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26 OCTOBER 2017 VOLUME 58, ISSUE 9

34 42 58 66 74 The Ferrari of 10mm Auto Pistols This new long-slide 10mm Model 1911 from Ed Brown may be the finest practical-size “magnum” semiautomatic pistol made. Joseph von Benedikt

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

78 80

Stretching Limits Pair a Trijicon AccuPoint riflescope with Remington’s Model 700 Ultimate Muzzleloader and you have a rig capable of downing elk at 400 yards. Joseph von Benedikt

BFR 2.0 Recently upgraded, Magnum Research’s BFR revolvers are built for heavy-duty use. Brad Miller, PhD

Have It Your Way Thanks to E.R. Shaw, you can have a quality rifle made to your specifications for a very reasonable price. Joel J. Hutchcroft

American Predator Ruger’s popular American Rifle is now available in a Predator version. Steve Gash

.33 Nosler The new .33 Nosler is a real bruiser of a round that makes the most of 0.338-inch bullets. Steve Gash

Quick Shot CMMG Mk3 DTR2 CMMG’s Mk3 DTR2 top-of-theline AR provides top-drawer performance. Jake Edmondson

Quick Shot HSM 6.5 Creedmoor Hunting Ammunition HSM Ammunition now offers 6.5 Creedmoor hunting ammunition. Jake Edmondson

Quick Shot SIG We the People 1911 Sporting a new distressed finish and star-studded grip panels, this special 1911 will be offered for a limited time. Joel J. Hutchcroft

MEAT AND POTATOES. LASERGRIPS AND MY .45.

Fact is, you can’t have one without the other. I’ll admit, the laser was a tough sell at ﬁrst. Didn’t think I needed the extra help. Might have been the ego of my youth, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t better with it. That’s why I’ve had Crimson Trace on my 1911 for a decade now. It’s made right just like everything else I depend on: my truck, my business and my family. That means something to me. SURVIVAL IS MANDATORY. LASER SIGHTS ARE VITAL.

MY STANDARD EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE AT YOUR PREFERRED RETAILER

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CONTENTS

OCTOBER 2017 VOLUME 58, ISSUE 9

SHOOTER’S UPDATE

An Outdoor Sportsman Group® Publication

PUBLISHER

8 Readers Speak Out

Chris Agnes

A wonderful rifle, don’t forget Charter Arms, the 1851 Navy is better, and a need for .32 ACP PolyCase ammunition

EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF Joel J. Hutchcroft COPY EDITOR Michael Brecklin

10 New Guns & Gear Black Hills Gold ammunition with Hornady ELD-M and ELD-X bullets, Taurus Curve Viridian, Caldwell Stinger Shooting Rest, and Lyman Master Gunsmith Tool Kits

12 Ask the Experts A good first handgun, the pros and cons of a full-length recoil spring guide rod in a Model 1911, and the K-Hornet

SHOOTER’S GALLERY 14 The Shootist Dan Wesson Model 15-2 Joseph von Benedikt

CONTRIBUTORS Jake Edmondson Steve Gash Allan Jones Lane Pearce Layne Simpson Bart Skelton Joseph von Benedikt Terry Wieland

ART ART DIRECTOR Luke M. Bouris GROUP ART DIRECTOR David A. Kleckner STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Michael Anschuetz

PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER Terry Boyer PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Jenny Kaeb

18 The Ballistician .308 Winchester Allan Jones

ENDEMIC AD SALES NATIONAL ENDEMIC SALES Jim McConville (440) 791-7017

22 The Reloader Reloading the .22 Nosler Lane Pearce

SHOOTER’S SHOWCASE

WESTERN REGION Hutch Looney — hutch@hlooney.com MIDWEST REGION Rob Walker (309) 679-5069 EAST REGION Pat Bentzel (717) 695-8095

NATIONAL AD SALES EAST COAST ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Kathy Gross (678) 589-2065

84 Gunsmoke The Keys to a Good Hunting Rifle Terry Wieland

MIDWEST ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Kevin Donley (248) 798-4458 MIDWEST & MOUNTAIN ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Carl Benson (312) 955-0496

88 Hipshots Hunter-Heroes of the Corps of Discovery Joel J. Hutchcroft

DIRECT RESPONSE ADVERTISING/NON-ENDEMIC Anthony Smyth (914) 693-8700 Shooting Times (ISSN 0038-8084) is published monthly with a bimonthly issue in Dec/Jan by Outdoor Sportsman Group®, 1040 6th Ave., 12th Floor, New York, NY 10018-3703. Periodicals Postage Paid at New York, NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Shooting Times, P.O. Box 37539, Boone, IA 50037-0539. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to 500 Rt 46 East, Clifton, NJ 07011. Canada Post International Publications Mail Product/Sales Agreement No. 41405030.

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Readers Speak Out Illustration: ©mstanley13 - fotolia.com New Guns & Gear Illustration: ©Oleksandr Moroz - fotolia.com Ask the Experts Illustration: ©rukanoga - fotolia.com

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Copyright 2017 by Outdoor Sportsman GroupÂ® All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission. Shooting TimesÂ® is a registered trademark of Outdoor Sportsman GroupÂ® in the United States. The Publisher and authors make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of the information contained in this publication. Any reliance or use of the information is solely at your own risk, and the authors and publisher disclaim any and all liability relating thereto. Any prices given in this issue were suggested prices at the press time and are subject to change. Some advertisements in this magazine may concern products that are not legally for sale to California residents or residents in other jurisdictions. SUBSCRIPTIONS INQUIRIES: Should you wish to change your address, order new subscriptions, or report a problem with your current subscription, you can do so by writing Shooting Times, P.O. Box 37539, Boone, IA 50037-0539, or E-mail us at stmcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com, or call TOLL FREE 1-800-727-4353. BE AWARE THAT SHOOTING TIMES ONLY ACCEPTS SUBSCRIPTION REQUESTS FROM AUTHORIZED AGENTS! WE MAY NOT HONOR REQUESTS FROM UNAUTHORIZED AGENTS, AND YOU THEREFORE MAY LOSE YOUR MONEY IF YOU BUY FROM AN UNAUTHORIZED AGENT. If you are offered a subscription to Shooting Times, please call 1-800-727-4353 to determine if the agent is authorized. For more information on subscription scams, please visit www.ftc.gov. Subscription rate for one year is $23.98 (U.S., APO, FPO, and U.S. possessions). Canada add $13.00 (U.S. funds) per year, includes sales tax and GST. Foreign add $15.00 (U.S. funds) per year. Occasionally, our subscriber list is made available to reputable firms offering goods and services that we believe would be of interest to our readers. If you prefer to be excluded, please send your current address label and a note requesting to be excluded from these promotions to: Outdoor Sportsman Group â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1040 6th Ave, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10018-3703 Attn: Privacy Coordinator, or email your label information and note to privacycoordinator@outdoorsg.com FOR REPRINTS: For Reprints/Eprints or Licensing/Permissions, please contact: Wrightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Media - TOLL FREE 1-877-652-5295. CONTRIBUTIONS: Manuscripts, photographs and artwork must be submitted to the editorial department with a SASE. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to unsolicited material. Please send to: Shooting Times, Editor, 2 News Plaza, Peoria, IL 61614. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

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SHOOTER’S UPDATE READERS SPEAK OUT

SEE IT IT WAS INTERESTING TO READ JOSEPH VON BENEDIKT’S “THE SHOOTIST”

LEARN IT

column about the Remington 600 in the June issue, and it brought back a lot of memories. My first centerfire rifle was a Model 600 in .308 Winchester, bought new in 1967. The muzzle blast was (I think) responsible for a lot of hearing loss in my left ear. Even so, I have fond memories of that rifle. It would shoot 1.5-inch groups at 100 yards and was also the first rifle for which I handloaded ammunition. It was lost in some kind of trade, something I still regret. I remember Pete Brown writing about it in Sports Afield in the 1960s. He recommended the 600 to someone for a particular use, and after describing it at length, he wrote, “All this, and you can also get a 5¢ cigar,” referencing the $99.95 price it sported. Von Benedikt mentioned the missing front sight on his rifle. There was probably a reason for that. Another review published in the ’60s described the rifle quite accurately; when the author (whose name I’ve long forgotten) got to the front sight, he described it as “surmounted by a gold bead, somewhat smaller than a grapefruit.” I still laugh about that, but it was a wonderful rifle. Fred Hargis Wapakoneta, OH

Model 1851 Is Superior to Model 1860

BUY IT

I read “The Shootist” column in the July issue concerning the 1860 Colt Army. I think Joseph von Benedikt heaped a little too much on the 1860, as I am sure he is aware of why Wild Bill preferred the 1851, as I also do. The 1851 was a better-balanced handgun than the 1860. The 1860 had a lot of eye appeal, but when it comes to shooting, the 1851 beats it. LK Hot Springs, SD

Don’t Forget Charter Arms

Watch Davidson’s Gallery of Guns Television to see unique and exclusive guns, learn about them, and buy from your local GalleryofGuns.com retailer.

I am writing about Allan Jones’s “The Ballistician” column in the June issue titled “.32 Caliber for Defense.” He mentioned that he could “find no major gunmakers currently offering the .32 H&R Magnum.” I don’t know if Charter Arms is considered a “major gunmaker,” but it offers the five-shot, 2-inch-barreled Undercoverette model in .32 H&R Mag. I find it to be an excellent backup gun and a good choice for hot weather pocket carry. Charter Arms makes excellent defensive revolvers in calibers ranging from .32 to .44 Special. I own several, and they always go “bang” when their triggers are squeezed. Bill Anderson Tacoma, WA

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SHOOTER’S UPDATE READERS SPEAK OUT

NEW GUNS & GEAR

ASK THE EXPERTS

Lyman Master Gunsmith Tool Kits

BLACK HILLS GOLD RIFLE AMMUNITION NOW FEATURES HORNADY ELD-M

and ELD-X bullets. These bullets have extremely high ballistic coefficients, which, according to Black Hills, results in longer range and flatter and more effective shooting. Black Hills Gold rifle ammunition loaded with ELD-M and ELD-X bullets is offered in chamberings ranging from .260 Remington to .338 Lapua. MSRP: Not available at presstime black-hills.com

Lyman’s Master Gunsmith screwdriver sets provide all the bits needed by anyone who works on firearms. These complete sets come with bits for slotted screws, hex screws, 6-lobe screws, and Phillips screws. There is also an assortment of specialty bits, including a Weaver scope ring bit; a Glock front sight bit; a Model 1911 grip bushing bit; and 0.062-inch, 0.093-inch, and 0.118inch pin punches. The sets include a ratchet wrench so maximum torque can be applied to tough-to-remove screws. The slotted screw bits are hollow ground and properly fit screw slots to prevent cam-out. The sets are packed in hard plastic cases and are available in 45- and 68-piece sets. MSRP: $44.98 (45-piece set); $59.98 (68-piece set) lymanproducts.com

Caldwell Stinger Shooting Rest Caldwell’s new Stinger Shooting Rest combines a sleek, all-black design with the user functionality and rock-solid stability the company is known for. The new rest has an innovative front elevation system and a springloaded height-adjustment knob that allows for fast, one-handed elevation adjustment. The rest also features a heavy-duty dual metal frame, quick cam locks, and molded front and rear supports. MSRP: $119.99 btibrands.com

Taurus Curve Viridian The Taurus Curve .380 ACP pocket pistol now features a new onboard Viridian light/laser module that pairs with a pocket-mounted trigger shield. When the trigger shield is detached as the pistol is drawn, the light/laser’s instant-on feature is activated. The unit can also be operated via a traditional on/off push button. The pistol’s “melted” edges and cellphone size make it comfortable and discreet to carry. Magazine capacity is six rounds. Barrel length is 2.7 inches. Weight is 13 ounces. MSRP: $419 taurususa.com 10

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

NEW

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SHOOTER’S UPDATE READERS SPEAK OUT

NEW GUNS & GEAR

ASK THE EXPERTS

With its scaled-down grip and frame, Ruger’s Bearcat .22 rimfire single-action revolver is a great choice for a new shooter’s first handgun.

hand is generally much harder with a fulllength guide rod installed. Jake Edmondson

MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN LEARNING

to shoot handguns. I have some experience with the activity and am confident I can teach them the golden rules of shooting. But I’d like an expert’s opinion on what type of handgun to start them out with. Is my 9mm duty pistol too much gun for them? Dan Kaiser Via email

My dad started me out on a .38 Special Hawes doubleaction revolver when I was about eight years old, and I’ve loved shooting handguns ever since. But I wouldn’t recommend doing that. I’m a firm believer in starting any new shooter with a .22 rimfire handgun. Obviously, they should wear ear and eye protection, and even with earmuffs on, the mild report and low muzzle jump of a .22 rimfire handgun are much easier for a new shooter to get used to. There are a lot of good .22 rimfire handguns to choose from, but when my daughter wanted to learn to shoot, I bought her a Ruger Bearcat single-action .22 revolver. With its scaled-down grip and frame, it was perfect for her small hands and slight stature, and the fixed sights posed no problem for her to learn the proper sight picture. Her revolver is a vintage gun, but Ruger still makes the little revolver in the form of the New Bearcat, and I recommend it highly. The standard model has fixed sights, but a distributor special gun is offered with an adjustable rear sight if that type of rear sight is preferred. Joel J. Hutchcroft

What Are the Pros and Cons of a Full-Length Recoil Spring Guide Rod in a Model 1911?

I know that the standard recoil spring guide rod assembly uses a recoil spring plug, the recoil spring, and a short recoil spring guide, but I see that some Model 1911s come with full-length recoil spring guide rods. What are the pros and cons of the full-length guide rod? Jim Hansen Via email

With a full-length guide rod, the recoil spring is forced to compress straight back in a much more consistent fashion, theoretically improving functional reliability and adding to the life of the spring. A full-length guide rod is believed by many to improve a 1911’s accuracy. And the added weight of a full-length guide rod can help reduce muzzle flip. Now to the cons. Typically, a 1911 with a full-length guide rod requires a bushing wrench for disassembly. Also, clearing a malfunction with one 12

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

What Is the .22 K-Hornet?

While visiting a local gunshop I overheard a couple of good old boys talking about a cartridge called the .22 K-Hornet. They said it had a higher velocity than the .22 Hornet. Can you tell me more about the .22 K-Hornet? Thomas B. Watkins Via email

Originated by Lysle Kilbourn in 1940, the centerfire .22 K-Hornet wildcat is the standard .22 Hornet with less body taper, a sharper shoulder angle, and a shorter neck. It is often referred to as one of the first “Improved” cartridges. There are several versions of the wildcat, but perhaps the most common has a shoulder angle of 40 degrees, while the standard .22 Hornet’s shoulder angle is 5 degrees, 38 minutes. The blown-out case body and sharper shoulder angle increase the case capacity and allow more powder to be poured into the case, which in turn produces higher velocity. Typically, the .22 K-Hornet is anywhere from about 100 to 200 fps faster than the standard .22 Hornet. For example, the .22 K-Hornet loaded with a 45-grain bullet and 11.5 to 12.5 grains of powder produces a muzzle velocity ranging from about 2,875 to 2,900 fps. Standard .22 Hornet factoryloaded ammo carrying a 45-grain bullet typically produces a muzzle velocity of about 2,690 fps. Due to its improved performance, the .22 K-Hornet was—and still is—popular with varmint shooters. One nice thing about it is standard .22 Hornet ammunition can be fired in a rifle chambered to .22 K-Hornet, so obtaining brass for handloading is easy. Joel J. Hutchcroft

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SHOOTER’S GALLERY THE SHOOTIST

THE BALLISTICIAN

INNOVATIVE AND POSSESSED OF EXTRAORDINARY

Featuring an easy-swap, tensioned barrel, the Dan Wesson Model 15-2 was a superbly versatile .357 Magnum double-action revolver. The forward-mounted cylinder latch on the crane and a detent alignment ball at the rear make for a very precise, strong, and consistent cylinder lockup.

engineering, Dan Wesson revolvers were among the most accurate sixguns ever designed and produced. Built in .357 Magnum only, the Model 15-2 reported on here was both the most refined and most abundant of the line. Dan Wesson revolvers earned their reputation for accuracy legitimately, on the demanding fields of handgun silhouette competition. During the peak and long into the decline of the once-popular sport, the .44 Magnum version ruled the revolver category. Built using a refinement of Karl Lewis’s design, all Dan Wesson revolvers—including the new versions built by the CZ-USA-owned company located in Norwich, New York—utilize a shrouded, tensioned barrel and a unique cylinder latch on the crane rather than in the typical position behind the cylinder.

