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GUNS & AMMO

FEBRUARY 2015 | VOLUME 59, NUMBER 2 | PUBLISHED MONTHLY

CONTENTS

FOR THOSE NOT LIVING

IN FREE STATES
This is Patriot Ordnance Factorys
50-state-legal ReVolt: Merica.
by tom beckstrand

COVER PHOTO: SEAN UTLEY, ABOVE: BRAXTON LEE PETTY

68

VELVET
REVOLUTION
Its time to celebrate 40 years
of the CZ 75.
by peter g. kokalis,
senior editor,
shotgun news

76

SIG SAUER
P320 CARRY
A pistol with an alter ego.
by jason teague

82

ITALYS
UNDERRATED
CARCANO
The Fucile Modello 91 was
an effective, versatile arm that
served Italy for nearly 100 years.
by garry james

The cover of Guns &

Ammos subscriber
edition features a soonto-be-collectible, 1 of
1,000, limited-edition
tribute to this years
40th anniversary of the
CZ 75 (serial number
40TH000).

Reader Blowback 6
Editorial by Eric R Poole 13

Rifes & Glass by Tom Beckstrand 39

Lock, Stock & Barrel by SGM Kyle Lamb [Ret] 51

Gun Room by Garry James 17

Gun Notes by Craig Boddington 25
Handgunning by Patrick Sweeney 29
The Carry Rig Blackhawk Epoch Level 3 34

Range Bag Motorola MHP71 Talkabout Earmuffs 54

Proofhouse Bond Arms Backup 88
G&A Almanac 94
Spent Cases Roy Weatherbys Polar Bear 96

GUNS & AMMO Magazine, Copyright 2015 by InterMedia Outdoors Inc. All rights reserved.
CAUTION: Some advertisements may concern products that are not legally for sale to California residents or residents in other jurisdictions.
Guns & Ammo (ISSN# 0017-5684) February 2015, Volume 59 Number 2 Copyright 2015 Published monthly by INTERMEDIA OUTDOORS INC, 1040 6th Ave, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10018-3703 Periodical postage paid at New York,
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G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

gunsandammo.com
An InterMedia Outdoors publication
PubLISHer Chris Agnes
EDITORIAL
eDITOr Eric R. Poole
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arT DIreCTOr Michael Ulrich
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SeNIOr fIeLD eDITOr Craig Boddington
HaNDGuNS eDITOr Patrick Sweeney
ONLINe eDITOr Dusty Gibson
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6 G & A f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5
READER
BLOWBACK

WRITE US! Letters, Guns & Ammo, 2 News Plaza, 3rd Floor, Peoria, IL 61614, or email us at gaeditor@imoutdoors.com.
Please include your city and state of residence. Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity.

cartridge being too long to

ft in our grip opening.
After the December
issue went to press, Guns
& Ammo also learned that
the Browning 1911-380 will
ship with one magazine,
and its MSRP is going to be
$670, not $700.
Eds

1965
Our July 1965 issue featured
Guns & Ammo founder
Robert E. Petersens nickelplated Smith & Wesson Model 29 on the cover, which he
used on a polar bear hunt. It
was the frst shot ever taken
on a polar bear with a .44
Magnum. A skull measurement of more than 27 inches
put it in the record book.

LOVE FOR THE

UNLOVED .380

BROWNING CANT DO 9mm?

In your review of the Browning 1911-380 (Dec. 2014), you
report that Browning already considered 9mm only to discover that pressures exceeded the pistols 85 percent designs ability to reliably function. As youre aware, several
manufacturers are currently offering much smaller designs
in 9mm, including some based on the 1911 design, not
to mention Springfelds scaled-down EMP. In light of that,
I dont understand why the pressures of the 9mm should
defy Brownings attempt to make it reliable in its gun. Can
you or somebody with engineering training explain this
apparent paradox?
Tim Robinson
St. Joseph, MN
The reason Browning isnt
chambering the 9mm in its
scaled-down 1911 platform is that the cartridge
is too long to ft in the
grip opening. The original
quote published by Guns &
Ammo, Browning already
considered 9mm only to
discover that pressures
exceeded the pistols 85
percent design ability to reliably function, is incorrect.
Ryan D. Cook, mechanical

engineer, P.E., for Browning

Arms Companys Research
and Development, clarifed
the real issue for us, indicating, The .380 has a maximum overall length of .984
inch while the 9mm has a
maximum overall length of
1.169 inches, which is about
3/16 inch longer than the
.380. Rather than choosing
the .380 based on pressure
or strength, [the decision]
was based on the 9mm

[I] always enjoy articles

on the underappreciated
.380. Your read on the new
Browning Black Label in
the December 2014 issue
was interesting. I love the
1911 platform and think a
downsized one in .380 is a
great idea. However, some
of us dont care for plastic
guns; [I] just cant warm up
to them. A great alternative
choice is one like a Walther
PPK. While it isnt as great
as Mr. Brownings design,
its still a great little pistol
with a long history of good
service. Its a nice size for
times when a full-sized
pistol would be diffcult
to conceal. Some may
complain of the weight of
a steel pistol, but Ive had
several comment on how
nice it is to shoot compared with some of the
super-small and light pistols
theyve shot. Add a nice set
of Hogue wood grips and
theyre nice to look at and
to shoot. Accuracy is fne,
and after you get used to
the double/single-action
trigger, its good. You can
always cock the hammer
for that frst shot also and

avoid that frst-shot hard

pull of its double action. A
hammer is nice also. [Its]
old school, but you always
know when its cocked, and
its easy to uncock using the
decock function of the safety. A plus that Ive found
is that it shoots cast lead
even better than jacketed
factory ammo, which makes
for economical practice
and more versatility. Itd be
nice to see a really in-depth
article on this great pistol.
Mike Freeman
email

MORE QUOTABLES
WANTED
I and my family (who also
read Guns & Ammo magazine) really appreciate your
adding Jeff Cooper Cooperisms and quotes in the
magazine. Same goes for

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f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | r e A d e r b l o w b A c k

[quotes from] Elmer Keith,

Bob Milek, Bill Jordan and
others. There will always
be a small percentage of
low-information people
who either have never read
Jeff Coopers (or Elmer
Keiths) writings or they do
not, will not or cannot comprehend what they read.
Having known Jeff well and
talked to myriad people
about him, I can attest that
envy, ignorance and arrogance are three of the most
common reasons they dont
like him. Unfortunately,
unlike envious people, the
problem with ignorant people is that they dont know
they are ignorant. Keep up
the good work!
Thomas Graziano
email

STOCK MAKERS
I just read Mr. Boddingtons
Stock Options article;
great stuff. How does one
fnd a stock maker whom
one can trust his special
blank to? I have some

outstanding black walnut thats been drying

since December 2009. My pieces are large, and
I would appreciate any direction on how I might
move forward in laying out the blanks within the
large pieces. Thanks for the interesting reading.
dave Johnson
email
That is a very tough question, as were talking
about genuine art. To fnd a stock maker who
uses wood for his canvas, check the American
Custom Gunmakers Guild website (acgg.org).
Take your time, and make plenty of inquires. In
order to belong to the ACGG, one must actually
handcraft stocks from blanks; there is no machinework allowed. So, you are clearly seeking
one of its members.
C. Boddington

JUST-RIGHT CARBINES
Like Arnie Tobias of Leesburg, Florida (see
Reader Blowback, December 2014), I have
a JRC but in .45 caliber. Being [an infrequent]
shooter, I sold or gave away both of my .45
pistols since these old hands couldnt handle
them anymore. I then had a surplus of .45
ammunition. Instead of selling the ammo, I
shopped around looking for a rife that could fre
the surplus. My gun shop owner and JRC to the
rescue. Like Mr. Tobias 9mm, it was reasonably
priced at roughly $700 and easily adaptable to
either right- or left-handed shooters. When I
saw the ads and articles on the new Stag Arms
9mm, I immediately thought of the JRC, which
presented the exact same features. As I was in
the market for a 9mm rife, I immediately bought
a JRC and saved several hundred dollars in the
process. I have fred 500 rounds through both
carbines and experienced only one jam with
the .45, which was readily cleared and didnt
affect future shooting. Call me a very satisfed
customer who is looking forward to Mr. Nances
evaluation.
bill ewing, MSgt, USAF (ret.)
lake Jackson, TX

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r e a d e r b l o w b a c k | f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

December 2014 column,

Trunk Monkey, is right up
there with walking a cute
puppy in terms of attracting interest. I had no idea
there were that many guitar
afcionados out there, and
I was totally unprepared to
have my limited knowledge
of guitars tested.
robert Musgrove,
Houston, TX

WHATS IN THE CASE?

Carrying a guitar case at
the advice of Kyle Lambs

Thanks for the letter. It is so

true that a guitar case just
seems to get the conversa-

tion started. I am lucky that

I have a son in the music
business so I can cheat a
little. Another great idea
that I have now seen on a
few shooters cases is simply a large, spray-painted,
block-letter sign reading
Fragile Survey Equipment. It makes sense
to me and should keep
those around you relaxed.
I defnitely dont know
anything about survey gear,
but it should keep the Nosy
Nellys out of your business.

G&a

Of course, we could all just

carry gun cases and tell
those around us we have
guns. Wouldnt that be a
great place to live?
K. Lamb

THEN & NOW

I welcome the little blurbs
from Cooper and Keith. I
also look forward to reading
quotes from Milek, Jordan
and possibly (referring to
the back page) Whelen,
P.O. Ackley, Hatcher and a
host of other past masters

10

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | r e A d e r b l o w b A c k

of the gunwriters art. I dont

consider any of these men
to be gods, but I fgure
we can still beneft from old
wisdom. The principles of
our craft do not change;
only our tools evolve. As for
Boddingtons articles on biggame hunting, I welcome
them, too. I may never get
to hunt exotic game in distant locales, but I can dream
of doing so, and articles like
these fuel the imagination.
Ill never own an exquisite
double rife chambered for
African safari-appropriate

cartridges, but I enjoy reading about them from time to

time. I think Guns & Ammo
should continue to cover as
many aspects of the shooting sports as possible since
some of us still like the old
blue steel and walnut, and
the black guns with plastic
stocks all begin to look the
same after awhile.
ross A. Hendricks
Steger, Il

AR-15 H8R
I am sick of seeing gunwriters praising this or that

version of the AR-15. Yes,

it is based on the current
standard battle rife of the
U.S. military, but shouldnt
the real question be why
our fghting men and
women are subjected to
such a lousy rife when our
servicemen and -women
deserve better? I have a
lot of veterans and retired
military in my family as well
as a lot of law enforcement
(some overlapping on those
two lists). Almost every
soldier I know moans and
complains about the AR

TWITTER

@gunsandammomag
Do you troll for reloadable brass at the range? If so, what are the most
unique spent cases youve found?
@thebuzzwood .45 GAP, I dont get it.
@ThomasStanley 7.35 Carcano
@ReganBullard I once found a .218 Bee case on a pistol range. I guess from a
@TCArmsCo. But it would make for a fun revolver.

platform because it has so

many parts, so many things
that can go wrong. The AR
hates the dirt and sand,
and it also hates the muck
and mud (as in, it hates
every battlefeld known to
history). I will openly admit
that the AR platform is very
popular among civilians,
but I would insist on the caveat that the AR is only so
popular because it is based
on the current U.S. military
standard arm. I have heard
for years, If it aint broke,
dont fx it. I would argue
that the AR platform was
born broke, and every generation since Vietnam has
been trying and failing to
fx it. Our servicemen have
been haunted by a gun
that jams and constantly
has problems with fouling,

r e a d e r b l o w b a c k | f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

a gun that is entirely too

complicated and FUBAR to
be reliable. What we need
is a new military arm, and
if we get a new standard
arm not based on the AR,
I predict a massive drop in
AR platform sales.
chase ashley
wellington, al

WHERE DO YOU
PUT RED DOTS?
The 1X refecting gun sight
has made life much easier
for those of us with old
eyes. I realize that these
optics have infnite eye
relief, but more and more
rifes are ftted with rails
running from just behind
the muzzle to the absolute
back edge of the receiver.
So, wheres the best place
to put a sight like this?

Over the barrel, over the

chamber, over the bolt or
at the back of the receiver?
Is there a difference for
open-window sights versus
tube sights?
al bowen
leavenworth, kS
I prefer to mount red dot
sights at the front of the
receiver simply because it
gives me room for backup
sights and seems to work
well. All of these sights
are different, so you can
play with the sight before
you zero it to ensure that
it works where you put it. I
would discourage you from
putting the sight on the
free-foat tube forward of
the receiver. This generally
is not as rigid as the upper
receiver of the carbine.

Hope this helps.

K. Lamb

GOOD TIMES
I would like to thank Patrick
Sweeney for his November
column, A 1911 With History. I, too, recall with fond
memories the IPSC early
years and the fun our club
team had traveling around
Wisconsin participating in

G&a

11

matches as well as hosting

them at the Viking Bow &
Gun Club. We embraced
the pin-shooting phenomenon and hosted our own
pin matches, ultimately
making the trek to Central
Lake, Michigan, where I
accumulated a set of heartshaped patches similar to
those shown in Sweeneys
photos. I even managed to
bring home a few guns.
Shawn Seefeldt
Two rivers, wI

OOPS, OUR BAD

In the January 2015 issue
of Guns & Ammo magazine
on page 51, we incorrectly
described the Taurus Curves
onboard LED light/red laser
combo as a Lasermax unit. It
is actually manufactured by
LaserLyte.
Eds

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EDITORIAL

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 G & A

13

If you dont like something were doing, let us know.

If you do like what you see, let us know that, too.

MAIL CALL
THE LETTER READ, Mr. Poole, I am unable to renew my
subscription to Guns & Ammo. I do not want to support
publishers who allow their editors to print so many articles
on rifes like the AR-15, nor do I care to be associated with
readers who exalt plastic guns. If you can assure me that
the majority of articles coming up for review are classic
revolvers and wood-stocked rifes, perhaps I might support
your magazine again.
This is a sample of the many pieces of correspondence I
receive each month through emails and handwritten letters
providing feedback, which I encourage. Good or bad, I
read everything and use constructive criticism to develop
future issues.
Its my mission to be known as a readers editor who
puts your interests ahead of my own. Its my pursuit to
return G&A to a general-interest gun magazine promoting the new and old, the innovative and entertaining,
which means assigning articles on virtually any subject involving a trigger.
Half of the letters I received last month praised
the introduction of new waterfowl shotguns in the
November issue, and half of you enjoyed the roundup of air rifes in the December issue. Other letters
loathed both. With only 12 issues to cover so many
specialized areas of gun usage, my aim is to touch
on the most interesting aspects of every subject and
let my companys many special-interest publications
such as Wildfowl, Book of the AR-15, Handguns and
Rifeshooter delve deeper into particular niches.
We can all be gun lovers, but most of us do tend to
obsess about one thing or another at times.
Guns & Ammo also
DANIEL DEFENSE
DDM4 PISTOL .300 BLK, $1,700
reports on trends,
and one trend Ive
been watching this
year has been the
new direction of
AR companies. As
a result of restrictive legislation
such as New Yorks SAFE Act and others,
more and more manufacturers are working to offer legal alternatives. Troy
Industries allowed Guns &
Ammo to launch the news
of its pump-action rife, or

ERIC R. POOLE
@BLACK5PROJECTS

PAR, which stood proudly on the newsstand cover of our

July issue. Because its a pump action, it didnt fall victim to
the restrictions targeting its semiautomatic brethren.
And it hasnt stopped there.
Daniel Defense is launching two new DDM4 pistols for
2015, including one in .300 Blackout. The .300 Blackout
recently became my new home-defense pistol. Its short,
accurate and spits out big bullets without fuss. The ATF is
taking as long as a year to approve Form 1s and Form 4s
to make a short-barreled rife (SBR). When you combine
this model with the lawful shoulder use of SIG Sauers revolutionary pistol brace, I dont know why anyone would be
willing to twiddle his thumbs for a government-registered
SBR. I predict AR pistols will be the in thing for 2015.
Last summer, Guns & Ammo started working with
POF-USAs new ReVolt in 5.56 NATO and .308 Win. This
platform is not only 50-state legal, but those living
in restrictive states can purchase the uppers
separately. It redefnes the term speed
cycling, and several different shooters
whom we are aware of have already turned in
.3-inch fve-shot groups thus far.
CMMG just unveiled a completely new type of AR
rife, the Mk47 Mutant, which has been specifcally designed around the 7.62x39 and the AK47
magazine. We received a sample just in time to
preview it on page 63, but at the time of this issues
publication we didnt have enough rounds downrange to offer a thorough evaluation. Stand by; that
report will follow soon.
G&As staff works continuously to ensure that your
feedback is being respectfully addressed while informing you of the latest and most innovative products on both sides of Garry James monthly classic
review. I cant fnd another gun magazine, print or
digital, that does a more effective job of bringing
you the frst looks on small arms, optics and ammunition. No one here expects to please everyone, but
we ask you for the opportunity to demonstrate the
broad nature of this title through clever writing and
high-quality photography. If you dont like
something were doing, let us know. If you
do like what you see, let us know that, too.
You can always reach us by email at gaeditor@
imoutdoors.com.

