Gun World - August 2018 USA PDF

TAURUS SPECTRUMMORE
SPECTRUM MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE
SINCE 1959
6.5 GRENDEL
VERSUS 6.8 SPC DELPHI
BATTLE OF
THE 6-POINTS DP-15
FRANCHI’S
FIRST-EVER
RIFLE GAINS
SILVERBOW
MOMENTUM RIFLE MADE FOR A
GREEKGOD
GREEK GOD
THE
SIG MCX AR-15:
RATTLER BEST FOR
PISTOL HOME DEFENSE?
COMPACT
.300 BLACKOUT
POWERHOUSE
AMERICAN WOMEN IN THE
INDUSTRY
BUILT ARMS CO. SAVAGE DEBBIE
MOD-X GEN 3
TACK-DRIVER
AUGUST 2018 VOLUME 59, NO. 08

GUN WORLD
08 U.S. $4.99
DISPLAY UNTIL:
8/07/18
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CONTENTS
PHOTO: Robb Manning

(Special thanks to MJ Gun
Shop for the gun transfer;
MJGunshop.com)
72
16
ON THE COVER
RIFLE: Delphi Tactical DP-15 Silverbow (custom Cerakote in
Delphi Sniper Gray Kryptek Typhon)
OPTIC: Leupold Mark 6 1-6x20mm
SWORD: Reapr Meridius Machete (GreatNeckSaw.com)
COLUMNS
06 ......................................................... UP FRONT
10 ............................................................. KIT UP!
12 .............................................................. OPTICS
16 ................................................................. HUNT
20 ............................................. ARTEMIS ARMED
80 ................................................................... EDC
84 ................................................................TRAIN
88 ....................................................... AMMO 411
92 ...................................................CLEARED HOT
96
96 ............................................CHEWING THE FAT
98 ...................................................DOWN RANGE
GUN WORLD (ISSN 0017-5641) is published monthly in January, February, March,

April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December by
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GST#855050365RT001. Canadian Post: Publications Mail Agreement Pitney Bowes,
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4
24 GUN WORLD
AUGUST I 2018
44
COVER STOry
72
RIFLE OF A GREEK GOD
Named after Apollo’s favorite bow, Delphi Tactical’s
DP-15 Silverbow lives up to its name.
By Richard Schutz
54 24
FEATURES
BATTLE OF THE 6-POINTS: 6.5 GRENDEL VS. 6.8 SPC

No two cartridges have elevated energy delivery from
AR-15 platforms as the Grendel and the SPC have done.
But does one deliver a decisive edge over the other?
By Patrick Meitin
34
TAURUS SPECTRUM
The Taurus SPECTRUM .380 comes in just about any
color of the spectrum, but it’s more than just a pretty face.
By Richard Schutz
44
A-B ARMS MOD-X GEN 3
We take a trip to the Panthera training facility in West
Virginia to try out the A-B Arms tack-driver.
By Brian Berry
54
FRANCHI MOMENTUM
Franchi, best known as a maker of Italian shotguns,
brings its first-ever bolt-action hunting rifle to
America in a lightweight, affordable package.
By Mike Dickerson
64
SIG SAUER MCX RATTLER PSB
SIG’s MCX Rattler Pistol chambered in .300 Blackout
is a compact powerhouse that defies labels: It’s not
a PDW and it’s not just another AR pistol.
By Todd Burgreen
64
5
UPFRONT BY ROBB MANNING RMANNING@ENGAGEDMEDIAINC.COM
GUN WORLD AUGUST 2018

Volume 59 • Number 8
EDITORIAL
Robb Manning Editor
Kelly Nomura Executive Managing Editor
Amy Maclean Managing Editor
DESIGN
Julian Aviña Art Director
CONTRIBUTORS
Steven Paul Barlow, Brian Berry, Todd Burgreen, Michelle Cerino, Mike Dickerson, Brad Fitzpatrick,
Steven K. Ledin, Patrick Meitin, Jeff Quinn, Richard Schutz, Patrick Sweeney, Beckey Yackley
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MARKETING
Michael Chadwick Digital Marketing & Media Coordinator
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OPERATIONS
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Just because someone isn’t pro-gun or pro-2A, it doesn’t mean they’re
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Many of these people aren’t against becoming more informed; and, if

ENGAGED MEDIA, INC.
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6
No handgun
in history has flourished
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as the iconic John Browning-designed 1911 pistol.
Until now.
Les Baer Custom has been the unchallenged leader in rewriting firearms history by bringing the time honored
1911 pistol into the twenty-first century. Starting with Browning's classic design, we have introduced state-of-
the-art manufacturing methods, real hand assembly, and top of the line accessories and other enhancements
to ensure that all forty plus models and permutations are high performance, superior quality history makers.
And, with multiple barrel lengths and frame sizes, several popular finishes and a choice of five calibers, there's
a Les Baer custom 1911 for virtually every purpose, regardless what kind of history you want to create.
Some of our most popular models include:
Baer 1911 New! Baer 1911 New! Baer 1911 Thunder Baer 1911
Premier II©, Premier II© Ranch Special, 2nd Ultimate Tactical
5" or 6" Hunter, 6" Generation, 5" Carry Model, 5"
.45 ACP, 9mm, 10mm .45 ACP .45 ACP, 9mm,
.38 Super, .40 S&W A superb big game Product improved version of .38 Super
The flagship of our powerhouse. one of our most Serious, practical
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Baer 1911 Baer 1911 Baer 1911 Stinger, 4 1/4"

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.45 ACP 9mm Small, efficient and full featured.
A high performance, Perfect compact carry size Comes with night sights.
visually stunning tribute with shortened slide. 9mm
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See our entire line of

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Ph: 563-289-2126 • Fx: 563-289-2132
Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Central Time Email: info@lesbaer.com
KIT UP!
1 3
2
1
4
MAKE: Shield Sights
2
MODEL: SIS-CD Center Dot (Bullet
Drop reticle model available)
MSRP: $550
3
URL: ShieldPSD.com MAKE: Zero Tolerance Knives
MODEL: ZT 0462
“SIS” stands for “Switchable SPECS: 3.7 inches (blade), 5.25
Interface Sight.” This means you inches (closed), 8.9 inches (OAL); MAKE: Velocity Triggers
can cycle through four interface/ 3.7 ounces MODEL: MPC Trigger
4
reticle options: center dot only MSRP: $300 OPTIONS: 4 pounds or 3 pounds
in 1MOA and 8 MOA and center URL: ZTKnives.com (tested); serrated or smooth
dot plus ring in 1 MOA and trigger shoe; curved, straight and
8 MOA. The auto brightness As good-looking as it is practical, straight with finger stop (tested); MAKE: Real Avid
adjustment is one of the best the 0462 is designed by Dmitry six color choices MODEL: Lug-Lok Vise Block
we’ve seen, even compensating Sinkevich as the “big brother” to MSRP: $190 MSRP: $70
well for the “standing in a dark the 0460. Super-lightweight, it URL: VelocityTriggers.com URL: RealAvid.com
room shooting into a bright benefits from a carbon-fiber front
light” problem that plagues a scale and titanium back. Dark red The MPC (Marksman Performance We’ve seen a lot of methods for
lot of other sights. A 12-level is woven into the carbon fiber to Choice) trigger is a drop-in, clamping an AR upper receiver
manual brightness adjustment enhance the look. The upswept single-stage AR platform trigger. to the bench for torque work on
gives you complete control. blade is made of CPM 20CV, We have the 3-pound model, barrels and hand guards. This
It doesn’t have auto shutoff, offering outstanding resistance and it measured a reliable one is the best to date. It inserts
but the battery is rated at one to corrosion and wear, good 3-pound pull every time on our through the upper and into the
year on full brightness and toughness and edge retention. Lyman scale: Place finger on chamber like the bolt head, putting
three years on NV. The body ZT kept the logo off the blade trigger, press with 3 pounds of all the torque on the steel lugs, not
is made of aerospace-grade to maintain the clean look. The pressure—it breaks. There’s no the aluminum receiver. The lock
hard-anodized aluminum and is blade is deployed via flipper with creep, no overtravel, and the knob secures the upper to the vise
extremely tough. Nevertheless, the smooth KVT ball-bearing break is as crisp and clean as it block so it won’t slide out, and two
without a mount, the sight plus opening system; it locks solidly gets. The short reset is equally vise-retaining pins keep the vise
battery weigh only 2.25 ounces into place with the heavy-duty impressive. The finger stop on the block secured to the vise with no
on our scale—super light. When frame lock. The pocket clip is straight trigger we tested allowed movement. Ten vise pin holes and
transitioning from target to reversible for right- or left-hand us the same finger placement eight lock knob holes allow you
target, it’s very fast. Designed use but is tip-up only. ZT fans can every time for a uniform pull. The to position the Vise Block and AR
and hand built in the UK, this is search for a hidden “Easter egg” trigger shoe is about twice as exactly as you need. It is made
an outstanding sight. It includes inside the handle. As is typical of wide as a USGI trigger and was of nonmarring aluminum and fits
a polymer mount and cover. ZT knives, it’s outstanding. very comfortable to squeeze. 5.56/.223 ARs.
www.gunworld.com P AUGUST I 2018
10
6 8
7
5
8
MAKE: Grey Ghost Gear
MODEL: Gypsy
7
COLORS: Field tan, olive (tested),
black, charcoal
MSRP: $225
MAKE: XTech Tactical URL: GreyGhostGear.com
MODEL: ATG AR15 (black)
6
AVAILABLE: AR15 (tested), FN Designed to be a CCW bag without
SCAR looking like one, the Gypsy is
5
COLORS: Black or FDE packed with features to keep
MAKE: Rise Armament MSRP: $20; FN SCAR: $30 any armed citizen happy. Made
MODEL: Low-Mass Bolt Carrier URL: XTechTactical.com primarily of water-resistant waxed
MAKE: SIG Sauer Ammunition Group (RA-1010) canvas, it has a retro look to it;
MODEL: 365 V-Crown JHP, 115 grains MSRP: $240 Mission and personal preference however, a closer look reveals
URL: SIGSauer.com URL: RiseArmament.com can determine the most ergonomic modern details made of Hypalon
MSRP: $21 (20 rounds) grip angle. Up until now, shooters and stretch mesh. Its streamlined
The RA-1010 has been stripped, had to swap out the entire grip—or look belies the 13 pockets hidden
Optimized for CCW, the 365 shredded and skeletonized to “just deal with” the angle at which by the judicious use of zippers.
might be the first ammo line cut out every bit of unnecessary it was manufactured. The ATG Under the main flap are hidden
designed for a particular weight to help reduce recoil (Adjustable Tactical Grip) allows two rows of PALS webbing for
model—the SIG P365—although for faster follow-up shots. It a quick change in the angle with adding extra pouches. The main
it’s perfect for any micro- tipped our scales at 9 ounces just a hex wrench to the three compartment has a large Velcro
compact 9mm handgun. It even—about 25 percent lighter most popular angles—17, 25 and panel for attaching holsters, mag
delivers reduced recoil, excellent than a standard BCG. We used 33 degrees. It’s narrower in width pouches or anything else you
reliability, accuracy and reliable it in a couple of different ARs. It than USGI grips, allowing us to get want. Fast access to the main
expansion. The 1050 fps muzzle was drop-in-and-go and worked more of our booger-hooks into the compartment is via a vertical
velocity that’s listed is actually perfectly. The lower recoil pulse trigger. As with any moving part, zipper on either side. A ventilation
tested out of a 3-inch barrel. was definitely noticeable, and it a concern is it could break/strip, channel runs up the mesh back
Our testing gave it a five-shot was easier to keep the sight on so we drop-tested it, and it seems side to help prevent “sweaty-back
average of 1059.6 fps, with a target for a fast follow-up or a tough. Enhanced Grip Tape (EGT), syndrome,” and padded shoulder
0.41-inch group at 7 yards (from quick transition to a second target. which has a rubbery-textured feel straps make it comfortable enough
a rest), and it fed very reliably, It’s not full-auto rated, however; to it, is available as an option ($10). for all-day carry. Extremely high
with no malfunctions. keep it in 5.56-/.223-caliber ARs. ATG and EGT are easy to install. quality—one of our favorite bags.
11
SCOPE-EYE CHRONICLES TEXT AND PHOTOS BY STEVEN K. LEDIN
The ELCAN Specter

DR: 1x CQB dot or
4x ballistic reticle
at the flip of a lever.
Backup emergency
sights are included.
Anti-backlash springs
in the elevation and
azimuth mechanisms
permit flexibility but
always return the
sight to zero position.
ELCAN FROM A 1X CQB SIGHT TO A

MIDRANGE 4X SIGHT WITH
SPECTER DR THE FLIP OF A LEVER
1-4X DUAL T
he ELCAN Specter DR 1-4x is a switch-power
prism riflescope that looks like a love child
between Sigourney Weaver’s Alien and a
steampunk bullet train.
ROLE WEAPON
ELCAN is based out of Ontario, Canada, and is part
of the Precision Weapons division of $25 billion
technology juggernaut Raytheon. The Specter DR 1-4x
is in the inventory of most NATO countries and is
SIGHT
preferred by many users over the ACOG, Aimpoint or
EOTech weapon sighting systems.
The Specter DR 1-4x tested in this article is the recently

updated version with lighter weight, a lower-profile
12
illumination switch and a 50 percent increase in battery
life—due to the change to a CR2032 battery. The color THE SPECTER DR IS A
is Flat Dark Earth, and it has the 7.62 reticle. It is
VOLUPTUOUS, GO-FAST
submersible for two hours at 66 feet.
TANK OF AN OPTIC THAT
This riflescope came with a removeable kill-flash and The Specter DR 1-4x
allows room for most TAKES “DUAL ROLE” TO
excellent Tenebraex flip caps. A friend’s PTR 91 was a
fitting platform for this optic.
folding rear sights
and even the H&K- THE MOST COMPACT AND
INSTANT SWITCH CAPABILITY
style drum on this
PTR 91. SIMPLE LEVEL.
The most remarkable attribute of the Specter DR is the DR.
“DR” means “dual role.” That’s because you can instantly
switch from a 1x CQB sight to a midrange 4x sight with
the flip of a lever. No intermediate magnification settings
are available between those two magnifications.
Initially, such an attribute might seem a bit unsure and

hokey, but when you have the sight on your rifle and you
deploy the lever, you feel this is a well-made, quality
product that does what it is designed to do: play dual
roles—close and midrange.
The lever has a throw of about 2.5 inches and has a

spring-loaded lock on both ends of travel. Mechanically
unlock the lever by pushing down about 3/16 of an inch
and smoothly slide it in the opposite direction until it
locks into place. You can also accomplish this silently by
easing the lever into its place.
Looking into the objective of the scope while turning the

ATTRIBUTES
Another remarkable attribute of the Specter DR is
lever allows the unique view of the two prisms changing
that the elevation and windage controls are not in the
position. This is a second plane riflescope, and the reticle
scope body but outside of it. The sight’s mechanical
does not change sizes while switching magnifications.
adjustments are controlled by the elevation and azimuth
The reticle has its own place and is not related to the This optic “tank”
zeroing mechanisms in the A.R.M.S. mount itself. There
movement of the prisms. There is no change in impact, looks like Sigourney
Weaver’s Alien mated can be some movement when it gets banged around,
regardless of what power you are on. with a steampunk but the anti-backlash springs ensure the optic always
bullet train.
returns to zero. The overall appearance of the adjustment
mechanism is impressive in its simplicity and sturdiness
... and it looks like nothing else.
Clicks are listed at ½ MOA. The elevation wheel has a lock

on it that must be disengaged before attempting to rotate.
A bullet tip will do. There’s 60 MOA of adjustment available.
The 32mm lens allows for a gaping 8mm exit pupil,

providing as much light as a pupil can accept. Your
eye cannot see a brighter picture. Eye relief is truly a
constant 2.76 inches. No change in head position is
needed when switching from 1x to 4x. The optic lens
quality is excellent.
The reticle illumination with the CR2032 battery can

last up to 1,730 hours, and the large dial allows you to
use gloved hands to manipulate it. There are two reticle
13
SCOPE-EYE CHRONICLES
THE ELCAN SPECTER DR 1-4X IS A SWITCH-

POWER PRISM RIFLESCOPE THAT LOOKS
LIKE A LOVE CHILD BETWEEN SIGOURNEY
WEAVER’S ALIEN AND A STEAMPUNK
BULLET TRAIN.
The ELCAN Specter

DR 1-4x is battle-
proven and is in the
inventory of most
NATO militaries.
Nevertheless, the Specter DR is a voluptuous, go-fast tank of

an optic that takes “dual role” to the most compact and simple
level. It does dual role arguably better than an ACOG with
an RMR on top or an Aimpoint or EOTech with a flip-to-side
magnifier. It compares well to a low-magnification, variable-
powered riflescope, because when using one, you usually use
illumination modes to choose from. One is a red dot in the the highest and lowest powers of the optic only.
center of the crosshairs; the other is a range-estimating and
drop-compensation reticle. There are five brightness settings When you make that cost comparison, the street price of around
for the dot and five for the stadia line reticle. Two settings on $2,350 for the Specter DR 1-4 seems a bit more reasonable. GW
each are for use with night vision. The Specter DR was designed
for use with the AN/PVS-22 in mind.
ELCAN Specter
At 1x, the wide field of view and the illuminated dot are as fast
DR 1-4x
as any other 1x or reflex sight used with both eyes open. For SPECIFICATIONS
emergency defensive use or during severe rain, there is an
MAGNIFICATION: 1x or 4x
integrated front and rear sight on top of the optical housing (yep,
FIELD OF VIEW: 26 degrees @ 1x/6.5 degrees @ 4x
backup iron sights that can be replaced or slightly repositioned). OBJECTIVE DIAMETER: 32mm
The sights are parallel to the sight optical axis and do not EYE RELIEF: 2.76 inches
require separate zeroing. OPTICAL AXIS HEIGHT: 39mm
ZEROING RANGE: 60 MOA
WEIGHT: 23.6 ounces
The VSOR rangefinder in the lower left of your sight picture
DIMENSIONS: 6.8 L x 2.8 W x 2.8 H inches
allows you to estimate the distance of known targets. Match MSRP: $2,350
the lines to a known 30-inch target. Then, use the ballistically
compensated stadia lines in your reticle to aim. CONTACT INFORMATION
ARMAMENT TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED

OPTIC “TANK” (master distributors for ELCAN)
I wish the sight had an auto-off, and I would prefer it if the Armament.com
illumination positions had more-tactile and positive detents.
ABOUT Steven K. Ledin is a former U.S. Navy nuclear gunner’s mate and current
THE
director of a prominent online optics retailer. He’s a CCW and NRA instructor
and has been a sponsored competitive shooter and private investigator. He has
AUTHOR hunted (and gotten lost) from Alaska to Africa.
14
Fred Eichler
host of Predator Nation
LAR-15 FRED EICHLER SERIES

PREDATOR 2 FE1515GMG
with RRA Operator CAR Stock
MSRP: $1750*
RRA FRED EICHLER SERIES

Free Float Extended Handguard INTRODUCING THE
COLOR OPTIONS
LAR-15 FES PREDATOR 2
The food chain ends here with the new LAR-15
Fred Eichler Series Predator 2 rifle. Available in two
Gunmetal Tan
Gray finishes, this purpose-built LAR-15 will elevate you
(Shown)
to the ultimate predator.
EXCLUSIVE:
RRA Fred Eichler Series
Muzzle Brake
LAR-15 FES PREDATOR 2 QUICK SPECS: CALIBER: 5.56MM WYLDE CHAMBER FOR 5.56 & .223
WEIGHT: 7.6 POUNDS LENGTH: 35.5”
* Prices are subject to change. Optics and scope mount not included. VISIT: WWW.ROCKRIVERARMS.COM PERFORMANCE TUNED.
HUNT TEXT AND PHOTOS BY BRAD FITZPATRICK
FOUR SURE, THE 6.5 CREEDMOOR GARNERS A LOT

There are a number
of different .45-70
OF ATTENTION, BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER

loads from which
to choose in bullet
OVERLOOKED
weights varying from
225 to 500 grains.
From left: Hornady’s SUPERB HUNTING ROUNDS THAT DON’T GET
LEVERevolution 325
THE PRESS—OR RESPECT—THEY DESERVE.
RIFLE
grain; Winchester’s
W
405-grain Super-X
jacketed softpoint;
and ProGrade’s e were hunting on Greg Badgett’s west
405-grain lead bullet Texas ranch. A winter storm had locked
HUNTING
(this company is no
longer in business as the mountains and mesquite draws in a
of this writing). cloak of glistening ice.
CARTRIDGES
The cold weather seemed to have turned up the intensity on the
whitetail rut, and suddenly, we found ourselves center stage
as bucks appeared from every dark corner of the property and
16
Weatherby’s Kevin Nunes with a superb
Texas whitetail that was taken with a Mark THE .45-70
V rifle in .240 Weatherby Magnum. The
.240 Weatherby produces mild recoil but PRODUCED TWO
DEAD-RIGHT-THERE
devastating results on medium-sized game.
SHOTS. AND, BEST