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

THE RELOADER

Knowledgeable shooters attribute the sterling accuracy to both of those characteristics.

Mechanicals Dan Wesson wheelguns are anything but typical. As mentioned, barrels are of tensioned design, threaded into the frame and covered with a beautifully machined shroud and a frontend barrel nut that secures the shroud and builds tension into the barrel. According to engineers far savvier than I, when applied to the barrel, this stretching action tames barrel vibration and increases consistency. A great side benefit is the ability to swap barrels in a matter of a minute or two, enabling owners to conveniently go from an 8.0- or 10-inch barrel for hunting or competitive shooting to a 2.5- or 4.0-inch barrel for daily carry.

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Dan Wesson 15-2

Each revolver came with a barrel-change tool and a feeler gauge with which to set the cylinder gap. “Pistol Packs” were available with up to three extra barrels, but most purchasers opted to start with one barrel and add others later. The crane-mounted cylinder latch enables a more precise lockup than the conventional behind-the-cylinder latch, and it’s stronger to boot. Paired with a rear-cylinder ball detent, it provides superbly straight and consistent cylinder-to-barrel alignment. It’s hard to say whether this or the shrouded barrel aids accuracy more. The combination of both typically results in outstanding precision. Unlike many double-action revolvers, the cylinder rotates clockwise, further reducing stress and wear on the cylinder latch by virtue of the fact that it rotates the same direction as the crane locks up. The most visually startling characteristic of the Model 15-2 is hidden. Because the hammer utilizes a compact coil spring and doesn’t need a skeleton frame to house it like a leaf spring does, the grip “frame” is a simple, sturdy post that juts down and rearward. A single screw up through the bottom of the grip secures it.

Provenance Purchased many years ago, the Model 15-2 shown here was my first .357 Mag. revolver. It was used but in superb shape. The wear I put on it packing it while hunting, cowboying, fence building, and such

over the following several years added honorable scars and wear. But the finish is durable, and it still looks good. Hoping to add an additional barrel, I searched mail-order catalogs and made phone calls. Barrels were available, but to my dismay they ran $212 plus shipping at the time. That was more than the entire revolver had cost me, so I put the idea on the backburner. One day some time later, while rummaging among the dusty shelves in the back storeroom of a hardware store in Provo, Utah, I found a pile of new Dan Wesson barrels, each marked $40. After considerable rumination, I purchased an 8.0-inch .357 Mag. version. To this day, I still wish I’d had the money to buy several others. It was a wonderful windfall, and the 8.0-inch barrel offered up a ton of fun and accurate shooting over the following years. Ironically, while certainly adequate, my Model 15-2 isn’t extraordinarily accurate, although I recall shooting at a boulder the size of a truck hood at 600 yards and hitting it every time once I figured out where to hold.

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MODEL 15-2

DAN WESSON 15-2 ACCURACY & VELOCITY

MANUFACTURER TYPE CALIBER CYLINDER CAPACITY BARREL OVERALL LENGTH WEIGHT, EMPTY STOCKS

Dan Wesson Double-action revolver .357 Magnum/.38 Special 6 rounds 4.0 in., 8.0 in. extra barrel 11 in. (4.0-in. barrel) 40 oz. (4.0-in. barrel) Pachmayr rubber

S.D. (FPS)

25-YD. ACC. (IN.)

3.55

Black Hills 148-gr. WC 733 31 .357 Magnum, 8.0-in. Barrel

1.58

SIG SAUER 125-gr. JHP

1472

2.26

American Eagle 158-gr. JSP

1328

1.82

1205

2.16

1.65

2.03

VEL. (FPS)

AMMUNITION

E.S. (FPS)

.38 Special, 8.0-in. Barrel Hornady Critical Defense 110-gr. FTX

1140

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Polished blue

Speer 158-gr. Gold Dot SP

SIGHTS

Fully adjustable rear; ramp front

.38 Special, 4.0-in. Barrel Black Hills 148-gr. WC 672 16 .357 Magnum, 4.0-in. Barrel American Eagle 158-gr. JSP 1215 37

TRIGGER

3.69-lb. pull (as tested)

NOTES: Accuracy is the average of three, five-shot groups fired from a sandbag benchrest. Velocity is the average of five rounds measured 10 feet from the gun’s muzzle.

Rangetime For this report, I fired three, five-shot groups with two .38 Special and three .357 Mag. loads to test the accuracy of the 8.0-inch barrel, after which I shot five rounds of each loading over my chronograph to measure velocity. Two of the five factory loads averaged less than 2 inches at 25 yards, with Black Hills’s 148-grain wadcutter averaging 1.58 inches. Not spectacular, but more than respectable. Switching out the 8.0-inch barrel for the 4.0-inch tube, I repeated the test with the .357 Mag. and .38

Spl. loads that were the most accurate in the 8.0-inch barrel. As I expected, the shorter sight radius made getting a really consistent sight picture a bit more difficult, and average group size opened up a bit. Vintage Dan Wesson double-action revolvers are difficult to find these days; however, new versions are available from the CZ-USA-owned Dan Wesson Firearms company. If you get your hands on one—old or new—you’ll possess one of the most accurate and adaptable sixshooters ever made.

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SHOOTER’S GALLERY THE SHOOTIST

THE BALLISTICIAN

IN 1952 WINCHESTER HAD A NEW .30-CALIBER

The .308 Winchester is a superb hunting cartridge with many bullet styles like the Hornady SST offered in factory ammo.

U.S. military service cartridge in the works, optimized for semiautomatic and full-automatic firearms and internally called the “T65.” The company released the cartridge as a commercial product, the .308 Winchester, well before the United States adopted the military version that we now know as the 7.62x51mm NATO. Optimization for fast-firing military guns affected cartridge case length and cartridge overall length (COL). The final T65 incarnation was roughly a half-inch shorter than the .30-06. Sport shooters, awash in a trend toward bigger case capacities, raised some eyebrows at the compact .308 Win. The .308 Win. looked very much like the old .300 Savage fitted with a longer neck. Sources cite the .300 Savage as the 7.62’s parent. That makes sense

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

THE RELOADER

because the first experimental T65 variant used a 47mm case, just like the Savage cartridge. “Smaller case, less performance” was a common mind-set in 1952, but the compact 7.62mm compared favorably to mil-spec .30-06 performance. Ball propellants and a slightly higher pressure limit than the .30-06 helped. For military ammo, the original 147-grain FMJ bullets in the 7.62mm M80 and 150-grain .30-06 M2 Ball ammo posted similar velocities at around 2,750 fps.

.308 Winchester Vs. .30-06 Although published factory ammo specs for the two cartridges show very similar velocities, does this parity extend to handloaded ammo? Not easily. Remember, factories have access to many more propellants than

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handloaders. I have lab data shot for pressure and velocity in .308 and .30-06 under identical conditions and fired only days apart with the same bullet (an experimental 150-grain bullet) and propellant lots. The average velocity advantage to the .30-06 is 156 fps. On average the .30-06 required a 14.2 percent propellant charge increase to post an average 5.6 percent velocity increase. In short, the handloaded .308 may equal and sometimes exceed .30-06 velocities with bullets of 130 grains and less; the .30-06 has the advantage

with 180-grainers and up. In general, the .308 Win. shines with the midrate propellants, and its larger cousin prefers its fuels be a bit slower burning. Did soldiers view the smaller cartridge as a backstep? Judging from old gun magazine articles and letters from disgruntled frontline soldiers, it’s possible. However, I was privy to data while working at the Crime Lab that showed a compelling advantage of the FMJ 7.62mm NATO military cartridge: terminal ballistics.

The .308’s Advantage

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I was fortunate to extensively interview a military professional who worked in a wound ballistics facility. He said that the 7.62mm—loaded with the same mil-spec bullet and fired into 15cm of ordnance gelatin—produced a temporary wound cavity almost twice the volume of the one produced by the .3006. I saw his data yet still wondered how this could be. It was something simple: rifling twist rate. The .30-06 military rate was one turn in 10 inches, or 1:10. The 7.62mm was 1:12 and thus rotated more slowly in flight. We know it takes a certain minimum rotation rate to keep a bullet nose-on and stable through air. When the bullet makes the transition from air to something else, such as tissue, the resistance of the tougher medium slows the bullet faster. To stay nose-on in denser medium, the bullet needs a faster spin rate to overcome the effects of slowing on stability. When the spin can’t match the speed loss, the bullet tumbles. Any bullet fired into sufficient length of soft media will eventually tumble. If a bullet is very stable in tissue, it may completely penetrate its intended target and not tumble until it is several feet from the exit point. In the early wound ballistic tests my source conducted, only cavity formation within the first 15cm (roughly 6 inches) of gelatin was considered. The developers felt 15cm represented the typical front-to-back distance of the vital zone in a human chest. The original 7.62mm NATO had a perfect combination of bullet shape,

velocity, and twist for this scenario. The 1:12 twist was accurate in flight but went unstable in tissue much earlier than the .30-06 loaded with the same bullet at higher rotational velocity. That meant a much bigger wound cavity starting closer to the entrance site due to a bullet spinning just a little more slowly. Did the 7.62mm developers realize this when working up the new cartridge in 1952? I can’t say. Imaging technology not available in 1952 allowed my source to make direct comparison of cavity location and volume. However, changing wounding characteristics of non-expanding bullets by using induced tumbling was well known when 7.62mm development began. The British 303 Mk VII rifle cartridge, adopted in 1910 and used long past World War II, had a 174-grain FMJ spitzer bullet that was almost as long as a .30-caliber 220-grain RN bullet. There was a lightweight filler plug between the lead core and the nose portion of the jacket that added length, resulting in reduced stability and quicker tumbling after impact. The “official” story is that the extra bullet length was needed so very early Enfield rifles throated for the original 215-grain FMJ RN could remain accurate with newer spitzer bullet ammo. Again, accidental or intentional—who knows for sure? This extended to British handgun cartridges as well. Both of the British service revolver cartridges, the .455 Revolver Mk II and the .380 Revolver Mk II-Z, had very oddly shaped bullets with strange nose profiles and/or massive hollowbases. They tumbled in gelatin—I’ve seen it. Its military origins aside, the .308 Win. is one of our finest sporting cartridges. It gets overshadowed by the bigger .30-calibers and “Magnums” but remains an accurate and dependable game-getter that doesn’t beat you senseless. Today’s bullets allow the .308 to cleanly take most nondangerous North American game, and it is a reloader’s dream. You can easily make ballistically consistent reduced loads for training recoil-shy new shooters or load a wad of tack-driving target loads for range day. I hope it is around a long time.

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SHOOTER’S GALLERY THE SHOOTIST

THE BALLISTICIAN

THE RELOADER

Handloading the high-performance .22 Nosler follows the same general procedure as other bottleneck rifle cartridges; however, when loading for use in a semiautomatic rifle, fulllength resizing of cases is recommended.

cannot be any longer than 2.26 inches. With the .22 Nosler, Nosler R&D Manager Mike Lake simply designed a larger-diameter .22-caliber case to accommodate more propellant (the .22 Nosler’s larger case diameter increases propellant capacity by approximately 18 percent) and thereby enhance the AR-15’s ballistic performance. The .22 Nosler does just that by increasing the muzzle velocity of typical 55- and 77-grain projectiles by several hundred fps. The new .22 Nosler was developed to seamlessly meld into the typical AR-15 platform. Since Nosler incorporated a .223/5.56-sized rebated rim, all you do is switch barrels and load up 6.8 SPC-specific magazines. To prevent inadvertently chambering a .223/5.56 cartridge, the .22 Nosler case shoulder is set back, i.e., has shorter headspace than the commercial/military rounds.

Observations

THE .22 NOSLER, WHICH DEBUTED IN THE APRIL 2017 ISSUE OF

Shooting Times, was developed to finally accomplish what civilian and military ballisticians have been trying to do for nearly 60 years since the .223 Remington/5.56 NATO was introduced: enhance ballistic performance. Before the U.S. military adopted the AR-15 and its revolutionary subcaliber cartridge in the early 1960s, the then-proposed new round had to survive several attempts to kill it as stubborn military factions demanded evermore stringent downrange performance. A 55-grain FMJ bullet launched at 3,200 fps finally was accepted. Since then, the 5.56x45mm military round and its civilian cousin (the .223 Rem.) .420 have been “improved” time and again with new propellants and heavier, but fast-as-possible, projectiles. At some point, a fixed length and fixed diameter .378 cartridge in a fixed, AR-sized platform just can’t do “more-better.” Any cartridge fired in an AR-15 platform is similarly constrained by the length and width of the rifle’s mag azine well. Therefore, an AR-15-compatible cartridge 22

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

Reloading the .22 Nosler follows the regular routine for handloading typical bottleneck rifle cartridges. The only thing I would emphasize is you must fulllength resize for ammo used in a semiautomatic rifle. Speaking of semiautomatic rifles, the one I used for developing my handloads is a DRD Tactical model CDR-15 with a special Lothar Walther 22-inch barrel with conventional land and groove rifling at a twist rate of one turn in 7 inches. I also built some handloads specifically for a rebarreled Kimber Model 84M bolt-action rifle that I had previously lengthened the magazine box on. The custom barrel for it was also made by Lothar Walther, and it is 25 inches long and has a twist rate of one turn in 7 inches. For the bolt-action-designated handloads, I chose to neck size in a Redding bushing die rather than

30°

1.389 1.515 1.760 2.260

.400 .255 .255 The .22 Nosler has a fatter case than the .223 Rem./5.56 NATO, and it also has a rebated rim.

.22 NOSLER ACCURACY & VELOCITY

BULLET

(TYPE)

(GRS.)

PRIMER

COL (IN.)

VEL. (FPS)

E.S. (FPS)

S.D. (FPS)

100-YD. ACC. (IN.)

