
contour and measures three-quarters of an inch at the muzzle.
The combination of barrel weight, the proprietary process used
to manufacture the barrel and the mid-length gas system makes for
one of the lightest recoiling and most accurate AR-pattern riles I’ve
tested. Rock River has also correctly set up the gas system where
the rile is neither under- or over-gassed. For me, all cases extracted
and landed at about 4 o’clock relative to the muzzle.
42 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | THE ROCK
A subtle mark on the upper receiver indicates the manufacturer.
This one features a square shape that tells us it was made by
Brass Aluminum Forging Enterprises in Michigan.
Developed as an improved SOPMOD-style stock, Rock River
designed its six-position Operator CAR stock to be compatible
with commercial receiver extensions.
The Package The rest of the ATH V2 compliments the barrel
work. The rile follows the AR-pattern designed by Eugene
Stoner and Jim Sullivan very closely. It’s a direct-impingement
(DI) rile manufactured to all the standard dimensions.
While the location and function of the trigger is identical
to what Stoner and Sullivan originally speciied, Rock River
includes a two-stage trigger of their design, which is superior
to the standard semiautomatic trigger found in most ARs. Rock
River’s trigger has a lighter 3½-pound pull weight and a very
crisp let-off. It’s much easier to shoot with this trigger than with a
standard variant.
Rock River Arms has been making their two-stage match trigger
for more than a decade. The irst time I bought one was in 2006
when one of my Special Forces’ teammates built an AR-15 for me.
The Assault Weapon’s Ban had sunset and I wanted a really
nice AR. My teammate, SFC Tung Nguyen, was a hardcore com-
petitive shooter and offered to build me exactly what I wanted.
He pointed out how good the Rock River trigger was, so I’ve had
it in that rile ever since. Sadly, Nguyen was killed in action in
The lower receiver is a standard LAR-15 model. It features a mag-
azine well that’s slightly beveled to accept most AR-15 pattern
magazines.
Rock River sells many styles of muzzle devices, and includes its
RRA Tactical Muzzle Brake with the new ATH V2. It’s very effec-
tive while adding 2 inches in length and 3.1 ounces of weight.
Iraq later that year, so the rile is particularly special to me and
will always remain in my possession.
Rock River’s triggers not only have a lighter pull weight and
crisper let-off, the hammer shape promotes excellent accuracy. In
comparison, the standard AR trigger has most of its mass as far
away as possible from the pin about which it rotates. This gives the
hammer considerable inertia. All that inertia transfers to the back of
the bolt carrier when the hammer slams home. Take any AR with
this trigger and watch what happens to the crosshairs of a magniied
optic during dry ire. The crosshairs bounce all over the place.
The hammer in Rock River’s trigger moves most of the mass to
a location much closer to the trigger pin. This allows the hammer
to move faster (once released) and still get positive ignition of the
cartridge without generating a ton of reticle disturbance. There
is a reason almost all of the so-called “match” triggers available
today have a hammer shape very similar to the one found on this
Rock River. Rock River started this trend long before it became
mainstream. The accuracy increase gained by this hammer proile
makes every other hammer shape irrelevant.
 THE ROCK | JANUARY 2019 G&A 43

PERFORMANCE
BEST AVG.
VELOCITY GROUP GROUP
LOAD (FPS) ES SD (IN.) (IN.)

Notes: Accuracy is the average of ive, ive-shot groups at 100 yards from a rest.
Velocity is the average of 10 shots recorded by a LabRadar chronograph adjacent to
the muzzle.

The winter triggerguard not only allows for a gloved To improve usability of the selector switch by
inger, it also closes the gap between the guard and grip the left index inger when used on the left
that was notorious for tearing skin off knuckles. shoulder, a small extension was added.

The handguard on the ATH V2 is ideal for a general-
use rile. It is 11 inches long, so it covers the mid-length
gas system and has sections of M-Lok cut into the sides
and bottom. This handguard is very comfortable in the
hand while still leaving plenty of attachment options for
any accessories the shooter might want to employ.
Rock River cured a couple other standard AR fail-
ings with parts they developed in-house. One I espe-
cially like is the winter triggerguard; it’s oversized and
creates an opening large enough for a gloved inger. But
the best feature is the way it eliminates the gap normally
found where the grip’s frontstrap meets the triggerguard.
Usually, there is about a ¼-inch gap that will shred the
knuckle of the shooter’s middle inger if they ire a couple
hundred rounds (or more) in a day. Rock River’s winter
triggerguard solves this problem.
The company has created a unique, so-called “Star”
safety selector switch that is both fast and positive. A
normal throw lever found on an AR works ine for a right-
handed shooter iring off the right shoulder. However,
the standard selector lever can be a struggle when a
right-handed shooter moves the rile to the left shoulder
and tries to work the selector with the index inger. Not
everyone likes to shoot off both shoulders, but those who
do are familiar with how dificult the selector struggle is.
To ix this issue, Rock River has given its Star selector
a nipple that sits at the end of the lever, and it protrudes
away from the receiver. The increased proile of the unit
makes it easy to locate, engage and manipulate with the
left hand’s index inger when iring off the left shoulder.
We should all get a little more practice shooting off our
weak shoulder. The Rock River Star selector makes that
process more intuitive and does it without the expense of
purchasing an ambidextrous switch.
At The Range Performance of Rock River’s new ATH
V2 was exceptional. This is not the irst time I’ve
tested a Rock River rile with their stainless-steel
match barrel, so I was not surprised when group
averages hovered near ¾ MOA for ive shots at
44 G&A JANUARY 2019

Rock River Arms ATH V2

100 yards. Contrary to what you’ll ind on

the internet, most riles are not capable
of this kind of performance with factory
ammunition.
While I was pleased to see the new
rile perform well, I like to know all the
reasons why. The barrel and trigger are
certainly the two greatest contributors to
the V2’s accuracy, but Rock River gets the
small things right that most others miss.
An important accuracy check you can
run on any AR without even iring the rile
is to separate the receivers and remove the
charging handle and bolt. Place just the
bolt carrier back in the upper receiver and
slide it into battery while observing the
short section of gas tube that comes into
the upper receiver.
If that gas tube moves when the bolt
carrier comes forward, the carrier key is
hitting the gas tube. This will cause the
occasional lyer when shooting groups
because the other end of that gas tube is
attached directly to the barrel. When the
carrier key hits the gas tube, that distur-
bance travels down the tube and into the
barrel. It’s like tapping the barrel with a
hammer between shots, but the folks at
Rock River obviously found a consistent
way to avoid this from happening in the
V2 during its assembly process.
Rock River has been around for a long
time and they maintain a devoted follow-
ing because they continue to use quality
components while giving attention to the
details. The ATH V2 will continue that
proud tradition.
46 G&A JA NU ARY 2019