OF ALL, THERE WAS
Hornady recently
added a 162-grain
.280 Ackley Improved
load to its Precision
Hunter line. This SO LITTLE MEAT
DAMAGE WITH
ammo comes with the
company’s excellent
ELD-X bullet and
pursued does across the frozen landscape all hours of the
day. I can’t recall ever being witness to such intense rutting
shoots very flat
without producing THE HORNADY
LEVEREVOLUTION
unpleasant recoil.
activity. Some of the younger bucks had simply gone stupid
BULLETS THAT
with lust, running blindly from one mesquite patch to another,
without any concern for our presence.
“Let’s try rattling,” Greg said. I thought that was a fine idea. I DON’T THINK I
And—no surprise—we saw a buck coming from 300 yards on
our very first setup. LOST MORE THAN A
As the deer dodged in and out of the icy clumps of cover, Greg POUND OF MEAT ON
leaned back and whispered, “Cull buck.” That also implied this
would be a good deer to harvest, and I was ready.
EITHER DEER.
I’m a huge fan of the .45-70, but it’s just one of the four
When the buck stepped into a clearing at 80 yards and major cartridges I believe don’t get nearly the respect they
stopped, I dropped the hammer on the Uberti .45-70 rifle I deserve. Here’s a look at three more rounds you should
was carrying and simultaneously dropped the buck. I don’t consider this hunting season.
recall ever seeing a deer go down with the finality with which
he collapsed—unless, perhaps, it was the trophy deer I shot .240 WEATHERBY MAGNUM
on Greg’s ranch two days later. The .240 Weatherby Magnum, like every other round that
bears that family’s name, is a scorcher. It’ll push a 100-grain
The .45-70 produced two dead-right-there shots. And, best bullet more than 3,400 fps, and it shoots laser-flat. But, unlike
of all, there was so little meat damage with the Hornady many of the other Weatherby rounds, it doesn’t produce heavy
LEVERevolution bullets that I don’t think I lost more than a recoil; and with a tough bullet, it will drop medium-sized
pound of meat on either deer. game with authority.
THE .45-70 I’ve shot these guns on the range and carried them on hunts,
The .45-70, a great, classic cartridge that originated in the but I’ve never had a chance to shoot any game with one. I
black powder era, was once carried by U.S. soldiers. If you’ve have, however, been on several hunts with other hunters who
grown up in the black gun/5.56 era (by now, that includes were carrying the round, and I’ve witnessed first-hand what
just about all of us), that might seem shocking, because the it will do to pronghorn, whitetails and hogs: What it does is
rimmed .45-70 fires bullets from 225 to 500 grains and travels produce clean, efficient kills without wrecking your shoulder.
at very modest velocities.
Before you start lambasting me for recommending a cartridge
However, as a whole slew of my native Ohioans are now that is only chambered in expensive rifles and costs a fortune
learning—the .45-70 is one of the centerfire rifle cartridges to shoot, understand that Weatherby now sells affordable
allowed for deer hunting in that state—the old warhorse Vanguard rifles in .240 and offers its Select 100-grain
is a death ray. For deer, black bear, elk, pigs and similarly softpoint load for about $40 a box, which is within the reach
sized game at moderate ranges, it’s an authoritative hunting of many hunters.
cartridge. In addition, with hot loads in a lever-action rifle,
it’s far better equipped to stop an angry grizzly than most Does it shoot flat? Of course. Weatherby data says that when
anything you can carry in a holster. sighted in at 3.6 inches high at 100 yards, the 100-grain Select
17
HUNT
Savage’s new 110

Hunter with Accufit .280 ACKLEY IMPROVED
load strikes 4.4 inches high at 200 yards; is dead nuts at 300 stock is just one of The Ackley Improved is based on the .280 Remington and
the new bolt guns
yards and is just 11.1 inches low at 400 yards. If you’re a chambered in .280 has an altered shoulder design that allows for more powder
Western deer and pronghorn hunter who occasionally shoots Ackley Improved. capacity. It’ll fire .280 Remington ammo in a pinch. However,
So chambered, this
coyotes, this is a superb choice. affordable and accurate Nosler, Hornady and other companies now offer factory .280 AI
rifle would be ideal loads, so it’s not strictly a hand-loader’s cartridge any longer.
for most any North
.25-06 REMINGTON American game.
Based on the .30-06 (hence, the name), and championed This round nips at the 7mm Remington Magnum’s heels, but it’s
by such notables as the great outdoors writer, Bob Milek, more efficient, produces less recoil and muzzle blast, and can
this quarter-bore is a stunningly effective and surprisingly be built in lighter rifles with shorter barrels. I’d consider it the
effective hunting round. ultimate mountain game cartridge—and I’m not alone in belief.
As with the .240 Weatherby, my love for the .25-06 came Hornady’s Neal Emery used a Kimber rifle chambered in .280
after watching what it could accomplish in the field. Good AI to take a really great mountain goat billy; and the .280 AI is
friend and fellow outdoor writer David Draper carried one on also perfectly suited for black bear, deer, elk, pronghorn and
an aoudad hunt. Secretly, I was a little shocked that David, exotics. It’s a flat-shooting round, to be sure: When zeroed
a seasoned hunter, chose such a light round for these ultra- at 200 yards, Nosler’s 140-grain Accubond load drops fewer
tough sheep. However, I ate crow when he shot a huge ram at than 6 inches at 300 yards and carries 2,000 foot-pounds of
200 yards and killed it quickly and cleanly. No .300 Magnum energy out past 300 yards.
could have been more effective.
Additionally, companies such as Montana Rifle, Savage and Kimber
On another occasion, a friend was guiding a client who had now offer factory rifles chambered for this utilitarian cartridge.
drawn a once-in-a-lifetime Idaho moose tag and was carrying
a .25-06 rifle. I thought this was “heresy” and voiced my If you’re looking for a single-bolt gun that’s good for all North
opinion—but I changed my tune when I learned that the .25-06 American hunting (short of grizzlies), and you don’t want to
had cleanly taken a huge north-Idaho bull with a single round pay a premium in terms of recoil and muzzle blast, the .280 AI
through the heart. should be on your short list. GW
Would I recommend the round for moose? Well, no ... but if

you’re one of the 12 million whitetail hunters in this country,
I’d recommend it as one of the best deer cartridges money can
buy. Plus, it produces light recoil, and there’s a wide selection
of really great hunting loads available for the .25-06. .25-06 ammo is
affordable and widely
available, and there
Hornady’s new Precision Hunter .25-06 110-grain ELD-X load is a variety of weights
has a muzzle velocity of 3,140 fps; and, when zeroed at 200 for hunting everything
from varmints to
yards, that round drops just 6 inches at 300 yards, offering medium-sized game.
magnum-level trajectories without magnum-level recoil. It’s Hornady’s 117-grain
American Whitetail
been overshadowed by the 6.5 Creedmoor of late, but this is a load is a great, budget-
round that deserves a lot of love. friendly load for deer.
ABOUT Brad Fitzpatrick is a full-time freelance writer based in Ohio. His works have appeared in
THE
several print and online publications, and he is the author of two books: The Shooter’s Bible
Guide to Concealed Carry and Handgun Buyer’s Guide 2015. He has hunted on four continents
AUTHOR and was a collegiate trap and skeet shooter before becoming a writer.
18
Artemis Armed TEXT BY BECKY YACKLEY PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAVAGE ARMS CANADA AND DEBBIE YALE
SAVAGE DEBBIE
A LIFELONG PASSION WAS
T
Debbie Yale (front, hirty-five years ago, Debbie Yale entered the
center) is passionate
firearms industry on the line at what was then
about building up
employees. Being Lakefield Arms in Ontario, Canada. She didn’t
SPARKED BY A 9-YEAR-OLD a supervisor who

can grow more
supervisors and build
know shooting, but she knew machines, and she
liked knowing how things worked. She had a
GIRL’S CURIOSITY ABOUT HOW

up employees for the background as a machine operator in the food industry.
benefit of the whole
company is key to
Debbie’s story. After seeing an ad for a machine operator at Lakefield, Debbie
HER BROTHERS’ GUNS WORKED, said, “I can do that!” Her can-do attitude is key to what has
been a successful career, leading to her current role as
LEADING TO A CAREER IN THE

production manager for Savage Arms’ Canadian plant.
EARLY START
MALE-DOMINATED GUN INDUSTRY. Debbie didn’t have a lot of experience with guns growing up,
but her brothers had a .22 rifle they used to shoot soda cans
20
off a fence. Her brothers never really wanted to clean it, and
she wanted to see how it worked, so they were more than HER CAN-DO ATTITUDE IS
willing to let little Debbie do the job. KEY TO WHAT HAS BEEN
Her mom joked that instead, the boys needed to teach her to A SUCCESSFUL CAREER,
be a lady; they told their mother that she could do that later. Mentorship and job LEADING TO HER CURRENT
ROLE AS PRODUCTION
rotation are two
She needed to learn how to fend for herself first.
components of life at
MANAGER FOR SAVAGE

Savage that create
No one could predict it, but her brothers’ actions played a role in a strong workforce.
ARMS’ CANADIAN PLANT .

Employees who can
whom she has become—a female leader in firearms industry. take over another job
and understand the
processes that come
When she began at Lakefield in 1984, that company made before or after their BUILDING THOSE DEDICATED EMPLOYEES
everything from barrels and receivers to stocks. This was before part in creating a How exactly does Savage build dedicated employees?
firearm give depth to
the days of CNC machines, so, Debbie’s first job—making the front Through high expectations and enthusiasm for the product, as
the skills housed in
of a rifle bolt—took 13 different steps on separate machines. their plant. well as sharing the wisdom of years in the job. While Savage
employs around 130 people at Debbie’s plant, there are six
supervisors (three of them women). And while the machines
and a desire to know how they work sparked Debbie’s passion,
the observation of the mechanics of relationships between
and among people is what’s taken her so far. She called the
Savage employees one of the company’s best assets and
knows that the people she has worked with as mentors over
the decades, who have taken notice and nurtured what they
saw in her, were instrumental to her success.
The mindset to hire with high expectations and to build

people—thereby to build a good product, which builds a
strong brand—are components of what seems to be the key
to Savage’s long-term standing in the industry.
Debbie has worn many hats while at Savage, including

making parts, fixing parts and working in the health and
safety department. All have contributed to the well-rounded
leader she is. She worked in the warranty department with a
gunsmith, further feeding her curiosity to know the “why” and
“how.” Her time as the head of her plant’s health and safety
After Debbie worked with bolts, she also worked with barrels department gave her perspective about how an employee’s
and developed a sense of the “old beasts” that some of the health affects their work (such as why things such as job
rifling machines can be. Learning about, and working with, rotation are essential—not only for a worker’s heath, but also
these tools that make the trade, she was brought into the for the growth and synchronicity of the plant).
position of lead hand in 1990.
Four years of lead hand led her to the position of shift

supervisor, then senior production supervisor and on to senior
supervisor in charge of both shifts. In 2001, Debbie became
manufacturing supervisor, and in 2013, she was promoted to
production manager for the entire plant.
She attributes her growth in her job to being curious, passionate

and having had good mentors. She remarked that she was
promoted by three different people; she feels that was an indicator Debbie Yale (left)
stands next to her
that they saw something in her worth promoting. (In fact, hearing mentor of 34 years,
about Savage’s job fairs and job rotation program leaves me Dave Myles, director
of manufacturing
thinking there is something to the ethos at Savage that is about the at Savage Arms
business of hiring and building dedicated employees.) Canada Inc.
21
Artemis Armed
SHE ATTRIBUTES
HER GROWTH
IN HER JOB TO
BEING CURIOUS,
PASSIONATE
AND HAVING HAD
GOOD MENTORS.
comes down to the need they have to feel invested in what they
do; to feel connected. And when people feel as if they belong,
they do their best work and strive to be better and grow.
PEOPLE PERSON A company’s growth Debbie wasn’t sure she was much of a story, but quietly
requires building
Debbie cites a few things as keys to building a solid production from what it has to building up others and continuing that ethos of curiosity and
line: The teamwork involved in building employees through something more. passion have helped her achieve growth and success that
While assets and
mentoring and the desire to see happy employees working machinery are part could only come from being connected to those with whom
safely are all integral. of growth, the real she works and surrounds herself. Debbie’s recipe for success
tools are the people
who comprise that
comprises believing in her own dreams and what she is
She oversees workers who have been doing their jobs for 27 company’s “machine.” passionate about combined with the belief in the dreams of
years but are willing to learn something new—and that builds Growing good people those around her and helping them find their passion.
is part of what it
their strengths. It is a chance for cross-training and seeing your takes to succeed in
job or a fellow employee through new eyes. The decades of building a company For Savage, that seems to be a great style of leadership and
that can run like a
a current employee’s experience can shape a new employee, machine. something no paycheck could purchase. In an industry that’s
and a new employee can offer perspective to someone who not predominantly female, this nurturing leadership style
remembers that love of seeing how things work—that natural might be something worth investigating. GW
curiosity. This sounds to me much like a family, and it’s been a
“recipe” for a great career and a productive plant.
Debbie attributes her growth to being skilled, wanting to see

how things work, loving her job and loving people. She said
she’s never observed a male-versus-female atmosphere
since she’s been at Savage. Perhaps that’s a great example
for the firearms industry. Women can be just as strong as
men on the machining and “how-things-work” side of the
industry. The passion for what they do makes them great
employees and leaders.
During our phone interview, I was impressed with Debbie’s

humble nature, but that is just part of who she is; her connection
Debbie Yale with
to the people around her is real. It reminded me that one way the first firearm she
people come to believe in something or “buy into” any idea ever shot
ABOUT Author Becky Yackley competes in action shooting (3 Gun, USPSA, Bianchi and IPSC)
THE
with her husband and three sons. When she isn’t shooting matches or writing, she
is busy with her camera. Becky is the founder of the 2A Heritage Junior shooting
AUTHOR camps and works in social media for several firearms industry companies.
22
GLASS SHATTERS.
WHAT’S YOUR NEXT MOVE?
Folding pistol brace

also available
NEW
DANIELDEFENSE.COM
gun world TEXT AND PHOTOS BY PATRICK MEITIN
6.5
GRENDEL
VERSUS 6.8
REMINGTON
SPC
NO TWO CARTRIDGES
HAVE ELEVATED
ENERGY DELIVERY
FROM AR-15
PLATFORMS LIKE THE
6.5 GRENDEL AND 6.8
REMINGTON SPC. BUT
DOES ONE DELIVER A
DECISIVE EDGE OVER
THE OTHER?
24
T
he 6.5mm
Grendel
and 6.8mm
Remington
SPC were
inspired independently
while seeking terminal
knockdown surpassing .223
Remington/5.56mm NATO
performance within the
wildly popular AR-15.
Shooting either the 6.5 Grendel

or 6.8 Remington SPC from
AR-15 rifles is a pleasant
experience, because they
both offer easy accuracy
and only slightly more
recoil than standard .223
Remington/5.56mm AR rounds.
25
gun world
Both cartridges are very successful, providing ballistic For test rifles, the The Grendel proved ballistically superior to the .223/5.56mm
performance dead center of the .223 Remington/5.56mm author used an and .308/7.62mm NATO at longer ranges due to superior
Alexander Arms AWS
NATO in AR-15 and .308 Winchester/7.62mm NATO in AR-10 in 6.5 Grendel (top) ballistic coefficients. For instance, the Grendel demonstrates
rifles. Converting an existing .223/5.56mm AR-15 to either and custom-built AR- better armor penetration with 123-grain bullets at 1,000
15 in 6.8 Remington
cartridge involves swapping barrels, bolts and magazines or
THE 6.5MM GRENDEL

SPC (bottom).
simply exchanging complete uppers. Both cartridges
demonstrated
These two cartridges were developed in 2002. The gun world

excellent accuracy
potential using AND 6.8MM
REMINGTON SPC
has been arguing the relative merits of these groundbreaking factory ammo.
cartridges ever since. It seems gun loonies can’t talk about

one without mentioning the other.
WERE INSPIRED
Naturally, as gun nuts are wont to do, the Ford-versus-Chevy-
INDEPENDENTLY
WHILE SEEKING
style debates often become heated. Both cartridges have
inspired dedicated websites.
Nevertheless, is one significantly better than the other? Let’s TERMINAL

unpack the details for an objective look into the answer.
KNOCKDOWN
6.5 GRENDEL SURPASSING .223
The 6.5 Grendel is the brainchild of Bill Alexander—former
British Ministry of Defense contractor and current Alexander REMINGTON/5.56MM
Arms owner—while “looking for something with more legs;
something you could hunt whitetails with.” With assistance from
NATO PERFORMANCE
competition shooter Arne Brennan and Lapua engineer Janne WITHIN THE WILDLY
Pohjoispaa, the cartridge gained traction and was unveiled at
the North Carolina Blackwater Training Facility in 2003. POPULAR AR-15.
26
meters than the 7.62mm NATO with 147 grains and remains The tightest group
supersonic past 1,200 yards. Since its unveiling, the Grendel assembled while
shooting 6.5 Grendel
has provided benchrest accuracy, extreme efficiency and factory ammunition
hunting versatility from 200 to 800 yards—ranges far beyond was printed with
Alexander Arm’s
those previously gained from AR platforms. 123-grain Lapua
Scenar bullets. The
five-shot, 100-yard
The Grendel drew from the 6mm PPC case developed by Dr. group measured .41
Lou Palmisano and Ferris Pindell in the 1970s for benchrest inch and was shot
shooting. It retains an AR-15-compatible 2.260-inch OAL, in breezy winter
conditions.
includes a .439-inch head diameter, the 30-degree shoulder
is moved forward to increase powder capacity, and cases
are necked to accept .264-caliber bullets. The Grendel holds
small rifle primers, and neck/shoulder areas are thickened to
improve durability during semiauto cycling.
The Grendel has evolved into one of the most versatile,

commercially available cartridges chambered in the AR-15
platform. It handles light bullets for varmints/predators and
heavier pills for deer and hogs through a 1:9- to 1:7.5-inch rifling
twist. The Grendel isn’t finicky; it provides low extreme velocity
spreads of 10 to 25 fps. It propels 90-grain bullets to 2,900 fps
and 130-grain pills to 2,500 fps while exhibiting 50 percent less
recoil than 7.62mm NATO M80 ball ammo. As a rule, the Grendel
sacrifices about 10 fps for every grain of bullet weight added.
Early on, the Grendel remained a trademark cartridge, limiting

availability to Alexander Arms rifles and ammo. In 2010,
The 6.5 Grendel factory ammunition tested here includes loads from
many makers (left to right): American Eagle Varmint & Predator
90-grain TNT; Alexander Arms (AA) with Nosler 120-grain Ballistic Tip;
AA with Barnes 120-grain TSX; Federal Fusion MSR 120-grain SP;
American Eagle 120-grain Open Tip Match; Hornady Custom 123-grain
SST; AA with Lapua 123-grain Scenar; Hornady Black 123-grain ELD
Match; Hornady Custom 129-grain SST; Federal Premium Gold Metal
with 130-grain Berger Match; and AA with 130-grain Swift Scirocco.
27
gun world
Hornady Manufacturing Company obtained licensing to produce
ammunition, brass and dies. Alexander released its trademark
in 2011, and the Grendel was adopted by the Sporting Arms &
Ammo Manufacturing Institute (SAMMI) in 2012.
6.8 REMINGTON SPC

The 6.8 Remington SPC (special-purpose cartridge) was
created specifically for military applications. It was
developed by Remington in collaboration with members of
the 5th Special Forces Group, U.S. Army Special Operations
Command. The goal was to improve on 5.56mm NATO lethality
from the M4 carbine (16-inch barrel) in response to reports
that 5.56mm rounds had proven unreliable at incapacitating
This was once a proprietary cartridge loaded only by

Alexander Arms. Since its trademark was released,
the cartridge has become quite popular and is loaded
THE GRENDEL HAS The 6.5 Grendel— by a wide variety of manufacturers in an assortment
chambered in an of bullet weights.
EVOLVED INTO ONE OF