Custom DRD Tactical CDR-15, 22-in. Barrel Hornady 75-gr. Match BTHP

CFE 223

30.0

WSR

2.250

3054

1.08

Hornady 75-gr. Match BTHP

W748

29.1

WSR

2.250

3016

1.22

Hornady 75-gr. Match BTHP Hornady 75-gr. Match BTHP

2000-MR H380

30.5 31.0

CCI BR CCI BR

2.250 2.250

2956 2953

48 37

20 14

1.20 0.92

Hornady 75-gr. Match BTHP

TAC

28.5

CCI BR

2.250

3021

1.20

Hornady 75-gr. Match BTHP

Varmint

28.5

CCI BR

2.250

2982

1.18

30.5 CCI BR 29.0 CCI BR 29.0 CCI BR Factory Load Factory Load

2.250 2.250 2.250 2.260 2.260

2891 2945 2945 3493 2980

14 17 27 79 25

5 7 10 33 11

1.00 1.03 0.65 1.28 0.72

Nosler 77-gr. Custom Competition Nosler 77-gr. Custom Competition Sierra 77-gr. MatchKing Nosler 55-gr. Ballistic Tip Nosler 77-gr. HPBT

H380 LVR LVR

full-length size, which I did do for the AR-15-specific handloads. I’ve reloaded some of my brass up to five times and have not yet needed to full-length size to ease chambering in the bolt rifle. As you can see in the chart, the .22 Nosler’s fatter case does provide significantly greater velocities compared to .223/5.56 ballistics. I spent most of my effort testing loads with the heavier .22-caliber bullets, but I was able to duplicate the factory velocity in one “varmint” load tried in the Kimber 84M. However, the faster twist of the test barrels is likely not the best for the lighter bullets. I must say that my handloads were

accurate enough, and many of them produced subMOA groups with four out of five shots; however, a flyer often opened up the groups. I developed most of my data before Nosler published the “official” load recipes, so some of mine may be a bit aggressive. Check out Nosler’s website for their load recipes. As an interesting aside, Lake was asked at the SHOT Show this year if he was aware of an earlier

.22 NOSLER ACCURACY & VELOCITY (CONT.)

BULLET

(TYPE)

(GRS.)

COL (IN.)

PRIMER

VEL. (FPS)

E.S. (FPS)

S.D. (FPS)

100-YD. ACC. (IN.)

Custom Kimber 84M, 25-in. Barrel Barnes 69-gr. Match Burner

H380

32.0

CCI BR

2.345

3202

0.95

Berger 70-gr. VLD Target

Varget

28.0

CCI BR

2.355

2964

1.00

Hornady 75-gr. Match BTHP Hornady 75-gr. Match BTHP

W760 LVR

31.1 29.0

Fed. 205 Fed. 205

2.355 2.355

2952 2993

49 71

17 20

0.95 0.93

Hornady 75-gr. Match BTHP

2000-MR

31.0

Fed. 205

2.355

3038

0.91

Hornady 75-gr. Match BTHP

H380

31.0

CCI BR

2.355

3021

0.81

2.340 2.355 2.260 2.260

3027 2981 3466 2978

27 66 39 30

8 18 16 12

0.83 0.67 1.00 1.25

Nosler 77-gr. Custom Competition Sierra 77-gr. MatchKing Nosler 55-gr. Ballistic Tip Nosler 77-gr. HPBT

2000-MR 2000-MR

31.0 Rem. 7½ 31.0 CCI BR Factory Load Factory Load

NOTES: Accuracy is the average of at least three, five-shot groups fired from a sandbag benchrest. Velocity is the average of 10 rounds measured eight feet from the guns’ muzzles. All load data should be used with caution. Always start with reduced loads first and make sure they are safe in each of your guns before proceeding to the high test loads listed. Since Shooting Times has no control over your choice of components, guns, or actual loadings, neither Shooting Times nor the various firearms and components manufacturers assume any responsibility for the use of this data.

cartridge that bears a striking similarity to the new .22 Nosler. Tom Gresham produced a 1963-vintage drawing of the .224 Winchester E5, one of several experimental rounds developed during the military’s controversial “new rifle/cartridge” development program.

The major features of the .224 Winchester E5—case diameter/length, rebated rim, and other features—are the same or very similar to the new .22 Nosler. Lake assured Gresham he had never seen the old drawing before. Sometimes it just takes a while for a good idea to become a reality.

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Tikka

AS THE DAWN EASED WE MOVED QUIETLY AMONG THE

rocks atop the windswept ridge, trying not to spook the lonely raghorn bull elk feeding some 250 yards below and across the canyon from us. The ridges around us were black, steep, forbidding, and perfect for solitary bulls recovering from the recent rut. A gleam of golden-glowing wheat just under the caprock far up the canyon caught my eye. My 10X42mm Trijicon binocular revealed a massive bull’s body, gaunt from the rigors of autumnal love. Most of his head was concealed by a pinon, but long beams waved above his shoulders as he browsed. I could see nothing else, but a lifetime of elk hunting told me this was a big bull. 26

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

Bolting a few yards up the slope, forgetting to move quietly, I pointed the bull out to Billy Poteet, my guide with Hunt Hard Outfitters. After looking through his spotting scope, Poteet leaned back and studied the daunting expanse of broken ridges and canyons between us and the bull. Glancing at me out of the corner of his eye, he whispered, “You know we have almost no chance of getting a shot, right?” “I know,” I said. “But we’ve got to try.”

Picking a solitary post-rut bull out of rugged high-desert country is challenging. Getting close enough for a shot is even harder. But there is no better feeling than packing out a good bull after such a demanding hunt.

“We gotta try,” Poteet answered, piling gear into his daypack. “Let’s go.” We piled off the ridge in great strides, sliding through shale and snaking through yucca cactus. Half an hour later we clambered up the back side of the tiny rocky knoll that promised our only chance of a shot. Across the canyon the bull was still feeding. “How far?” hissed Poteet, who wasn’t packing a rangefinder. “Right at 400,” I responded. “Get steady and take ’im,” came the measured response.

400 Yards? Ridiculous. Several days before, hunting partners Brad Fitzpatrick, John Fink (of Remington), Eddie Stevenson (representing Trijicon), and I had just finished checking our zeros outside of camp when our guides pulled up in a worn 12-valve Dodge Cummins. Elbow hanging out the window, Justin Erhart casually inquired, “Have you shot at 400 yet?” We’d all successfully smacked the 16x20inch steel Action Target plate I’d brought with me at 300 yards, but 400 yards? With a muzzleloader? Remington’s Model 700 Ultimate Muzzleloader was designed to extend the ethical range of today’s smokepole hunter, but 400 yards? We’d felt pretty good about consistently hitting at 300. Erhart pressed, “You really need to have an idea of where you’re hitting at 400. More often than not, that’s as close as you can get in these canyons.” 28

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

With Remington’s U.M.L. ignition system, which uses preprimed cases, heavy charges of powder, and magnum primers, the flash channel stays clean and ready for the next load, and there’s no need to remove the breechplug for cleanup.

The Rifle and Scope

“You know these are muzzleloaders, right?” I inquired. Eyebrows raised, I listened as Erhart rambled off a list of long-range muzzleloader kills of the past year, some with Remington’s Model 700 Ultimate Muzzleloader. “Most of those bulls,” he finished, “wouldn’t have been taken if the hunter hadn’t known where to hold at 400.” I do a considerable amount of long-distance shooting with precision centerfire rifles, and pushing any muzzleloader to 400 yards seemed both impractical and unethical. With my steel plate now at 400 yards, I ran a quick calculation on my iPhone’s ballistic app, dialed the turret on my Trijicon 2.5-12.5X 42mm AccuPoint scope up the suggested amount, carefully loaded four Hodgdon Triple Seven pellets and a 350-grain Federal B.O.R. Lock bullet, and shot. I proceeded to produce a 6-inch, three-shot group just above the center point on my target. Now inspired, Fitzpatrick and Stevenson got out their guns. Incredibly, over the many shots sent downrange during the ensuing hour, not one missed the 16x20 plate. With the rifle’s ability to consistently place shots at 400 yards proven, I had to pause a moment. Was I willing to take a shot at a live animal at that distance? The big muzzleloader slugs hold velocity surprisingly well and would certainly deliver adequate energy at that distance. As early as the Civil War, good riflemen effectively shot conical bullets in excess of 1,000 yards, and the Creedmoor and Whitworth competitive teams reliably placed heavy lead projectiles muzzleloaded into their match rifles at 800, 900, and 1,000 yards. Early buffalo hunters routinely took animals at extended distances with .50-70 and .50-90 cartridges, although savvy hunters would later gravitate to the better aerodynamics of the various .45-caliber blackpowder cartridges. As with all long-distance shooting, the wind was the primary joker in the deck. Even a light 3- to 4-mph crosswind produced a shocking amount of deviation. But in calm conditions, I realized, 400 yards was doable on an elk.

In recent years aspiring hunters have effectively stretched the ethical effective range of muzzleloaders, primarily using custom-built rifles based on bolt actions and a unique priming system featuring rifle primers in an abbreviated centerfire case. Remington springboarded off them, incorporating—according to John Fink—some improvements. The resulting Model 700 Ultimate Muzzleloader features a fluted stainless barrel, choice of laminate wood or composite Bell and Carlson stock, Remington short Model 700 action, and a ramrod. Touted to provide 300-yard big-game levels of accuracy with four Hodgdon Pyrodex or Triple Seven pellets under Remington’s all-copper, tipped 250-grain saboted bullet—which is purpose-built for the system by Barnes Bullets—the rifle provides hunters a sub-$1,000 option that offers performance close to that of the expensive custom rifles. As mentioned earlier, we stretched the Model 700 Ultimate Muzzleloaders a fair bit farther than 300 yards. Although they don’t feature the custom, handlapped barrels of their more expensive competitors, they performed in stellar fashion. Candidly, I don’t think they’re quite as accurate as a $2,500 to $5,750 custom long-range muzzleloader, but mine does produce MODEL 700 LSS ULTIMATE MUZZLELOADER MANUFACTURER TYPE CALIBER

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OCTOBER 2017 • SHOOTING TIMES

A compartment inside the Model 700 Ultimate Muzzleloader’s floorplate holds three primed abbreviated cases, ensuring that hunters will always be ready to prime and fire. Just don’t leave them in when checking in at the airport.

consistent 1.5-MOA groups with a couple different loads, and that’s very adequate for elk to 400 yards. Wind—which blows fat .50-caliber projectiles around like thistle down—is the limiting factor. On the subject of accuracy, choosing just the right projectile and sabot is critical. I found that while many different saboted bullets shot just fine with three Triple Seven pellets (150 grains), accuracy went completely awry when I stepped up to four pellets (200 grains). It seems that the more powerful acceleration with the heavier charge causes the projectile to “slip” inside the sabot, resulting in inconsistent stabilization and heinous accuracy. The bullet Barnes is building for Remington’s version features a shallow cross-slot in its base, which grips the sabot as it accelerates down the bore and prevents slipping.

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REMINGTON MODEL 700 LSS ULTIMATE MUZZLELOADER ACCURACY & VELOCITY

BULLET

(TYPE)

(GRS.)

VEL. (FPS)

E.S. (FPS)

S.D. (FPS)

100-YD. ACC. (IN.)

.50 Caliber, 26-in. Barrel Remington 250-gr. AccuTip

Triple Seven

200

2384

1.49

Federal 350-gr. B.O.R. Lock

Triple Seven

200

2059

1.54

NOTES: Accuracy is the average of three, three-shot groups fired from the prone position with a bipod. Velocity is the average of six rounds measured 12 feet from the gun’s muzzle. Ambient temperature: 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Elevation: 5,050 feet. All load data should be used with caution. Always start with reduced loads first and make sure they are safe in each of your guns before proceeding to the high test loads listed. Since Shooting Times has no control over your choice of components, guns, or actual loadings, neither Shooting Times nor the various firearms and components manufacturers assume any responsibility for the use of this data.

As would be expected in any Trijicon scope, my 2.5-12.5X 42mm AccuPoint features sledgehammer-tough construction, premium fully multicoated lenses, high-quality turrets and erector housing, side parallax focus, and adjustable-intensity fiber-optic illumination. This scope is incredibly versatile, working well on everything from fast-moving predators up close and in the dark to precision shots on distant prairie dogs or big game.

The Moment of Truth As I hunched prone among the rocks and steadied my Model 700 LSS Ultimate Muzzleloader over my pack, a very slight breeze played across my left cheek. With the AccuPoint’s glowing reticle steady and the bull calmly browsing, I whispered to Poteet that I’d hold on the front edge of the bull’s chest to

compensate for wind drift. “I absolutely need to know where my bullet impacts,” I added. “Be sure you’re far enough to the side to see past the smoke.” About to attempt a shot that I’d never believed possible, that only a few days earlier I’d questioned, I forced myself to pause. Was I doing the right thing or asking for a disaster? I knew I could hit the bull, and I had faith in the heavy 350-grain B.O.R. Lock projectile. Reticle steady on the bull, I squeezed the trigger. Smoke billowed, and the faint “whuck” of a bullet impacting flesh drifted through it as I scrambled up to reload. Knowing that consistent precision was paramount at this distance, I took the time to run a solvent-soaked patch down the bore, then a dry patch. “Where’d I hit?”

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13.8 in.

ILLUMINATION RETICLE

Fiber optic and tritium Duplex, MOA Dot, Triangle Post, Mil-Dot

RETICLE COLOR

Green

EYE RELIEF

3.9 in.

EXIT PUPIL

10.6mm to 3.3mm

FIELD OF VIEW

41.3 to 8.3 ft. @ 100 meters

ADJUSTMENT CLICKS

0.25 MOA

ADJUSTMENT RANGE

90 MOA

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Shooting very heavy charges of propellant in a muzzleloader requires special bullets. Both Remington’s 250-grain all-copper slot-based AccuTip (right) and Federal’s 350-grain lead B.O.R. Lock bullet (left) shoot inside 1.5 MOA. Trijicon is the world’s leader in non-electronic illuminated optics, and the author’s versatile 2.5-12.5X 42mm AccuPoint has served him well. The intensity dial atop the ocular housing allows the reticle brightness to be adjusted.

“Not sure. There’s too much smoke,” Poteet confessed as he quickly shifted another couple yards to the side. “He’s locked up—I think your shot hit him somewhere in the rib cage, a little back.” No American big game soaks up lead quite like elk, and as Poteet said, the massive bull was locked up in his tracks. Commanding the tremble from my hands, I reminded myself that slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. Focusing through tunnel vision, I smoothly accomplished a precise reload and fired again. And two more times. All four shots impacted solidly, the final

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one through both shoulders, causing the bull to lurch forward and to the ground. He was stone dead. Forensics later showed that my first bullet impacted a little low and drifted a foot past perfect, going through the liver. Mortal, but not immediately so. The bull was dead on his feet, but my final shot effected a quick end. When we got to the big bull we could see his long sweeping beams were tangled in a twisted juniper. Minutes later cloud vapor scudded through the New Mexico sky as we fell to quartering and caping.