The rile used in the photos that accom-

pany this article was loaned by the family
of the late Ralph Moyer, a lifelong hunter
and isherman. He was a butcher and a
night watchman at Split Rock Lodge in the
Poconos. Moyer won this great Savage 99
in the early 1960s on a punchboard game
of chance. He and his son, Ralph Jr., have
used this rile to hunt locally for years,
harvesting a number of whitetail deer and
most recently an eastern coyote.
 JANUARY 2019 G&A 47

tubu a aga e u de t e ba e . So et es t wea s a scope (because t ca ), but t

more often has a barrel-mounted rear sight or receiver-mounted aperture. It has a two-
piece stock, forend and buttstock separated by the large block of steel, gently rounded
on the bottom for its receiver. Chances are good that this lever action is a Savage 99.
In the 1890s, Arthur W. Savage’s goal was to build a better mousetrap than Win-
chester or Marlin. His prototype 1892, produced by Colt, was a short-throw in .32-20
Winchester that might have competed with Winchester’s 1892 and Marlin’s 1894, but it
was never marketed. His 1895, 1899 and the ultimate Savage 99 threatened the estab-
lished brands and were popular enough for the rile to pass into legend.
48 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | SAVAGE MODEL 99
age design to handle more aerodynamic
spitzer bullets.
There were accuracy limitations thanks to the 99’s two-piece
stock and the reduced rigidity of its rear-locking bolt. In the
world of centerire lever actions, only the Winchester Model 88
(1955) and the SAKO Finnwolf (1959) solved both issues with
forward-locking bolts and one-piece stocks. The new Henry Long
Ranger and Browning’s Lever Action Rile (BLR) also have box
magazines and the strength to handle modern high-performance
cartridges. However, Arthur Savage’s lever action was ahead of its
time — by more than a half-century.
The ability to use faster cartridges with latter-shooting bullets
was obviously a huge advantage seized by many hunters. The
Savage is also a side-eject, and as scopes came into more com-
425,500 were made at the old Savage
factory in Utica, New York. In the postwar
era, the bolt-action began to dominate, but the Savage 99 contin-
ued in production in Westield, Massachusetts, with the last 99s
shipped in 2003.
The original (and most common) safety is a sliding lever in the
triggerguard. When slid to the rear of the trigger, it also locks the
lever. A shotgun-style tang safety was introduced in 1960 and is
most common on later 99s, but some models continued to be
offered with the original triggerguard safety.
Total production does not equal Winchester’s most popular
lever actions, but it exceeds many. It was clearly a successful
American rile. As a lefty, I’ve always admired the 99 and have
owned and used several in various chamberings. Generally, I’ve
 SAVAGE MODEL 99 | JANUARY 2019 G&A 49

Although partially borrowed from Mannlicher, the rotary, or

“spool,” magazine was a classic Savage 99 feature. Feeding was
very smooth, but legend has it that this magazine was dificult to
it and assemble, which added to the manufacturing cost.

good 99 in .250
but none had qu
for, so that searc
When Guns &
Poole and I agre
magazine did a
myself without
and bought on
gun rack at Bri
Paso Robles, C
irearms prefer
The classic Savage 99 safety was part of the triggerguard. When what regional b
engaged, it also locked the lever in the rearward position. A 99s along Cali
shotgun-style tang safety was introduced in 1960, but there
are few absolute consistencies in Savage 99 production. Some The rile I b
retained this sliding safety into the 1990s. 1942-vintage,
Savage. The R
found accuracy to be okay, but rarely spectacular. The 99s are dard, a Redie
probably not on-average as accurate as bolt actions with forward- mounted at th
locking bolts and one-piece stocks. However, we have to remem- receiver. The
ber that most 99s still in use are of unknown vintage and abuse. inches with a
Until the tail end, most Savage 99s never wore scopes. Even sight. The gri
in my best days, it wasn’t fair to compare groups with iron sights are checkered
against groups with scopes. Today, that’s not even a poor joke! stock has a st
Mind you, even the best glass doesn’t make a rile shoot better, Like most lev
but it sure makes it easier to see how well a rile groups. 99’s trigger r
gunsmithing
Off The Rack The Savage 99 I wish I still had was in .358 but they var
Winchester with a rotary magazine. I had it about 1980, and it was clean at
was my favorite pig rile. It was a test gun, and former G&A staff pounds.
Payton Miller, the late Gary Sitton and I all wanted to buy it. I I can’t pro
won the toss, but fate had the last laugh. The ink wasn’t dry on evaluate the
the check I sent to Savage before I was burgled and lost that rile. racy becaus
I’m not a collector at all, but a so-called “bucket list” item is a a sad admis
50 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | SAVAGE MODEL 99

While the 99 could accept scopes, the ramped, serrated front sight and lip-up adjust-
able rear sight are more than capable of taking game at distance.

Savage designed the 99 to be rugged.

On the author’s 1942-vintage 99 RS, while
the buttpad is slightly curved to it the
shoulder, it’s all steel.

he and his wife were out of sausage and

M
there was some fresh opportunities taking
a liking to his property. So, I went to the
rescue with the 99 in hand.
Truth is, I missed an easy shot at a big
hog. It slipped right over the top. Things
were looking grim and sunset was at
I can no longer resolve iron sights well hand when a nice sausage pig gave me a
enough to shoot serious groups. However, reprieve. Quartering away hard at about
I can tell that this rile wants to shoot. The 120 yards, the old Savage rolled it and I
PHOTO: BEN LALONDE

old Redield sight proved responsive, and couldn’t have been happier.
the rile passed my pie-plate accuracy test Maybe I’ll keep this Savage 99, maybe
for short-range hunting, easily producing not, but I’m sure it won’t be my last 99.
2-inch groups. That’s about as good as I
can do with apertures these days. Arthur Savage’s Cartridges Only four
Although dropped in late production
I wanted to take the rile pig hunting, models, most Savage lever guns featured Savage cartridges made it into production:
which proved a slight problem. Every- a unique brass cartridge counter visible in .303 Savage, .22 Savage High-Power and
body still loads .300 Savage ammunition a window on the forward bottom of the the .250 and .300 Savage. Introduced
receiver. It showed numerals from 0 to 5,
(as they should), but remaining loads are telling the shooter how many cartridges in 1894, the .303 is a rimmed cartridge
all standard offerings. These days, we’re remained in the rotary magazine. using a true-American, .308-inch bullet,
required to use homogenous alloy bullets rather than the British .303’s .311-inch
for all California hunting, including pigs. bullet diameter. Similar to the .30-30 Winchester, it predates it by
The issue was quickly resolved with Hornady’s 165-grain nearly a year, so it was one of the very irst American smokeless-
GMX, which shot to the same point of impact as Remington’s powder cartridges. The .303’s 170-grain bullet at 2,090 feet
Core-Lokt and Hornady’s SST factory loads. I was ready to hunt per second (fps) exceeded .30-30 performance, plus the Savage
hog and I didn’t have to wait long for an invite. action could handle spitzer bullets. The .303 Savage was cham-
A rancher friend called with a pressing problem. It seemed that bered until 1940.