Alexander Arms
AWS—proved
THE MOST VERSATILE,

capable of excellent
accuracy, assembling
five five-shot groups
COMMERCIALLY of under an inch

at 100 yards on a
AVAILABLE CARTRIDGES breezy winter day.
CHAMBERED IN THE
AR-15 PLATFORM.
28
enemy combatants in the field—while also providing minimal A custom-built AR-15
in 6.8 Remington
magazine capacity loss and nominal recoil increases.
SPC proved its
accuracy potential
The 6.8mm caliber was chosen to split the difference between while shooting
several brands and
6.5mm accuracy and 7mm terminal performance. It was makes of factory
originally planned to propel 115-grain bullets at 2,800 fps with ammunition, posting
four five-shot, 100-
2,002 foot-pounds of energy; those numbers were adjusted to yard groups that
2,625 fps/1,759 foot-pounds before SAAMI approval in 2004. printed under an
inch in breezy winter
By that time, 6.8s were performing in the field against enemy
conditions.
combatants during special operations.
Cases with both large and small rifle primers are

encountered—for example, Remington cases holding large
rifle, Hornady and SSA cases small rifle. The 6.8 SPC is TO EACH ITS OWN
based on the .30 Remington and produces about 44 percent I’ve shot 6.5 Grendel and 6.8 Remington SPC ARs extensively.
more energy than the 5.56mm at 100 to 300 meters. It was Each delivers on initial objectives, yet each remains
specifically designed for efficiency in short barrels, so unique. Neither cartridge does its best work with heavier
increasing barrel length beyond 16 inches provides only .264-/.277-caliber bullets, because rears intrude into powder
nominal velocity gains. space. The 6.5 Grendel strikes an optimum balance at 100 to
123 grains, with the 6.8 SPC around 115 grains. Both hold 25
By 2007, U.S. SOCOM and the Marine Corps decided rounds in 5.56mm/30-round-length magazines. And both are
not to field the 6.8mm, because its comparatively short relatively slow to heat barrels.
bullets lacked long-range effectiveness. Nonetheless, the
Jordanian Army adopted the 6.8mm in 2010, and the Saudi Pitted head to head (with the Grendel shooting 123-grain and
Royal Guard ordered 6.8s in LWRC Six8 rifles soon after. the SPC shooting 120-grain Hornady SST bullets. Refer to the
GW-1807-Rangerproof
You’ll Swag
encounter 6.8mm rifles 4/20/18
with 8:49 AM
rifling twists fromPage
1:9.51 ballistics sidebar on page 32), the Grendel leaves the blocks at
to 1:12, with 1:11 most common. 2,350 fps and the SPC at 2,460 fps, with the former producing
gun world
I detect no noteworthy difference in cost per round, but the
SPC seems to be the more popular cartridge—based solely
on availability of factory ammunition. I found 16 6.5 Grendel
loads from five manufacturers, versus 24 6.8 SPC loads from
seven makers. Grendel loads range from 90 to 130 grains. The
lightest bullets loaded in 6.8 factory ammo are 85- to 90-grain
pills, with 110- to 115-grain bullets representing the majority
and a 120-grain bullet the heaviest bullet currently loaded for
the 6.8. (See the sidebar on page 33).
IN THE FIELD
My only field experience with 6.5 Grendel and 6.8 Remington
SPC rifles involve dark nights and thermal imaging scopes.
If you’ve employed thermal imaging technology, you
understand paper sight-in is tricky, at best—providing
little indication of a rifle’s inherent accuracy. As a result, I
temporarily set the thermal imagers aside and mounted
1,508 foot-pounds of energy to the latter’s 1,612. At the muzzle, While test-firing matching Pentax GameSeeker 4-12x40mm scopes to print
6.8 Remington
the 6.8 SPC is faster and has more energy than the Grendel. At SPC rounds for groups using factory rounds (the sidebar on page 33 includes
average 50- to 200-yard hunting ranges, big-game animals will accuracy with the performance results).
factory ammunition,
notice zero difference. Past 250 yards, the Grendel, via higher
the author ran 14
BCs, steps ahead slightly, posting slightly higher velocities different loads. Each Thermal imaging entered the equation because a friend from
and slightly less bullet drop and wind drift. By 500 yards, the one proved more than
West Texas was experiencing hog depredation on his deer-
accurate enough for
Grendel takes a decisive lead, outpacing the 6.8 SPC by 100 fps hunting applications,
and losing 6 fewer inches to drift in 10 mph crosswinds. By 750 while four loads
printed under an inch
yards—and especially 1,000—the 6.5 Grendel leaves the 6.8 in five-shot, 100-yard
SPC in the rearview in all ways that matter. groups.
The Grendel typically gains 20 fps for every inch of barrel

added. The SPC, as mentioned, gains minimal velocity as The Federal Premium
Fusion MSR is a
barrel length is increased. The Grendel is the better long- great hunting load. It
range cartridge, offering reliable accuracy at 500 to 750-plus performed well in the
6.5 Grendel and was
yards. The 6.8 offers more-lethal terminal impact at closer the best performer in
ranges but remains, at best, a 300- to 400-yard round. the 6.8 SPC.
The 6.8 Remington SPC ammo test included (left to right): SSA by Nosler 85-grain E-Tip; American Eagle Varmint & Predator 90-grain TNT
JHP; Federal Fusion MSR 90-grain SP; SSA 90-grain BSB; Hornady Full Boar 100-grain GMX; SSA 100-grain Spitzer; Hornady Black 100-grain
V-Max; Hornady American Gunner 110-grain BTHP; SSA 110-grain AccuBond; Federal Fusion MSR 115-grain SP; American Eagle 115-grain FMJ;
Remington Rifle 115-grain Open Tip Match; SSA 115-grain Nosler Custom Competition; and Hornady Custom 120-grain SST.
30
During group testing, hunting properties. We thinned the less-educated hogs with
the author ran many
6.8 Remington SPC .223 ARs during daylight hours, but this had the same effect as
brands and loads the old joke about sending 1,000 politicians to the bottom of the
through the paces.
sea: Hogs, especially pressured hogs, are vampire-ish by nature.
With the author’s
rifle, the best
five-shot, 100-yard Nighttime hunting offered a solution. While .223s—
group resulted from
Federal Fusion MSR fed handloaded, controlled-expansion bullets—proved
115-grain softpoint— adequate during daylight hours, darkness added new
a cluster measuring
.42 inch. dimensions. For starters, nighttime hands-and-knees
tracking through thick Texas underbrush doesn’t fit
into a healthy lifestyle approach! We needed additional
knockdown but preferred ARs for multi-target scenarios
AT THE MUZZLE, THE Heavy-for-caliber bullets are what you want while tackling wild
6.8 SPC IS FASTER AND boars during nighttime hours. Hornady’s 129-grain SST proved
up to the task, anchoring even large boars with authority—thus
HAS MORE ENERGY

avoiding the need to track them in thick brush.
THAN THE GRENDEL.

AT AVERAGE 50- TO
200-YARD HUNTING
RANGES, BIG-GAME
ANIMALS WILL NOTICE
ZERO DIFFERENCE.
31
gun world
Ballistics Chart
Range Drop Velocity Energy Wind Drift
(yards) (inches) (fps) (ft-lbs) (inches)
6.5 6.8 6.5 6.8 6.5 6.8 6.5 6.8
0 -2.6 -2.6 2,350 2,460 1,508 1,612 N/A N/A
250 -10.1 -9.4 1,959 1,955 1,048 1,018 5.4 6.6
500 -75.0 -74.4 1,613 1,524 710 619 23.6 29.5
750 -225 -235 1,324 1,196 479 381 58.0 74.2
1,000 -299 -548 1,116 1,008 340 271 111 142
NOTES: The 6.5 Grendel shot Hornady SST 123-grain bullets; the 6.8
Remington SPC shot Hornady SST 120-grain bullets. Velocity was an average
of five shots measured using a ProChrony at 10 feet in front of the muzzle.
An AR-15, whether and accompanying Picatinny rails for attaching handy

in 6.5 Grendel or 6.8
gadgets such as weapon lights/lasers. The Grendel and SPC
SPC, makes an ideal
platform for nighttime provided the wallop while maximizing handling ease and
hog-shooting minimizing the shoulder abuse baked into AR-10s.
pursuits. Picatinny
rails not only allow
the addition of deadly My initial experience with Alexander’s AWS 6.5 Grendel is
thermal imaging
scopes, they also illustrative. I’d slipped within 90 yards of a mixed herd during
allow for weapon black night. The Grendel was loaded with 129-grain Hornady
lights (to avoid cactus
SST loads that Alexander offers.
and rattlers), as well
CONTACT INFORMATION as lasers for point-
blank finishing shots. I found the largest boar through the Trijicon IR-Hunter and
ALEXANDER ARMS touched off. He rolled over, anchored, while his cohorts headed
AlexanderArms.com for the exits. I swung on another big boar, shooting behind him
by feet (noted via the bullet-friction heat signature), pushing
DOUBLETAP AMMO
DoubleTapAmmo.com to his nose and rolling him like a head-shot rabbit.
FEDERAL PREMIUM AMMUNITION I heard grunting approaching from behind, so I spun in time
FederalPremium.com to see a string of sizeable hogs bearing down and only feet
away. I shot into the ground in front of them, turning them
HORNADY MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Hornady.com on a more useful trajectory. I allowed them some ground
while swinging with the largest hog’s nose. I squeezed and
PENTAX SPORT OPTICS/RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORP. watched another dust-boiling wipeout. None of those hogs
US.Ricoh-Imaging.com/sportsoptics so much as kicked after impact. The largest weighed more
than 350 pounds.
PPU/PRVI PARTIZAN
PPU-USA.com
Performance proved similar with a custom-build 6.8 SPC that
REMINGTON AMMUNITION delivered 120-grain SST Hornady Custom rounds.
Remington.com
So, is one round superior to the other? That depends largely
SELLIER & BELLOT
SellierBellot.us on your goals and the conditions at hand: long-range accuracy
versus close-range brute force.
SSA BY NOSLER INC.
Nosler.com For average shooters—whether these rounds are used for
home defense or hunting—shooting at average ranges, there
TRIJICON, INC.
Trijicon.com isn’t a nickel’s worth of difference. The 6.5 Grendel and 6.8
Remington SPC both remain revolutionary cartridges. GW
32
Ammunition
Performance Results
6.5 GRENDEL Velocity Group Size
(Alexander Arms AWS, 20-inch/barrel rifling: 1:9 twist) (fps) (inches)
American Eagle 90-grain TNT JHP 3,023 0.85
Federal Fusion MSR 120 grain 2,615 1.07
American Eagle 120-grain Open Tip Match 2,618 0.60
Alexander Arms 120-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip 2,526 0.49
Alexander Arms 120-grain Barnes TSX 2,550 0.89
Hornady Black 123-grain Hornady ELD-M 2,593 0.63
Hornady Custom 123-grain Hornady SST 2,580 0.52
Alexander Arms 123-grain Lapua Scenar* 2,565 0.41
Alexander Arms 129-grain Hornady SST 2,391 0.56
Alexander Arms 130-grain Swift Scirocco 2,352 1.38
Federal Premium Gold Metal Berger 130-grain OTM 2,398 0.74
* Best group with this rifle
6.8 REMINGTON SPC Velocity Group Size

(SAA upper, 16.5-inch BHW/barrel rifling: 1:11 twist) (fps) (inches)
SSA by Nosler 85-grain E-Tip 2,941 1.43
American Eagle 90-grain TNT JHP 2,983 0.47
SSA by Nosler 90-grain BSB 2,839 0.88
Federal Fusion MSR 90-grain MSR 2,869 0.94
Hornady Full Boar 100-grain GMX 2,551 1.79
SSA by Nosler 100-grain AccuBond 2,695 0.60
Hornady American Gunner 110-grain BTHP 2,574 1.14
Hornady Black 100-grain V-Max 2,489 1.25
SSA by Nosler 115-grain Custom Competition 2,590 0.76
Remington 115-grain OTM 2,663 1.15
SSA by Nosler 115-grain Spitzer 2,721 0.90
Federal Fusion MSR 115 grain* 2,459 0.42
American Eagle 115-grain FMJ 2,463 1.40
Hornady Custom 120-grain SST 2,447 1.42
* Best group with this rifle
NOTES: Group sizes were five shots and were measured at 100 yards.
33
gun world
ACROSS THE
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY RICHARD SCHUTZ
THE TAURUS SPECTRUM .380 COMES IN JUST ABOUT ANY COLOR IN THE
SPECTRUM, BUT IT’S MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE.
34
SPECTRUM
T
he newly released Taurus Spectrum is both small
and ergonomic, but most will see it as a colorful
extension of their personalities (although many of
us would just order it in black frame, black slide
and black soft-touch inserts). I suspect that the
colorful aspect of the Spectrum will be appreciated mostly by
A partial spectrum
of Taurus Spectrums
the younger generation and female shooters.
in black/black/FDE,
gray/black/mint and Looking at the graceful lines of the Spectrum might lead
white/matte-stainless/
cyan (Photo: Camilo one to believe it was designed by a car designer rather
Velasquez, Taurus Intl.) than a firearms engineer. Its ergonomics and ability to be
easily concealed will be appreciated by all but those with
very large hands.
35
gun world
The right side of

this all-black Taurus
Spectrum shows the
large ejection port
and large external
extractor designed
to help eliminate
ejection problems.
IT WOULD BE
EASY—BUT A GROSS
OVERSIGHT—TO
LOOK AT THE TAURUS
WHAT IS THE SPECTRUM ALL ABOUT?
SPECTRUM AND
SEE ONLY A NICE-
It would be easy—but a gross oversight—to look at the
Taurus Spectrum and see only a nice-looking, micro-compact
pistol available in a full palette of colors. To be certain, it is
that, but it also has ergonomics and design features not found LOOKING, MICRO-
combined in other similarly sized pistols.
COMPACT PISTOL
The smooth, rounded design of the Spectrum creates a snag-
AVAILABLE IN A FULL
PALETTE OF COLORS.
free pistol for a rapid draw and a slow, smooth reentry into the
holster. This is more than standard “melting” or “de-horning,”
whereby a squared-off design is modified to make it smooth.
The Spectrum is designed from the outset for ease of handling TO BE CERTAIN, IT IS
with a smooth draw and re-holstering.
THAT, BUT IT ALSO
Most pistol manufacturers tout their slide serrations for a HAS ERGONOMICS
AND DESIGN
secure grip to enable easier slide-racking and performing
press checks. With the Spectrum, Taurus focuses instead
on the basic design of the slide by providing relief cuts
in each side of the slide. These start with a narrow cut
This top view of the FEATURES NOT
FOUND COMBINED IN
Spectrum with the
approximately one-third of the way back from the muzzle slide forward shows
the notch and post
OTHER SIMILARLY
end and widen as they progress toward the rear of the slide.
sights.
This design guides your thumb and forefinger back to the
soft-touch panels found at the rear of the slide, where you
would usually find slide serrations. SIZED PISTOLS.
36
Other pistol manufacturers also feature various types of grip- The view of the The Taurus Spectrum, with
checkering or texturing to provide a secure and slip-free Spectrum from the white frame, matte-stainless
top with the slide slide and cyan soft-touch
grip on the pistol. Taurus engineers designed the Spectrum’s retracted shows the panels (Photo: Camilo
grip frame with a small relief at the tang and a tapered relief red follower of the Velasquez, Taurus Intl.)
magazine through
leading to the rear of the trigger guard that forms a small shelf the ejection port. You
for the thumb and trigger finger to rest on. Soft-touch grip can also see how
small the slide lock
panels are also molded into the rear of the grip (including the lever is.
tang), the sides and the front strap to help provide a secure
grasp on the pistol. The extended magazine does not have
soft-touch material on the finger rest.
Another area in which the Spectrum stands apart from most

of its competition is the double-action-only (DAO) trigger.
The striker is not fully or even partially pre-cocked when the
slide retracts under recoil. Pulling the trigger fully retracts
the striker, depresses the striker block and then releases the
striker. The trigger pull is longer and heavier than on most
striker-fired micro-pistols but is very smooth.
The trigger does “stack” as it passes the midpoint of the pull.

After shooting a regular striker-fired pistol for a while, it will
take a bit of practice to remember to release the Spectrum’s
trigger completely before pulling it for a follow-up shot. Given
the far-forward position of the trigger while at rest, as well as The Taurus Spectrum,
in gray/black/mint
the rounded trigger guard, there isn’t a lot of room for your (Photo: Camilo
finger on the trigger. Forget about wearing gloves unless you Velasquez, Taurus
have a small-diameter trigger finger and very thin gloves. Intl.)
The retracted slide

of the Spectrum
shows the tilting
barrel design. Note
the small slide lock
lever.
37
gun world
The field-stripped
Spectrum shows
the underside of
the slide, barrel,
recoil rod and the
noncaptured recoil
spring.
Takedown is simple, and it is not necessary to pull the

trigger. First, remove the magazine and make sure the
pistol is unloaded. With the slide in the forward position,
This trigger design also gives the shooter re-strike capability. turn the takedown pin counterclockwise 90 degrees using a
Tactically speaking, however, it is best to perform a “tap, rack, screwdriver or the rim of a .380 Auto case (9mm cases work
bang” immediate-action maneuver rather than pull the trigger fine too). The slide is then released and will slide off the front
a second time in the hope that the recalcitrant round will fire. of the frame. The recoil rod, spring and barrel can then be
removed from the slide.
Finally, the Spectrum is available in a wide variety of colors
and color combinations. The initial production pistols are Reassembly is in reverse order, but it is not necessary to
similar to the original Model T Ford: You can have any color rotate the locking pin back into position. When the slide is
you want ... as long as it is black. I’m sure this simplified installed and is slid completely to the rear, the locking pin
the production process as Taurus moved from building will rotate into position on its own. Just verify that it is in the
prototypes to production. Once all the kinks are worked vertical position after reassembly.
out of the production process and the supply chain—and
probably by the time you read this—multiple colors and color The only safeties are the very long trigger pull and the striker
combinations will be available. block. Due to its weight and long pull, I doubt anyone will pull
the trigger inadvertently. There is no trigger safety or drop
All told, there will be three frame colors (black, white or gray); safety as are found on many striker-fired pistols.
two slide choices (black or matte-stainless); and 20 overmold
colors, for a total of 120 possible combinations. There are The magazine release is easily reversible for southpaw shooters:
eight standard offerings, three house combinations and Just reach into the magazine well with a pick or needle-nose
potentially 111 other color combinations. Some of these other pliers, unhook the spring, reverse the release button and
color combinations are unique to specific distributors. reinstall the spring. The slide lock works in conjunction with
the magazine follower to lock the slide back after the last round
INNER AND OUTER WORKINGS is fired. It is quite small, however, and it is difficult to depress
The semiautomatic Spectrum operates using a locked The underside of the and release the slide with a magazine inserted.
breech, as do most modern centerfire handguns, rather slide assembly shows
the striker, striker
than the blowback operation found on older .380 ACP- spring and striker Sights are a subjective item. Some will say they aren’t even
chambered pistols. The slide, barrel and recoil spring block (protruding up relevant on a short-barrel defensive pistol. Others insist that good
out of the bottom of
assembly look very similar to those found on a Glock or sights are necessary on any firearm, no matter how big or small. To
the lower-rear left
M&P striker-fired pistol. side of the slide). say that the notch rear sight and post front sight on the Spectrum
38
are minimalist is being kind. They exist, but unless the lighting
and contrast are just right, they are of limited use. The front sight IF YOU ARE IN THE
pretty much disappears into the target area unless there is a lot
of contrast. During the accuracy evaluation, I was able to choose
MARKET FOR A
the target and make sure there was good lighting, so I was able to .380 ACP MICRO-
have fairly good holds on all shots fired. In a gunfight, however, you
don’t get to choose the color of the target or the lighting conditions.
This shooter’s-
eye view of the COMPACT PISTOL AND
ARE CONSIDERING
Spectrum’s sights
I think the sights on the Spectrum would be greatly improved with makes them look
a contrasting-color front sight or a rugged fiber-optic insert. I don’t
PISTOLS SUCH AS
larger and clearer
than they really are.
believe the use of removable or adjustable sights is warranted,
however; integral night sights, maybe.
THE GLOCK 42, S&W
FUNCTION AND ACCURACY
M&P BODYGUARD,
RUGER LCP II OR THE
Due to the small size and 4-inch sight radius of the Spectrum,
I wasn’t expecting much in the accuracy department. I was
more concerned with function testing than accuracy.
NEW SPRINGFIELD
I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. While you’ll never
ARMORY 911, ALSO
CONSIDER THE
see anyone shooting a Spectrum in bullseye competition, it
shot quite well at 15 yards.
Hornady American Gunner 90-grain XTP ammunition SPECTRUM. THEY ARE

performed the best in this evaluation, with a three five-shot
ALL VERY SIMILAR IN
CAPACITY, SIZE AND
group average of 2.58 inches and a smallest group size of
2.32 inches. Federal Premium 99-grain HST JHP ammunition
came in second, with a three five-shot group average of 2.82
inches. The smallest five-shot group fired was 1.80 inches WEIGHT.
using PMC 90-grain FMJ ammunition.
The only function issues I encountered were with Blazer

95-grain TMJ (#3505) aluminum case ammunition. Two rounds
failed to chamber properly, and two other rounds failed to fire.
The two failure-to-chamber rounds jammed into the top of the
mouth of the chamber. The two failure-to-fire rounds were both
struck by the striker with a decent, but not hard, strike. I believe
they should have fired, but they did not. They both fired when
re-chambered and struck a second time. I have not experienced
failure-to-fire issues with this ammunition in the past.
The relief cut behind

the trigger guard
(on both sides of
the frame) provides
a shelf to guide the
thumb or trigger
finger into position.
The relief cuts on
both sides of the
slide guide the thumb
and forefinger to the
soft-touch panels for
racking the slide.
39
gun world
HOLSTERS
DeSantis Gunhide’s DeSantis Tuck-This II is a good, all-around
IWB holster for the Taurus Spectrum with a spare magazine.
It is built from padded black ballistic nylon and is lined with
slick pack cloth. The pants clip can be moved from one side
An excellent option
for carrying the
micro-compact
Spectrum: in a
pocket using
the DeSantis
Gunhide Super
to the other to allow for both cross draw and strong-side
Fly holster. This
carry. The pants clip also allows the shirt to be tucked down inside look shows
in between the gun and trousers for better concealment. A the Nemesis-style
pocket that holds
magazine pouch is built into the front holster spine. I find the
the Spectrum with
Tuck-This II to be a comfortable and flexible IWB holster. It will the wallet disguise
also fit other similarly sized pistols. MSRP: $44 flap in back.
CROSSBREED HOLSTERS The DeSantis Gunhide

