The following is a press release from Ultimate Wild

Ultimate Wild, a leader in providing high-quality outdoor and hunting products, introduces the versatile Sportsman gun case to its diverse lineup of hard-sided gear cases.

For the gun owner who needs vault-like security and durability in a mobile option, the Ultimate Wild Sportsman features reinforced hinges and latching points, providing abundant structural integrity to the places where other cases fall short. Add in the high-strength construction of the polymer shell, and the Sportsman truly is the ultimate mobile security option for your rifles.

RELATED STORY: 12 Gun Cases to Keep Your Pistol Safe and Ready at Home or On the Road

Leaving nothing to chance, the case is also dust tight and waterproof up to 1 meter—so your firearm is protected in the event your worst nightmare comes true.

Sportsman Gun Case Highlighted Features:

• Waterproof and dust tight
• Easy-transport wheels
• Four latches and three handles
• Four lock placement points
• Manual pressure-release valve
• Top and bottom protective foam layer
• Two layers cubed foam

RELATED STORY: Have Gun, Will Travel – Choosing and Securing a Trunk Gun

Specifications:

• External Dimensions: 47″L x 16″W x 6″D
• Internal Dimensions: 45″L x 14″W x 5″D
• Volume: 1.86 cubic feet
• Weight: 20.5 pounds without foam
• Buoyancy Max: 116 pounds
• IP Rating: 67
• Temperature Range: -40° to 194° Fahrenheit

MSRP for the Sportsman gun case is $229.95.

For more about the Sportsman gun case or other Ultimate Wild products, visit www.ultimatewild.com.

The post Ultimate Wild’s Sportsman Gun Case Is A Vault On Wheels For Rifles appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC) Multi-Purpose Weapon (MPW) was specifically designed to chamber the extremely versatile 300 Blackout, or 300 BLK, cartridge. The 300 BLK is a relatively new cartridge designed to fit in a standard 5.56mm-sized AR-platform rifle.

When the round was released in 2011, Remington and AAC stressed the advantages of magazine interchangeability without losing capacity. However, the principle advantage of the 300 BLK over the 5.56mm NATO is its wider ballistic envelope. The 115-grain load has ballistics that are close to the standard AK-47 round, allowing the MPW to be used as a medium-range rifle. Or, if the need is to equip troops for extreme close-quarters operations requiring stealth, the .30-caliber 300 BLK can be loaded with much heavier bullets that operate at subsonic velocities.

Using subsonic ammo and a suppressor, the AAC MPW—available in 9- and 12.5-inch-barreled SBR form as well as the standard 16-inch variant—is among the more flexible personal-defense weapons (PDWs). AAC sells both complete rifles or just the upper receiver. The 220-grain 300 BLK load is subsonic but still lethal at relatively close range. At 100 yards, the Remington 220-grain load retains 464 foot-pounds of energy (fpe). Compare that with 323 fpe and 255 fpe for the 230-grain .45 ACP and 124-grain 9mm cartridges, respectively.

Many Missions

The MPW is lightweight and more maneuverable than it may appear to be, even with the AAC suppressor, which attaches via a ratchet-style mount that was easy to attach and remove.

The AAC MPW utilizes the direct gas impingement operating system. AAC purposely chose direct impingement instead of an external gas piston design because the latter adds weight and generates a lot of mechanical noise for two reasons. First, the piston and operating rod slam against each other, and second, gas vented under the handguard is louder than vented from the bolt carrier, as with direct impingement systems. Gas piston systems also generate more felt recoil.

RELATED STORY: Gun Review – AAC’s Remington R1 1911 with Ti-RANT .45 Suppressor

Designing a gas-operated rifle that works reliably with widely divergent loads (i.e., 115-grain supersonic and 220-grain subsonic rounds), and with and without a sound suppressor, is not an easy task. It requires considerable experimentation with the gas porting. The task is more challenging when you consider that the rifle does not use a multiple-position gas port that could be opened or closed to match the load. (AAC explained that the Navy did not want an adjustable gas port to avoid operating problems if the port was in the incorrect position when an operator switched from suppressed to unsuppressed fire.) All MPW rifles and uppers are tested with subsonic and supersonic loads in full- and semi-automatic modes and with and without an AAC suppressor before delivery to customers.

MPW Components

The MPW’s forged upper and lower receivers are of traditional AR design with several enhanced features for top-notch accuracy and reliability. These features include the premium-quality barrel, fire control group, bolt and bolt carrier, extractor, stock and quad-rail handguard, which add functionality well beyond a mil-spec AR in 5.56mm NATO. These added features are functional improvements—not just window dressing for cosmetic appeal.

Made to AAC’s own specifications, the barrel is button-rifled from bar stock. The barrel is nitride coated inside and out for corrosion and wear resistance. AAC explains that this coating increases barrel life by up to 60 percent more than chrome lining without the potential loss of accuracy from uneven chrome coating. The rifling has a 1-in-7-inch twist rate. AAC mentioned that the original design had a 1-in-8-inch twist, but the faster rate better stabilized long, 220-grain subsonic bullets, consequently allowing the use of shorter barrels without risking a baffle strike when using a suppressor. Baffle strikes on the 5.56mm NATO are more of a risk when barrels get shorter than 12 inches. The barrel features 5/8×24 threading and is capped with a 51-tooth AAC flash suppressor that allows for quickly mounting the company’s 762-SDN-6 suppressor, which AAC said reduces the sound signature by an average of 39.3 decibels using subsonic ammunition.

The MPW uses a Geissele 2 Stage (G2S) trigger. These triggers are made from tool-grade steel and through hardened (not surface hardened) with sear surfaces cut by wire EDM. The result is a much more durable trigger that releases more smoothly and consistently even after long-term usage and thousands of cycles. The first-stage pull weight of the G2S is approximately 2.5 pounds, and the second-stage weight is approximately 2 pounds to give a total trigger pull weight of approximately 4.5 pounds on a Lyman electronic trigger pull gauge.

RELATED STORY: Hush Hush – AAC’s Silent Ti-RANT Suppressor

The bolt and carrier are also built better than mil-spec. The carrier is full length for use in select-fire weapons and has a special, two-layer finish. The first is nickel and the second is nickel-boron. The process is designed to create a hard, corrosion-resistant surface that is slicker and creates less friction than untreated steel. Slickness matters most when using subsonic loads that may create marginal amounts of gas pressure needed to cycle the action. In what may be a first for an AR-15 production rifle, AAC uses gasket sealant to create a tight seal between the gas key and the carrier. Again, the idea is to use all of the energy created by subsonic loads to make the rifle reliable.

AAC was selective in what parts to use in the MPW, with the intended audience being tactical operators who would use a fully automatic, suppressed version. And other than the select-fire capability, the MPW for civilian use is equipped the same as models sold to the U.S. military. Full-auto fire puts stress on parts and exposes design weaknesses much sooner than semi-auto fire does. For instance, rail handguards and buttstocks shake loose, making accurate fire and a stable shooting position difficult. Extractor springs lose tension, creating difficult-to-clear stoppages—often at the worst imaginable time. The MPW uses parts that significantly lessen the chance of these failures. The Knight’s Armament URX III rail system free-floats the barrel and attaches directly to an integral barrel nut for a very rigid mount. The rail will be immobile as long as the barrel nut is properly set. AAC explains that they wanted a durable rail system that could be mounted with a controllable amount of torque. The Knight’s rail is full length and lightweight. It’s also comfortable enough to grasp bare handed without needing plastic rail covers to protect your hands. Those covers may look cool, but they add weight, cost and inevitably fall off in combat.

The four-position-adjustable Magpul CTR buttstock resembles many others on the market, but this version has a friction latch that locks the length-of-pull adjustment in place and almost completely eliminates wobble found on many telescoping buttstocks. Two sling mounts are available: a hole for QD swivels and a slot for wrapping the sling through the stock. The Magpul MOE-K grip is rubberized for a better, more comfortable grip than those made of hard plastic, and its rear portion extends upward to cover part of the lower receiver. It has a compartment for inserting Magpul grip cores for stowing a spare firing pin and AA- or CRE123-sized batteries.