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GUN ROOM

february 2015 G & A

17

Ah, a rife near and dear to my heart.

[It] was the frst cartridge rife I ever fred.
In fact, I still have mine, and it still shoots great.

IDENTIFICATION
& VALUES

G A R RY J A M E S
G A R RY. J A M E S @
IMOUTDOORS.COM

something much more

mundane. This is the most
common of the Nazi Hi
Powers, thus value on your
piece, assuming 90 percent
condition, is in the $650 to
$750 range.

REMINGTON RIDER
REVOLVER?

NAZI HI POWER, 90%: $700

NAZI HI POWER

Q: I have what I believe is

a Remington Rider revolver. There is no Remington
name on it that I can fnd,
however. The gun was
given to my grandfather by
a neighbor who was a colonel in the Civil War (who
ran an underground railroad from his house, I was
told) for my grandfather to
use while bringing his saloon receipts to the bank.
On the bottom of the
barrel is the serial number
1XX, and on the plate that

Q: I hope you can help me with some background on a gun

recently passed to us after my father-in-law died. It was
my wifes great-grandfathers, and unfortunately, with my
father-in-laws passing, we have lost the history of the gun.
From what I can tell, its a Browning patent model 1935
chambered in 9mm manufactured by FN. Ive tried to run
down the serial number and get the year of manufacture
for my records, but I havent had any luck. Some interesting items on this gun are the Nazi proofmark on the slide
and the four notches carved into the grip. Any idea what
the notches indicate? Ive read some
interesting threads that suggest
THE AUCTION BLOCK
these pistols were often removed
A rare and desirable twin Italian Villar Perosa machine
gun sold for a phenomenal $57,500, including premifrom Nazi soldiers during World War
ums, at the October 7, 2014, James D. Julia auction.
II and the notches could have repreChambered in 9mm Glisenti, the Villar Perosa is consented kills with the gun. Could this
sidered by many to be the worlds frst true submachine
gun. This particular example is in excellent working
be the answer? Id appreciate any
condition with blued steel and brass components with
information you could provide. We
only minimal blemishes and scuffs. Its a fne example
will never part with this gun.
of a gun that rarely comes on the market. For more
information about this and future auctions, contact
A.C., Vilonia, AR
James D. Julia Inc., 207-453-7125, jamesdjulia.com.

A: This is a pretty easy one. You have

an FN 1935 Hi Power made during
the Nazi occupation, hence the
rough fnish and German Waffenamt
proofmark. As to the notches, the
general romantic version is that they
represent kills, and this could very
well be, but they could also mean

goes on the back of the

cylinder are the numbers
17 and 74. An original
box of shells came with it.
The gun is what I would
consider almost new in
condition; the bore is clean
and without any pitting.
Could you please tell me
what you know about this
and perhaps a value on it?
K.L., WI
A: From your excellent
photos, it certainly does
appear that you have a
factory conversion of a
double-action percussion
Remington Rider Pocket
revolver. The serial number
under the barrel is correct
for a Remington, though
there should also be numbers on the inside of the
triggerguard and under the
grip. The barrel should have
the Remington address, so
how this one escaped being
marked is puzzling; such
things do happen, though.
I know of no one during the
period making copies of
this little handgun, and the
guns lines, grips and .32 RF
caliber are indicative of the
real article. A possibility is
that the gun was refnished,
but again, the sharp edges
seem to indicate that this is
not the case. Im inclined to
think you have a Remington
Rider that somehow wasnt
marked at the factory. Double check, and see if the
serial number is in the two

18

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | G u n r o o m

HAVE AN HEIRLOOM? Curious

about a vintage frearm? Email

Garry at garry.james@imoutdoors.com, or send a description with detailed photos to
Gun room, Guns & Ammo, 2
news Plaza, 3rd Floor, Peoria,
IL 61614. Please include your
name and state of residence.
Due to the volume of requests
each month, personal replies
are not possible. The most
interesting or unusual queries
are answered in Guns & Ammo
magazine.

other places I mentioned.

That should clinch it. The
Remington Rider was made
in a .31 percussion version
from about 1860 to 1873,
when .32 cartridge conversions appeared. They were
made until 1888. Your piece,
if it is a true Remington and
hasnt been refnished, with
the original box of ammo,
is worth in the $1,500 to
$1,750 range.

DAN WESSON, NIB: $1,000+

NICKEL COLT
VEST POCKET
Q: I paid $200 for this
nickel-plated Colt .25 ACP.
I would say that is has no
wear and is in 95 percent
condition with the original
grips. Could you give me a
value?
C.J., email

RECOMMENDED
READS
Shooters Bible Guide to
Extreme Iron, by Stan
Skinner, Skyhorse Publishing Inc., New York, NY.
Paperback, 147 pages.
Written by veteran frearms
scribe Stan Skinner, Extreme Iron is an enjoyable,
informative book that, as
its subtitle explains, is An
Illustrated Reference to
Some of the Worlds Most
Powerful Weapons, from
Hand Cannons to Field
Artillery. Skinner has put
together a fun, well-thoughtout compendium copiously
illustrated in color that
includes a look at such
things as submachine guns,
Gatlings, various .50-caliber
contrivances, howdah
pistols and the like, many of
which the average shooter
will never have a chance to
shoot, but we can enjoy their
delights vicariously through
Skinners lively reportage.
Guns & Ammos Garry
James supplied a number of
featured guns to Skinner, so
youll see some of his arms
in action. Price is $19.95
plus S&H from Skyhorse
Publishing, 212-643-6816,
skyhorsepublishing.com.

A: From your photo, its

easy to tell you have a Colt
Model 1908 Vest Pocket
.25 auto. The Rampant Colt
hard-rubber grips indicate that its a fairly early
incarnation of this excellent
little auto, and though the
picture is somewhat blurry,
condition seems to be pretty good. Assuming 95 percent condition, according to
the Thirty-Fifth Anniversary
Edition Blue Book of Gun
Values (bluebookinc.com),
its worth $850. These little
hammerless repeaters were
made from 1908 to 1946
and were versions of an
earlier John Browning gun
manufactured at Fabrique
Nationale.

MORE ON
DAN WESSON
Q: While I am not an
expert on Dan Wesson gun
values, I am a member of
the DW forum and watch
DW prices on gunbroker.
com constantly. A new,

unfred pistol pak would

probably start at $1,000
and may go to $1,500 if
it was stainless or had a
heavy lug under the barrel.
Your sample picture is of a
standard profle, where the
lug ends just beyond the
ejector. If your reader has
a 12-inch barrel as part of
the kit, it alone is worth the
$1,000 or so. After buying
a DW and fnding out how
much fun it is to shoot, I
fnd myself with a bad case
of what I call DWAS, or
Dan Wesson Acquisition
Syndrome. Its only cure is
more DWs.
W.E., email
A: Many thanks for the
added info regarding a
readers previous question
about a Dan Wesson multibarrel setup. For what you
are getting, that sounds
like a pretty reasonable
price. I must admit, from
my research, prices on the

whole seem to be all over

the board.

6mm FLOBERTSTYLE RIFLE

Q: I have a 6mm singleshot, bolt-action rife that
I can fnd no info on at all.
on the top of the barrel is
stamped ALFA-EXTrAKArABInEr moDELL
1927. on the left side of
the barrel is what appears
to be ama followed by
a u lying on its left side,
the serial number 28XX
and a large o with an
upside-down peace sign
with the letters KLZ inside. on top of the breech
is stamped ALFA, then
what appears to be an infnity sign separated in the
center by a large X, then
EXTrA. The metal has
no rust or pitting; the bore
is as new. Any info you can
supply would be greatly
appreciated.
K.N., Capac, MI

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20

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | G u n r o o m

REMINGTON 512A SPORTMASTER, 90%: $175

A: Your piece is a betweenthe-wars 6mm RF Flobertstyle rife. They were man-

ufactured by a number of
different companies. Alfa
was a trade name used

by a German manufacturer, whose ID I have been unable

to ascertain. Perhaps one of my readers who is steeped
in Teutonic arcana can help us out here. Current value on
these little rifes is just so-so. Ive seen
similar ones going for around $200 in
very good condition.

REMINGTON 512
Q: I bought this gun used in the
early 1960s. I have fred it maybe
once since then. I can fnd no serial
number, but I do see the patent numbers: 1908 035-191 384032356-257.
I would appreciate any information
you can provide.
R.N., The Villages
A: Ah, a rife near and dear to my
heart. A Model 512 P with tubular
magazine, like yours, was the frst
cartridge rife I ever fred. In fact, I still
have mine, and it still shoots great.
Your gun seems to have a bit more
sophisticated sight than mine; it looks
like some sort of Lyman adjustable.
Remington Model 512 Sportmaster
bolt-action repeaters were manufactured from 1940 to 1966 and included the standard 512A, 512P, 512SB
(smoothbore) and 512X.

CIVIL WAR 1860 COLT

Q: I have a pistol that my
great-grandfather used in the Civil
War. I have shown it to local gun
people, and they have not seen one
with the brass-sleeved hole in the
grip. Can you tell me what this hole
was used for and if it is original? The
hole is 3/16 inch in diameter and
goes through the grip. Can you give
an approximate value?
A.C., Flint, MI
A: Very interesting pistol. For the most
part, it seems to be a standard Colt
Model 1860 Army revolver, the most
widely used Yankee revolver in the

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22

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | G u n r o o m

COLT SMALL-FRAME LIGHTNING, 85%: $5,000

Civil War and one of the

best if not the best
percussion six-shooters ever
devised. The hole in the
grip is a bit of a poser. My
initial thought would be that
it is some sort of ftting for a
shoulder stock, but as Colt
shoulder stocks hooked onto
projections on the frame
and then were secured by
a clamp on the bottom of
the grip strap, this seems
unlikely. It does appear to
be a professional job. Ill be
deuced if I can come up with

an explanation. Readers?

COLT SMALL-FRAME
LIGHTNING
Q: I read with interest
your Gun room column
in the november 2014
issue. I, too, have a Colt
Lightning slide-action,
small-frame .22. It will
shoot .22 Short or Long,
not Long rife. The serial
number is 740XX. It has
an octagon barrel. my rife
has the same markings as
mentioned in your column,

and on it, the patent dates

are almost all readable.
I estimate my rife to be
in 80 percent condition
based on the color-picture
examples in the Blue
Book of Gun Values. The
value you quoted was a
shock; I had thought mine
to be worth $1,000! Some
years ago, I had sling swivels installed by a gunsmith.
In your opinion, how much
does this detract from the
value?
D.M., email

A: Its true that those little

Lightnings are getting up
there in value. Your rife
was built in 1903. Approximately 89,910 small-frame
Lightning slide actions were
manufactured from 1887 to
1904. Certainly, the addition
of modern sling swivels
doesnt help your rifes
value. Id take it to a very
good gunsmith and have it
restored to original condition. In unaltered shape at
85 percent, your Lightning
is worth about $5,000.

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GUN NOTES

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 G & A

25

Ed Weatherby just said an odd thing to me, that I was

among the last of the gunwriters who really knew my dad.
Hmm. I didnt think I was that old

THE YEAR WAS 1945, and

the country was euphoric
over its victory in World
War II, frst in Europe,
then in the Pacifc. A brash
young man from Kansas,
Roy E. Weatherby started
the frearms company that,
70 years later, still bears his
name and continues to be
managed by his descendants. Born September 4,
1910, and living until April
Roy Weatherbys company is
4, 1988, Roy was a handmarking this years anniversary
by offering 70 classic-stocked
loader and rifeshooter who
Mark V rifes in Roys favorite
pursued the time-honored
cartridge, the .257 Wby. Mag.
pastime of wildcatting,
creating his own cartridges.
Only a small number of his experimental cartridges made
the grade when he went commercial, founding his company on his signature line of Weatherby Magnums.
At the outset, the .300 H&H was the parent
case, full length for the .300 and .375 Weatherby
Magnums, shortened for the .257, .270 and 7mm
Weatherby Magnums, taper removed and shouldered in Weatherbys distinctive double Venturi
curve. In years to come, the .340 Weatherby
Magnum would be added, also based on the
full-length .300 H&H case. Using their own unique
cases, Roy would add the .224, .240, .378 and .460
Weatherby Magnums as well. After Roys passing,
his son, Roy E. Weatherby Jr. Ed would
introduce the .416 Weatherby Magnum and the
.30-.378 and .33-.378 Weatherby Magnums.
Weatherby rifes were originally based on Mauser

LETTERS
FROM KEITH
For the .340 Wby., I
have had most excellent
luck with a 250 [grain
bullet].
Elmer Keith,
January 1971

CRAIG BODDINGTON
/OFFICIALCRAIG
B O D D I N G T O N PA G E

actions, with the fagship Mark V action introduced

in 1958. In years to come, there would be rimfres,
shotguns and the excellent (and amazingly accurate)
Vanguard, but at frst Weatherby was a rife company
based on the Weatherby Magnum cartridges.
Tomorrows Rifes Today was the slogan, and they
really were, at least according to the gospel of Roy
Weatherby. He believed in velocity; he bored his rifes
with a bit of freebore an unrifed section ahead of
the leade to give his bullets a head start.
At frst, his cartridges were the province of handloaders. Later, when he entered his long (and still-standing)
partnership with Norma, his ammo was (and is) loaded
to somewhat higher pressures than domestic frms
were comfortable with. Some of his cartridges,
including the .257 and .270 Weatherby Magnums,
remain the fastest in their caliber class. Others, such
as the 7mm, .300 and .340, have been slightly
surpassed by larger-cased cartridges such as the
Remington Ultra Mags (depending on who is doing
the loading). Here is the interesting reality: Weatherbys magnums set a benchmark for velocity and
fat trajectory 70 years ago, and to this day only
incremental gains have been realized.
Roy Weatherby believed in velocity and his theory of hydrostatic shock that it conveyed. He also
wanted his rifes to look different, like tomorrows
rifes. Characteristic and distinctive were his
Monte Carlo comb and squared forend with a
reverse slant at the tip.
The thing is, Roy Weatherby believed his
hype. He lived it and breathed it. He was
not just a marketing huckster; he was a true
zealot, preaching the gospel of velocity and
ultra-modern stock styling. Provided you
didnt bad-mouth his rifes and cartridges,
he was also a really nice guy. His son, Ed
Weatherby, just said an odd thing to me,
that I was among the last gunwriters who
really knew my dad. Hmm. I didnt think
I was that old, especially since it was
only 25 years ago that I attended Roys
funeral.
In retrospect, I was very young
when I came into this business, and I

RIFLE PHOTO: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

WEATHERBYS 70

th

26

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | G u n n o t e s

Developed in 1968,
the .240 Wby. Magnum was the last
cartridge designed by
Roy Weatherby. Identifed by a whitetail
on its box, it was once
the fastest commercially produced 6mm,
pushing a 100-grain
bullet out a 26-inch
barrel at 3,400 fps.