CrossBreed offers several holsters (SuperTuck/MiniTuck/ Tuck-This II is
ambidextrous, so an
Appendix Carry/Mini Appendix Carry/Freedom Carry) for attachment point for
inside-the-waistband carry of the Spectrum. I used a the belt clip is located
on both sides of the
Designer Series MiniTuck with a horsehide backing. This holster. This is a
is a very nice holster, and you can count on your pistol flexible, comfortable
and inexpensive
being there when you need it. CrossBreed uses a leather
holster for the
or horsehide backing with a molded Kydex pocket that Spectrum.
guarantees a secure fit for the gun. The belt clips can
be adjusted for cant and ride height. MSRP: $65–$98
CrossBreed has
(depending upon style and backing material) several models of IWB
holsters available for
the Spectrum. Here,
CONCEALED CARRY the Spectrum fits
nicely in the Designer
Micro-compact pistols have some drawbacks, but being Series MiniTuck with
difficult to conceal, wearing even light clothing, is not one horsehide liner.
of them. My favorite place to carry a pistol the size of the
Spectrum is in my front pants pocket using a DeSantis SuperFly
holster. I do realize, however, that tactically speaking, it is
not the best method of carry. For concealment with normal
clothing and accessibility, an IWB holster is normally the best
way to carry. With the proper clothing—which is not always
possible—an OWB holster is even better.
I didn’t carry the Spectrum a lot during this evaluation; but

when I did, I used either a DeSantis Gunhide Tuck-This II
ambidextrous IWB holster or a CrossBreed Designer Series
MiniTuck with horsehide-backing IWB holster. Both worked
well, but the CrossBreed, with its large horsehide backing,
just seemed a bit much for such a small pistol. The basic
Tuck-This II seemed to be a better match for the Spectrum.
Once I got over my preconceived ideas about the Spectrum

and its minimalist sights, I found the Spectrum a very
credible EDC micro-compact pistol. Some will dismiss it
40
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gun world
immediately—as they would any .380 Auto pistol or any
micro-compact pistol with just seven-plus-one shot capacity. Performance
For others, it might be exactly what they are looking for.
Results
I believe Taurus might have just carved out a nice, little niche Ammunition Avg. Velocity Sm. Group Avg. Group
market for itself. Again, I think the Spectrum’s main draw will (fps) E.S. S.D. (inches) (inches)
be younger shooters and females looking for a micro-compact
EDC pistol. Traditional shooters who consider it will probably Hornady American Gunner 90-grain XTP 896 67 23.0 2.32 2.58
limit their colors to black, gray and stainless. Some might want
Federal Premium 99-grain HST JHP 927 45 14.1 2.10 2.82
several Spectrums in different colors for various occasions or
outfits. Give the price, that wouldn’t be out of the question! Remington UMC 95-grain MC 812 57 19.0 3.04 3.36
Inceptor ARX 56 grains 1,171 79 24.0 2.48 3.49
Taurus PMC 380A 90-grain FMJ 853 106 29.7 1.80 3.65
Spectrum NOTES: Velocity is the average of 10 consecutive shots as measured and

SPECIFICATIONS calculated by a LabRadar device. Group sizes are for three five-shot groups
fired at 15 yards. Sm. Group = the smallest of the three groups fired. Avg.
CARTRIDGE: .380 ACP Group = the average for three five-shot groups for that particular type and
ACTION TYPE: Double-action-only (DAO) striker fired; brand of ammunition.
semiautomatic
FRAME: Polymer with soft-touch overmold inserts
(PolyOne Versaflex thermoplastic elastomer)
SLIDE: Stainless steel with black Melonite or matte- Size Comparison
stainless finish
SIGHTS: Integrated low profile; notch rear, post front MAKE & MODEL BARREL
SAFETY: Integral striker block # ROUNDS LENGTH* HEIGHT* WIDTH* WEIGHT** LENGTH*
LENGTH: 5.40 inches
HEIGHT: 3.82 inches
Taurus Spectrum 6/7 5.4 3.82 .89 10 2.8
WIDTH: 0.89 inch
BARREL LENGTH: 2.8 inches Glock 42 6 5.94 4.13 .94 13.8 3.25
WEIGHT: 11.6 ounces (with empty magazine)
TRIGGER PULL: 8 pounds, 6.0 ounces (for 10 consecutive M&P Bodyguard 6 5.3 3.84 .88 12.0 2.75
pulls using a digital Lyman trigger pull gauge)
MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 6 (7 with extended magazine) Springfield Armory 911 6/7 5.5 3.9 1.10 12.6 2.7
MSRP: $289 (standard colors); $305 (house colors)
Ruger LCP II 6 5.17 3.71 .90 10.6 2.75
CONTACT INFORMATION
*Dimensions are in inches.
CROSSBREED HOLSTERS **Weight is in ounces (empty, with no magazine).
CrossbreedHolsters.com
DESANTIS GUNHIDE
If you are in the market for a .380 ACP micro-compact pistol
DeSantisHolster.com
and are considering pistols such as the Glock 42, S&W M&P
FEDERAL PREMIUM AMMUNITION Bodyguard, Ruger LCP II or the new Springfield Armory 911,
FederalPremium.com also consider the Spectrum. They are all very similar in
capacity, size and weight.
HORNADY
Hornady.com
No matter what pistol you end up with for your EDC gun, practice
INCEPTOR AMMUNITION regularly, and make sure you always have it with you. GW
InceptorAmmo.com
PMC AMMUNITION The Spectrum comes

PMCAmmo.com with flush-fit six- and
extended seven-round
REMINGTON ARMS COMPANY, LLC magazines. A finger
Remington.com rest is molded into the
extended magazine’s
baseplate.
TAURUS INTERNATIONAL MFG, INC.
TaurusUSA.com
42
INTERCEPT YOUR PREY
AGGRESSIVE
CONTROL SURFACES
INTERCEPT SERIES ™ for easy use with gloves
3-9×42MM AND 4-12×44MM HUNTING SCOPES
MULTI-COATED LENSES
for enhanced brightness, clarity and contrast
GLASS-ETCHED
ILLUMINATED RETICLE
comes standard on all
INTERCEPT ™ models
Available in the Strelok Pro
Ballistic calculator app
INCLUDES
NEOPRENE
COVER MOA-BASED BDC FINE DUPLEX
Subtensions at 2, 4, 6, 3-MOA illuminated
and 8-MOA crosshair
WWW.TRUGLO.COM Scan for video

gun world TEXT BY BRIAN BERRY PHOTOS BY BRIAN BERRY AND A-B ARMS COMPANY
AMERICAN BUILT ARMS

WE TAKE A TRIP TO THE PANTHERA TRAINING
N
estled in the West Virginia foothills not far from
the northern edge of the Monongahela National
Forest, there is a 750-acre plot of land that can
FACILITY IN WEST VIRGINIA TO TRY OUT THE A-B only be described as a shooter’s paradise.
ARMS COMPANY’S TACK-DRIVER.

If you have a desire to visit or live near Old Fields, West Virginia,
you can find the premier training facility of Panthera Training.
Over this large swath of land, Panthera provides “elite,
scenario-based tactical, aviation and intelligence training
44
COMPANY MOD-X GEN 3
and instruction for Defense Department, State Department,
Federal Agency and Law Enforcement teams who operate in
GETTING THERE IS HALF THE FUN
The drive to West Virginia from my home in North Carolina took
sensitive environments worldwide, to enable those teams to me about a half-day but was pleasant, because most of my
meet their mission goals and requirements.” driving was off the interstate. As a result, I enjoyed traveling the
beautiful backroads and highways—a taste of Americana, if you
However, instead of all that, I was here for another purpose. I will (although Siri decided to take me on a shortcut through the
had been invited by American Built Arms to test out its MOD-X A great view from Lost River State Park and the twisting road that runs through
halfway up the tower
Gen 3 rifle. For this purpose, I would be taking advantage of on the range (Photo:
it. It’s deceiving on the map, but suffice it to say that those 16
one of the several ranges the facility offers to its clients. A-B Arms Company) miles have more curves than San Francisco’s Lombard Street).
45
gun world
I arrived just after dark and was met by A-B Arms’ Adam
Edelman. After some quick introductions and a bite to eat from A look downrange through
the Nightforce ATACR
a buffet for the invited guests, we moved to Panthera’s lodging 4-16x42 with the MOAR
accommodations. These comprise a bank of 18 townhomes F1-30 MOA reticle
located a short distance from the training facility. There are
two guests per townhome, each of which has two bedrooms,
a full kitchen, Wi-Fi and cable. First-class accommodations!
And, after my drive, I was ready for some rest.
THE MOD-X TESTED

IS THE THIRD
GENERATION OF THE
BUILD. I HAD READ
REVIEWS OF THE GUN
BEFORE I WENT TO THE
EVENT, SO I HAD AN
IDEA ABOUT WHAT TO
EXPECT. IT SEEMS THAT The author uses the We linked up the next morning back at Panthera’s dining facility
A-B ARMS LISTENED TO

Shadowtech Hog and had a hearty breakfast. Once breakfast was complete, we
Saddle and Mission
Critical Design got a quick briefing from Panthera’s Director of Operations Bill
THOSE REVIEWS AND P.R.S.T. tripod to

engage targets at
White, who described the facility and what we would be doing
MADE CORRECTIONS.
for the day. We then headed to the 800-yard range a short
500 yards with the
A-B Arms MOD-X. distance from the facility headquarters.
46
GAME ON accuracy (no V-block). The chassis, itself, is light, weighing in
The range was a treat. It was well laid out, with a tower at the at slightly more than 3 pounds, with an 11.5-inch, free-float
shooting line. In addition to A-B Arms, a representative from forearm. It does accept a magazine and uses the AICS style.
Gorilla Ammunition was on site to provide the ammunition for
the weapons. Nightforce was also there to provide some really One of the issues I had seen with the previous version was the
nice glass so we could actually see targets 800 yards away. ability to accept a barrel lug larger than factory standard. That
Eley ammunition provided ammo for the A-B Arms Keystone has been fixed, and it now accepts lugs up to 1.21 inches wide
PT (Precision Trainer) in .22 long rifle. Additionally, Oakwood and .30 inch thick. If your lug is bigger than that, you’re going
Controls provided the target system used, and Shadowtech to have to do some milling.
Hog Saddle and Mission Critical Design provided the P.R.S.T.
tripod mounting system for one of the rifles. The MSRP on the MOD-X is $1,200 for the full build and $700 for
just the chassis to put on your model 700 short-action.
Once we got our range briefing from the Panthera Range
officer, it was game on. There were plenty of guns to go If you opt for the full build from A-B Arms, it will come with
around. On the ground level, sitting in the Shadowtech Hog a Remington Model 700 SPS Tactical AAC-SD barreled action
Saddle, was the A-B Arms MOD-X in .308, with a Nightforce chambered in .308 Win. and a 20-inch heavy barrel with a
ATACR 4-16x42 mounted. This is a crisp and clear scope with 5/8-24 threaded muzzle. The barrel has a 1:10 rate of twist for
an MOAR F1-30 MOA reticle, and it is easy to acquire the increased bullet stability. The trigger is a X-Mark Pro externally
target, with easy holdoffs for turret-free follow-up shots.
The first target was located at 500 yards. The temperature

was about 45 degrees with a crosswind of 10 to 15 mph.
Needless to say, shooting was going to be interesting. Gorilla
provided its .308 Win ammo in 168- and 175-grain Sierra
GORILLA AMMUNITION
MatchKing (SMK) rounds for the day. In addition to a fair amount of skill, long-range shooting
requires a quality rifle and some equally fine ammunition.
Shooting from the Hog Saddle tripod took a little getting used If you have the time, you can get on your bench and load
your own. Or you can get a hold of some of the many
to. If I were going to use it proficiently, I realized that I needed
options from Gorilla Ammunition.
to take some time to get it set. I got on the gun after someone
a little shorter than me was on it, and I felt as if I were fighting Mike Mosel, Gorilla’s director of operations, was nice
it to get comfortable. It did have an adjustment to move the enough to bring along some of Gorilla’s .308 and .223
center post up, but it seemed that moving it up more than 6 or ammunition so we would at least have a chance at the
800-yard targets. The 69-grain Sierra MatchKing for the
8 inches took away some of the stability.
.223 and the 168-grain SMK for the .308 came out of the
barrel as if they already knew where they were supposed
Once I got used to it, I was banging away at the target. The to go. We were able to easily hit the targets at 800 yards
MOD-X was comfortable to fire. The trigger felt a little stiff, but with the rifle ammo combo in .308; and, after some wind
the chassis was well thought out. With adjustments for both calculations, the .223 was soon hitting there as well.
cheek height (about 1.5 inches) and length of pull (10.62 to 15.69
Gorilla has a wide variety of ammo in those calibers, as well
inches), it was easily adjustable. It got plenty of that as the day as in .260, .300 Blackout and 6.5 Creedmoor. Additional
went on, because it was adjusted for almost each shooter. variety is available in hunting, defense, pistol and subsonic.
THE MOD-X
The MOD-X tested is the third generation of the build. I had
read reviews of the gun before I went to the event, so I had an
idea about what to expect.
It seems that A-B Arms listened to those reviews and made

corrections. The body of the chassis is aluminum that is
hardcoat-anodized to MIL-SPEC Type III. It features an easy-
to-assemble, drop-in design with a zero MOA standard and a
20 MOA rail as an option. There is a standard KeyMod design
on both sides and the bottom.
The MOD-X also features a multipoint radial cut inlet that

allows the barreled action to fit in, stress free, for the greatest
47
gun world
THE AMMO WE HAD SHOT IN THE

MORNING PERFORMED VERY
WELL, AND I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT
WHAT OTHER AMMO GORILLA
OFFERED. IT HAS A PRETTY GOOD
LINE OF PRODUCTS THAT INCLUDE
DEFENSIVE, HUNTING, SUBSONIC
AND TARGET AMMUNITION IN A
WIDE VARIETY OF CALIBERS.
48
adjustable trigger system that is factory set at 3½ pounds and the same chassis as the MOD-X and features the Keystone
is adjustable to 2½ pounds. 722 threaded, 16.5-inch heavy bull barrel, with a total weight
of around 6 pounds. The MSRP is $600 for the full rifle.
A-B Arms sent me a full build to test out, and the factory
setting was very stiff. With a little bit of adjusting, it was fine. The Keystone PT Precision Trainer is an economical trainer for
Out of the box, the gun was shooting 1 MOA with the Gorilla those who might still want to train but can’t see spending the
168-grain SMK. Not bad, but it might be that the money for expensive ammo. It was fun to shoot and accurate
barrel needs some additional break-in. while mounted with a Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x32.
With the same ammo out of my stock 700 PSS with We did have a couple of feed issues, but those were probably
a 22-inch barrel, I was getting groups closer to 1.2 the result of the amount of rounds we were putting through it
MOA with the same ammo. Kudos to the folks at and not the fault of the Eley ammo. In the four or five hours we
Gorilla; their ammo shoots very well. They were also nice were shooting, there was someone on that gun, so shooting
enough to send me some of the company’s 145-grain was almost continuous. My estimate is that we put close to
Lehigh Controlled Chaos rounds. With these rounds, 1,000 rounds out of that rifle—it was that much fun! If you
my groups were just over 1 MOA, and the muzzle are teaching your kids to shoot or just want an economical
velocity was about the same as the 168-grain SMK. training rifle that still has the same look and feel as the
MOD-X, this is your gun.
THE MOD-X IN .22 LR—OH, MY!
I also had a chance to shoot the A-B Arms The A-B Arms
While it might not matter to some, a couple of the other things
Keystone PT Precision Trainer. This is basically Company MOD-X rifle I liked about this firearm was that it was made in the USA—
and made by a veteran-owned company. I don’t exclusively
use this as a purchase criterion, but when I have the option,
and there is a good product, it definitely helps.
GETTING SOME ELEVATION

I did take the opportunity to climb halfway up the 60-foot tower
and shoot the two rifles that were laid out. One was another
MOD-X in .308 like the one at ground level; the other was in
.223. Both shot very well, and the addition of a suppressor
on each made them even more enjoyable to fire. Even in the
heavy crosswind, the rifle was making 800-yard shots with
ease—rather, I was ... at least that’s the story I’m going with.
With the use of the Oakwood Controls target system that

uses the supersonic crack! of the round as it passes through
a designated target zone, it was easy to get the rounds on
target and make quick adjustments. The target system can be
set up to measure not just hits on the target, but also where
the round is if you miss the target. By marking a larger area,
even target misses are recorded.
The MOD-X is
lightweight and
makes it easy
to manipulate
when working
over barriers.
(Photo: A-B
Arms Company)
49
gun world
The only downside is that the system needs the supersonic notice are that you reduce the need for hearing protection
crack! to measure. We had difficulty marking targets with while shooting and that the felt recoil is significantly reduced.
the .223 rounds, because they were either just at, or under,
supersonic at the 800-yard mark. Gorilla’s .223 in 69-grain The generous folks at A-B Arms outfitted their test guns with
SMK performed exceptionally at all distances up to the 800 suppressors to make this event that much more fun. The
yards at which Panthera had set up targets. suppressors for both the .223 and the .308 versions of the
MOD-X increased the enjoyment for everyone. The suppressor
The morning session came to an end. Everyone was ready for the .223 was an AAC-SR5, and the .308 was mounted with
for lunch and to get warm. We headed back to the Panthera the AAC-7.62-SD. The overall reduction in decibels was quite
dining facility for some of each. noticeable over the MOD-X, which did not have a suppressor.
The AAC Element 2 suppressor attached to the A-B Arms
I had a chance to talk with Gorilla Ammunition’s Mike Mosel. Keystone 722 reduced the sound to that of most modern air
The ammo we had shot in the morning performed very well, rifles, with what felt like zero recoil.
and I was curious about what other ammo Gorilla offered. It has
a pretty good line of products that include defensive, hunting, This event finally convinced me to stop waiting for the laws
Jason Combs of A-B
subsonic and target ammunition in a wide variety of calibers. Arms Company looks to change and just fill out the required paperwork. So, by the
Each of the different products Mike had brought performed on and provides time this article is published, I should own one of my own.
information about
well, so if you are looking for well-manufactured ammo, check the .223 and .308
out Gorilla Ammunition. I doubt you will be disappointed. versions of the PANTHERA FACILITY TOUR
MOD-X. The laptop
pictured here is After lunch, we got a tour of the Panthera facilities. In addition
GETTING IN SOME “QUIET” TIME courtesy of Oakwood to the ranges, there are several shoot houses, a mock village
Controls and is
If you have never shot with a suppressor on a larger caliber and several different defensive driving tracks, including a
providing target
rifle, you are missing out. The two biggest things you will feedback. paved, 1.5-mile course, a dirt course, dirt obstacle course and
50
The Keystone 722
Precision Trainer
from A-B Arms
Company (Photo: A-B
Arms Company)
some offroad trails. The live-fire shoot house has two stories.
The facilities also include simunition shoot houses.
I got the chance to do a little driving on the paved track under the
watchful eye of one of Panthera’s instructors, as well as some
time on the 400x400-foot skid pad to practice some J-turns. We
The author takes
then moved on to the offroad obstacle course and got instruction a little time to get
on working through some of the many different obstacles. After a in some work with
the Keystone 722
lap on the offroad obstacle course, we headed back to the range. Precision Trainer from
A-B Arms Company.
In .22 LR, it’s a lot of
It was informative and fun, and I would love to go back and
GW-1808-Chiappa Firearms 5/17/18 2:00 PM Page 1 fun for both new and
take one of the formal five-day courses. While Panthera caters experienced shooters.
gun world
mostly to military, federal agencies and law enforcement, it does
offer some civilian training. During my military career, I had the
opportunity to train at several facilities. This one ranks at the top.
MORE RANGE TIME

We ended the day back on the 300-yard range, using the same
A-B Arms rifles as before. At 300 yards, shooting from offhand
and over barricades, the rifles were light enough to maneuver
easily and comfortable to shoot.
The day came to an end with everyone departing the facility.