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Research Inc. (MRI) makes big handguns. And by big, I mean big in size and big in caliber. When I hear the name, I think of the company’s Desert Eagle semiautomatic pistols, which are legendary and instantly recognizable in part because they are often seen in Hollywood movies. But Magnum Research is equally famous for its large and powerful single-action revolver: the Big Frame Revolver, or BFR, also known as the Biggest Finest Revolver. These large hand cannons come chambered for potent rifle and handgun cartridges. The first BFR I saw was chambered in .45-70. Egad, it was big, with an unusually long cylinder required for chambering the long .45-caliber rifle round. I had a .45-70 rifle for a few years and could not imagine how that round could be contained in a revolver, let alone one that held five shots. Just the thought of shooting it made my hand hurt. BFRs are available in eight standard calibers and two frame sizes. The long-cylinder model handles the following cartridges: .30-30, .444 Marlin, .45 Colt/.410, .45-70 Government, .460 S&W, and .500 S&W. The short-cylinder model handles .44 Magnum and .454 Casull. 34

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

Upgrades Magnum Research upgraded the BFR last year. The hammer was redesigned and is vertically higher to make it easier to cock, even with a gloved hand. The widened hammerspur was narrowed to the same width as the rest of the hammer. Another upgrade is the newly designed, soft, one-piece Hogue rubber grip. It fits the hand nicely and is “designed with the most correct taper needed for single-action shooting.” The new hammer and grip will fit any BFR made since 2000, and you can order them from Magnum Research if you want to add them to your existing revolver. The BFR is all stainless-steel construction and sports an attractive brushed finish. The cylinder is unfluted, which I find especially attractive. You can order a gun with a fluted cylinder from MRI’s Precision Center if that tickles your fancy. The BFR’s rear sight is serrated and fully adjustable for windage and elevation. The front sight blade is smooth, ramped, and tall, and it’s easy to see. Prefer an optical sight? No problem. MRI includes a Weaver-type scope mount with the revolver. The topstrap is already drilled and tapped, and screws are provided. My upgraded test gun was a 5.0-inch-barreled, short-cylinder model chambered for the versatile .44 Mag. Full-power .44 Mag. loads will easily take a range of game and can handle

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35 SHOOTING TIMES â&#x20AC;¢ OCTOBER 2017

Magnum Research Inc.’s BFR is an extremely strong and ruggedly designed revolver built for heavy-duty use. It’s been upgraded with a new narrower hammerspur and one-piece Hogue soft rubber grip.

defense against large predators, though some would say that it is the minimum round for the larger bear species. Considering that the gun can also shoot the mild .44 Special, it becomes even more of a do-it-all tool that can be applied to nearly any task from casual target shooting with light, low-recoil ammunition to a serious hunting gun when stoked with full-power magnums. BFRs are well known for being built rock solid, and my gun was no exception. As the advertisements say, the BFR is “designed as a magnum from the ground up.” It weighs 53.7 ounces and feels solid and hefty for its size. Compared to 44.7 ounces for a 5.0-inch S&W Model 629 and 45 ounces for a 5.5inch Ruger Super Blackhawk, that’s beefy. The extra weight of the BFR comes in handy when you light off full-power magnum rounds. Some quick math (based on my handload of a 240-grain bullet, 1,410 fps muzzle velocity, and 24.0 grains of powder) shows that the BFR will have 14.3

Rangetime

BFR MANUFACTURER TYPE CALIBER CYLINDER CAPACITY BARREL LENGTH OVERALL LENGTH WIDTH HEIGHT WEIGHT, EMPTY GRIPS

Magnum Research Inc. magnumresearch.com Single-action revolver .44 Magnum/.44 Special 5 rounds 5.0 in. 11.25 in. 1.75 in. 6.0 in. 53.7 oz. Hogue soft rubber

FINISH

Brushed stainless steel

SIGHTS

Fully adjustable rear, post front

TRIGGER SAFETY MSRP

ft-lbs of recoil and the Ruger Super Blackhawk will have 17.1 ft-lbs of recoil, which translates into the BFR producing 16 percent less recoil than the Super Blackhawk. That’s a noticeable difference. Don’t be fooled by the ruggedness of the description. The cocking action on this gun was very smooth. The trigger pull was smooth and light, measuring an average of 2.5 pounds on an RCBS trigger pull scale. The trigger exhibited slight creep before the break. It wasn’t so noticeable during casual shooting, but I felt it when shooting groups off sandbags, where a very slow, gradual application of pressure was applied to the trigger. BFRs are handfitted and precision designed. Barrels are handlapped, and the barrel-cylinder gap is held to less than 0.005 inch. When the loading gate is open, the cylinder can be rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise for loading and unloading. The BFR uses a transfer bar in the trigger/hammer system, so it can be carried fully loaded. The gun will not discharge if it is dropped and lands on the hammer.

2.5-lb. pull (as tested) Transfer bar $1,184

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

The BFR shot very well with most of the ammunition, but like most guns, it showed preferences. The average five-shot group size with magnum loads was 2.5 inches, and most were smaller. This BFR did not like the HSM load with the 305grain cast bullets. Eighty percent of those bullets showed some sign of yaw, producing asymmetrical grease marks or oblong hits on the paper targets. (Yaw means the bullets are not stabilized during flight, causing a deviation in their longitudinal axis, and in extreme cases the bullets hit the target sideways, which is tumbling.) I inspected the bore after shooting the HSM lead rounds but saw no evidence of leading. There was no evidence of yaw with any of the jacketed bullets from the magnum ammunition. In fact, it was dead-nuts accurate with the jacketed magnum loads. Ballistics of the factory ammunition were impressive. The Hornady 240-grain and Federal 180-grain loads both produced just over 1,100 ft-lbs of muzzle energy from the 5.0-inch barrel.

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The BFR comes with a scope mount base and mounting screws and a special tool for removing the one-piece grip.

It felt like it, too. Recoil was stiff. Oh, sure, it paled compared to lighter guns in this caliber, but full-power .44s are not like shooting a .22. I was thankful that the BFR was heavy to help absorb some of the recoil. On the other hand, shooting the .44 Specials in the BFR felt like shooting a mouse gun. Really. I was also shooting my 9mm pistol that same day, and it felt like the recoil of some of the

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Unlike many single-action revolvers that use a cylinder pin retainer to hold the cylinder base pin in place, the BFR’s cylinder pin is held in place with a screw.

.44 Specials was on par with the 9mm. The math showed the .44 Specials had only a little more recoil than the 9mm. My 9mm load with a 115-grain bullet traveling around 1,250 fps produced 3.0 ft-lbs of recoil in my 2.5-pound full-size Model 1911. The SIG .44 Special load with a 200-grain bullet loaded with 7.5 grains of powder had a velocity of 893 fps, meaning it produced only 3.4 ft-lbs of recoil in the BFR. Shooting .44 Specials in this gun is downright delightful. But the accuracy with .44 Special ammunition was mixed. Some loads had group size averages the same as the magnum ammunition, but the Blazer Gold Dot hollowpoints and Hornady FTX produced wide groups. I also noted more examples of bullet yaw. A couple of the hits from the handloads with 240-grain lead bullets looked as bad as the HSM lead bullets. This specific BFR did not like the lead-bullet loads I used that day. With the evidence of bullet instability from yaw or very wide groups in mind, I removed the cylinder often and examined it and the bore and cleaned them. At no time was there any unusual appearance in the bore, such as carbon or lead buildup. As a precaution, I regularly scrubbed the carbon from the cylinder throats, but there was no obvious reason for the tumbling other than simply a mismatch between the ammo and the gun. I’ll repeat what I said earlier. Some guns have distinct preferences for what ammunition they shoot well or don’t. It’s a compatibility issue, and you’ll never know how some ammo will shoot until you try it. The point of impact (POI) with the sights set from the factory was several inches low at 25 yards with the .44 Special ammunition. I was able to raise the rear sight enough to move the point of impact to match the point of aim, but the rear sight was then at the maximum of its vertical adjustment. The front sight is easily replaced, and Magnum Research

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OCTOBER 2017 • SHOOTING TIMES

has front sights of varying heights if one should need to do that. Not many revolvers offer that as an easy option. The Magnum Research Inc. BFR is a well-built gun, and it feels like the ideal-sized packing gun with its 5.0-inch barrel. In spite of its heavy weight, the short-cylinder version does not have an imposing size. It isn’t so large that it would be awkward to carry. I can see this gun in the holsters of hunters and hikers alike.

MRI also offers custom BFRs in 21 other calibers, including .218 Bee, .30 Carbine, .300 AAC Blackout, .45 ACP, .450 Bushmaster, .450 Marlin, .480 Ruger, .50 G.I., and .50 Beowulf to name a few. Barrel lengths range from 5 inches to 10 inches, with custom barrels that include octagonal and fluted configurations. These Biggest Finest Revolvers are extremely tough and made entirely in the USA. They’re built for magnum cartridges and designed to stand up to heavy-duty use.

MRI BFR ACCURACY & VELOCITY

BULLET

(TYPE)

(GRS.)

CASE

COL (IN.)

VEL. (FPS)

E.S. (FPS)

S.D. (FPS)

25-YD. ACC. (IN.)

1.600

1410 1661 1443 1380 1203

38 73 48 34 38

12 26 15 12 11

2.44 2.36 2.29 2.17 3.48

858 896 1117 993 893

34 41 43 39 69

12 14 13 15 18

2.42 2.40 5.96 6.27 2.58

PRIMER

.44 Magnum, 5.0-in. Barrel Hornady 240-gr. XTP Federal 180-gr. JHP Hornady 240-gr. XTP SIG SAUER 240-gr. JHP HSM 305-gr. Lead WFN Hornady 200-gr. XTP Bayou 240-gr. SWC Hornady 165-gr. FTX Blazer 200-gr. Gold Dot SIG SAUER 200-gr. JHP

H110

Bullseye Unique

24.0

Star. Factory Load Factory Load Factory Load Factory Load

WLP

.44 Special, 5.0-in. Barrel 5.0 Star. WLP 1.470 6.4 Star. WLP 1.490 Factory Load Factory Load Factory Load

NOTES: Accuracy is the average of five, five-shot groups fired from a sandbag benchrest. Velocity is the average of 10 rounds measured 10 feet from the muzzle. All load data should be used with caution. Always start with reduced loads first and make sure they are safe in each of your guns before proceeding to the high test loads listed. Since Shooting Times has no control over your choice of components, guns, or actual loadings, neither Shooting Times nor the various firearms and components manufacturers assume any responsibility for the use of this data.

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

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42 SHOOTING TIMES â&#x20AC;¢ OCTOBER 2017

N ALL THE YEARS THAT I’VE WORKED IN THE GUN

industry (it’s 40-plus years), until now, I had never had a rifle built to my own specs. Sure, I had a bunch modified, but none were built from the get-go based on my preferences. I’ve owned a few custom-made handguns, too, but I always purchased them new or secondhand but without having the opportunity to have them made specifically my way. That all changed a few weeks ago, when E.R. Shaw Inc. built one of the company’s Mk. VII bolt-action rifles specifically for me. Now, before you stop reading this article, let me say right up front that having the folks at E.R. Shaw build a Mk. VII rifle isn’t all that expensive. In fact, prices range from $950 to $1,525. I realize the upper end of that range is not in everyone’s budget, but a lot of us can manage to swing the lower end of the range. Come to think of it, you’ll pay pretty close to the upper end of that price range for any number of off-the-shelf, standard-catalog bolt actions from Ruger, Remington, Browning, Winchester, Kimber, Savage, and others, so even that doesn’t seem exorbitant.

Choosing the Chambering My first step with the build was choosing the chambering. E.R. Shaw offers more than 100 chamberings, so after much consideration, I selected the .338 Federal. Here’s why. The primary purpose of my Mk. VII rifle is big-game hunting, but I decided early on that I didn’t need—or want—a magnum cartridge. I did want a short-action cartridge that’s larger than .30 caliber. I enjoy handloading, so I wanted a caliber for which plenty of component bullets are available.

Joel chose the .338 Federal as the chambering for his E.R. Shaw Mk. VII because he wanted a non-magnum short-action cartridge larger than .30 caliber that’s designed for hunting big game.

OCTOBER 2017 • SHOOTING TIMES

And I also wanted a chambering for which enough factory-loaded options are offered to allow me to hunt game ranging in size from whitetails to elk and moose. The .338 Federal meets all those criteria. The .338 Federal was created in 2005 through a joint venture between Federal Cartridge Co. (now known as Federal Premium) and Sako. It was the first centerfire rifle cartridge to bear the Federal name. Several months ago, while reporting on some new Savage rifles, I wrote that the .338 Federal was the first non-magnum .338-caliber commercial cartridge. That was incorrect. I found that statement in the third edition of Ammo Encyclopedia, but thanks to several Shooting Times readers who wrote in to set me straight, I now know that the .33 Winchester was the first .338-caliber non-magnum commercial cartridge. (According to Cartridges of the World, the .33 Winchester was introduced in 1902 but was dropped in 1940 and is now obsolete.) Basically, the .338 Federal is the .308 Winchester necked up to .33 caliber. It was loosely based on wildcat .33-08 cartridges that appeared after the .308 Win. was

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The Mk. VII is based on a Savage action that has been reworked and tuned up, and it comes with the Savage AccuTrigger. The rifle also features a 16.25-inch custom barrel made by E.R. Shaw and a checkered walnut stock with recoil pad and sling-swivel studs.

introduced in 1952. Those various .33-08 wildcats accounted for untold numbers of whitetails, mule deer, elk, black bears, and even grizzly bears, so the .338 Federal was a big-game cartridge from the very beginning. The .338 Federal’s overall cartridge length is 2.820 inches, which is slightly longer than SAAMI specs for the .308 Win., so it should not be fired in rifles chambered for those old wildcats. Factory-loaded .338 Federal ammunition is currently available with 180-, 185-, 200-, and 210-grain bullets. The 180-grain loading is factory rated as having a muzzle velocity of 2,830 fps and a muzzle energy of 3,200 ft-lbs. The cartridge pushes a 185-grain bullet up to 2,750 fps for 3,106 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. The fastest 200-grain loading is rated at 2,700 fps and 3,237 ft-lbs. And the 210-grain offering has a muzzle velocity of 2,630 fps and a muzzle energy of 3,225 ft-lbs.

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While factory ammunition in .338 Federal is available loaded with premium bullets ranging in weight from 180 to 210 grains, a wider range of component bullets, a lot of readily available powders, and new brass from Starline make it a great candidate for handloading.

Those are published figures from the manufacturer. My actual velocities from shooting the various factory loads were slightly less, and they are listed in the shooting results chart on page 48. Regardless, the .338 Federal cartridge has been described by some as a light-magnum-performance cartridge wrapped up in a non-magnum, short-action package.

Ironing Out the Details I prefer blued steel and wood stocks, so I had the technicians at E.R. Shaw give my .338 Federal Mk. VII action and barrel a gloss blue finish. It is a very nice, rich, deep dark blue. I asked them to put the barreled action into a nice walnut stock, which they did. They pillar bedded it and free-floated the barrel, too. The stock has checkering on the fore-end and in the grip area, and it has a 0.25-inch-thick rubber recoil pad and sling-swivel studs. You can also choose stainless-steel barreled actions and laminated wood or synthetic stocks. A few words about the barrel are in order. E.R. Shaw has been making high-quality barrels for quite some time, and the company is well-regarded for them. The barrel for my rifle is 16.25 inches long and extends beyond the stock’s fore-end just 4.63 inches. It has a #2.5 contour with a muzzle diameter of 0.72 inch and a recessed crown. The twist rate is one turn in 10 inches. I specified the short barrel length for a few reasons, but chiefly because I wanted a rifle that goes in and out of my truck easily MK. VII MANUFACTURER TYPE CALIBER

Bolt-action repeater .338 Federal

CARTRIDGE CAPACITY

4 rounds

BARREL

16.25 in.

OVERALL LENGTH

36.25 in.

WEIGHT, EMPTY

7.75 lbs. (8.5 pounds loaded and with scope and sling)

STOCK

Walnut

LENGTH OF PULL

13.5 in.