Weatherbys
original
packaging was
instantly recognizable with bright
colors and illustrative
art. The .270, 7mm and
.340 Wby. Magnums were
identifable by an artistic
rendering of a tiger.

This brown bear was

taken on the Kamchatka Peninsula in
Russias Far East with
a Weatherby Mark V
in .340 Weatherby
Magnum, always a
fne choice for places
where bears can get
really big.

will never forget Roy Weatherbys kindness. In 1978, before

I joined then-Petersen Publishing and was very much a
struggling young freelancer, Roy Weatherby granted me
an interview. It was later revealed that some of his senior people told him he was wasting his time, but it was
his time to waste, and he agreed to see me there in his
long-standing South Gate, California, offce.
That was actually the second time I met him, but I doubt
he remembered the frst. When I was about 12 years old,
Roy came to speak at a meeting with the Kansas Rife and
Pistol Association. My uncle, who knew him, picked up
Roy in Kansas City, and I rode along on the trip to Topeka.
Gun-struck kid that I was, I pestered him with questions
all the way there, and he answered them patiently. Roy
Weatherby always had time for young shooters.
Which brings me to my favorite memory. It was during
the 1984 Olympics, held in Los Angeles, with my boss,
Robert E. Petersen, as Commissioner of the shooting
sports. We (he) decided we should hold a sports fair close
to the Olympics venue in summer in an inland valley
so there we were, in sweltering tents in summer heat.
There was Roy Weatherby, long past his frst heart attack,
just four years from his fnal one, holding his post in his
booth, sweating in jacket and tie and holding forth to
enthralled youngsters (and many oldsters) on his beliefs. I
was there in shirtsleeves, a long way shy of 40, and I was
miserable. Roy preached his gospel of velocity, accuracy

After 10 years of
development, the .224
Wby. Magnum was
introduced in 1963 as
the Varmintmaster.
Regarded by rifemen
as a cartridge best
suited for long-range
varmint hunting, it
never managed to
attract popularity.
Designed by Roy
Weatherby in 1953
as an original belted
magnum with no
parent case, the .378
Wby. Magnum was
used by Roy to kill an
African elephant with
one shot. By 1958, he
necked up the .378 to
.458 caliber, calling it
the .460 Wby. Mag.

and performance to a whole new audience. Through those

long, hot afternoons he gave us all strength.
Time goes on, people must go, and other people must
step in. Roy E. Weatherby Jr. Ed is at the helm
now. He assumed the reigns of the company upon his
fathers death in 1988. There will never be another Roy E.
Weatherby, but this I can say about his son: Some apples
dont fall far from the tree. Ed Weatherby is the fnest natural rife shot I have ever known.
I asked Ed what the 70th anniversary of his company
meant to him, and he replied: In the early years, his slogan was Tomorrows Rifes Today. Truly, they were tomorrows rifes. As it was then and still is today, nothing shoots
fatter, hits harder or is more accurate than a Weatherby.
He started and built Weatherby with innovation, performance and quality. These three factors still drive Weatherby today.
Ed Weatherbys son, Adam Weatherby, third generation,
was away from the frm for some years before he came
back to assume the role of executive vice president and
COO. One of the phrases we have often heard throughout the last 70 years is, Ive always wanted to own a
Weatherby. Weatherby has inspired the dreams of hunters
and shooters. It is for this reason that we exist, he said.
I dont know Adam Weatherby very well, but I need to
know him better. I think he will remind me very much of his
grandfather, and that is a wonderful thing.

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HANDGUNNING

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 G & A

29

Easy? No. Fun? You bet.

OK, YOU READ EVERY GUN ARTICLE, you watch all the
hunting and shooting TV shows, you buy books, and you
think to yourself, This gun-writing biz doesnt sound so
bad, or you occasionally pitch it as the less generous statement, I could do that. The question is, how do you get
from where you are now to published on the page, with
your name, the credit and payment? The simple answer is,
start paying your dues, right now. There are no gun-writing
prodigies. We have found in society that there are people
who have a knack for subjects the 10-year-old classic
pianist, the mathematician who does not yet need to shave
and so on. Even so, they practiced a lot to get where they
are. You learn about guns by reading, shooting, disassembling and cleaning, and hunting or competing in matches.
To gain the level of expertise needed takes not just time
but practice, effort and a raft of skills.
Read everything: books, magazines, owners manuals,
military manuals, reloading, gunsmithing, hunting, history.
Cast your net wide because you dont know what you will
end up liking or becoming an expert on or what the needs
of the industry will be like years from now. Its best to have
a wide base upon which you can expand later rather than a

deep, narrowly focused knowledge of a particular subject.

Shoot everything you can. If youre at the gun club and a
fellow member has a rife, shotgun or handgun youve never seen, ask about it. If he offers to let you shoot it, take
him up on it. Learn what you can wherever you can.
Accept that you are going to be gun-rich and cash-poor
for a while. You will be buying bargains (and bargains)
as they come by, trying them, learning from them and perhaps selling or trading them later. You will have an impressive investment in guns, gun safes, ammunition and alarm
systems. Keep notes. Memory is only so good, and if you
have a loose-leaf binder of info on each frearm you own,
you can pull out data as needed.
At some point, you will have to have a turn at a professional relationship with frearms. This can be in law enforcement or the military, although the risk there is ending up
with a provincial attitude. You can also work at a gun shop
or manufacturer. The law enforcement and military approaches are examples of the deep and narrow focus. Yes,
you could end up shooting a lot, but if you do, it will be with
whatever the issue frearm or frearms are. A frearms or ammunition manufacturer will be even more narrowly focused.
Working in a gun shop or gunsmithing can be narrow,
but at least you have the option of branching out. Working
in gun shops can be useful if you keep one thing in mind:
Youre there to learn. Learn what customers want, what
they like and dislike, and what they believe, true or not.
Youll get a chance to handle a wide variety of frearms,
and if the shop has a gunsmith on hand, you can also learn
what breaks, why and how.
A moment to mention competition: Do it. You will be
a better shot for competing, and you will also be able to
rub shoulders with and soak up info from those who are
winning matches.
If you are going to be a gunwriter, you have to learn to
write. Knowing every fact, data point and historical tidbit
of every frearm or cartridge wont do you any good if you
cant make it entertaining to read. When I started
meeting other gunwriters, I was surprised at
how many had degrees in journalism or
English. Being a gunwriter, or planning to be one, does not
excuse you from going
to college. Before
the Eisenhower era,

PHOTOS: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

HOW TO BE A GUNWRITER

PAT R I C K S W E E N E Y

30

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | h A n d G u n n i n G

a high school diploma was

good enough to get you a
well-paying job. Today, lacking
a college degree qualifes you
to be a surfer dude.
Writing styles vary, and I
have to be truthful here. There
are some gunwriters whose
prose I fnd painful to read.
(Heck, you might fnd my style
grating.) Nevertheless, they
have devoted readers, and I can fnd useful info in their
efforts. You must fnd your own style, and this will probably happen with the help of a good editor. If that editor
happens to be a teacher in school, youll have a leg up on
all the other would-be gunwriters who hammer out a style
once they start working as an actual gunwriter.
You can get a degree from J school, a degree in
English, history, the sciences, pretty much any degree that
requires writing skills and research experience. A degree in
the social sciences wont be much use here. Tell the editor
from whom you are trying to get an assignment that you
have a journalism degree, and hell likely say, Cool. Is soand-so still a professor? Tell him you have a degree in gender studies, and hell probably look at his watch and mutter
something about getting back to you when he doesnt have

a meeting hes late for.

Once you have learned
how to write, you also have to
learn how to use a camera. We
live in a visual age, and your
photos can matter as much or
more than your words. As one
editor who helped me get my
foot in the door remarked, I
can take your text and make
you Hemingway, or anyone
else for that matter, but no one can Photoshop an out-offocus photo and make it look good.
No problem, you say. My brother is good with a camera. Hmm, OK, but is he going to go on that hunt with
you into the Rockies that you intend to write about? The
guide will have plenty of other things to tend to, including looking after other hunters, and may not have time to
take the lead photo for your upcoming feature. While he
may offer the hunt free for the exposure, he will probably
draw the line at schlepping your brother up the mountain,
feeding him and so on just for your photo.
Even if your brother is a good photographer, do you
know enough about the subject to tell him what you want
in a photo, to coach him into taking the pictures you need?
Think of it as a parallel subject to gun knowledge. How will

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32

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | h A n d G u n n i n G

the hot new TV show that night to write.

you tell the gunsmith who is making the custom rife for
I have a friend who is a successful author with an impresthe Rockies hunt just what you need if you dont know the
sive body of work. His advice: Each day, write a thousand
hunt, the rife and the ammo? You have to know enough
words. If you do more, great, but the extra doesnt come
about photography to describe your needs to others or
off of the next days thousand. The next day, rewrite yesterdo it yourself. So, add knowledge of lighting, exposure,
days thousand and add another thousand.
composition and photo-massaging software to the list of
If youre a gunwriter, you
skills youll have to have.
have to practice writing just
Back in the flm days, a
COOPER ON HANDGUNS
as you practice shooting,
good writer could pass off
Its quite possible for a man to be an
reloading and all the other
OK or even marginal photos
excellent pistol shot and a very poor
gunfghter, but its nearly impossible for
things that go into being a
if his writing was strong or in
a man to be a good gunfghter without
gunwriter. Get in that writdemand enough. Those days
being at least an acceptable marksman.
ing practice. But I dont
are gone. Photography prac Jeff Cooper, 1958
have an assignment to
tice in the digital era costs
write about. So, make up
you only time and battery
one. Write up something you know, and do the research.
power. With digital cameras, the instant feedback lets you
fne-tune a photo there and then and redo it until it is perfect. A week later, pick it up, and read it as if you hadnt written
it. Was it useful, entertaining, informative? Were you able
Writing is a solitary profession. Working by yourself, you
to provide the information without depending on jargon,
need discipline. With the offce right there in your house
techno-speak and the readers prior knowledge? If not,
or apartment and the TV and refrigerator just steps away,
there will be distractions. Heck, an Internet search for a tid- correct it. If it was, youre on the right track.
One last bit of advice: Dont write for free. I read Robbit of information can end up, if you arent careful, being
ert Ringer, Looking Out for Number One back in 1978.
an hour-long foray into Hey, thats cool serial searching.
His linchpin of advice: The job isnt done until you get
You have to set aside time, whenever in the day it is most
paid. Sooner or later your landlord wants money, not press
effcient for you, to write and only write. If you already
clippings from your latest masterpiece. Now go get em.
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34 G & A f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5
T H E C A R RY R I G

The Epoch is not ride-height

adjustable, but it can be
personally tuned for cant in
one of three positions. Worn
by a full-time law enforcement offcer for 14 weeks,
this holster was carried
on a Blackhawk reinforced
2-inch duty belt with a
basketweave pattern. $52

BLACKHAWK EPOCH
THE NEW BLACKHAWK EPOCH DUTY HOLSTER delivers
Level 3 frearm retention while accommodating Streamlight
TLR-1 and TLR-2 and SureFire X300 and X300 Ultra pistolmounted lights. It is currently available for full-size Glock and
Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm and .40 S&W models.
In addition to its tension screw adjustment, two other
forms of retention must be deactivated before the pistol
can be removed. An auto-lock release actuates two separate functions by frst disengaging the pivot guard and
then deactivating the auto lock from the ejection port.
This Blackhawk Epoch holster allows for the fring hand
to establish a high, full grip on the handgun while its still
in the holster. This is very important because no additional grip adjustment is needed when drawing, improving
frst-shot placement and accuracy. This means you keep
the same master grip to release the pistol from the holster,
present it to the target and fre.
A duty holster lives a tough life, usually getting bumped
and abraded several times a day by seat belts, doors, door-

60-Day Carry After pressing the thumb activation, no

portion of the holster interfered with my Glock during the
drawstroke. As an added safety measure, the pivot guard
opens by thumb activation and is designed so it will not
close accidentally, locking you out of the holster.
Depending on what type of light you are using, it may
be necessary to remove the factory-installed light module
spacer for proper ft. For the purposes of this evaluation, I
attached a Streamlight TLR-2s with an integrated red aiming laser to my department-issued Glock 22 Gen4.
For 14 weeks, I conducted practice draws prior to starting my patrol shift, and after a short learning curve, I was
impressed by how easy and smooth my drawstroke became. After a few warm-ups, I was able to attain a fve-shot
average time of 1.59 seconds with a fastest draw of 1.43.
Surprisingly, I drew the same Glock 22 from my departmentissued Safariland 6280 duty holster (non-light bearing) with
a 1-second average fve-shot draw time. I believe the
Epochs slightly lower ride height and simple push-button
thumb activation afforded me a faster drawstroke.
When drawing and reholstering, you will hear a sssshhheekk sound as the polymer blend of the holster and the

PHOTOS: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

frames and pesky offce chairs. The pivot guard completely

covers the rear sight, so an accident-prone offcer will have
added protection from rear sight damage.

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36

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | t h e c A r ry r i G

MANUFACTURER:
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AVG. TIME TO ATTACH:
COMFORT RATING:
CONCEALMENT CLOTHING:
AVG. DRAW-TO-FIRE TIME:

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Epoch Level 3 Light-Bearing Duty Holster
Proprietary polymer blend
Duty
Level 3
Tension adjustable
From $108 (basketweave; $125 as tested)
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ANYTHING LESS IS A SHOT IN THE DARK

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steel slide of the pistol contact one another, and then a click when the Epoch
auto lock engages. As a police offcer,
its good to know when your handgun
is securely holstered; however, if your
pistol is out during an arrest and you
reholster to begin the handcuffng
process, the audible noise and click
communicate where your handgun
is to the bad guy. A simple solution,
when possible, is to wait for a cover
Draw-to-fre time is the average of fve clean draws presented to a stationary target positioned at 21 feet.
offcer before cuffng. Liam Yarbourgh,
Blackhawk product marketing manager, had this to say about the holster noise: As far as
strong hand is disabled is diffcult at best with the Epoch,
noise, light-bearing holsters in general create more sound
and depressing the thumb activation while not interfering
because you have a larger pocket. As part of our continuwith the pivot guard is a task. This draw can be achieved,
ous improvement efforts, we will continue to look for ways
but it will require many repetitions to complete, especially
to make all of our products better.
while under stress.
During this evaluation, I noted that if I were to get
Ultimately, a duty holster needs to do two things well:
knocked to the ground and have to draw while lying on my carry/protect an offcers pistol in various environments and
gun side, the thumb-activated pivot guard may not allow
allow the offcer to quickly draw and engage a threat if needthe pistol to clear the holster. Ultimately, this depends on
ed. As required with any other piece of gear upon which
the angle and amount of weight applied to the holsters
your life depends, a lot of practice is necessary until your
pivot guard while on the ground.
level of confdence and profciency has been attained.
The off-hand or support-hand-only draw used when your Ofc. Scott Avery

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RIFLES & GLASS

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 G & A

39

Tips on preparing rifes for storage.