This feral hog was rolled with a single running shot at about 120 yards using
a handloaded 165-grain Hornady GMX bullet. The .300 Savage remains an
effective and adequately powerful cartridge for a wide variety of North
American hunting.
In 1912, Savage teamed up with irearms designer Charles
Newton to create the .22 Savage High-Power. Using the .25-35
case necked down to take a .228-inch, 70-grain bullet, the duo
created a load that pushed 2,790 fps. One might consider it the
irst varmint cartridge, but with its heavy-for-caliber bullet, it
was actually intended for at least medium-sized big game. Believe
it or not, the Reverend H.L. Caldwell, a missionary to China,
famously used it to dispatch a couple of tigers.
In 1915, Newton and Savage teamed up again to create the .250
Savage, based on the .30-’06 Springield case shortened to a tidy
1.912-inches. Also known as the .250-3000, it was the irst com-
mercial cartridge to break 3,000 fps, which it did with an 87-grain
bullet. Some folks found it killed like a lightning bolt, while others
found it erratic. The latter is probably more correct considering
that, in 1915, the velocity was probably ahead of bullet design. The
.250 Savage was popular, but, over time, most hunters sacriiced
velocity and went to heavier bullets at slightly slower speeds.
Developed in 1920, the .300 Savage is based on the .250
Savage case necked up to .30 caliber. It’s a forerunner to the .308
Winchester developed 30 years later, but it’s more than that.
Propellants have advanced and velocities have crept up. The
intent of the .300 Savage was to offer .30-’06-like performance in
a lever action.
With a 150-grain bullet at 2,630 fps and a 180-grain bullet
at 2,350 fps, the .300 Savage approached 1920-vintage .30-’06
velocities. This meant that, like the .30-’06 (and the .308 in
decades to come), it was adequate for the full range of North
SAVAGE MODEL 99 | JANUARY 2019 G&A 51
This was a pretty good day of deer hunting in Califor-
nia’s Sierra mountains. Old photos like this are a part
of Americana, and many of them feature a lever-
action Savage 99.
Left to right: .250 Savage, .300 Savage, .308 Win-
chester and .30-’06 Springield. The .250 and .300
are the two most important Savage cartridges, both
based on the .30-’06 case shortened.
American game. It was Savage’s most popular cartridge, and is
carried into the deer woods today. It’s still a very effective big-
game cartridge.
Although these four are the only cartridges that bear the
Savage name, the numerous models of Savage lever actions
were also chambered for other cartridges including Winchester’s
.25-35, .30-30, .32-40, .38-55, .243, .284, .308, .358 and .375,
along with Remington’s .22-250 and 7mm-08 — 15 known
chamberings in all!
Note, the rear of the bolt and matching receiver surface
have a 4-degree bevel slanting down and forward, which was
essential to ensure the lever can cam the bolt downward to
open. This creates a strength issue. It’s no problem with factory
ammo, but don’t overdo it with handloads.
I was in Africa in 1979 with a Savage 99 in .308. On a
particularly hot day, my handloads were suddenly a bit warm.
Clearly, this was my fault. The bolt locked up completely while
shooting at a blesbok, and it took a gunsmith to clear it.
 52 G&A JANUARY 2019

Exactly which Savage? David Royal’s

book “A Collector’s Guide to the Savage
99” is a standard reference. The challenge
is that Savage riles were manufactured
in many variations. The original 1895 in
.303 Savage was replaced by the 1899
Savage in 1899. In 1921, the Savage
1899 became oficially the “Savage 99,”
as it remained until the end of produc-
tion. This nomenclature shift caused me
one of the worst errors of my career (and
drew many reader letters).
When Hornady introduced a new
.25-35 load (April 2017), I wrote that the
Savage 99 was never so chambered. This
was actually true. The Savage 99 was
never offered in .25-35, but the Savage
1899 most certainly was!

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 JANUARY 2019 G&A 53

Aside from those three visually similar

models, the 1895, 1899 and 99 Savage
lever actions were offered in a bewil-
dering array of options and variations.
These include takedown riles, barrel
and sight options and embellished riles.
Pistol grips and levers were both straight
and curved. Forends were round and
Schnabel, while stocks came checkered
and uncheckered. Basic variations usually
carried a one- or two-letter code.
Royal’s book provides a good guide,
and serious Savage collectors have the
history of these riles pretty well sorted
out. But to the layman who inherits
grandpa’s deer rile or encounters a clean
99 in a gun shop, it can be confusing.
I know, mine is a 99 RS by stock, serial
number and receiver sight.
Still, even the best references leave
question marks. I had a scoped, late-
model example in .250 with a rotary
magazine, tang safety and an uncheck-
ered, straight pistol grip. It was prob-
ably a late 99A, but it should have the
signature cartridge counter. Alas, it was
absent. The box magazine (99C) was
introduced in 1965, but some versions
with rotary magazines continued in pro-
duction until 1984.

Could the 99 make a comeback? I

posed this question more than once to
Ron Coburn, long-time CEO of Sav-
age. Ron is a good friend, and I credit
Coburn’s personal leadership for pulling
Savage out of bankruptcy and saving the
brand. (Coburn is also a serious 99 fan.)
I think that Savage would have
brought back the 99 if practical, but
Coburn was never optimistic. Why? Well,
the assembly is apparently tricky. Plus,
the craftsmen who produced 99s are
gone. Realistically, almost anything can
be replicated with modern machining
so it’s not impossible to recreate the 99.
But the lever-action market isn’t what it
was in the 99’s golden years. Personally,
I’d like to see it, but I fear the Savage 99
must remain a rile from a different time.
In their many variations, there are tens
of thousands of Savage lever actions still
available and providing good service. They
will remain iconic American classics.
54 G&A JA NU ARY 2019

Blaser’s innovative riles get the

brand most of its attention, but the
F16 Sporting shotgun brings some
very interesting ideas to the world of
competitive over-unders.
 JANUARY 2019 G&A 55

INSTINCTIVE
BALANCE
BLASER’S F16 SPORTING SHOTGUN IS READY FOR
THE CLAY FIELDS.
WORDS BY ROBERT W. HUNNICUTT | PHOTOS BY MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ
56 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | INSTINCTIVE BALANCE

The combination of a very glossy wood

inish and matte-inished steel is hardly
traditional, but it looks good on Blaser’s
F16. The nonrelective metalwork is a
beneit on summer days when the sun is
blasting the sporting course.

BLASER Jagdwaffen GmbH with matte-inished metalwork.

got its start in 1957 making The frame has a very dark
traditional German hunting pewter color, broken only by
arms like drillings, Kip- the F16 rollmark in red, while
plaufbuchsen and Stutzen. the barrels are matte charcoal.
These are guns that are quite A stock balancer in the buttstock allows minute adjustments to You might expect either a
the shotgun’s balance by turning the cylindrical weights on their
fascinating with their crafts- threaded rod. Or if you want to make a big change, you can dull oil inish with matte metal
manship, but laser-focused remove one or all of them. or both metal and wood in-
on central European hunting ished to a high sheen, but the
conditions and traditions. F16’s combination is perfectly sensible in a target gun. It looks
That all started to change with the irst Blaser I wrote about great and you won’t have to think about glare on a bright day.
more than 30 years ago, the R84. It was a straight-pull rile The perfect design for an over-under is a shallow frame, and it is
whose largely aluminum receiver would accept multiple bolt achieved here at 2.38 inches. It has a distinctly Teutonic look in the
heads and barrels, allowing the user to conigure the gun for mul- proportion between barrel and frame at the breech. It’s a bit like a
tiple calibers. This led eventually to the R93, which is another Merkel without the big frame bolsters that typify the Suhl product.
straight-pull with an unusual collet bolt head. These irearms
built Blaser’s reputation for craftsmanship, yet combined with the Recoil & Extraction Now, millions of birds and targets have
most modern manufacturing techniques. fallen to the good old Browning Superposed and other over-
That’s right, shotguns are beneitting just as much from unders like the Winchester 101, which also have a deep frame
advances in engineering and manufacturing as other types of by current standards. But today’s shooter wants something with a
guns, and the Blaser F16 is a perfect example of this. minimum bore line to direct recoil straight toward the shoulder.
You might think “F16” refers to a ighter jet, but it simply Blaser accomplishes this by using a bifurcated bolt at the very
refers to Blaser’s over-under shotgun — “linte” in German — bottom of the standing breech. This engagement bites at the 4 and
that was introduced in the year 2016. 8 o’clock positions at the bottom of the monobloc. This arrange-
The F16 comes in three conigurations: Game; Intuition (spe- ment allows the barrel to sit at the very bottom of the frame.
ciically dimensioned for women); and Sporting. The latter model The engagement is assisted by Blaser’s Ejection Ball System
is the subject of this review. (EBS). The ejectors are tripped by what looks like two extra iring
The irst thing I noticed about the F16 Sporting is the combina- pins in the standing breech. These impact plungers in the ejec-
tion of very well-igured and high-gloss inished Grade 4 walnut tors are not under spring pressure when the gun is at rest.
 INSTINCTIVE BALANCE | JANUARY 2019 G&A 57