FINISH

Gloss blued barreled action, satin stock

SIGHTS

None

TRIGGER SAFETY MSRP

E.R. Shaw Inc. ershawbarrels.com

3.75-lb. pull (as tested) Three position $957

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

and quickly. I see this rifle as my go-to gun, one that will travel with me much of the time. I also knew that back in about 2007 Ruger offered its Frontier scout-style bolt-action rifle in .338 Federal with a 16.5-inch-long barrel. And I have a friend who built an AR-10 chambered for .338 Federal with a 16.5-inch barrel, and I like the way it handles and shoots. My rifle fits perfectly in my aluminum gun case that I originally purchased for a 28-gauge over-under shotgun (the shotgun has to be disassembled to fit in the case), and it also fits in the short soft case that came with my favorite AR-15 carbine. E.R. Shaw recommends breaking in the barrel by shooting one shot and then performing a cleaning routine consisting of running a cotton patch that’s wet with solvent through the barrel, then running a wet brass or bronze bore brush back and forth eight to 10 strokes, following with another wet cotton patch, and then running a dry patch through the bore. That should be done after every shot for the first 20 shots. After that, they recommend shooting five, three-shot groups and doing the cleaning cycle, and then shooting one five-shot group and doing a cleaning. So that’s what I did. Obviously, it took a fair amount of time and a couple boxes of ammo, but it was worth it. Because the E.R. Shaw Mk. VII is based on a Savage action that the gunsmiths rework and tune up, the gun comes with a Savage adjustable AccuTrigger, complete with the built-in safety lever. My rifle’s trigger pull was nice and crisp, averaging 3 pounds, 12 ounces over a series of 10 measurements with my RCBS trigger pull scale, so I didn’t make any adjustments to it. It was easy to get used to right from the first squeeze. However, if one chooses to adjust the trigger pull on a Mk. VII rifle, it’s easy to do after removing the stock. The action has a three-position safety located on the tang. Most readers probably are aware that a three-position safety locks the bolt and trigger in the “Safe” position, allows the trigger to be squeezed and the bolt to be opened in the “Fire” position, and prevents the trigger from moving but allows the bolt to be opened in the middle position. Because my Mk. VII has a blind magazine with no hinged floorplate, it must

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Joel says his stubby Shaw Mk. VII .338 Federal rifle is a joy to shoot. He likes its weight and balance, and he is very pleased with its accuracy.

be unloaded by cycling each round, and the safe way to do that is with the safety in the middle position.

Shooting My Prize Rifle Maybe because I had a lot to do with the configuration or maybe just because the gunsmiths at E.R. Shaw make such a fine gun, but my Mk. VII was a joy to shoot from shot number one. I will admit it is very loud. That’s not a problem for me because I always use earplugs, even in the field when hunting. I really like the feel of the short rifle, and it comes to my shoulder quickly and easily. And I like its balance once it’s shouldered. The balance point is just ahead of the trigger guard—three inches ahead to be exact. The rifle weighs 8.5 pounds fully loaded, with my old Leupold 2.5-8X Vari-X 3 scope and an Allen Company sling installed, so felt recoil is not excessive. According to the online calculator I use, the ammunition I fired for this report generates between 14 ft-lbs and 18 ft-lbs of recoil in my gun. Compared to the .308 Win. loaded with the same bullet weights in a sameweight rifle, the .338 Federal has just about the same recoil. By the way, the .338 Federal 180-grain AccuBond factory loading was the most pleasant to shoot, and I achieved my best accuracy with that load, too. Speaking of accuracy, I am very pleased with my range results. Overall average accuracy was 1.33 inches for five-shot groups at 100 yards. All six of the factory loads and the two handloads I

fired averaged under 1.5 inches, and a couple hovered close to 1 MOA. The chart doesn’t show it, but many of the five-shot groups I fired had two or three shots within an inch of each other with the other shots opening up the string. I mentioned firing just two handloads, and I must give credit where it is due. Both recipes came from a Shooting Times article published in 2008 and written by Lane Pearce, but I used some brand-new Starline brass whereas Pearce used Federal brass. The new brass I used had the high quality Starline is known for, and it’s offered in quantities of 250 rounds (MSRP: $145), 500 rounds (MSRP: $270), and 1,000 rounds ($500). I’m not suggesting that everyone rush out and have E.R. Shaw build them a .338 Federal Mk. VII with a 16.25-inch barrel and a walnut stock, but I’m sure glad I did. I would recommend that everyone check out the E.R. Shaw website and play around with the features you might want in a custom rifle. The options are numerous (about 75,000, according to the company), and I’m willing to bet you’ll find one that’s right for you.

SHAW MK. VII ACCURACY & VELOCITY

BULLET

Barnes 185-gr. TSX Sierra 215-gr. Spitzer Federal 180-gr. AccuBond Federal 185-gr. TSX Federal 200-gr. Fusion Federal 200-gr. Trophy Bonded Tip Federal 200-gr. Trophy Copper Federal 210-gr. Partition

VEL. (FPS)

E.S. (FPS)

S.D. (FPS)

100-YD. ACC. (IN.)

.338 Federal, 16.25-in. Barrel Varget 46.0 Fed. 210 IMR 4895 45.0 Fed. 210 Factory Load Factory Load Factory Load Factory Load

2364 2383 2510 2512 2536 2515

40 21 36 47 48 52

22 8 17 22 24 19

1.31 1.43 1.17 1.25 1.49 1.27

Factory Load Factory Load

2491 2484

50 42

19 20

1.33 1.37

(TYPE)

(GRS.)

PRIMER

NOTES: Accuracy is the average of three, five-shot groups fired from a sandbag benchrest. Velocity is the average of five rounds measured 12 feet from the gun’s muzzle. Range conditions: Temperature: 80 degrees Fahrenheit; Wind: 19-mph crosswind; Elevation: 700 ft. above sea level. All load data should be used with caution. Always start with reduced loads first and make sure they are safe in each of your guns before proceeding to the high test loads listed. Since Shooting Times has no control over your choice of components, guns, or actual loadings, neither Shooting Times nor the various firearms and components manufacturers assume any responsibility for the use of this data.

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

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50 SHOOTING TIMES â&#x20AC;¢ OCTOBER 2017

HE MODEL 1911 MAY WELL BE THE FINEST

fighting pistol ever spawned, but in its standard configuration it isn’t particularly great for hunting—or for any purpose that calls for deep-penetrating projectiles and explosive energy. Big .45-caliber bullets loaded in the .45 ACP cartridge hit hard, but they have too much frontal diameter and too little velocity to drive deep. The result is arguably the best human-threat-thumping handgun cartridge available, but practical-weight semiautomatic pistols of every sort typically pale in comparison to magnum revolver cartridges for some applications. Chambering the 1911 in 9mm provides better penetration, but at the expense of that slapped-by-a-giant effect the .45 has. Plus, no 9mm bullet carries the weight of a heavy .41 Magnum or .44 Magnum revolver projectile. Only one 1911 configuration successfully bridges the magnum revolver/semiauto pistol performance gap. Chamber “Old Slabsides” in 10mm Auto and give it an extra inch of barrel and you have a semiautomatic pistol that approaches the authority of a .41 Magnum revolver.

Understated Perfection Several companies build long-slide 1911s chambered in 10mm, but none do it better than Ed Brown. The all-new LS10 (for Long Slide 10mm) is a rather understated pistol that offers superbly thought-out performance-enhancing features. Like all Ed Brown pistols, the LS10 is built on a forged, stainless-steel frame and slide machined in-house by the technicians at Ed Brown, with 100 percent Ed Brown machined parts. To knock the shine off that fine stainless frame and slide, the pistol is coated in matte black Gen4 Thermoset Polymer, a stateof-the-art finish used by several military units. According to Travis Brown, “Gen4 is made up of a special formulation that offers the best wear resistance and corrosion protection known. Wear is significantly improved over traditional oxide bluing and is significantly better than older chemistry polymers.” To help shooters get the most out of the 6.0-inch 10mm barrel, the LS10 features a factory-mounted Trijicon RMR reddot sight. Mounted on a steel plate that interfaces with a cut atop the rear of the slide just behind the lowered, flared ejection port, the RMR features adjustable LED intensity, two-year battery life when “On,” and extreme durability. Best of all, it offers shooters with aging eyes a single focus plane, enabling OCTOBER 2017 • SHOOTING TIMES

The 10mm LS10 comes with a factory-installed Trijicon RMR reflex sight that’s mounted on a plate that interfaces with a cut in the top of the slide. The RMR co-witnesses with tall Trijicon night sights. The 6.0-inch-barreled LS10 uses a stainless-steel bushing and a solid recoil spring guide plug, which allows standard 5.0-inch recoil springs to be used. Fine 25-lpi checkering graces the flat mainspring housing and the grip frame frontstrap, providing a solid and secure grip.

more precise shooting, particularly in low-light conditions when dilated pupils narrow one’s depth of focus. Paired with the RMR is an outstanding set of tall Trijicon iron sights—they’re tall enough to use with the RMR in place—equipped with tritium night-sight inserts. An adjustable BoMar-type rear sight is available as an option. The slide’s top is flattened and serrated to reduce glare, and the forward end is slick—no forward slide serrations—just the way I like it. The lines overall are very clean, crisp, and classic. Note that my preproduction LS10 varies slightly from production guns, which will feature a French border on the slide and a flush barrel with recessed crown. Interestingly, Ed Brown is using a solid recoil plug, so standard 5-inch recoil springs can be used in the LS10. According to Travis, 18-pound standard-length springs are appropriate for the LS10. I asked if such springs are appropriate for very heavy bullets pushed fast, and Travis said, “Make sure your recoil spring is correctly matched to the ammunition you are shooting. When you have the proper weight recoil spring for a particular load, ejected brass should land 8 to 12 feet away. 52

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

If brass is falling within a few feet of you, your spring is too heavy for that load. If brass lands more than about 12 feet away, your spring is too light for that load. Either case leads to reduced reliability.” Like all new Ed Brown pistols, the barrel hood cams up and locks with such precise, tight fit that once in battery it seems to stick ever so slightly until a couple hundred rounds are put through it—just the way a custom 1911 should. No play is discernible between the handfitted slide and frame, and there’s no movement at all in the muzzle or barrel hood when the slide is in battery. The beautifully blended, smooth rear face of the slide is finished in the non-glare matte black of the Gen4 coating. And as one would expect, the Memory Groove beavertail grip safety is likewise perfectly blended with the frame. The hammer features a Commander-style spur. Fine 25-lpi checkering graces the flat mainspring housing and grip frame frontstrap, offering a textured surface that’s sophisticated enough to not abrade your person or clothing. Not that the LS10 will be hidden beneath many Harris Tweed jackets.

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The LS10 comes with two, eight-round magazines and unique G10/wood laminate grip panels. The LS10’s precision-machined, medium-length trigger has an overtravel adjustment screw, but according to Joseph, the review sample’s trigger pull was perfect and needed no adjustment.

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SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

A tight, deep radius at the upper end of the frontstrap enables the shooter to achieve a very high, comfortable, recoilcontrolling grip. Excellent machining and contouring of and around the trigger guard offers both ergonomics and aesthetics. The magazine release is a neat, compact affair with gently beveled edges, perfect for a 1911 destined for hunting or practical field use. To additionally aid ergonomics, the thumb safety is widened, lengthened, and serrated, and the slide lock features aggressive but discreet serrations. The LS10’s thumb safety is not ambidextrous. Although they look to the casual glance much like select-grade cocobolo, the grip panels are black G10 laminated with red wood—a robust and durable combination that offers traditional beauty with cutting-edge resilience. Each LS10 will ship with two eightround 10mm stainless magazines. No accessory magwell as such is present, but the inside edges of the grip frame are beveled. Last in terms of technical arcana, the trigger is a precision-machined mediumlength aluminum affair with an overtravel adjustment screw. Pull weight averages 3 pounds, 13 ounces according to my Lyman digital trigger scale. Subjectively, the trigger is perfect—crisp, creep-free, and without any excessive take-up or overtravel.

The Ultimate All-Around Choice An old adage has it that every 1911 needs 500 rounds of break-in before it can offer 100 percent reliability. Not the Ed Brown LS10. From the start, it ran perfectly with four of the five types of ammunition tested. Something about the nose profile of the fifth—Hornady’s 180-grain XTP load—disagreed with the LS10, because several times it stuck with the upper edge of the hollowpoint lodged against the upper edge of the chamber. Not to worry. In terms of accuracy, the pistol’s favorite ammo was one of my preferred all-around 10mm loads—Federal Premium’s 180-grain Trophy Bonded JSP—and with it and all other loads tested (including Hornady’s 175-grain Critical Duty) reliability was absolutely stellar. After firing three consecutive five-shot groups with each of several different 10mm loads, I can report that although zesty, the recoil was smooth and controllable. It’s accumulative, though, and as I neared the end of my testing, the slight, uncontrollable vibration in my grip informed me that this was not a typical pistol. I’ve tested many handguns, and the fine-frequency tremble, as I call it, only infiltrates the muscles of my hand and forearm after absorbing a considerable amount of recoil. With official testing complete, I spent another happy hour in casual shooting, making careful shots on distant rocks to ascertain how lethal I could be past 50 yards with the LS10 and hammering fast shots into close dirt clods to see how quickly I could dump a magazine into a threatening bear.

LS10 MANUFACTURER TYPE CALIBER MAGAZINE CAPACITY

Ed Brown Products edbrown.com Recoil-operated autoloader 10mm Auto 8 rounds

BARREL

6.0 in.

OVERALL LENGTH

9.8 in.

WIDTH HEIGHT WEIGHT, EMPTY GRIPS

1.35 in. 6.15 in. (with Trijicon RMR) 44 oz. G10 with wood laminate

FINISH

Matte black Gen4

SIGHTS

Factory-mounted Trijicon RMR; tall Trijicon night sights

TRIGGER SAFETY MSRP

3.8-lb. pull (as tested) Manual thumb safety, grip safety $3,970

Not only could I hit distant rocks, I was amazed at how authoritatively the 10mm bullets hammered them, often rolling or splitting cantaloupe-size rocks. Recovery time between close, fast shots wasn’t as fast as with a 9mm or a .45, but—for me at least—it was considerably faster than with any magnum revolver. OCTOBER 2017 • SHOOTING TIMES

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While all 10mm Auto factory ammunition tested in the LS10 grouped acceptably, Federal’s 180grain Trophy Bonded JSP was the most accurate, achieving an overall average of 1.24 inches for three, five-shot groups fired at 25 yards from a sandbag benchrest.

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While the LS10 isn’t ideal for personal protection purely because it’s almost too much—too much recoil for really fast shooting, too much penetration for densely populated urban settings—one could argue that it’s the ultimate all-around choice for the guy who wants one semiauto pistol for everything from defending hearth and home to hunting big game to protection against bears. Loaded with a fast-expanding, lighter-for-caliber bullet, such as Hornady’s Critical Duty 175-grain FlexLock, it will pass the vaunted FBI Protocol test with flying colors. Stoked with Federal 180-grain Trophy Bonded JSP ammo, it’s an outstanding hunting tool for use on deer-size game and even elk. And with Buffalo Bore 200-grain flatnose FMJ or 220-grain hard-cast bullet ammo, it offers devastating, straight-tracking penetration adequate for black bears and skull-crushing and bonebreaking performance on the bigger bears. Ed Brown 1911s cost plenty of money, so in case you’re wondering why one would spring for an LS10, one word: perfection. A $1,000 10mm 1911 will capably get you from point A to point B, like an inexpensive sedan, but the travel will be less enjoyable than it would be if driving a fine Italian sports car. If you can afford it, don’t hesitate. The fit, finish, feel, accuracy, and ergonomics make the LS10 worth every penny. It’s the Ferrari of 10mm Auto pistols. ED BROWN LS10 ACCURACY & VELOCITY

AMMUNITION

BIRCHWOODCASEY.COM 56

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

VEL. (FPS)

10mm Auto, 6.0-in. Barrel Hornady Critical Duty 175-gr. FlexLock 1178 Federal 180-gr. Trophy Bonded JSP 1277 Hornady 180-gr. XTP 1288 SIG SAUER 180-gr. JHP 1244 Buffalo Bore 200-gr. FMJ FN 1174

E.S. (FPS)

S.D. (FPS)

25-YD. ACC. (IN.)