American-made Steiner? Jawohl!

TOM BECKSTRAND

AH, IT WAS THAT TIME OF YEAR, when the weather

turns cold and darkness comes early. Sadly, many rifes get
put away in a quiet corner while we wait for the return of
warmer temperatures. Before we put our trusty companion
away for a few months, there are a few things we should
be doing (in addition to our regular cleaning) to ensure
that it comes out of hibernation ready for action.
Bolt-action rifes are so simple to operate that its easy
to believe they dont really need maintenance. Ive never
seen a bolt gun get so dirty that the owner couldnt close
the action on a live round, but thats not for lack of trying.
While were all free to abuse our possessions, a bolt gun
really benefts from a few simple actions that take just a
couple of minutes to complete.
I like to separate the barreled action from the stock
once a year on rifes that see regular use. Provided
we use the correct tools for the process, its a
great way to visually inspect our trigger (and
maybe hit it with some compressed air)
and ensure that nothing is interfering
with our (hopefully) free-foating
barrel. Also, if
Ive been out
and about in
bad weather, I
like to make
sure the underside of
the barrel
gets

the protection it needs.

Separating the barreled action from the stock requires
removal of the action screws located on the underside
of the stock forward and aft of the triggerguard. Use a
hollow-ground standard screwdriver instead of a regular
screwdriver, and you wont bugger up the screws. Allen
and Torx screws are also a common fnd.
After removing the screws, the triggerguard and internal
box magazine should come out by hand. Carefully lift the
barreled action out of the stock by lifting on the receiver
bridge and barrel while another set of hands holds onto
the stock. Thats all it takes to get them apart.
I like to wipe down metal surfaces with a product such
as Ballistol to protect them, but I follow behind it with a
clean, dry rag on the actions underside. Keep all oil and
cleaning products away from the actions bedding surface,
even if its just wood or polymer. Action bedding surfaces
need to be clean and dry at all times.
The bolt should be disassembled every few years depending on how much we shoot the rife. If it only sees use
during hunting season, once a decade is enough. Regular
shooters might need it once a year.
Every bolt disassembles differently. Savage has a big
Allen screw on the back of its bolt thats easy enough to
access. Youll need to put the bolt in a vise, though. The
Remington 700 (shown here) is easy to disassemble once
we get a Kleinendorst disassembly tool from Brownells.
The tool holds the fring pin out of the way so we can
unscrew the fring-pin assembly from the bolt body. The
fring-pin channel can become clogged with bits of brass,
oil and carbon residue with prolonged use. If it gets bad
enough, debris in the fring-pin channel can interfere with
the fring pins travel, causing the rife to malfunction.
Optics should get a good scrubbing. Use compressed air to blow any dirt off the ocular and
objective lenses, then use lens-cleaning
solution and lens paper to wipe them.
I think weve all used water and
a corner of our T-shirt in the

PHOTOS: BRAXTON LEE PETTY

WINTERIZE YOUR RIFLE

40

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | r i f l e s & G l A s s

feld, but this procedure should only be used in the most

dire of circumstances.
Last, once we have our rife put back together, make
sure the action screws and scope rings are all torqued to
their proper specifcations. If the owners manual is no
longer anywhere to be seen, put 45 inch-pounds on the
action screws and the scope rings to the base. Where the
rings close around the scope, those screws should only get
18 inch-pounds.

Removing the barreled action from the stock

allows us to make sure nothing in the stocks
barrel channel is interfering with the barrel.
We can also maintain all parts of the barrel
if weve been out in the rain.

Remember, the number-one cause for a rife to suddenly

not shoot well is the scopes mounting system (either ringsto-base or where the two parts of the rings attach together). They can work loose, leaving our scope rattling around
in its mount. The next most common cause is loose action
screws. Buy a good torque wrench, and check these points
periodically; youll never regret this small investment. With
a good torque wrench and about 20 minutes, your bolt
gun will be ready to get shooting when you are.

After a burst of compressed air, some lens

wipes are what our scope lenses need.
This removes debris and fuids that might
harm the lens coatings if left for prolonged
periods.

The ARs bolt face should get a light coat

of oil before storage. The fnish wears off
after a few hundred rounds, and the exposed
metal can rust if left unprotected.

Steiner
Power:
Objective:
Tube Diameter:
Elevation
Adjustment:
Windage:
Reticle:
Length:
Weight:
Eye Relief:
MSRP:
Manufacturer:

SCR RETICLE: MEDIUM MAGNIFICATION

T5Xi 3-15x50mm
3-15X
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34mm
.1 mil per click
.1 mil per click
SCR
13.1 in.
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3.5 to 4 in.
$2,120
Steiner Optics
970-356-1670
steiner-optics.com

STEINER T5Xi 3-15x50

IT USED TO BE that if you wanted Steiners top-of-the-line
scope, you paid north of $3,000 for some sweet Germanmade glass assembled by German hands. With those German hands come some pretty stiff labor rates and all the
import/export taxes associated with regulating international commerce, hence the price.
Steiner has been selling excellent optics for a long
time, but it recently decided to make some strategic
moves to give American consumers an updated and

improved fagship scope at a reduced cost. The frst

move was to build its new scopes here in America using
the same German glass from its previous models. This cut
all of the fat that was paying German taxes; well, almost.
However, the continued use of the same German glass
means the new scopes have essentially identical optical
performance as the older ones. For a greatly reduced
price, the fnished product is largely the same from a
performance perspective.

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42

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f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | r i f l e s & G l A s s

The 3-15x50mm
T5Xi is much smaller than its predecessor. This new line of
scopes is manufactured in the U.S., so
Steiner saved a ton
of money. It kept the
sweet German glass,
though.

The changes came in the form of

redesigned turrets, weight and length
reductions, and the best general-use
reticle available on the market, the
SCR. The turrets adjust in .1-mil
increments, essential for effective use
of the mil-based SCR reticle. The elevation turret has a zero-stop feature,
meaning you can quickly return to the
scopes zero. It makes two revolutions,
providing a generous 24 mils of upward movement. There are approximately 34 total mils of elevation travel
in the scope I tested, so judicious
use of biased mounts can get more
than just the 24 mils seen upon initial
inspection.
The new turrets are also much
lower profle than the older ones. The
elevation turret has viewing windows
that display the numbers 1 through
12 when were on our frst revolution
and 13 through 24 when were on
our second. This setup eliminates
guessing and double-checking, which
slow things down when were in a
hurry. The windage turret has 5 mils
of adjustment in either direction once
the turret is zeroed. There are a total
of 15 mils of windage adjustment in
the scope.
The SCR reticle is my favorite new
feature because it gives the shooter
the most capability in the cleanest,
least cluttered format possible. The
vertical crosshair subtends in .5-mil
increments, and the center crosshair
is a small, interrupted + measuring
.2 mil x .2 mil. The interrupted center
facilitates precision by not obscuring
too much of our target.
The horizontal stadia subtends in .2mil increments except for two sections
where it subtends in .1-mil increments

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44

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | r i f l e s & G l A s s

The 50mm objective on the 3-15X provides

plenty of exit pupil for this excellent
general-use/precision rifescope. The scallops around the outer edge are to hold the
Tenebraex scope caps in place.

The ocular lens has a quick-adjust reticle

focus ring as well as a diopter locking ring.
The scallops make adjustment easy and also
accommodate Tenebraex scope caps.

(between the 5- and 7-mil marks in either direction). The

.2-mil increments make accurate wind holds much more
probable than the usual .5-mil marks. (The .1-mil marks are
for accurately milling or measuring an object to calculate
the distance between the shooter and the target.)
Most scope users will dial to accommodate elevation
changes except when in a hurry, so .5-mil increments work
on the vertical stadia. Most shooters will also just hold for
wind corrections because they often change frequently
and at a rate faster than we can dial. Its tough to continuously dial wind changes and shoot at the same time. The

The turrets are much lower profle on the

new T5Xi, and the viewing windows make
misreading the setting far less likely.

.2-mil increments along the horizontal stadia make the

process of continuously compensating for wind changes
more accurate by giving us more reference marks.
Steiners new line, called the T5Xi, consists of three
scopes: a 1-5x24mm, a 3-15x50mm and a 5-25x56mm. The
1-5X has a 30mm maintube and a ballistic reticle, and the
other two sport 34mm maintubes and my beloved SCR reticle. The scope I tested was the 3-15x50mm, and Im a huge
fan of the work that Steiner put in on the project. These
scopes offer all the performance were used to from Steiner
but at about half the price.

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f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 G & A

51

I motivate our students to be as accurate as possible

while pushing their speed to the ragged edge.

TO BE A SUCCESSFUL SHOOTER, you must have a few

things going for you: a good sight picture, a smooth trigger pull and follow-through as the shot is fred. With the
general-purpose rife, or AR as some call it, there are a few
other things that can help increase your effectiveness.
Today, I still often see tactical shooters placing their
support hand on the front of the magazine well. This isnt
a huge problem unless youre worried about accuracy,
speed and retention of the carbine. As a tactical shooter,
I would stack these three as prerequisites for employment
of this system. Many tactical shooters feel that reaching
farther out on the carbines handguard is a nontactical
technique. They feel that a more compressed body position is better when pulling the trigger. I could not disagree
more with this statement. As a tactical shooter and trainer
of tactical shooters, I motivate our students to be as accurate as possible while pushing their speed to the ragged
edge. With the hand holding the front of the magazine
well, youre giving up the leverage you need to move
the muzzle quickly from target to target as well as hold it
steady when you arrive at the aforementioned target.
Couple this with the fact that you will more than likely
be operating at night, so a light or laser will also be used
while shooting. If you look at your carbine, attaching the

V I K I N G TA C T I C S . C O M

pressure pad or light mount to the forearm just makes

practical sense. Lets go a step further. In carbine competition shooting, the best of the best shoot with the support
hand pushed signifcantly out on the forend of the rife. I
believe that the use of this grip in competition is part of
the reason tactical shooters have been slow to adopt the
technique as well.
Many tactical shooters feel threatened by civilian competition shooters and their abilities, so it makes sense to
simply say, That is a competition thing; I am a tactical
shooter. This is a cop-out. If competition shooters can
shoot faster than tactical shooters with increased accuracy,
why wouldnt we adopt their technique as quickly as possible? Only you can answer that question. I am a tactical
shooter who loves competition, so I want every possible
advantage I can obtain from the tactical and competition
arenas as long as it fts sensibly into my world.
Extended free-foated rail systems have allowed us
to easily move our support hand as far out as we deem
necessary to drive the rife quickly. I also use a short
vertical grip to allow the rife to be pulled stiffy back into
my shoulder, which helps with recoil management as well.
You cannot totally eliminate recoil with the AR, but you can
adapt to it quickly.

PHOTOS: LUKAS LAMB

GET AHOLD OF THAT CARBINE

S G M K Y L E L A M B [ R E T. ]

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Grabbing the magazine well of the rife doesnt help your tactical
shooting stance in any way. It will slow you down and is a good way
to cause a malfunction if you cover the dustcover.

Slide your hand forward until it feels comfortable. This will help you
drive the carbine and control recoil. Lamb prefers a short vertical
grip to pull back against.

Above: Dont over-contort with your support

arm; added tension will slow you down. Get
comfortable, and drive the gun.
Far left, top: If you allow your fring hand to
slide down, you lose power.
Far left, bottom: Get a good grip. This will
help with recoil, accuracy and speed.
Left: Your shooting stance should be a fghting stance. Keep your weight forward on the
balls of your feet.

As with the pistol, I try to keep my shooting hand somewhat more relaxed than my support hand. Since the strong
hand is manipulating the trigger, I need fner control and
less tension to help with this process. At the same time,
I do try to get a high grip on the pistol grip to help with
control. Any space left between your fring hand and the
bottom of the lower receiver will work against you when
shooting quickly.
Shortening your buttstock is not the answer for allowing
the support arm to reach forward. A collapsed buttstock
takes away the needed power from your shooting and
fghting stance. Some schools teach a completely different
stance for shooting than we would generally fght from. I
am of the belief that a fght is a fght, so get into a good
fghting stance. This may mean using a rife or pistol, or, if
you live in a state that does not allow law-abiding citizens
to own guns, you better get good with your fsts. All of
these stances should be very similar. If you are planning to
fght with your fsts, put them up in a position where you

feel most powerful. Now adjust your buttstock so your fsts

can stay in the same position with the carbine. An easy
way to quickly determine the correct length of pull is to
place the buttstock in the crook of your shooting elbow
and grab the pistol grip. If your wrist has to be bent or
distorted to grab the pistol grip, your stock is too short.
Back to the task at hand. What is the correct distance to
slide your hand forward on the forend of the carbine? This is
a question that only you can answer. I like to reach out pretty far, but then again, I have long arms. When I reach, I do
not twist my elbow up and over so that I become contorted,
as this adds stress to the support arm and does not allow
for speed when driving the gun. It is also slower to conduct
manipulations with a contorted arm and elbow. I do clamp
the forend with my support-hand thumb riding down the
side of the rail, and sometimes I place it over the top of the
rail if the circumference of the tube is small enough.
Ideally, you must also be able to access your light and laser switches if you are operating in the tactical world, so be

l o c k , s t o c k & b a r r e l | f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

G&a

53

Far left: If you are using a laser,

the forward hand can access the
pressure pad. Simply swing the
thumb under and around the
vertical grip to access the rear pad
on the fashlight.
Left: When you get into your
aggressive shooting stance, ensure
that you get your elbow down.
You dont want to provide a target
for the bad guy.

aware of how you will make this happen. I have tried many different setups,
and I always seem to come back to
an upper-left or lower-right mount. If I
have a 12 oclock laser in place, I use
the white light mounted on the lower
right, which allows the thumb to reach
past the vertical grip and activate the
push button on the rear of the light.
When shooting with the support hand,
I can still reach the light by loosening
my grip and reaching forward with my
thumb. If Im not using a laser, I can
use the same light positioning or place
the light on the top left edge of the
rail, allowing the right and left thumbs
to reach the lights tailcap if things get
dark and scary.
The last technique is the positioning of the shooting-side elbow. In the
past, we would see a lot of shooters
with the shooting elbow held relatively
high, and this continues to transcend
from rifes to ARs even though it is
not necessary for a great shooting
position. Lowering the shooting elbow
will help you maintain cover as well
as allow for smooth movement in and
around obstacles. If you need to throw
an atomic elbow during a closequarters confrontation, having the elbow already low will allow you to step
into it and throw a very vicious blow.
Head out to the range, and see
what works for you. Try sliding your
support hand forward, and practice
pushing the carbine quickly from one
target to the next. You will soon see
how much quicker you move and
better you will be able to control your
carbine once you arrive on the next
target.