The forend has an Anson-style latch at the tip, eliminating the longer plunger and allowing the wood to be thicker. If it shoots loose,
you can rotate an eccentric slotted screw to increase engagement with the barrel lump.

After iring, the ejector it. Scratching that nice wood,

springs are compressed as the on the other hand, deinitely
barrels are lowered, giving should worry you.
the shooter lots of leverage. The selector is in the
Spring pressure is released as position where you’d ind it
the empties are tossed out, and on a Krieghoff, in front of the
they’re not recompressed as trigger blade, which is itself
the barrels are returned to the adjustable fore and aft using
iring position. Blaser claims the supplied 1.5mm hex key.
this reduces shooter fatigue. Pushing the selector to the left
I don’t know how much that chooses the under barrel.
counts, but not having to route An old shooting buddy
ejector trip rods through the noted this orientation would
bottom of the frame contrib- make quick selection of the top
utes to the low silhouette. The Optional barrel weights allow balance adjustments at the other barrel tough for right-handers
face of the standing breech is end of the shotgun. Four, 1½-ounce weights can be bolted in a in the ield, but any such move
variety of combinations and positions on the block separating
a separate component retained the F16’s upper and lower barrels. They are hidden when the on the sporting course would
by a pair of Torx screws that forearm is attached. come at leisure, so I don’t
incorporates the iring pins, regard that as a demerit here.
ejector trips and the top lever plunger. The trigger is mechanical but has an impressive inertia block to
As is appropriate for a competition gun, the safety is manual. help prevent doubling. Both barrels touched off with a 3-pound
It both presses forward on the selector block, disengaging that pull. There was a time when very disparate trigger pulls were com-
part from the sears, and lowers an interceptor from the underside mon, but manufacturers have learned that tends to put off consum-
of the tang just below the thumbpiece of the top lever. The latter ers, so you rarely see an over-under these days with varying pulls.
part is intended to prevent the hammers falling on the iring pins
if the shotgun is dropped. Balancing Act Every part of the lock mechanism is beautifully
The safety is never used in competition with many competi- inished, and you’ll get the chance to enjoy that when using the
tors locking it out. However, if you were to take the F16 out on interesting stock balancer system. Push the supplied 5mm hex
the dove ield, you needn’t worry about it going off if you drop key through the central slot in the recoil pad and turn out the
58 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | INSTINCTIVE BALANCE
The trigger blade can be adjusted forward and back for max-
imum shooter comfort. Conveniently, the barrel selector is in
front of the trigger. Each barrel on G&A’s test model could be
ired with a measured 3-pound trigger pull.
Finish of the lockwork is a thing of beauty. The trigger is
mechanical, although it has an inertia block to prevent doubling.
As beits a competition shotgun, the safety is manual. The frame
is inished in a dark pewter Blaser calls “Gun Metal Gray.”
balancer, which threads onto the short through-bolt at the rear of
the frame. Then use a long Phillips-head screwdriver to turn out
the recoil pad’s retaining screws. These bite directly into the stock
wood, so be judicious about doing this. I would have thought
threaded inserts in the buttstock (with machine screws to retain
the recoil pad) would have been the choice here.
With the recoil pad removed, you can shake out the balancer,
as well as a spacer and spring package. The latter consists of two
opposed pairs of Belleville washers that prevent the balancer
battering the buttstock at the wrist.
The balancer is a threaded rod with a socket at the front that
rests against the spring package and a rubber buffer at the rear,
which locates it inside the buttstock recess.
In between are three, 2-ounce, steel cylinders that clamp to a
lat surface on the threaded rod with hex socket screws. They are
itted with rubber O-rings for a snug it inside the stock. You can
leave all three in place, remove one or two or all of them. You can
position them anywhere on the rod you wish, allowing almost
ininite adjustment.
The iring pins and ejector trips protrude through a separate
breech face plate that is ixed to the frame with Torx screws.
Locking is by a bifurcated bolt that engages bites at the 4 and 8
o’clock positions on the monobloc.
The Ejection Ball System (EBS) is actuated by plungers inside
the ejectors themselves, tripped by pins in the standing breech.
This eliminates the need for ejector trip rods passing though the
frame and provides easy cocking.
My guess is that a very small minority of shooters will experi-
ment endlessly with this system, while many more will have it out
one time for curiosity’s sake, with the remainder paying it no mind
whatsoever. In my opinion, any of those three positions is just ine.
The sample gun’s buttstock and forend were of a very impres-
sive Grade 4 Turkish walnut. This looked perfectly nice at the
gun club, but really came into its own when under the bright
lights of the photo studio. You can specify wood up to Grade 11.
At that point, the wood would probably cost more than the gun
itself. Sufice it to say, the Grade 4 wood is plenty impressive.
You can choose the drop at heel of either 2 or 2¼ inches. Trap
and American skeet shooters who start with a mounted gun will
want the former, while you’ll probably prefer the greater drop if
you start with a low gun.
Cast can also be selected, on or off of 3, 6 or 8mm (.12, .24 or
.32 inch). Our sample F16 had the middle of the three possibilities.
The generously-sized pistol grip has a prominent palm swell
on the right side; You can specify a left-handed buttstock that
positions it on the left. Checkering is in a bordered-point pattern
 60 G&A 60 YEARS | INSTINCTIVE BALANCE

Ejection was strong and reliable with both plastic- and paper-
hulled ammunition. Blaser claims its EBS system makes handling
easier by compressing ejector springs on opening the barrels,
when their weight works for the shooter.