RELATED STORY: 20 PDWs For Ultimate Close-Quarters Personal Defense

The extractor is also upgraded with a stronger pin and a rubber O-ring. This ring was added to M4 Carbines a few years ago by USSOCOM because it provides four times more extractor tension than springs alone and eliminates extractor bounce. AAC cautions users to not use extra-power extractor springs and the O-ring together, as the extractor may not snap over the cartridge rim reliably.

Range Ready

The AAC MPW is a well-made rifle with some additional high-quality features designed to meet the requirements of U.S. military units. In perhaps its best form, it has a shorter barrel and is equipped with a suppressor for clandestine operations in a role similar to a submachine gun, but with ballistics far superior to the 9mm or the .45 ACP. An ambidextrous safety and an extended charging handle are the only two additional enhancements that I would include on my rifle.

For more information, visit http://www.advanced-armament.com or call 770-925-9988.

The post The AAC MPW Rifle: Silent Knockdown Power appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

LaRue Tactical of Leander, Texas, known for its durable and precision-machined parts, took to task the challenge of creating a 7.62mm rifle that could be both accurate at distance and reliable in the field. Today, the 7.62mm OBR finds itself as an established standard, and it was brought back to Texas with a carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel from Proof Research and put it in the hands of one of America’s most battle-tested warriors for a Texas Hill Country sheep hunt.

Optimizing The OBR

Former Delta operator Tom Spooner (right) and Texas biologist Chris Walker (left) scan the landscape of Texas Hill Country for free-range Iranian Red Sheep with a LaRue OBR fitted with a Bushnell scope and Harris bipod.

The performance of LaRue’s OBR can be largely attributed to two design features: a beefier but precisely milled upper receiver and bolt-carrier group, and a true, free-floating barrel.

LaRue’s approach ensures a solid and consistent seating of the cartridge by components that can handle the increased dynamic stress of the larger round. Once fired, the round travels through a barrel not subject to the typical torque of an AR’s handguard from a bipod or sling. The result is a rifle that shoots sub-MOA groups but can endure the rigors of field duty.

The OBR used for this hunt is unique, as Proof Research added a carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel with a match-grade, precision-cut steel core to the basic platform. Designed for strength, consistency and weight savings, the Proof barrel dialed-in a best three-shot group of 0.38 MOA with Black Hills 175-grain OTM cartridges. Carbon fiber is 14 percent stiffer than steel and seven times stronger by weight. A Proof carbon-fiber AR barrel can weigh up to 27 percent less, and a hunting rifle barrel as much as 40 percent less. But the strength and rigidity of the barrel is where Proof truly adds to the performance. Harmonic interference is significantly reduced and heat dissipation is dramatically increased. The result is a barrel that delivers consistent groups through sustained use.

RELATED STORY: AR Must-Have – LaRue Tactical’s MBT-2S Trigger

Additionally, the rifle was given a Kryptek Typhon Cerakote finish hand-painted by MCM Firearms of Idaho. Not a hydro-dip, MCM Firearms custom finishes their rifles using a combination of stencils and an airbrush. “Cerakote is a rugged product that has become a standard in our industry for those who want their finishes to hold up. We worked hard to get the 3D effect of the Kryptek Typhon pattern and a shadowing fade from the action to the barrel. It required a combination of techniques, but it turned out nicely,” said MCM Firearms.

For the optic, we ran a Bushnell Elite HDMR 3.5-21x50mm scope on a LaRue Tactical QDR mount. The final addition to the LaRue OBR rifle was a Harris tactical bipod.

It’s not often a gun writer gets to spend time in the field with a man like Tom Spooner. A warrior with an almost mythic resume, Tom continues to serve after retiring in 2010 as a master sergeant from a 21-year career that included more than 40 months of direct-action combat in his 15 years as a member of the Army’s elite Special Operations Detachment-Delta. Today, Tom and fellow Special Forces veteran J.D. Potynsky train the next generation of soldiers and law enforcement officers in combat shooting and tactics based upon their hard-won combat lessons. Not without his own internal struggles and scars from his time on the battlefield, Tom is also the vice president of Elder Heart, a veteran’s support organization that rehabilitates veterans with PTSD and TBI through local public art projects.

Former Special Forces soldier J.D. Potynsky was the most productive hunter of the group.

Still lean and ropy, Tom is soft-spoken with an easy smile that belies a precise intensity that snaps to the front when some matter of importance or focus is at hand. His relaxed but measured movement across the crags and rocks of Texas are still not without the wary balance developed over years in foreign territory. As we climbed and navigated the escarpments of the Texas Hill Country, Tom seemed to visibly relax and look back to smile more frequently. I asked him about it. He replied, “Though I hunted growing up, through all those years on active duty, I didn’t get to do much of this. It’s taken me just a little while to adjust to the fact that no one is going to be shooting at us. It’s nice.”

J.D. Potynsky is Spooner’s partner in their Northern Red training business. Also in the hunting party was Butch Whiting, Josh Cleghorn and Camp Bailey of Kryptek. Potynsky was also hunting with a 7.62mm LaRue OBR, but with a standard 16-inch, steel barrel. The Hill Country was familiar to Whiting, Cleghorn and Bailey. So it was not without some surprise to everyone that Potynsky, the guy from New Jersey, would prove the most productive hunter of the group.

RELATED STORY: LaRue Tactical PredatAR 5.56mm

The Texas Hill Country is mostly limestone and granite with sections of caliche rock that crop up and frame the various rivers and streams of the area. Under the surface, caves and springs exist that can manifest in a sinkhole or a small pond with no inlet or outlet. The surfaces of the hills, which are really small cliffs, are particularly suited for four-legged, hard-hoofed animals. Nothing is flat, and the surface is littered with the constantly cracking and sliding limestone that can announce a single false step for hundreds of yards. The sheep here are not to be confused with the wooly, group-thinking variety. Wild sheep are smart, cagey and agile. When they are spooked, they don’t get curious—they put a terrain feature between themselves and a perceived threat. In the case of humans, red sheep seem particularly aware of how far they need to go to put an hour’s walk between themselves and a rifle. Scrub live oak and prickly pear cactus are thick throughout the area, and the sheep never seem to be more than two steps away from concealment. The only advantage we had was fantastic weather. Highs were in the low 80s under a mostly overcast sky in late February—ideal for walking the dry and steep country—and there would no shortage of that.

Chris Walker, a Texan and biologist, guided us up the valleys and draws after the sheep. Typically, the sheep descend the rocky, scrub-covered hills and feed in the middle elevations down to the bases. They know their strengths and tend to stay off the flat land, sticking to terrain where everyone but them slows to almost a crawl. We glassed and stalked through long stretches of scrub live oak, slowly winding our way higher up the incline. We found signs and tracks, but little else. The red sheep used this country, but not where we were that day. Our methodical ascent provided several excellent points to glass the adjacent hillsides. After several hours, we made it to the top of a long ridgeline that overlooked the Nueces Valley, but still there were no sheep. We traveled slowly along the spine and stopped to glass. Chris picked up some aoudad ewes across a wide bowl, but there were no rams in the group.

Red Sheep In Range

Spooner and Walker discuss their approach to the next rise overlooking the Nueces River.

We continued along the ridgeline, glassing the fingers that drop down into thick, scrub-covered valleys. Chris pulled up short and crouched slowly, simultaneously bringing his binoculars to his eyes. He spotted a small group of red sheep several hundred yards ahead. We crept up into a slightly more level position to get a closer look. They were on a ridgeline that cut 90 degrees to the right from the spine we had been following for the past several hours. They were just below the crest in a copse of scrub cedars. A few ewes were in the open, moving from rock to rock, feeding lazily. Then Chris spotted a beautiful ram. He was either lying down or standing and we could only see a ray of sun hitting his back and the curve of one of his horns glowing yellow in the light. He was there, but he wasn’t in a hurry or alerted.