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54 G & A f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5
RANGE BAG

Motorola MHP71 TALKABOUT EARMUFFS

Includes: Electronic earmuffs, 2.5mm assembly cable
w/PTT microphone for Motorola Talkabout
two-way radios, cable assembly w/3.5mm
plug
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Weight: 9.3 oz.
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Manufacturer: Motorola Solutions Inc.
800-638-5119
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CAN YOU
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NOW?

ear seals and headband are padded and proved comfortable for a few hours at a time. We wish gel sealing ear
cups were an option for those long days at the range.
One major drawback is the batteries required for
operation: four N-cells. G&A staff had diffculty locating
these batteries at our local gas stations and pharmacies,
ultimately ending our search at a specialty battery store.
Additionally, we found that the volume control could unintentionally activate when the muffs were bounced around
in a range bag, leading to dead batteries. Due to these
factors, I recommend removing the batteries from the unit
when the muffs are not in use. Chris Mudgett

PHOTOS: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

HAVE YOU EVER WANTED to listen

to some tunes for motivation while at
the range, amplify the commands of
a frearm instructor or rangemaster
or quietly communicate with hunting
partners when in the feld all while
maintaining a high level of situational
awareness, hearing enhancement
and protection? If thats the case, Motorolas new MHP71
Talkabout electronic ear protection might be for you. The
MHP71 earmuffs are more than just electronic hearing protection that amplify whispers up to four times and reduce
harmful sounds above 21 decibels. They boast dual speakers and dual 2.5mm auxiliary input connectors that accept
a supplied PTT (Push To Talk) microphone assembly cable
that plugs directly into the headset from the handset,
allowing the two-way radio itself to be conveniently stored
on your belt or jacket pocket. A cable assembly with a
3.5mm plug is also included, allowing you to listen to your
MP3 player or cell phone through the headset speakers.
Both ear cups feature independent volume adjustment,
giving you the option of increasing the volume in one ear
while reducing it in the other. These adjustments are convenient if you have hearing loss in one ear or an instructor
standing on one side of you and people talking on the other.
The ear cups are low in profle and allow fairly unrestricted head positioning while shooting a rife or shotgun. The

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56

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f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

G&A

fOr THOSe
NOT LIVING IN
free STaTeS
This is Patriot Ordnance Factorys
50-state-legal ReVolt:
Merica.
Words by Tom Beckstrand
Photos by Braxton Lee Petty

57

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f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | f o r t h o s e n o t l i v i n G i n f r e e s tAt e s

the revolt is built on billet aluminum upper and lower receivers that showcase the
exceptional machining. the forend has a
continuous top rail that ensures both iron
sights and optics will have no problem
zeroing.

conservatively estimates that there were

GOOD RIFLES are always designed to
more than 350,000 rifes specifcally
meet specifc needs. Cartridge selection,
banned in Connecticuts latest anti-gun
action type, size and weight specifcations
spree. Of those 350,000, there were only
are all created to help the rife meet its
41,000 permit applications fled. Thats
ultimate goal. Patriot Ordnance Factorys
about 12 percent compliance.
(POF) latest ReVolt serves to fll a unique
New Yorks gun landscape is even more
void created by the onslaught of illthe revolts bolt is identical to those
found
in
Ar-pattern
rifes.
Pof
uses
9310,
depressing. The NSSF estimates that at
advised frearms regulation that came in
a superior material compared with the
least 1 million gun owners had frearms
the wake of the tragic Sandy Hook school
traditional Carpenter 158.
affected by the SAFE Act, New York State
shooting.
Governor Andrew Cuomos late-night end run around citizen
In early 2013, the current administration had itself worked
rights. If we assume that New York frearms owners are as sick
into a lather over passing any and all types of gun restrictions.
of state bullying as those in Connecticut and refused to comply,
Many states had enough anti-gun types in their leadership that
they fell prey to the latest wave of hysteria, so they targeted a lim- there are hundreds of thousands of formerly law-abiding Americans who have instantly been made into criminals.
it on magazine capacities and specifc models or banned certain
Why the ReVolt? Frank DeSomma, owner of POF, decided he
features entirely. Perhaps more telling than the wave of new laws
wanted to develop a rife that AR owners in states such as New
was the level of civil disobedience it engendered.
York and Connecticut could possess. He also wanted to create an
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) does comoption that took the owners existing AR-pattern lower receiver
prehensive analysis of the frearms industry and ownership. It

f o r t h o s e n o t l i v i n g i n f r e e s tat e s | f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

assembly and turned it into something the law couldnt touch.

Why give away, register or sell at a loss something you rightfully
and legally purchased, perhaps as an investment?
Interestingly, a late-night texting exchange between Frank and
this magazines editor, Eric Poole, produced the name for this
straight-pull bolt action. After going back and forth with several
patriotic-sounding names, Eric came up with ReVolt, which visually made him think of the word bolt and conjured thoughts
about Americas independence through revolution.
Frank replied, We patriots revolted against tyranny. We are
ReVolting the concept of traditional bolt guns. I like the sound,
the name, the theme, the meaning ... . Its rebellious that it is a
speed action requiring only a straight pull and the feed assist
chambers the next cartridge.
There are several versions of the ReVolt. Complete rifes are
available in either 5.56 NATO or .308 Winchester. Each rife has
an 18-inch barrel that is futed to reduce weight.
For those who already have a lower, the ReVolt is also available
separately as a complete upper receiver assembly. Provided you
have a regular AR-15-pattern rife or an AR-10 that is compatible
with POF uppers (AR-10s arent as standardized as AR-15s), the
ReVolt complete upper will drop right on
the big difference
without any problems.
between the reIn order to possess a rife legal in all of
volt and other Pof
the ban states, POF did have to design a
ars is the bolt-carrier group. gone
front pivot pin that is captive. The normal
is the charging
pivot pin that pushes out of the way, alhandle; a straightlowing the upper receiver to be separated
pull bolt assembly
takes its place.
from the lower, is replaced with a captive
pin that doesnt move out of the way. It
the luth MBa
still allows the rife to be rotated open for
stock offers an admaintenance, but it is a permanent change justable length of
pull and cheekrest.
to the lower that was necessary to make
the tow is also long
everything compliant.
and fat, allowing it
to ride rear support
The piston system present on other
bags well.
POF rifes is absent, but the package is
otherwise unchanged. The barrel is the
same button-rifed chrome alloy steel that has given POF its reputation for excellent accuracy. Each barrel is fnished with Melonite, an extremely durable fnish that is vastly superior to the usual
phosphate/chrome lining we fnd on a lot of other AR barrels.
The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department adopted

POF-USA
Type:
Caliber:
Capacity:
Barrel:
Overall Length:
Weight:
Stock:
Grip:
Length of Pull:
Finish:
Trigger:
Sights:
Safety:
MSRP:
Manufacturer:

g&a

ReVolt
Bolt action
5.56 NATO, .308 Winchester
10 rds.
18.5 in., 1:10-in. twist
40 in.
9 lbs., 8 oz.
Luth MBA
Magpul MOE
14.5 in.
NP3, Melonite (barrel)
POF single-stage EFP
None
Two-position ambidextrous selector
$1,600 (5.56), $2,030 (.308)
Patriot Ordnance Factory
623-561-9572, pof-usa.com

59

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f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | f o r t h o s e n o t l i v i n G i n f r e e s tAt e s

Above: the bolt catch on Pofs new

Gen iii lower can be engaged by the
trigger fnger when the bolt is being
charged to the rear. A host of controls
are within reach without having to
disrupt a good shooting position
including a scalloped relief on both
sides of the mag well to rest your
trigger fnger when not in use.

the bolt catch paddle is just barely visible next to the tip of the
trigger fnger, but manipulation is simple and effortless.

POFs rifes a couple of years back and has been hammering away
on one just to see how long it would last before accuracy became
so poor that the rife needed to be rebarreled. It hasnt found that
point yet. I saw test targets where three-shot groups were sitting
right at three-quarters of an inch at 100 yards.
That level of accuracy is good for a new AR, but that particular .308 rife had more than 66,000 rounds through it prior to

accuracy testing. Very few rifes will ever see that many rounds in
a couple of owners lifetimes. There was also a negligible velocity
loss when compared with the testing the department did at
20,000 rounds.
The implication is that the steel POF uses, when combined

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

G&A

61

Left: The billet aluminum lower receiverhas a heavily beveled magazine well that
speeds reloads considerably.

with the Meloniting process, resists the

effects of throat erosion well. Velocity loss
is one sign of throat erosion, meaning the
barrel is about to be shot out. The accuracy is a combination of good materials,
manufacture and rife design. The massive
barrel nut POF uses is 4 inches long, futed and made of aluminum. A barrel nut of
that size does an excellent job of supporting the chamber, a key component to rife
accuracy. The more support a chamber
gets, the less movement we see in this

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the brass case doesnt stick to

crucial area of the barrel and
the chamber wall and greatly
the better a rife shoots.
facilitates extraction.
Aluminum also has excellent
On a normal AR, the cycling
heat-conduction properties.
action pulls the cartridge
Aluminum conducts heat sevcase out of the chamber and
en times faster than steel, so an
kicks it out the ejection port.
aluminum barrel nut literally
the ambidextrous bolt handle is large enough to grab quickly
yet
small
enough
to
remain
unobtrusive.
the
bolts
travel
doesnt
The ReVolt is all manual, so I
sucks the heat out of the steel
interfere with the shooters head when behind the rife.
wanted to see how smooth the
barrel. If the nut were small,
extraction process was with a
wed have a problem with the
fred case in the chamber. After several iterations of fring the rife
heat migrating quickly to the forend, necessitating gloves if we
and cycling the action and then just cycling the action without
were really shooting fast.
any ammunition, I couldnt tell the difference between an empty
POF has also spent a lot of time on the extraction and cycling
2
chamber and one with a fred case in it. I attribute this to the E2
in its rifes, much to the ReVolts beneft. POFs E extraction
system has four small grooves cut in the chamber area where
and its ability to prep the case for extraction by unsticking it from
the case neck rests up against the chamber wall. The grooves
the chamber wall. With extraction made so stress-free, I imagine
are shallow and run parallel to the bore. When the rife fres,
extractor life is signifcantly longer with the E2 system.
the grooves become pressurized and push the case back toward
The other contributing factor with which the ReVolt cycles is
the bolt face. The positive pressure in this area helps ensure that
the roller cam pin that attaches the bolt to the bolt carrier. Most

f o r t h o s e n o t l i v i n g i n f r e e s tat e s | f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

The CMMG Mk47 possesses the power held

within AK mags.
Its nickname, Mutant, suggests the evolutionary progeny of AR-type rifes, the next stage of a
black rifes evolution. In comics, a mutants genetic
powers are manifested at maturity, and the same
statement might be said of a platform thats been
affected by 50 years of development.
After 9/11, USSOCOM put out a request for an
M4-style carbine that could feed the 7.62x39mm
cartridge. Soldiers submitted a complaint that
they were having to deal with running out of 5.56
ammunition for their M4s but that they had plenty
of captured AK47 mags and ammo. The program
was designated the Special Purpose Rife-Variant,
or SPR-V. Since then, a very short list of companies
have been able to engineer an AR that chambers
7.62x39 from AK magazines. You can now add
CMMG to that list.
The Mk47 is built around uniquely designed upper and lower receivers on a direct-impingement gas
system. Inside is a short, sturdy bolt carrier derived
from the massive AR-10s .308 bolt, and its ready to
accept your preferred AR furniture and accessories.
(Dont miss the possibilities associated with that
KeyMod forend. Dont have KeyMod kit? CMMG
offers fve-slot accessory rails also.)
The Mutant weighs only 7.2 pounds and offers
users a standard ambi hook-and-latch mag-release
system more akin to the AK47 than an AR. Its actually fast and intuitive to use.

63

CMMG Mk47 MUTANT AKM

Type: Direct impingement, semiautomatic
Caliber: 7.62x39mm
Capacity: 30 rds.
Barrel: 16.1 in., 1:10-in. twist
Overall Length: 33.5 in. (collapsed)
Weight: 7.2 lbs.
Stock: Magpul CTR
Grip: Magpul MOE
Finish: Type III hardcoat anodized
(aluminum), phosphate (steel)
Trigger: CMMG single stage or Geissele
SSA two stage (+$200)
Sights: None
MSRP: $1,650
Manufacturer: CMMG, 573-875-2821
cmmginc.com
CMMG ships the Mk47 with one Magpul PMAG
(AK/AKM MOE), which holds 30 rounds. The
16.1-inch free-foated barrel with 1:10-inch twist
will extract every bit of accuracy potential from our
favorite 7.62x39 load.
No other AR brand has ever pulled off a mutation
like this one. This is the best-put-together system
that blends AR ergonomics with the 7.62x39 weve
encountered yet. Unlike the rarity of other previous
attempts at AK-ARs in the past, were willing to bet
that youre going to be able to actually fnd one.
Guns & Ammo will publish a full review soon.

PHOTO: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

MUTANT

g&a

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five-strike prongs top off Pof-UsAs nitride heat-treated, threeport muzzlebrake and jam-nut collar assembly. A similar design is
a standard item on the 5.56 rife, and both mitigate felt recoil.

ARs have a square pin that has to carve out a small recess inside
the upper receiver before the bolt group can move unmolested.
POF has a patented roller pin that requires much less effort to
cycle and doesnt damage the upper receiver.

Made In

The U.S.A.

The Quality Goes In Before The Rifle Goes Out

www.windhamweaponry.com
Tel.: Toll Free: 1 855 808 1888

Lower Goodness Between the symmetric bolt handle and the

lower receiver controls, there isnt a more ambidextrous boltaction rife made. POFs lower receiver has identical controls for
the safety, magazine release and bolt catch, all in their traditional locations. Unlike just about any other ambidextrous
AR out there, POF also has a system that allows both left- and
right-handed shooters to lock the bolt to the rear without removing their hands from the usual fring positions.
The bolt catch operates by way of an oblong paddle that
protrudes slightly from the receiver into the trigger housing. The
shooter operates the catch by pushing up with his trigger fnger
while pulling back on the charging handle. The release is on both
sides of the receiver just above the trigger. Whether fring from
the right or left shoulder, the operation of the bolt catch remains
the same.
When I settled behind the ReVolt at the range, I wanted to see
if it would fre without the buffer and buffer spring in place. The
absence of the buffer spring would make it much easier to work
the action quickly, provided the bolt remained securely locked
in the barrel extension. I saw immediately upon disassembly that
this method would not work because the bolt is under spring
tension in the bolt carrier and it wont stay locked in place without the buffer spring. Even so, it is easy to work the action by
pulling the bolt handle to the rear, much as we pull the charging
handle on any AR to the rear.
Accuracy of the test rife was exceptional. I credit this to POFs
single-stage trigger that ships in the complete ReVolt rife. The
trigger has a uniquely shaped trigger shoe that has a small curved
portion for our fngers pad. It makes for consistent placement
and can be purchased separately.

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PERFORMANCE
VELOCITY
(FPS)

ES

SD

BEST
GROUP (IN.)

AVERAGE
GROUP (IN.)

Federal 168-gr. GMM

2,547

29

15

.56

.68

Lapua 185-gr. Scenar

2,386

24

13

.73

.8

Black Hills 175-gr. Match

2,560

67

32

.92

1.24

LOAD

My trigger is very crisp and breaks at 4 pounds. POF put

signifcant time into choosing the spring weights and made an
excellent choice for the hammer spring in particular. Often, manufacturers will default to the standard Mil-Spec hammer spring
that is heavy and meant to work with the harder military primers.
The POF trigger worked fne with all of the military primers I
tried it on, but it wasnt so excessive that it disturbed the reticle
during dry fre. Its a tough combination to fnd, but when a trigger achieves this balance, AR-pattern rifes shoot more accurately
than their Mil-Spec counterparts.
The best group out of the rife was achieved using Federals
168-grain Gold Medal Match. The fve-shot group measured
.56 inch center-to-center on the extreme spread. I also tested
Lapua 185-grain Scenar and had four of the fve rounds go into a
.3-inch group with the ffth opening things up to .73 inch. Had
I not pulled that one round, I would have had my personal best
with this rife. Black Hills 175-grain Match had a best group of
.92 inch.
While the ReVolt was designed for our brothers trapped behind
enemy lines within Americas borders, it is an excellent bolt-action
rife for those wanting or needing the most ambidextrous model
out there. It would also be a good choice for those who hunt and
shoot suppressed. With the closed bolt and threaded barrel, a
suppressor would make this rife as quiet as any other bolt gun
but much faster to reload, thanks to the spring-loaded straightpull action.