The cold temperature was setting in, and I was happy to hop
Several Nightforce optics
in my truck and turn up the heat. were on hand, such as
this ATACR 7-35×56 F1
with an MOAR F1 reticle.
A-B Arms
NIGHTFORCE OPTICS
MOD-X
Gen3
(drop-in chassis for the Remington Model 700 Short-Action)
SPECIFICATIONS/INFORMATION
• Aluminum chassis hardcoat-anodized to MIL-SPEC Type III

• KeyMod Standard on three sides of the forearm for The reps from Nightforce were on hand, and they did not disappoint. They brought
mounting equipment several models—one of which is still a closely held secret at the time of this writing.
• Handguard: 11.5-inch, free-float; KeyMod configured on
3, 6 and 9 o’clock sides The first scope to talk about is the ATACR 4-16x42. It is crystal clear, as you would
• Length-of-pull adjustability: 10.62–15.69 inches expect, with multicoated ED glass lenses. The easy-to-adjust turrets have a low-
• Weight: 3 pounds, 2 ounces (chassis only, without the profile ZeroHold feature, available in 0.1 MRAD (12 mils per revolution) or 0.25 MOA
drop-in action and barrel (30 MOA per revolution).
• Will accept barrel lugs up to 1.21 inches wide and .30
inch thick The capped windage adjustment prevents accidental adjustment. The parallax adjustment
is marked with approximate numbered distances and is coupled with digital reticle
• Compatible with any AR-style butt stock and pistol grip
illumination. The eyepiece features an integrated Power Throw Lever (PTL) and an
• MSRP: $1,200 (full build); $700 (chassis only)
XtremeSpeed thread for making a fast diopter adjustment. All these features are paired with
• URL: ABArms.com
an intelligent Nightforce F1 first focal plane reticle that provides fast hold-off adjustments
and precise distance calculations.
CONTACT INFORMATION
In addition, another of the demo rifles was fitted with an ATACR 7-35×56 F1 with the
AMERICAN BUILT ARMS
MOAR F1 reticle that has many of the same features as 4-16x42 plus 100 MOA of
ABArms.com
elevation. The added magnification is just what the doctor ordered for reaching those
long-range targets.
ELEY AMMUNITION
Eley.co.uk
No trip to the range is complete without a spotting scope. The TS-80 Hi-DEF 20-60x
helped with following bullet trace and made identifying target hits easy.
GORILLA AMMUNITION
GorillaAmmo.com
Nightforce doesn’t make it easy to choose, but with so many different reticle options
with each scope and a wide variety of magnification ranges, it makes one that will
MISSION CRITICAL DESIGNS
fit your needs.
MissionCriticalDesigns.com
NIGHTFORCE OPTICS If given the chance, I would definitely like to return to Panthera
NightforceUSA.com
for the next A-B Arms event. I was impressed with the quality
OAKWOOD CONTROLS of the firearms and will likely add one to my collection.
OakwoodControls.com Hopefully, I will get a chance to visit Panthera again one day;
maybe in the spring.
PANTHERA TRAINING
PantheraTraining.com
As I got on the road, the sun was setting, and the smell of oak
SHADOWTECH HOG SADDLE burning in fireplaces filled the air as I cranked up the heat in
HogSaddle.com the truck. (I also made sure to adjust my route home to avoid
Lost River State Park’s winding road.) GW
52
gun world
GAINING
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY MIKE DICKERSON
MOMENTUM FRANCHI, BEST

KNOWN AS A MAKER
OF ITALIAN SHOTGUNS,
BRINGS ITS FIRST-EVER
BOLT-ACTION HUNTING
RIFLE TO AMERICA
IN A LIGHTWEIGHT,
AFFORDABLE
PACKAGE.
S
taring at very large, fresh, grizzly tracks in the
snow has a way of making you wonder if maybe,
just maybe, you’re going to end up in one of those
hunter-becomes–the-hunted stories.
It can also make the .30-06-chambered rifle in your hands

suddenly feel somewhat inadequate compared to, say,
something in the .375-and-up persuasion.
That’s especially true when you’re hunting from dark

morning to dark night in heavily forested, grizz-rich country
for eight days with an unproven prototype rifle ... from a
company that has never made rifles before.
54
55
gun world
That’s the situation I found myself in late last year during an

elk hunt in southern Alberta, just east of Banff National Park,
where grizzlies were very much in evidence. I was there with
five other hunters to test the new Franchi Momentum bolt-
action rifle and provide feedback on its design.
Unfortunately, I never saw an elk, thanks mainly to an

overabundance of wolves, which were even more in
evidence than grizzlies.
before the rest of the canines departed. Only two of our party,
Happily, the rifles held up their end of the deal: My hunting partner The author tested hunting the northernmost unit, managed to connect on a pair of
shot a huge white wolf while it was watching my guide and me a prototype of the nice 6x6 elk bulls, but they reported no wolf sightings.
Momentum on an
as we scouted our way along a river. I saw several other wolves elk hunt in Alberta
that never presented a shot opportunity, but two of our hunters in that included a The clear takeaway for me, apart from the fact that the rifle
snowstorm and an
the wildlife management unit north of us found themselves in the overabundance of showed promise, was that Americans don’t have a monopoly
middle of a pack of wolves during a snowstorm. They shot three wolves and grizzlies. on the unwise practice of overprotecting predators.
56
ONE THING THAT SETS THE
RIFLE APART, EVEN AT A
QUICK GLANCE, IS THE UNIQUE
POLYMER STOCK. IT HAS A SLEEK
APPEARANCE WITH WHAT
SOME WOULD CALL “MODERN”
STYLING. FRANCHI TOUTS IT
AS BEING ERGONOMICALLY
DESIGNED TO YIELD AN IDEAL
HOLD IN FIVE FREQUENTLY USED
SHOOTING POSITIONS.
Franchi’s first-ever
bolt-action rifle,
the Momentum,
LIGHTWEIGHT AND AFFORDABLE weighs a trim 6.6
The prototype rifles we hunted with showed a little room for pounds and has a
22-inch barrel in the
improvement, as you might expect with a company’s first-ever .30-06 Springfield
rifle. Our group made several suggestions that mostly had to chambering tested.
do with the barrel and trigger. Months later, as I unboxed the
new production rifle, I was pleased to see the changes Franchi
had made to the gun.
For starters, the rather thin barrel had been replaced by a

slightly heavier one, and the slick-surfaced protective cap just a bit heavier than I prefer for most applications, but, as is
for the threaded muzzle now had a knurled surface for easier my practice, I left it at that setting to duplicate a buyer’s out-of-
tightening and loosening. The somewhat plain, fat bolt had the-box experience.
been replaced with an attractive, weight-reducing, spiral-
fluted one, and the trigger seemed much improved. The Momentum is designed to be a lightweight, ergonomically
superior and affordable hunting rifle. How affordable? The
I was particularly happy to discover that the trigger on the MSRP is $609, placing the rifle’s actual retail price roughly in
production gun is considerably better than the one on the the middle of the pack between today’s budget-priced rifles
prototype rifle I tested. That one had an excessive amount and the higher-priced flagship models from the likes of Ruger,
of creep. It would seem to correct itself but then revert to its Remington and Winchester.
prior state. It was, in a word, inconsistent.
The rifle is available with and without a threaded barrel
The single-stage trigger on the production gun has no discernible (5/8x24), and you can buy a packaged combo that includes a
creep and breaks crisply. Franchi says the trigger pull weight is Burris Fullfield II scope, Burris two-piece base and Burris Zee
adjustable from 4 to 2 pounds. My production rifle arrived with rings for about $110 more than the rifle alone. The chrome-moly
a trigger that broke consistently at 3 pounds, 4 ounces. That’s barrels are cold hammer-forged and truly free-floated. Tipping
57
gun world
the scales at just 6.6 pounds without a scope, all variants of the The author’s hunting
partner shot this
rifle, except for the 6.5 Creedmoor, have 22-inch barrels. The
large white wolf with
Creedmoor-chambered gun has a 24-inch barrel for enhanced the Momentum rifle
velocity. Rate of twist in the .30-06 rifles is 1:11. as it watched the
author and his guide
scout along a river.
The rifle has a single-piece, three-lug bolt with a short,
60-degree throw that provides lots of scope clearance. A
two-position safety is located on the right rear of the receiver,
just behind the bolt handle and within easy reach of your
thumb. When engaged, the safety does not lock the bolt
down, so you can cycle rounds through the action with the
safety in either position.
The Momentum is initially chambered for six popular hunting MOUNTING A SCOPE
cartridges, including .243 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Win.,
ON THE PRODUCTION
RIFLE, WHICH WAS
.308 Win., .30-06 Springfield and .300 Win. Mag. The rifle
employs an internal magazine with a hinged metal floorplate.
The floorplate release button is located inside of—and is
protected by—the trigger guard. It takes a fair amount of ALSO CHAMBERED IN
pressure to operate, so the floorplate is unlikely to be opened
accidentally. Magazine capacity is four rounds for standard
.30-06 SPRINGFIELD,
calibers and three rounds for the sole magnum chambering.
WAS A SNAP,
If you’re willing to part with a bit more money, you can buy a BECAUSE THE GUN
limited-edition version of the Momentum that commemorates
Franchi’s 150th anniversary. This model comes with a nice ACCEPTS THE SAME
walnut stock and a 150-year-anniversary logo on the receiver.
SCOPE BASES AS THE
UNIQUE STYLING
One thing that sets the rifle apart, even at a quick glance,
REMINGTON 700.
is the unique polymer stock. It has a sleek appearance, with
For testing, the

author mounted a
Trijicon AccuPoint
4-16X50mm scope
in a set of Talley
lightweight rings.
58
Adjustable to a pull The stock has recessed swivel attachment points and is
weight of 4 to 2
equipped with Franchi’s TSA recoil pad, which I found to be
pounds, the trigger
breaks cleanly, with fairly effective at reducing felt recoil.
no discernible creep.
Mounting a scope on the production rifle, which was also

chambered in .30-06 Springfield, was a snap, because the gun
accepts the same scope bases as the Remington 700. I used
a Trijicon AccuPoint 4-16X50mm scope (lately, I’ve used this
frequently for both hunting and as a dedicated testing scope)
The Momentum
is available with that’s nestled into a set of Talley lightweight rings, which I
either slick or have long favored for hunting rifles. With everything properly
threaded barrels for
attaching brakes or
torqued to specifications, I set out to see how the final version
suppressors. of the rifle would perform.
what some would call “modern” styling. Franchi touts it as

being ergonomically designed to yield an ideal hold in five
frequently used shooting positions.
This translates into somewhat curvy lines and crisp checkering

with cutout borders. The checkered surfaces below the action
and along much of the forend ride atop swells that fill the
hand, while the fingertips tend to wrap around the cutout
borders on the top side, providing a solid and comfortable grip
in just about any shooting position. There’s even a checkered
cutout at the rear bottom of the stock just ahead of the bottom
ofGW-1808-Kensington
the recoil pad that’s intended to serve
Publishing as an offhand
5/14/18 10:20 finger-
AM Page 1
gripping point when shooting from a bench.
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gun world
THE MOMENTUM IS DESIGNED TO BE

A LIGHTWEIGHT, ERGONOMICALLY
SUPERIOR AND AFFORDABLE
HUNTING RIFLE.
60
THE CHECKERED
SURFACES BELOW
THE ACTION AND ITALIAN PERFORMANCE
ALONG MUCH OF THE

At the range, the rifle turned in a decent performance ... with
one exception: It did not care very much for the all-copper
FOREND RIDE ATOP Barnes VOR-TX 150-grain TTSX load. That, in itself, is not
SWELLS THAT FILL

unusual. Some rifles purely love copper bullets, printing tiny,
little groups with monotonous consistency; others react like
THE HAND, WHILE THE The polymer stock

of the Momentum
a human who has just been dosed with arsenic. Rifles, like
people, can be very individualistic in their tastes.
FINGERTIPS TEND TO uses a combination
of swells and sharp
WRAP AROUND THE checkering with

cutout borders to
CUTOUT BORDERS provide a firm grip

on the rifle from any
ON THE TOP SIDE,

shooting position
and in all weather
PROVIDING A SOLID
conditions.
AND COMFORTABLE
GRIP IN JUST ABOUT
ANY SHOOTING
POSITION.
One of the
Momentum’s best
attributes is the
ergonomic styling of
the stock, which has
somewhat curvy lines
and crisp checkering
with cutout borders.
61
gun world
Whatever the reason, the Momentum was not fond of that
copper load, and it proved to be a show-stopper. The case Performance
from the first round I fired stuck in the chamber and would not
extract without some persuasion applied to the bolt handle
RESULTS
with a rubber mallet. So did the second and third rounds. Ammunition Avg. Muzzle Avg. 100-yard Best 100-yard
Velocity (fps) Group (inches) Group (inches)
Things gradually loosened up just a bit, but my frustration
was likely evidenced in the fact that the load printed average
Barnes VOR-TX 150-grain TTSX 2,974 2.20 1.65
groups at 100 yards of more than 2 inches.
Federal Edge TLR 175 grains 2,743 1.37 1.15
That extraction issue might possibly have been partly due to
Federal Non Typical Whitetail 180-grain SP 2,642 1.86 1.40
dimensional differences with the Barnes brass, because the
rifle had no issues loading, firing or ejecting all four other Hornady Precision Hunter 178-grain ELD-X 2,612 1.49 1.27
factory loads tested. Three of those rounds printed average
Winchester Ballistic Silvertip 150 grains 3,074 1.48 1.23
groups that would make me perfectly happy to take those
rounds hunting with the Momentum. The rifle never quite broke NOTES: Three five-shot groups were fired in wind between 5 and 12
the sub-MOA mark with five-shot groups, but it came close. mph at 100 yards. Velocities are an average of three shots, measured with a
Competitive Edge Dynamics M2 chronograph.
Franchi The rifle has a
Momentum
smooth-cycling,
spiral-fluted bolt of
the standard three-
SPECIFICATIONS lug design.
CALIBERS: .243 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Win., .308 Win.,

.30-06 Springfield (tested), .300 Win. Mag.
ACTION: Bolt-action, push-feed
CAPACITY: Four-round, hinged-floorplate magazine
BARREL: 22-inch (24-inch in 6.5 Creedmoor) Federal’s Edge TLR 175-grain load shot a best group of 1.15
RATE OF TWIST: 1:11 (.30-06 Springfield) inches and average groups of 1.37 inches, while Winchester’s
STOCK: Polymer with swells and checkering 150-grain Ballistic Silvertip load produced a best group
TRIGGER: Single stage
of 1.23 inches and average groups of slightly less than 1½
WEIGHT: 6.6 pounds
LENGTH: 42.3 inches Three of five tested inches. Hornady’s Precision Hunter 178-grain ELD-X load also
factory loads turned
MSRP: $609 turned in a good performance, with a group average of 1.49
in five-shot groups
URL: FranchiUSA.com averaging less inches and a best group of 1.27 inches.
than an inch and
CONTACT INFORMATION a half, with tighter
individual groups, The Winchester round was the hottest of the loads tested with
such as this 1.15- lighter bullets, with an average muzzle velocity of 3,074 fps.
BARNES AMMUNITION
inch group using
BarnesBullets.com Federal’s Edge TLR Fastest among the heavier-hitters was the Federal Edge TLR
180-grain round. 180-grain load, which stepped out at 2,743 fps.
COMPETITIVE EDGE DYNAMICS
CEDHK.com
FEDERAL PREMIUM AMMUNITION

FederalPremium.com
HORNADY AMMUNITION
Hornady.com
NAGEL’S GUN SHOP

NagelsGuns.net
TALLEY MANUFACTURING
TalleyManufacturing.com
TRIJICON
Trijicon.com
WINCHESTER
Winchester.com
62
The bolt of the BIG GRIZZLES EXCEPTED
Momentum has a
short, 60-degree I would not hesitate to take the Momentum hunting with any of
throw, providing these three loads—the Hornady, Winchester or Federal Edge
ample clearance for
mounting scopes. TLR—for just about anything that walks in North America ...
with the possible exception of big grizzlies. The .30-06 can
do the job, of course; it’s just not my first choice for that
particular job. For anything else, the new Franchi bolt-action
is more than up to the task. GW
Grizzlies were
much in evidence
during a hunt
in Canada to
Franchi claims a 50 test a prototype
percent reduction of the Franchi
in felt recoil with its Momentum rifle.
GW-1805-CZ
TSA recoil pad. USA 2/16/18 1:13 PM Page 1
gun world TEXT AND PHOTOS BY TODD BURGREEN
SIG
SAUER
MCX
RATTLER
PSB
DEFYING
LABELS
The MCX Rattler
being used around
vehicles during
training
64
ALL MCX RATTLER FEATURES
ARE INTENDED FOR MAXIMIZING
EFFECTIVENESS DURING A FIGHT.
A RETURN TO BASICS, SUCH AS
GREAT HANDLING WITH POTENT
FIREPOWER, IS OFTEN THE
ANSWER. SIG SAUER
OFFERS SUCH A
PLATFORM WITH
ITS MCX RATTLER.
T
he SIG Sauer MCX Rattler PSB (Pistol Stabilizing Brace) chambered in .300
BLK is not just another compact AR platform. The adjustable pistol brace
and diminutive size/firepower ratio offered are big indicators of this.
The original MCX was spawned from a SOCOM request to develop a

lightweight, compact rifle that was intended to be operated suppressed. Based on
this, it is not surprising that the MCX’s initial chambering was the .300 BLK, with
the 5.56mm quickly following. The Rattler is a specialized miniature offshoot (pun
intended) of the MCX Virtus series of rifles.
65
gun world
THE COMPACT STATURE The SIG Sauer Due to recoil spring placement, the charging handle sits
MCX Rattler design slightly higher on the MCX than on an AR. Not only do the dual
OF THE SIG MCX

concept originated
with a request recoil springs eliminate the need for buffer tube, they also
from U.S. Special serve to smooth out/soften recoil impulse.
RATTLER ALLOWS FOR Operations units.
EASY TRANSPORT IN SIG Sauer has seen fit to produce select-fire, LE-/military-
only Rattlers, as well as semiauto-only SBR and pistol
A SMALLER-THAN- versions for civilian consumption.
EXPECTED PACKAGE. With that said, while this article will focus on the Rattler pistol,
I have also benefitted from experience with select-fire and
DESIGN EXCELLENCE semiauto-only SBR Rattlers—thanks to several days spent at
The MCX Rattler’s operating controls and basic ergonomics the SIG Sauer Academy.
are similar to the ever-so-prevalent AR-15—an important
consideration for training/orientation purposes. The AR-
like ambidextrous magazine and bolt release, along with a
centrally located, nonreciprocating charging handle, will be
instantly familiar to any AR user.
The MCX Rattler uses an AR-type fire control system and

magazines. However, the bolt carrier group is different. This
The SIG Sauer
stemmed from the initial user’s request to use a folding stock ROMEO4T red-dot
in lieu of a typical AR buffer tube setup. SIG started with a gas and SIG JULIET
magnifier proved
piston system and then installed dual recoil springs above the ideal companions for
bolt carrier group. the MCX Rattler.
66
What sets the Rattler apart, even from its Virtus brethren, is
its compact size, made possible via the 5.5-inch barrel. The
23.5-inch, sub-6-pound Rattler is chambered in .300 BLK. A
free-floating M-LOK handguard is used.
The Rattler does not offer barrel interchangeability that is

typical of the other MCX variants. The Rattler was designed
from the ground up to be as discrete as possible while
retaining all the capabilities of the MCX.
ARs featuring barrels fewer than 10 inches are notoriously finicky,

especially if considering suppressed use. Plus, do not forget that
the AR buffer tube limits just how small ARs can realistically be
shortened. Much of the SIG Sauer MCX Rattler’s development
focused on finding proper placement of the gas port to optimize
GREEN OPS: TIER 1 TRAINING
Even after nearly two decades of attending firearms courses,
reliability, both suppressed and supersonic, as well as how best
the Green Ops experience rejuvenated my commitment to
to stabilize the .300 BLK from the 5.5-inch barrel. This was how
seek out training.
the 1:5 rifling twist was arrived at.
Mike Green is the force behind the training received.
The MCX Rattler features an adjustable gas regulator, with His credentials—the ones he can report publicly—lend
the first position for normal operation; the second position legitimacy to his methods. Green served in the Army, for
is for when using a sound suppressor. Barrels for the which he was Special Forces and Ranger qualified (15
Rattler are hammer forged and receive a nitride treatment years). Mike taught thousands of students to shoot and
for increased barrel life. It utilizes a self-regulating short- trained hundreds of foreign Tier 1 units.
stroke piston combined with a fully locked-and-closed
rotating bolt system that prevents any chance of out-of- More impressive is the list of instructor billets/
qualifications he’s earned. Why? Just because you served
battery failure/malfunction.
in a Tier 1 unit does not mean you are a solid teacher and
skilled conveyor of information.
The Rattler’s adjustable brace is another feature that
enhances its utility. The ability to compress the stock shortens We started on handgun basics, with Green Ops pointing out
the Rattler pistol to fewer than 18 inches. This is no gimmick; its own learned nuances. Mike’s intensive handgun training
it is a real advantage to have rifle-like firepower in a package background, along with his gift for teaching, brought home
smaller than most SMGs. the importance of grip, trigger control and sight alignment.
The .300 BLK
cartridge is well
Drills such as “Dot Torture” and “F.A.S.T.” helped establish
BEYOND A PASSING FAD—RIFLE-CALIBER PISTOLS supported by skill level in the class.
the industry via
A trend that can no longer be ignored or dismissed as a passing numerous load
fad is the number of pistol models stemming from what was Rifle/carbine training commenced with a quick confirmation of
options.
zeros. Rifle training progressed in a similar fashion, as handgun
with baseline drills served as a warmup. Rifle reloading methods
were covered and then segued quickly into transitioning from
rifle to handgun. Steel was broken out for other drills fired at
50-plus yards that involved firing from different positions.
Some of the “nuggets” I took away from the Green Ops training
experience involved giving myself a better base platform
with my lower body, especially when running the rifle; not to
overthink malfunction methods; and how to work better around
barricades/obstacles with simple, yet brilliant, techniques.
Green Ops’ practicality in approaching shooting and tactics

was refreshing—in light of some of the instructors being
“prisoners” of their own dogma or styles. This reflects
real-world experience.
GREEN OPS
Green-Ops.com
67
gun world
The author, training states’ permits, is another reason large-format pistols are
at Echo Valley
Training Center with currently so popular.
the MCX Rattler pistol
Many will argue that there is no defensive/tactical value in
such a nontraditional pistol—just use a full-size rifle or typical
handgun. However, some will be lured to the braced Rattler pistol
for the intriguing nuance of maintaining handgun status with a
semblance of SBR rifle performance. The ability to be transported
more discretely than a full-size rifle might translate into it
being the weapon most readily available if a situation arises
unexpectedly while away from home. The fact that a braced
pistol is classified legally as a “handgun” offers users who have a
concealed-carry license a certain amount of flexibility, compared
to a true rifle or NFA SBR-classified weapon.
SUPERIOR BALLISTIC POWER