We ranged the ram at 233 yards and waited. If he stood up or took one step forward, Spooner would turn his lights out. He was set up with the OBR in a seated position, with his back against a rock and the long, three-piece Harris bipod extended. The ram gave us a lovely opportunity to take in the Texas scenery that spread out below us. The Nueces River snaked to our west, and the mountains took on varying shades as the sun moved across the horizon, but the ram never moved. The range was the same, ram was the same, the shot was the same. This was sheep hunting. These sheep can stay so still and blend so well with their surroundings that you have to visually mark a terrain feature and memorize the direction and distance to the animals or you’ll lose them.

RELATED STORY: Hog Wild – Wilson Combat-Style Hog Hunting

Finally, the ram won the standoff and Chris decided to flank around behind the hillside and see if there was an angle for a shot. Knowing the ram might move, Tom was at the ready to either move or take the shot. After a short wait, Chris was in position, and one of the ewes had spotted him. Knowing they were alerted, we whistled, hoping the ram would step or stand. The ram, of course, did the one thing we weren’t prepared for: He moved neither left nor right, but ran vertically, in what seemed like zero to full speed, straight up and over the crest of the hill.

He was visible for just over a full second and then was gone with his ewes. He won that round, and the aches of sitting on small limestone boulders suddenly reminded us how long we had waited. The setting sun was a consolation, but only that.

J.D. Potynsky, the occasional hunter from New Jersey, bagged an Axis deer, a Spanish goat, and a 10-point whitetail that oddly ran into a tree and knocked both of its antlers off after taking a 168-grain Black Hills/Barnes TSX round from his OBR. Not a lot was said back at the skinning shed about the guy from Jersey running the table. The Texans are still trying to make sense of it.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Bushnell
http://www.bushnell.com; 800-423-3537

Kryptek
http://www.kryptek.com

LaRue Tactical
http://www.laruetactical.com; 512-259-1585

MCM Firearms
http://www.mcmfirearms.com; 208-284-4883

Proof Research
http://www.proofresearch.com; 406-756-9290

The post On The Hunt With a Custom 7.62mm LaRue OBR appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Skeletargets

Skeletargets are designed for both competition shooting and anatomical correctness. Designed by veterans of the special operations community, they teach shooters to aim for vital areas. These are realistic targets that demand effective marksmanship and provide the shooter the ability to easily score their hits. Being able to quickly and easily see what your rounds will impact beneath the skin allows shooters to judge the effectiveness of their round placement. Through the use of clearly outlined and colored zones, shooters can easily score their Skeletargets for drills while maintaining a realistic threat target. (http://www.extendedgun.com)

RELATED STORY: Top 12 Rimfire Targets For New And Experienced Shooters

HiViz LiteWave Sights

HiViz Shooting Systems now offers its LitePipe technology for the Ruger 10/22 platform. The LiteWave design for the Ruger 10/22 not only offers a brighter sight picture, giving shooters faster target acquisition in a variety of lighting conditions, but it also provides extreme durability. The front sight features the HiViz interchangeable LitePipe system with red and green light pipes housed in the new LiteWave steel exoskeleton. The flip-up rear sight offers shooters all the benefits of the standard Ruger rear folding sight in addition to the easy-to-see and replaceable LitePipe tubes.
(http://www.hivizsights.com; 800-589-4315)

BlackHawk ARC Holster

The ARC (Appendix Reversible Carry) IWB holster from BlackHawk is designed to be as comfortable as it is versatile. With ambidextrous carry capability, two belt clips and an adjustable retention detent, this holster is a must have for any serious shooter. Made in the U.S.A. from a soft yet durable injection-molded polymer, the ARC includes two cant- and ride-height adjustment belt clips for 1.5- to 1.75-inch belts. The holster also accommodates handguns with rear-mounted red-dot sights. (http://www.blackhawk.com; 800-379-1732)

RELATED STORY: 22 Discreet Concealed Carry Holsters For All-Day Comfort

Weaver Tactical Scopes

Two of Weaver Optics’ tactical scopes recently received the prestigious “Member Tested and Recommended” seal of approval from the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA). After extensive testing by law enforcement officials, the Weaver 1-5×24 Illuminated Close-Intermediate Range Scope and the Weaver 2-10×36 1/10 Mil Tactical Scope received a score of 4.32 and 4.27 out of a possible 5, respectively. From close-quarters scenarios to extended shots out to 600-plus yards, the Weaver 1-5×24 Tactical Scope’s one-piece design provides rugged durability for any tactical or home-defense situation. The Weaver 2-10x36mm scope features fully multi-coated lenses with an extra hard coating on exterior lenses. (http://www.weaveroptics.com; 800-379-1732)

Tagua Gun Leather Magazine Carrier

Keep your CCW handgun’s reload in reach with style with this new piece of gear from Tagua Gun Leather. Strong yet refined seams give this 100-percent genuine cowhide Premium Single Magazine Carrier a better fit during range training or everyday carry. The carrier’s new high-quality clip complements its eye-catching design, ensuring an elegant finish throughout. (http://www.taguagunleather.com; 866-638-2482)

RELATED STORY: 44 Professions For Whom Carrying A Handgun Is A Good Idea

Just Right Carbines .357 SIG

Trusted by law enforcement for decades, now Just Right Carbines offers that same .357 SIG power and performance in a Glock-magazine-fed home-defense carbine. Built with a 17-inch, button-rifled barrel with a 1-in-16-inch twist rate, this blowback-operated carbine also sports a lightweight, 12.5-inch, free-floating handguard or the company’s unique takedown tube forend, which releases with just a twist of the barrel. A six-position stock, a Picatinny rail and a 15-round magazine round out this cutting-edge home-defense package. (http://www.justrightcarbines.com; 585-396-1551)

The post 6 New Shooting Products To Watch Out For appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Since the discovery of gunpowder in early China, all users of firearms have had one thing in common: the quest for more firepower. They were all looking
for a more effective way to harness the power of this chemical reaction.

While it is apparent that firearms of some kind or another have been used for hundreds of years, none of these were easy to reload. Firepower had taken a huge step forward with the introduction of these early arms, but they weren’t practical when it came to multiple shots.

Early on, the simple solution was to carry multiple firearms. A brace of pistols was a common remedy to the situation. Taking it a step further, sometimes an extra would be tucked in a boot or a vest pocket. Other solutions involved carrying multiple containers around your neck that contained additional charges and projectiles. While this worked and was, in theory, a simple solution, it was not a practical one.

Carrying multiple firearms or additional quantities of powder and ball could be cumbersome. It was often heavy and took a while to reload—even if the necessary materials were hanging around your neck. Speed was not something that would come easily to guns. In fact, it would take hundreds of years to develop rapid firepower.

Shaw’s Take

A lever on the side of the Cookson rifle is cranked to dispense powder and balls from a reservoir in the buttstock up into the chamber while also cocking the hammer.

One unique design, John Shaw’s Cookson Volitional Repeater, was introduced in the late 18th century. A lever on the side of Shaw’s rifle was cranked to dispense powder and ball from a reservoir in the buttstock up into the chamber; this lever also cocked the hammer. This provided the shooter with a 12-shot, breech-loading repeater—virtually unheard of in the age of flintlocks. Because the powder was stored in the buttstock, the gun was also fairly waterproof.

John Shaw reportedly wanted to show off the waterproof capabilities of the gun one day during a Boston thunderstorm in the 1770s. He fired three shots to great fanfare. Unfortunately, he was unable to get his fourth shot off before being struck and killed by lightning.