at 18 lines per inch (lpi), which I regard as about the minimum

for summertime shooting. However, 16 lpi would be better, but
not as attractive. I’ve seen plenty of expensive shotguns being
used at the highest competitive levels coarsely stippled, but that
would be a hard sell at the gun store.
The forend has an Anson-style latch, though it’s modernized.
Its loop is well forward, 12¾ inches up the lower barrel from the
breech. This eliminates the long plunger of the usual Anson-
style latch. It presumably makes the forend stronger and more
resistant to heat.
The lower barrel has a rearward-facing lump that engages an
adjustable stop at the front of the forend iron. Should the forend
start to shoot loose, you can loosen a pair of hex socket screws
and rotate an eccentric slotted screw to push the stop rearward,
tightening the it.
The cocking cam is replaceable should you be lucky enough to
shoot so much that you wear it out.
The barrels have solid ribs running from the muzzles back to
the forend loop. Behind those is a block for itting the optional
barrel weights. These come in a kit of four, 1½-ounce units, and
each is retained by two No. 10 Torx screws. The mounting block

MI Combat Rifle Sights Blaser F16 Sporting

◆
◆
◆

www.midwestindustriesinc.com
 INSTINCTIVE BALANCE | JANUARY 2019 G&A 61

has four threaded holes, so you can install

them in various combinations and posi-
tions. My advice would be to experiment
with the barrel weights before iddling
with the balancer and to save wear and
tear on the buttstock.
The barrels are topped by a low ven-
tilated rib that tapers from 9mm at the
breech to 7mm at the muzzle. There’s a
steel .062-inch mid bead and a 3mm red
iber-optic at the muzzle.
The Germans seem to have resisted the
Italian urge for chrome-plating all bores.
Maybe they’re more diligent about their
cleaning. The bore diameter measured .731
inch, barely above the nominal .729 inch.

Choking Up G&A’s sample F16 came with

ive Briley Spectrum choke tubes: Skeet (.727 inch), Improved Cyl-
inder (.722 inch), Light Modiied (.717 inch), Modiied (.712 inch)
and Improved Modiied (.707 inch). These will cover just about
any situation on a sporting course.
They’re 2¾ inches long, with threads at the rear. About .7
inch of the tube extends from the muzzle and is knurled for easy
removal and replacement if you’re obsessive about tube changing.
A color-coded ring at the front makes it easy to select the proper
tube, and they’re well-marked with the choke designation. The ring
serves the additional purpose of covering the spanner slots, which
will keep the tubes from tearing up the inside of your gun case.
Inside, the tubes have a conical/parallel coniguration, where the
shot-compressing conical section at the rear leads into a stabilizing
parallel section at the front. This style has become almost universal
in competition guns and has spread to hunting shotguns, too.
You can use steel shot in all except the Improved Modiied tube,
62 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | INSTINCTIVE BALANCE

but be aware that pattern size PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE at 25 yards. You will need
will be reduced by two con- to see a lot of air under the
KENT ELITE LOW RECOIL 1200-7⁄8-8 KENT ELITE LOW RECOIL 1200- ⁄ -8
78

strictions. The Modiied tube AVERAGE PELLET COUNT: 365 AVERAGE PELLET COUNT: 365 target to get reliable hits. If
AVERAGE OF 10 SHOTS AT 25 YARDS AVERAGE OF 10 SHOTS AT 25 YARDS
will throw full-choke patterns you’re not used to it, there
with steel. In the unlikely event IMPROVED CYLINDER LIGHT MODIFIED
will need to be a leap of faith
you want to take your F16 to to shooting quite low.
the duck blind, it is proofed for I also found the mount
3-inch ammunition. dificult when shooting skeet
from the low-gun position. If I
Flight Test I pattern-tested was buying an F16, I’d go for
the F16 with Kent Elite low-re- the 2¼-inch drop buttstock.
coil ammunition and testired Shotguns that are effectively
with Federal, Kent and Win- trap guns have become objects
chester ammunition. I had one of desire for many shooters,
light iring pin hit, but the shell but you may ind a bit more
21¼-IN. INNER CIRCLE: 281 (77%) 21¼-IN. INNER CIRCLE: 247 (68%)
went off when touched again. 30-IN. OUTER CIRCLE: 55 (15%) 30-IN. OUTER CIRCLE: 69 (19%) drop works better on the
TOTAL HITS: 336 (92%) TOTAL HITS: 316 (87%)
There were no other failures. sporting course.
Several editors on staff Trigger action is just superb,
who tried the F16 mentioned that recoil was stiffer than they allowing perfect control of the shot. Ejection was strong, with
anticipated. It’s hard to think of a scientiic justiication for that empties landing together. I’m not sure I noticed a lot of differ-
since the gun weighs 7 pounds, 14 ounces, and was itted with ence in gun handling from the EBS system, but it worked with
the very straight 2-inch-drop buttstock. I found the problem was perfect reliability.
almost completely relieved by using Federal’s Paper Target ammo. The F16 represents an excellent value for the money, with very
I’m usually skeptical of the claim that paper shells kick a lot less, high-grade wood, innovative features and the prestige of the Bla-
but in this case, they did. ser name. If you’re looking for a medium-priced target shotgun,
That straight stock led to patterns that impacted a foot high the F16 needs some serious consideration.
Ed Brown
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64 G&A JA NU ARY 2019

BY JOSEPH VON BENEDIKT

ne in the
p he stock and foun f
the massive old nyala bull in my scope. Black hide fading with
age to a dusty charcoal, gray stripes running spine to flank and
orange legs merged perfectly into the morning shadows.
Racking the bolt on my 1949-vintage Winchester, I ran a
handloaded .300 H&H cartridge into its chamber and loaded
the bipod before gluing the amber dot of my Trijicon Accu-
point to the bull’s shoulder. Then I squeezed the trigger.
Dropping in his tracks to a 220-grain, round-nose bullet,
the old bull died with hardly a twitch in the smoky sunrise.
66 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | SUPER THIRTY

Created by sim ough it maintains

necking down t lt-like following
.375 H&H Magn ay, in 1963 the
(left), the .300 H&H H&H (near
was beautifully ac was unseated
rate and, courte he shorter .300
of its dramatica chester Magnum
tapered case, prov r right), which
very reliable on th .30-’06-length
skinned dangero ons that were
game — even e affordable to
tropical clim ufacture.

Genesis Twelve years after Holland & Holland introduced the

single most versatile cartridge in history — the .375 H&H —
another great round was developed.
World War I had just occurred, introducing the genius of
the controlled-feed, bolt-action Mauser 98 and the concept of
extended-distance rile capability. The magazine rile was the
future and this new cartridge with it.
Announced in 1924 as the “Super Thirty,” the .300 H&H was
created simply by necking down the .375 H&H case. Long and Excellent factory ammunition is available for the .300 H&H from
sleek, the distinctly tapered cartridge pushed .30-caliber bullets Hornady, Federal, Nosler and others. Federal’s 180-grain TBT
produced ¾-MOA groups from the author’s rile and is adequate
to unprecedented velocities. Virtue of that tapered case, the .300 for any hooved game in America.
H&H lowed like silk from
magazines into chambers and PERFORMANCE run as king, the cartridge was
extracted just as easily — even BEST AVERAGE toppled from its throne by the
VELOCITY GROUP GROUP
when the torrid temperatures LOAD (FPS) ES SD (IN.) (IN.) so-called “short” .300 Win-
of Africa and the Far East chester Magnum, a cartridge
caused pressure spikes in its that provided equal velocity
cordite propellant. and could be chambered in
Exhibiting a marked pen- Notes: Ammunition was tested through a pre-’64 Winchester Model 70. Accuracy standard, .30-’06 Springield-
igures are the average of three, three-shot groups ired over a sandbag. Velocity
chant for accuracy, the .300 igures are the result of six shots measured through a Shooting Chrony chronograph length actions.
positioned at 10 feet.
H&H became a legend. In However, unlike many vin-
1935, Ben Comfort won the tage cartridges that fade into
1,000-yard Wimbledon Cup with it at the National Matches, and obsolescence, the .300 H&H gained notoriety. Its exotic history
Americans cottoned on. Winchester began producing Model 70 turned it into an elite .30-caliber cult classic.
riles chambered for it, and the cartridge quickly took on every
species of big game in North America. The Here & Now Fresh .300 H&H factory ammunition is
available today in a broad selection. Hornady loads its 180-grain
The Decline Unlike the muscle-bound .375, the .300 H&H InterBond, which I’ve used to take a very good bull elk. Nosler
didn’t possess across-the-centuries staying power. After a 38-year offers a bunch of different factory-loaded bullets, as well. My