We love to label things in the gun industry. The Rattler resists
easy categorization. “PDW” (personal-defense weapon) is
what most readily comes to mind, thanks to its compact size.
One must be careful here. PDW terminology arose from

compact weapons centered on new cartridge designs that
facilitated the penetration of body armor out to a couple of
hundred yards. The FN 5.7mm and H&K 4.6mm are prominent
examples of these new cartridge types. PDWs were created
during a time that NATO had images of body-armored Soviet
Spetsnaz troops running amok in rear echelon areas. Times
have changed along with the most likely threats faced. PDW
weapons relied on their specialized cartridges to be effective,
in terms of platform size and terminal performance.
The SIG Sauer MCX Rattler does away with the earlier PDW
specialized caliber limitations and trumps any handgun caliber.
The SIG Rattler’s .300 BLK chambering allows for a multitude
of missions. It instills more confidence than any handgun round
or .22-caliber (or smaller) bullet typical of most PDWs when
typically associated with rifle-pattern weapons via removing The adjustable pistol having to put down an opponent in close quarters, at distance
brace complements
the buttstock. AR-type pistols are dominating this genre via or behind a barrier (such as a vehicle).
the SIG MCX Rattler.
weapons featuring shorter-than-16-inch barrels sans any
rifle stock; only the buffer tube is protruding from the rear
of the receiver. The AR buffer tube soon proved an advantage
on these large pistols for numerous reasons. The buffer tube
appendage was adapted to accommodate various types of
braces to aid in supporting large, nontypical handgun forms.
The MCX Rattler PSB features an adjustable brace, which

allows for an even more compact profile, especially with the
Rattler not requiring a buffer tube. For individuals who have
no legal access to an NFA Class 3 short-barrel rifle (SBR),
the brace-stabilized pistol converted long arm might well
be the closest they can get to achieving rifle-like firepower
in such compact packages.
Along these same lines, the expansion of states issuing

concealed-carry permits, along with honoring other
68
SIG SAUER
The beautiful
cross-hatching that
adorns the front
strap emphasizes
the grip’s oval shape,
making it a very
comfortable high-
SUPPRESSORS
capacity pistol to
shoot. (Photo: Steve
Woods)
SIG Sauer has become a true “one-stop shop” for military,

law enforcement and civilian operators. Its Silencer Division
was formally created in 2014, with its major introduction to
the shooting public taking place at the 2015 SHOT Show.
Through a revolutionary baffle design and unique manufacturing

processes, SIG Sauer has eliminated the outer tube shell
What distinguishes the .300 BLK is its ability to access SIG Sauer’s thought found in other rifle silencers. SIG Sauer utilizes 100 percent
process with the circumferential welds combined with wire electronic
standard supersonic rounds superior to 5.56mm for longer- MCX Rattler was to discharge machining (EDM) of the pathway of the projectile.
range engagements while maintaining the trump card of create a lightweight,
simple-to-operate In addition to reducing weight, this tubeless design increases
subsonic ammunition for more-discrete, specialized work.
weapon that was volume, thereby lowering pressure and temperature for
Similar to the SIG MCX, the .300 BLK was created in response eminently adaptable greater durability and increased signature reduction.
to a U.S. Special Operation military force’s request. to user needs. The
Rattler proves there
is no need to turn to For SIG’s rifle suppressors, a Taper-Lok Fast-Attach System
One goal with the .300 BLK is the ability to launch .30-caliber exotic PDW calibers. was created, enabling quick and simple installation of a
projectiles from existing 5.56mm AR magazines without muzzle adapter device, thus eliminating the need for shims.
a reduction in magazine capacity or reliable functioning. The SIG Sauer design optimizes alignment, resulting in
Anecdotal information compares standard-velocity .300 BLK improved accuracy and greatly reduced point-of-impact
115- to 125-grain ammunition as matching the ballistics of (POI) shift, even after multiple install/removal cycles. The
Taper-Lok system allows users to access a variety of
the 7.62x39mm AK and eclipses 5.56mm—both in ballistics
muzzle brakes and flash hiders for their rifles—all the while
and terminal punch. The 5.5-inch Rattler barrel produced
enabling SIG rifle suppressors to attach when needed.
velocity in the 1,800 fps range with supersonic, 120-grain
loads and approximately 840 ft/lbs of energy. This is a 40 Basically, if the bullet diameter is .30 caliber or less, the
percent increase in ft/lbs of energy over a similar-length SRD762-QD can be used. Of course, you should check with
barrel firing a 5.56mm 55-grain load. SIG Sauer if any “exotic” calibers or applications are being
contemplated. The limiting factor is getting the Taper-Lok
TRIAL BY FIRE muzzle device mounted to your barrel.
It is only natural that a groundbreaking weapon such as the
MCX Rattler be held to a higher standard. This stems not only Actual sound reduction differences between most respected
from skepticism of how something can be made so compact suppressors are small. More important is durability,
especially if high-volume firing is expected. Maintaining zero
and still maintain reliability, but also from the cost associated
and accuracy when installed, removed and then reinstalled
with the Rattler, compared to that of other pistols—i.e., AR
is paramount. Along these same lines, many will find that
or AK—stemming from rifle designs. With that said, if the
the flexibility of moving a suppressor between platforms
Rattler makes good on the firepower potential offered and is highly appreciated—while maintaining all of the above
establishes a track record for rugged reliability, end users will listed characteristics.
not be able to resist.
At the SIG Academy, multiple MCX Rattlers were handed

out, including select-fire models. It would be fair to say that
among the seven of us present, nearly 4,000 rounds of SIG
Sauer 220- and 125-grain .300 BLK ammunition were fired
from the MCX Rattlers over the course of two days.
The SRD762-QD suppressor. Thanks to its quick-detach
feature, it can move seamlessly between rifles, as well as
After using multiple Rattlers at the SIG Academy, I requested being adaptable to multiple calibers up to .300 Win. Mag.
that a pistol version be shipped to me for more-thorough testing.
69
gun world
SIG SAUER’S Performance

RESULTS
THOUGHT
PROCESS WITH
Ammunition Avg. Velocity Avg. Group Best Group
(fps) @100 yards (inches) (inches)
THE MCX RATTLER Hornady 110-grain V-MAX 1,917 1.85 1.75
WAS TO CREATE Hornady 208-grain A-MAX 965 2.0 1.5
A COMPACT,
Black Hills 125-grain Match 1,810 1.66 1.25
910 2.5 1.9
POWERFUL
Black Hills 220-grain Match
SIG Sauer Elite Match 125-grain OTM 1,890 1.5 1.25
WEAPON THAT SIG Sauer Elite Match 220-grain OTM 918 1.5 1.33
WAS EMINENTLY NOTES: Accuracy test protocol consisted of three five-shot groups with each
ADAPTABLE TO
ammunition type at 100 yards. Group sizes were averaged. Velocity figures
were obtained by averaging three rounds fired over an RCBS chronograph.
USER NEEDS. Multiple sessions at Echo Valley Training Center—involving

firing from/around vehicles, the Jungle Walk Range and the
The SIG Sauer
SRD762-QD rifle Hesco Shoot House—instilled even more confidence in the
suppressor, mounted SIG Rattler. A SIG ROMEO4T and SIG JULIET 4x magnifier were
on the MCX Rattler.
The adjustable gas
installed. They proved the ideal combination to get the most
system is visible out of the Rattler. The Juliet magnifier was on a tilt mount,
at the end of the which allowed it to be swung out of the way until a situation
Rattler’s forend.
called for its use.
A SIG 7.62 suppressor was also pressed into service to round

out the experience. This was easily accomplished, thanks to
A return to basics, such the SIG Taper-Lok muzzle device installed on the Rattler.
as lightweight, great
handling with potent
firepower, is hard to The culmination of SIG Rattler testing and evaluation for this article
resist. SIG Sauer offers was participation in a Green Ops two-day tactical carbine/handgun
such a platform with its
MCX Rattler. course. An evolution involving working around barricades—
SIG Sauer
MCX
rattler PSB
.300 BLK
SPECIFICATIONS
CALIBER: .300 Blackout

BARREL: 5.5 inches
OA LENGTH: 18 inches, brace collapsed; 23.5 inches,
brace extended
WEIGHT: 5.25 pounds
SIGHTS: Flat top
ACTION: Short-stroke gas piston
CAPACITY: Detachable AR15/M16 magazines
MSRP: $2,719
CONTACT INFORMATION
SIG SAUER, INC.

SIGSauer.com
70
requiring multiple magazines changes while
EBERLESTOCK
moving between various firing points against a Two rare-earth magnets conceal a hidden opening
multitude of designated targets—served as a on each side of the bag, allowing ambidextrous
solid test for the Rattler. Based on firing positions, quick access to a handgun concealed-carry pouch.
TACTICAL PACKS
switching between shoulders was necessary. I The Big Trick features an expandable bottom that
not only increases the pack’s overall volume, it also
really appreciated the MCX Rattler’s ergonomics
lengthens the scabbard, allowing you to customize
and ambidextrous controls.
the pack for load size and weapon length. These
Rifle training culminated with a scenario

involving quickly advancing on a target or WITH MULTIPLE good-looking packs are perfect for going to the
office or when traveling.
APPLICATIONS
moving side to side while waiting on the Events around the world and here, in the United
command to fire, which then required bringing States, indicate that terrorists are committed to
your momentum under control, with sights attacking civilian targets. A weapon other than
and trigger worked properly, to ensure hits. a handgun would be much appreciated if one
The Eberlestock Big Trick pack serves as an were trapped in such a nightmarish scenario.
MAXIMIZING EFFECTIVENESS excellent example of Eberlestock’s simple,
practical ingenuity. Eberlestock gear is in This is a very important situation that Eberlestock
The MCX Rattler PSB lived up to the task of
service all over the world with Special Forces, packs are designed to help solve. The convenience
being a lightweight, fast-handling weapon. The
regular military and police units. of easy adaptability for carrying multiple weapons,
piston-driven MCX proved utterly reliable, with
as well as ancillary gear (ammunition, optics,
only minimal effort given to wipe down the bolt Eberlestock’s “secret,” as typified by the Big Trick, is suppressors), is much appreciated.
carrier group and lubricate sporadically. to design a pack so that stuff is easy to find, along
with making it easy to attach EBERLESTOCK
The SIG ROMEO4T red-dot and SIG JULIET things to the outside of it. Eberlestock.com
magnifier combination is worthy for consideration,
because it enhances performance via the flexibility “Camouflage” is the use of
of offering pure red-dot or magnification. any combination of materials
or coloration for concealment,
either by making objects hard
The .300 BLK SIG chambered MCX Rattler
to see or by disguising them as
PSB’s raison d’être is as a platform just as
something else; the Eberlestock
at home dealing with tight-quarters threats
Big Trick bag does this.
or reaching out a few hundred yards. The
increase in terrorism and acts of mass Its combination of being a top-loader and featuring
violence means that something more powerful an accessible front panel means that the main
than a handgun is a welcome addition to one’s compartment is hassle free to access. There’s no
personal armory. The compact stature of the digging and wrestling with your pack to free an
SIG MCX Rattler allows for easy transport in a item—it is quickly at hand.
smaller-than-expected package.
With the Eberlestock Big Trick, there is much more
SIG Sauer’s thought process with the MCX Rattler than meets the eye. It is not just another pack. Much
GW-1807-GTUL 4/12/18 10:55 AM Page 1
was to create a compact, powerful weapon that thought has gone into its design and construction.
was eminently adaptable to user needs. The
decision to chamber the Rattler in .300 BLK is a
nod to the reality that 5.56mm is no longer the
only viable military-type rifle chambering.
The ability to mount a suppressor on the

Rattler’s 5.5-inch barrel while maintaining
reliability is a bonus—not to mention
access to widely available factory subsonic
loads if desired. All MCX Rattler features
are intended for maximizing effectiveness
during a fight. A return to basics, such as
great handling with potent firepower, is often
the answer. SIG Sauer offers such a platform
with its MCX Rattler. GW
71
gun world
RIFLE OF A
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY RICHARD SCHUTZ HISTORIC PHOTOS BY JOEY D’ALESSIO
GREEK GOD
NAMED AFTER APOLLO’S
W
hen choosing an AR-15 that might
FAVORITE BOW, DELPHI

someday be called upon to help defend
your life and those of your loved ones,
who better to design and build it than
TACTICAL’S DP-15
someone who has been in the thick of
battle and has had to depend upon his weapon to save his life
on more than one occasion.
SILVERBOW LIVES UP TO Joey D’Alessio of Delphi Tactical is just that guy. Joey has been
in the U.S. Army for almost 20 years and has seen combat in
Iraq (OIF) and as a Special Operations operator in Afghanistan,
ITS NAMESAKE. p
Africa and Jordan/Syria. He has been building rifles for friends
and other soldiers for many years, most recently for more than
five years under the Delphi Tactical label.
www.gunworld.com AUGUST I 2018
72
The DP-15 Silverbow Elite that was evaluated here is only Blackout 51T muzzle brake, an SLR Rifleworks hand stop and
one of many AR-15- and AR-10-style rifles offered by Delphi dragon-patterned rail scales. The Cerakote finish made for a
Tactical. It is part of the DP-15 line and is at about the midpoint very bad-ass-looking rifle!
in price of all the rifles offered by Delphi Tactical.
OTHER VERSIONS
The Silverbow is Delphi Tactical’s flagship rifle line. This rifle Delphi Tactical’s rifles are named according to different “eras”
is named after Apollo’s bow. Apollo, also known as the Archer, by warrior class and the weapons utilized by a warrior class
was the son of Zeus and was known for his far-shooting with within those ages.
a silver bow.
The budget-friendly entry model line is the DELPHI-15 forged
SIZING UP THE SILVERBOW ELITE receiver line. It consists of the Man At ARms and Long ARm
The Silverbow Elite utilizes a direct-impingement mid-length models. Even though these rifles are less expensive and use
gas system. The 16.5-inch POF Puritan barrel is cut from forged receivers, they still come with Delphi Tactical’s sub-MOA
4150 chrome-vanadium steel and features 5R rifling with a accuracy guarantee and lifetime transferrable warranty.
1:8-inch twist rate and a Delphi Tactical MIL-SPEC flash hider.
The chamber also features E2 extraction technology, which The original line is the DP-15 line of billet receiver rifles.
reduces the stress on the extractor, increases reliability There are seven models: the Silverbow, Praetorian, Centurion,
through dual extraction and allows coated ammunition to Legionnaire, Visigoth, Longbowman and Jedburgh. As with
be fired reliably. A Delphi Tactical mid-length gas system, all Delphi firearms, a sub-MOA guarantee and lifetime
which is nitride coated and uses an SLR Sentry 7 premium transferrable warranty come with each of these models.
adjustable gas block, directs gas from the barrel to the BCG.
The full-auto-rated bolt carrier group features a Sharps Rifle The Silverbow Elite, All DP-15 models come in three variants: Basic, Enhanced
finished in custom
Company Xtreme Performance Bolt (XPB). Both the bolt and and Elite. All, with the exception of the DP-15 Legionnaire, are
Cerakote Delphi Sniper
the bolt carrier are made of S7 tool steel with a DLC finish. A Gray Kryptek Typhon, available in 5.56 NATO, as well as 300 Blackout.
buffer tube made by ALG Defense, along with a JP Rifles Gen2 makes for one good-
looking AR-15. As
Silent Captured Spring System, make up the buffer system. one would expect, the Finally, there is the DP-10 line of AR-10-style rifles. This line
Cerakote is durable includes the Mongol, Agincourt, Bodkin and Macedonian
too, as shown by
A flat-faced CMC Match trigger drops the hammer on the the use this rifle has models. Once again, these models all feature a sub-MOA
firing pin. The trigger broke crisply at just under 4 pounds seen—with more than guarantee and lifetime transferrable warranty.
10,000 rounds fired.
after a smooth pull. A Battle Arms Development 45-degree,
short-throw safety is provided. KNS Precision Gen2 Mod2 SIGHTS/OPTICS
anti-walk trigger and hammer pins are also provided. To augment the Magpul MBUS Pro sights, Joey had mounted
a Leupold Mark 6 1-6x20mm riflescope with a CMR-W reticle
Furniture includes a Mission First Tactical Battlelink on the Silverbow using a Kinetic Development KDG Sidelok
Minimalist buttstock, Delphi Tactical Ion Ultra Lite 15.7-inch Modular Optic Mount. This is probably the best scope/mount
handguard with M-Lok and an X-Tech Tactical (ATG) pistol combination I have ever used on an AR-15. The Leupold Mark
grip. Each of these items has been chosen for light weight 6 is extremely versatile, and the mount allows the scope to be
and functionality. The octagon-shaped handguard features a easily removed and re-installed with no discernible change in
full-length 1913 MIL-SPEC rail on top and M-Lok attachment point of impact.
points on the other seven sides. Steel Magpul MBUS Pro front
and rear sights provide robust backup sights. Joey says the CMR-W reticle allows for target engagement
from CQB distances to 700 meters (with practice). The scope-
Options included on the reviewed gun include custom and-mount combination costs more than the rifle, but it is
Cerakote in Delphi Sniper Gray Kryptek Typhon, an AAC worth it if you are serious about accuracy and repeatability.
73
gun world
WHO IS JOEY D’ALESSIO?

Joey D’Alessio, SGM (select), currently serves in the Operations Division of the
Office of Special Warfare (OSW), 1st Special Forces Command, based at Fort Bragg in
Fayetteville, North Carolina. “Joey D,” as he is known, has been in the U.S. Army for 19
years. He started off as an 11B infantryman stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.
Joey’s first action was in Operation Iraqi Freedom, during which he served two
deployments in the Recon Platoon as a sniper. His first deployment was with 1-22
While Joey was deployed to Afghanistan, part of his responsibility Infantry, Task Force 121, during the hunt for Saddam Hussein. He was decorated for
was village stability operations (VSO). Being able to effectively valor on two separate occasions in battle.
communicate and integrate with local tribal members was critical.
After his first deployment to Iraq, Joey was selected to serve with Special Operations.
After his second deployment to Iraq, Joey PCS’d (permanent change of station) to Fort
Bragg to attend his training for entrance into the Special Operations community.
After completing his training, Joey deployed to Afghanistan three times as part
of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command and participated in village stability
operations, as well as mentoring Afghan commandos.
In 2011, he deployed to Africa with the Special Operations Command and Control
Element, Horn of Africa, conducting counterpiracy operations. He later deployed to
Jordan/Syria to stand up Vetted Syrian Opposition (VSO) forces to combat ISIS in Syria
and Iraq. Joey has had Special Operations titles of team leader, operations sergeant,
detachment sergeant, first sergeant and currently, sergeant major (select).
Joey—in the aftermath of an IED-initiated near-ambush on his
element by Taliban fighters in the Nerkh Valley of Wardak Province,
Afghanistan. Joey’s passion for guns began with his Red Ryder B-B gun at the age of 7. He
always knew he wanted to be a soldier.
Much of what Joey knows about firearms was the result of his sniper training—
learning about what makes a rifle accurate. As a sniper, Joey shot the M24
Remington 700, M107 Barrett 50 and the M110. He was one of the first snipers to
use and evaluate the M110 weapons system in Iraq. Joey continued to learn about
weapons platforms and systems throughout his training and deployments.
Brass flies as Joey
fires his “work” rifle Joey not only worked on rifles, he also designed and made prototypes of special
during a training
exercise. pieces of gear and modified existing gear as the need arose. He was the go-to guy
in his platoon for special gear.
One project was a single platform to mount a binocular, night vision and a
rangefinder on a tripod. That way, all a sniper had to do was grab one piece of gear
when he got the call to bug out.
Joey did custom builds of rifles for people

before he started Delphi Tactical. He Joey D’Alessio takes
aim with his Delphi
was tired of overpriced and low-quality Tactical Silverbow
equipment—both military and civilian. Elite rifle.
He constantly asked himself what

he would do if he had a business,
and how he would serve and
treat his customers.
74
Delphi Tactical uses a Sharps Rifle Company XPB full-auto-rated
bolt carrier group with a DLC finish. The ambidextrous charging
handle is made for Delphi Tactical by Radian Weapons (formerly
AXTS Weapons Systems).
The muzzle brake is

an AAC Blackout 51T.
FEEDING THE SILVERBOW

In order to evaluate the accuracy potential of the Silverbow
Elite, I used five different types of factory ammunition. Bullet
weights ranged from 55 to 77 grains. I only had a limited
amount of range time with the Silverbow, so I couldn’t try a
wider variety of ammunition brands and bullet weights.
The Federal Premium 77-grain MatchKing BTHP ammunition

was the most accurate of the group. Three five-shot groups WHEN CHOOSING AN
fired at 100 yards averaged 0.99 inch. The smallest group
AR-15 ... WHO BETTER
was 0.86 inch, and the largest was 1.23 inches. The muzzle
velocity for this ammunition averaged 2,278 fps for 10 shots.
TO DESIGN AND BUILD
Velocities were determined using a LabRadar device that IT THAN SOMEONE WHO
calculated the muzzle velocity, average velocity, extreme HAS BEEN IN THE THICK
spread and standard deviation. OF BATTLE AND HAS HAD
A Mission First
Tactical Battlelink TO DEPEND UPON HIS
Lapua 69-grain OTM Scenar ammunition finished a close
second, with a 1.15-inch average for three five-shot groups.
Minimalist buttstock WEAPON TO SAVE HIS
LIFE ON MORE THAN ONE
provides everything
The average velocity was 2,434 fps. needed in a buttstock
in a compact and
lightweight package. OCCASION.
Left-side controls
include a standard
bolt lock lever and
the Battle Arms
Development safety
lever.
75
gun world
Specialist Daniel
Perry, U.S. Army, 82nd THE FEDERAL
Airborne, fires the
Silverbow Elite using PREMIUM 77-GRAIN
the range Dodge
Durango for cover.
MATCHKING BTHP
AMMUNITION WAS
THE MOST ACCURATE
OF THE GROUP. THREE
FIVE-SHOT GROUPS
FIRED AT 100 YARDS
AVERAGED 0.99 INCH.
THE SMALLEST GROUP
All ammunition used functioned without a problem. Various
WAS 0.86 INCH, AND
THE LARGEST WAS
magazines were also used, and Silverbow Elite never missed a beat.
FROM THE SHOOTING BENCH