RELATED STORY: 13 Iconic Combat Handguns Throughout History

Shaw’s untimely demise illustrates the impact of media and marketing. No matter how revolutionary and amazing your product may be, if you’re killed while holding said product—even if it wasn’t because of the product—your sales are going to flatline. This was the case with Shaw’s rifle.

It would take almost 100 years, until the time of the Civil War in the 1860s, for a reliable repeating firearm to break through the market. Until that point, you were considered a fast shot if you could get three well-aimed shots off in a minute from the standard muzzleloader of the day.

Other Early Designs

Bennett and Haviland’s repeating rifle from 1838 featured 12 rectangular, .40-caliber chambers that were rotated by a hand crank. The probelm with Bennett and Haviland’s design is that it could be lethal in any direction, sending an accidental chain fire out to the sides, toward bystanders, or even back at the shooter.

Epenetus Bennett and Frederick Haviland of Maine constructed a 12-shot, .40-caliber repeating rifle in 1838. The rectangular chambers were rotated by hand using a crank underneath the chambers. Only a dozen or so were ever manufactured because the design had the potential to be fatal in any direction. If it misfired, shots could be sent backward toward the shooter and to both sides, putting bystanders in harm’s way.

In 1851, P.W. Porter patented a nine-shot repeating turret design, available both in pistol and rifle form. The turret on this gun is mounted vertically and is equipped with a side hammer. Movement of the triggerguard—which is similar in design to a lever action—cocked the hammer and rotated the cylinder. The main drawback of this design is that the turret sticks up above the top of the frame, obstructing the normal line of sight.

Treeby’s chain gun from 1855 was slow to operate, as the chain had to be rotated by hand. While it is shown here equipped with a 14-shot chain, Treeby’s design was tested at the Hythe School of Musketry with a 30-round chain.

The Treeby chain gun, patented in England in 1855, had a 14-round chain magazine. While it was certainly more effective than a standard single-shot firearm, it was still slow to operate. The chain did not cycle automatically; the operator had to manually rotate it after each shot. Treeby approached the British military with his design, hoping it would become its next standard-issue firearm. It went through trials at the Hythe School of Musketry with a 30-round chain and discharged all 30 shots in less than a minute. Unfortunately, the gun did not fire a charge substantial enough to be used in the military, and it was never officially adopted.

RELATED STORY: The History and Legacy of the 1911 Pistol

One of the other drawbacks to Treeby’s design was that the chain was not restrained at the bottom and could swing freely, potentially causing jams or other issues. To fix this problem, Treeby sought another patent in 1858 for a second sprocket at the bottom of the chain, held in place by straps on the frame, to prevent the chain from swinging.

In June of 1856, Alexander Hall patented a 15-shot revolving rifle. The cylinder was rotated by hand when the operator released the cylinder lock. Inside the triggerguard are two triggers; the front trigger cocks the hammer and the rear trigger fires the rifle. Most examples were chambered in .38 and .40 caliber, but one known example was made in .45 caliber. Hall himself was reportedly injured by a multiple discharge of the rifle when he was giving a test demonstration.

With Edmund H. Graham’s five-shot repeater, a lever on the left side of the frame rotated the turret and cocked the hammer at the same time. To prevent chain firing, the chambers are separated by 72 degrees.

Edmund H. Graham of New Hampshire patented a unique five-shot rifle in September 1856. Avoiding the sight obstruction caused by the vertical turret in Porter’s design, Graham’s turret is mounted horizontally. A lever on the left side of the frame rotated the turret and cocked the hammer at the same time. Multi-shot percussion firearms such as Graham’s were prone to chain firing. That is, when one chamber ignites, it has a chain reaction and all of the others ignite as well. This was a very real and very dangerous problem that Graham sought to address with his five-shot rifle. In addition to separating the chambers by 72 degrees, it also had a cover plate that was intended to keep adjoining chambers from connecting.

Lever Actions

All of the designs and failures mentioned here eventually allowed men like Benjamin Tyler Henry, Oliver Winchester, John Moses Browning and other inventors to improve on the designs that came before them. They were able to avoid the pitfalls of others and create a reliable repeater.

Henry, Winchester and Browning all adopted a lever-action design, similar to Porter’s 1851 creation, on their rifles. The Henry—known as “that damned Yankee rifle you load on Sunday and shoot all week”— was capable of firing 16 shots before reloading. Oliver Winchester’s iconic Model 1873 rifle was capable of holding more than 10 rounds, with the exact amount dependent upon the rifle’s caliber. Beginning in 1886, John Moses Browning lent his genius to their design improvement, which continued through the Model 1895.

RELATED STORY: Top 12 Western Classics

One of the biggest advancements in repeating firepower came with the advent of the self-contained metallic cartridge. While early rimfire variants were available when Bennett and Haviland were designing their rifle in 1838, percussion technology still reigned supreme. Henry’s rifles fired .44-caliber rimfire cartridges in the 1860s. By 1873, however, Winchester’s repeating rifles were designed around new centerfire cartridges.

With these cartridge advancements, chains and turrets were no longer necessary to achieve repeating firepower. Loaded into tubular magazines and, later, box magazines, the age of the repeater had arrived.

RELATED STORY: 8 Rimfire Replicas of History’s Greatest Battle Weapons

Today’s semi-automatic designs have the basic human desire to improve upon existing products to thank for their existence. If men like Shaw, Treeby and Hall hadn’t tried to create a reliable repeater, then the firearms technology we know today might not have been developed. Modern firearms designs exist solely because a group of individuals knew there had to be a better way. Through their efforts, modern designers are able to stand on the shoulders of those early firearms innovators.

The journey is far from over, though. As long as there are humans, the search for firepower and ways to improve it will certainly continue.

The post The Quest For More Firepower appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

We’ve covered handguns. Now, it’s time to delve into the world of autoloaders. There are 126 autoloading rifles in the GUN BUYER’S ANNUAL 2016 buyer’s guide, 10 of which are featured in the gallery above. There are some seriously heavy hitters here, including releases from Bravo Company USA, Heckler & Koch, Remington, Sig Sauer, Wilson Combat and more.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Alexander Arms Ulfberht
http://www.alexanderarms.com

Bravo RECCE-14 KMR Lightweight
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com

Daniel Defense MK12
https://www.danieldefense.com

Diamondback DB15
http://www.diamondbackfirearms.com

Kalashnikov USA US132SS Carbine with Skeletonized Stock
http://www.kalashnikov-usa.com

Heckler & Koch MR556A1
http://www.hk-usa.com

Primary Weapons Systems Modern Musket
http://www.primaryweapons.com

Remington Centerfire
http://www.remington.com

Sig Sauer M400
http://www.sigsauer.com

Wilson Combat Recon Tactical
http://www.wilsoncombat.com

YHM KR7 Series YHM-8305
http://www.yhm.net

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The post 11 Autoloading Rifles From the GUN BUYER’S ANNUAL 2016 Buyer’s Guide appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The following is a press release from Kimber

Kimber® makes a Pre-SHOT Show announcement of new products for 2016; for more information, visit http://www.kimberamerica.com/new-for-2016.

1911

This year Kimber presents the Two-Tone and Stainless™ II families as its new foundational 1911 product lines. The transformation of these two lines blends the timeless look that Kimber is famous for with its reputation for providing unsurpassed quality and calibers demanded by today’s shooters. With Kimber’s signature modern-classic style, the new Two-Tone and Stainless II 1911 families also embody all the custom features found standard on every Kimber 1911, proving once again that Kimber simultaneously produces America’s highest quality 1911 and offers the best value.

RELATED STORY: 6 Colorful Kimber Micro .380 Pistols For Lightweight Concealed Carry

2016 will also bring new features to the TLE™ II, Gold Match™ II and Super Match™ II product lines. These flagship 1911 pistol families include all new performance-enhancing features and eye-catching finishing details. The striking new Amethyst Ultra™ II joins the Special Edition gem-tone collection, offering a 3-inch barrel, weighing in at 25 ounces and both .45 ACP and 9mm caliber options. Kimber has also expanded its 1911 9mm caliber options to include the Pro CDP™ II and all three sizes of Stainless Raptor™ II. The Eclipse Target™ II is also now available in .38 Super.