36 64 24 66 52

15 26 10 30 24

2.29 1.24 1.82 1.53 2.40

NOTES: Accuracy is the average of three, five-shot groups fired from a sandbag benchrest. Velocity is the average of five rounds measured 10 feet from the gun’s muzzle.

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The American Rifle’s bolt has three full-diameter locking lugs up front for a quick 70-degree bolt lift, and it also has dual cocking cams to make bolt lift easier.

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

UMEROUS RIFLE MODELS HAVE APPEARED

of late that are designed to hit a low price point. Many are of questionable design, deliver mediocre accuracy, have flimsy plastic stocks, and are downright ugly. But they are inexpensive. One refreshing exception to that litany of budget-priced rifles is the Ruger American Rifle. Not only is it a marvel of efficient and thoughtful engineering, but also it is well made, very accurate, and, in my opinion, good looking. A newfor-2017 version is the American Predator, and I got my hands on one chambered for the new 6mm Creedmoor cartridge. Ruger’s American Rifle dates to about 2013, and it is the result of the engineers’ goal of producing a rifle that embodies quality, innovative engineering, and value. Since its introduction, the Ruger American Rifle has evolved into several specialized versions, including Compact, long and short actions, and a

rimfire model. Consequently, the rifle is chambered for a host of popular cartridges. In addition, several versions of the American Rifle chambered for five popular cartridges are available as packages with quality Vortex 3-9X 40mm Crossfire scopes. As for the new Predator version, I say if this little gem doesn’t get your pulse racing then you may need professional help. The Predator is chambered for seven cartridges that cover everything from prairie dogs to big deer.

Features The new Predator has all of the nice features of the original American Rifle plus a few new ones of its own. The Predator’s receiver is a solid-topped steel affair and does not come with Ruger rings. Instead, it’s drilled and tapped for scope bases. The Predator comes with a 5-inch-long aluminum base with 10 cross-slots that accept Weaver-style rings. If you prefer traditional mounts, you can remove the rail and install two Weaver Number 46 bases. OCTOBER 2017 • SHOOTING TIMES

The rifle’s Marksman Trigger is user adjustable from 3 to 5 pounds and has the nowfamiliar safety lever that helps prevent accidental discharges, as the trigger lever must be pressed into the trigger blade proper for the gun to fire. To adjust the trigger, you have to remove the stock, and Ruger recommends turning the adjustment screw only about a half-turn at a time and then checking the pull weight. Also, when replacing the stock screws, tighten them each a little at a time, not all of one, then the other. And make sure the receiver fits properly into the stainless-steel Power Bedding bedding-block system. This also free-floats the barrel. The bolt is a fat 0.850 inch in diameter, and it has three full-diameter lugs up front. Here Ruger engineers addressed another vexing problem with three-lug bolts. While this provides a short 70-degreebolt lift, it also makes raising the bolt after firing inherently harder, so the American Predator has dual cocking cams to make bolt lift easier. It’s a slick idea, and it makes raising the bolt with the rifle shouldered easy. Bolt removal is a snap. Just press the release button at the left rear of the receiver and withdraw the bolt. The bolt has a healthy groove on its left side that guides over the bolt release lever for smooth operation. The two-position safety is located on the tang, so it’s easily available to right- and left-handed shooters. When in the “Safe” position, it doesn’t lock the bolt, so the chamber can be unloaded with complete safety. When the rifle is cocked, the cocking piece sticks out of the rear of the bolt shroud, making it easy to see and feel if the rifle is cocked and ready to go. The magazine is a sturdy polymer box that detaches from the receiver with the touch of the release button. It comes out and goes back in straight as a string and does not require any angled insertion or other contortions. It’s a rotary design, for which Ruger is duly famous, holds four rounds, and feeds as slick as a bug’s ear. Like all Ruger American Rifles, the Predator’s barrel is cold-hammer-forged, and this makes for a super-slick interior surface. I have witnessed this procedure, and it is pretty amazing. A short, fat cylinder of steel with a small hole in its center goes into one end of a huge machine. A lot of very loud pounding and hammering occurs, and presto, out the other end of the machine comes a long, slender barrel. The rifling is formed in reverse over a mandrel, which produces a superior surface. This hammering also The Predator’s synthetic stock features Ruger’s Power Bedding bedding-block system. The steel inserts are molded into the stock, and they uniformly position the receiver in the stock for consistent accuracy.

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

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compacts the steel grain structure and makes the bore a bit denser and stronger. Ruger says that making the Predator barrel this way offers “minute-of-angle accuracy,” a long life, and easy cleaning. Oh, here’s a bonus: The barrel is threaded 5/8-24, so it is ready for a suppressor or other muzzle device, and a thread-protecting cap is provided. I examined the bore of the test gun with my Hawkeye borescope, and the bore is as smooth as a, well, you know, and it is absolutely devoid of tool marks. After some shooting and a cursory cleaning, I examined the bore again with the borescope and found nary a trace of copper fouling, and that pattern continued throughout my testing. Remarkable! I say, “Hat’s off to Ruger!”

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AMERICAN PREDATOR MANUFACTURER

The Predator’s stock is a sturdy synthetic that feels solid, not flimsy, and has molded-in panels on the fore-end and pistol grip for a good handhold. The pistol grip has a cap with the familiar Ruger logo.

Accuracy For testing, I equipped the Predator with a Burris Predator Quest 2-7X 35mm scope, and it was a perfect complement to the new 6mm cartridge, making testing the rifle easy. I used Weaver medium-height rings with the Ruger-supplied optics rail, and that placed the scope 1.61 inches above the bore, which allowed for a convenient cheekweld on the stock’s comb. When I tested the Predator, there was only one 6mm Creedmoor factory load available. Made by Hornady, it’s topped with the 108-grain ELD Match bullet and rated at 2,960 fps. Shooting it through the Predator’s 22-inch barrel produced an average velocity of 2,841 fps with a standard deviation of 19 fps. Three, five-shot groups at 100 yards fired from the benchrest inside my shooting building averaged 0.69 inch. Luckily, as I was completing the test of the new Predator, I received some preproduction samples of Hornady’s justannounced 6mm Creedmoor hunting ammo. It features a 103-grain version of Hornady’s ELD-X bullet, and it averaged 2,859 fps and 0.89 inch from the Predator. This load should be on dealers’ shelves as you read this report. As is my custom, I just had to do a little handloading of the new 6mm Creedmoor for the Predator rifle, and I relied on Hornady’s recipes listed on the company’s website. Since the Predator’s barrel has a steep 1:7.7-inch twist, I stuck primarily to longer and heavier bullets. Just about all shot well, and many shot really well. All the shooting results are shown in the chart

TYPE CALIBER MAGAZINE CAPACITY

Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. ruger.com Bolt-action repeater 6mm Creedmoor 4 rounds

BARREL

22 in.

OVERALL LENGTH

42 in.

WEIGHT, EMPTY STOCK LENGTH OF PULL

6.64 lbs. Synthetic with 0.5-in. rubber recoil pad, Power Bedding bedding block, and sling-swivel studs 13.5 in.

FINISH

Matte blue barreled action, moss green stock

SIGHTS

None; drilled and tapped for scope mounts (optics rail included)

TRIGGER SAFETY MSRP

4.06-lb. pull (as tested) Two position $529

on page 64. I admit that groups would have probably been somewhat smaller if I had used a higher-magnification scope, but the compact Burris 2-7X just seemed right for the hunting rifle. While I mostly used Hornady 6mm Creedmoor cases, I also necked down some 6.5 Creedmoor brass just to see if it would work. The resulting cases were dimensionally the same as the 6mm cases, and they worked perfectly. I trimmed cases to 1.910 inches, or 0.010 inch less than maximum, and used Federal No. 210 primers for all handloads. The efficient Creedmoor case works great with many powders, but a couple stood out in my tests. Hybrid 100V from Hodgdon and Reloder 17 from Alliant were top performers. Hunting loads with the Hornady ELD-X, Nosler Partition, or

The Ruger American Predator is lightweight, well balanced, and reliable, and it delivers very good accuracy.

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

No handgun in history has flourished and continued to earn as many accolades as the iconic John Browning-designed 1911 pistol.

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RUGER AMERICAN PREDATOR ACCURACY & VELOCITY

BULLET

(TYPE)

(GRS.)

CASE

PRIMER

COL (IN.)

VEL. (FPS)

S.D. (FPS)

100-YD. ACC. (IN.)

6mm Creedmoor, 22-in. Barrel Hornady 80-gr. GMX

Hybrid 100V

40.5

Horn.

Fed. 210

2.623

2952

0.63

Hornady 80-gr. GMX

Hybrid 100V

42.0

Horn.

Fed. 210

2.623

3116

1.26

Superformance H4350

43.0 41.0

Horn.* Horn.*

Fed. 210 Fed. 210

2.679 2.800

2850 2830

27 13

0.61 0.92

Sierra 95-gr. MatchKing

Power Pro 4000MR

43.0

Horn.*

Fed. 210

2.780

2843

0.86

Nosler 100-gr. Partition

Reloder 19

44.0

Horn.

Fed. 210

2.650

2897

0.87

40.5 Horn. Fed. 210 40.5 Horn. Fed. 210 40.4 Horn. Fed. 210 43.9 Horn. Fed. 210 40.7 Horn.* Fed. 210 43.8 Horn.* Fed. 210 43.0 Horn.* Fed. 210 42.8 Horn. Fed. 210 40.4 Horn. Fed. 210 43.9 Horn. Fed. 210 Factory Load Factory Load *Reformed from 6.5 Creedmoor brass

2.648 2.790 2.790 2.790 2.810 2.810 2.810 2.790 2.790 2.790 2.790 2.790

2878 2904 2895 2839 2801 2768 2811 2830 2856 2822 2859 2841

21 20 6 6 13 11 12 15 12 28 21 19

0.67 0.53 0.71 0.77 1.06 0.95 1.13 0.83 0.94 0.77 0.89 0.69

Nosler 95-gr. Ballistic Tip Sierra 95-gr. Tipped MatchKing

Speer 100-gr. Grand Slam Hornady 103-gr. ELD-X Hornady 103-gr. ELD-X Hornady 103-gr. ELD-X Sierra 107-gr. MatchKing Sierra 107-gr. MatchKing Sierra 107-gr. MatchKing Hornady 108-gr. ELD Match Hornady 108-gr. ELD Match Hornady 108-gr. ELD Match Hornady 103-gr. ELD-X (prototype) Hornady 108-gr. ELD Match

Hybrid 100V Hybrid 100V Reloder 17 Reloder 19 H4350 Reloder 22 Superformance Power Pro 4000MR Reloder 17 Reloder 19

NOTES: Accuracy is the average of three, five-shot groups fired from a benchrest. Velocity is the average of 15 rounds measured 10 feet from the gun’s muzzle. Range temperature was 59 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. All load data should be used with caution. Always start with reduced loads first and make sure they are safe in each of your guns before proceeding to the high test loads listed. Since Shooting Times has no control over your choice of components, guns, or actual loadings, neither Shooting Times nor the various firearms and components manufacturers assume any responsibility for the use of this data.

Speer Grand Slam should handle about any game for which a high-velocity .24-caliber cartridge is suitable. Pinpoint accuracy is available with the ELD Match bullet, or any of the Sierra MatchKing bullets tested. And the velocities of the handloads pretty much equaled the speed of the factory-loaded ammunition. An important point in handloading the 6mm Creedmoor, at least for my test rifle, was seating depth. For my first loads, I seated the base of the bullet to the start of the neck. Accuracy was very good but not always great. I checked the bullet jump of the Hornady factory load and found that the 108-grain ELD Match bullet was almost touching the lands. Thereafter, I seated bullets no more than 0.010 inch from the lands, and accuracy was vastly improved. All of the handloads listed in the chart are seated “short.” The Predator’s rotary magazine length is 2.85 inches, so all of the loads shown worked through the magazine. Having fired more than a few low-end, plastic-stocked rifles in the past, I must confess that I started this review thinking that a rifle that retails for only $529 couldn’t be much of a gun. Boy, was I wrong! Not only does the American Predator have a host of innovative engineering and safety features that enhance its value, but also it is attractive enough so that you won’t have to hide it from your dog. And it is also superbly accurate. In fact, it shot much better than a lot of rifles I’ve tested that cost a lot more. 64

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

Hornady’s prototype 6mm Creedmoor Precision Hunting load with the 103-grain ELD-X bullet averaged 2,859 fps and 0.89 inch at 100 yards in the Ruger American Predator rifle.

Perhaps the Ruger American Predator is a harbinger that indicates maybe, just maybe, the “race to the bottom” for low-cost rifles has run its course, and the quality, features, and subsequent value of new offerings are on the upswing. If so, Ruger is surely leading the way.

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OSLER SAYS THE NEW .33 NOSLER IS

designed to equal or surpass other cartridges in its caliber class. Based on the data from my shooting of handloads and factory-loaded ammunition, the new round seems to have achieved this goal. Before I get into the details of the new .33 Nosler, let’s take a quick look at some of the .33-caliber cartridges that have been developed through the years. The history of .33-caliber cartridges in the United States has been spotty, and few were widely used until 1958, when Winchester introduced the .338 Winchester Magnum. Since then, a host of ever-more-powerful cartridges has become available. I think it’s worth noting how the dual influences of the armchair tactical operators and what has become known as long-range hunting have fueled, to some extent, such developments. The first .33-caliber cartridge offered in the U.S. was the .33 Winchester, introduced in the Winchester Model 1886 lever action in 1902. It fired a 200-grain bullet at about 2,200 fps, and while it was a reliable big-game round, it wasn’t a powerhouse. It had a trajectory similar to that of the .30-30 Winchester. But even back then there was a thirst for more power and heavier bullets. Eventually, Elmer Keith, a heavy-bullet maven if there ever was one, entered the arena. Along with cohorts 66

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

Charlie O’Neil and Don Hopkins, in the 1930s, Keith experimented with .30-06 cases necked up to .33 caliber. They called it the .333 O.K.H. While the .33 Win. used 0.338-inch bullets, the .333 O.K.H. used 0.333-inch bullets, which at the time were only available from Jeffery in England, and supply was spotty. The experimenters’ next cartridge was called the .333 O.K.H. Short Belted, and it was made on a shortened and blown-out .300 H&H Magnum case. The .334 O.K.H. Long Belted was the full-length .300 H&H case blown out and necked up. Now they had the power, but they didn’t have suitable biggame bullets. The .338 Win. Mag. and the .340 Weatherby Magnum (1962) changed that. The similarities of the .333 O.K.H. Short Belted to the .338 Win. Mag. and of the .334 O.K.H. Long Belted to the .340 Wby. Mag. are significant and cannot be ignored. Both the Winchester and Weatherby rounds quickly became popular, and bullet companies developed tough, heavy .338-caliber bullets. Another extremely important development in this saga is the Nosler Partition bullet, introduced by company founder John A. Nosler in 1948. The Partition has gone through numerous evolutionary changes and remains one of the premier big-game bullets. The 0.338-inch Partitions are available in 210-, 225-, and 250-grain weights. Countless head of big game have been cleanly taken with them. Now to the .33 Nosler.