I only had time for one day of shooting from the bench and one 1.23 INCHES.
day of tactical shooting, but the Silverbow Elite functioned
flawlessly both days. During my time at the range, when I was rifle seemed to like heavier bullets best but really didn’t
checking accuracy and velocity, I found the Silverbow Elite a care much about the type or brand. As long as premium
dream to shoot from the bench. ammunition with a relatively heavy bullet is used, meeting
the 1 MOA guarantee will not be a problem. The accuracy of
The CMC Match trigger was silky smooth and broke cleanly, this rifle was especially amazing, considering that it had fired in
with a short, audible reset. When shooting from the bench, I like excess of 10,000 rounds prior to this evaluation.
to run my trigger finger on the very bottom of the trigger along
the trigger guard for a consistent feel. Due to the oversized AGAINST THE COMPETITION
trigger guard on the Silverbow Elite, that was not possible— I had the opportunity to compete in my monthly International
but then, this rifle wasn’t designed to be a benchrest gun. The Infidel Gunfighter League (IIGL) match on my last day with the
oversized trigger guard allows for operation while wearing Silverbow Elite. This is a three-gun event at 37PSR Gun Club
gloves in a tactical situation or competitive event. in Bunnlevel, North Carolina, near Fort Bragg.
Recoil was almost nonexistent due to the JP Rifles Silent This match is more training than competition and focuses on
Captured Spring System buffer assembly. AR-15s chambered tactics, accuracy and speed, in that order. It is difficult to take
in .223 Rem/5.56 NATO don’t recoil much anyway, but the a new, unfamiliar rifle to an event such as this and do well,
Silverbow Elite’s recoil was especially mild and without the because you really need to know your weapon thoroughly in
The Mission First
spring noise found with most AR-15 buffer systems. Battlelink Minimalist everything from combat task evaluations to close-quarters
buttstock indicates combat and the 100-yard range. This means knowing the feel
the position of the
Average group sizes for four of the five brands of ammunition stock extension. of the safety, the eye relief of the scope in various shooting
used were within 0.54 inch of each other, and the first three positions and sling use/manipulation.
were within 0.29 inch of each other. These three loads used
69-, 75- and 77-grain bullets and were very consistent. The
A Delphi Tactical Ion Ultra Lite 15.7-inch handguard with M-Lok

provides plenty of room for the attachment of accessories, along with
the provided Magpul MBUS Pro front sight.
76
DELPHI TACTICAL COMPANY HISTORY
home of the Delphic oracle. This is where warriors came to seek
guidance from the Pythia prior to going into battle.
When Joey D’Alessio returned to the United States after his deployment The very first DP-15 billet lower receiver came off the production line
to Africa, his father-in-law encouraged him and wife Monique to start on October 15, 2015. It became what is known today as the Silverbow
thinking about Joey’s transition out of the military. He also encouraged rifle. Next came the DP-10 billet line of receivers and AR-10-style rifles.
them to go into business for themselves and suggested they follow Then came the DELPHI-15 budget-friendly line of forged-receiver, AR-
Joey’s passion for firearms and related gear. They could start out with 15-style rifles.
Monique working from home, filling online orders while taking care of
their newborn daughter. A Gen2 line of billet receivers is also available in AR-15, AR-10, 9mm
Luger and .45 ACP versions. This line offers different aesthetics than
He also asked Joey, “How much would it cost to start a part-time the Gen1 line. An ultra-lightweight Gen3 line of billet receivers is also
business right then that they could grow into a full-time business when in the design phase.
Joey retired from the Army?”
Delphi Tactical also offers a buffer kit, enhanced lower receiver parts
Joey then went to work creating a spreadsheet of startup costs based kit, billet ejection port doors and a Delphi barrel line (machined from
upon years of information stored in his head. He came up with an initial Shilen barrel blanks).
cost of $3,000. Soon after giving the spreadsheet to his father-in-law,
Monique’s father set up an account for them with $3,000 in it for them The final piece of the puzzle was put in place with the opening of the
to use to start the business. Now, there was no excuse for not starting Delphi Tactical storefront on November 12, 2017, in Raeford, North
their own business of tactical gear and firearms accessories. Carolina. For four years, Joey and Monique had imagined what their
future storefront might look and feel like. Joey thought about how he
Delphi Tactical was officially created in June 2012. Joey and Monique had been treated at various tactical stores over the years and how he
then began traveling to gun shows and related events throughout North could bring back old-school American customer service.
Carolina selling tactical gear Joey had either made or modified. He
traveled with his mobile gun cart, “Where It All Began.” More than 200 Some of the goals were for the store to be a hands-on experience via
guns were built on that cart. which customers could feel the triggers and stocks, see the barrels and
watch educational videos showing the various available components
The name, “Delphi Tactical,” came out of Joey’s love of Greek and specifications. It would be much like an Apple store, with a sleek and
mythology; in this case, specifically from the city of Delphi, Greece, clean design in a rustic Carolina atmosphere. That store is now a reality.
From a kneeling position,

Specialist Daniel Perry,
U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne,
fires the Silverbow Elite
at a threat target while
using the barricade as
concealment.
77
gun world
Performance Results
Ammunition Velocity (fps) Group Size (inches)
Avg. E.S. S.D. Large Small Avg.
Fed. Prem. Sierra MatchKing BTHP 77-grain 2,278 64 20.9 1.23 0.86 0.99
Lapua 69-grain OTM 2,434 99 65.8 1.23 1.06 1.15
Hornady .223 Match 75-grain BTHP 2,510 76 28.3 1.48 1.13 1.28
PMC 55-grain FMJ-BT 2,610 169 65.8 1.75 1.22 1.53

The controls include a flat-faced CMC Match trigger and a
Battle Arms Development 45-degree, short-throw, bilateral American Eagle 55-grain FMJ-BT 2,859 55 16.8 2.38 1.64 2.01
safety. KNS Precision Gen2 Mod2 anti-walk trigger and
hammer pins are also provided.
NOTES: E.S. = Extreme Spread; S.D. = Standard Deviation. Large = largest
group in inches; Small = smallest group in inches; Avg. = average group size
In spite of not using the Silverbow Elite previously in a match,
for three five-shot groups.
I managed to finish fourth out of a field of 36—with the help of
winning the man-on-man steel pistol stage within my squad Velocity was recorded at the muzzle in feet per second (fps) using a
and good shotgun stage times. LabRadar device and is an average of 10 consecutive shots. Accuracy was
measured at 100 yards.
The Silverbow acquitted itself well, with excellent 100-yard
accuracy, no malfunctions and good handling. The only thing box at targets approximately 50 yards away. My eye was too
that slowed me down at all with the rifle and definitely added close to the scope for a good sight picture, so I had to take
some time to my score was using the scope in the prone time to adjust the stock and reposition my head to obtain one.
position. For stage 1, we had to shoot off the top of a Conex This was not a fault of either the rifle or the scope; rather, it
resulted from my lack of familiarity with the rifle-and-scope
The open lower
Delphi receiver reveals
the CMC Match
combination in various shooting positions.
Tactical trigger, Battle Arms

YOUR SEARCH HAS ENDED
DP-15
Development safety,
and KNS Precision Today, there are many AR-15-style rifles from which to
Silverbow Gen2 Mod2 anti-

walk trigger and
choose. They range in price from about $600 to several
Elite hammer pins. thousand dollars. The Silverbow Elite is at the middle to
upper end of the scale.
SPECIFICATIONS
TYPE: Semiautomatic; direct-impingement, mid-length That said, I strongly believe in the adage, “You get what you
gas system pay for.” In the case of the Silverbow Elite, you get many
CALIBER: 5.56 NATO (tested), 300 Blackout custom features and don’t have to discard anything—as you
UPPER RECEIVER: Billet aluminum; flat top; forward assist; would if you bought a base model and upgraded at a later
M4 feed ramp
date. Also, if you prefer, almost anything on the Silverbow Elite
LOWER RECEIVER: Billet aluminum
BOLT CARRIER GROUP: Sharpes Rifle Company XPB; full-auto can be upgraded at the time of purchase.
rated; DLC finish
BARREL: 16.5-inch POF Puritan; enhanced extraction I could easily see myself shooting a Silverbow in future IIGL
technology; 1:8 twist rate matches. It is easily one of the best—and probably the best—
MUZZLE BRAKE: AAC Blackout 51T
AR-15 I have ever shot. It is accurate, reliable, lightweight and
SIGHTS: Magpul MBUS Pro (front and rear)
HANDGUARD: Delphi Tactical Ion Ultra Lite, 15.7 inches with
M-Lok rail (KeyMod available)
OVERALL LENGTH: 36 ¾ inches (fully extended); 33 ½ inches
(collapsed)
BUTTSTOCK: Mission First Tactical Battlelink Minimalist
PISTOL GRIP: X-Tech Tactical (ATG)
TRIGGER: CMC Match, flat
TRIGGER PULL: 3 pounds, 12 ounces (average of 10
consecutive pulls using a digital Lyman trigger pull gauge)
The best groups were
WEIGHT: 6 pounds, 13.1 ounces (unloaded) obtained using Federal
MSRP: $1,994 Premium 77-grain
URL: DelphiTactical.com Sierra MatchKing
BTHP ammunition.
78
is a great-handling rifle. Add to that the fact
that it is designed and built by dedicated war
fighters who know what it takes to make a
good rifle that shoots well, and you have the
recipe for an outstanding rifle.
If you’re looking for a high-end AR-15 rifle

that will last the average shooter a lifetime,
look no further. The Delphi Tactical Silverbow
Elite and its siblings offer plenty of versions
to choose from. GW
GW-1808-Hogue 5/11/18 11:15 AM Page 1
At the Delphi Tactical store, the interested buyer can

see and touch the rifle-of-interest while watching a
detailed descriptive video of that rifle.
GLOCK
& GLOCK17
1
COMING 9
SUMMER
2018!
Joey proudly holds

his Silverbow Elite
AR-15 Rifle.
HOGUEINC.COM 1-800-438-4747
GRIPS P.O. BOX 91360, HENDERSON, NV 89009
EVERYDAY CARRY TEXT AND PHOTOS BY STEVEN PAUL BARLOW
If you resist change, you

might miss out on some
great, new gear.
EDC
ALWAYS BE OPEN TO “NEW-
AND-IMPROVED” IDEAS.
I
tend to be skeptical of “new-and-improved” products,
especially when it comes to EDC gear. When I find
something that works for me—a knife, flashlight,
holster—I tend to stick with it and often buy two or three
of them before they’re discontinued.
But I do pay attention to new gear introductions, and lately, it’s

been an old-dog-new-tricks type of situation for me with some
of the gear that has caught my attention.
STREAMLIGHT TLR-8
UPDATES
I was camping years ago when, in the middle of the night,
several raccoons decided to approach the open-front lean-to in
which my children slept. Rabies was widespread in the region
at the time. I lit up the raccoons with a tactical flashlight in one
hand, and in the other I held a pistol at the ready.
As it turned out, the animals weren’t rabid, and I was able to

scare them off (we kept a clean camp, and there wasn’t anything
80
The Snag Mag is an If you’ve ever done low-light shooting using a separate flashlight in
easy-to-carry spare
your support hand, you know what an advantage it is to be able to
magazine holder with
pocket clip that keeps get a normal two-hand hold on your gun, especially when follow-
the mag positioned up shots are required. And, because the unit can be removed
correctly. The holster
stays in the pocket when quickly, I have the option of using it as a separate handheld light
you draw the mag. for times I don’t want to point a gun at something I simply want to
illuminate (such as raccoons in front of my kid’s tent).
The TLR-8 features ambidextrous on/off switches, light-only,

laser-only and light-and-laser modes and has a locking mode
to keeps the light from accidental activation. It has a suggested
retail price of $350. There is also a TLR-7 model with light only,
to interest them anyway). But I came away wishing I had a light no laser, for an MSRP of $215.
mounted on my weapon.
SNAG MAG MAGAZINE HOLSTER
I’ve resisted the notion of a weapon-mounted light for my EDC Having a spare magazine available for your pistol is a good idea,
gun for a long time, but the light units keep getting smaller, but carrying one loose in a pocket doesn’t keep it positioned for
making them more-reasonable options. One, in particular, is a quick reload. There are inside-the-waistband mag carriers and
Streamlight’s new TLR-8, a rail-mounted light/laser combo. I’m models that are carried deep in the pocket.
quickly becoming a believer.
I’ve found something better.
The TLR-8 combines a red-laser sight with a white light that has
an output of up to 500 lumens. That’s plenty powerful enough to Snag Mag is a single magazine carrier with a pocket clip that
light up anything I might have to engage at handgun distances. holds your spare mag just inside the pocket, as for a folding
The best part is that these lights are just 2.15 inches long and knife, and positions it correctly so you won’t have to fumble with
weigh under 3 ounces. The unit is powered by a single CR123A it when you need to reload quickly. The Snag Mag is made of
battery that you can find just about anywhere these days. polymer and is offered in models for specific handguns. There’s
a wing on the carrier to keep it from pulling out of your pocket
Another big benefit is that the TLR-8 can be snapped onto a gun’s when you withdraw your magazine. The Snag Mag is made in
rail and hand tightened without tools. That’s important, because the United States and has a suggested retail price of $35.
I’m not executing arrest warrants anymore, so I probably won’t
want the light on my gun 24/7.
The small Streamlight
TLR-8 light/laser rail
So, whether I’m home, at a hotel in a strange city or in the woods combo is easy to mount
at night, I can attach it in seconds and have the advantage of and detach.
the light and the laser for accurate aiming in low light and from
awkward shooting positions.
81
EVERYDAY CARRY
I’VE RESISTED THE NOTION OF

The author has replaced
his Streamlight Protac
1AAA light (top) with
the new Streamlight A WEAPON-MOUNTED LIGHT
Microstream USB light
(bottom) for everyday FOR MY EDC GUN FOR A LONG
carry.
TIME, BUT THE LIGHT UNITS
KEEP GETTING SMALLER,
MAKING THEM MORE-
REASONABLE OPTIONS.
STREAMLIGHT MICROSTREAM USB No, none of these tiny guns is meant for a sustained gunfight,
I have drawers full of flashlights, but the one that has now for which you might have to perform a speed reload. But when I
become my EDC light is the new Streamlight MicroStream USB. need to put the bad guy off balance, giving me the time to get to
It provides 250 lumens on “high” and 50 lumens on “low.” Yes, I a bigger gun, this can do the trick.
have more-powerful small lights, but this one is just 3.87 inches
long—and, more importantly, it is just .61 inch in diameter. I have the combo model, which includes a second cylinder in
That’s about the thickness of a ballpoint pen. It weighs only 1.2 .22LR. It’s proven to be well made, reliable and surprisingly able
ounces with a battery installed. to get accurate hits out to about 10 yards or so. The MSRP for
the combo model is $574.
It’s powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Slide the
sleeve at the front of the light forward, and there’s a micro USB KEEP AN OPEN MIND
port, so you can charge the light without removing the battery or The bottom line is that you have to be open to new EDC ideas.
the need for a separate charger.
So, should I get two of each, just to be sure I’ll always have one? Sure.
It has a two-way pocket clip, so I can attach it to the brim of my (And while I’m at it, maybe I should get a second Glock 19, another
cap for hands-free use. I might carry one of my more-powerful, Oriskany Arms 425FP 1911 and another HK VP9SK ... .) GW
bigger-diameter lights when I’m walking the dogs or heading to
the woods, where I need to really light up the trail ahead. But for CONTACT INFORMATION
everyday carry, this light disappears in the pocket, and I do use
NORTH AMERICAN ARMS
it every day—day and night. NorthAmericanArms.com
The light has a runtime of 1.5 hours on “high” and 3.5 hours on SNAG MAG
“low.” It charges in about four hours. A USB cord and lanyard are SnagMag.com
included. The suggested retail price is $50.
STREAMLIGHT
Streamlight.com
NAA RANGER II
I prefer guns larger than the pocket pistols that are now all the
rage. But I do go tiny, too—around the house; when I have a
larger gun close by; or I if am out for a jog, for which I need to
go light in the extreme.
I’ve often carried a North American Arms Sidewinder five-shot,

single-action revolver in .22 WMR as a backup and deep- The NAA Ranger II is a
concealment gun. Now, I’m testing the company’s newest tiny, five-shot revolver
in .22 WMR you can
design, the Ranger II. This is a break-top revolver of the type conceal practically
once popular years ago. Pull the latch on top of the receiver, and anywhere. Its break-top
design is easier to
the gun opens on a hinge at the bottom of the frame, exposing
load and unload than
the entire cylinder and making it short work to load and unload. previous NAA models.
ABOUT Steven Paul Barlow is a retired sergeant/station commander and former firearms
THE instructor with the New York State Police. He has been writing on outdoor topics
for more than 30 years and has served as the editor for a number of Engaged
AUTHOR Media special publications, including Gunslingers.
82
TRAIN TEXT AND PHOTOS BY MICHELLE CERINO
DON’T BE “THAT GUY

... OR GIRL” W
e’ve had quite a few students come
through our training classes over the
years, and most come prepared with the
correct gear and clothing. However, every
once in a while—to our amazement—we
WHAT NOT TO WEAR

a have student who arrives not quite dressed for the occasion.
To prevent our readers from becoming “that guy or girl,” I’m
TO A FIREARMS
sharing our “What Not to Wear to a Firearms Training Class”
list (in no particular order). (Note: All images have been
recreated to protect the not-so-innocent!)
TRAINING CLASS
1. PRISTINE WHITE DRESS SHIRT
We held a team-building range session for a large corporate firm.
Quite a few people were dressed for a day of golf. A white, button-
An IWB holster is not the best choice for an inexperienced shooter at a class.
84
down shirt is not the best choice for an event that involves putting Flip-flops are not safe on the range, especially when shooting class goes dynamic.
ammunition into sooty magazines, which often makes one’s fingers
and hands black. A better choice would be a shirt made for the
outdoor weather and that also provides some sort of sun protection.
2. SHORTS
Ricochets (“splash-back”) happen more than many people
realize—especially when shooting steel. Plus, casings left
on the range floor can be slipped on, and they hurt like the
dickens when you kneel on them. When dynamic shooting or
steel is involved on a range, a better choice is long pants.
3. FLIP-FLOPS
Yep, the same student noted in #1 and #2 sported flip-flops.
Did we mention our outdoor range is made of black cinders?
The hazards that can befall toes and feet are almost endless
and include hot brass, stubbed toes and having heavy objects
dropped on them. But for the grace of God, that student ended
the day uninjured ... but very dirty. A better choice on the A pristine white dress
range is always close-toed shoes. shirt will undoubtedly
get dirty on the range.
Shorts are also not
4. V-NECK OR COLLARED SHIRTS a good choice when
shooting steel or in
Ladies, especially those who are well endowed, should avoid dynamic shooting
V-neck shirts. Hot brass, either from the student’s own gun or classes.
... EVERY
ONCE IN A
WHILE—TO OUR
AMAZEMENT—
their neighbor’s gun on the shooting line, inevitably finds the Worn leather holsters
WE A HAVE
STUDENT WHO
could cause problems
V-neck funnel. Aside from the fact that it will leave a pretty when there is a lot of
good mark, it also leads to the “hot brass dance,” which can work from the holster
ARRIVES NOT
during the class. Here,
be dangerous: The student jumps around, often with flailing
the shooter is pointing
arms and waving a loaded firearm, trying to get the hot brass the gun at themselves
QUITE DRESSED
off her skin. A better choice is a higher-neck shirt or even a as they try to open
the holster with the
neck gaiter to keep the hot brass out. muzzle.
5. PANTS WITHOUT BELT LOOPS