Micro 9

As the industry leader in manufacturing the highest quality micro-compact concealed carry pistols, Kimber is proud to introduce the Micro 9™ 9mm, which offers the same highly sought-after small-scale 1911 ergonomics, single action trigger, superior safety features and all-metal construction as its .380 ACP sibling. Micro 9 is currently available in three models: Micro 9™ Stainless, Micro 9™ Two-Tone and Micro 9™ Crimson Carry. Ideal for any shooter, the Micro 9 will set a new level of expected quality for the micro-compact 9mm.

RELATED STORY: Kimber’s Pocket Companions – The Solo Crimson Carry & Micro Raptor Stainless

Micro .380 ACP

New to the Micro .380 ACP lineup are the Micro RCP™, Micro RCP™ (LG), Micro DC™ and Micro DC™ (LG) models. RCP (Refined Carry Pistol) models feature all-black construction, trench-cut sights, an ambidextrous thumb safety, vertical back strap serrations and either rosewood grips or laminated rosewood Crimson Trace Lasergrips™. DC (Deep Cover) models feature all-black construction, tritium night sights, an ambidextrous safety, checkered mainspring, either black cherry G-10 grips or Crimson Trace Lasergrips and each ships with an extended magazine.

Rifles

Year after year Kimber mountain rifles prove to be the best value on the market today and the top choice for hunters, no matter where the hunt takes them. Adirondack™ rifles now wear the new Gore™ Optifade™ Elevated II pattern and have added the .338 Federal to their caliber offerings. The Mountain Ascent™ is now offered in 7mm-08 Remington and 6.5 Creedmoor, while the rugged and durable Montana™ now comes standard with a threaded barrel and thread protector (muzzle brake available separately) and adds the 6.5 Creedmoor and .22-250 Remington to its already expansive list of caliber offerings. All Kimber rifles are built to the Kimber SUB MOA Accuracy Standard, which guarantees that each rifle will shoot a three-shot group at 100 yards measuring one-inch or less with premium factory ammunition.

RELATED STORY: 7 Eye-Catching Kimber Pocket Pistols for Personal Defense

Kimber Mfg., Inc. is an American company that designs and manufactures premium firearms for individual, sporting, law enforcement and military markets. Complete information on Kimber firearms, accessories and Less-Lethal products is available at www.kimberamerica.com or by phone from Kimber in-house staff at (888) 243-4522. A detailed product catalog is available upon request. Kimber can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

The post Kimber Introduces New Products for 2016 appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

If you’ve been looking for an air pistol or air rifle for hunting, plinking or competitive shooting, you’ve come to the right place. The GUN BUYER’S ANNUAL 2016 buyer’s guide contains 14 quality air guns all available from Umarex. Scroll through the gallery above to check out their air replicas of Beretta, Smith & Wesson, Walther, Colt, Ruger, Heckler & Koch, Elite Force and Hammerli guns, as well as a few of their own offerings.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Beretta 84FS
https://www.umarexusa.com

Colt Commander
https://www.umarexusa.com

Colt Peacemaker
https://www.umarexusa.com

Elite Force 1911 TAC
https://www.umarexusa.com

Heckler & Koch USP
https://www.umarexusa.com

Legends C96
https://www.umarexusa.com

Smith & Wesson M&P 45
https://www.umarexusa.com

Walther PPS
https://www.umarexusa.com

Hammerli 850 AirMagnum
https://www.umarexusa.com

Ruger Yukon
https://www.umarexusa.com

Umarex Fusion
https://www.umarexusa.com

Umarex Morph 3X
https://www.umarexusa.com

Umarex Octane
https://www.umarexusa.com

Walther LGV Competition Ultra
http://www.umarex.de

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The post 14 Umarex Air Pistols & Air Rifles From the GUN BUYER’S ANNUAL 2016 Buyer’s Guide appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The following is a press release from Colt

The historic firearms manufacturer Colt is announcing three innovative new products for the start of 2016; the Colt Competition Pistol™, the Colt Expanse™ M4 Carbine, and the Colt Lightweight Commander®.

“We’re incredibly excited about these new offerings,” said Paul Spitale, Senior VP of Commercial Business at Colt. “The Colt Competition Pistol™ is race ready right out of the box, and the Expanse™ M4 is a great building block that’s easy to get into for both the first-time AR-15 platform owner and the more experienced collector alike.”

RELATED STORY: Concealed Carry Comparison – Ruger LCR vs. Colt Agent

The Colt Competition Pistol™, which is available in .45 ACP or 9mm, offers several features that competitive shooters will appreciate, including Colt’s innovative Dual Spring Recoil System™ developed for the M45A1 in order to reduce recoil and help keep shots on target at critical moments. “This pistol is competition grade,” said Mark Redl, Team Colt sponsored shooter and Product Manager for Colt. “We designed a pistol that you can buy on the way to a match.” Other features include Novak’s new adjustable rear sight and fiber optic front sight, competition ergonomics including an undercut trigger guard and upswept beavertail safety, and a National Match® barrel. The Colt Competition Pistol™ carries an MSRP of $899.

The Expanse™ M4 puts a Colt quality AR-15 within easy reach of the modern sportsman looking to enhance his or her ir collection, or the first-time buyer looking for a starting point on which to build their dream modern sporting rifle. Either way, the Expanse™ M4 in 5.56 x 45 NATO (.223 Rem.) is a great way to add another Colt to the stable. The Expanse™ M4 retails for $699.

RELATED STORY: General Officer’s Pistols – Colt Pocket Hammerless Model 1903 & 1908

The Lightweight Commander®, offered in .45 ACP or 9mm, affords enthusiasts the ability to concealed-carry a real 1911 platform pistol comfortably. With a shorter profile and lower weight than a traditional full size Government Model®, the Lightweight Commander® offers the Dual Spring Recoil System™ and custom Colt G10 grips, among other enhancements. “We wanted to offer something special to the concealed carry enthusiast who wants that authentic Colt experience in a package that can add both confidence and comfort,” said Spitale. The MSRP of the Lightweight Commander is $949.

For more information on Colt and its subsidiaries, please visit http://www.colt.com.

The post Colt Introduces Three New Models For 2016 appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The following is a press release from Umarex USA

Umarex USA announced today the introduction of a new adult air rifle – the Walther Parrus. The German-engineered Parrus is a reliable magnum velocity, spring-operated, break barrel pellet rifle that creates power and results.

RELATED STORY: 14 Umarex Air Pistols & Air Rifles From the GUN BUYER’S ANNUAL 2016 Buyer’s Guide

The Walther Parrus is the next version of the smooth-shooting Terrus model. Its steady, single-stroke cocking mechanism produces a muzzle energy of 22 foot-pounds (30 joules), ideal for small game in the field. The .177 caliber is capable of 1200 feet per second and the .22 caliber 1000 feet per second.

The Parrus is ready for action with a micro-adjustable open rear sight and hooded TruGlo® fiber optic front sight. It has a ½-inch UNF threaded muzzle, which is popular among European shooters for silenced recreational shooting. The Walther Parrus has an XT Trigger with adjustable first stage travel, automatic safety, and an 11 mm dovetail rail ready for scope mounting. It also has a rubber recoil pad and is available in either an attractive wood stock with subtle checkering or an ergonomically pleasing black synthetic stock with Walther’s Hi-Grip texturing.

RELATED STORY: Umarex’s Walther PPQ Air Pistol – A Perfect Plinker

The Walther Parrus has an MSRP of $299.