H&H.
favorite factory load (because it’s my rile’s Winchester Model 70
favorite) is Federal’s 180-grain Trophy
Bonded Tip (TBT).
On occasion, a major manufacturer
produces a short run of riles chambered
in .300 H&H. Remington chambered its
M700 Classic in the cartridge in 1983,
and Browning chambered the stainless
X-Bolt in .300 H&H for a short period,
also. Ruger built No. 1s in 2008, ’09 and
’11. If you can afford it, custom ordering a
rile from Dakota Arms (dakotaarms.com),
Hill Country Riles (hillcountryriles.com),
or the like is a way to obtain a beautiful
hunting rile with guaranteed accuracy.
If you’re a history buff, you can still come by a classic .300
H&H. You’ll ind that most have been gently used.
Pre-’64 Winchester Model 70 Ever since I borrowed my old
shooting mentor’s pre-’64, pre-war, Model 70 Super Grade in
.300 H&H — and shot a really good bull elk with it — I’ve
wanted one of my own. That one regularly shot three-quarter-
inch groups. Short of a British-made rile on a reined Mauser 98
action, a pre-’64 Model 70 is the quintessential .300 H&H.
I eventually found a good, solid rile. The stock was reinished,
but that fact put its price within reach. The rile wanted to shoot
well, but often threw wide liers. I examined the crown with a mag-
nifying glass, which revealed it was badly coned out in an elliptical measured it center-to-center — the caliper read .29 inch. Addi-
shape. Clearly, a previous owner had loved the rile enough to clean
SUPER THIRTY | JANUARY 2019 G&A 67
it from the muzzle with a steel rod.
Agonizing for a night, I reasoned that
since the rile has a reinished stock, I
would send it to Elk Meadow Performance
(elkmeadowperformance.com) to be
recrowned. While waiting, I handloaded a
batch of 168-grain Sierra MatchKing bul-
lets. Upon return, to my amazement, three
consecutive, three-shot, 100-yard groups
pounded into half-inch clusters.
Hunting bullets and factory loads proved
less accurate, averaging between 1¼ to 2
inches at 100 yards. Shrugging off guilt for
modifying a vintage classic, I took the rile
to bedding guru Roland Black for pillar and glass bedding and to
have the forend free-loated.
Post-bedding, Federal’s 180-grain TBT factory load averaged
.77 MOA. Handloaded 212-grain Hornady ELD-X projectiles
at 2,777 feet per second (fps) produced sub-¾-MOA groups,
providing a capable long-range load. In sea-level atmospherics, it
maintains supersonic speed past 1,450 yards.
Africa beckoned, so I dug up seven vintage .300 H&H cases, so
old that they were headstamped “.300 Magnum”. When they were
produced, there was no other factory-loaded, .30-caliber magnum.
Reasoning that a vintage cartridge should carry historically
appropriate bullets, I handloaded a few 220-grain, round-
nose Hornady bullets and ired a 100-yard group. Shocked, I
tional groups clustered equally well. I had my load for Africa.
68 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | SUPER THIRTY

165-GR. 165-GR. 168-GR. 175-GR. 180-GR. 180-GR. 180-GR. 200-GR. 200-GR. 200-GR. 212-GR.
GAMEKING PARTITION MATCHKING LRX TTSX A-FRAME SCIROCCO II TSX ACCUBOND ELD-X ELD-X

After bedding the action and free- .300 H&H HANDLOADS

loating the barrel, multiple handloads
topped with hunting bullets averaged POWDER BEST AVG. CARTRIDGE
VEL. GROUP GROUP OAL
signiicantly less than 1 MOA. Not BULLET TYPE GRS. (FPS) ES SD (IN.) (IN.) (IN.)
pictured above is Hornady’s 220-gr.
Barnes 175-gr. LRX RL-22 66.5 3,044 15 6 .41 .68 3.610
RN and Nosler’s 220-gr. Partition.

Barnes 180-gr. TTSX RL-22 67.5 3,091 21 8 .85 1.37 3.610

Hornady 200-gr. ELD-X H1000 71 2,809 23 10 .46 .79 3.610

Hornady 200-gr. ELD-X RL-22 68.5 3,008 23 8 1.42 1.81 3.610

Hornady 212-gr. ELD-X RL-25 67 2,700 16 6 .72 1.15 3.615

Nosler 165-gr. Partition H4350 70 3,183 17 8 1.04 1.56 3.610

Nosler 220-gr. Partition RL-25 71 2,782 25 10 .45 .92 3.585

Sierra 168-gr. MatchKing H4350 70 3,207 35 18 .36 .44 3.610

Handloading the .300 H&H Rolling Swift 180-gr. A-Frame IMR 7828 73 3,127 35 10 .53 .75 3.585
your own Super Thirty ammo is easy. Die Notes: Handloads were constructed in new Nosler cases primed with Federal 215 Gold Medal primers. Accuracy is
the average of three, three-shot groups ired from a bipod at 100 yards. Velocity is the average of six shots recorded
sets are available from Forster, Hornady, at 15 feet from the muzzle with a LabRadar chronograph. Ambient temperature: 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
RCBS, Redding and others. Of course, Elevation: 5,050 feet.

any .308-diameter component bullet may

be handloaded into the .300 H&H. That .300 H&H
said, the cartridge is at its best with pro-
jectiles from 165 to 220 grains.
Primed with Large Rile Magnum caps,
it’s advisable to pick a medium- to slow-
burning powder such as Reloder 26, IMR
7828 and H1000 to maximize the .300
H&H’s velocity potential.
In Africa, I had 10 days and a short list
of animals, so Professional Hunter (PH) Armand Aucamp and I
decided to be selective. South Africa’s Kwa Zulu Natal region is
known for monstrous nyala bulls — my primary pursuit — and
Crusader Safaris (crusadersafaris.com) has a vast tract of free-
range hunting in the heart of it.
Several days after arriving, an old bushbuck stood one
second too long. As he turned to ghost away, the .300 H&H
barked. The bullet connected at the rear of the rib cage, angled
through the thoracic cavity and turned
the offside shoulder knuckle into a
thousand matchsticks. At 92 yards, the
energy dump was tremendous, causing
the bushbuck to expire without a twitch.
Although bushbucks are fairly small ani-
mals, this one stopped the massive bullet.
With two days remaining, the PH and
I stood atop a rocky cliff point, glassing
the grassy bottoms for nyala. When the nyala bull showed, he
wasn’t the 29-incher we’d hoped for but he was ancient and
massive. “He’ll make Roland Ward’s 27-inch minimum,” Aucamp
whispered encouragingly.
I decided to take the shot. The pre-’64 Winchester spoke
across the veldt, and when the report echoed from the surround-
ing hills my .300 H&H had its second one-shot kill. Not bad for
a 94-year-old cartridge.
 SUPER THIRTY | JANUARY 2019 G&A 69

Historically, the .300 H&H would have been irst loaded with
heavy 220-grain bullets similar to the Hornady round-nose Inter- FIELDING THE .300 PRC
lock (right). It averaged less than half MOA in the author’s rile.
Nosler’s 220-grain Partition also grouped less than 1 MOA and is
well-suited for elk and moose.