Simply put: Belts are held in place by belt loops. Cinching a FOR THE
belt over a sweatshirt or loosely slung on yoga pants is not
conducive to successful firearms training. The belt needs to OCCASION.
85
TRAIN
WE SEE A LOT
OF BRAIDED
OR FASHION
BELTS THAT
DON’T HAVE THE
STRENGTH TO
KEEP THE HOL-
stay in place so the holster is always where it needs to be. Fashionable STER UP ON THE
WAIST AND IN
sunglasses might
You shouldn’t have to hold your belt down on your hips while not protect you
you try to draw your pistol. Find pants with belt loops that are from projectiles.
PLACE.
Shooting-specific
strong and wide enough for the belt to fit through. or ballistic-rated
glasses are a must.
6. FASHIONABLE OR DRESS-STYLE BELTS
We see a lot of braided or fashion belts that don’t have the the best holster to go through a thousand-draws class.
strength to keep the holster up on the waist and in place. Every time people come with a worn-in leather pancake
During a full day of firearms training, there will be numerous holster, they struggle while re-holstering. Often, they end up
draws from the holster. A thick belt, made specifically for use pointing the gun at their hip, trying to open it up. A strong
with a holster, is a much better choice. Kydex holster is the better choice for classes that involve
constant re-holstering throughout the day.
7. STYLISH SUNGLASSES
Everyone knows eye protection is mandatory on a range. 10. COMPACT GUN
However, some students don’t realize the importance of Men and women, alike, will come to training with a small,
wearing glasses specific to shooting. Those fashionable single-stack compact pistol, intending to shoot it the entire
sunglasses worn at the beach aren’t designed to stop high- time. When a class involves shooting 1,000 rounds over
velocity objects flying toward your eyes. Do some research a couple of days, they realize those little guns aren’t the
and find eye protection with lenses that wrap around and are easiest to shoot. Yes, you should train with your carry gun;
both impact resistant and shatterproof. however, when learning the fundamentals of marksmanship
or attending a high-round-count class, a full-sized pistol
8. IWB (INSIDE-THE-WAISTBAND) HOLSTER offers greater success in the long run.
When a student wears an IWB holster, he often struggles
getting the gun safely back in, causing class to slow down. Without belt loops, a I’m not saying students have to be “tacti-cool”—or even
gun belt will not stay
A solid OWB (outside-the-waistband) holster is the better in place. tactical—when attending firearms training classes. Heck,
choice when attending a pistol class with a high round I’ve been known to wear my wide-brimmed fishing hat and
count—unless, of course, the class is specific to concealed pink scarf to keep the sun off my face while teaching.
carry or you are very proficient with your IWB holster.
I do hope you had a little giggle while reading this training
9. SOFT, WORN LEATHER HOLSTER column; and, perhaps because of my suggestions, you will
Everyone has a favorite holster, but that doesn’t mean it’s have more success at the next course you attend. GW
ABOUT THE Michelle Cerino is both a firearms trainer and the president of Cerino Consulting and
Training Group, LLC—a firearms training company she built with her husband, Chris,
AUTHOR in 2011. She writes, hunts and competes in major 3-gun matches nationwide.
86
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AMMO 411 TEXT AND PHOTOS BY PATRICK SWEENEY
NOVX AND W
hen I began shooting in the late 1970s, the
world of handguns and rifles—vis-à-vis
bullets—was simple. Rifles used “cup-
and-core” bullets, and they performed
pretty well ... as long as your expectations
were firmly rooted in the 1920s. Handguns had just gotten
CARTRIDGE
hollowpoint bullets, but no one expected them to actually
expand, no matter how you tested them, unless they were from
Super Vel; and who wanted the blast and recoil?
Now? Wow! Over the last couple of decades, rifle bullets have
been the subject of hi-tech inquiry, testing and computer
ADVANCEMENT
modeling and are so superior to what they used to be that it’s
almost a surprise we still call them “bullets.”
And handguns? Well, once the FBI appropriated the test

procedure of the IWBA and added barriers, bullets now perform
all out of proportion to previous expectations. Today, if a
handgun bullet doesn’t expand in testing, we are surprised.
88
And we’re poised for another advance ... or are we? The latest shooters, the hollowpoint bullet of today looks little, or no,
comes from NovX, a company that didn’t just change the bullet; different from the JHP of 1978, 40 years ago.
it changed the cases as well.
If the NovX Extreme Engagement did not do what it is
SIGNS OF THINGS TO COME posited to do, it would perform just like the JRN it looks
The bullets are injection-molded sintered copper and a binding like. Here’s a benchmark: I have never stopped a 9mm
agent, with flutes. They call it “Engagement Extreme,” and the (or larger) FMJ or SWC in a normal block of gel. Not the
process is not easy to grasp, short of having one of several rifle or the handgun, which is a bit smaller. In fact, a lot
different college degrees. of the bigger ones will exit two blocks, back to back. A
9mm 124-grain FMJ will penetrate 28 inches of ballistic
OK, when you fire a bullet, it leaves the muzzle with a certain gelatin. If the NovX doesn’t do anything, it would penetrate
velocity. It also leaves with a certain rpm—a rotational rate. as deeply, despite being lighter.
Regular bullets then strike the target and trade energy for
deceleration and deformation. We call it “stopping in the NovX penetrates only to the back of a rifle block, sometimes
target” and “expanding.” falling out of the back and failing to stick in the next block in
line. Eighteen inches. Those 10 “lost” inches of penetration are
The NovX Extreme Engagement doesn’t deform. What happens NovX ammunition
happening from something. We won’t know if it is significant
is that it uses the rotational energy—which, for the most part, uses a bullet made until we (and pardon me for being so blunt) get enough after-
of sintered copper
isn’t used in the previous model—to decelerate the bullet. It action reports of people being shot with them to get a sense
and a binding agent
transfers its energy to the target, using the flutes to “stall” in the that are molded into of “yes or no” on the bullet.
medium it has entered. (And yes, this is a gross simplification. a fluted bullet that
uses high-speed
But short of pages of calculus, that’s as far as we’re going.) rotation to create NovX added a bonus: The case is a two-part design, using
damage. The case stainless steel and aluminum. It is lighter and it can be picked
is two-part, using
So, the average shooter takes a look at the NovX EE bullet, stainless steel and
up at the range with magnets; but unlike the commie-derived
studies the flutes and says, “No way.” Of course, to most aluminum. steel cases, it can be reloaded.
89
AMMO 411
HONEY BADGER
Another approach along these lines is the Honey Badger from OVER THE LAST
Black Hills. Instead of a molded bullet, it is machined from
COUPLE OF DECADES,
RIFLE BULLETS
copper rods, and the nose is an ”X” shape—the same sort of
flute design/action to take advantage of rotation for energy
transfer. It, too, would overpenetrate, were it not performing
as described, but it also penetrates more along the depths of HAVE BEEN THE
expanding bullets, rather than FMJs.
SUBJECT OF HI-TECH
The world is changing. Change is neither bad nor good. It is INQUIRY, TESTING
what you make of it. Some shooters will jump on this advance.
Some will study it and adopt it only once it is proven. Others will
AND COMPUTER
utterly reject it, regardless of how good it might be. MODELING AND ARE
The question is, Is the FBI adaptable enough? It is the The Black Hills Honey SO SUPERIOR TO
current gatekeeper of ammo performance testing, and part Badger cartridge
uses the same WHAT THEY USED
TO BE THAT IT’S
of its scoring system tabulates bullet expansion. The NovX rotational energy
and the Honey Badger do not expand. If the FBI penalizes principal as the NovX
ALMOST A SURPRISE
EE, except that it uses
them (or others) for that failing to expand, it would be machined copper
understandable—but unfortunate. rods for the bullet
and a traditional
brass case. WE STILL CALL THEM
“BULLETS.”
The world is changing, whether we want it to or not. Me, I am
keeping a close eye on these, because if there is an advantage,
I want it. Yes, I’m greedy that way, so sue me. GW
ABOUT Patrick Sweeney has been a decades-long reloader, competition shooter,
THE
gunsmith and firearms writer. He is also a state-certified law enforcement
firearms instructor, a court-recognized expert witness—and winner of much
AUTHOR more than his fair share of loot and glory.
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CLEARED HOT TEXT BY BRIAN BERRY PHOTOS BY BRIAN BERRY AND ROBB MANNING
THE AR-15
MODERN
SPORTING H aving retired from Special Forces more than four
years ago, I no longer have a requirement to kick
doors in ... unless it’s the bathroom door because
my kids or the wife are taking too long.
RIFLE
The realization that this part of your life has come and gone is
IS IT YOUR BEST BET hard to take for some. But for most of us, the skills and knowledge
that years of training and countless deployments have ingrained
FOR HOME DEFENSE?

in us never really go away. The use of firearms and hand-to-hand
are a couple of those things that are still relevant and useful, even
long after finishing your service to our country.
92
IT IS JUST ANOTHER TYPE OF RIFLE CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS
The use of a rifle for home- and/or self-defense is a valuable tool A LWRCI M6IC As with any weapon, understanding capabilities and limitations
in your overall defensive posture. outfitted for fighting. are important when considering a firearm you might choose
While all of this is
useful, the average
for personal defense.
It seems the hot topic these days is the modern sporting rifle person might not
set up their MSR
(MSR), more commonly referred to as the AR-15 (very much the In the September/October 2006 edition of Infantry Magazine,
like this; and it does
same way all photo copying machines are almost always referred start getting heavy. authors Major Glenn Dean and Major David LaFontaine addressed
to as the “Xerox”). The reality is that this is a semiautomatic rifle Pictured here is the the bullet capabilities of 5.56mm ammunition and found that
EOTech EXPS3 and
with the same basic mechanical functions of any other semiauto the new Crimson at close range (fewer than 50 meters), “Though there might
Trace CWL-100. be differences for a single given shot, the tradeoffs of delivery
(Photo: Robb Manning)
accuracy, penetration, fragmentation and wound damage
behavior, and speed and efficiency of energy deposit all serve to

render differences between rounds minimal.”
They stated further, “Shot placement trumps all other variables;

expectation management is key.”
rifle, such as the Ruger 10/22. Pull the trigger; one round is
fired. It’s not “scary” just because it’s black or has military-like I think most gun owners would agree with the second statement,
accessories. The AR-15-style rifle is still just a rifle. It is not an even though bullet selection should still be a concern. While plenty
“automatic rifle,” “assault rifle” or “machine gun,” as it is often of surplus or aftermarket military-style ammunition is available, the
called in the mainstream press. steel core of the M855 is likely less effective at close range than
standard lead core ball ammunition. An even better choice is the
ARE THEY REALLY THAT SCARY? plethora of self-defense ammunition available to the civilian market.
I currently own several different models of the modern
sporting rifle and can attest that they can be used for more The Streamlight TRL-1 EVEN THE ODDS
puts out 300 lumens
than just self-defense. They are not the weapon-of-choice One of the things that also makes the MSR popular for self-
and can be attached
for mass shooters, as the media would have you believe. In to any Picatinny rail defense is the ability to attach additional enhancements to the
system. This is a rifle without major modifications. Adding a light, laser or sight is
2014, Chicago had 107 mass shootings (a “mass” shooting
good choice for those
is defined as having three or more victims). By the summer of looking for lightweight easy using Picatinny, M-LOK or KEYMOD connections. In addition,
2015, there had been 192 mass shootings, according to the illumination. the ability to have 30 rounds of ammunition is important to many.
Chicago Tribune. Few of those are attributed to rifles, and even
fewer are attributed to the modern sporting rifle.
IT MAKES SENSE FOR HOME DEFENSE

While the modern sporting rifle has many uses, its use as a
home-defense firearm might be the most important. It is easy to
learn how to operate, and it is accurate at both close range and
distance. The wide variety of ammunition also makes it a favorite.
For home defense, it is easy to move throughout the home without

getting caught up and tangled, as might happen with a longer rifle.
Its light weight also makes it easy for any member of the family to
learn to use and be able to operate without the fatigue one might
feel with heavier rifles.
93
CLEARED HOT
THE USE OF A RIFLE

FOR HOME- AND/
OR SELF-DEFENSE
IS A VALUABLE
This is useful, given that, according to a study from the Bureau of The Pelican 7100
TOOL IN YOUR
OVERALL DEFENSIVE
rechargeable
Justice Statistics, “ ... an estimated 3.7 million household burglaries
flashlight is great for
occurred each year on average from 2003 to 2007. In about 28 a stand-alone light. It
percent of these burglaries, a household member was present
during the burglary. In 7 percent of all household burglaries, a
puts out plenty of light
and can be recharged
via USB.
POSTURE.
household member experienced some form of violent victimization.” WHAT’S THE PLAN?
With all that being said, you should do an assessment of your
MOST COMMON TIMES FOR BREAK-INS house and find out how you would defend it if you had to.
It seems that when you see reports on break-ins these days, there
is always more than one assailant involved. For that reason, I When devising a plan, consider the following questions: Do you have
never recommend moving toward the assailant if there is a break- a strong point from which you can defend? Are you going to have to
in while you are home (a break-in or burglary in which someone is move to your children to ensure their safety? Can you exit the house
in the home is called a “home invasion”). Let them come to you. to safety without alerting invaders? Do you have a house alarm; is it
connected via land line or cellular; and can the connection be cut or
Statistics show that the master bedroom is the place they want interrupted? Do you have in-home cameras you can use to assess
to hit first. That is most probably where you will be during the who and how many are in your home? And most importantly, does
break-in if you are home. Forty-three percent of invasions everyone in the house know the plan and what to do?
happen during the day; only 26 percent happen at night. Daytime
is more likely—obviously because criminals like an empty house. Regardless of what you choose to arm yourself with, proficiency
If criminals are bold enough to break in at night, they probably is the key. Second to that is to have a backup plan in case of
mean to do you harm. unforeseen circumstances. As a Green Beret, for me, the M4 was
a primary weapon, but a pistol was there for backup—not to
mention the rest of the team. Make sure you have a backup and
The Surefire M900A
Vertical Foregrip that your “team” is prepared as well. GW
Weapon Light is no
longer produced by
ADDITIONAL READING
SureFire, but it can
still be found. It puts
out plenty of light and
has selector options
for constant-on or
instant on/off.
Bureau of Justice Statistics, September 2010, Special

Report, Victimization During Household Burglary
https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/vdhb.pdf
Small Caliber Lethality: 5.56mm Performance in Close

Quarters Battle; Major Glenn Dean, Major David Lafontaine
http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/magazine/
issues/2006/SEP-OCT/pdfs/SEP-OCT2006.pdf
Brian Berry is a retired Army Special Forces Command sergeant major. He is a

about former Special Forces weapons sergeant and has multiple combat tours under
the
his belt. Brian is the co-founder of Spartan Defensive Concepts, at which he
teaches concealed carry and defensive marksmanship courses. Brian retired
author in 2014 and is now a consultant currently working for the Special Operations
community, as well as a senior instructor for American Survival Guide University.
94
3-INCH GROUPS AT 100 YARDS. Solid claim for a rifle.
Ravin crossbows get it done with bolts. If it shoots, handles or
performs like a Ravin, it should be in your gun safe. See the crossbow
that shoots like a rifle at RavinCrossbows.com.
Speed (400 gr) 430 FPS I Kinetic Energy 164 FP I Width Axle-to-Axle 6” Cocked I Length 34.5” I Physical Weight 7.1 lbs
Chewing the Fat TEXT AND PHOTO BY JEFF QUINN
THE STANDARD AUTO

The Standard Auto was unlike any other. 22 pistols in that the
action was more like a rifle action than a pistol action, having
a bolt inside a tubular receiver, as opposed to a slide atop a
frame, as was typical of other designs. This made for a very
rugged and reliable design, and the Ruger pistol proved to be
accurate as well. The tubular receiver was mounted atop a
stamped-and-welded grip frame, which housed the fire control
parts and magazine.
This is the pistol that launched the Ruger brand, and the company
and product line have been growing ever since.
Shortly thereafter, about 1951, Ruger introduced the Mark I

Target pistol. In this first generation, only the target model pistols
were designated “Mark I.” It was the same basic design as the
Standard Auto, but it wore a heavy, longer barrel, adjustable
sights and had a better trigger.
The author’s original Ruger Standard Auto .22
(bottom)—the gun that built Ruger. This one is serial
number 0132. Ruger produced a special Mark IV for The Standard Auto and Mark I pistols enjoyed enormous
the author with serial number JQ-0132 (top). popularity, while other brands fell by the wayside. The pistol
THE RUGER
proved to be reliable, accurate and affordable, and most other .22
semiauto pistols just could not compete.
THE MARK II
The Standard Auto and Mark I pistols remained in continuous
production through 1981, with the pistol receiving significant
STANDARD
changes and becoming the Mark II in 1982. At this point, both
the fixed-sight Standard Auto and the Target Model pistols were
christened as the “Mark II.” The Mark II retained most of the
features of the earlier pistols but added a bolt stop to hold the
bolt open on an empty magazine and increased the magazine
capacity to 10. The Mark II 22/45 polymer-framed version
AUTO .22
was introduced in 1993, and the Mark II pistol continued to be
produced through early 2005.
In 2005, Ruger again made design changes to the .22 pistol,

designating the pistol as the “Mark III.” The Mark III saw
the introduction of a loaded-chamber indicator, a magazine
PISTOL
disconnect safety and an internal key lock, all of which were
not particularly welcomed by most shooters. Even so, a popular
change was moving the magazine catch from the heel of the
grip frame to the left side, just behind the trigger guard, as most
Americans seem to prefer.
The Mark III pistols continued production into 2016, with many
THE GUN THAT BUILT RUGER

variations available, including stainless steel, blued or aluminum
alloy barrel/receiver units mounted atop stainless, blued or
polymer grip frames.
I
n 1949, Alexander Sturm and William B. Ruger formed MAJOR UPGRADE
Sturm, Ruger & Company. On limited capital, they This brings us to the most significant changes yet to the Ruger
bought used tooling, set up shop and began producing .22 pistol, now designated the “Mark IV.” I first saw a prototype of
an affordable .22 semiautomatic pistol with a nine-shot the Mark IV several months prior to it being announced and had
magazine: the Standard Auto. been more than anxious to see it go into production.
96
While shooters have always loved the Ruger .22 pistol design,
many have belly-ached at the process required to disassemble
and reassemble the pistols for cleaning and maintenance. If
done exactly right, the pistol will sometimes, just sometimes, go
ABOUT
back together very smoothly and easily. However, the process THE
can be frustrating at times, even when following directions
closely. The mainspring housing must be perfectly aligned
AUTHOR
with the hammer strut and receiver or it just ain’t going back
together—regardless of the size of the mallet used to bang on it
or the colorfulness of the vocabulary used to curse it.
The Mark IV solves that aggravation with the push of a button.

Located just beneath the receiver at the rear of the pistol
is a black button that is pressed to allow the receiver to tilt
upward and away from the grip frame and then lifting the
barrel/receiver from the grip frame—much like breaking open
a double- or single-barrel shotgun. The bolt then slides easily Jeff Quinn is a full-time
out of the receiver for cleaning. writer/reviewer on Gunblast.
com, an online gun magazine
Other changes to the pistol include the elimination of the started in 2000. He has also
loaded-chamber indicator and key lock features, which written for the Gun Digest
were unpopular on the Mark III series. While the magazine Annual and enjoys living life
disconnect safety has been retained, it has been redesigned, in the woods of Tennessee,
and the magazine is ejected sharply when the mag release where he raises Longhorn
button is pressed. cattle … and his grandkids.
One of the most endearing features of the Mark IV, to me, is the addition of an ambidextrous manual
safety, making the pistol user-friendly for us left-handed shooters; and the safety design is much better
for both right- and left-handed shooters, being much easier to manipulate than the previous safety of
the past generations. I was born terminally left handed, and for many years, I have been hoping the AD INDEX
aftermarket would develop an ambidextrous safety for the Ruger .22 pistol. It never happened. The Mark
BRAVO COMPANY ............................8-9
IV is much better suited for left-handed use.
CHIAPPA FIREARMS .......................... 51
CZ-USA .............................................. 63
CLASSIC DESIGN
DANIEL DEFENSE ............................... 23
I have in my possession a very early Standard Auto, serial number 0132. I bought it because to me, it
DEL-TON ............................................ 87
is a historical firearm. It’s just a Standard Auto like many others. But if these early pistols had not been
DILLON PRECISION............................... 3
successful, one of the world’s best makers of firearms would have folded, and many of the firearms
FOBUS U.S.A. ..................................... 79
we enjoy today would never have been. That first successful design has endured for decades, serving FRANKLIN ARMORY ........................... 19
millions of shooters with a fine, reliable and affordable pistol. GTUL .................................................. 71
HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS.................... 91
Ruger recently did something for me—which probably means nothing to anyone else but means a great HKS PRODUCTS, INC. ......................... 33
deal to me: Knowing that I still have serial number 0132, the good folks at Ruger produced a very similar HOGUE GRIPS .................................... 79
Mark IV Standard Auto with a similar serial number: JQ-0132 (“JQ”—“Jeff Quinn”). They didn’t have to KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP......... 59
do this, but there are some classy people running Ruger, and the people are what has built that company LES BAER CUSTOM,INC. ....................... 7
into what it is today. GW RANGERPROOF SWAG ........................ 29
RAVIN CROSSBOWS ........................... 95
THAT FIRST SUCCESSFUL DESIGN RIO GRANDE CUSTOM GRIPS, LLC ...... 97
ROCK RIVER ARMS ............................ 15
HAS ENDURED FOR DECADES, SIG SAUER ........................................... 2
SERVING MILLIONS OF SHOOTERS

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY ...................... 99
STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC. .... 100
WITH A FINE, RELIABLE AND

TAURUS INTERNATIONAL.................... 31
TRUGLO ............................................. 43
AFFORDABLE PISTOL. VISTA OUTDOOR ................................. 83

WILSON COMBAT ............................... 53
X-TECH TACTICAL .............................. 41
97
DOWN RANGE PHOTO BY ROBB MANNING
Glock G17 Cutaway
98
EDC
The Ruger® EC9s™ comes with no
gimmicks, rebates or mail-in offers
for gift cards... just the rugged,
reliability of the striker-fired LC9s®,
now with integral sights and a no-hassle
price point that won’t break the bank.
The Ruger® Security-9® is an affordable, rugged,

NOW STANDS FOR
EVERYDAY CHOICES
mid-sized pistol that provides everyday security
in the perfect caliber, size and price point.
WHY CHOOSE BETWEEN THEM

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

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TAURUS SPECTRUMMORE

SPECTRUM MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE

AUGUST 2018 VOLUME 59, NO. 08

0 74470 03105 5 4 OVERLOOKED

Rangefinder: Riflescope: Powered by:

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Learn more at sigsauer.com.

For a FREE Catalog, call 800-762-3845

dillonprecision.com Pictured with optional accessories.

PHOTO: Robb Manning

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

www.gunworld.com p AUGUST I 2018

BATTLE OF THE 6-POINTS: 6.5 GRENDEL VS. 6.8 SPC