Learn more about the Walther Parrus: UmarexUSA.com/SHOTShow

About Umarex USA 
Umarex USA is one of North America’s fastest growing sport and recreation companies. Umarex USA develops and markets products under brands licensed by its parent company, Umarex Sportwaffen GmbH & Co. KG. Such brands include Beretta, Browning®, Colt®, Elite Force®, Hammerli®, Heckler & Koch®, Hornady®, IWI, Ruger®, RWS®, Smith & Wesson®, Walther® and others. For additional information regarding Umarex USA visit www.UmarexUSA.com. Follow and subscribe to Umarex USA online: Facebook.com/UmarexUSA, Twitter.com/UmarexAir, and YouTube.com/UmarexAir.

The post Umarex Introduces the Walther Parrus Air Rifle appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

When a good rifle suddenly goes bad and starts shooting patterns rather than groups with your finely tuned handloads, the first stop is always the cleaning cradle. More often than not that will correct the problem…at least the shooting end of the problem. Almost without fail, when I have encountered this in somebody else’s rifle, they insist to the point of confrontation that they “already cleaned it!” It’s gotten so when they bring it to my shop, I don’t bother to tell most of them what I did. I smile, hand them back a gun that is shooting well again and let them think I am some kind of a miracle worker.

RELATED STORY: Do The Twist – Calculating Your Gun’s Actual Rifling Rate

When a good rifle suddenly goes bad and starts shooting patterns rather than groups with your finely tuned handloads, the first stop is always the cleaning cradle. More often than not that will correct the problem…at least the shooting end of the problem. Almost without fail, when I have encountered this in somebody else’s rifle, they insist to the point of confrontation that they “already cleaned it!” It’s gotten so when they bring it to my shop, I don’t bother to tell most of them what I did. I smile, hand them back a gun that is shooting well again and let them think I am some kind of a miracle worker.

RELATED STORY: 11 Autoloading Rifles From the GUN BUYER’S ANNUAL 2016 Buyer’s Guide

Many shooters run a few patches through the bore and maybe make a pass or two with a brush and assume that they have cleaned the rifle. That’s often the equivalent of running your car through a puddle in the road and claiming you washed it. Even if they have scrubbed for days, it doesn’t ensure the rifle is clean. I once spent a week cleaning a badly fouled .17 Remington rifle, and was starting to think it was physically impossible for that much copper to be trapped in so small a bore. The truth is that a fouled bore is tough and time consuming to clean properly. Fouling is cumulative; each time that you fail to clean properly the fouling left behind is added to the collection and the problem is compounded and grows over the weeks, months or years.

RELATED STORY: How To Build Your Own AR Pistol

Running a few patches with some solvent through the barrel is not enough. You must clean the barrel down to bare steel and remove all powder and metal fouling each time you clean. I can’t say how many patches or how many swipes of the brush will be required to clean any specific rifle, nobody can. But I can tell you how to know when you are done.

The post 6 Tips For Cleaning Your Rifle Bore appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

If you’re looking for a lever-action rifle perfect for home defense or hunting, look no further than Taylor’s & Company Firearms. For 2016, Taylor’s has introduced the 1886 Ridge Runner, a next-gen lever-action rifle chambered in the powerful .45-70 Government cartridge.

The Ridge Runner features an integrated rail for mounting a scope or reflex sight, a Skinner rear peep sight, a fiber-optic front sight and a removable muzzle brake. The 18.5-inch, half-octagonal barrel and receiver are matte black (hard chrome is also available) while the wooden stock and forend are covered in black “Soft Touch” rubber for enhanced comfort and control.

But that’s not all. The Ridge Runner is also a takedown rifle. After ensuring the rifle is empty, pop open the action, unscrew the magazine tube and twist the barrel/magazine tube assembly. Now the fast-handling lever action easily comes apart into two halves for easy storage and transport.

For more information, visit http://www.taylorsfirearms.com.

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The post New For 2016: The 1886 Ridge Runner From Taylor’s & Co. Firearms appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Chiappa’s latest survival rifle is an intriguing truck, boat, plane or cabin gun, as it provides the versatility of firing two different cartridges—one rimfire, one shotgun—from a robust over/under combination gun.

RELATED STORY: 10 Double-Barrel Shotguns That Deliver Instant Defense

The Chiappa M6 comes with your choice of either a 12- and 20-gauge barrel over either a .22 LR or .22 WMR rifle barrels. The barrels work with the receiver like a break-action shotgun, and where the handguard would be are three accessory rails for lights, lasers, optics or other accessories. The rear sight is patterned from the M1 Carbine, and it interfaces with a high-visibility fiber-optic front sight that aids in tracking moving game as well as lining up the sights in low light.

The unique skeletonized stock features a polypropylene body that holds three shotgun shells and five rimfire cartridges. The barrel is rifled to accept interchangeable RemChoke tubes (and ships with a choke), and the shotgun barrels can accept Chiappa’s awesome X-Caliber conversion kit that enables you to fire different common pistol ammunition (from .380ACP through .45 ACP), or .410 or 20-gauge shotshell ammunition, to stretch its bug-out, plinking and survival rifle utility.

RELATED STORY: 10 Ultra-Reliable Lever And Pump-Action Rifles

For more information, visit http://www.chiappafirearms.com.

The post The Chiappa M6 Survival Rifle & Shotgun appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Mossberg has updated its MMR line with the release of the MMR Carbine, a modern sporting rifle (MSR) that retains the essential elements and interoperability of a direct-impingement AR-pattern rifle in a package that is updated and thoroughly modern. Compatible with AR-pattern magazines, the MMR Carbine accepts both 5.56mm and .223 Remington ammunition.

RELATED STORY: Gun Review – Mossberg’s Duck Commanders

The receiver is rather unique in its omission of a dust cover and forward assist. It is topped with a receiver-length Picatinny rail that continues along the length of the slim-profile handguard. The handguard comes slick, and is relieved with Magpul’s M-LOK-compatible openings that are ready to receive M-LOK accessories. The 16.25-inch-long barrel free-floats within the handguard for improved accuracy. The front of the handguard slopes aggressively up and away from the shooter to provide just over 1 inch of additional sight radius for mounting a manual front sight.

RELATED STORY: Mossberg’s 500 Special Purpose 20 Gauge Home Defense Shotgun

The MMR Carbine ships with easily removable, fully adjustable manual target sights. Two other versions are New York and California compliant, and you can order one with a fixed or collapsible stock (where legal).

For more information, visit http://www.mossberg.com.

The post New for 2016: Mossberg’s MMR Carbines appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The following is a press release from Sig Sauer

SIG SAUER, Inc., designer and manufacturer of the world’s most reliable firearms, optics, ammunition, airguns and accessories is pleased to introduce its first-ever Advanced Sport Pellet (ASP) line of airguns.  These world-class CO₂-powered pistols and rifles are a new breed of firearms for training and recreation, elevating airguns to a new level of performance and use.  SIG SAUER is also offering a wide variety of ASP targets and pellet ammunition.

The introductory line of SIG SAUER high-performance Advanced Sport Pellet airguns includes CO₂-powered SIG MPX™ and SIG MCX™ semi-automatic rifles in .177 and .22 (pellet-only) calibers, and P226^® and P250^® semi-auto CO₂ pistols in .177 caliber.  SIG SAUER ASP airguns not only look like the original guns, they are the same weight and have similar trigger pull.  This makes them ideal for training with the added benefit of reduced cost and minimal noise.

RELATED STORY: New for 2016 – Sig Sauer’s P210 Target Reborn

“SIG SAUER is known for making firearms of exceptional quality, and that same expertise is being applied to the design, engineering, and production of the new SIG SAUER Advanced Sport Pellet line of airguns,” said Ron Cohen, president and chief executive officer of SIG SAUER, Inc. “Our semi-auto Advanced Sport Pellet offerings will allow those who already own these models of SIG SAUER centerfire guns – be they recreational shooters, competition shooters, or professionals – to train extensively with less noise and reduced expense. They are also ideal for first-time airgun owners or those who wish to upgrade from their current airguns.”