68

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CZ is offering 1,000 presentationgrade CZ 75 B pistols to commemorate the models 40th anniversary

in 2015. This one is the very frst,
serial number 40TH000. $1,500

I FREQUENTLY CARRIED A CZ 75 in a Galco vertical

shoulder rig during the war in El Salvador. I was serving
at the time with the famed Atlacatl Immediate Reaction
Battalion, the elite special forces unit of the Salvadoran
army. The pistol was well known and always highly
regarded in international mercenary circles, especially
in Africa, where it was easy to obtain and reasonably
priced. Placed in series production 40 years ago, the
Czech-made CZ 75 was one of the very frst large-

capacity, double-action 9mm pistols. It remains one of

the very best and retains immense popularity worldwide.
As it was not initially available in the United States, I
purchased my frst one from Canada using an ATF Form
6 for frearms importation from a foreign country.

Manufactured by Cesk
Zbrojovka Uhersk Brod in
the Czech Republic, all of the CZ 75-series pistols are
now imported to the U.S. by CZ-USA.
Designed by Frantisek Koucky, the CZ 75 is a most

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

G&A

69

VeLVeT
reVOLuTION
Its time to celebrate 40 years of the CZ 75.

successful blend of innovation and the best features of

several other celebrated pistol designs. Chambered originally for the 9mm cartridge and now in .40 S&W as
well, the CZ 75 was not engineered for the Czech military but rather for Western and Third World civilian,
military and police markets. This is not really surprising, as the Czechs have been major arms merchants to
the world since the inception of their nation in 1918. It
was fnally adopted by the armed forces after the Velvet

Revolution, the period of transition away from

Communist-controlled Czechoslovakia to a
parliamentary republic in November and December 1989.
The CZ 75s great popularity in Africa resulted in
South African Vektors introduction of two pistols, the
SP1 and SP2, which clearly copied the CZ 75s distinctive grip-frame hump. The entire pistol was copied by
Tanfoglio in Italy and ITM (Industrial Technology and
Machines) in Switzerland as the AT84.

PHOTO: SEAN UTLEY

Words by Peter G. Kokalis

Senior Editor, Shotgun News

70

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the original CZ 75
has proven to be
a timeless design,
largely unchanged
since it was originally
produced in 1975.
PHOTO: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

the CZ 75 B (near
left) was designed
to incorporate a
fring-pin block in
the early 1990s,
hence the B
designation.

PHOTO: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

All of the CZ 75-series guns, with the exception of the Kadet

.22LR model, are short-recoil operated with locking systems
modifed from the Browning Model 1935 (Hi Power) and the
SIG P210. Two lugs on top of the barrel ft into corresponding
recesses in the slide when the gun is in battery. A barrel bottom
lug, which is integral with the hammer-forged barrel, is slotted
and retained by the slide-stop pin. The Kadet .22LR conversion
kit is blowback operated.
As the slide moves rearward, the barrel is forced downward
and unlocked by the slide-stop pin. This is a theoretical improvement over the swinging link and pin used on the Colt M1911A1
pistol. The recoil spring and its polymer guide rod seat into a
hollow below the barrel, and both the guide rod seat and the
pinned, pivot-type extractor have been gleaned from the Hi
Power.
The CZ 75s hammer mechanism is a removable subassembly,
a composite of those found in the Russian Tokarev TT-33 and
Swiss SIG P210 pistols. The hammers retaining pin is exposed by
a small hole in the left side of the frame. Only trained armorers
should attempt disassembly of these components. As with the
SIG P210, the CZ 75s slide rides on rails machined inside the

All CZ 75s operate using John

M. Brownings principles for a
short-recoil-operated, lockedbreech pistol. they incorporate
a similar linkless cam locking
system as originally found on
Brownings P.35 Hi Power.

frame. This system reduces side play, provides a longer bearing

surface and enhances the pistols inherent accuracy potential.
The CZ 75 and all of its derivatives can be carried either
cocked-and-locked (a round in the chamber, hammer cocked,
thumb safety engaged) or with the hammer down on a loaded
chamber. The frst round can be fred double action.
The double-action mechanism differs from most others. A
wraparound trigger bar engages an L-shaped interrupter pinned
to the hammer, connecting the two components. Pulling the trigger in double action pushes the trigger bar and interrupter to release the hammer at the end of the cycle, when the upper surface
of the trigger bar is forced down by the sear housings shoulder.
All of the B models feature a fring-pin safety of the conventional type. A spring-loaded plunger in the slide must be pushed
upward by a lever in the trigger mechanism, which rotates
upward as the trigger is pivoted rearward, so the spring-loaded
fring pin becomes free to travel forward. After the frst round
has been fred, the slide recocks the hammer and forces the
disconnector to release its engagement with the lower portion of
the sear. This allows the sear to pivot rearward to re-engage the
full-cock notch. A unique, yet simple system, it provides the CZ
75-series pistols with a smooth double-action trigger-pull weight
of 8 to 9 pounds. Without tuning, the single-action drawstroke with a pull weight of about 4 pounds exhibits a noticeable
amount of creep. There is also a half-cock notch. CZ 75-series
triggers are smooth and nickel chromed.
The thumb safety is located in the proper place, on the left side
of the frame above the grip panel. Of adequate size and shape, it
can be activated only with the hammer at full cock, and doing so
will not drop the hammer. Firing from the Weaver position with
both thumbs over the lever, the safety is both easily deactivated
and placed back on Safe after a fring sequence. The CZ 75 BD

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f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | v e lv e t r e v o l u t i o n

PHOTO: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

the CZ 75 series high-profle fxed sights have always been useful.

the blade-type front sight carries a single white dot. the rear
sights square notch has a white dot on each side.

model has no manual safety but instead has a decocking lever

(D designation) that safely lowers the hammer with a round in
the chamber. There is also a CZ 75 DAO (double-action only),
which has no external safety, no spur on the hammer and can be
fred double-action only.
Original CZ 75 magazines hold 15 rounds and were cloned
from the Browning Hi Power. The pistols are still provided with
one 15-round magazine, a cleaning rod, a bore brush, a magazine
loader and a rugged plastic carrying case. Abbreviated 13-round
magazines for the CZ 75 Compact have an extended foorplate,
curved slightly downward at the front to serve as a stop for the
fring hand. CZ 97 B .45 ACP magazines hold 10 rounds. These
single-position-feed, staggered-column, box-type magazines are of
conventional confguration and can be effortlessly disassembled.
They have a steel body and foorplate with a plastic follower.
The magazine catch/release button is located where it should
be, immediately to the rear of the triggerguard on the frames
left side. Magazines fall freely out of the magazine well on all CZ
75-series pistols.
The CZ 75 series high-profle fxed sights are excellent. The
blade-type front sight carries a single white dot. The rear sights
square notch can be drifted in its dovetail in the slide for adjustment of lateral zero. It has a white dot on each side of the notch.
The rear sights exposed corners are well rounded to prevent
snagging. The sight radius is 6.1 inches. The top of the slide on
the entire CZ pistol series has longitudinal serrations running the
full length.
The steel frames of these pistols are machine-fnished investment castings, as are many of the other components. The slides
are made from extruded, hammer-forged bar stock. The CZ
75 B weighs 2 pounds, 3 ounces with an empty magazine, and
the CZ 97 B weighs 21 pounds.
Barrel length of CZ 75 B pistols is 4.7 inches. All CZ-series
pistol barrels have six grooves with a right-hand twist. The rate of
twist for 9mm barrels is 1:9.84 inches, and for .45 ACP, .40 S&W
and .22LR its 1:16 inches. CZ 75 B pistols are available in .40
S&W with a beefed-up slide.
Several different fnishes are available. The one I carried in El

the CZ 75 D Compact (top)

and the customized Pro-teK
ii from the CZ Custom Shop,
aka Ghost Products inc., out
of Mesa, Arizona. the magazines for these pistols hold
either 14 or 16 rounds.

the Kadet .22lr conversion kit for the CZ 75 is known for its
reliablity and extreme accuracy.

Salvador had a black oxide fnish with blond, checkered wood

grip panels. More common today is black polymer. This twostage process employs a German polymer lacquer of Swiss design
cured over the components, which are frst treated with a Parkerized fnish. The black polymer fnish is chip-free and both wear
and corrosion resistant. Currently, CZ 75 B pistols are provided
with a ringed combat hammer, whereas the original 75s utilized
a spur-type hammer.
Fit and fnish of these pistols remains fawless. Exterior surfaces are polished until all milling marks are removed. All radiused
surfaces exhibit perfect alignment. Everything fts together with
just the right amount of tightness. The barrels rifing cuts and
chamber dimensions have been fabricated to the closest possible tolerances. Barrel, slide and frame all carry the pistols serial
number, in the European manner.
The human engineering applied to the design of these pistols
is of the very highest order. The grip tang is exactly the right

PHOTO: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

G&A

PHOTO: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

72

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74

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | v e lv e t r e v o l u t i o n

Based on the
fundamentals
of the CZ 75,
the P-07 and
P-09 polymerframed
pistols are a
window into
the future of
this design.

SEE ALL MODELS.

SUREFIRE.COM/VSERIES

PHOTO: SEAN UTLEY

length to prevent the hammer from biting the web of your hand.
The grip frames distinctive hump melts into the hand as though
it were a custom-ftted prosthesis. The grip-to-frame angle is
perfect; target acquisition is consequently swift and positive.
Most important is the incredible simplicity of the design when
compared with all too many of todays pistols.
Equally impressive is the Kadet .22LR conversion kit.
Introduced in 1993, the kit consists of three major groups: a
10-round magazine, a slide that contains the spring-loaded
fring pin and the recoil spring with its steel guide rod, and
the slide housing to which the barrel is
fxed. The ejector is attached to the barrel
group. The weight, when installed on a
frame, duplicates that of the CZ 75 B/85
B pistols.
In my experience, .22LR conversion
kits, whether they are for a pistol or
shoulder-mounted frearm, usually
provide only mediocre performance,

principally because .22 rimfre ammuniSUREFiRE

tion produces more fouling than any other
type. Installation of this kit on a CZ 75
B/85 B frame requires some minor ftting
(described in detail in the operators manual) with a Swiss fle and a stone. This is,
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without doubt, the most reliable and accurate .22 conversion kit I have ever tested.
I fred more than 500 rounds of Remington high-velocity solids without a single
stoppage. This is outstanding, but, equally
important, the Kadet .22LR conversion kit
is a real tackdriver. Its accuracy potential is far superior to the High Standard
Supermatic Trophy pistol I used to shoot
in competition 50 years ago.
The 9mm Parabellum CZ 75 B that I
tested most recently held no surprises
for me. This pistol remains one of the
most reliable and accurate available. I
Our extensive line of V-Series models provides intense infrared illumination
employed Black Hills ammunition to run
for use with night-vision devices, and they also produce tactical white light
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from the same all-LED head. Simply pull and turn the knurled bezel on any
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During the last decade, a signifcant
number of states have passed concealed

v e lv e t r e v o l u t i o n | f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

carry legislation. As a consequence, the demand for service-size,

large-magazine-capacity handguns outside of law enforcement
circles has diminished somewhat. For this reason, CZ-USA introduced the CZ 2075 RAMI, a subcompact version of the CZ 75 designed specifcally for concealed carry. It features a 3-inch barrel,
an aluminum alloy frame and low-profle sights. Chambered for
both the 9mm and .40 S&W cartridges, the single-position-feed,
staggered-column magazines hold 10 and eight rounds, respectively. Extended-capacity magazines ship with the pistols.
Bren Ten The CZ 75s features so impressed the late Jeff Cooper that many of
them were incorporated into the ill-fated
Bren Ten. While no longer produced, it
remains an impressive, albeit controversial handgun. As its chief advocate, Col.
Cooper, a frequent contributor to Guns
& Ammo, was convinced that it was the
ultimate fghting handgun and the only
deserving replacement for the M1911.
While the Bren Ten borrowed some of
the CZ 75s characteristics, it was designed
from the ground up to accommodate the
10mm Auto cartridge, which itself was developed by Col. Cooper. Adopted by the
FBI in 1989, the cartridge was eventually
dropped. FFV Norma AB of Amotfors,
Sweden, frst produced the cartridge
for the Bren Ten pistol at the behest of
Dornaus & Dixon.
Offered in a number of variants, all of
which resembled the CZ 75, Bren Ten
frames were made of stainless steel and
the slides of carbon steel, the latter with
either a black oxide or hard-chromed
fnish.
CZ 75 B 40th Anniversary Limited
Edition One of the most important frearms in history is being honored in 2015
with 1,000 pistols chambered in 9mm and
presented in a leather-bound case. CZUB
assigned its master engraver, Rene Ondra,
to create a special design based on classic
hand engraving completed in the Czech
Republic with a hammer pushing the
engravers tools. Controls, including the
trigger, slide stop, manual safety, magazine release and hammer, are fnished in
a rainbow-colored titanium nitride for
an attractive and long-lasting fnish that
contrasts with a gloss blue fnish. Smooth,
birds-eye maple grip panels complete the
package, representing a functional work of
art on a timeless design.

G&A

75

Michael Dixon (far

left) presents a Bren
ten Commemorative
pistol to Jeff Cooper,
circa 1984. the late
Coopers Bren tens
still reside in the
basement of his
home at Gunsite.

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76

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

SIG SAUER P320 CARRY

A pistol
with an
alter ego.
WORDS BY JASON TEAGUE | PHOTOS BY RICHARD KING

IN THE MAY 2014 ISSUE OF GUNS & AMMO, SIG Sauer introduced its P320 pistol as an answer for customers desiring SIG Sauer quality in a true striker-fred pistol.
Building on some of the design features of the P250, the internal chassis allows the
P320 to be readily confgured to suit user requirements.
The P320 was also built with the law enforcement sector in mind in an attempt
to regain some of that market that currently prefers the simplicity of striker-fred
pistols. The home run that SIG Sauer hit was the ability of the P320 to be multiple
guns in one. A police department can purchase one sidearm and different grip modules or barrel assemblies that essentially allow an offcer to build the pistol that best
fts the assignment.
This versatility is something that SIG Sauer can hang its hat on. All of the features
of the P320 Carrys full-size brother can be seen. The 3.9-inch barrel is the ideal size
for concealed carry in any of the calibers offered. Already have a full-size P320? SIG
Sauer now offers a P320 Carry Kit with three different-size grip frames, a threaded
barrel and one slide assembly. All of this comes neatly organized in a ftted Pelican
Storm case.

G&A

77

78

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | S I G p 3 2 0 c A r ry

Top right: The stainless steel frame houses

the trigger for the p320. This modular unit
provides robust slide rails for the slide
assembly as well. This serialized component
is what allows the p320 carry to transform
between confgurations.
Below right: Shown in a carry threadedbarrel variant, the p320 series offers six barrel confgurations, not to mention each in a
different caliber. If you can imagine it, the
p320 can probably be assembled to suit.
Far right: The interchangeable grip
modules come in small, medium and large
to properly ft the hand. This modularity
means the pistol can be set up for a specifc
purpose based on how much concealment
is necessary.