Medium-to-slow propellants such as Reloder 26, IMR 7828 and

H1000 provide excellent accuracy and velocity in the .300 H&H.

Handloading the .300 H&H is easy. Dies and components are

readily available and data is plentiful. Nosler’s preprepped cases
are excellent. Use match-grade primers to access the cartridge’s
precision potential.
72 G&A JA NU ARY 2019
P ROOF HOUSE Kimber Open Country
LIGHTWEIGHT &
LONG-RANGE ACCURATE
AS MORE SHOOTERS GRAVITATE towards long-
range marksmanship and long-range hunting,
manufacturers address these trends by developing
new products. Kimber is one such company, which
unveiled its Open Country rile last year. It carries a
list of features that make it ideal for both long-range
shooting and hunting at almost any distance.
The primary interface between a shooter and a rile
is the stock. The stock on the Open Country is one of
the best yet. It is made using carbon iber, making it
both strong and light. Many stocks on featherweight
riles will feel and sound hollow. They will also exhibit
a muzzle-heavy bias due to almost no weight in the
back end, making them feel heavier than they actually
measure. Kimber’s Open Country stock has uniform
weight distribution throughout and has a high-quality
feel to it, while being very well balanced.
The Open Country stock is also full-sized with a
length of pull of 13.7 inches. The comb is high and
full, enabling a irm head placement behind the
scope. The stock does not come with an adjustable
comb, yet its drop is .43 inch. This means the stock
does an admirable job keeping the shooter’s head
high enough to see through the scope without
requiring an adjustable comb and the additional
weight of a cheekpiece.
 JANUARY 2019 G&A 73

The trigger mea-

sured 3½-pounds
during G&A’s test-
ing. It is protected
by a metal trigger-
guard and loorplate
assembly that allows
shooters to quickly
unload the rile’s
internal magazine
from the bottom
when needed.

The Open Country

features a three-
position safety that
affords shooters the
ability to clear the
action. The target-
style bolt handle
is comfortable to
manipulate and
improves leverage to
unlock and retract
or close and lock
the bolt.

Kimber’s 84M action

was designed with
minimal dimen-
sions to accept the
.308 Win. family of
cartridges. Given
the 6.5 Creedmoor
is based on a .308
case, it inds itself
right at home in this
action.

Kimber Open Country

Type: Bolt action
Cartridge: 6.5 Creedmoor
Capacity: 5+1 rds.
Barrel: 24 in. , 1:8-in. twist
Overall Length: 43.5 in.
Weight: 6 lbs., 15 oz.
Stock: Carbon iber, reinforced
Length of Pull: 13.7 in.
Finish: KimPro II (steel); Optifade
Open Country (stock)
Trigger: 3 lbs., 8 oz.
Sights: None
MSRP: $2,270
Manufacturer: Kimber, 888-243-4522,
kimberamerica.com
74 G&A JA NU ARY 2019 | KIMBER OPEN COUNTRY

To remove the bolt assembly from the action, press the serrated but- The crowned muzzle is recessed when the thread protector is
ton on the bolt release lever while withdrawing the unlocked bolt. screwed onto the deep luted barrel. The threads are 5/8-24.

The stock has two aluminum pillars that surround the
action screws inside the stock. The pillar’s bedding ensures ive rounds it comfortably inside our rile without causing
the action doesn’t crush down inside the
carbon iber from over tightening, forcing
the internal magazine to bind and create
feeding issues.
The action is not glass-bedded in the
stock, but we observed no action move-
ment while removing the action screw.
Action movement during screw removal
indicates the rile would beneit from
glass-bedding because the stock doesn’t
provide complete and full contact with
the action. G&A’s test rile would bene-
it very little from glass-bedding, as the
accuracy table shows.
The Open Country feeds from an inter-
nal magazine that had no issues during
testing. Kimber’s website states the rile
holds “four” rounds in the magazine, but we found that
Featuring the Mauser-style claw
extractor on its bolt, the 84M Open
Country is a controlled-round feed
(CRF) action.
the bolt to bind. All ive rounds fed reli-
ably every time.
The stock’s full-length forend is an
endearing feature when shooting under
ield conditions. Plenty of forend allows
the shooter to use all available rests to
help stabilize the rile. As forends shorten
(usually to cut weight), it gets harder for
the shooter to stay behind the rile and
support the forend without also mashing
themselves up against the ield rest.
The forend is wide and lattens out
on the bottom. That lat surface on the
bottom of the forend greatly helps the
shooter stabilize the rile when resting
the forend on most solid objects. The
rile is much less prone to wobble back
 KIM BER OPEN COUNTRY | JANUARY 2019 G&A 75

and forth, especially if the both cartridge length and

shooter can stuff a glove or diameter. The 84-series
jacket between the forend actions are for cartridges
and solid rest. with .473-inch-sized case
The forend tip has two The lightweight stock is complete with a recoil-reducing buttpad and heads and the 8400-series
sling swivel studs, another Optifade Open Country water-transfer inish. actions are for cartridges
boon to ield shooting. The with .532-inch-sized case
stud closest to the loorplate hosts the sling and allows heads. The 84M is for medium-length cartridges (anything
for comfortable carry aield. The second swivel closer the .308 Winchester-length) and the 84L is for .30-’06-length
forend’s tip is for a bipod. cartridges.
We typically carry a bipod with removable leg exten- The Open Country is currently only available with the
sions that allow for shooting from both the prone and 84M action and is chambered in either .308 Winchester or
seated positions. The ability to leave the bipod attached 6.5 Creedmoor. The 84M action has just enough mass and
while hunting and still retain the ability to throw the rile weight to handle the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge that our test
over your shoulder for slinged carry makes hours in the rile hosted. This helps to keep weight down by eliminat-
ield much more comfortable. ing as much steel as possible.
There are four 8-40 screw holes in the top of the receiver
Action Sized Kimber is the only rile company of which we to host a wide variety of scope mounts. The test rile
are aware of that has action bodies sized to accommodate received a continuous-section of Picatinny rail allowing us to
 76 G&A JANUARY 2019 | KIMBER OPEN COUNTRY

CROWD CONTROL.
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Protected under patent # D770001 S1 Notes: Accuracy is the average of three, ive-shot groups from a rest at 100 yards.
Velocity is the average of 10 shots recorded by a LabRadar chronograph adjacent
to the muzzle.

mount a Leupold VX-3i LRP 6.5-20x50mm scope on top.