The SIG MPX and SIG MCX ASP air rifles feature the RPM™ (Rapid Pellet Magazine) Pellet Drive System, the industry’s first encapsulated belt-fed pellet magazine capable of 30 rounds in 3.5 seconds.  Both models have an integral Picatinny optics rail and accessory rail in addition to flip-up front and rear sights, both of which are adjustable.  The robust metal housing and double reinforcement of all seals ensures durability.  SIG ASP air rifles are also available with optics – the SIG MPX MRD package comes with the SIG 20R red dot sight and the SIG MCX comes with two optics options – the Scope package featuring a 1-4×24 scope with fast focus and a mil-dot reticle or the MRD red dot sight package. The SIG MPX .177 caliber shoots up to 600 feet per second (fps); the SIG MPX .22 caliber – up to 475 fps; SIG MCX .177 caliber – up to 750 fps; and SIG MCX .22 caliber – up to 525 fps.

RELATED STORY: Sig Sauer’s MPX-P Redefines Home Defense Firepower

The SIG SAUER P226 and P250 semi-auto ASP air pistols shoot pellets in .177 caliber and feature realistic blowback action of the metal slide just as the original centerfire models do.  Both models have an auto decocking feature for enhanced safety, a 16-round rotary-clip magazine (8×2), rifled barrel, front blade sight, and fixed rear sight.   Accessory rails on the P226 and P250 also allow mounting of a laser or tactical flashlight.  The P226 .177 caliber shoots up to 510 fps and the P250 .177 caliber – up to 500 fps.

SIG SAUER is offering an assortment of ASP targets including spinners, traps, and a Texas Star with nine center-mass targets that spin around one central axis.  All of these targets are compatible with .177, .22 and .25 calibers.  SIG also offers various lead-free and lead copper-jacketed pellets.

SIG SAUER Advanced Sport Pellet airguns are currently available in the following models and colors: SIG MPX .177 (Black), SIG MPX .177 MRD (Black or Flat Dark Earth), SIG MPX .22 (Black), SIG MPX .22 MRD (Black or FDE), SIG MCX .177 (Black), SIG MCX .177 Scope or MRD (Black or FDE), SIG MCX .22 (Black), SIG MCX .22 Scope or MRD (Black or FDE), P226 .177 (Black or FDE) and P250 .177 (Black or Olive Drab Green).

RELATED STORY: 15 Air Pistols for Training and Precision Shooting

SIG SAUER Advanced Sport Pellet airguns are designed and engineered to the same exacting standards as the company’s premium pistols and rifles.  Each SIG SAUER airgun goes through rigorous testing and must be approved by the SIG SAUER Academy before entering the market.  This stringent quality control process ensures that professionals who train with these airguns experience exceptional performance.

For more information, visit www.sigsauerasp.com and www.sigsaueracademy.com.

Follow SIG SAUER on social media, including Facebook at www.facebook.com/sigsauerinc, Instagram at www.instagram.com/sigsauerinc, and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/sigsauerinc.

About SIG SAUER, Inc.

SIG SAUER, Inc. is a New Hampshire-based weapons systems provider leading the industry in American innovation, ingenuity, and manufacturing. SIG SAUER^® brings a dedication to superior quality, ultimate reliability, and unmatched performance that has made it the brand of choice among responsible citizens, and many of the world’s most elite military, government, and law enforcement units. As a complete systems provider, SIG SAUER offers a full array of products to meet any mission parameter, from handguns and rifles to silencers, optics, ammunition, airguns and accessories. The largest member of a worldwide business group of firearms manufacturers that includes SIG SAUER GmbH & Co. KG in Germany and Swiss Arms AG in Switzerland, SIG SAUER is an ISO 9001: 2008 certified company with approximately 1,000 employees. For more information on SIG SAUER, any of its products, or the SIG SAUER Academy^SM, log on to www.sigsauer.com.

The post SIG SAUER Launches World-Class Advanced Sport Pellet (ASP) Line of Airguns appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The following is a press release from AirForce Airguns

AirForce Airguns’ Texan Air Rifle – the world’s most powerful production air rifle – is expanding to add .308 and .357 calibers. Together with the original .45 Texan, these three rifles cover the most popular of the big bore airgun calibers.

The new Texans are shooting in excess of 350 foot pounds of energy in .357 and are approaching 300 foot pounds in .308.

“As soon as we introduced the Texan in .45 last year, our Airgun Believers were suggesting other calibers,” noted AirForce CEO and Founder John McCaslin. “Well, we listened and these are the two most requested. Components are optimized for the caliber to get the best results. We’re proud to call them Texan.”

RELATED STORY: 14 Umarex Air Pistols & Air Rifles From the GUN BUYER’S ANNUAL 2016 Buyer’s Guide

The AirForce Texan set a new high bar for pre-charged pneumatic air rifles when introduced at the 2015 SHOT Show with energy levels of 500 foot pounds and the ability to take down a whitetail with a single shot from its .457 barrel. The Texan has elevated the art of airgun hunting to large game and rivals most hunting rifles in accuracy and many in power.

“Every gun we produce is designed for optimum performance. These two new calibers are no different,” remarked McCaslin. “We are regular hunters and shooters just like our customers, and we like things that work like they are supposed to. These air rifles do just that.”

RELATED STORY: 4 Air Guns For Your Next Training Session

AirForce Airguns has been innovating, designing and producing precision pre-charged air guns at their Fort Worth, Texas headquarters for over 15 years. In early 2016, AirForce will be opening a new state of the art factory in Texas to keep up with the growing demand and integrate the newest manufacturing techniques.

AirForce is known for developing the most technologically advanced airgun shooting systems in the world and is the original and favorite black airgun. With a reputation for flexibility and legendary accuracy, AirForce Airguns offers a solution for just about any airgun shooting situation.

Serious airgunning starts at AirForce Airguns.

For more information on AirForce Airguns, visit the website www.airforceairguns.com

The post AirForce Airguns’ Texan Adds New Calibers appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The following is a press release from Umarex USA

Umarex USA has introduced a new air rifle named the Throttle. The Umarex Throttle is the first air rifle to include the vibration reducing StopShox system.

“We set out to solve one of the most frustrating problems with powerful air rifles today–the amount of vibration and recoil,” said Richard Turner Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Umarex USA. “Modern pellet rifles powered by strong springs or gas pistons cause two recoils–one to the front and a second to the back. The Umarex StopShox works in conjunction with a floating stock design to effectively minimize the negative recoil vibrations that cause shooter frustration.”

RELATED STORY: 7 Compact Replica Air Pistols by Umarex

The post Umarex Throttle: First Air Rifle To Have StopShox Vibration Reducing Technology appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The following is a press release from Henry Repeating Arms

Henry Repeating Arms upholds its position as the country’s leading lever action manufacturer with the introduction of their Henry Big Boy Silver, Big Boy Steel .41 Magnum and All-Weather Lever Action rifles.

RELATED STORY: 6 Manufacturers Selling Lever-Action Rifles For Home Defense Or Hunting

The Big Boy Silver debuts as a new addition to the Henry Silver Series. The hardened silver receiver has the same tensile and yield strength as steel. The frame, barrel band, and buttplate surfaces can be cleaned and polished at home to maintain the brightly gleaming silver look for generations to come. Offered in three calibers: .44 Mag/Spl Model # H006S, .45 Colt Model #H006CS and .357 Mag/.38 Spl Model # H006MS. MSRP on all three is $990.

Henry’s line of Big Boy Steel rifles has expanded to introduce a .41 Magnum caliber, model # H012M41, MSRP $850. The Big Boy Steels are designed for the modern hunters who prefer something a bit lighter than Henry’s brass-framed Big Boys. Weighing in at 7lbs, they hang their 20″ round barrel and checkered walnut furniture on a matte-finished blued steel frame that’s drilled & tapped for optional scope mounts. The adjustable Western-style sights and sliding transfer bar “safety” system in their hammer is the same as the Big Boys’. Unique features include a ventilated rubber recoil pad for easy shouldering, swivel studs for comfort, and the rifle-style fore-end cap instead of the usual carbine-type barrel band.