OCTOBER 2017 â&#x20AC;¢ SHOOTING TIMES

.529 .550 .368 35°

.33 Nosler Specifics Like the .26, .28, and .30 Nosler cartridges, the new .33 Nosler is loosely based on the fat, .534 beltless .404 Jeffery case, beefed-up to handle SAAMI-approved pressures of 65,000 psi. The .33 Nosler embodies current case design concepts thought to promote efficiency and accuracy. The sharp, 35-degree shoulder and fat case offer a lot of room for propellant, and the maximum cartridge overall length (COL) of 3.34 inches means it will fit in a standard .30-06-length action. For this report, I obtained a new Nosler Model 48 Liberty rifle chambered for the .33 Nosler and some factory ammo topped with Nosler’s 225-grain AccuBond bullet. The loading’s muzzle velocity is factory rated at 3,025 fps, but it was slightly faster (3,085 fps) from my test rifle. The load develops a muzzle energy of 4,756 ft-lbs and tooth-rattling free recoil of 45.6 ft-lbs. By way of comparison, the muzzle energy of the Nosler 225-grain AccuBond load is about 20 percent greater than the .338 Win. Mag., and the velocity is slightly faster than that of the .338 Lapua Magnum. Nosler has developed a complete set of load data for the .33 Nosler with Nosler 0.338-inch bullets that should be on

2.016 2.131 2.460 3.340

the company’s website by the time you read this. But as is my custom, I had to do a bit of handloading with the cartridge myself, and during that development I tried a bunch of different bullets and several powders. I’ve listed the results with 15 bullets and 10 powders in the chart on page 72. While the .33 Nosler case is large, it is not particularly overbored as are smaller calibers on this case, so there are plenty of medium- to slow-burning powders that work well in the cartridge. Plus, there is an excellent selection of 0.338inch bullets, ranging in weight from 160 to 300 grains, so

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Steve used a new Nosler Model 48 Liberty rifle with a 26-inch barrel for test-firing the .33 Nosler factory ammo and handloads.

the handloader can develop a load precisely tailored to the shooting task at hand. Obviously, I used Nosler cases for all handloads. I also used CCI No. 250 Large Rifle Magnum primers exclusively. They produced consistent velocities throughout the testing. In fact, uniformity was on par with much smaller rounds, with the standard deviations of several loads in the single digits. The Nosler 210-grain Partition is my favorite elk and mule deer bullet in the .338 Win. Mag. and the .340 Wby. Mag., which I have hunted with extensively, and it topped the chart in the .33 Nosler. Over a charge of 79.5 grains of Reloder 19,

velocity was 3,009 fps, energy was 4,223 ft-lbs, and average accuracy was a delightful 1.02 inches. Close behind were the 250-grain Spire Point InterLock and 185-grain GMX from Hornady and the 250-grain Grand Slam from Speer. My overall average accuracy for all handloads was 1.41 inches. While that accuracy isn’t going to impress benchrest shooters, I consider it darn good for a rifle/cartridge combo of this power level. By the way, average recoil for the handloads was 35.8 ft-lbs. Also, the top five handloads averaged 1.22 inches with bullets weighing from 185 to 300 grains. For elk, moose, and the large bears, that is entirely adequate. The highest velocity and muzzle energy were with the Hornady 185-grain GMX over 79.0 grains of IMR 4831. Velocity was 3,208 fps, and muzzle energy was 4,229 ft-lbs. Some powders

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produced rather low velocities and are obviously not well suited for the .33 Nosler, but I included them in the chart for reference. At the time of this writing, there was just the one factory load, but the company has plans to offer a factory load with a new 265-grain AccuBond Long Range bullet. It should be ready by this fall’s big-game hunting seasons. The folks at Nosler tell me the velocity will be 2,775 fps, and they note that the performance window for this bullet ranges from 3,200 fps down to 1,300 fps. The G1 ballistic coefficient of the bullet is listed at .778, so it should be just the ticket for cross-canyon shots at a 6x6 bull elk. In addition, Nosler will also offer a 300-grain Custom Competition HPBT loading (G1 ballistic coefficient of .800) at a velocity of 2,550 fps for long-range target shooting. Before I wrap up this article, I’d like to point out some of the fine features of the Nosler Model 48 Liberty. The action is clean and gracefully contoured. The bolt body is fluted and has twin locking lugs. The extractor is a Sako type, with a plunger ejector. The bolt has a one-piece firing pin, and there are three large ports on the bottom for escaping gases should a case rupture. The .33 Nosler proved to be capable of very good accuracy. Average accuracy for the factory ammo was 1.34 inches for five-shot groups fired at 100 yards. The overall accuracy average for all 17 handloads was 1.41 inches.

The rifle has a hinged floorplate. Magazine capacity is three rounds of the fat .33 Nosler. The trigger is crisp, clean, and easily adjustable by the user. The weight of pull on my test rifle was 4 pounds, 6.2 ounces and was so crisp that I didn’t bother adjusting it. The barrel is made of match-grade stainless steel, and it is button-rifled and then handlapped. It’s 26 inches long and has a 1:10-inch twist. The stock is a composite of aramid fibers and fiberglass. It has an aluminum bedding chassis and glass and aluminum pillar bedding. The barrel is fully free-floated, and a shadow-line cheekpiece provides a comfortable cheekweld. The stock is straight as a string. Get this: The drop at the comb is slightly more than the drop at the heel. That means the rifle recoils straight back, and the stock doesn’t smack the shooter in the face. All metal surfaces are coated with a graphite black Cerakote finish. The stock is light gray with a black spiderweb pattern. The rifle is very nice indeed, and the cartridge has a lot going for it. The .33 Nosler is definitely not a plinker or a varmint round, but it is a versatile medium-bore cartridge. The big-game hunter looking for power, accuracy, and long-range potential will certainly find them in this new powerhouse cartridge.

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SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

.33 NOSLER ACCURACY & VELOCITY

BULLET

(TYPE)

(GRS.)

COL (IN.)

VEL. (FPS)

S.D. (FPS)

RECOIL (FT-LBS)

M.E. (FT-LBS)

100-YD. ACC. (IN.)

Nosler Model 48 Liberty, 26-in. Barrel Barnes 160-gr. TTSX

H4350

77.0

3.305

3098

29.4

3411

1.60

Nosler 180-gr. AccuBond

Reloder 17

77.5

3.340

3199

35.9

4091

1.69

Hornady 185-gr. GMX Hornady 200-gr. SST

IMR 4831 Reloder 17

79.0 75.0

3.390 3.340

3208 2979

22 13

37.9 34.3

4229 3942

1.26 1.59

Nosler 210-gr. Partition

Reloder 19

79.5

3.340

3009

38.9

4223

1.02

Hornady 225-gr. InterBond

Reloder 19

78.5

3.340

2901

39.0

4206

1.53

Nosler 225-gr. AccuBond Nosler 225-gr. Partition Nosler 225-gr. Partition Hornady 250-gr. InterLock Hornady 250-gr. InterLock Nosler 250-gr. AccuBond Speer 250-gr. Grand Slam Barnes 265-gr. LRX Swift 275-gr. A-Frame Nosler 300-gr. AccuBond Nosler 300-gr. Custom Competition Nosler Trophy Grade 225-gr. AccuBond

IMR 7828 80.5 Norma MRP 78.0 Reloder 22 78.0 IMR 7977 74.0 Reloder 19 76.5 H4831SC 76.5 IMR 7977 74.0 Reloder 22 72.0 Reloder 25 74.5 Reloder 25 74.0 Reloder 25 73.5 Factory Load

3.340 3.340 3.340 3.340 3.340 3.340 3.340 3.284 3.340 3.340 3.340 3.340

2875 2764 2863 2394 2745 2651 2401 2536 2577 2392 2388 3085

12 15 3 16 4 2 15 18 11 6 12 9

39.0 35.2 37.8 29.1 39.1 36.5 29.3 34.7 38.5 37.2 36.9 45.6

4131 3818 4096 3182 4184 3902 3201 3785 4056 3812 3800 4756

1.57 1.35 1.31 1.52 1.22 1.40 1.28 1.44 1.47 1.41 1.33 1.34

NOTES: Accuracy is the average of three, five-shot groups fired from a benchrest. Velocity is the average of 15 rounds measured 10 feet from the gun’s muzzle. Range temperature was 76 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit. Nosler brass and CCI 250 primers were used for handloads. All load data should be used with caution. Always start with reduced loads first and make sure they are safe in each of your guns before proceeding to the high test loads listed. Since Shooting Times has no control over your choice of components, guns, or actual loadings, neither Shooting Times nor the various firearms and components manufacturers assume any responsibility for the use of this data.

OCTOBER 2017 • SHOOTING TIMES

SHOOT

HUNT

DEFEND

TRAIN

QUICKSHOT

CMMG’S NEW 6.5 CREEDMOOR MK3 DTR2 AR

is built on a lower receiver of billet 7075 T6 aluminum and uses a rifle-length directimpingement gas system. It has a two-stage Geissele SSA trigger, a fully adjustable Magpul PRS buttstock, and a Magpul MOE pistol grip. The rifle also has CMMG’s own 15-inch, free-float, 6061 T6 aluminum RML15 M-LOK handguard. The 6.5 Creedmoor Mk3 DTR2 has a 416 stainless-steel, 24-inch, heavy taper barrel with 1:8 twist and CMMG SV muzzle brake. The muzzle brake is removable, and the muzzle is threaded 5/8-24. The Mk3 DTR2 has a shell deflector but no forward assist. My sample rifle’s upper and lower receivers and the handguard are finished in Titanium Cerakote, and the safety lever, bolt catch, magazine release, charging handle, and muzzle brake are matte black. The rifle weighs 11.3 pounds unloaded and comes with an integral Picatinny rail on top of the upper. There are no sights. The handguard is attached to the upper with two Torx screws, and it has a full-length Picatinny rail. Like I said earlier, the handguard is CMMG’s RML15 M-LOK, so it accepts M-LOKcompatible accessories. The MOE pistol grip has a removable bottom cap, which when removed gives you access to a small storage compartment. The fixed PRS buttstock is fully adjustable for length of pull and cheekpiece height via aluminum detent knobs. It also has a cant-/height-adjustable rubber buttpad and M-LOK slots on the bottom for rear monopod mounting. Length of pull on this rifle ranges from 15 to 16.4 inches. 74

SHOOTING TIME

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Mk3 DTR2 MANUFACTURER TYPE CALIBER MAGAZINE CAPACITY BARREL OVERALL LENGTH WEIGHT, EMPTY STOCK

CMMG cmmginc.com Gas-operated autoloader 6.5 Creedmoor 20 rounds 24 in. 46 to 47.25 in. 11.3 lbs. Magpul PRS

LENGTH OF PULL

15 to 16.5 in.

GRIP

Magpul MOE

FINISH

Matte black; various Cerakote colors

SIGHTS

None

TRIGGER SAFETY MSRP

4.75-lb. pull (as tested) Two position $2,274.95 (black); $2,424.95 (Cerakote)

CMMG’s new 6.5 Creedmoor Model Mk3 DTR2 has a 24-inch, heavy taper, stainless-steel barrel with 1:8 twist; a two-stage Geissele trigger; a 20-round Magpul magazine; and a fully adjustable Magpul PRS buttstock.

Throughout my shooting, the rifle digested all ammo without a hiccup. The trigger pull was consistent, measuring 4 pounds, 12 ounces on my RCBS trigger pull scale. CMMG has jumped on board the 6.5 Creedmoor train in a pretty big way by offering the Mk3 DTR2 and three other models. Those three include the Mk3 (20-inch, medium taper barrel; MSRP: $1,799.95), the Mk3 P (24-inch, heavy taper barrel; MSRP: $1,899.95), and the Mk3 DTR (24-inch, heavy taper barrel; MSRP: $2,099.95). The Mk3 DTR2 that I fired for this report is the top-of-the-line model, and in my opinion it provided top-drawer performance. MSRP: $2,274.95 (black); $2,424.95 (Titanium Cerakote) cmmginc.com

The rifle comes with two Magpul PMAG Gen3 magazines, and each holds 20 rounds of 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition. To put the new rifle through some shooting, I installed a Bushnell 3.5-21X 50mm DMRII-i tactical scope with illuminated G3-i reticle. Shooting Times has reported on this scope before, and it has become one of my favorites for reviewing ARs as well as bolt actions. I got down to business and fired three, five-shot groups with each of five 6.5 Creedmoor factory loads at a distance of 100 yards. As you can see in the accompanying chart, the rifle’s best average accuracy came CMMG Mk3 DTR2 ACCURACY & VELOCITY with the HSM 140-grain GameKing ammunition. That load averaged 0.73 inch at 100 100-YD. yards. (That load and the 140-grain Berger VEL. E.S. S.D. ACC. AMMUNITION (FPS) (FPS) (FPS) (IN.) VLD Hunting load from HSM were just intro6.5 Creedmoor, 24-in. Barrel duced and are the newest 6.5 Creedmoor Winchester Deer Season 125-gr. XP 2825 37 14 0.77 factory loads that I’ve fired. For more details Federal Gold Medal 130-gr. Berger OTM 2865 30 11 0.98 on both loads, check out the “Quick Shot” Hornady 140-gr. A-Max 2717 33 12 0.89 on page 78.) All the other factory loads I HSM Game King 140-gr. Sierra GameKing 2769 35 15 0.73 fired in the Mk3 DTR2 averaged less than HSM Trophy Gold 140-gr. Berger VLD Hunting 2783 12 6 0.85 an inch, with the largest average accuracy NOTES: Accuracy is the average of three, five-shot groups fired from a sandbag benchrest. being 0.98 inch. Overall average accuracy Velocity is the average of five rounds measured 12 feet from the gun’s muzzle. at 100 yards for all five loads was 0.84 inch. 76

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

When you chase an obsession to extremes, this is what you take with you. New for 2017, the Super Black Eagle 3. Experience it at a Benelli dealer near you, or visit BenelliUSA.com.

SHOOT

HUNT

DEFEND

TRAIN

QUICKSHOT

HSM AMMUNITION IS THE LATEST MAINSTREAM AMMOMAKER TO JOIN THE

ranks offering factory-loaded 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition. And as I mentioned in my “Quick Shot” report on CMMG’s new Mk3 DTR2 6.5 Creedmoor rifle beginning on page 74, HSM’s new 6.5 Creedmoor hunting ammunition was quite accurate in the 24-inch-barreled AR. The new 6.5 Creedmoor loads from HSM fall into the company’s Trophy Gold and Game King lines of hunting ammunition. The Trophy Gold loading is topped with Berger’s 140-grain VLD Hunting bullet, while the Game King loading utilizes Sierra’s 140-grain GameKing SP bullet. Both bullets are internationally recognized for their premier accuracy and outstanding terminal performance. The company has tested both new loads rigorously by shooting them in Ruger Precision Rifles under natural conditions. The results determined that the Trophy Gold loading recorded a velocity of 2,780 fps, and the Game King load recorded a velocity of 2,750 fps. In their tests, both loads achieved sub-MOA accuracy at 200 yards. My shooting of both new loads in the CMMG Mk3 DTR2 AR, using a very nice Bushnell 3.5-21X DMRII-i riflescope, showed that the Trophy Gold load’s average velocity, based on five rounds measured 12 feet from the gun’s muzzle, was 2,783 fps, while the Game King load’s average velocity was 2,769 fps. Extreme spreads and standard deviations were 35 and 15 for the Game King and 12 and 6 for the Trophy Gold. Obviously, those figures are very good. My accuracy results are based on firing three, fiveshot groups at 100 yards from a sandbag benchrest, and overall average accuracy for the Trophy Gold load was 0.85 inch, while the overall average accuracy for the Game King load was 0.73 inch. HSM Ammunition is located in Stevensville, Montana, and the company HSM 6.5 CREEDMOOR ACCURACY & VELOCITY manufactures a complete catalog of metallic ammunition for every discipline 100-YD. of handgun and rifle shooting. The Trophy VEL. E.S. S.D. ACC. AMMUNITION (FPS) (FPS) (FPS) (IN.) Gold line is offered in 36 different chamCMMG Mk3 DTR2, 24-in. Barrel berings, and the Game King line is offered HSM Game King 140-gr. Sierra GameKing 2769 35 15 0.73 in 48 different chamberings. HSM Trophy Gold 140-gr. Berger VLD Hunting 2783 12 6 0.85 MSRP: $32.99 (Game King); NOTES: Accuracy is the average of three, five-shot groups fired from a sandbag benchrest. $40.99 (Trophy Gold) Velocity is the average of five rounds measured 12 feet from the gun’s muzzle. hsmammunition.com 78

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

VP9SK...ACCURACY, ERGONOMICS, AND FIREPOWER IN A COMPACT The VP9SK, the eagerly anticipated compact model of the acclaimed striker fired Heckler & Koch VP handgun line is here! And it has all of the sought-after characteristics of larger frame VP pistols but in a more concealable design. The VP9SK is a compact handgun but substantial enough for accurate and comfortable shooting — unlike some competing “single stack” models. And its 10 round magazine can be backed up with a variety of accessory high capacity magazines* that give the VP9SK some major 9 mm firepower. VP9SK pistols use HK’s ergonomic handgun grip design that includes changeable backstraps and side panels — accommodating all hand sizes. Only HK handguns have such a personalized grip.