Screw size for scope bases comes up on occasion
Also available with orange furniture
and the 8-40 screws as featured on the Open Country
are preferred. The smaller 6-48s work just ine for most
applications and only have trouble
when very light riles used to shoot
long-action cartridges host heavy
scopes. The heavy recoil from the light
rile means it accelerates quickly to the
rear while trying to drag a heavy and
inertia-laden scope with it. The four
screws are all that carry the load and
small ones will strip from time to time.
Kimber is aware of this and conse-
quently uses 8-40 screws.

Claw Extractor The 84M action is a

perennial favorite. The most prominent
action feature is the large external
claw extractor design of the Mauser
M98. The 84M’s claw extractor utilizes
controlled round feed (CRF), ensuring
that the moment the cartridge leaves
the internal magazine it is held snugly
against the bolt face until seated in the
chamber. Unlike the original Mauser
design, the extractor’s edge has a nice
bevel that allows the shooter to drop
cartridges into the open action and
then close the action without damag-
ing the extractor. The bevel allows the
extractor to slip easily over the top-
loaded cartridge’s case head.
 LAR-15 RRAGE RIFLE DS1850
with RRA Six-Position Tactical CAR
MSRP: $759.99*

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1:9 Twist Barrel
Punching above it’s weight class, this new entry carbine
features a sleek monolithic upper receiver/handguard with
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YOUR LOCAL DEALER.
* Prices are subject to change. Optics and scope mount not included. ROCKRIVERARMS.COM PERFORMANCE TUNED.
 78 G&A JANUARY 2019

The 84M ejector is also a solid and

slender piece of steel that extends

DR SNOW ®
along the lower half of the bolt body.
As the bolt travels rearward, the

BLOWERS! ejector moves up into place where the

rearward movement of the bolt pulls
the ired cartridge into contact with
the ejector. Done quickly, an empty
case goes lying. A more sedate pace
of working the bolt will drop spent
cases right next to the rile.
The safety on the 84M is tough to
beat. Based on the Winchester Model
70 design, it sits on the back of the
bolt shroud and controls movement of
the iring pin instead of trying to man-
4 MODELS age the trigger’s sear. Since movement
NO WOR of the iring pin is the only way for a
EZ-TURN™ STEERING RIES!
180º turns at the end of your driveway. rile to ire, focusing a safety’s efforts
RUGGED CHUTE CONTROLS
there is always wise. The irst position

197C5X © 2018
6 SPEEDS FORWARD/2 REVERSE on with weather-protected drive gears
all models. for speed and durability. is off safe, the second position pulls
EXTRA-WIDE IMPELLERS throw snow LED HEADLIGHT and HEATED HAND the pin away from the chamber and
up to 50 feet. GRIPS with separate on/off controls. the third position secures the iring pin
while locking the bolt closed.
The barrel Kimber puts on the Open
1 YEAR TRIAL!
DRsnowblowers.com Country has a heavy contour, but
888-213-2379 uses deep lutes to trim weight. The
combination might sound contradictory,
but the contour does an excellent job
of putting steel around the chamber
where throat erosion occurs. Placing this
amount of steel around and just in front
of the chamber allows the barrel to
absorb throat-destroying heat quickly,
mitigating the damaging effects of that
heat. The lutes forward of the throat
are where Kimber removed a signiicant
amount of weight.
Maintaining the heavy contour for
the barrel’s length means that the
threaded muzzle has a massive shoul-
der to support muzzle devices and
suppressors. Barrels with light con-
tours don’t offer much of a shoulder
to butt-up against, so muzzle devices
and suppressors can damage or be
damaged by the end of a lightly con-
toured barrel. The Open Country is a
rile that doesn’t suffer from this issue.
Kimber’s Open Country is a rile
that is meant to be shot just as much
as it is carried. Riles & Glass Colum-
nist Tom Beckstrand spent several
days on a summer axis deer hunt in
Hawaii to evaluate the Open Country.
It performed beautifully.
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“I located a clean example that came as one of a pair of
Smith & Wesson revolvers ... and won.”
UN AUCTIONS
OLVED that I had to own a Smith & Wesson Model
I wanted a so-called “shooter” in good condition.
century-old revolvers are not readily available in most
hops anymore, and I didn’t ind any that interested me
. Therefore, I turned to one of the hidden gems of the
tage gun-collecting world — the auction house.
Auctions are the best source
for inding collectible guns
in great condition and are an
untapped resource for many.
Sure, the process can seem
intimidating and there are
some considerations.
The irst rule of buying at
a gun auction is to stick with
irms who know the irearms
market and have a reputa-
tion to uphold. A few of the
respected names among the
auction houses include the
Amoskeag Auction Company
(amoskeagauction.com), Cow-
an’s Auction (cowanauctions.
com), Rock Island Auction (rockislandauction.com) and
Poulin Antiques and Auctions (poulinauctions.com).
Auction policies can vary, but most conform to basic
principles. There are usually three ways to bid at an auc-
tion: in-person, by phone and online. Some small auctions
or auction companies that do not offer in-house online
bidding can often be accessed through websites such as
proxibid.com, but there are usually additional fees.
Bidding in-person is ideal, which allows potential buyers
to visually inspect an item prior to placing said bid. How-
ever, logistics do not always allow us to travel to the auc-
tion house for in-person bidding, which is where diligent
research produces satisfaction.
Reputable auction companies will list descriptions
accompanied by quality photos of each irearm. If time
allows, they will often accommodate individual requests for
additional photos of details such as proofmarks.
As for apparent value (and unlike certain online gun-
auction websites), I have never seen a irearm’s condi-
tion inlated by any of the aforementioned houses. The
SPENT CASES
descriptions provided by the auction are likely accurate,
but you must still exercise due diligence to determine an
item’s value. Variations in model, inish, coniguration and
markings can signiicantly affect value.
For high-value items, I recommend phone bidding. It
provides the ability to make decisions in real time, with-
out tipping your hand to the
auctioneer on your inal price.
Honest as they may be, auc-
tions do make their money on
commission.
Then there’s the online
option where the buyer sets a
price and the item is sold for
the lowest price possible up
to and including that amount.
One issue with online bids is
that there are often ties where
several bidders set the same
maximum bid. To avoid this,
bid by phone or set a “plus
1” or “plus 2” on your bid to
raise your bid incrementally.
Auctions can be fun, but there’s also the risk of catching
the fever and overpaying for the sake of winning. Many
auction customers forget to calculate the buyer’s pre-
mium into the purchase price. The buyer’s premium is the
auction’s commission on the sale, which usually raises the
price by 15 to 18 percent depending on the method of
payment. When you factor the cost of packaging, shipping
and FFL fees, your bargain may not be. These additional
fees are not reasons to avoid auctions, but should be fac-
tored into the inal bidding price to avoid surprises.
As for my dream to own an M1917? After being out-
bid on several good examples at a Rock Island Auction,
I located a clean example that came as one of a pair of
Smith & Wesson revolvers at a smaller auction — and won.
For the same $1,400 bid, I was able to get the M1917 and
a 1950s’-vintage K-22. (The latter felt as if it was free.)
If you’ve used auctions to ind the guns you want, we
want to hear from you! Share your auction experiences
(good or bad) by sending us an email at
gaeditor@outdoorsg.com.
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