RELATED STORY: Gun Review – Uberti 1860 Henry Replica

The All-Weather Lever Action marks the first time Henry offers steel centerfire rifles meant for everyday life in the truck, on the farm, and through the woods. They feature hard chrome plating on all metal surfaces (except springs and sights), and a durable industrial-grade coating on the hardwood furniture. The hard chrome doesn’t flake, chip, or peel and its corrosion resistance is stronger than some stainless steels. The stained hardwood’s coating is formulated to stand up to wear, tear, scratches, moisture, temperature variations, and the angst of the various “character marks” an everyday outdoor tool inevitably picks up during its lifetime. Available in two calibers: .30-30 Model #H0009AW, MSRP $850 and .45-70 Model H010AW, MSRP $950.

“Our customers have asked for these models and we’ve listened,” said Anthony Imperato, President of Henry Repeating Arms.

RELATED STORY: 10 Ultra-Reliable Lever And Pump-Action Rifles

Henry rifles can be purchased through a licensed firearms dealer. Most dealers offer a discount on the MSRP. To find a dealer call toll free (866) 200-2354 or visit the Own A Henry tab at http://www.henryrifles.com.

About Henry Repeating Arms

Henry Repeating Arms is one of the country’s leading rifle manufacturers. Their legendary name dates back to 1860 when Benjamin Tyler Henry invented and patented the first practical repeating rifle during the Civil War. It became known as the “gun you could load on Sunday and shoot all week long.” Henry rifles went on to play a significant role in the frontier days of the American West and soon became one of the most legendary, respected and sought after rifles in the history of firearms. President Lincoln’s Henry hangs in The Smithsonian and has become a national treasure. The company’s manufacturing facilities are in Bayonne, NJ and Rice Lake, WI.

The post Henry Repeating Arms Debuts 3 New Centerfire Rifles appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The following is a press release from Gunsite Academy

As part of Gunsite Academy‘s 40th Anniversary, we have scheduled a Scout Rifle Class / Competition / Conference and Media Event for July 11-15. The scout rifle has seen recent resurgence and is without question a child of Jeff Cooper and Gunsite. It’s only fitting the first post-Cooper Scout Rifle Conference occur during this historic year. Working with scout rifle historian Richard Mann, author of the upcoming book, The Scout Rifle Study, it’s our hope this event will serve a triad of purpose.

1. Edify scout rifle owners and the media on scout rifle history and implementation.
2. Expose manufacturers to scout rifle aficionados, in an effort to enhance commercial and custom offerings.
3. Educate consumers on the scout concept, available rifles, optics, and accessories, through various media outlets.

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Itinerary

Scout Rifle Class (By invitation to interested students, select media, and manufacturer representatives.)

DAY 1: Lecture, zero, and familiarization
DAY 2: Short and Long (300 yards) exercises with sights and optics
DAY 3: Simulators
Competition (By invitation to interested students, select media, and manufacturer representatives.)
DAY 4: Open to any rifle type. Course of fire configured to highlight the general-purpose concept of the scout rifle. (50-round maximum)
Conference (By invitation to interested students, select media members, and manufacturers.)
DAY 5 Morning: Rifle Sharing (Open range for sharing and examination of equipment.)
DAY 5 Evening: (Conference to discuss lessons learned, ideal scout rifle configuration, and definition of the modern scout rifle. Presentation of awards for competition.)

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Registration

Students can register – by invitation only – for three, four or five days:

First three days: $ 1125.00, Fourth day: $ 100.00, Fifth day: $ 100.00 (Free to those attending first four days.)

Manufacturers / Manufacturer representatives, and select media can register for all five days. Attendance is free.

(It is suggested that participating manufacturers make their scout rifles or scout rifle accessories available to those in attendance on the morning of day five, for examination and experimentation. Additionally, participating manufacturers must provide an appropriate prize for the prize table such as a rifle, optic, ammo, or accessories. We also encourage manufacturers to invite a member of the media and cover their expenses. This will assist in assuring wide spread coverage of your products and the event in print and on the Internet. Interested media members should work with participating manufactures to arrange a sponsor for the event.)

Those interested should contact Gunsite Academy as soon as possible.

For more information, visit http://www.gunsite.com.

The post Gunsite Academy to Host Scout Rifle Conference in July appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The following is a press release from Savage Arms

Imagine a lightweight, compact “combination” gun that, with the push of a button, can be disassembled and fits within an Uncle Mike’s Bug Out Bag. It’d be ideal for the back-county trekker, survivalist, ranch hand, and homeowner, among others. That arm now exists; enter the Savage Arms Model 42 Takedown and Takedown-Youth.

An updated version of the utilitarian Model 42, the new Takedown-series arms sport the same features that made their predecessors a hit with small-game hunters and the ideal training platform for beginners, but also have the advantage of quick, easy disassembly for increased portability and ease of storage. Occupying minimal space, the Takedown is natural for “throw and go”; whether patrolling the pasture, heading for the hills, or sustenance living, the Model 42 Takedown’s disassembled size enables it to always be nearby. Equally important, with a 34.75-inch (Takedown-Youth) or 35.75-inch (Takedown) overall length, the guns are easily maneuvered in tight spaces.

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Chambered in 3-inch, .410 bore, the Model 42 Takedown’s 20-inch lower barrel enables the user to utilize widely-available 3-inch and 2½-inch birdshot, buckshot, slugs, and the newest personal-protection-specific projectiles; as such, everything from upland birds to deer and predators are easily handled by the pint-size platform. Atop the .410 barrel is found another in .22 LR or .22 WMR equipped with simplistic, yet rugged, open sights; whereas the .410 provides close-range domination, the rifle round provides additional reach and precise aiming to bag distant small game for the pot or dispatch nuisance species harassing livestock or wrecking a field. Best of all, given their lightweight, .410 and 22 LR (or 22 Magnum) ammunition can be carried in bulk for extended use. The rounds’ universal obtainability is also unequalled, and their felt recoil is next to nil—perfect for novice shooters.

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As with the original Model 42, the Takedown and, especially, the Takedown Youth, are superb “starter” arms. It exudes the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple and Straightforward) acronym, which is highly desirable for the novice shooter and survivalist. Pressing the breeching lever ahead of the trigger guard reveals the two chambers. Depending on the gun’s use and user’s experience, one or two rounds can be loaded. Then, snap the action shut, make the necessary hammer switch adjustment (to strike the correct firing pin), cock the hammer, and pull the trigger. Steps two through four can be repeated to utilize the second barrel. There are also no ejectors to break at an inopportune time or out-of-the-way location; simple extractors effectively lift the rounds (or empty cases) for easy removal. Simple—as it should be.

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In a nod to utility, durability, and affordability, the Model 42 Takedown-series rifles are stocked with a bilateral, synthetic buttstock and fore-end. To enhance purchase in moisture-laden environs and cold climates, the fore-end and pistol grip have a series of functional recesses. Additionally, for easier transport when assembled, there are two studs to which a sling can be attached. Capping the buttstock is a soft recoil pad that reduces the recoil of magnum-type .410 shells in these 4.65- (Takedown-Youth) and 6.1-lb. (Takedown) combination guns. The included Uncle Mike’s Tactical Go Bag features, MOLLE loops for attaching it to other gear, or attaching more gear to it, several pockets for ammo and gear and a robust carry strap.

Whether for survival, hunting, plinking, nuisance control, protection, training, or backpacking, there’s no firearm that offers the versatility and portability of the Savage Arms Model 42 Takedown or Takedown-Youth. In fact, there’s little that this compact “combination” gun couldn’t handle. Learn more at www.savagearms.com.

The post Savage Arms’ Model 42 Takedown Rifle appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.