Like full-size HK VP pistols, the compact VP9SK has easy to change backstraps and side panels for a personalized fit, 27 custom-fitted grip combinations are possible.

The VP9SK uses the same trigger system found on full-size VPs — a trigger that surpasses those found on competitors and has been widely hailed as a ground-breaking component and one of the best triggers in the industry. And this contributes to the VP9SK’s superb accuracy, matching the precision on-target performance demonstrated by full-size VP models. Add in features like controls that are completely ambidextrous, HK’s patented charging supports for better gripping to rack the slide rearward, and a cold hammer forged polygonal barrel made from cannon grade steel and you can see why this is a “No Compromise” pistol. The VP9SK is value priced and backed by Heckler & Koch’s legendary German quality and an exceptional lifetime warranty.

VP9SK (9 mm) with flat floorplate 10 round magazine

VP9SK (9 mm) with 13 round magazine

*Extended capacity (13 & 15 rd.) magazines available in spring 2018

VP9SK (9 mm) with 15 round magazine

www.hk-usa.com • 706-568-1906

SHOOT

HUNT

DEFEND

TRAIN

QUICKSHOT

SIG SAUER’S FULL-SIZE “WE THE PEOPLE” 1911 HAS SOME DISTINCTIVE

features. I don’t know which is more distinctive, the “distressed” finish or the star-studded metal grip panels. Both jumped out at me when I got my first glimpse of the special Model 1911. The “We the People” 1911 is chambered for .45 ACP, and it comes with a 5.0-inch, blackened carbon-steel barrel; a blackened barrel bushing; a standard recoil spring guide rod assembly; low-profile dovetailed night sights (6.5-inch sight radius); a skeletonized combat hammer; and two sevenround magazines. The slide has cocking serrations at the rear only. Other excellent features include the checkered frontstrap, the beavertail grip safety with memory bump, the checkered flat mainspring housing, the ambidextrous thumb safety, and the ventilated trigger with overtravel adjustment screw. My sample pistol’s trigger pull averaged 5 pounds, 6 ounces on my RCBS trigger pull scale. There was the expected amount of take-up and just a hint of creep, but the break was consistent. The gun’s stainless-steel slide and stainless-steel frame are what SIG calls “distressed.” This is a proprietary finish process, and SIG spokesmen are keeping very quiet about it. The slide bears “WE THE PEOPLE” on the right side, “1776” on the left side, and 13 stars in a circle on the top.

The full-size “We the People” 1911 comes with star-studded metal grips and a distressed finish, and it has an ambidextrous thumb safety and lowprofile night sights.

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

M A D E BY

S I G N AT U R E R E D U C T I O N D E V I C E S R I F L E S U P P R E SS O R

SIG SRD762

REDUCED SIGNATURE

ENHANCED ACCURACY

Maximum sound reduction is achieved by an innovative tubeless design, which helps preserve the hearing of shooter and bystander

Accuracy is enhanced and point of impact shift is nearly eliminated by the Taper-Lok system that centers suppressor to barrel

LESS RECOIL Recoil is cut in half as high-pressure gases are redirected by the Inconel baffles, making even lightweight 300 Win Mags easy to shoot

Go to sigsauer.com/ownership to learn which 40 states allow suppressed hunting.

sigsauer.com

WE THE PEOPLE 1911 MANUFACTURER TYPE CALIBER MAGAZINE CAPACITY

SIG SAUER sigsauer.com Recoil-operated autoloader .45 ACP 7 rounds

BARREL

5.0 in.

OVERALL LENGTH

8.7 in.

WIDTH

1.33 in.

HEIGHT

5.38 in.

WEIGHT, EMPTY GRIPS

40 oz. Metal grip panels with raised stars

FINISH

Distressed

SIGHTS

Three-dot night sights; drift-adjustable rear, dovetailed post front

TRIGGER SAFETY MSRP

5.38-lb. pull (as tested) Ambidextrous thumb safety, beavertail grip safety with memory bump $1,481

The “We the People” 1911 was extremely comfortable to shoot and achieved excellent accuracy, averaging 2.19 inches for five-shot groups at 25 yards with five factory loads.

was how comfortable the pistol was to shoot with all loads. On the same day that I shot the “We the People” 1911 I also fired a .38 Special medium-frame revolver with standard and +P ammunition, and the 1911 felt almost as soft shooting as that .38 Spl. revolver. In case you’re wondering, the stars on the grip panels were not the least bit uncomfortable. My good friend David Faubion, who is the Media Relations Manager and Senior Copy Writer at SIG SAUER, says, “This pistol serves as a fitting tribute to both the Second Amendment and the most storied handgun in history. While it honors the past, the ‘We the People’ 1911 is fully equipped for modern-day use.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. MSRP: $1,481 sigsauer.com

The metal grips have 25 raised stars on each grip panel (one for each state in the Union). The grips are attached to the pistol with hex-head screws. After putting 200 rounds through the “We the People” 1911, I can report that it functions reliably and shoots well. During my function testing, shooting for accuracy with the pistol mounted in a Ransom Rest, and offhand shooting at swinging steel plates, it didn’t miss a beat. There were no malfunctions whatsoever. While it’s not an exhaustive test, it is a good indication that the pistol is reliable. In the accuracy department, the “We SIG WE THE PEOPLE 1911 ACCURACY & VELOCITY the People” 1911 averaged 1.11 inches for three, five-shot groups at 25 yards with the 25-YD. factory load it liked the best. That was the VEL. E.S. S.D. ACC. AMMUNITION (FPS) (FPS) (FPS) (IN.) HSM 230-grain XTP loading. The load’s best .45 ACP, 5.0-in. Barrel single five-shot group measured just 0.93 AERIS 185-gr. JHP 1039 7 2 3.07 inch. Overall average accuracy for all five Black Hills 200-gr. SWC 799 20 9 2.19 factory loads was 2.19 inches. Federal Gold Medal Match 230-gr. FMJ 828 38 14 2.00 Two things stood out during my shootHSM 230-gr. XTP 830 13 4 1.11 ing session. One was the checkering on the SIG SAUER 230-gr. FMJ 792 33 14 2.56 frontstrap and mainspring housing. It was NOTES: Accuracy is the average of three, five-shot groups fired with the pistol mounted in a extremely effective and provided a very Ransom Rest. Velocity is the average of five rounds measured 12 feet from the gun’s muzzle. secure grip. The other thing that stood out 82

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SHOOTER’S SHOWCASE GUNSMOKE

HIPSHOTS

THE IDEAL BIG-GAME RIFLE COMBINES A NUMBER

Hunting biggame last year, Terry took three animals with three shots from his custom Al Biesen .270 Winchester that is built on an FN Deluxe action. He says it’s difficult to imagine a finer hunting rifle at any price.

of virtues. Adequate power and accuracy are givens, but beyond that it needs to be ergonomic—the right weight, shape, and balance for the shooter to make it an extension of his body. A deer rifle should handle like a fine shotgun, for quick, accurate shooting at sudden, fleeting targets. A mountain rifle should be accurate but light enough to carry. A dangerous-game rifle should come to the shoulder in an instant, like a Purdey game gun. Barring luck, the only way to get a rifle that fits that way is to have one made to measure—or to buy a factory rifle and have it altered. Alas, very few of today’s production rifles even come close. They are too heavy or too awkward, the grips are too large, and most fore-ends are more suited to target shooting than carrying in the field. One would think that after more than a century of building hunting rifles with modern chamberings that every factory rifle would be perfect, but cutting corners, reducing costs, and taking the easy way (as

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

with composite stocks) have actually taken rifles in the other direction. Most of my acquaintances look at these statements and mutter, “Well, I shoot factory rifles pretty well.” Maybe, maybe not. Unfortunately, most hunters today, having never handled a rifle that really fits them and was built to be the best possible hunting rifle for them, have no idea what’s good and what isn’t. You can’t appreciate the driving qualities of an Aston Martin if you’ve never driven anything but a John Deere tractor. Once you have driven an Aston Martin, anything less will never quite satisfy you.

The Al Biesen Touch Al Biesen, Jack O’Connor’s “genius of Spokane,” was a custom gunmaker who aspired to make perfect hunting rifles. Not works of art or glitzy artifacts to sit in a glass case—real hunting rifles. It was my good fortune to acquire one of his .270 Winchester rifles last year, a gun from the 1980s on an FN Deluxe action.

Although I’ve handled a good number of fine rifles in my life, with names like Holland & Holland and John Rigby, the Biesen was a revelation in several ways. The grip was small compared to production rifles and fit my hand perfectly. Similarly, the fore-end is slender and slightly pear-shaped. The checkering wraps completely around, giving as solid a grip as anyone could wish. By today’s factory standards, the grip and fore-end are almost dainty. But combined with the weight and balance of the rifle, they cause everyone who picks it up to say, “Wow! I’ve never felt anything like this.” The rifle is as responsive as an Aston Martin and feels alive in my hands. Every detail—from the custom shroud with a Model 70-style safety, to the Canjar trigger, to the cheekpiece—is fashioned with hunting utility in mind. The walnut is lovely but not gaudy, with straight grain through the fore-end to ensure stability. Overall, it has the lines of a racing yacht: lean and efficient but beautifully fashioned. Over the past century, some factory rifles have been produced with these qualities. The Winchester ’92

Terry downed this fine Persian red sheep at 328 yards with a single shot from his Biesen .270 Winchester.

is as good a close-range deer rifle as anyone has ever made. The Mannlicher-Schönauer Model 1903 in 6.5x54 Mannlicher-Schönauer is an excellent mountain rifle straight from the factory and has been used on everything from chamois to sharks to elephants. And—a pleasant surprise—the current Winchester Model 70 Featherweight is right up there, too. One in .270 Win. may not match my Al Biesen, but it’s not far behind and incorporates one or two features Biesen pioneered. Another good modern hunting rifle is the Ruger 77 Hawkeye FTW Hunter. It can still be done, and you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a good hunting rifle. You just have to know what that means and what you want and keep looking until you find it.

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Hunter-Heroes of the Corps of Discovery // Continued From Page 88

Colter was selected by Captain Lewis because of his remarkable hunting skills. In one example of his hunting prowess, he brought down four elk in one day. As told in Undaunted Courage, Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West by Stephen E. Ambrose, when Colter left the expedition in the fall of 1806, he made “his way into the history books as America’s first mountain man and the discoverer of Yellowstone National Park.” At the ripe old age of 34, Shields was the expedition’s oldest enlisted member. According to one source, the skills Shields exhibited as a blacksmith, gunsmith, huntsman, and craftsman were astonishing. At the conclusion of the expedition, Captain Lewis commended Shields and requested he receive additional compensation for his ingenuity in repairing the corps’ guns.

Guns of the Corps of Discovery The Corps of Discovery crew carried U.S. military flintlock rifles obtained from the U.S. Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, (most likely the “1792 Contract Rifle”) and smoothbore service muskets brought by soldiers posted from other units. Captain Lewis brought an air rifle, a fowler, and a pair of matched pistols. Captain Clark had his personal .36-caliber long rifle and an elegant fusil. Other members also may have used personal firearms.

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Bratton, Colter, Shields, and others provided as much game meat as circumstances and conditions allowed. According to Captain Clark, to supply the men for 24 hours required four deer or an elk and a deer or one buffalo. Each man consumed nine pounds of meat per day—when it was available. Crew member Raymond Darwin Burroughs tallied the quantity of wild game consumed during the expedition. The numbers are informative. Deer (all species), 1,001. Elk, 375. Bison, 227. Antelope, 62. Big Horn sheep, 35. Grizzly bears, 43. Black bears, 23. Beavers, 113. Otters, 16. Geese and Brant, 104. Grouse (all species), 46. Turkeys, 9. Plovers, 48. Wolves, 18 (only one was eaten). The list does not include countless smaller animals, such as hawks, coyotes, foxes, crows, gophers, muskrats, turtles, mussels, seals, whale blubber, salmon, and trout. While that sure sounds impressive, by all accounts, there were times when the explorers went hungry. For all their skill, even the hunters of the Corps of Discovery came up empty-handed from time to time. I guess the expression “that’s why they call it hunting” is timeless.

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SHOOTER’S SHOWCASE GUNSMOKE

HIPSHOTS

A FEW DAYS AGO, I WAS CLEANING OUT MY CABIN

Members of the Corps of Discovery that explored and mapped the wilderness area known as the Louisiana Purchase from May 1804 to September 1806 had many exciting encounters during the expedition. One was William Bratton’s clash with a grizzly bear.

and came across my old copy of The Journals of Lewis and Clark, the edition with an introduction by John Bakeless. I first read that book while I was a college student 37 years ago. It made a big impact on me back then. Anyway, I stopped with my chores and sat down and thumbed through the book, and that made me think of some information I had learned over the years that I thought would be apropos for this issue of Shooting Times. As you’ve probably noticed, this issue is focused on big-game hunting. The Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804–1806 was historic for many reasons. It was the first U.S. government-sanctioned exploration and mapping of the area known as the Louisiana Purchase and lasted for roughly 29 months. The Corps of Discovery, as the explorers were called, trekked approximately 7,500 miles—from Camp Dubois (also called Camp Wood) near St. Louis, Missouri, to Fort Clatsop on the Pacific Coast near what would eventually become the city of Astoria, Oregon, and back.

SHOOTING TIMES • OCTOBER 2017

During the excursion, the explorers were expected to replenish their larder by hunting and gathering. In fact, some of the men were specifically chosen for their hunting and shooting skills. Three of the men who were particularly skilled in woodsmanship were William Bratton, John Colter, and John Shields. Interestingly, all three were born in Virginia. The expedition had many exciting moments. One that involved Bratton was an encounter with a grizzly bear. While hunting alone, Bratton had shot and wounded the bear, which turned on him and chased him. Once Bratton made it back, Captain Lewis ordered the crew to search for the “monster.” They found a blood trail and tracked the bear through thick brush, found him, and head-shot him twice. An examination of the grizzly revealed that Bratton’s shot had gone through the bear’s lungs. After the expedition, Bratton served in the War of 1812, moved from Kentucky to Missouri to Ohio, and eventually settled in Indiana. Continued on Page 86

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