The shorter length (compared with the

4.6-inch full-size variant) allows for better
overall concealment with both inside- and
outside-the-waistband holsters. The shorter grip frame still holds
15 rounds in 9mm and 13 rounds in .40/.357 SIG, yet its long
enough for a good purchase on the grip.
Developing a pistol that converts to one of many confgurations is something SIG Sauer has already mastered. With agencies
fnally recognizing that one size does not ft all, companies are offering adjustable grips/frames, and as a full-time law enforcement
offcer and an agency frearms instructor, I applaud this. The

P320 can be had with small, medium and

large frames. I found the medium frame to
be quite comfortable, and the texture was
nice, though I would prefer a little more
aggressiveness. For a concealed carry piece, most will appreciate
the feel and texture as-is. The P320s grip angle was also well
thought out. The pistol points instinctively and is neutral and intuitive. Those who fnd that Glocks point high upon presentation
will appreciate the handling characteristics of the P320 Carry.
The controls found on the P320 Carry are about as simple as
it gets. There is an ambidextrous slide stop that is well designed
and usable even for those with smaller or more delicate hands.
Offcers and shooters who struggle with grip strength or dexterity

S I G p 3 2 0 c a r ry | f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

G&a

79

The p320 carry draws cleanly and points naturally,

making it ideally suited for carry as an off-duty pistol
and for use by armed citizens alike.

should have no trouble manipulating this control. The magazine

release is reversible, which is all but standard fare these days, and
the trigger module can be ordered with or without a trigger safety.
For shooters who dont like the feel of the tabbed trigger safety,
this option might be a good selling point. Also available for law
enforcement orders is a frame-mounted safety, which I think was
smart for SIG Sauer to include. Without this feature, assuredly
some agencies would shut the door on the P320.
The P320 Carry has a well-designed striker and disconnect

safety, which are still retained with or without the

tabbed trigger safety. For agencies and civilians who
must have a trigger safety, you have that option
without sacrifcing any internal mechanical safety. I
found that the tabbed feature didnt detract from the
feel of the trigger. I will say that, having carried and
shot striker-fred pistols on duty for more than 19
years, Ive shot my share of handguns with this type
of trigger. The P320 has a few things that I feel can
be improved upon, but the trigger is not one of them.
It has the best-feeling factory striker-fred trigger Ive
shot. The initial takeup is relatively short, and the
break is crisp and clean. The trigger return is short and positive.
It feels like some of the better aftermarket Glock and M&P triggers that cost hundreds of dollars; kudos to SIG.
The materials and workmanship continue the SIG Sauer
tradition. The internal chassis, which is the heart of the P320
series, is made from stainless steel and is also what forms the slide
rails. This creates a very strong interface between slide and frame.
The slide comes with SIG Sauers durable Nitron fnish and has
front and rear cocking serrations, a feature I was glad to see. The

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G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | S I G p 3 2 0 c A r ry

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MISSING
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overall profle of the slide and frame is very clean and aesthetically
pleasing. With that said, my biggest complaint is with the P320
Carrys slide dimensions. The pistol is portly and has a thick feel
to it. After six months of carrying this model, its a drawback most
apparent when carrying it inside the waistband.
SIGLITE night sights are also standard, and for a gun that was
designed for law enforcement this was probably the path of least
resistance. I would like to see someone offer something other
than three-dot sights, which are often cluttered and busy to new
shooters trying to grasp the fundamentals of sight alignment and
picture. Its amazing what a simple set of sights can do. Many
times, shooters simply line up three dots in a row, not realizing
that the front sight is actually on the outside of the two rear dots.
This might sound like BS, but Ive seen it too many times in an
agency as large as mine. Id love to see something simple such as
a single rear dot paired with one on the front, which would really
clean up a confusing sight picture.
One of the things SIG Sauer tried to accomplish with this design
was to create a low bore axis that would sit down in the hand and
help reduce muzzle fip and increase recoil control. Did it meet
this goal? For the most part, I would say yes. The P320 sits fairly
low, and the overall recoil impulse is mild. I was pleased with the
results on the range and glad to see that SIG Sauers reputation for
accurate pistols continues. The P320 digested everything with borPERFORMANCE

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VELOCITY
(FPS)

SD

AVERAGE
GROUP (IN.)

Hornady 135-gr. Critical Duty +P

1,092

12

3.1

SIG Sauer Elite 124-gr. V-Crown

1,163

19

3.6

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1,141

18

LOAD

Shown here feldstripped into its

major components,
the p320 doesnt
require the trigger
to be pulled for disassembly like most
polymer-framed
duty pistols. Some
would consider this
a plus for SIG Sauer
in terms of safety.
The modular frecontrol assembly
can be dropped
into different-size
frames or built
around a different
caliber to suit the
users needs. Longer slide, different
caliber, larger frame
its no problem
for the p320.

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

81

5.8 in.

5.3 in.

1.4 in.

G&A

7.2 in.

SIG Sauer P320 Carry

Type: Striker fred, double-action
only (DAO)
Caliber: 9mm, .357 SIG, .40
Capacity: 9mm: 15 rds., .357 and .40:
13 rds.
Barrel: 3.9 in.
Weight: 26 oz.
Sights: SIGLITE night sights
Grips: Interchangeable, polymer
MSRP: $669 to $713
Manufacturer: SIG Sauer, 603-772-2302
sigsauer.com

ing regularity and printed very nice 3- to

3-inch groups at 25 yards, which is very
respectable for a duty pistol.
The versatility that the P320 offers agencies and civilians sets apart this pistol from
other polymer designs that simply replace
a backstrap piece. If you look at what the
P320 can do as far as caliber change, slide
and barrel swaps, and competition gripframe size options, its like the LEGO of
handguns; just build it as you see ft. The
P320 may not have been what some wanted in SIGs frst striker-fred design, but I
think its a pretty nice handgun.

Shown here is what could be the Swiss

Army of LE duty rigs. This case has been
set up with various frame and slide combinations. For the offcer who fnds himself
working in different assignments, having a
kit like this allows for instant adaptability.

SHOOTING
TIMES
SHOOTINGTIMES.COM

82

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

Despite the meager attention

given to the Fucile Modello 91,
it was a truly effective,
versatile arm that served
Italy for close to 100 years.
words by garry james

photography by jill marlow

ITALYS
UNDERRATED
CARCANO

Marching through Salonica in 1916, these Italian infantrymen were

armed with 1891 rifes.

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

WHEN THE ITALIANS HAVE A GOOD THING, they certainly

know how to make it work for them. Opera, artwork, literature
and, yes, frearms all receive appropriate attention and exploitation. When people think of Italian weaponry, most of the attention is centered on the fne sporting arms of Brescia, but it must
be remembered that the Italians have a centuries-old tradition of
fabricating top-notch implements of war, not the least of which is
the much used and undeservedly demeaned Fucile Modello 91,
the Carcano.
Popular culture disparages Italian affairs of arms during the
Second World War, but all things considered, being partnered
with Germany was undoubtedly not suited to the Italian psyche,
and as soon as Benito & Co. departed the scene, the Italians
switched over to the Allies with little looking back. Because of
this, its easy to forget some of the hard-fought campaigns Italy
slogged through in World War I against the Austrians, with much
back and forth along a mountainous front that extended the
entire length of the Alps.
Italy was unprepared for war in 1914, and for a time it was
questionable which side it would come in on. Ultimately choosing the Allies over the Central Powers, there was considerable
scurrying around to bring its large, though underequipped forces
up to snuff.
Generally speaking, though, Italian materiel, in quality and
design, was the equal of any at the time, including our subject
here, the Fucile Modello 1891.
First appearing as a typical fn de sicle long infantry repeater,
the 91 ended up being transmogrifed into more variations than
probably any other military bolt action in history. It appeared in
so many carbine, rife and short-rife variations that its one of the
more diffcult military arms to get a handle on, especially for collectors who like their arms history to be relatively neat and tidy.
Following the unifcation of Italy in the third quarter of the
19th century, the country adopted its frst bolt-action rife, the
10.4mm Model 1870-71 Vetterli, actually a Swiss design. Sixteen
years later, the gun was altered to a four-shot repeater with the
addition of a Vitali box magazine, and while not a bad rife, it was
really obsolete as soon as it was introduced. With the widespread
use of smokeless powder, the Italians decided that it was time to
come up with a new, up-to-date service arm.

G&A

83

Impressed with the excellent

clip-loaded mechanism contrived by
Ferdinand Mannlicher, the Italians
instigated a commission at the Turin
(Torino) armory headed by Salvatore
Carcano (hence the rifes nickname,
much in the manner of Frances
Model 1886 Lebel, named after
Colonel Nicholas Lebel, another
member of a commission, who
really only designed the bullet for the
86s 8mm cartridge). What fnally
appeared in 1891 was a smallbore
(6.5mm) repeater with an action
based somewhat on that of the German Gew 88, which employed
a Mannlicher magazine, whereby a clip holding six rounds of
ammo was pressed into the mag through the top of the receiver.
When all the ammo had been expended, the empty clip dropped
out of the magazine through its open bottom, readying the rife
for reloading.
The bolt itself had two forward locking lugs that ft into the
guns forged receiver. It incorporated an interesting tongueand-groove-style hook extractor and a bolt head that virtually
encircled the entire cartridge head.
The fring pin consisted of two pieces, the tip of the pin
fastened to the shaft by a pin. It could be replaced with little
diffculty by an armorer. The safety was sleeved over the fring pin
and held in place by an angular cut in the bolt. To put the gun on
Safe after the bolt was cocked, one simply pushed in and up on

The Fucile Modello 91,

known commonly as the
Mannlicher-Carcano,
was an effective arm
that served Italian
forces in different
calibers and guises for
almost three-quarters
of a century. The Fucile
Modello 1891 was a
handsome rife, simple,
well thought out and
certainly a match for its
early contemporaries.
By World War II, however, it was getting a bit
long in the tooth.

84

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | I TA LY S U N D E R R AT E D C A R C A N O

The markings on
this 1891s knoxform
indicate that it was
manufactured at the
Italian Military Arsenal at Rome in 1899.
About 2 million 1891
variants were manufactured between
1893 and 1938 at
several sites.

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the knurled latch, rotating it 45 degrees. It

was necessary to make sure it was pushed
all the way forward or the bolt itself could
turn and disengage. The safety actually
blocked the sight picture so that the shooter was immediately aware whether his gun
was ready to fre. To remove the bolt from
the action, all that was necessary was to
open it and pull back on the trigger.
The rear sight was a Helvetian-looking,
Vetterli-inspired ramp graduated to 2,000
meters, the leaf of which was released
by a button on the front of the assembly.
The leaf could also be turned completely
forward, allowing access to a fxed battle
sight at the rear of the ramp.
Infantry versions of the 1891 were
similar in looks to many other military
arms of the period. They had a full-length
walnut stock with straight grip, steel mountings and underbarrel
cleaning rod. The barrel, which had progressive-twist rifing,
measured 31 inches, and the overall length of the piece was 51
inches. Weight was 8 pounds.
In 1893, a couple of shorter moschettos were adopted, one
with a folding bayonet for cavalry and another, designated TS
for truppe speciali, with a standard removable knife bayonet
for engineers, artillery, fortress troops and the like. The round
itself, while relatively low pressure, was still pretty effective and
pushed its 162-grain 6.5mm bullet out at 2,296 feet-per-second
for a muzzle energy of 1,902 foot-pounds adequate for most
military applications, though certainly not the equal of the 8mm
Mauser, 8mm Lebel or .303 British.
As fnally realized, the 1891 Carcano was an excellent rife,
certainly as serviceable as most other arms of the period. For
example, during the Boxer Rebellion, the 91 acquitted itself
very well alongside the vaunted Mausers, Metfords/Enfelds and
Mosin-Nagants during the defense of the legations in Peking and,
in various incarnations, with the Allied relief force.
Again, in World War I, despite an oftentimes topographically
and meteorologically challenging front, the 91 proved to be the
equal of its principal adversary, the Austro-Hungarian model
1895 straight-pull, which also employed a Mannlicher system.

The Fucile Modello

1891s sturdy rear
sight was graduated to 2,000 meters.
The rear leaf was
raised and secured
by pressing in on
a release button
on the left side of
the base. The front
sight was a simple,
nonadjustable
blade.

I TA LY S U N D E R R AT E D C A R C A N O | f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

G&A

85

The Carcanos safety

was located on the
rear of the bolt. To
put the rife on Safe,
it was pushed in
and moved to the
vertical position.

Removing the bolt is

as simple as pulling
the trigger and moving the bolt to the
rear, out of the action.

Because of its small

6.5mm caliber
and svelte profle,
the 1891s clip
was able to hold
six rounds rather
than the fve seen
in most other
box-magazine rifes
of the period. From
left: Bob Shell custom load, loaded
clip with original
ammo, original
single round.

The 1891, including variants,

was manufactured at the state
arsenals at Turin, Terni, Rome and
Brescia, and the Torre Annunziata
Company in Naples, Fabbrica
Nazionale d Armi in Brescia and
Beretta in Gardone. Its estimated
that 3 million were built between
1891 and 1945.
Fighting in Ethiopia in the
1930s led military authorities
to believe that the 6.5mm was
not up to par, and in 1938 a 7.35mm round, which was really
nothing more than a more powerful, necked-up 6.5mm, was
introduced. Performance was good, and rifes were manufactured
to take the new round. Unfortunately, Italians soon found the
fact that there were now two separate rounds in the system to be
something of a logistical poser and decided to rechamber many
of the new rifes back to 6.5mm and get rid of some of the others.
Some 7.35mms were even sold to Finland. Generally speaking,
the later guns have their calibers stamped on their rear sights, but
dont take this for granted. If in doubt, have a questionable arm
checked out by a gunsmith.
Late in World War II, many Carcanos were altered to handle
the German 7.92x54mm round. Such rifes are marked with an
S on their receivers and bolt handles.
There were a number of other models of the MannlicherCarcano, including a Moschetto Modello 91/ 24, which was a
shortened version of the infantry rife; a 91/38 that looked like

MAXIMIZE
YOUR
POTENTIAL

86

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | I TA LY S U N D E R R AT E D C A R C A N O

As with most Mannlicher-style rifes,

ammunition is loaded through the top of
the 1891s action against a spring-loaded
follower. The entire clip is retained in the
magazine until the last round is expended,
when, empty, it drops out through the
bottom.

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A full or partially loaded clip may be

removed from the top of the action by
pressing in on the release button on the
rear of the magazine.

the 7.35mm Modello 38 but in 6.5mm; a Moschetto Modello 38

in 7.35mm for cavalry; and a TS Moschetto Modello 38. If you
want to collect Mannlicher-Carcanos, theres certainly no dearth
of variations. The above are some of the more accessible 91
variants, the full range of them too byzantine to deal with in a
magazine article, even if I could sort them all out myself.
Ive had a Rome-manufactured, 1899-dated Fucile Modello
1891 in my collection for several decades. I used to shoot it quite
a bit when decent surplus ammo was available, but now that the
supply has pretty much dried up I fnd I get the best performance
out of some excellent custom loads produced by Bob Shell, (480983-7078, rel4350@aol.com). Using Prvi Partizan brass, Bob
fabricates some extremely accurate ammo (at least in my rife) using .264 140-grain Spitzer bullets. At 50 yards, I can easily keep
rested groups in the 1-inch range. The rife functions perfectly.
Clips, while not readily plentiful, can usually be found on the
Internet with moderate searching.
The 91 Carcano is a fun gun to shoot, one chock full of history and that is still accessible and reasonable price-wise (in the
more common variants) on todays market.
Yes, while the Carcano might not be a Fra Angelico panel or
Puccini aria, in its own time and place it is still something of an
Italian masterpiece.

James was impressed with this

original, unaltered
1891. It gave
excellent accuracy and operated
fawlessly.

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88 G & A f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5
PROOFHOUSE

Bond Arms Backup

LITTLE BIG SHOT

THE WORD DERRINGER tends to evoke images of a
Wild West saloon where, at the card table, one gambler
hastily draws his hidden pocket-size handgun to settle a
dispute with the utmost fnality. Derringers have always
epitomized the last-ditch self-defense frearm. However,
their dimensions, caliber and capacity have relegated them
to virtual novelty status in todays society, where bigger is
so often believed to be better. The question is, does the
low-tech, minimalist derringer deserve consideration as a
modern concealed carry gun? One company, Texas-based
Bond Arms, certainly thinks so.
Incorporated in 1995, Bond Arms was founded on the
premise that a modernized version of the infamous Remington model 95 over/under single-action derringer would
have mass appeal. Judging by the fact that the company is
still around 20 years later, its safe to assume that America
continues to have an affnity for derringers. Of course,
Americans also value quality, affordability and innovation.
At a glance, a Bond Arms derringer may look like any
other. When you more closely examine and actually handle
one, however, its apparent that it bears little resemblance
to the derringers of yesteryear. The companys latest
release in its extensive line of sturdily built, high-quality
derringers is the Backup.
Developed at the behest of current and former law
enforcement offcers, the Backup sports black rubber grip
panels that help mitigate the recoil inherent in fring legitimate defensive loads through such a small handgun. The
grip does more than reduce recoil; it adds to the Backups
covert appearance.
Unlike other Bond Arms derringers, the Backups
stainless steel frame wears a black crinkle powdercoat
and the barrel is bead blasted, the rationale being that a
concealed carry gun should have a nonrefective surface in
order to avoid drawing undue attention.
The Backup comes standard with a .45 ACP barrel. As
an alternative, the derringer can be purchased with a 9mm
barrel and will soon be available with a .40 S&W barrel.
Like all but the two California-complaint models (the Big
Bear and the Brown Bear), which have fxed barrels, all
Bond Arms derringers accept all interchangeable barrels.
CNC machining enables Bond Arms to maintain tolerances about one-third the thickness of a human hair,
which ensures that interchangeable barrels ft precisely to
the frame. In all, there are 14 barrels that facilitate a total

The Backup is a robust,

double-barreled derringer
chambered in .45 ACP. While
its practicality as a concealed
carry gun is debatable, the
Backup is concealable, reliable and reasonably accurate.

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

LOAD

89

PERFORMANCE (.45 ACP)

BULLET AVERAGE
WEIGHT VELOCITY
(FPS)
(GR.)

SD

ES

AVERAGE BEST
GROUP GROUP
(IN.)
(IN.)

LOAD

BULLET AVERAGE
WEIGHT VELOCITY
(FPS)
(GR.)

SD

ES

AVERAGE BEST
GROUP GROUP
(IN.)
(IN.)

Jack Ross FMJ

115

1,004

29

78

5.7

4.54

Hornady Custom XTP

200

747

12

33

7.75

5.37

Federal Hydra-Shok JHP

124

916

19

47

6.2

HPR Hyper Clean JHP

230

663

24

11.33

10.4

Aguila FMJ

124

965

13

6.76

6.4

Speer Lawman TMJ

230

654

23

8.46

4.44

NOTES: Average velocity is determined from fve shots across an Oehler 35P chronograph at a distance of approximately 8 feet from the muzzle. Average accuracy is determined from four fve-shot groups at 10 yards from a metal bench with a sandbag rest.

NOTES: Average velocity is determined from fve shots across an Oehler 35P chronograph at a distance of approximately 8 feet from the muzzle. Average accuracy is determined from four fve-shot groups at 10 yards from a metal bench with a sandbag rest.

Bond Arms BACKUP

Type: Single action, over/under,
derringer
Capacity: 2 rds.
Caliber: Multi (available in 9mm
and .45 ACP)
Weight: 18 to 19 oz.
Finish: Stainless steel w/black
crinkle powdercoat,
bead-blasted barrel
Grips: Rubber
Sights: Blade front, fxed rear
Trigger: 6.5 lbs.
MSRP: $410
Manufacturer: Bond Arms, 817-573-4445
bondarms.com

PHOTOS: ALFREDO RICO

PERFORMANCE (9mm)

G&A

90

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | b o n d A r m s b A c k u p

Left: The Backup Holster is a

high-quality, leather carry rig
with a thumb-break retention.
$84
Above: In order to fre, the
Backups hammer must be
cocked and the crossbolt safety
disengaged.
Above right: The backup features a top-break double barrel.
Right: The trigger is designed
to be pulled back and down. It
took a little getting used to.

standard 2-inch barrel for

of 24 different cartridges,
a 3-inch barrel and load it
ranging from .22-caliber
with 2-inch .410 shotbullets to .410 shotshells.
shells. Its hard to argue
Best of all, changing barrels
with that logic.
requires nothing more than
Although derringers
a few turns of the supplied
or belly guns, as theyre
1/8-inch Allen wrench. Talk
sometimes called are
about versatility.
intended to be used as an
Bond Arms president,
emergency response to a
Gordon Bond, said that the
deadly threat in extreme
Backup is already helping
close quarters, no gun
to protect those who serve
review would be complete
and protect others. In
While intended as a shoot em off you type of gun, the Backup has
without accuracy testing. In
addition to off-duty carry,
a
rear
sight
notch
thats
integral
to
the
barrel
and
a
fxed,
blade-style
this case, G&A staff pulled
he knows of police offcers
front sight.
several chairs up to the
in Texas and Ohio who are
metal bench and used a
carrying the Backup for duty
sandbag to create a stable shooting platform. We posted a
use as a secondary frearm. Some federal law enforcement
target 10 yards downrange and loaded two 9mm cartridgoffcers are also wearing the Backup in an offcial capacity.
es to the Backups over/under barrel.
Guns & Ammo asked Gordon why a police offcer or
After deactivating the crossbolt safety, cocking back
CCW holder would choose a two-shot derringer over a
fve-shot revolver that is only slightly larger. We anticipated the hammer and looking through the rear sight, which is
integral to the barrel, we focused on the fxed front sight
that his response would focus on the versatility of calibers
blade and used the pad of our fngers to press the trigger
offered or the fact that his derringers, though robust, are
steadily rearward until it discharged with a resounding
still smaller than a snubnose revolver. Instead, Gordon
bang. Not too bad, each of us thought as we took aim for
answered the question with one of his own.
a second shot.
He asked, For a deep backup gun, would you rather
After fring the second time, you have to depress the
have something chambered in .380 or .45 ACP? Anlock lever shaft in order to open the barrel. Since there is
other viable option, according to Gordon, is to swap the

b o n d a r m s b a c k u p | f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

G&a

91

no extractor, a cut-out at the breech end of the barrel allows you to extract the spent casings with your fngernail.
The Backups trigger pull measured 6 pounds, but at
times, either as a result of fatigue or a slightly inappropriate grip, it felt like a 100-pound trigger. For best results,
you need to grip a Bond Arms derringer in a very specifc
manner. As clearly illustrated in the safety and instruction
manual, when gripping the Backup, you must ensure that
the web of your hand does not come in contact with the
hammer. Even slight pressure on the cocked hammer will
signifcantly increase the trigger pull. To keep this from
happening, Bond Arms advocates leaving a quarter-inch
gap between your hand and the hammer.
With the pad of your index fnger in contact with the
trigger, it is recommended that you pull back and downward. Unless youre well acquainted with derringers,
the trigger will likely feel pretty awkward, as its much
different than the trigger on a semiautomatic pistol or revolver. With practice, youll get more used to the trigger,
and it will get smoother after a break-in period.
We have to admit, after fring approximately 75 rounds
of 9mm and 75 rounds of .45 ACP through the Backup
in a 24-hour period, the palm of our hands, thumbs and
middle fngers were a little sore. However, if youre putting that many rounds of 9mm and .45 ACP through the
Backup in that short of a time, youre either a gunwriter
or youve got much bigger problems
than a sore hand.
Five-shot 9mm groups ranged
from 4.54 inches with Jack Ross
115-grain FMJ to 7.16 inches with
Federal 124-grain Hydra-Shok JHP.
Patterns widened with .45 ACP. The
tightest group achieved with Hornady 200-grain Custom XTP measured
5.37 inches, and the widest group
was 12 inches using HPR Hyper Clean
230-grain JHP.
Although these groups may cause
you to write off the Backup as inaccurate, keep in mind that its intended
for across-the-table distances. That
being said, theres a logical explanaDR RapidFire Kinetic Log Splitter MODELS
tion for the rather wide groupings at
Now Starting at
MOST MODELS
KINETIC POWER
10 yards.
ROAD TOWABLE!
The RapidFire stores energy
HALF
The fve-shot groups produced fairly
in a hefty cast-iron y-wheel
THE
system that blasts logs apart
predictable results. There was clearly a
in just one second!
two-shot group and a three-shot group,
FASTEST CYCLE TIME With a
separated vertically by several inches.
full cycle time (split stroke and
PENDING
This vertical spread can be attributed
auto-retract) of just 3 SECONDS, the DR RapidFire
is 6X FASTER than typical hydraulic splitters.
to the barrels over/under design. The
fact that these two subgroups were at
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92

G&A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5 | b o n d A r m s b A c k u p

4.5 in.

3.75 in.

tion only you can answer.

Cowboy Action derringer in
Derringers certainly arent for
both the mens and womens
everyone. They are relatively
division for 15 years in a row.
diffcult to shoot accurately,
Shooting off-hand with
especially at distance. Recoil
the target 5 yards away, the
2.5 in.
1.2 in.
from a derringer chambered
vertical distance between
in 9mm or .45 ACP is no
rounds fred from the top
joke, and no matter how
and bottom barrel was cut
powerful the cartridge, havin half. As expected, from
ing only two rounds is a very
2 yards, the distance was
real concern.
cut in half again. At 2
So, how has the derringer
yards, when fring from the
stood the test of time? First
same barrel, the rounds
of all, derringers such as the
impacted nearly on top of
Backup are just plain fun
each other. So, why arent
to shoot. From a practical
the barrels aligned so that
standpoint, youd be hard
the sights work on both?
pressed to fnd a more conAccording to Gordon, the
cealable frearm, which means youll probably carry it more
question is, At what distance do you sight them for? At
often than a bigger, heavier handgun.
10 yards, Gordon explained that the bottom barrel would
Unlike some relic, the Bond Arms Backup is constructed
be aligned with the sights and the top barrel would impact
of stainless steel using the most state-of-the-art manufachigher than the point of aim; how far depends on the disturing processes. As a result, the Backup is ultra-reliable
tance to the target. He added that the faster the bullet, the
and packs one hell of a punch for its size. Even with its
less the vertical spread. (That explains why the 9mm groups
nonrefective fnish, the Backup shines as the latest evoluwere tighter than the .45 ACP groups.)
tion of the time-tested derringer design.
Has Bond Arms created a worthy Backup? Thats a ques-

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94 G & A f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5
G&A ALMANAC

Visit
GunsAndAmmo.com
for live SHOT Show
coverage, starting
January 20, 2015.

AIRING THE
WEEK OF

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JANUARY

2015

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DANIEL DEFENSE
EDITION
New V11 SLiM
First Look: DD 7.62
On Newsstands Now
$8.99 (U.S.)

The biggest and brawniest semiauto pistol

made highlights in this weeks show, with
Magnum Researchs .50 AE Desert Eagle.
Former Special Forces sniper team leader
Tom Beckstrand offers his personal perspective on an incredibly accurate load: Black
Hills .308 Match.
Learn how to handle all the paperwork
involved in purchasing and owning a
suppressor/silencer.
Theres a lot more interesting history on
suppressors to learn about as we show an
old Colt Woodsman .22 with its original
suppressor.
Check out Stag Arms new 9mm carbine
along with S&Ws new M&P 9mm pistol.
We suppress a Smith & Wesson M&P15 in
.223 given a threaded barrel.
Boddington and Lamb talk about
enhanced triggers.

26
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Monday 9:00 p.m.

Monday 11:00 p.m.
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Suppressors are the current rage in the shooting sports, with at least 40 states allowing
ownership, and manufacturers are responding with multiple product options for rifes,
pistols and even shotguns!
The year 2015 marks the 30th anniversary of
Beretta winning the M9 contract. We look back.

SIG Sauers cutting-edge P320 Conversion kit

is a special package in terms of a striker-fred
modular pistol platform, and we give it a runthrough at the range.
A recognized name from the World War II
era is back with a gun from the past as Inland
Manufacturing reintroduces the M1 Carbine
it produced in the 1940s. Its almost an exact
reproduction of the original, and its available
with a folding stock.

2015

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On Newsstands Jan. 13th
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How Beckstrand Sets up for Bench
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This Is Franks New Line Of Survival Food:
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stand up to the crazy things that happen in a crisis. This food has
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96 G & A

f e b r u a ry 2 0 1 5

SPENT CASES

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 7

THE HIGH PRIEST OF HIGH-VELOCITY

ROY WEATHERBY, the South Gate, California, independent gun maker, was credited in 1959 with taking the
eighth-largest polar bear in the world using his 180-grain
.300 Weatherby Magnum load in a new-for-58 Mark V,
but the time involved in shooting the great, white monster is the paradox of the story.
Weatherby made the kill 200 miles west of Kotzebue,
Alaska, the exit port for polar bear hunters, and 30 miles
from the Siberian border. Weatherby said he shot the
bear on Saturday although he actually was shooting on
Friday. He remarked, Since I was shooting east, it might
have been that I shot the bear on Saturday, and he died
on Friday. Now, it takes a powerful rife to do that!
The polar bear was mounted and originally displayed in
Weatherbys rife headquarters. Standing 9 feet, 2 inches
tall, the mount was quite the crowd pleaser, and kids
looked up in awe at it inside Weatherbys retail store. The
Boone and Crockett Club measured the animals skull at

28 inches, just shy of the 283-inch record. Weatherby,

who had hunted in Africa and India, called the polar bear
hunt his most exciting. He said he passed up fve other
polars before he took the one that netted the record.
Weatherby hunted with Elgin Gates, a Surfside, California, sportsman, and his guide was the famous Tommy
Thompson, who always employed two airplanes for safety when prowling the barren ice wastes for the bears.
The news of Weatherbys polar bear hunt along with
the photograph seen here was frst published in the
December 1959 issue of Guns & Ammo magazine. For
decades, the mount was encased in glass while on display in the lobby entrance of the companys headquarters. When Weatherby moved to the northern San Luis
Obispo County town of Paso Robles, California, in 1994,
the polar bear was transferred to a display in a local
GMC dealership. It has since made its way into a private
collection.

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Pistols
.
Unequaled Quality. Unmatched Performance.

Easy to carry and conceal, the Ultra CDP II .45 ACP has a 3-inch barrel and
weighs 25 ounces. It is also ofered in 9mm and with Crimson Trace Lasergrips.

CDP pistols have custom features like

low-profle night sights and a Carry Bevel
treatment for smooth, rounded edges that
will not snag clothing or holsters.

An ambidextrous thumb safety promotes

fast operation and 30 lines-per-inch
checkering on the front strap and under
the trigger guard ensures a positive grip.

Built in the Kimber Custom Shop, CDP (Custom Defense Package)

pistols combine .45 ACP power and the most important concealed carry
features into a light weight, high-performance package that gives them their
name. The stainless steel slide plus a match grade barrel and trigger ensure
durability and accuracy. Aluminum frames wear the premium KimPro II
finish that is self-lubricating and extremely resistant to moisture and salt.
Quality and performance are the true measures of value and Kimber pistols
set the industry standard. Nowhere is this more evident than in a CDP.
Visit the nearest Kimber Master Dealer and see for yourself.

The Custom CDP II .45 ACP has a 5-inch

barrel and full-length grip, yet weighs just
31 ounces. CDP models take concealed-carry
performance to the extreme.

T H E C H O I C E O F A M E R I C A S B E S T

kimberamerica.com
(888) 243-4522

Kimber ofers nearly 200 purpose-built pistols and rifes to meet any need.
2012, Kimber Mfg., Inc. All rights reserved. Information and specifcations are for reference only and subject to change without notice.